cleanse the inward parts of the belly Prov. 20. 30. and be dedicated to him and filled with the fruits of righteousness and this fruit we reap of it in being exercised to the consideration of the grace of God in Christ that while we were yet without strength in due time Christ dyed for the ungodly and having access by faith thereinto Heb. 12. 2 11. Rom. 5. 2 6. Jam. 1. 2 5. Hence afflictions are compared to water because God is hereby washing and cleansing us Psal 66. 12. Isa 27. 3. and to fire because God is hereby proving and purifying and making white that the trial of the faith of believers being much more precious than that of gold which perisheth though it be tryed with fire might be found to praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ Isa 31. 9. 48. 10. Zech. 13. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. and so the means by which Jesus Christ doth wash baptize and sanctifie are the holy Ghost in the testimony and fire Mat. 3. 11. Luk. 3. 16. 3. How God and the word of his grace doth give and is able to give them the inheritance To this we say as before is noted that he doth not now fully and gloriously give it to them in this day yea Abraham to whom the promises were made and the rest of the Pâ—triarchs they received not the promises Heb. 11. 13 39. God gave Abraham none inheritance in the actual and glorious injoyment of it and he and Isaac and Jacob heirs together with him of the same promise all died in faith not receiving the promises Act. 7. 5. Heb. 11. 13. and though Peter saith he was a partaker of glory yet he saith of the the glory that shall be revealed it is not so yet 1 Pet. 5. 1. But now 1. Jesus Christ doth give it them in giving himself to them in the word of his grace to whom the promises were originally made Gal. 3. 16. who is the heir of all things now actually in our nature Heb. 1. 2. and whos 's the inheritance is and who is entred to take possession for us Heb. 6. 20. and so in receiving him they are made sons of God by faith in Christ Christ is theirs and they are Christs And if sons then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things unto him and he that believeth on the son hath everlasting life all things are theirs as Christ is theirs even by faith whether things present or things to come and they are Christ's and if Christ's then are they Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise Joh. 3. 35 36. 1 Cor. 3. 21 23. Gal. 3. 26 29. and so God in giving Christ as raised from the dead in the wâ—rd of his grace makes an everlasting Covenant with believers Isa 55. 3. with Act. 13. 34. And so 2. God doth in and through Christ give it in the word of his grace by promise which was confirmed of God in Christ before the Law and now actually ratified and sealed by the death of the Testator whose blood is the blood of the new Testament and everlasting Covenant and so God gave the inheritance to Abraham by promise and they who are Christ's are heirs according to promise Gal. 3. 18 29. that they might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them Heb. 6. 17. 20. and so as Abraham is said to have received the promise even in the word of it and through faith and patience to inherit the promises even so he gives and they are receiving it and are saved by hope and so by faith and in hope they are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be moved Heb. 12. 28. for he is faithful that promised having confirmed the Covenant by his blood and is alive to see it performed and is the Mediator of it that the called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance Heb. 9. 14. Jam. 1. 12. 2. 5. 3. He is giving unto them an earnest now even the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of the inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession Eph. 1. 13 14. 2. Cor. 1. 22. 5. 5. An earnest is a part of the whole a first fruits and so they receive a first fruits of the spirit Rom. 8. 23. and an earnest is also an assurance and confirmation that they shall have all in due time this spirit he is now giving unto them to make them partakers of the forgiveness of their sins to be a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ and so to indue them with a new spirit judgment and disposition to write his Laws in their hearts and put them in their minds and to fill them with his fruit love joy peace long suffering c. Heb. 10. 14 17. Eph. 1. 17 18. Gal. 5. 16 22 23. and this spirit which is the earnest of the inheritance he is giving unto them and they receive through the word of his grace according to that Received ye the spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith Gal. 3. 1 5. 4. Yea when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven he will give unto them the inheritance gloriously which here they have been receiving by faith and hope and in the earnest and first fruits of it they shall then inherit all things and God himself will be with them their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes c. and this he will give unto them not according to their works of righteousness but of grace yea and according to the rule of the word of his grace for God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel the word of his grace and so according to that rule he will give eternal life to them that by patient continuance in well-doing have been seeking glory honour and immortality Rom. 2. 