saving of his house by which he condemned the World But you justifie the World as Israel is said to justifie Sodom Ezek. 16.51 Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy Sins but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done You differ more in your Pretences than in your Conversations whilst you are weak and not thoroughly moulded and commanded by Religion If you are overcome by Sensuality Pride Worldliness Envy and Malice wherein do you differ from the ungodly World but only in the Name and some little Grace which is buried under an heap of Sin 7. Your Hearts will never serve you to do any excellent things for God but you will betray his Honour upon all occasions by your Weaknesses and Infirmities either by foolish Opinions vain Desires carnal Projects or turbulent Practices These are only mastered by growth in Grace and God hath most Honour from the strong and fruitful Christian Iohn 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit Produce the genuine Fruits of Godliness and produce them in Plenty and you will mightily honour God in the World A Man acts most zealously and self-denyingly when the Love of God beareth Rule in his Heart 2 Cor. 5.13 14. For whether we be besides our selves it is for God or whether we be sober it is for your sakes for the love of Christ constraineth us There is none of us but might have acted much better and wiser and carried on our Profession more to the Honour of God if we had yielded more to the Sovereign Power and Empire of Grace 5. Use. Try whether God's Grace be decayed or increased in you If according to our years and standing we are advanced in the way to Heaven if for every year of our Lives we have passed a station of the Wilderness to Canaan if with the decaying of the Natural Life there hath been a growth of the Life of God in us 2 Cor. 4.16 Though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day Thus do God's People do go on from strength to strength 1 Thes. 4.1 Furthermore we beseech you brethren and exhort you by the Lord Iesus Christ that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more As you are nearer to the Grave are you a step nearer to Heaven Are we every day more careless than another or more serious What hath been our Proficiency A Man may be long at Sea yet make a short Voyage So it is with most Men they live long in the World but they make little progress Are we stronger in resisting Temptations to Sin from the Devil the World and the Flesh 1 Iohn 2.14 Ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one In bearing Afflictions and Molestations of the Flesh upon the hopes of another World Prov. 24.10 If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small In promptitude and readiness of Obedience Do you serve God with that readiness of Mind that will become Love to God and Faith in his Promises Heb. 13.21 The Lord make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Iesus Christ. 2. Doctrine From the term of this Motion Those that go on from strength to strength shall at length appear before God in Zion Here observe 1. The place Zion that is Heaven in this accommodative sense wherein I handle it Heb. 12.22 But ye are come unto Mount Zion the City of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem and unto an innumerable Company of Angels c. Now this is a glorious Place Ierusalem below was a beautiful City but much more Ierusalem that is above This World is a Valley of Tears wherein rueful Spectacles are presented to our Eyes woful News possess our Ears here is Sorrowing and Sinning but no such thing there all is quiet beautiful and glorious no woful Sound or sad Spectacle no dismal Rumors nor evil Tydings Sense will tell you what the outside is this spangled Roof over our Heads is but the Pavement of that Palace 2. The Company Every one They were travelling to Zion in distinct Troops but they all meet in one Assembly and Congregation So here we have but little Company by the way a straight Gate and a narrow Way and but few that find it But when all meet together there is an innumerable Company of Angels and the Spirits of just Men made perfect Heb. 12.22.23 All joyning as in one Choice to land and bless God in a Consort of Voices 3. Their Blessedness There they appear before God That is their Happiness They appear not in order to Doom but Fruition Not only before God as a Judge but as a gracious Father 1 Iohn 3.2 When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Cor. 13.12 For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then I shall know even also as I am known Here we know God by hear-say but see him not The fulness of our Joy is from the Vision and Sight of God All Sight of God transforming here 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord but there much more Here we are like him in Holiness and there in Happiness There is in God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. something happy something good and we shall be there like him in both Use. Let this beget Patience Rom. 8.18 I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory which shall be revealed in us Heaven will pay for all And let it also beget diligence 1 Cor. 15.58 Be ye stedfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Be always pressing on because of the high Price of your Calling The thought of the Prize should excite us to diligence A Sermon on 1 Cor. xi 26 For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lord's death till he come I Shall fall directly upon the Words without any Preface In them observe I. A Duty supposed II. The Purpose and End of it declared 1. The Duty supposed In it you may observe two things 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As often implieth a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it must be often for he doth not say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as often it should be very often Seldom Communions came into the Church upon the decay of Zeal 2. Both Elements are supposed to be used As often as
spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it 5. The Gracious Providences of God in leading on the Church to their Eternal Happiness Eph. 3.10 To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That curious variety and interweavings of Providence in bringing poor Creatures to Glory When we are on the Top of the Mount and we shall know as we are known then shall we see how variously he did confound the Wisdom of Men and Devils and led the Saints to Glory The Angels see more of God in this than in any of his other Works the state of the Church here upon Earth is the great Glass wherein God discovereth his Wisdom Power Goodness and Truth 6. The Final Glorious Estate of the Saints Christ shall be admired in them 2 Thes. 1.10 When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that Believe For Poor Dust to shine as Stars and to be admitted with Christ to judge the World even Evil Angels All Men shall be at last owned or disowned by Christ confessed or denied before the Angels as those that look after these things Luke 12.8 9. Whosoever shall confess me before men him shall the Son of Man also confess before the Angels of God But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the Angels of God Rev. 3.5 I will confess his Name before my Father and his Angels We may admire at these things 1 Iohn 3.1 2. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! Behold now we are the Sons of God and it doth not appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is III. The Manner How 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they desire to look into 1. It noteth an accurate Inspection to look towards so as to look through They understand more of these Mysteries than we do having no Mass of Flesh to clog them and obstruct the Operations of these Spirits as having no secular vanities to divert them as being so near God so intirely loving him because of the excellency of their Natures they have more advantage than we as the World wherein we dwell is more known to them than to us yet they are prying and should not we follow on to know the Lord Hos. 6.3 2. 'T is Earnest and Affectionate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they desire their hearts are in it Obj. Desire argueth a defect and the Angels that are in the Presence of God are in statu perfecto in a perfect State Ans. 1. In many things this Mystery exceedeth their understandings therefore they desire to know it more and more There is in the Angels understanding and Knowledge natural supernatural and experimental Their natural Knowledge reacheth to things that are belonging to the Perfection and Happiness of their Nature In supernatural things that depend upon the meer favour of God Angels know no more than God is pleased to manifest to them and so are ignorant of those things which God will not reveal and cannot be found out by any created understanding Their experimental Knowledge is by the accomplishment of Prophesies and what is foretold concerning the State of the Church here upon Earth as Christ learned Obedience by the things he suffered Heb. 5.8 So might Angels learn more when they saw Christ born dye and rise again the Spirit poured out the Devil dispossessed the Gospel Kingdom erected 2. Some defects are perfective as hungring and thirsting after Righteousness proveth Blessedness Mat. 5.6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled As Gregory Et satiantur sitiunt ne enim sit in desiderio anxietas desiderantes satiantur ne sit in satietate fastidium satiati desiderant They are satisfied with what they desire to prevent anxiety and trouble and they desire that with which they are satisfied to prevent satiety and loathing It is a sweet thirst not a painful dissatisfaction such as quickens but not pains Desire is an Act of Love the Object of it is dear and esteemed So the Angels they are desiring and enjoying Sitientes satiabimur satiati sitiemus As in Heaven the Saints desire more of God because they are not weary of him 3. They look upon it so as to be ready to discharge their Ministry about it As the Cherubims were figured with out-stretched wings over the Mercy Seat as ready to be imploy'd in Gods Errand so the Angels look into these things We find them ever ministring about Christ in his Temptations and Agonies in his Grave and at his Ascension So are they ministring about the Saints whom these things do concern Heb. 1.14 Are they not all ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be Heirs of Salvation The Angels do so look into the things purchased for us by Christ that they are helpful to us in them according to the Will of God IV. The Reasons 1. Negatively 1. Not Curiosity that cannot be imagined in these Blessed Spirits Now Curiosity is either First In the Matter when we pry into secret things which we cannot nor ought we to see into Col. 2.18 Intruding into those things which he hath not seen Those things wherein the Mind of God is not known or understood But God revealed himself to the Angels concerning the Salvation of man they being so often imployed in the Prediction and Discovery of those things that concerned the coming of Christ and Salvation by him They were the Messengers to carry the glad-tydings of it to the Patriarchs and Prophets Gabriel informed Daniel and talked with him concerning the seventy Weeks Dan. 9.21 22 23 24. After which the Messiah should be cut off God used their Ministry to instruct the Church in all the Acts of his Mediation the Angels comforted Christ in his Temptations and Agonies The Angels brought news of his Birth Luke 2.10 And the Angel said unto them Fear not I bring you good tidings c. When tempted they ministred to him Mat. 4.11 Then the Devil leaveth him and behold Angels came and ministred to him In his Agonies they strengthen him Luke 22.43 There appeared an Angel to him from Heaven strengthning him When he was buried and in his Grave they rolled away the Stone Mat. 28.2 The Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and rolled back the Stone from the door Where he lay in the Sepulchre there were two Angels in White sitting the one at the Head and the other at the Feet where the Body of Iesus had been John 20.12 At his Ascension Acts 1.10 11. Two men stood by them in white Apparel which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven c. Therefore this was
Son of God Rom. 1.4 Declared to be the Son of God with Power by the Resurrection from the dead The true Messiah and Judg of the World Acts 17.31 Because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judg the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the dead If he had been an Impostor neither could he have raised up himself being a mere Man nor would God have raised him up for we cannot imagine that Divine Providence would cooperate to countenance a Lie or Cheat. As then you would not be found Enemies to Christ in his Imperial Day give him Glory and Dominion If you slight him you despise one that is evidently declared to be the Son of God and there is no Medium either he must be your loving Saviour or your terrible Judg. If you neglect him he will not be the first-born from the dead to you nor the first-Fruits to you The first-Fruits did not bless the Tares or the Cockle or Darnel or filthy Weeds but only the good Corn though raised again you shall be by his Judicial Power Again he is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth and therefore highly to be respected Respect to great Ones and fawning upon great Ones is the practice of all the World all will seek the Ruler's Face As all Rivers run to the Sea so do all the Respects of the World to the Great and the Mighty And is not the Son of God worthy of our Respects that is sat down at the right Hand of Majesty above all If we did live by Faith as much as by Sense we would see it is our Interest as well as our Duty to honour Christ we would not fear a mortal Man that can threaten us with a Prison but Christ who can threaten us with Hell nor be dismayed at the Frowns of Men when Christ smiles Who would not fear thee O Lord and glorify thy Name Rev. 15.4 We would yield up our selves to be his willing Subjects and obey his Laws who can reward us not with Temporal Dignities but Eternal Life The Authority and Power that all others have is but derived from Christ and subordinate to him therefore if he smiles whose Frowns need we fear He is the one Law-giver that hath Potestatem Vitae Necis Power of Life and Death he is able to destroy absolutely and you may be safe in his Protection Well then if we consider what he is he deserveth everlastingly to be honoured II. What he hath done for us He loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood And there we begin First With the Fountain and Bosom-cause of all and that is Christ's Love To him that loved us 1. Christ's Love is the Ground of Man's Redemption that stirred all the Causes and set them a-work that concurred to this End Other Attributes were manifested in the Redemption of Mankind as God's Wisdom Power Justice Holiness but they are all subservient to Love but Love is at the upper end of all Causes subservient to nothing but it self If you ask a reason of other things it may be assigned but if you ask a reason of his Love that cannot be given but from it self If the question be Wherefore did God discover such Riches of Wisdom Goodness and Power for the saving poor worthless Creatures He loved us Iohn 3.16 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Wherefore did Jesus Christ submit to such bitter Agonies such an accursed Death He loved us Ephes. 5.2 Walk in Love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling Savour Ephes. 5.25 Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it And Gal. 2.20 Christ liveth in me and the Life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me But now put the question Wherefore did he love us Love only is the reason of it self He loved us because he loved us Deut. 7.7 8. The Lord did not set his Love on you nor choose you because ye were more in number than any People c. but because the Lord loved you 2. As it is the Fountain-Cause so it was that Property that shined forth most conspicuously in the Work of Redemption Rom. 5.8 God commendeth his Love toward us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us And therefore this is that which we should most admire and be ravished with in our Thoughts Here next to the Description of the Excellency of Christ's Person the first thing mentioned in the Doxology it self is this To him that loved us This is a comfortable Word as if Jesus would be described and known by nothing so much as by his Love What was the Son of God but Love incarnate Love born of a Virgin Love conversing in the World and preaching Salvation to poor Sinners Love going about and doing Good Love relieving the Diseased and the Possessed curing the Deaf and the Dumb and the Blind and the Lame and finally Love dying and hanging on the Cross God is Love 1 John 4.8 The Angels in Heaven adore this Love tho Spectators not Parties interested he came not for their sakes but ours only We have a little notional knowledg of it but could we once find the saving Effects of God's Love in Christ impressed upon our Hearts by the Spirit how would you be melted and ravished and ever be thinking what Glory and Honour you might bring to him that thus loved you You and I may discourse of it it is not a few cold Thoughts of the Love of Christ will work on us but the shedding of this Love abroad in your Hearts by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 There is no Knowledg like the experimental Knowledg which ariseth from the felt and known Effects of this Love this would awaken your Hopes fill you with solid Comfort excite you to your Duty 2 Cor. 5.14 For the Love of Christ constraineth us However till you have this the Means you must use are sound Belief and serious Consideration 1 st Imbracing by Faith the Love of God in Christ and the good things prepared by it as they are revealed and offered in the Gospel That is the way to get this fuller Insight and experimental Knowledg and Feeling of this Love for so the Apostle prayeth Ephes. 3.17 18 19. That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by Faith that ye being rooted and grounded in Love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the Breadth and Length and Depth and Height and to know the Love of Christ which passeth knowledg 1 John 4.16 We have known and believed the Love which God hath to us God is Love and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him 2 dly The serious Contemplation and
