with and relinquish them and with this eye-salve in the testimony of Christ we may see Therein all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light the light doth faithfully discover them in their right and proper colours to the end we might stand up from them and might flee from our iniquities and idols Ephes 5. 11-14 And indeed the holy Spirit that breatheth in this testimony doth in and with glorifying Christ and discovering the transcendent excellency of him shew unto us also the sinfulness of sin and the emptiness of all those objects in which naturally we are seeking rest and on which we are placing our affections that we might turn from our vanities unto him who is worthy to be cleaved unto by us So when the Lord by the Prophet saith Behold they are all vanity their works are nothing their molten images are wind and confusion He then addeth Behold my Servant whom I uphold c. Isa 41. 27-29 42. 1. The holy Spirit in glorifying Christ and taking of his things and shewing unto us doth therein and therewith convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment and teacheth the believers all things and leadeth them into all truth Joh. 16. 8-14 In bearing witness of Christ and in his testimony the holy Spirit sheweth unto us the odiousness of our sins that we might see and behold it that we might abhort and abominate them in that God hath taken such vengeance on them in the person of his son who knew no sin Though God testified of him that he was his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased yet when but the guilt of our sin was imputed to him he spared him not but condemned our sin in his flesh It pleased the Lord to bruife him He did put him to grief Isa 61. 2. Rom. 8. 3-32 Isa 53. 10. This seen and beheld by us would help us to abhorr it and say How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein Rom. 6. 1-3 And here may we also see the necessity of our being washed here-from in that he is become such a fountain through his blood for cleansing us Zech. 3. 1. And it was his very end in being manifest that he might take away our sins 1 Joh. 3. 5. He bare our sins in his own body on the tree not that we might live any longer thereto but that we being dead to sin might live to righteousness 1 Pet. 4. 1 2. and chap. 2. 24. And in his cross and testimony we may also see the vanity of our idols and our vileness in serving them that we might turn there-from to God to serve the living and true God 1 Thes 1. 9 10. Here we may see the brutishness of our wisdome Now is the Judgment of this world saith our Saviour Here you may take a view and have a discovery of it in that those that were Princes of the World for wisdom crucified the Lord of glory and were also before his hour was come the greatest enemies to him and thought that their taking him out of the way and killing him would much have tended to their security when as on the contrary it brought and hastened destruction upon them Joh. 12. 31. 1 Cor. 2. 8. Joh. 11. 47 48. With Matt. 21. 39-41 Joh. 7. 45-49 Here may we see the unprofitableness of our works of righteousness in that he only could and hath brought in by his death and resurrection everlasting righteousness and there was no other way for the compleating it for us for if righteousness could have come by the law or by any other way whatsoever then Christ hath died in vain Gal. 2. 21. The Holy Ghost saith our Saviour shall convince the world of righteousness namely he shall shew and evidence the unprofitableness of all our works of righteousness and of all righteousness according to the law and that righteousness could not come by the works or sacrifices thereof in that he is gone to the Father and we see him no more He cometh no more down to suffer or offer sacrifice but his sacrifice is accepted of God so as he hath set him down on his own right hand Iohn 16. 10. with Hebr. 10. 1. 2. 11. 12. and he hath prepared righteousness for all men without the law as hath been said Rom. 3. 20-22 here we may also see the vanity and helplesness of the riches of this world in that we were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold They that trust in their riches and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth none of them can by any means redeem his Brother nor give to God a ransome for his own soul 1 Pet. 1. 19. Psal 49. 6 7. Here also we may see the emptiness and worthlesness of all the glory and honour of this world in that our Lord Jesus neither had nor would accept of it But he was rejected and despised of men a worm and no man a reproch of men and despised of the people All they that saw him laught him to scorn they did shoot out the lip they did shake the head Joh. 6. 15. Isa 53. 2-4 Psal 22. 6 7 8. Nor had he nor did he seek for the favour and friendship of this world but the world hated him because he testified of it that the works thereof were evil Joh. 7. 7. 15. 18-20 Yea in and by this one thing by this unction we may know all things that are needful to be known by us and see them in their right colours Hence the Apostle determined to know nothing in and unto all things but Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. And it is needful we should know the vileness of our sins and the vanity and unprofitableness of all those objects on which naturally we are placeing our affections and in which we have been seeking rest and satisfaction to our spirits 3. It was needful for them to see themselves and to see what manner of condition they were in and what manner of persons they were And to this end that they might see this needful it was they should anoint their eyes with this Eye-salve that they might behold themselves and know what state they were in They were at present very much mistaken they thought their condition was very good and that they were so happy that they needed nothing but this was the fruit of their blindness and ignorance for had they viewed themselves in the Testimony of Jesus they might have perceived it was far otherwise with them And indeed this is generally the fruit of mens blindness they are many times pure in their own eyes who are not washed from their filthiness Prov. 30. 12 13. Such fools are men that all their own ways are clean in their own eyes Prov. 16. 2. And they who have not the love of God in them yet think that eternal life appertaineth to them Joh. 5. 39-42 It is therefore a very ignorant and false saying