7 16. they shall then be judged according to the Law of liberty Jam. 2. 12. and according thereto he that believeth the Gospel and is baptized sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God shall be saved viz. shall obtain that salvatâ—on in Christ Jesus with eternal glory Mark 16. 16. 2 Tim. 2. 10. they shall not then be judged according to the Law of works which is do and live and Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the Law to do them for according thereto no flesh living can be justified in his sight but by the Law of faith the word of his grace in which is declared to us that this is the will of him that sent Jesus Christ that every one that now seeth the Son and believeth in him should have everlastinglife and he will raise him up at the 〈◊〉 day to the glorious injoyment of it and so of that inheritance which
vvas that vvhich they favv in the light and evidence of the Spirit and accordingly did testifie even as the sum of their testimony that the Father sent the Son the Saviour of the world 1 John 4. 14. 1 Tim. 2. 4 7. 4. In this Word is discovered to us his grace in what he hath through and by means of his death effected and obtained into himself for us and is become And so 1. That which he hath effected thereby is that he hath saved us mankind in himself from that so great a death in which otherwise we must have perished for ever for in Jesus Christ mercy and truth are met righteousness and peace have kissed he hath satisfied God's justice fulfilled his truth appeased his wrath paid that our debt answered the Law and this is manifested in that God hath raised him from the dead in that same body in which he was crucified and in which he bare our sins on the Tree and he hath brought him again from the dead through his blood so precious was it in the sight of the Lord Heb. 13. 20. That same Jesus whom the Jews crucified in that same personal body in which he dyed for our sins is raised again and this was of absolute necessity for if he be not taken from prison we must dye and abide in our sins for ever preaching is vain and faith vain c. But he is raised from the dead in that body which was pierced with a spear and with those hands and feet which were nailed to the Tree John 19. 34. with Chap. 20. 20 25 27. And unto his Apostles he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them fourty dayes Acts 1. 3. And as he is raised in that very body in which he suffered so also in that publick consideration being acquitted from all our sins that were imputed to him and having over come all our death and enemies that had led us captive He was declared and determined to be the Son of God in whom he is well pleased with power according to the spirit of holiness in the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 4. He is taken from prison and from judgment and as in him as in the publick man all have dyed and suffered the whole of the curse due to them for our first departure from God 2 Cor. 5. 14. So in him who is the last Adam they are acquitted For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Rom. 3. 23 24. 5. 18. He hath so purged away our sins from before the presence of God the guilt whereof was imputed to him as that now the Father judgeth no man according to the Law as they fell under it in the first publick man Heb. 1. 3. with Iohn 5. 22. that is to say no man is condemned or held out from God either because our first Father hath sinned and we in him or because as we come to receive our beings we come forth and are born in sin and so naturally and necessarily polluted and defiled for he hath made peace slain the enmity that was between God and mankind taken out of the way all that was in the way contrary to us broken down the middle wall of partition and is become the way to the Father and God hath committed all judgment to the Son that all men should honour the Son Eph. 2. 13 15. Col. 2. 13 14. Ioh. 5. 22 23. Gal. 3. 13. And he hath spoiled principalities and powers led captivity captive and destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil Col. 2. 15. Psal 68. 18. See how this began to be spoken by the Lord himself as to both these branches Iohn 12. 31 32. Now saith he is the judgment of this world to wit it was now executing upon him when his soul was troubled the guilt of the trespasses of the world which made it liable to the judgment of God being imputed to him he was called to the judgment-seat and made a curse for us and God in him took vengeance of our iniquities he judged and condemned sin in the flesh of Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 3. Isa 61. 1 2. He was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities c. Now shall the Prince of this world be castâ—out namely out of his principality and from being the Prince of this world as he was according to that judgment for we were fallen under his dominion necessarily and must have so remained for ever had not God devised this blessed means And I if I be lifted up from the earth namely crucified and hung on the Tree will draw all men unto me That is by means of his death who in the vertue thereof is discharged and acquitted he would draw all men unto him and now in the first sense hath drawn them unto himself from under the judgment of this world which was executed upon him from under that sentence of banishment according to which they were shut out from God and must have perished in their sins and from being under the necessary dominion of Satan who was become the Prince of this world from under both he hath drawn them unto himself to be under his judgment his gracious Government and Lordship for to this end Christ both dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Lord of all Rom. 14. 