God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Iesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant Ver. 21. Make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his Sight through Iesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen In 1 Sermon p. 686 2 Chron. 32.25 But Hezekiah rendred not again according to the â—enefit done unto him for his Heart was lifted up therefore there was Wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem In 1 Sermon p. 694 Luke 22.31 And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat Ver. 32. But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren In 1 Sermon p. 703 Heb. 1.9 Thou hast loved Righteousness and hated Iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oil of Gladness above thy Fellows In 1 Sermon p. 711 Acts 24.14 Believe all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets Ver. 15. And have Hope towards God which they themselves also allow that there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Iust and Vnjust Ver. 16. And herein do I exercise my self to have always a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man In 2 Sermons p. 720 Zech. 14.20 In that Day shall there be upon the Bells of the Horses Holiness unto the Lord and the Pots in the Lord's House shall be like the Bowls before the Altar Ver. 21. Yea every Pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be Holiness unto the Lord of Hosts In 1 Sermon p. 737 John 3.14 And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up Ver. 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal Life In 1 Sermon p. 745 1 Thess. 5.16 Rejoice evermore Ver. 17. Pray without ceasing In 3 Sermons p. 756 Mark 2.17 When Iesus heard it he saith unto them They that are whole have no need of the Physician but they that are sick I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance In 1 Sermon p. 782 Psal. 8.2 Out of the Mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained Strength because of thine Enemies that thou mightest still the Enemy and the Avenger In 1 Sermon p. 787 Josh. 6.26 Cursed be the Man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this City Jericho he shall lay the Foundation thereof in his First-born and in his youngest Son shall be set up the Gates thereof In 1 Sermon p. 793 Micah 6.5 O my People remember now what Balak King of Moab consulted and what Balaam the Son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal that ye may know the Righteousness of the Lord. In 1 Sermon p. 801 Isa. 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the Voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and hath no Light Let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God In 1 Sermon p. 809 2 Sam. 7.27 Therefore hath thy Servant found in his Heart to pray this Prayer unto thee In 1 Sermon p. 816 Psal. 51.5 Gather my Saints together unto me those that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice In 1 Sermon p. 825 Psal. 127.3 Lo Children are an Heritage of the Lord and the Fruit of the Womb is his Reward In 1 Sermon p. 833 Philip. 4.8 Finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good Report if there be any Vertue and if there be any Praise think on these things In 1 Sermon p. 840 Luke 19.14 But his Citizens hated him and sent a Message after him saying We will not have this Man to reign over us In 1 Sermon p. 846 Luke 2.52 And Iesus increased in Wisdom and Stature and in Favour with God and Man In 1 Sermon p. 855 Philip. 2.7 But made himself of no Reputation In 1 Sermon p. 860 1 Cor. 8.3 But if any Man love God the same is known of him In 1 Sermon p. 868 Psal. 84.10 For a Day in thy Courts is better than a thousand I had rather be a Door-keeper in the House of my God than to dwell in the Tents of Wickedness In 1 Sermon p. 877 Luke 19.10 For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost In 2 Sermons p. 883 Psal. 90.1 Lord thou hast been our Dwelling-place in all Generations In 2 Sermons p. 895 1 Tim. 6.9 But they that will be rich fall into Temptation and a Snare and many foolish and hurtful Lusts which drown Men in Destruction and Perdition In 1 Sermon p. 908 1 Pet. 1.12 Which things the Angels desire to look into In 1 Sermon p. 917 Gal. 5.5 For we through the Spirit wait for the Hope of Righteousness by Faith In 1 Sermon p. 927 2 Pet. 3.9 The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise as some Men count Slackness but is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance In 1 Sermon p. 934 Rom. 10.5 For Moses describeth the Righteousness which is of the Law that the Man which doth those things shall live by them Ver. 6. But the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above Ver. 7. Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead Ver. 8. But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach Ver. 9. That if thou shalt confess with thy Mouth and shalt believe in thine Heart that God hath raised him from the Dead thou shalt be saved Ver. 10. For with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness and with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation In 2 Sermons p. 942 1 Cor. 8.6 But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him In 1 Sermon p. 958 2 Cor. 4.18 While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal In 2 Sermons p. 969 Luke 16.25 Son remember that thou in thy Life-time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented In 1 Sermon p. 984 1 Cor. 13.4 Charity suffereth long and is kind Charity envieth not Charity vaunteth not it self is not puffed up Ver. 5. Doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no Evil Ver. 6. Rejoiceth
when his Lust was satisfied Imperfections that before lay hid then appear to view and so our Affections are confuted by Experience But there the more we enjoy God the more his Infinite Perfections are manifested and our Pleasure is augmented by our Enjoyment 3. There is a compleat Union with God and Fruition of him 2 Cor. 5.6 Knowing that whilst we are at home in the Body we are absent from the Lord. Phil. 1.23 I am in a strait between two having a Desire to depart and to be with Christ. Here we are united to Christ by Faith but that is nothing to Sight and immediate Intuition we lay hold upon Christ but have not such an absolute Possession of him He is a Head that gives out himself not by Necessity but Choice and Pleasure therefore our Communion with Christ is not so perpetual and familiar as it shall be then As an Iron that lieth long in the Fire seemeth to be changed into the Nature of it so we are then more conformed and changed into the Likeness of Christ Psal. 16.11 In thy Presence is fulness of Ioy at thy Right-hand there are Pleasures for evermore All Comforts in this Life we enjoy in God's Absence and have them at the second third and fourth hand by the Ministration of the Creatures Sun Moon and Stars or by the Ministry of Men. Now these are not Vessels capacious enough to convey so much of God to us as we shall receive when God is All in All immediately 1 Cor. 15.28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be All in All. There is no Temple nor Ordinances in Heaven but the Lamb is the Light thereof We shall enjoy God without Means or intervention of Ordinances We are fed among the Lillies but it is but till the Day break and the Shadows flee away Cant. 2.16 17. My Beloved is mine aend I am his he feedeth among the Lillies until the Day break and the Shadows flee away turn my Beloved and be thou like a Roe or young Hart upon the Mountains of Bether Secondly The Happiness of his Relations and Society In our Company we shall be blessed God and Christ and Saints and Angels Heb. 12.22 23 24. But ye are come unto Mount Sion and to the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Iudg of all and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect and to Iesus the Mediator of the new Covenant c. We shall see God in Christ the bodily Eye that cannot look upon the Sun shall be perfectly glorified and strengthened tho it cannot see the Essence of God yet it shall see greater Manifestations of his Glory than it is able to behold here How will the Father welcome us as he welcomed Christ Psal. 2.8 Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession So he will say to us as Mat. 25.21 Well done thou good and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the Ioy of thy Lord. We shall come into his Presence with Shame Sin causeth Shame and maketh us shy of God but as the Eye cannot endure the Light if it be wronged so a wronged Conscience makes us afraid of the Presence of God but when we shall be perfectly sanctified and Sin shall be done away we shall be able to stand in the Presence of God So as to Christ he cannot be contented without your Company and you should not be satisfied without his John 14.3 And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and take you to my self that where I am there ye may be also O what a joyful meeting will there be between us and our Redeemer it will be much sweeter than the Interview between Iacob and Ioseph Christ longeth for the blessed hour as you do The wise Men came from far to see him in a Manger Zacheus climb'd up the Tree to see him riding to Ierusalem There will be another manner of Sight of Christ in Heaven than there was of him in the days of his Flesh. When Ioseph discovered himself to his Brethren and said Gen. 45.4 I am Joseph your Brother what rejoycing was there much more will there be Joy in Heaven when Christ shall say I am Jesus your Brother your Saviour your Redeemer when he shall lead us to God in a full Troop and goodly Company and say Behold I and the Children which thou hast given me Heb. 2.13 what a blessed Sight will that be Then as to the Angels what Welcome will there be between you and them When Christ entred into Heaven they entertained him with their Applauses and Acclamations Psal. 24.11 Lift up your Heads O ye Gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting Doors and the King of Glory shall come in So will they welcome the Saints to Heaven with Acclamations They delight in the good of Men in their Creation Redemption Conversion so surely will they delight in the Glorification of a Sinner And as to the Saints your Acquaintance with whom you have prayed suffered and familiarly conversed Memory is not abolished in Heaven but perfected Those whom we knew here we shall know again A Minister shall see his Crown and the Fruit of his Labours 1 Thess. 2.19 You are our Crown and our Ioy. And those which have been relieved by us shall welcome us into Heaven who therefore are said to receive us into everlasting Habitations Luke 16.9 Yea we shall know those that we never saw why else is it made a part of our Priviledg to sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 8.11 As Adam knew Eve as soon as he saw her and in the Transfiguration Peter knew Moses and Elias who were dead many hundred Years before so shall we know one another certainly we shall not go to a strange People where we know no body As Men at a Feast are free and familiar with one another we shall be discoursing of God's Wisdom Mercy and Justice in the Work of Redemption So did Moses and Elias talk with Christ Luke 9.30 31. Behold there talked with him two Men which were Moses and Elias who appeared in Glory and spake of his Decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem Of the wonderful Providence of God in conducting us to Glory as Travellers in their Inn take Pleasure in discoursing with one another of the Dirtiness and Dangers of the Way The Saints are clothed with Majesty and Glory more lovely Objects than ever they were upon Earth and here is an innumerable Company of them With what Joy were the Disciples wrap'd when they saw but
the Fruit of his Sufferings When Christ was about to die he made his last Will and Testament Heaven was his by Purchase to bestow upon all his Heirs He had bought it at a dear Rate therefore now he shews what he would do with it Iohn 17.24 Father I will that those whom thou hast given me may be where I am that they may behold my Glory And then he is gone to Heaven again as our Harbinger to prepare a Place for us Ioh. 14.2 I go to prepare a Place for you to take up Mansions and Rooms for us in his Father's Palace He is gone as a Guardian or Feoffee in trust to seize upon Heaven in our Right to keep it during our Non-age and he will come again in Person as the Husband of the Church to bring us into his Father's House with Triumph therefore it is said Rev. 4.10 That the Elders did cast their Crowns before the Throne not as despising their Glory but as professing their Homage and Dependance and Rev. 5.8 9. The four Beasts and four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb c. saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood His Abasement was for our Preferment and therefore even here upon Earth may we bless God for the Elders represent the Church upon Earth for his great Mercy to us in Christ. 3. Consider how much we are engaged to God the Spirit who fits and prepares us for this happy State and seals up our Interest to us therefore it is called the Earnest of the Spirit Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God who also hath given to us the Earnest of the Spirit 2 Cor. 5.5 The Holy Ghost shapes and fashions all the Vessels of Glory fits and prepares them for Heaven It is the Spirit of God dwelling in us that wrought us and fits us for this great and blessed Hope therefore when-ever you think of it your Hearts should be raised in Thanksgiving It is not only their Duty to praise God that are in actual possession of Glory but ours also to whom these Hopes are revealed Rev. 5.8 There was a mixture of Harps and Vials full of Odours which are the Prayers of all Saints Compare this with Vers. 11. And I beheld and heard the Voice of many Angels round about the Throne and the Beasts and Elders Not only Angels and blessed Spirits but Saints on Earth all join in Consort praising the Lamb. We must praise the Lord in the time of our Pilgrimage for this great Estate reserved for us in Heaven 3. It informs us how desperately wicked the Hearts of sinful Men are that can run the hazard of eternal Death and forfeit this blessed Hope of eternal Life for a little carnal Satisfaction Survey all the Temptations of the World how much they come short of it If the Heart were not desperately wicked we would not be carried out to these things What is Vain Glory to Eternal Glory What are a few dreggy Delights to those Pleasures which are at God's right Hand for evermore What are the Riches of the World to our glorious Inheritance You would count him a mad Gamester that would throw away whole Lordships and Mannors at every Cast. A Sinner forfeits a blessed Hope that is above all the Kingdoms and Possessions of the World It is for this you will be the Scorn of Angels at the last Day Psal. 52.7 Lo this is the Man that made not God his Strength but trusted in the abundance of his Riches and strengthned himself in his Wickedness This will make you ashamed in the great Congregation that you were so foolishly bent to your own Ruin Nay this will torment you for ever nothing torments Men more than their foolish Choice Conscience will for ever tell them with what disadvantage they have forsaken God for a thing of nought Disappointment to a reasonable Creature is the worst vexation and what Disappointment is more than to be disappointed of our glorious Hopes and that for Trifles and a little carnal Satisfaction This will be our Shame and Torment to all Eternity We may guess at the gnawings of Conscience in the Damned by the Horrors of carnal Men when they come to die O then how do they bewail the Folly of their Choice O that they had been as mindful to serve God as to provide for the World as careful to satisfy the Motions of the Holy Ghost as to satisfy a Lust and carnal Desire When they are on a Death-bed and upon the Confines of Eternity then all worldly Comforts cease and there is a real confutation of the folly of their Choice a Sting then begins that never ceaseth Jer. 17.11 At his End he shall be a Fool. When he comes to die his Conscience will rage and call him Fool Beast and Mad-man for hazarding such eternal Joys for a Trifle 4. It informs us of the Excellency of the Gospel or Christian Profession Wisdom should be justified by her Children And all that do profess Religion should see the Excellency of it what there is in their Beloved more than in another Beloved Cant. 5.9 This there is in the Christian Religion there are purity of Precepts Psal. 19.7 8. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the Simple The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoicing the Heart the Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the Eyes Then there is sureness of Principles of Trust and Dependance established between us and God that we may depend upon God with Comfort and Satisfaction there do you find rest for the Soul Ier. 6.16 Stand ye in the Ways and see and ask for the old Paths where is the good Way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your Souls Then there are no such Rewards any where as in the Christian Profession 2 Tim. 1.10 Life and Immortality are brought to Light by the Gospel The Heathens had Dreams of Elizium Fields and Mahomet tells his Followers of a sensual Paradise but Life and Immortality is a Revelation proper and peculiar only to the Gospel The Heathens were at a loss for the Reward of Vertue Austin out of Varro gives us an account of 288 Opinions concerning Happiness and the chief Good of Man but now here is all brought to Light we may look beyond the Grave now and there is not such a Mist and Darkness upon Things to come God having acquainted us with the Gospel Nay there 's more revealed than was in the time of the Law If God had still kept this Secret in his own Bosom what a Support should we have wanted in our Trouble what Encouragement to the practice of Holiness O therefore prize the Gospel it is the Charter of your blessed Hope 5. It informs us what little cause we have to be slack in God's Work or to