and everlasting Covenant Matt. 26. 28. Heb. 10. 29. 13. 20. 9. 15 16. Those great and precious promises appertaining to Life and godliness yea to this life and that to come are not only assured by the word of God and confirmed by his Oath which yet are two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye and therefore might quicken and encourage lukewarm ones to flee for refuge to lay hold on that hope set before them but actually made firme by the blood of the Testatour who is also in the virtue thereof raised and as the forerunner entred into Heaven and is the Mediatour of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament they which are called may receive the promise of the eternal Inheritance He Mediateth and maketh Intercession for the taking away the iniquities of those that come to God by him and that the contents of that Covenant may be dispensed to them according to their needs and capacities God hath promised and Christ hath actually said and is the Amen to them Rev. 1. 18. Heb. 8. 6. and 9. 15. It may seem in that Jesus Christ doth first describe himself by this title of the Amen that these likewarme ones did not keep in believing remembrance the promises and the firmeness and immutability of them and certainty of their performance according to the tenour of them being ratified by such precious blood and ascertained by such a faithful and true witness and therefore they grew sluggish remiss and indifferent and there was a great abatement of their former fervency either fearing they should be left in sufferings or not provided for or dispensed unto according to their wants and therefore to recover them he telleth them his name is the Amen The consideration hereof is powerful to stirr up to diligence and to recover us from our decays to cause us that we shall not be slothful but followers diligent followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises Heb. 6. 10 20. To strengthen us to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering and to consider one another to provoke to love and good works not forsaking the assembling of our selves together Heb. 10. 22 25. To ingage us to come out from amongst men and to be separate and not touch the unclean thing but to cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. 7. 1. if these exceeding great and precious promises given to the Apostles to minister and ministred by them in and with the glorious Gospel be in us received and entertained by us and abound if they be suffered to dwell richly in us and to have their perfect work so as we limit them not nor hold them in unrighteousness they make us that we shall not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ They will provoke us to flee from and escape the corruption that is in the world thorow lust and besides giving all diligence thereto they will inable and stir us up to add to our faith virtue courage zeal resolution of spirit magnanimity to be as bold as lions and to virtue knowledg that we may use our fervour and zeal aright and that not about meat and drink and days and places and gestures in which the kingdome of God consisteth not but in contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints and to knowledg temperance to have sober thoughts of our selves of our knowledg vertue parts gifts attainments and to be temperate in our use of and exercise about the things of this world in which there may be excess and in our joys and griefs thereabout and to temperance patience patiently continuing in well doing in faith in virtue in knowledg in temperance c. Patiently induring whatever reproches and persecutions we may meet with in walking in Christ and in the exercise of those efficacies of his grace and resting in the Lord and waiting patiently for him and to patience godliness worshipping him in the spirit and rejoycing in Christ Jesus and having no confidence in the flesh and imitating and following him as dear children according to the light and instructions of his grace and to godliness brotherly kindness loving the brethren with delightful and peculiar manner of love not pretending we are right worshippers of God while we are without brotherly kindness to those borne of him For every one that loveth him that begat loveth them also that are begotten of him For if a man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a liar for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen and to brotherly kindness charity that free manner of love which is exercised towards others not because of somewhat lovely and amiable in them but from an higher reason and motive even from the constraining operation of the love of God in Christ and thence to have fervent charity among our selves and to love all men To these things will these precious promises confirmed by such precious blood enliven and quicken us if they be suffered to dwell richly in us for hereby we shall be made partakers of the Divine nature in union and fellowship with it interest in it usefulness of it and conformity to it 2 Pet. 1. 