9. Acts 10. 36. And to a gracious end did he dye for all and is raised again and hath the sentence of banishment remitted to him and brought us under his kingdom viz. that he might bring us back to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 5. 15. And of both these it appears the Psalmist prophetically speaks in Psal 136. where he provokes to give thanks to the Lord for his mercy and that first because of his creating all things ver 5. 9. and then for his great goodness towards the house of Israel which he bestowed on them ver 10 22. to which he adds he remembred us in our low estate when we were brought low for our iniquities and were justly banished from his presence in the sentence of his Law for his mercy endureth for ever and redeemed us from our enemies for his mercy indureth for ever ver 23 24. I say it appears he speaks of this redemption of mankind in Christ generally and of his mercy to the Gentiles particularly in that it is distinguished from his work of creation his goodness to Israel and his providing for and giving food to all flesh And the like is also said Col. 2. 14 15. yea he hath so saved all mankind in himself as that no man shall perish for ever in that first death of which our Jesus tasted and which he overcame and hath abolished but be raised out of it for since by man death by man also the resurrection of the dead For as in Adam
Lord is good sing praises to his name for it is pleasant for the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his peculiar treasure they shall then gloriously triumph in the works of his hands which he is now working in leading forth his people which he hath redeemed out of the world Exod. 15. 13. Psal 92. 4 5. and the Lord himself shall rejoyce in his works Psal 104. 31. And that he shall then destroy all enemies and save his people with an everlasting salvation and they shall then reign on the earth These are now his thoughts which are very deep his enemies and theirs shall then perish and all the workers of iniquity be destroyed for ever but his horn shall be exalted with honour gloriously and visibly and the righteous shall flourish Psal 92. he shall then bring in his people and plant them in the mountain of his inheritance in the place which he hath made for them to dwell in in the sanctuary which his hands have established and the Lord shall reign for ever and ever Psal 149. Exod. 15. 17. 18. 7. And now they shall have a glorious inheritance to which I shall not here speak because it more properly refers to the latter end of the verse And thus according to my great weakness I have shewed the first Reason why the Gospel is called the Word of his Grace 2. This is called the Word of his grace because hereby he gives grace unto men even as it is called the Word of Life because as it discovers that eternal life in Christ so it gives life unto others The words that I speak unto you saith Christ they are spirit and they are life Joh. 6. 63. so it is called the word of salvation because it not only shews where salvation is wrought and compleated but therein and therewith also it brings salvation to men c. So here answerably the Gospel of Christ is called the word of his grace because as it is the most excellent means whereby God manifests and reveals his grace in Christ as before so hereby he gives grace unto men he doth manifest his goodness and graciousness unto men and gives them some discovery and discerning of it by all means The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work he left not himself without witness to the Gentiles Psal 19. 1 6. 147. 7 9. with Act. 14. 17. Rom. 1. 19 28. but he was more especially good to Israel therefore they especially were to praise him and had peculiar ingagement so to do He shewed his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Iâ—â—ael he had not dealt so with any Nation and as for his judgments they had not known them Psal 147. 12 19 20. What advantage hath the Jew c. much every way chiefly because unâ—o them was committed the Oracles of God though hereby simply they were not better as to their gracious state with God yet they had greater advantage so to be Rom. 3. 1 2 9 and still greater advantage is given to us now the Gospel is prâ—acâ—â—ed according to the revelation of the mystery And hence it is said That grace and truth came by Jesus Christ Joâ— 1. 17. and that the Prophets in former times prophesied of the grace that should be brought and vouchsafed to us 1 Pet. 1. 10. namely the more clear and abundant revelation of it and therewith a more free dispensiâ—g of it whereby he gives and prevents men with capacity to behold his grace in Christ and is turning them from idols unto God to serve the living true God The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul whether men be converted by it or no it is converting restoring and bringing it 〈◊〉 Gâ—d and in order hereto the testimony of the Lord in which God hath testified unto us what Jesus Christ hath done for us and is become and his grace in him this is sure making wise the simple even those that are without mixture of wisdom it fails not in this efficacy of it it discovers Jesus Christ who is the fountain and object of wisdom in knowing whom we may be made wise and it gives wisdom and subtilty to the simple Jam. 1. 