glorify us his Coming is sutable to his Work that is visible in Power and great Glory therefore it is said Col. 3.3 When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in Glory Christ is to have all first and we at second-hand when he comes in Grace Iohn 17.19 For their sakes I sanctify my self that they also may be sanctified through the Truth So we must be glorified at second-hand first Christ and then we 4. Christ comes not simply to glorify us but to bring the Saints to Heaven with the more State O Christians remember Christ thinks he can never do you Honour enough Christ doth not send for us but he will come in Person Iohn 14.3 I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Look as the Bridegroom comes with the Youth and Flower of the City to bring in his Bride in State so Christ brings the Flower of Heaven all his holy Angels to conduct us in State to our everlasting Mansions 5. He comes in Glory that all Creatures might see his Glory to the full Men and Angels were made for this Spectacle that they might behold the Glory of Christ. It was evidenced in part at the Resurrection Rom. 1.4 And declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the Dead But that was but a private and more covert Declaration to the Jews and when it was published to the World in the Gospel many believed not We have the spiritual Evidences of it to Faith but not to Sense and Sight But now the Personal Union shall fully and undeniably appear which before appeared but in part he is now declared to be the Great God 6. His Appearing shall be glorious because then Christ shall have the full Conquest over all his Enemies Some of his Enemies are still let alone for our Exercise Satan is not destroyed The infernal Spirits are held with the Chains of an irresistible Providence and shall then be brought trembling into the Presence of Christ Jude v. 16. The Angels which kept not their first Estate but left their own Habitation he hath reserved in everlasting Chains under Darkness to the Iudgment of the Great Day They are now in expectation of greater Doom and Terror Mat. 8.29 Art thou come hither to torment us before the time The good Angels come forth as Christ's Companions the evil Angels as his Prisoners The Saints shall judg Angels as well as Men 1 Cor. 6.3 Know ye not that we shall judg Angels Christ will have his People come and set their Feet upon the Necks of their Enemies for the present God hath a Ministry for them But tho the Devils now tempt trouble and molest the Saints for their Exercise yet then the Saints shall triumph over them when they shall be brought like Captives into Christ's Presence Vse 1. For Information in two things 1. That Humility is the way to Glory This Lesson we learn from the two Comings of Christ first in an humble manner and then in a glorious manner The Devils aspired after Greatness they would be great and not good The fallen Angels set us an ill Copy but Christ came to set us a better He came not from Heaven to teach us to make Worlds and work Miracles but to teach us to be humble and lowly Mat. 11.29 Take my Yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Heart The way to spiritual Preferment is to be low and vile in our own Eyes as the Ball that is beaten down riseth the higher 2. We learn what cause we have to be patient under present Abasement Jesus Christ is contented for a while to lie hid and not to shew himself in all his Glory till the End of the World In the Days of his Flesh he was trampled upon by wicked Men and now he is in Heaven he is despised in his Gospel in his Cause and in his Servants tho his Person be above Abuse but he is content to tarry till the Day of Manifestation when he will appear in all his Glory so should we Vse 2. 1. Here is Comfort to the Godly To you Christ's Appearance is glorious but not terrible it is as Light but not as Fire the Trumpet sounds but it summons you to be crowned The Sign of the Son of Man shews your Lord is come it is as the Shadow of the Husband before his Person appeareth this is your Jesus Certainly they that have an Interest in him will not be afraid of him foâ— his Angels are your Guardians his Saints your Companions his Appearance is to pronounce your Pardon a Crown shall be set upon your Heads in the face of all the World That which is so formidable and dreadful to our Thoughts in it self is all comfortable to a Child of God Christ came as God but still in the Humane Nature as your Brother if he be glorious it is for your sakes that you might be like him he comes as a Pattern of your Glory 2. Here is Terror to them that lie in their Sins How can they hear of these things without Astonishment You that despise the still-Voice when God speaks to you by the Angel of the Church what will you do when you hear the Great Trump which will be an Alarm to Death and Execution Your Avenger is come Christ's Sign is not Light but Terror to you If you tremble not you are worse than Felix an Heathen for Felix's Heart trembled when he heard of Judgment to come Acts 24.25 he had a more tender Conscience Nay such as do not they are worse than Satan for the Devils fear and tremble Iames 2.19 Loose and carnal Persons scoff at that at which Devils tremble It is storied of a King that wept when his Brother came to him being asked the Reason O saith he I that judg others must be judged my self Shall not I tremble at the great Trumpet that shall awaken the Dead O take Sanctuary in Grace 3. Here is Advice to All. It is a good check to Sin it stays the boiling of the Pot. Remember when thou art in the carreer and heat of thy Lusts for all these things God will bring thee to Iudgment Eccles. 11.9 Whenever thou sinnest thou art entring into the Lists with Christ as if thou wert stronger than he But Man canst thou grapple with him then it is an Engagement to Repentance When Iacob heard Esau was coming with a great Power and Force against him he sends to make Peace with him You have heard that Christ comes in a glorious manner and will be terrible to his Enemies Let us compromise all Difference between us and God O go and make Peace with him it is Christ's own Advice Luke 14.32 Or else while the other is yet a great way off he sendeth an Ambassador and desireth Conditions of Peace And repent saith the Apostle that your
mixtures of Infirmity I cannot say there was nothing of Murmuring and Dislike the muttering or saying this among themselves seems to inferr it they durst not make Christ conscious to the Question for it is in the Text They said among themselves that is they muttered privately and so it argues there was something of dislike 3. This weakness was not to a prevalent Degree so as to make them take offence and depart from Christ as we find others did upon the like Occasion when Christ had preached something strict and contrary to their Humour Iohn 6.60 61. Many of the Disciples when they heard this said This is a hard saying who can hear it When Iesus knew in himself that his Disciples murmured at it he said unto them Doth this offend you VVhat and if you shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before c. And from that time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him Ver. 66. Now these thô they were astonished at the strangeness of the Doctrine of Christ yet they did not reject or refuse the belief of it There was more of anxious Solicitude but somewhat of muttering VVho then can be saved Doct. VVhen the Difficulties of Salvation are sufficiently understood and laid forth we shall wonder that any are or can be Saved I shall prove 1. That it is a Difficult thing to be Saved 2. Wherein the Difficulty of Salvation doth lye 3. Shew how this ought to be seriously minded and regarded by us that it is such a difficult thing to go to Heaven I. That it is a Difficult thing to be Saved Christ sheweth that Matth. 7.14 Strait is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it The way to Heaven is somewhat like that which is described 1 Sam. 14.4 And between the passages by which 〈◊〉 sought to go over unto the Philistines Garrison there was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side So is our way to Heaven a strait Way between Rock and Rock here is the Rock of vain Presumption and there the Rock of Despairing Fears Indeed the Text tells us of two things the Gate strait the way narrow The Gate is strait the Entrance into Religion hard there must be Repentance and bewaâ—ing our former Sins the working up the Heart to a fixed Resolution against Sin and a serious dedicating our selves to God O how hard is it to pass thrô this Gate And then there 's a narrow Way full of Difficulties to Corrupt Nature our Lâ—sts are impatient of any restraint and we are loth entirely to give up our selves to do and suffer God's Will So Matth. 11.12 The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force It is no wonder that Earthly Kingdoms are surprized by Violence but it is strange that the Kingdom of Heaven should suffer Violence how shall we understand this Violeâ—ce doth not signifie unlawful Attempts but earnest Diligence It is not an Injurious Violence such as snatches at Earthly Crowns but the Industrious Violence a Resolution to break through all Impediments and take no Nay no Discouragements can much abate our Edge and take us off from our pursuit of the Heavenly Kingdom So 1 Pet. 4.18 A Righteous Man is scarcely saved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with much ado he gets to shore he makes a hard shift to get to Heaven This is enough to intimate the General Truth that there is difficulty to get to Heaven II. Wherein lyes the Difficulty of Salvation The Reason of doubting is this Because God's Terms upon which Heaven is offered are gentle and sweet Mat. 11.30 My Yoke is easie and my Burden is light The Law which God hath given us is Holy Just and Good becoming a God to give and a Creature to receive Rom. 7.17 The Law is holy and the Commandment is holy and just and good A Law such as a Man would choose if he were at Liberty and at his own Option and Choice Therefore how is it so difficult especially since there is so much strength given habitual strength Eph. 2.10 We are his workmanship created in Christ Iesus unto good works We are fitted by his Grace and there is so much Actual strength I can do all things thorough Christ which strengtheneth me Phil. 4.13 God is no Pharaoh to require Brick where he gives no Straw And therefore since the way is so Good his Yoke so easie and there is so much Strength given and since the Encouragements are so many both from the Work and from the Wages From the Work it self Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace Prov. 3.7 There is a great deal of Peace Comfort and sweetness in walking with God as those that travelled to Sion Passing thrô the valley of Baca make it a well the rain also filâ—eth the pools Psal. 84.6 So they meet with many comfortable refreshings in a Course of Godliness And then for the Wages God is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11.6 Well then to sum up all these things concurr Since the Way is plain the Helps many the Promises full and sure why is it so difficult to go to Heaven I Answer The fault is not in God but in our own selves in our own Hearts in our addictedness to Temporal Satisfactions And therefore when God calls us off from the Interests and Concernments of the present World wholly to look after the Interests and Concernments of the World to come the disposition of our Flesh or Carnal Nature and the Course of God's Institutions will not suit And this must needs be a very great Difficulty not easily removed Because 1. It is Natural to us 2. It is encreased by Custom 3. Iâ— hath a powerful Efficacy upon us to hinder us from walking in the ways of God that are so sweet and pleasant 1. This is Natural to us to be led by Sence or to be addicted to present things There are three sorts of Beings in the World Angels that are pure Spirits without Flesh these were made for Heaven and not Earth There are Bruit-Creatures that are Flesh without Immortal Souls these were made for Earth and not Heaven And there is Man a middle Nature between both these that hath a fleshly Substance and an Immortal Soul made partly for Heaven and partly for Earth as partaking of both he hath a Body that was made out of the Dust and so fitted to live in this World and he hath a Soul that came down from the Superiour World and must return thither again Now these two things must be regarded according to the Dignity of the parts of which Man consisteâ—h his Earthly part and his Heavenly part The Soul being the better part the Perfection and Happiness of it should chiefly be looked after the Good of the Soul is the Enjoyment of the ever blessed God this should be our main