4 9. Oh exercise we our selves to godliness to Christ who is the root and fundation of godliness for it is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. with chapt 3. 16. Oh! how effectual were the promises with the Patriarchs in former times when they were not so confirmed as now to make them forsake their Countrey Kindred and Fathers house To confess themselves strangers and pilgrims on the earth c. These believed caused Abraham the Father of the faithful not to consider his own body now dead neither yet the deadness of Sarah's Womb but was strong in faith giving glory to God and being fully perswaded that what God had promised he was able also to performe and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him who hath performed the promise made to the fathers in raising Christ from the dead who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Gen. 12. 1 3. Heb. 11. 13 16. Rom. 4. 16 25. with Act. 13. 32 33. Heb. 11. 17 19. The Apostle Paul to recover the Galatians from their wandrings setteth before them that Christ is the Amen to him the promises are made and in him confirmed and with him assured to those that receive him so as in being Christ's they are Abraham's seed and Heits according
whom shine ye as lights c. Philip. 2. 13 14 15 16. To the same purpose the Apostle Peter beseecheth the believers as strangers and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the Soul and to have their conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against them as evil doers they may by the good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. Mat. 5. 15 16. 4. This Raiment is said to be white to signifie unto us that it is raiment of praise and beauty of rejoycing and gladness it betokeneth and occasioneth joy and rejoycing as opposed to that clothing and those garments werewith persons usually cover themselves when they are in heaviness affliction and sadness and when they have cause of sorrow and mourning This appeareth to be the meaning of the expression in Eccles 9. 7 8 9. Go thy way eat thy bread with joy and drink thy Wine with a merry heart for God hath already accepted thy work even those works wrought in God in Immanuel Joh. 3. 21 let thy Garments be always white as a token of joy and mirth and let thine head want no Oyntment live joyfully c. And so on the contrary when men are mournful they walk in black as Mal. 3. 14. What profit is it that we have walked mournfully or in black And indeed this raiment is beautiful and joyous and that which may cause putter on and wearer of it to rejoyce at all times especially in that plenteousness of redemption in Christ through his bloud even the forgiveness of sins and in that everlasting righteousness which he hath brought in and compleated and which he giveth to the buyer Yea when they are in heaviness through manifold temptations yet believing what Christ hath done and is become they rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 6-8 Rom. 15. 14. 14. 17. This the Garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness which Christ is appointed to give to them that mourn in Zion Isa 61. 1-3-10 The beautiful Garments which Zion is called upon to put on and therefore to awake awake instead of those dirty dusty dejected ones wherewith they were clothed in times of affliction and sadness and in this they may rejoyce continually in that righteousness of Christ which shall never be abolished but shall remain for ever and ever and most fully shall they do so when they are made compleatly partakers of it Isa 52. 1 2-7 with Chap. 51. 4-9 So much is imported in that vote and desire Let thy Priests be clothed with righteousness with white ralment and let thy Saints shout for joy that only joy inwardly but outwardly also express and testifie it Psal 132. 9-10 So when in our types the Levites were arayed in white linen their work was with joyfulness to praise and thank the Lord because he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 2. Chron. 5. 12 13. And surely they have not oâ— by faith and in usefulness this white and and rejoycing raâ—ment that lye under discouraging and disquâ—ering sadness and heaviness as if there were no forgiveness in Christ for them no robe of righteousness prepared to cover the shame of their nakedness and who are complaining and judging and speaking hardly of the God of our righteousness instead or praising him and making mention of his righteousness even or his onely 5. VVhite raiment signifieth that raiment where with those that overcome are clothed and which God giveth to them that run with patience the race set before them as a token of his approbation of them and Testimony of his well-pleasedness with them So he that hath the seven Spirits of God saith He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment Rev 3. 4 5. And it is said VVhite robes were given unto every one of them that were slaâ—n for the word of God and for the Testimony which they held Rev. 6. 9-11 And they also who came one of great tâ—â—butation who shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them or any heaâ— Chap. 7. 9-7 And this is the raiment which the Lambs Wile hath on for the consummation of the Marriage with the Lamb and with which his victorious Army shall be arayed Chap. 19. 7 8-11-14 And this is that White raiment this Church and Angel is instructed to buy And to seek glory honour and immortality by a patient continuance in well-doing Rom. 2. 7. To them who forsake all for Christs sake that they may win him and follow him in the regeneration God now giveth the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ and the raiment of victorers by faith 1 Cor. 15. 57. 1 John 5. 