5. Prov. 1. 4. The commandement the old and new commandement declared from the beginning in which was prophesied and promised that the seed of the woman should break the Serpents head and which is now more revealed because the darkness is past 1 Joh. 2. 7 8. this is pure namely in its effect also inlightning the eyes and therewith converting Psal 19. 7. 8. Hereby he gives grace of repentance unto men and is operating faith in them his spirit being alwayes vouchsafed and present in and with this testimony of Christ in the faithful ministration of it even unto the end of the world so that he that rejecteth rejecteth not man but God Mat. 28. 20. 1 Thes 4. 8. Surely he doth accompany all means which he affordeth while it is called to day with some presence of his Spirit and doth in due time give some supernatural light unto men because he is willing all should come to repentance There is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding Job 32. 8. He saith not it must give it them if they have it but it doth give it unto them So he is said to give breath unto the people upon the earth and spirit to them that walk therein Isa 42. 5. and that his Spirit is sent forth into all the earth even that Spirit which the Lamb that was slain hath received Rev. 5. 6. 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. and in and with his Prophets he spake by his Spirit and gave his good Spirit even unto them that rebelled against him to instruct them and this aggravated their iniquity that they alwayes rejected the Holy Ghost for God did not only call them with an outward call but he sent his words in his Spirit in the light and power thereof and so stretched out his hand unto them Neh. 9. 20 26 30. Zech. 7. 12. Isa 65. 2. but now in and with the Gospel of Christ as now preached according to the revelation of the mystery he doth pour forth of his Spirit upon all flesh namely to glorifie Christ and shew his excellency and comeliness for our escape and therein and therewith to wither all flesh to shew that all flesh is grass and all the glory of man the goodliness of the flesh is as the flower of the field that men might cease therefrom and turn in his reproofs and so he will further pour forth his Spirit unto them Act. 2. 17. with Isa 40. 3 8. Hence it is called the ministration of spirit even of this spirit of grace 2 Cor. 3. 6 8 With this Gospel the Apostle was sent to open the eyes of Jews and Gentiles and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God
will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness And Isa 43. 2 5. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee fear not for I am wiâ—h thee So Hag. 2 4 5. Hence the Psalmist saith Though I walk in the valley â—f the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me namely I will fear no evil of or concerning thee I will not be jealous of my Shepherd and so I will fear no evil no adversity whatsoever for thou art with me to uphold and strengthen me with strength in my soul Psal 23. 4. 138. 3. This comforted the Prophet when in great affliction and inderision daily I heard the defaming of many fear on every side report say they and we will report all my familiars watched for my halting peradventure he will be inticed and we shall prevail against him and we shall take our revenge on him By the way they signifie that unless they could intice him or turn him aside they could not take their revenge on him but saith he the Lord is with me therefore my persecuters shall stumble and they shall not prevail Jer. 20. 10 11. And so He will preserve their souls from the design of Satan and his instruments that nothing shall be able to separate them from the love of God in Christ that love him and keep his word Rom. 8. 35 39. he will not deliver them unto the will of their enemies Psal 41. 2. He is faithful who will establish them and keep them from evil 2 Thes 3. 3. He will not suffer the feet of those that trust in him to be moved he that keepeth them will not slâ—mber behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep the Lord is their keeper the Sun shall not smite them by day the Lord shall preserve them from all evil he shall preserve their souls c. Psal 121. 97. 10. 1 Sam. 2. 9. My sheep saith our Saviour hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand c. Joh. 10. 27 30. Oh! what incouragement is given us herein to trust in him and not be afraid not to fear any of those things we may suffer but though bryars and thorns be with us and we dwell among Scorpions and our souls are among Lions and Wolves even amongst them that are set on fire whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword yet to walk in the strength of the Lord God and to make mention of his righteousness even of his only Yea He will cause all things to work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to purpose so as that in all the tribulations he is ordering they shall be mâ—râ— than conquerours through him that hath loved them and given himself for them Rom. 8. 