Work and Business and the good of the Body should be looked after in an inferiour and subordinate manner The good of the Body is Meat Drink Wealth Honour these things are to be look'd after in our passage to Heaven The Good of the Soul is the Chief Good and so should be looked after as our Great End and Scope and the Good of the Body minded only as a Means Man was made for Earth in his passage and way to Heaven but his Home and Happiness is in Heaven where he is to enjoy the Blessed God among his holy Angels and those Blessed Creatures that dwell above in the Region of Spirits This was the End for which Man was Created and while Man continued Innocent he had a Heart enclined and disposed towards God as his chiefest Good he sought the Good of his Soul and was to Love him and Fear him and Serve him and Depend upon Him as the Fountain of his Happiness But by the Fall Man was drawn off from God to the Creature to seek his happiness there They have forsaken the Fountain of living waters and hewed them out Câ—sterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water Jer. 2.13 Not only Adam in his own Person but all his Posterity are turned from God to the Creature Now Man in his pure Naturals is enclined to the Creature which conduceth to the Satisfaction of the Earthly part and not to God wherein the happiness of his Soul lyes This will be evident to you if you consider that thô the Soul be Created by God yet it is Created destitute of Grace or Original Righteousness and being destitute of the Image of God or Original Righteousness it doth only accommodate it self to the Interests of the Body and seek the happiness of the Body For where there is not a Principle to carry us higher it can only close with things present and known such as are the pleasures of the Body and the Interests of the Bodily Life and so forgets God and what concerns the Enjoyment of him And so it is said Rom. 8.5 They that are after the flesh do mind or favour the things of the flesh and they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit Therefore take Man in his pure Naturals as destitute of Grace his Soul forgets it's Divine Original and so conforms it self to the Body and only seeks it's Welfare and Happiness and thence proceeds all our mindlesness of God and averseness to him our unruly and inordinate Appetites of Temporal things and the Confusion Weakness and Disorder that is seen in the Life of Man and all his Operations and Faculties Hence comes that dullness and slowness that is in his Understanding to conceive of Spiritual things his acuteness in Back and Belly Concernments He that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off 2 Pet. 1.9 He is sharp-sighted in all things that concern the present World but cannot see things to come and until the Lord make a gracious Change upon him he sees nothing of the worth of Salvation or of a need of Christ and making any serious preparation for Eternity Hence comes that averseness of Will to what is truly Good that he cannot endure to hear of it Rom. 8.7 The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be And while the Soul is so it hath such a bent and proneness to that which is evil or what concerns our Interest in the World Hence it is that our Memories are so frail and slippery as to that which is good and so tenacious of that which is evil Good things easily slip from us as clear water thro' a Grate but Evil things as slime and mud stick with us Hence comes his Affections to be like Tinder to take Fire at the spark of every Temptation the Affections are awakened and stirred presently but in Holy things they are like Fire in wet Wood that needs much blowing and much Excitation Hence it is that in the Course of our Lives we take up with the Interests of the present World and make no provision for a better Life We are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God 2 Tim. 3.4 and forsake God for the present World 1 Tim. 4.10 Demas hath forsaken us having loved the present world Well then by a Natural Constitution we are utterly at a Loss the Soul being destitute of a Principle that should carry it to look after Spiritual things as it 's great Scope and Interest it â—holly purveys and caâ—ers for Bodily Pleasures and the Honours and Profits of the present Life Herâ— lyeth the great Difficulty in the way of Salvation 2. This Addictedness to present things is encreased by our Converse in the World So that besides Natural Inclination there is inveterate Custom whereby this Inclination to Carnal Satisfactions such as Riches Pleasures Easâ— Safety and Sensual Delights is strengthened and deeply engraved in us The first Years of a Man's Life are meerly governed by Sense and the Pleasures of the Flesh are born and bred up with us by which means we come to be stiff and settled in a Carnal Frame Custom is another Nature and therefore the more we are accustomed to delight in any Course of Life we are weaned from it with the greater difficulty Ier. 13.23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye also do good who are accustomed to do evil Every Act disposeth the Soul to the Habit and after the Habit or Custom is produced every new deliberate Act adds a stiffness of bent or sway unto the Faculty wherein the Custom is seated So that by degrees we grow into an Obstinacy and strength of Will in a Carnal Course which is called hardness of Heart or a Heart of stone in Scripture A Man is ensnared by his Customs whatever they be for an Addictedness in the General to Carnal Satisfactions brings a Slavery upon us So if Men be addicted to this or that Carnal Satisfaction it brings Slavery upon them as a Man that is given to Wine Tit. 2.3 Not given to much wine The word in the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ensnared by Wine or a Man that is given to Women 2 Pet. 2.14 Having eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease from Sin Men by the Tyranny of Custom become so Impotent to resist their Lusts that the satisfaction thereof becomes their very Element out of which they cannot live It is their Eden and their Heaven their very Paradice tho' at length indeed they find it to be their Hell And of all evil Customs Covetousness or Worldliness is most dangerous because it is of more Credit and of less Infamy in the World and besides it doth multiply it's Acts most and works uncessantly And therefore we read of Hearts exercised with covetous practices 2 Pet. 2.14 Their Hearts are always running on the unworthy things of this present World Now while
Exaltation of Christ is as it were his welcom to Heaven God doth as it were take him by the hand and set him upon the Throne after all the sorrows of his Humiliation as we welcome a Stranger or a Guest whose coming is pleasing to us by taking him by the hand and bringing him into our Couses So is Christ exalted by the Right Hand of God and welcomed into Heaven as having done his work and made full provision for the Glory of God and the Obedience of the Creature as we are also received into Glory after we are guided by his Counsel Psalm 73.24 Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory And then all Tears shall be wiped from our Eyes 2. The Terme the oyl of gladness implyeth it for that was the entertainment of Honourable Guests invited to a Feast We see it practised to Christ by one Woman Luke 7.37 And behold a woman in the city which was a sinner when she knew that Iesus sate at meat in the Pharisees house brought an alabaster-box of ointment And by another Matth. 26.7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster-box of very precious ointment and poured it on his head as he sate at meat And the Psalmist speaking of Gods Festival Entertainment Psalm 23.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies thou anointest my head with oyl Another mention of this practice is Psalm 104.15 Wine to make glad the heart of man and oyl to make his face to shine All these places and many more in the Scripture allude to the custom of pouring some fragrant precious Ointments on the Heads of Guests of special Eminency called the oyl of gladness because the use of it was to exhilarate and chear the Spirits Now because this was an extraordinary respect paid them this Phrase came at length to signifie the prefering one above another and so it is fitly applyed to Christ whom God hath dignified above all Men and Angels in that he hath received Power Spiritual and Divine above what was communicated to any other 3. The Persons anointed 1. One singular in this Unction the Lord Jesus Christ. There are two sorts of Priviledges 1. Some things only given to Christ not to us as the Name above all Names to be adored Phil. 2.9 To be the Head of the Renewed state Ephes. 1.21 the Saviour of the Body Eph. 5.23 To have power to dispense the Spirit to administer Providences c. All this is proper to Christ neither Men nor Angels share with him in these Honours 2. There are other things given to Christ and his People as the sanctifying and comforting Spirit the Heavenly Inheritance Victory over our Spiritual Enemies the Devil the World and the Flesh These are given to us and him only God doth grace his Son above his Fellows Rom. 8.29 That he might be the first born among many brethren He must have the Honour due to the First-born Anciently the First-born was Lord of the rest of the Family Gen. 27.37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esan Behold I have made him thy Lord and all his brethren have I given to him for servants And also the First-born gave the rest of the Brethren a share of the Fathers Goods reserving to himself a double Portion Deut. 21.17 He shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the first-born by giving him a double portion of all that he hath for he is the beginning of his strength the right of the first-born is his Christ being the First-born he must in all things have the preheminence In our Conflicts and Tryals he is the captain of our salvation Heb. 2.10 In Holyness he is our Pattern or the Copy which we must transcribe 2 Cor. 3.18 Are changed into the same image from glory to glory Primum in unoquoque genere est mensura regula caeterorum The first in every kind is the Standard for all the rest In our Glory and Blessedness he is our fore-runner Heb. 6.20 having actually taken possession of that Felicity and Glory which he will bestow upon his Followers so that Christs Honour is reserved and Believers are comforted whilst they follow their Head in every State and Condition 2. Others are admitted to be partakers of this Grace in a lower degree called his fellows They are also dignified and graced by God above the rest of the World but not as Christ was Two things I will observe here 1. They must be his Consorts and Followers Sometimes they are called his brethren Heb. 2.11 Sometimes Members of his Mystical Body Eph. 1.22 23. Sometimes joint-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 Meaning thereby all Believers who are Companions with him both in Grace and Glory Thus we must be before we partake of this anointing Actus activorum sunt in passivo unito disposito They that receive influence from another must be fitted for what they receive and united to him from whom they receive it Therefore none but Christs Members and Fellows do partake of his Unction But who are they All such as are like minded with himself that love Righteousness and hate Iniquity that set themselves seriously to promote the Glory of God and to destroy the Reign of Sin in the World both in themselves and others In short those that are Regenerated and planted into his Mystical Body by the Spirit 2. The next thing which I observe is That all these may have somewhat of this Unction according to their measure and part which they sustain in the Body 1 Iohn 2.20 But we have an unction from the holy one compare Psalm 133.2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard even Aarons beard that went down to the skirts of his garments The Ointment poured upon our head in such plenty that it diffuseth its self to all his Members God is the Author thereof 2 Cor. 1.21 Now he that stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God It is a Divine work but the Pipe or Means of conveying it to us is Christ who is the great Receptacle from whence the whole Family is supplyed Iohn 1.16 Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace And it mainly consisteth in the gift of the Spirit sanctifying and preparing us for our present work and final reward and comforting us with our present Interest in the Love of God and hopes of Glory 2 Cor. 5.5 Now he that hath wrought us for this self-same thing is God who also hath given unto us the earnest of the spirit VSE I shall exhort you to Two things 1. To Holyness 2. To get more of the Oyl of Gladness 1. To Holyness If there were no more than that it is pleasing to Christ and visibly exemplified in his own Person this should induce us It was love to Holiness and hatred of Sin that brought him out of Heaven and put him on the work of our Redemption Nothing doth
Head of the wicked State Sentence was past before and the Devil feareth it Matth. 8.29 Art thou come to torment us before the time He was condemned before but then the Sentence is fully executed upon him he is finally punished and shall for ever remain among the damned 2. Non ratione malitiae not in regard of Malice and Enmity for the Enmity ever continueth between the two Seeds and Sathan will ever be doing though it â—e to his loss 1 Iohn 3.8 He sinneth from the beginning and therefore he is not so destroyed as if he desired not the ruine and destruction of Men. He is as malicious as ever He is alwayes at the old trade of destroying Souls and watcheth all advantages to that end and purpose 2 Pet. 5.8 The Devil like a roaring lyon goeth about seeking whom he may devour 3. Then affirmatively it remaineth that it is Ratione potentiae in regard of Power but how far is his power destroyed For still he governeth the wicked and possesseth a great part of the World The Devils are called Eph. 6.12 Rulers of the darkness of this world The Gods of the Heathen Idolatrous Superstitious World and still he molesteth the Godly whether considered singly and apart or in their Communities and Societies Singly he may sometimes trouble them and soarly shake them as wheat is tossed to and from when it is winnowed in a Sieve Luke 22.31 or in their Communities and Societies The Devil by his Instruments may soarly distress them Psalm 129.1 2. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth upward that is from the beginning of their being a People unto God or else corrupts them 1 Cor. 11.3 I fear least by any means Sathan should corrupt you and therefore we must see how far his power is destroyed I Answer 1. It may be considered either 1. With respect to Christ the Author of our Deliverance Or 2. With respect to Men who are the Subjects of this Deliverance or the Persons delivered 1. With respect to Christ our Deliverer 1. There is enough done by way of Merit to break the Power of Sathan or that whole Kingdom of Darkness which is united under one Head called the Devil The Price and Ransom is fully paid for Captive Souls and there needeth no more to be done by way of Merit and Satisfaction to dissolve that woful work which Sathan hath introduced into the World Col. 2.15 He hath spoiled principalities and powers triumphing over them on his cross 1 Iohn 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Both these places shew there is enough done for the benefit of particular Believers and for the success of the Gospel over false Religions He hath devested evil Spirits of their Power thrown them out of their Temples silenced their Oracles he hath made it publickly discernable by the suâ—cess of the Christian Religion in the World he hath purchased the power of recovering Souls out of their Apostacy at a dear rate 1 Pet. 1.18 We are not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold but with the precious blood of the Son of God Well then the value of the Blood of Christ is sufficient 2. Christ is upon the Throne and we are under his protection Therefore the Devil cannot totally prevail over those that have an Interest in him either as to single Believers Iohn 10.28 And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand Or to their Communities and Societies Matth. 16.18 Vpon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it The Gates of Hell signifie their Power and Policy there was their Armory and there they sate in Counsel Christ expecteth their most fierce and furious assaults but all should be to no purpose but as the dashing of the waves against a Rock which ends in foam and the shame of the Oppressors and Assailants So that besides his Merit on the Cross there is his Power in Heaven where he is to rule in the midst of his Adversaries Psalm 110.1 Sit at my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool There he is exalted in that Humane Nature which he had assumed to the highest pitch of Glory Majesty and Authority 3. Though there be not a total destruction of the Kingdom of Sathan yet it remaineth in an absolute subjection to the Throne of the Mediator The Kingdom of Sin and Sathan are so far destroyed as not to hinder Gods great Design the Demonstration of Mercy to the Elect and to be subservient to the Demonstration of his Justice towards others who either contemn or neglect the Remedy offered that the Elect may obtain though the rest be hardned 2 Thess 9 and 13. Even him whose coming is after the working of Sathan with all power and signs and lying wonders c. But we are bound to give thanks alwaies to God for you brethren because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth 4. Christ will in time destroy all opposite Reigns and Kingdoms some sooner other latter but there will be an Universal and Absolute subjection to Christ at the day of Judgment when Infernal Spirits shall bow the knee to him Isa. 45.23 compared with Phil. 2.10 He hath given him a name above every name that at the name of Iesus every knee shouâ—d bow And Rom. 14.10 11. The Mistery of Iniquity will then be finished and come to nothing and the Saints shall judge the Evil Angels 1 Cor. 6.3 that is when they are crowned they shall pass Sentence against the Evil Spirits But in the mean time you will say we are assaulted Therefore 2. With respect to Men who are to be delivered so Sathans Power may be considered with respect to single Persons or his Interest in the corrupt World 1. As to single and individual Persons So Sathans Power over them is by reason of Sin which was introduced into the World by his Subtilty and Malice Now these may be considered with respect to Conversion and Confirmation 1. Conversion When the Reign of Sin is broken they are rescued out of Sathans hands Col. 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the power of Sathan and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son And Acts 26.18 To turn us from darkness to light and from the power of Sathan to God Luke 11.21 When a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted 'T is the fruit of his Victorious Grace As long as Sin reigneth Sathan is in peaceable possession For when he had lost his Seat in Heaven he affected to set up a Throne in the Hearts of Men and to Lord it over them as his Slaves But now the reign of Sin is broken when he puts an Enmity into your Hearts against