4 5. And will give it compleatly in Spirit to them who are faithful unto the death and in the first resurrection they shall have it gloriously in Soul and body re-united On such like accounts this raiment is said to be white and such manner of instructions are contained in the expression 2. We have in the next place to inquire into and consider the end why this Angel and Church is counselled to buy this white raiment which is also a Motive and Argument used to stir up to fervency in buying viz. that thou mayst be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear in which end is signified unto us 1. That those that have not this excellent and durable clothing here commended and counselled to even the righteousness of God by saith and the fruits thereof those that part not with and suffer not the loss of all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ that they may win him and be found in him they have a shameful nakedness upon them This is true generally as with respect to all mankind as they are and while they reman in their natural estate and condition God did indeed at first make man in his Image after his likeness and gave him dominion over the works of his hands in this lower part of his Creation Gen. 1. 26 27. God made man viz. Adam and all mankind in him upright Eccles 7. 29. He Created them in righteousness and holiness Ephes 4. 23 24. Col. 3. 10. He made him a little lower then the Angels and Crowned him with glory and honour the Glory of God was upon him in that righteousness holiness purity innocency and integrity that was upon him and in that dominion given to him Psal 8. 5. Rom. 3. 23. 1 Cor. 11. 7. The Law of God was in his heart and there was in him a natural bent and inclination to love and live to the Lord his God with all his Heart Soul mind and strength and to love his neighbour as himself And then while they were in honour and in this upright and honourable condition though they were naked as with respect to any clothing or covering from without there was no shame upon them and they
And what may he not perswade those that are in ignorance to do And whither may he not lead them Through ignorance he prevailed with the Jews to prefer a murderer before the Prince of life and at last to kill him with wicked hands Acts 3. 14 15 17. 1 Cor. 2. 8. Through ignorance Saul was a Persecutour blasphemer and injurious and verily thought he ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus Acts 26. 9. 1 Tim. 1. 13. Through ignorance men worship stocks and stones and prefer vain things before Christ and those durable and most excellent treasures hid in him and are enemies unto and haters of him and of those that call upon his name Isa 44. 17-20 45. 20-22 John 15. 18-22 16. 1-3 Through ignorance men are establishing a righteousness to themselves Rom. 10. 2 3. Yea not to inlarge hereto while men are blind they are in a condition to sleight Christ and to follow all that is evil according to their proper inclination and to prefer their sins and idols before him When the Apostle giveth us an account of the sadness of the condition of himself and others before the Grace of God was received by them he first telleth us they were foolish Tit. 3. 3. As intimating to us that that leadeth to all that is evil This was doubtless a great cause of the evil found with this Angel and Church of undervaluing Christ and preferring other things before him to wit their blindness they had in a great measure lost or let go the knowledge and sight of Christ and of all other things as discovered in him which sometimes they had had All which shew unto us in some measure why it is needful for us to anoint our eyes with this Eye-salve that we may see And this instruction as thus spoken to may be usefully considered by us 1. To shew unto us the great evil and sad judgment of them who endeavour to bring men into and keep them in blindness and ignorance these are not like-minded after the example of our Lord Jesus who instructeth the blind to anoint their eyes that they may see nor like the Apostles who instructed the Believers to adde to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 6 3. 18. and endeavoured their helpfulness hereto But they are rather like to those thieves spoken of against whom the Lord was and is who did steal away his word every one from his neighbour Jer. 23. 29 30. Or like unto them unto whom our Saviour saith Wo unto you Lawyers For ye have taken away the key of knowledge Ye entred not in your selves and them that were entring in Ye hindred Luke 11. 52. They serve Satan's design and do his lusts 2. It sheweth unto us the wickedness and abominableness of that saying That Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion It may be indeed the Mother of that which they call Devotion to wit of their Idolatry and Superstition But of that which is true Devotion and Religion it is not but an enemy thereto and that which keepeth men there-from When the Believers to whom the Apostle Peter writeth were in darkness they then walked in lasciviousness lusts excess of wine revellings banquetings and abominable idolatries 1 Pet. 2. 9 10. with Chapter 4. 3 4. 3. And let it exhort us all to cry after knowledge and to lift up our voice for understanding and to apply our eyes to Gods testimony and not let that depart from them that we may look to Christ that we may be enlightened and our faces may not be ashamed Prov. 2. 1-6 4. 1-8 8. 10 11. 16. 16. I shall adde no more to this but to pray God to give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ to open the eyes of our understanding and to reveal Christ to us and there-through to make us willing for the excellency of the knowledge of him to suffer the loss of all things and to count them but dung that we may win him and be found in him and abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming Even so Amen Amen December 19. 1670. The End