28 37. and they shall be gainers by their losses and have occasion with thankfulness to acknowledge that it was good for them that they were afflicted Psal 119. 62 71. for his end in ordering the afflictions of the Gospel is for their profit that they might be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 10 11. he is refining them but not with silver he is chusing them in the furnace of affliction Isa 48. 10. Zech. 13. 9. Every branch in the true vine the Husbandman purgeth continually that it may bring forth more fruit Joh. 15. 2. and by all tribulations he is preparing them for glory and more glory for them Our light afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen saith the Apostle for which cause they fainted not 2 Cor. 4. 16. 18. yea death is theirs and to die gain and the Lord knoweth how even by this means to deliver the godly out of temptation 1 Cor. 3. 22. Phil. 1. 21. 2 Pet. 2. 9. and their manifold temptations the tryal of their faith through which now for a season when need is they are in heaviness shall be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. And now in the multitude of their troubles and thoughts within them his comforts shall delight their souls Psal 94. 19. He is the God of all comfort who comforteth them in all their tribulations and as the sufferings of Christ abound in them so their consolation also aboundeth by Christ He is one who comforts them that are cast down and restoreth comfort to the conâ—â—ite one and his mourners by creating the fruit of his lips in his Gospel peace peace unto them 2 Cor. 1. 3 5 7 7. 5. Isa 57. 18 19. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Christ because the Lord hath anointed him to preach good tydiâ—gâ— to the meek To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion to gâ—ve unto them beauty for ashes the oyl of joy for mourning c. Isa 61. 1 3. He will then especially and abundantly cause them to prove the sufficiency of his gracâ— 2 Cor. 12. 7 10. that having access by faith into that groce wherein they stand even that grace that while we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly they may rejoyce in tribulations also Rom. 5. 2 3 6. Jam. 1. 2 5. He will give unto them his good Spirit to bring to remembrance the sayings of Christ to glorifie him and enamour their hearts on him and to teach them all things and so to be a spirit of grace and supplication unto them to teach them how to pour out their hearts unto him in what manner and for what things and in what incouragement Joh. 14. 27. 16. 13 14. Likewise the Spirit also heâ—peth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we oâ—ght but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be â—ttered Rom. 8. 26 27. and so to teach them how to answer adversaries and opposers This is the promise which our Saviour promised his Disciples when he sent them forth as Lambs in the midst of Wolves to preserve them from carefulness and thoughtfulness what to answer But when saith he they deliver you up take no thought how or what ye shall speak either as to the manner or matter for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak for it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your father which speaketh in you Maâ— 10. 16 20. And hence our â—aviour admonisheth them to settle it in their â—eaâ—ts not to mediâ—are before what they shall answer for he assuâ—es them in so doing he will
give them a mouth and wisdom which all their â—dversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist Luk. 21. â—4 15. Yea what shall I say for the time would fail he will be abundantly nigh unto them in this â—ime of trouble For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears open to their cry 1 Pet. 3. 12. he will fulfil their desires Psal 145. 18 19. Purge away their transgressions Psal 65. 3. Subdue their iniquities Mic. 7. 19. Fight their battels 2 Chron. 32. 8. Renew their inward man 2 Cor. 4. 16. Revive them in the midst of trouble Psal 138. 7. Supply all their wants according to his riches in glory Phil. 4. 19. Perform all things for them Psal 57. 2. And perfect whatever concerns them Psal 138. 8. And so sanctifie them throughout that their whole spirit soul and body shall be pâ—eserved blamelâ—ss unto the coming of the Lord Jesus 1 Thes 5. 23. In short he will never leave them nor forsake them so that they may boldly say The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man can do unto me Heb. 13. 5 6. And he is faithful that hath promised Oh! let us then hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering Heb. 10. 23. and not be afraid of men or their fear nor say a confederacy with them that say a confederacy but sanctifie the Lord of hosts in our hearts and make him our fear and our dread and he shall be a sanctuary unto us Isa 8. 12 14. Consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our profession who was faithful to him that appointed him in that hard and difficult work he hath been wonderfully tryed and did not fail therein nor was discouraged but for the joy set before him indured the Cross despising the shame He set his face like a flint and patiently indured the judgment of the world and waited for the Lord till he brought him out of the horrible pit miry clay and set his feet upon a rock He was for this purpose manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin and therein may we so behold his faithfulness as to be strengthned to rest in him and wait patiently for the performance of what yet remains for faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it And he is the Mediator of the New Testament which he hath confirmed by his blood He it is who liveth and was dead and is alive for evermore to make intercession for them that come to God by him that their iniquities might not with-hold good things from them make them know God's breach of promise Rev. 1. 