shew much love but their Heart goeth after their covetousness Other sins distract us in duty but none so often as this by vain musings upon worldly advantages this always runneth in the mind night and day when alone 2. By the vehemency of your desires Unnatural praedatorious heats argue a distemper We may lawfully desire earthly things we carry about earthly bodies that stand in need of earthly sustentation We have an Earthly House to support 2 Cor. 5.1 and are subject to the common necessities of an Earthly life And therefore surely God that hath given us these Earthly Bodies doth allow us to seek Earthly things in a moderate way But now when these desires are so vehement that they grow to a perturbation and impatiency of check they argue this immodest Will to be Rich. Rachel might lawfully have desired Children But when it cometh to Give me Children or I die then the desire is depraved and inordinate So when we are disquieted by our desires and are full of murmurings if we want and of envious repining at those that have worldly things and they always sollicite us to more and one degree of estate draweth us on to more it is an evil disease and it must be looked to in time or else it will be baneful to the Soul Then you are gain-thirsty as the expression is Psal. 10. when there is such an eager pursuit after it and you are so greedy upon worldly things Desires are but vigorous motions of the Will and do discover the bent and purpose of it They are the Pulses of the Soul As Physicians judge by Appetite so may you by desires when the Soul is carried out by such an unsatisfied thirst and like the Horse-Leeches Daughter crieth Give give Prov. 30. Gods People as an argument of their sincerity plead their desires and the longings of their Souls after God Our desires are to the remembrance of thy name Now your desires run another way and still they increase upon you with your enjoyments 3. By the uniformity and constancy of your indeavours A serious choice and bent of will is always accompanied with invincible resolutions they will use all means and break through all difficulties wit and time and strength is all ingaged upon this design that you may compass an estate That argueth the fixed bent of their Heart Luk. 16.8 The Children of this World are wiser in their Generation than the Children of Light By Wisdom in their Generation is meant a dexterous prosecution of their ends and purposes Now when Men are dull and slow and backward in holy things but their whole Souls run out upon temporal profits it is the Sphere of their activity and the business that their Hearts are set upon here Men turn and winde and try every course and so it is constantly with them A good Man is unwearied and diligent in the pursuit of Heavenly things Phil. 3.11 If by any means I might attain unto the Resurrection of the Dead He goeth from this Ordinance to that and is ever waiting upon God and is sagacious to spy out advantages of spiritual increase the Sphere of his activity he is confering praying reading hearing meditating But now a worldly Man is always exercised in covetous practices 2 Pet. 2.14 Having Eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease from sin beguiling unstable Souls an Heart they have exercised with covetous practices What a stir and a bustle do they make to increase their Estates They have the Spirit of the World A Sermon on 1 Pet. I. 12 last clause Which things the Angels desire to look into THere are two things for which the doctrine of the Gospel is commended to us the truth and the worth of it 1 Tim. 1.15 verum bonum This is a true and faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation The Happiness of the Intellect lieth in the contemplation of Truth and the happiness of the Will in the enjoyment of Good In Innocency this was represented by the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge And possibly under the Law by the Candle-stick and the Table of Shew-bread I shall not now speak of the Truth of the Gospel but of the worth of it The scope of the Context is to shew the worth of that Salvation which is the end of the Christian Faith To commend it the Apostle produceth the instance of the Prophets and of the Angels 1. Of the Prophets verses 10 11 12. Of which Salvation the Prophets have inquired and searched diligently who Prophesied of the Grace that should come unto you Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when it testified before hand the sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow Vnto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did Minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preach'd the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven When the Prophets foretold it they viewed and reviewed their own Prophesies that they might be more thoroughly acquainted both with the thing and the time They Prophesied of other things the rise and downfal of great and mighty Monarchies and Kingdoms but these were not the things they enquired after so diligently but the sufferings of Christ and the glory which shall come to us Well then if those to whom the Holy Ghost did dictate these mysteries did so accurately search into them what should we delight in and study upon but the Gospel 2. Angels themselves did look into the excellency of this Grace and Salvation offered to us in Christ they can never be satisfied with the Contemplation of it nor wonder at it enough nor rejoice at it enough Which things the Angels desire to look into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth to bow the Head and stoop that we may take a more narrow view of the thing which we would see Luke 24.12 Peter ran unto the Sepulchre and stooping down he beheld the Linnen Cloaths lying by themselves So Iohn 20.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And he stooping down and looking in saw the Linnen Cloaths lying And in the 11 verse Mary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we render it she stooped down and looked into the Sepulchre And probably there is an Allusion to the Type of the two Cherubims over the Mercy Seat which were figured bending their faces towards it Exo. 25.20 Their Faces shall look one to another toward the Mercy Seat shall the Faces of the Cherubims be As desiring to pry into the Mysteries represented there Doct. That the Mystery of Redemption by Christ is an Object worthy of the Contemplation and Admiration of the Angels themselves I shall illustrate this Argument by examining these Circumstances 1. Who 2. What 3. How 4. Why. I. Who desired the Text saith the Angels There are two sorts of them some good and some bad some that fell away and stood not in the Truth others that are called
the Elect Angels 1 Tim. 5.21 Now which of these are we to understand Not the Evil Angels to be sure for since the Fall they are called Devils not Angels singly without a note of Distinction This was an Holy Desire of an Holy Object of which those damned Spirits are not capable It is a burden to them to think of God and Christ they abhor their own Thoughts of God Iam. 9.19 The Devils also believe and tremble And Christs Presence was a torment to them Mat. 8.29 What have we to do with thee Iesus thou Son of God! art thou come to torment us before the time They cannot please themselves nor find such a delight and full satisfaction in the view of these Truths Therefore it is meant of those good Angels that behold the face of God and Minister in his presence they are beholding wondering and rejoycing at the mysteries of the Gospel There are two kinds of Creatures made after the Likeness of God Angels and Men and they are seated and placed in the two Extremities of the World the one in Heaven and the other on Earth in the Highest and Lowest Story of the Universe that at both ends of the Creation there might be some to glorifie him and acknowledge his Excellencies Alas here with us in the lower part of the World how few take notice of the glorious discoveries of God in any of his Works especially in the work of Redemption So that all Gods Preparations and Expences seem lost as to the Honour and Service which he might justly expect from us But there is another World where this mystery that is so little regarded here is more thought of and better studied even by the Blessed Angels Creatures more excellent and more numerous than Mankind who are always glorifying God and admiring his Excellencies upon this account As we behold the Sun that shineth to us from their part of the World so do they behold the Son of Righteousness from our part of the World even Jesus Christ the Lord in all the Acts of his Mediation 1 Tim. 3.16 Without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels That is beheld with Wonder and Reverence God needeth not to Court us with such importunity he hath Creatures enough to glorifie him ten thousand times ten thousand Angels that stand before his Throne and know more of God than we do and are more ready to praise him II. What The Text telleth us which things that is those things spoken of in the Context 1. The Person of the Redeemer the most glorious Object that can be looked upon or taken into the Thoughts of any Creature The view of this is now our Comfort and will be our Happiness to all Eternity Iohn 17.24 Father I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me When we are in Heaven on t'other side of the World that will be our Work and our Happiness but it must not be wholly omitted here So the Angels delight in the Person of the Redeemer it is their rejoicing to look upon Christ in whom the Glory of God shineth forth more admirably than in any other of his Works Yea I shall go one Strain higher God himself delighteth in looking upon Christ Prov. 8.30 There was I by him as one brought up with him I was daily his delight in the Hebrew it is day day one day after another God never satisfieth himself enough in this yea God delighteth in Christ as Mediatour Mat. 3.17 This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteâ—â— It is the ground of his gracious aspect upon us As Holy he delighted in all his Works and was refreshed at the view of them Gen. 1.31 And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good compared with Exo. 31.17 In six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed Well then this is one thing which the Angels look upon the Person of Christ the most lovely Object to be thought of figur'd in the Mercy-Seat or cover of the Ark who interposed between the Law and God Christ is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Propitiation that is Christ Incarnate 2. The way of Redemption verse 11. The Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow And therein the sweet Harmony and Concord between Infinite Mercy and Infinite Justice that both might have full satisfaction This is figured in the Mercy-Seat Gods reconciling himself to Man by Christ Rom. 3.24 25 26. Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Iesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of Sins that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his Righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Iesus 3 Another thing spoken of in the Context is the Grace that should come to us verse 10. Gods keeping familiar Correspondence and Communion with Poor Creatures in and through Christ 1 Iohn 1.3 And truely our Communion is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ. The dwelling of our Nature with God in a Personal Union a thing which Angels may wonder at since God abaseth himself to behold things in Heaven or things on Earth Psal. 113.6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and in the Earth His Majesty and All sufficiency is so great that he might justly despise the Angels of whom he standeth in no need Now that he should stoop so low as to look after poor crawling Worms and admit them to such intimacy with himself this Commerce between God and the Inhabitants of the lower World is matter of wondrous delight to the Angels 4. The Mission of the Spirit here just before the Text the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven and then presently it followeth which things the Angels desire to look into viz. The Copious Effusion of Gospel Grace Before the price was paid when God gave out Grace upon Trust 't was more sparingly dispensed but now more plentifully since the price of Redemption is actually paid The Angels are ascending and descending present with the Churches in their Holy Worship When the Spirit was first poured out the Men that were Conscious to it were all surprized with wonder Acts 2.7 They were all amazed and marvelled saying one to another Behold are not all these that speak Galileans And surely the Angels see cause to glorifie God for his Gifts and Graces bestowed on the Church It was done in the sight of Angels Eph. 4.8 When he ascended on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men compared with Col. 2.15 And having
lives because you do no more warm your hearts with these thoughts Gentlemen leave off the reading vain Books and Romances they that have found the saving effects of God's Love will do so Ephes. 3.18 19. That ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge This will be for our comfort Rom. 5.5 Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given to us It will quicken us to holiness if ever we feel the love of God 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of Christ constraineth us 3. It informeth us of the Harmony between the Churches Between the Old Testament Church and the Christian Church John 8.56 Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad Luke 10.24 I tell you that many Prophets and Kings have desired to see those things which ye see and have not seen them and to hear those things which ye hear and have not heard them The times of the Gospel would to them have been a sweet sight they ardently desired to see Christ in the flesh And between the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant they join together in admiring Christ. Saints and Angels have one Beatitude beholding the face of God therefore they join in one duty looking on Christ. VVe shall one day meet in one Assembly Heb. 12.23 VVe hope to be Luke 20.36 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Like the Angels VVe should do as they do if we would be as they be 4. That Creatures busie their thoughts as they are affected Base Spirits are busied about light matters but Eagles will not stoop to catch Flies nor Angels employ themselves in inferiour and mean speculations but they have a great delight in acknowledging the manifold VVisdom of God in the Work of Redemption Great Spirits are taken up with things of great weight and importance Acts 17.11 These were more noble then they of Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether these things were so whilst others quench their Souls in sensualities they are for the Divine Study these were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is not meant of Natural Nobility but Spiritual True Nobility and Excellency which lieth in a care of Salvation not in wearing fine Cloaths or enjoying plentiful Revenues or good Descent but in the study of Christ not in greatness of Birth but Diligence in searching out the Mysteries of Salvation that is Nobility indeed not to enslave our selves to the Opinions of Men and their Customs 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a price be not ye the servants of Men. Not to wallow in Earthly Pleasure but seek things above Col. 3.1 If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Phil. 3.20 For our conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ. Not to be overcome by a Man's Passions and Corrupt Affections Prov. 16.32 He that is slow to anger is better then the Mighty and he that ruleth his own Spirit then he that taketh a City Prov. 25.28 He that hath no rule over his own Spirit is like a City that is broken down and without Walls These Noble Spirits will not yield to Lusts. Vse 2. To Reprove 1. The slightness of Men and to confound us with shame that we do no more take care to look after this Happiness that we do so unwillingly think of these things or set a-part our selves for the study of them Shall we slight these things which Angels wonder at Some will scarce vouchsafe to look into these things scarce think or talk seriously of them whilst their Minds and Discourses are taken up with baubles and trifles Angels are more noble Beings nearer to God they are not the parties interested we have particular benefit by them Matt. 22.5 But they made light of it They would not let it enter into their care and thoughts We are bound to this under pain of Damnation 't is not a thing arbitrary Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Bewail your stupidness that you have so slight a sense of these things Meditation I know is painful work it is very difficult but the sweetness of the Argument should perswade us to it 2. It reproveth that satiety that is apt to creep upon us Why should we be weary of searching into these Holy Mysteries What is the reason of this satiety First We search for them out of curiosity or content our selves with meer speculations which is an Adulterous love to truth not to get an interest in them John 4.10 If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee Give me to drink thou wouldest have asked and he would have given thee living water Secondly We do not look upon them with the eye of Faith Ephes. 3.17 18. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge Our embracing by Faith is a good means to make this study effectual Thirdly They content themselves with a superficial view but do not make an accurate inspection We do not know it so as to stand wondering at it in all its dimensions Ephes. 3.18 That ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth Breadth whereby it is extended to Men of all Ages and Ranks Matth. 28.20 Lo I am with you always to the end of the World 1 Tim. 2.4 Who will have all Men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth Length whereby it reacheth from eternity to eternity Psal. 103.17 The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting Depth It stoopeth to our lowest misery Christ delivered us from the depths of misery and sin Psal. 86.13 Thou hast delivered my Soul from the lowest Hell And there is Heighth in it whereby it reacheth to Heavenly Joys and Happiness John 14.3 If I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Study those several respects and ways wherein it is manifested till you are ravished with the thoughts of it draw solid comfort hope and quickening from it Psal. 39.3 While I was musing the fire burned 4. It reproves those that onely study it but do not get an interest and experience of the comfort of it otherwise it is a cold story 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious There is Christ revealed to us and Christ revealed in us then is there sweetness in these truths Gal. 1.16 It pleased God to
reveal his Son in me 5. It reproves those that marr their Saviour with fleshly lusts and are distracted with hunting after the pleasures and profits of the World Rom. 8.5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh They that were invited to the Feast they made light of it and went their ways one to his Farm another to his Merchandise Matth. 22.5 They do not value the Glory of God and the true Interest of their own Souls Vse 3. Is to perswade us to search into and meditate upon these blessed and glorious Mysteries surely if the Angels desire to look into these things they much more are propounded to our admiration and delight because we have more need by reason of the imperfection of our knowledge and these things do more concern us because we are the parties interessed Needless Speculations we may well spare The things which concern our Redemption by Christ are our own affairs and our greatest and most necessary affairs to know our threatned Misery to prevent it and our promised Happiness to obtain it What we must doe and what we must be for ever is that business which we must most attend upon Here I shall enquire 1. VVhat 2. How 3. VVhy First VVhat the Person of our Redeemer and the work of Redemption 1. The Person of our Redeemer is a point of great concernment to be often thought upon The frame of Nature is set as a Glass wherein to behold and admire God Rom. 1.20 For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead Much more the Person of our Redeemer for we best behold God in the Face of Iesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ Wherein we see God in our Nature and as Head over all things to the Church and as our Lord and Saviour God is most honoured in his greatest Works as the Sun doth more honour him than a Star and a Star than a Plant or Herb and Pile of Grass So the Person of Christ doth more set forth God than either Man or Angel or any thing besides Heb. 1.3 Who being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the brightness of his glory and the express Image of his Person As God sets forth more of his glory in him so he expecteth it from him and by him We are always looking at our own benefit but we do not look at God's Glory nor what of God is discover'd in Christ in whom his Goodness VVisdom and Power doth eminently shine forth Certainly the knowledge of Christ is the Christian's wisdom the true and proper Feast of a rational Mind Two things are most considerable in Christ his relation to God and his relation to the Universal Church 1. His relation to God as the express Image of his Person So the Angels delight to look upon him those holy Creatures do not consider their own benefit so much as their Creatour's Glory where they find most of God there they are most ravished therefore they greatly delight themselves when they consider the VVisdom Power and Goodness of God as manifested in Christ The Contemplation of these things is their Happiness Now shall the Angels pay this rent of Glory to God and shall not we Surely God should be as dear to us as to them 2. His relation to the Universal Church 'T is more to be the Churches Head and Saviour than ours in particular The Angels adore him for the Excellency of his Office and his transcendent Glory and Dignity It doth us a double good to reflect upon this partly to make our affection more publick and that we may consider the common good for a narrow private Spirit maketh Christians self-seeking and unpeaceable Christ mainly is the Head and Saviour of the Body Ephes. 5.23 Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the Body VVhen you see that he is head of all Saints under what form and denomination whatsoever your affections are less liable to partiality for then all Christians will be dear to you as they are united to you in him and you will be more tender of the prosperity of the Church of which Christ is the Head And partly to fortifie you against the splendour of all created Glory for Ephes. 1.21 Christ is exalted far above all Principalities and Powers and Might and Dominion and every Name that is named not onely in this World but also in that which is to come The glory and splendour of Earthly things doth often dazzle our eyes now it is good to divert our minds by considering the Glory and Excellency of Christ. Kings and Emperours are nothing to him less than the light of a Candle compared with the Sun The Angels see him far above them and we should see him far above all created power and glory and so hearten our selves against all discouragements 2. The VVork of our Redemption which is double 1. In reconciling us to God 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself VVe should always ravish our hearts with this Speculation Heb. 3.1 Consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession Christ Iesus He is our High-Priest as dealing with God and our Apostle as dealing with Man God thought it worthy of his eternal thoughts and therefore we should more set our Minds a-work about it Redemption by Christ is so much slighted because we do not consider the high and excellent ends thereof Certainly every faculty must be exercised in praising God Mind as well as Heart and this is the proper object to exercise our Minds as it doth the Angelical Contemplation and by our Minds our Hearts 2. In vanquishing our Enemies and removing the impediments of our Salvation By Merit Christ did it on the Cross Col. 2.15 Having spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a show of them openly triumphing over them in it That is on the Cross. Satan triumphed visibly Christ invisibly It was the hour of the power of darkness and yet of the Conquest of the Son of God Representativè he did it in his Ascention Ephes. 4.8 When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive he foiled his Enemies on the Cross and he triumphed over them at his Ascention But it was before the Tribunal of God in the sight of Angels and our Faith But then there is an actual conquest and triumph the conquest is still carrying on till his Kingdom be compleat Psal. 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand till I make thy Enemies thy Footstool The effects are discerned as Christ casteth the Devil out of his Temples and Territories and out of the hearts of Men. The triumph is gloriously visible and sensible and open to the view of
all at the last day In both these things the Angels are concerned in his conquests as Christ doth confound the wisdom of Men and Devils in maintaining and preserving his Church They are a part of Christ's Army and have a great respect to his Church Heb. 1.13 14. But to which of the Angels said he at any time Sit on my right hand until I make thine Enemies thy Footstool Are they not all Ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation They are some of God's Messengers that help to restore and recover Man from the power of the Devil and disdain not the Service Christ appoints them for lost sinners but have a great respect to his Church and the Assemblies of his People 1 Cor. 11.10 For this cause ought the Woman to have power on her head because of the Angels 1 Tim. 5.21 I charge thee before God and the elect Angels For his Triumph with them Christ will appear at the end of the World when he hath won the Field and cometh in Triumph to confound his conquer'd Enemies 2 Thess. 1.7 The Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his Mighty Angels These things the Angels pry into so should we Secondly How 1. Accurately and Seriously Usually we content our selves with running cursory thoughts never sit and pause with our selves what manner of Saviour and Salvation this is what is required of them that would be partakers of it and so content our selves with a superficial view without an accurate inspection Slight and shallow apprehensions leave no impression on the Soul The Hen thaâ— often stragleth from her Nest suffereth her Eggs to chill We should dwell upon these things till they produce a clearer Knowledge a firmer Belief an higher Estimation a greater Admiration for this is to resemble Angels Eph 3.18 That we may comprehend with all Saints the depth and length and breadth and heighâ—h all which begets solid comforts when the mind is wholly taken up with other things the soundest Knowledge worketh not 2. Spiritually profitably practically Our business is not so much to know new truths about the Gospel as to know them in a more useful manner Let us pry into these things as the Angels do not to satisfie our curiosity with a little notional knowledge or out of pride that we may pertinently discourse of them or hold up an argument about them but that God may be glorified and admired in the Person of the Redeemer and our Souls delighted for our comfort and quickening and weaned from the vanities of the World ver 13. Wherefore gird up the Loins of your Mind be sober and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Iesus Christ. Thirdly Why 1. Because it is an honourable imployment to look into the mysteries of Salvation and to be much conversant about them It will be a great part of our happiness and work in Heaven to behold Christ's Glory Iohn 17.24 Father I will that those whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory All our Faith Hope and Labour tendeth to this The Queen of Sheba took a long journey to behold the Glory of Solomon which did so ravish her that her Spirit even fainted within her and yet that was but an Earthly Temporal Fading Glory But to behold the Majesty and Greatness which Christ our Redeemer hath at the Right Hand of God is the great work which we have to do to all Eternity Therefore now we should busie ourselves about these things that our Mouths may be filled with Praise and Thanksgiving 2. Because it is delightful to Gracious Hearts God findeth a delight in Christ and shall not we There is more in the Gospel than a vulgar Eye taketh notice of or our first apprehensions represent unto us shall Angels wonder at these things joy and delight in these things and shall we slight them Paul counted all things Dung in comparison of the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Phil. 3.8 and 1 Cor. 2.2 I determined to know nothing among you save Iesus Christ and Him Crucified Surely unless our thoughts are lawfully diverted or suspended we should think of no other thing Austin cast away Tully quia nomen Christi non erat ibi because the name of Christ was not in it 3. It is useful 1. That all created glory may wax dim and be more obscured in our Eyes their power is nothing their loveliness is nothing in comparison of Christ this should take up thy Soul and draw off thy observation from deluding vanities such as Riches and Honours and Pleasures As the light of a Candle is scarce seen when the Sun shineth brightly so all the tempting baits of the Flesh are nothing when the glories of Christ are considered by us See ver 13. Wherefore gird up the Loins of your Mind and be sober and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Iesus Christ. So for affrighting terrors what are Potentates and Powers to him All authorities and powers lawful or usurped must be subject to Christ 1 Pet. 3.22 Who is gone into Heaven and is at the right Hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him This promoteth the joy and constancy of Believers under sufferings 2. To draw out our Hearts after him Iohn 4.10 If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee Give me to drink thou wouldest have asked and he would have given thee living Water Looking after these things is in order to choice Mat. 13.45 46. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Merchant Man seeking goodly Pearls who when he hath found one Pearl of great Price he went and sold all that he had and bought it What are all things in the World if set against Christ and his Salvation 3. That we should converse with him in holy duties with more reverence Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth Much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him Now shall we scarce vouchsafe these things a serious thought The Angels are concerned in a way of duty not in a way of benefit It is their duty to worship Christ Heb. 1.6 And again when he brought his first begotten into the World he saith And let all the Angels of God Worship him but not by way of recovery and yet they desire to look into this Glorious Mystery A Sermon on GALATIANS V. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith IN the context the Apostle perswadeth the Galatians to stand fast in