18. Heb. 7. 25. Numb 14. 34. He mediates the New Covenant and appears in the presence of God in the vertues of his sacrifice once offered as the propitiation for their sins to take them away and cover them and in their confessing them he is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and his blood cleanseth them from all unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1. 7 9. 2. 2. and he lives to perform and execute this Testament of his own and to dispense to them all things that pertain to life and godliness that the called may obtain the promise of the eternal inheritance Heb. 7. 25 28. 8. 6. 9. 15. 3. Yea and he hath set a blessed hope before them that those that suffer here with him shall reign with him and be glorified together And he that hath this hope in Christ purifieth hemself from desires of present manifestation as he is pure 2 Tim. 2. 12. Rom. 8. 17 18. 1 Joh. 3. 2 3. which hope is now powerful as declared in the word of the truth of the Gospel to save them from their sins and idols and from being afraid with any fear of amazement Rom. 8. 24 25. and it is so confirmed that they might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them which they have as an anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entereth into that within the vail whether the fore-runner is for us entred Jesus made an High-Priest after the order of Melchisedeck Heb. 6. 18 20. He will then give compleat rest to them who are now troubled avenge them of their adversaries and save them with an everlasting salvation And this is now reported to us in the Gospel that looking to the end from the beginning we might be strengthned with strength in our soul according to that Isa 35. 3 10. Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees say to them that are of a fearful heart be strong fear not behold your God will come with vengeance God with a recompence he will come and save you and then no Lyon shall be there to afflict them nor any ravenous beâ—st and so no grievous Wolf c Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away There will be an end of all these troubles and afflictions to those that live godly in Christ Jesus and their expectation shall not be cut off yea now it is but a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry and will redeem them out of all adversity and they shall then obtain that salvation in Câ—rist Jesus with eternal glory and therefore they have cause and are instructed to rejoyce in as much as they are partakers of Christ's sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed they also may be glad with exceeding joy 1 Pet. 4. 13. Jam. 1. 12. Rev. 2. 7 10 11 13 17. Surely there is that contained in God and the word of his grace which may strengthen us to all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness so as we need not fear any of those things we may suffer but rather rejoyce that we are counted worthy to suffer for his sake who so willingly indured so great sufferings for us 2. To God and the Word of his grace he commits them for their preservation from grievous wolves as taken in the second sense before mentioned viz. for false Prophets and seducers to the end that committing themselves thereto they might not be led away with the error of the wicked and so fall from their own stedfastness but be preserved from hearing and receiving those instructions which cause to err from the words of knowledge and great need we have to commit our selves to him and his word on this account that we mâ—y go from the presence of such foolish ones in whom we perceive not the lips of knowledg for these or many of them are very powerful to deceive For 1. The Ministers which Satan imploys as his instruments in sowing tares they are such many times as are very specious in their outward apperance they come unto you in sheeps cloathing saith our Saviour Mat. 7. 15. namely appear in their outward conversation as if they were of the sheep of Christ
sanctified and made meet for the inheritance 1. What it is to sanctifie and who they are that are sanctified To sanctifie and to be sanctified in Scripture signifies these two things 1. To separate a person or thing from common and profane use and so from uncleanness and filthiness as it usually signifies in our types of old So Hezekiah commanded the Levites to sanctifie themselves and to sanctifie the house of the Lord and to carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place and accordingly they sanctified it by carrying out the uncleanness out of it as is signified 2 Chron. 29. 5 15 18. and so the sanctifying the people it was a separating them from those things that we e provâ—king in the eyes of God or forbidden by him Lev. 20. 2 8 a severing them from the pollutions and manners of the Nations whom the Lord cast out Levit. 20. 23 26. 