true Religion will give rest and quiet to the Soul Thirdly That the Christian Religion doth abundantly provide for true Peace of Conscience and Ease of Mind 1. Because it discovereth the Matter of true Peace 2. The Way how it may be attained 1. The Matter of true Peace is Pardon and Life or sufficient Provision to appease our guilty fears and satisfie our desires of Happiness 1. Man being Gods Creature and therefore his Subject and having faulted in his Obedience and Subjection to him and knowing the Judgment of God counteth himself worthy of Death Rom. 1.32 And this fear of Death and Vengeance that ensueth it is â—o ingrained and implanted in the Conscience that unless some fit course of 〈◊〉 and Justification be propounded and that with good Authority man is 〈◊〉 restless and troubled and knoweth not what to do to get rid of the 〈…〉 Soul Micah 6.7 Shall I give my first born for my Transgression the fruit 〈…〉 for the Sin of my Soul Now the great design which the Scriptures 〈…〉 to set forth a grant of Pardon upon Gracious and Commodious Terms 〈…〉 will but accept of it It is the excellency of the Christian Religion above 〈…〉 Religions Micah 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth Iniquity 〈…〉 by the Transgression of the Remnant of his Heritage he retaineth not his 〈…〉 ever because he delighteth in Mercy If the Question were put to you which 〈◊〉 put to the Spouse Cant. 5.9 What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved What is there in Christ above other Gods of the Nations that you make so much 〈◊〉 about him What is it draweth your Hearts so to love him and cleave to him in the greatest Hazards and Extremities This you might Answer He hath set afoot a pardoning Covenant so suited to the Necessities of Man and the Nature of God that all the World cannot shew the like 2 For the other Matter of our Peace a fit Happiness to satisfie our Desires Man having an Immortal Spirit gropeth about for an Immortal and Eternal good Acts 17.27 or such an Estate in the other World as may comfort him against the labours and sorrows and the frailty and shortness of the present Life All Nations have a conceit of the Immortality of the Soul if at any time they doubt of it they cannot wholly blot the sense of it out of their Hearts Surely all desire it and it would give much ease to their Mind if it might be undubitably made out to them that there is such an Immortal Estate They that fully knew it not were pleased with the shadow of it and sought it in fame they would not have their Memory die with them As those that want Children take Pleasure in little Dogs and Cats so did they embrace a poor Shadow for the Substance To be sure most men die Anxious and when they leap into Eternity they know not where their feet shall light But now it is said 2 Tim. 1.10 That Christ hath abolished Death and hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel He hath made a clear Revelation of that which was not so certainly known before The Heathens guessed at it sometimes they seemed to see it and sometimes doubted of it as men travelling sometimes see a spire of a steeple before them at a distance and anon they lose the sight of it again and so cannot tell certainly whether they see it yea or no. The Law like a Dumb-man made many signs and set forth Eternity by long Life and Heaven by Canaan But now the Gospel clearly speaketh it out and scattereth all the Mists and Clouds about Eternity 2. The Way how we surely may be made partakers of Pardon and Life and there it telleth us First What Christ hath done Secondly What we must do Christ hath sufficiently laid the Foundation and all that we must do is but to apply what he hath purchased and provided for us 1. What Christ hath done The Word that is nigh thee referreth to things already done for us Christs Death and Resurrection 1. His Incarnation and Death for Christ needeth not to be brought down from Heaven any more He once descended from Heaven and was made Flesh and dwelt among us for a double end Partly to reveal these things to us and the way how to obtain them with sufficient Evidence and Certainty One great Errand that he had in the World was to reveal the Will of God to lost Mankind for their recovery and to bring them to the fuller Knowledge of God and the Pardon of Sins and the Truth of the Unseen World and the way thereunto Luke 1.77 To give Knowledge of Salvation unto his People by the Remission of their Sins And not only so but partly also to be a Mediator and Reconciler between God and Man and lay down his Life as a Sacrifice for Sin and a ransom for Souls Eph. 5.2 Who hath given himself for us an Offering and Sacrifice to God Mat. 20.28 He gave his Life a ransom for many We have both Heb. 3.1 Consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession Iesus Christ. Well then herein lay the Advantage of the Gospel above the Law that required all to be done by us but the Gospel referreth us to things already done for us by another who was sent from God to reveal his Fathers will to us and to redeem us to God He suffered the Penalty due for our breach of the Law there is nothing required of us but our thankful Acceptance and hearty consent to follow Christs Conduct and Direction well then he needeth not be brought down from Heaven any more or descend to help and redeem the World 2. His Resurrection and Ascension For that is the second Question Who shall descend into the Deep to bring up Christ again from the Dead No that needeth not He is risen already and gone again to Heaven to assure us of the Truth of his Doctrine and the value of his Sacrifice and the reality of the other World For he himself is entred into the Glory he spake of and so giveth us a visible Demonstration of the Truth and reality of it And also he is sate down at the right Hand of God that he might apply Salvation to us by his powerful and all-conquering Spirit But it is the Resurrection we must chiefly insist upon for God by raising him from the Dead hath declared him to be a sufficiently authorized Messenger and set him forth to be the Person to be believed in heard and obeyed in his Name When Christ was crucified and buried though a Grave stone was sealed and a guard of Souldiers set to watch it yet Angels appeared and rolled away the Stone and spake to those that enquired after him Yea Christ himself often appeared to his Disciples conversed with them forty days instructed them in things pertaining to the Kingdom of God and then went to Heaven and poured out the Spirit and for an
have preached unto you let him be accursed 3. Extraordinary means will do no good where ordinary prevail not But man is never satisfied with the present Dispensation Psal. 78.22 23. But they believed not in God and trusted not in his Salvation tho' he had commanded the Clouds from above and opened the doors of Heaven Whatever means â—od useth man is man still There were Carnal Wretches when there were Miracles and so there will be still when the Heart is out of order bare means will not set it in frame 4. Though we live not in the Age of Miracles and Oracles yet if we have valuable Testimony of them it is enough to beget Faith Psal. 78.5 6 7. He commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children That the Generation to come might know them even the Cildren that should be born who should arise and declare them to their Children That they might set their hope in God It were endless to attest former Miracles with a new supportation of Miracles report is enough to convey them to us and if we cannot contradict them why do we not believe Use I. To check the dream of the Efficacy of extraordinary means above the ordinary which God seeth fit to give us Our Lord impersonateth our thoughts Luke 16.30 31. If one went unto them from the Dead they would repent And he said unto them They have Moses and the Prophets if they hear not them neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the Dead We think the Word is an Antiquated State Dispensation that hath lost all its force If God would assure us and invite us to Faith and Repentance some other way it would be more successful as if one came from the other World or an extraordinary Messenger from Heaven or Hell Let us argue the Case It must be either because he is supposed to bring a more necessary Doctrine to work men to Faith and Repentance or can urge better Arguments or with more Perswasiveness or propound these Truths with more Certainty or convey a Power greater than is ordinarily dispensed by the Word It must be one of these four things but neither the one nor the other can be 1. Not a Doctrine more necessary to convince men of their Misery and Remedy Sin and Duty The Son of God is a sufficient Teacher of all Divine things for he lay in the Bosom of God John 1.18 And he came on purpose to reveal what was necessary to mans Salvation 2. Not better Arguments to enforce it What would we have an hotter Hell or a better Heaven More direful Threatnings or sweeter Promises Or more powerful Motives Surely nothing can be added What is beyond Eternal Misery or Eternal Happiness 3. Not propound these things with more Certainty For these things are offered to our understandings by a full and fair Credibility Christ being fore-described by Prophesies Authorized by Miracles mightily declared to be the Son of God by his Resurrection from the Dead requiring nothing of us but what is suited to Gods Nature and our Necessity What certainty would a Spectre or Ghost or an Angel or Apparition give above this 4. Nor convey a greater Power and Force to affect the Heart of man What is of greater Efficacy than the Spirit of God Surely he is able to change the Heart of man when nothing else can Now the Gospel is the Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 See these Heads more inlarged in the Sermon on Luke 16.30 31. Use II. If God hath so settled the way of Salvation in the new Covenant as to leave no cause or occasion of Doubting or suspecting of the Truth or Certainty of these Blessings he hath promised to us then we should not live in Jealousies and Doubtfulness as if we were not upon sure Terms with God If we transact with another about certain Benefits the Transaction may prove to no purpose if the matter about which we contract with them hath no being or the Terms be impossible or the conveyance be not so firm and strong as to hold good in Law Now none of these can be imagined in our entring into Covenant with God For 1. Eternal Life is not a Chimera or a thing that hath no being Then you might run uncertainly 1 Cor. 9.26 If it were a Dream or a well devised Fable No it is the greatest reality that can be thought of Iohn 14.2 In my Fathers House are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you Christ would not flatter us into a Fools Paradice 2. It is not upon impossible Terms but such as are performable by the Grace of God as Faith Eph. 2.8 For by Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of yourselves it is the Gift of God And the Apostle telleth us Rom. 4.16 Therefore it is of Faith that it might be by Grace to the end the Promise might be sure to all the Seed Consider the Conditions that concern either the making or keeping Covenant The Conditions for making Covenant Ier. 24.7 I will give them an Heart to know me that I am the Lord and they shall be my People and I will be their God for they shall return unto me with their whole Heart And Ezek. 36.26 A new Heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony Heart out of your flesh and I will give you an Heart of flesh Then for keeping Covenant for this is a Covenant that keepeth us as well as we keep it Ier. 32.40 41. I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their Hearts that they shall not depart from me Yea I will rejoice over them to do them good and I will plant them in this Land assuredly with my whole Heart and with my whole Soul So there is a Promise of Influences to prevent danger of discovenanting Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Iudgments and do them 3. If the conveyance be not so strong and firm to make a Plea in Law but this is conveyed by Gods Word and confirmed by his Oath Heb. 6.17 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of Promise the immutability of his Counsel confirmed it by an Oath that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have strong Consolation It is assured to us by his own Son Luke 12.32 Fear not little Flock for it is your Fathers good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom and sealed to us by Christs Spirit 2 Cor. 1.22 Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts Therefore the conveyance will bear a Plea both now in Prayer and before the Tribunal of God If there be
their Broach was fashioned to the shape of a Cross a transverse piece of Wood thrust through the Shoulders of the Lamb and why should we not believe this Holy Man who was well acquainted with the Jewish affairs being born at Sychem Besides the notable Providence of God that Christ's Legs should not be broken 3. The fruits and benefits of this Sacrifice 1. By the sprinkling the Blood of the Lamb he that destroyeth the first born of the Aegytians could not touch them Heb. 11 28. This secured them against the destroying Angel to teach us that the justice of God doth only spare them whose Consciences are sprinkled with the Blood of Christ. The Blood of the Lamb and the Blood of Christ was shed for this end that it might be sprinkled and being sprinkled might exempt and free us from Death So the Apostle St. Peter speaketh of the sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus by which the Elect are sanctified and saved 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ. There was not only Blood shed but Blood sprinkled so Heb. 12.24 And to the blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel God said of the blood of the Paschal Lamb Exod. 12.23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Aegyptians and when he seeth the blood upon the Lintel and on the two side posts the Lord will pass over the Door and will not suffer the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you So when Wrath maketh inquisition for Sinners God beholding his Sons Blood wherewith the Elect are sprinkled they are exempted from the Curse wherein others have intangled and involved themselves for saith the Apostle Paul Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him So that we need not fear the Sword of the destroying Angel whither he be an Angel of Darkness or an Evil Angel for God hath delivered us from the power of Darkness by the Blood of his Son Col. 1.13 or an Heavenly Angel by the same blood he hath reconciled all things unto himself both in Heaven and in Earth Col. 1.20 Those Angels which were heretofore set as a guard upon the Earthly Paradise with a Flaming Sword to keep us out from thence do carry us into the Heavenly Paradise Luke 16.22 The Begger died and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's bosom and are Ministring Spirits sent forth for the Heirs of Promise not to destroy them but to keep them and preserve them Heb. 1.14 Are they not all ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation 2. In that very Night in which the Paschal Lamb was slain the Israelites obtained their freedom and deliverance out of Aegypt So hath Christ by his Blood freed us from the slavery of Sin the Devil and the World and called us into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a price be not ye the Servants of Men. So Heb. 2.15 That he might deliver them who through fear of Death were all their life time subject to Bondage And Iohn 8.36 If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed We are redeemed unto God as they went into the Wilderness to worship God 3. In that very Night God exercised Judgments on the Gods of the Aegytians So it is said Exod. 12.12 Against all the Gods of the Aegyptians will I exercise Iudgment And it is repeated Numb 33.4 For the Aegyptians buried all their first born which the Lord had smitten among them upon their Gods also the Lord executed Iudgments Some say by slaying the Beasts which the Aegyptians Worshipped as the Oxe Ionathan in his Paraphrase saith that all their Idols of Metal melted and their Idols of Stone and Earth were broken in pieces and their Idols of Wood were burned to Ashes whether this or that we cannot tell because the Scripture is silent but surely these threatnings were not in vain and wanted not there certain effect Certain we are that by the blood of Christ the Devils Kingdom goeth down Iohn 12.31 32. Now shall the Prince of this World be cast out And I if I be lifted up from the Earth will draw all men unto me As Christ's Kingdom goeth up the Idols are thrown to the Moles and to the Bats Isa. 2.20 And God will famish all the Gods of the Earth Zeph. 2.11 And in the 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from your vain conversations received by tradition from your Fothers But with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot The blood of Christ fetcheth over men from their inveterate Customs and Superstitions And Rev. 12.11 They overcame by the blood of the Lamb. And 1 Iohn 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil 4. How shall we be partakers of those good things which come to us from the Lamb of God Two things were required of these Israelites that they should sprinkle the blood of this Lamb upon the Lintel and the two side Posts And then eat his flesh in an Holy and Religious manner and if any of the Israelites had neglected either of these he had refused the grace annexed to this Ordinance and so lost the benefit of it So if we neglect the means by which Christ is to be applyed we lose our benefit by him 1. They were to sprinkle the Lintel and the two side Posts of their doors At another time God gave them direction to write his Law on the door Posts Deut. 11.20 Thou shalt write them upon the door Posts of thy house and upon thy gates Which I mention that we may the better understand what is meant by them By these Door Posts are meant our Hearts for these God sprinkleth with the blood of his Son Heb. 10.22 Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience And upon these hearts of ours doth he write his Laws Ier. 31.32 I will put my law in their Inward parts and write it in their hearts For the Hearts of Men are as open to God as the Doors of our Houses are to our selves Now our hearts are sprinkled with the blood of Christ when we firmly believe that God is propitiated by the blood of Christ and will spare all those who in a broken Hearted manner sue out their pardon in Christ's name unfeignedly devoting themselves to God Oh than Let every one of us get our hearts sprinkled with the blood of Christ and apply it to our Consciences and say with the Apostle 1 Tim. 1.15 Iesus Christ came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am chief And again Gal. 6.14 God forâ—id that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the World