2. To set aparâ— forthâ— Lord and for his pâ—culiar use and service any thing or person a devoting or dedicating it to the Lord that it may be his aâ—d unto him as were the Priests and Levites and â—emple c. So setting apart unto the Lord answers to and is the same with sanctifying unto him Exod. 13. 2 12. So here They are said to be sanctified who are cleansed from the errors and polluâ—ions of this world and devoted to the Lord separated from uncleanness and set apart for the Lord such as come out from among men and are separated and touch no unclean thing Such as in the light and strength of God's promises do cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. 7. 1. and so the sanctified are such as are daily turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God Act. 26. 18. 2 Tim. 2. 21. such as so receive the grace of God as to redeem them from all iniquity and to purifie them unto him a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2. 11 12 14. 2. The means whereby God in Christ by his Spirit doth sanctifie as to persons I mean that are come to years of capacity are 1. The chief and principal medium is the word of his grace in which is declared and commended to us the free grace of God in the blood of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is said to sanctifie with the washing of water by the word even with the kindness and love of God our Saviour Eph. 5. 26. and so he is said to wash in his blood in which the love of God is commended and men are said to be sanctified with the blood of the Covenant Rev. 1. 5. Heb. 10. â—9 that is the blood of sprinkling whereby the heart is sprinkled from an evil conscience and the conscience from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 10. 22. 9. 14. and so they are said to be sanctified by the Spirit in the testimony and so by the Word 2 Thes 2. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Joh. 17. 17 19. Act. 26 18. and these three agree in one 1 Joh. 5. 6 8. And indeed the principal means whereby men may be sanctified born again and saved now it is by discovering and commending the love of God to mankind in lifting up the Son of man by the Spirit in the testimony So our Saviour signifies in answer to Nicodemâ—s when he asks How can these things be namely that a man can be born again in answer thereto he tells him As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up c. For God so loved the world of mankind that he gave his only begotten Son Joh. 3 5 9 14 17. So that which the Apostle preached in order to the sanctifying of the Corinthians who were unholy and prophane the first thing he delivered to them was that Christ died for their sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and tells them they were washed sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus even in and by that good report of him in which the Father's love was manifested and by the Spirit of our God Compare 1. Cor. 15. 1 4. with Chap. 6. 10 11. So the Apostle signifies that the means whereby he and other believers were saved from their ignorance disobedience and serving divers lusts it was by the appearance of the kindness and love of God our Saviour to man-ward which is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 3 6. It is not the Law as a Law of works or any observance thereof by men or indeavouring to frame their hearts thereby to love God and men and to avoid the evils forbidden that is the way or means whereby God doth sanctifie nor is the Law first to be preached to the effecting this sanctification though men may seek to sanctifie themselves and purifie themselves thereby and in so doing account themselves Saints and be so accounted by others yet these are none of God's Saints or sanctified ones but these shall be consumed together Isa 66. 17 nor is it any peculiar manner of love to mens persons in a personal consideration first discovered to or working in men before they believe that is the means for effecting this sanctification but it is done by the Spirit in glorifying Christ and therein commending God's love to the world sinners and ungodly ones Act. 26. 18 23. this is the supream means 2. And in subsâ—rviency and â—ubordination to the former he doth also cleanse and wâ—sh with afflictions even with the manifold trials and temptations which he is ordering to men while it is called to day in which he is also purging and causing the scum to swim aloft that by this men might be purged and that the iniquity of his Jacob might be purged Isa 27. 9. that he may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from him Job 33. 17 19. then he sheweth men their work and their transgressions that they have exceeded he openeth also their ears to discipline and commandeth them to depart from iniquity Job 36. 8 10. and sheweth unto men the vanity of their idols in which they have been trusting and by which they have been lifting up themselves according to that When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth surelâ— every man is vanity Psal 39. 11. He then sheweth that all flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of the field even all their wisdom strength goodness c. and so is cleansing and purging them from their sins and idols that they may live to him and bring forth more fruit Joh. 15. 2. So the Apostle saith he chastens us for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 10. that we may be delivered from our filthiness for stripes