the Soul is said to return to God therefore the whole Man dieth not and is not extinguished with the Body All these Particulars import the Immortality of the Soul Doct. That the Soul of Man is immortal and dieth not when the Body dieth but remaineth in that Estate into which it is disposed by God First There is a threefold Immortality 1. An essential Immortality which importeth an absolute Necessity of Existence so it is said 1 Tim. 6.16 God only hath Immortality 2. There is a natural Immortality which hath a Foundation in the Being of the Creatures so the Angels and Spirits of Men are in their Nature immortal so as they cannot be destroyed by any second Cause and have no Principle of Corruption in themselves though by the Power of God they might be annihilated 3. A gratuitous Immortality or by Gift and Courtesy so the Body of Adam in Innocency non conditione corporis but beneficio conditoris not by the Condition of his Body but the Bounty of his Maker so the Bodies of the Faithful after the Resurrection shall be immortal Secondly Let us prove this that the Soul is immortal and subsisteth after the Separation The Point is necessary to be discussed for till we are established in the Belief of this Truth we shall fear no greater Judgments than what do befal us in this World nor expect greater Mercies than what we injoy here and so never take Care to reconcile our selves to God or to deny the Profits of the World and the Pleasures of Sense that we may attain a better Estate An holy Life will never else be indeavoured or produced to any good Increase For such as Mens Belief is of an immortal or never-dying Condition in Heaven or Hell such will the bent of their Hearts and Course of Life be Therefore the Salvation of our Souls is said to be the End of our Faith 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the End of your Faith even the Salvation of your Souls There the End signifieth either the Scope or the Event If you take it for the Scope the great End of Faith is to lead us from all worldly Happiness to an Estate after this Life Heb. 10.39 But we are not of them that draw back unto Perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul Sense faith Spare the Flesh but Faith saith Save the Soul This is the Scope and mark to which it tendeth If you take it for the Event and Issue of things all our believing praying enduring Suffering rejoicing pleasing and glorifying of God endeth in this the saving of our Souls Therefore let us see how it may be proved both by Scripture and by the Light of Reason I. By Scripture which is the proper means to beget Faith Dives desired one to go from the dead to tell his Brethren of an everlasting Estate of Torment and Bliss Luke 16.27 28. I pray thee Father that thou wouldst send him to my Father's House for I have five Brethren that he may testify unto them lest they also come into this Place of Torment Intimating thereby that the Cause of his own Sin and theirs was Unbelief or a not being perswaded of a World to come Alas we have but an obscure Prospect of an Estate after this Life and therefore indulge sensual Delights But what Cure and Remedy Dives thought a Spectre or Apparition would be the best Cure of this Atheism But Abraham or Christ thought otherwise he referreth them to Moses and the Prophets that is the holy Scriptures for all the Books then written and received in the Church are comprized in that Expression Since we are sick of the same Disease this will be our best Remedy We are told 2 Tim. 1.10 That Christ hath brought Life and Immortality to Light through the Gospel It is the Privilege of the Divine Revelation to represent this Truth with more Clearness and Certainty 1. With more Clearness There is a Mist upon Eternity which is only dispelled by the Light of the Gospel Reasons from Nature may in some measure acquaint us with an everlasting Estate yet what kind of Happiness it is that attendeth the Godly and what Misery shall befal the Wicked it telleth us but little but the Scripture sets down enough to invite our Hopes and awaken our Fears Heathens had some Conceits of Elysian Feilds and Places of Blessedness and some obscure Caverns appointed to be Places of Torment fitted to work Men into a blind Superstition but the Word of God hath given us such clear Discoveries of future Happiness and Misery as that we may know what to hope for and what to fear and if well improved will breed in us a true Spirit of Godliness 2. In Regard of Certainty Nature may give us some dark Guesses and uncertain Conjectures so as the Heathens that had no other Light were ready to say and unsay in a Breath what they had spoken concerning our Estate to come but the Gospel is a sure Word apt to beget Faith not a wavering Opinion Go to Sense which judgeth by the outside of things Eccles. 3.21 Who knoweth the Spirit of a Man that goeth upward and the Spirit of a Beast that goeth downward to the Earth By Sense we see Mankind as the Beasts to be conceived formed in the Belly brought forth nourished to grow in Strength and Stature wax old and die by the Eye we can discern no external sensible Difference so that if we consult with mere Sense all Religion and Hope is gone Go to Reason and that will tell us indeed that there is a Difference between a Man and a Beast that Man knoweth and desireth things which the Beasts do not and cannot And that the reasonable Soul hath Operations independent on Matter and on the Body and therefore it is probable it can subsiâ—t without the Body for the manner of working sheweth the manner of being but there is cold Comfort in a bare may be The Gospel sheweth it shall be As a Glass it doth discover this State to us as a Rule it guideth us to the Injoyment of it as a Motive it perswadeth us to seek after it as a Charter and Grant it doth assure our Title to it it is full fraught and thick sown with this kind of Seed Therefore let us see what the Light of Scripture saith to this Point 1 st It discovereth to us every-where the Doctrine of the eternal Recompences two Places and two Estates wherein Souls abide after Death Heaven and Hell Heaven the Mansion of the Just Iohn 14.2 In my Father's House are many Mansions And Hell the Place of Torments Mark 9.44 They are cast into Hell where their Worm dieth not and the Fire is not quenched And as soon as the Soul passeth out of the Body it is in one of these Luke 16.22 23. And it came to pass that the Beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abraham 's Bosom the rich Man died also and was buried And in Hell he
enter into the Tabernacle Numb 4.18 19 20. Cut ye not off the Tribe of the Family of the Cohathites from among the Levites but this do unto them that they may live and not die when they approach unto the most holy things Aaron and his Sons shall go in and appoint them every one to his Service and to his Burden but they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered lest they die They were to keep near the Tabernacle and the Cohathites to bear things which they must not see and touch upon pain of Death And this was not only threatned but executed on the Bethshemites which was a City of Levites when they looked into the Ark 1 Sam. 6.19 20. And he smote the Men of Bethshemesh because they had looked into the Ark of the Lord even he smote of the People fifty thousand and threescore and ten Men. And the People lamented because the Lord had smitten many of the People with a great Slaughter And the Men of Bethshemesh said Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God and to whom shall he go up from us Well God kept at a distance from that People and would not have them too familiar with him but the Priests might come near and minister before the Lord but not till they were consecrated and till they had cleansed themselves Exod. 30.20 21. When they go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation they shall wash with Water that they die not and when they come near to the Altar to minister to burn an Offering made by Fire unto the Lord. So they shall wash their Hands and their Feet that they die not But though an ordinary Priest might come to the Altar of Burnt-offering yet the High Priest was only to enter into the Sacâ—ary or Holiest of all and that not when he pleased but only once a Year Levit. 16.2 And the Lord said unto Moses Speak unto Aaron thy Brother that he come not at all times into the Holy Place within the Vail before the Mercy-seat which is upon the Ark that he die not The High Priest was a solemn Type of Christ yet he was not to be too familiar with God The People were sensible of this State and Distance which God kept and murmured at it Numb 17.12 13. And the Children of Israel speak unto Moses saying Behold we die we perish we all perish whosoever cometh any thing near unto the Tabernacle of the Lord shall die Shall we be consumed with dying What did the Holy Ghost signify by all this That the way of the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest But now God is more familiar with his People a Christian hath the Privilege of the High Priest a Privilege which the most eminent Person of that Dispensation could injoy but once a Year in the most solemn Service which ever he performed and that not till after many Washings and Purifications In every time of need we may come to the Throne of Grace It was dangerous heretofore to thrust themselves upon God but now the Lord is willing to admit us into his Presence Gospel-Believers may come to him the Fountain of Grace is not unaccessible Well but though we may come to the Throne of Grace we cannot come to the Throne of Glory thence we are all shut out no Man can immediately approach the Throne of Glory till he be both fully and perfectly justified and sanctified for the present we are not fit to come nigh him As Absalom when his Peace was made and he was permitted to come home to Ierusalem yet he was not admitted to his Father's Sight and Presence 2 Sam. 14.24 The King said let him turn to his own House and let him not see my Face And Esther when choâ—en for a Spouse for the great King Ahasuerus yet she was to accomplish the Months of her Purification Esther 2.12 We have Access to the Throne of Grace that is all we can have in this Life but hereafter we shall have Access to the Throne of Glory then we shall have full Communion with our God and a clear Vision of his eternal Beauty and as great a Fruition of his Godhead as we shall be capable of in a State of full Contentment Joy and Blessedness 5. If there be a Temple in the other World then there are Priests and there will be a Ministration But now Heaven is often represented as a Temple As the Temple under the Law was a Type of Christ in whom the Fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily and a Type of the Church in which God manifesteth his Power and Presence So also it was a Type of Heaven and so frequently applied As in the Temple there were three Partitions the outward Court the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies so is there the airy Heaven the starry Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens as it is called Acts 3.21 Whom the Heavens must receive until the times of Restitution of all things And the third Heaven 2 Cor. 12.2 I knew a Man in Christ above fourteen Years ago such an one caught up to the third Heaven This third Heaven the Seat of God and of the blessed Saints is often called the holiest with Respect to the Type in the Temple or Sanctuary Therefore that is called a worldly Sanctuary Heb. 9.1 and holy Places made with Hands which are the Figures of the true that is Heaven it self ver 24. The earthly or worldly Sanctuary was the Throne and Palace of God residing as a King in the midst of his People which figured or shadowed a more excellent Throne and Palace which is Heaven where God doth manifest his Presence in a far more glorious manner Well then in this Temple must we minister and be admitted to a nearer Attendance upon God 6. One great Part of our Sacrifices and Oblations remaineth everlastingly to be done by us and that is the Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving it is a great Branch of the Thank-offerings of the Gospel Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let us offer the Sacrifice of Praise to God continually that is the Fruit of our Lips giving Thanks to his Name And in Heaven they cease not Prayer suiteth more with our imperfect State when we are compassed about with divers Infirmities and Necessities But the Angels praise God and so do the blessed Spirits We shall then have a fuller Sense of the Mercies and Goodness of God when our Redemption is full and compleat and a clearer Sight of his Excellencies when we see him Face to Face Here we do but tune our Instruments and prepare for the Work of Heaven but then we perform it We are here but as Learners when we see God by Faith and understand a little of the Love of Christ but then as Practisers Therefore certainly to be Kings and Priests unto God doth not respect the present Life only but our Ministration in the heavenly Temple There is a for ever always affixed to the Doxologies
they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me Now it is a blessed thing to see what we love and possess what we see The Priests here though they do not worship an unknown God yet they worship an unseen God The Romans when they brake into the Sanctum Sanctorum and saw no Image there gave out that the High-Priest did worship the Clouds The World suspecteth the God whom we worship but there we see him Face to Face with a clear and distinct Vision 2 Cor. 5.7 For we walk by Faith not by Sight There Vision succeedeth in the room of Faith Fruition of Hope and perfect Love of that weak Adherence which now we put forth towards God If God should suffer himself to be seen by his Creature in the Condition to which Sin hath reduced him it would prove rather a ground of Fear and Astonishment than of Love and Fruition or else the Majesty must be clouded with some Allay of Condescention which would not sufficiently reveal him to us The immediate Presence of God which is our Felicity in Heaven would be our Misery upon Earth The Scripture telleth us Exod. 33.20 No Man shall see him and live And Manoah Judg. 13.22 We shall surely die because we have seen God We cannot look upon this glorious Sun but we are in danger of losing our Life together with our Sight The Scripture sometimes maketh God to dwell in Darkness sometimes in Light inaccessible to note the Incapacity of our Faculties and the incomprehensible Splendor of his glorious Majesty We are not able to pierce through this Darkness or endure this Light But the Majesty of God is not there formidable but comfortable for we shall behold the glorious God in a glorified Estate both of Soul and Body 2. We shall serve him perfectly and without Weakness Weariness and Distraction 1. Here is Weakness What dull and low Conceptions have we of God! What heartless irreverent and poor Expressions of his glorious Excellency whenever we come to worship before him such as should make us ashamed to open our Lips before the Lord Isai. 6.5 Wo is me for I am undone saith the Prophet Isaiah for I am a Man of unclean Lips and I dwell in the midst of a People of unclean Lips for mine Eâ—es have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Or as Iob 40.4 Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee I will lay my Hand upon my Mouth The best of God's Servants when their Eyes are but a little opened to see the Glory of that God they speak to how sensible would they be of the Shortness of their Apprehension and Expressions of that God they speak to Alas how can such narrow Hearts frame an Apprehension or receive an Impression of such an infinite Greatness and eternal Goodness as there is in God! But when we shall see him as he is then we shall better praise him and conceive more sutably of him 2. Here is Weariness and we cannot endure long under our weak Duties neither as to the Frame of Body nor Mind but there God in Communion is always new and fresh to us every Moment And the more we look upon the Object the more is the Faculty fortified and strengthened in conversing with God Matth. 18.10 In Heaven their Angels do always behold the Face of my Father which is in Heaven The blessed Spirits are never weary of beholding God and injoying his glorious Presence 3. Here is Distraction We pretend when we worship God to leave the World and turn the back upon all things else and to set our selves before the Throne of God but alas we bring the Flesh along with us and that will have its Excursions and so our Hearts are stolen away from under Christ's own Arm We mingle Sulphur with our Incense groan under divers Infirmities We cannot do what we would do Gal. 5.17 But there is nothing to divert us from thinking of God there is no Blemish in Priest or Sacrifice nothing will appear in us displeasing unto God which is a Comfort in our present Weaknesses 3. We shall then serve God uninterruptedly for there shall be no Impediment of Business nor Need of Sleep Here earthly Occasions straiten Christ and crowd up his Interest in the Soul and we spend almost half our time in Sleep not shewing one Act of Thankfulness to God but then we shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thess. 4. 17. We shall always stand before his Throne of Glory and abide in his blessed Presence Our Labour shall not need Repose nor shall the Night ever draw a Curtain upon that Day There will be no Miseries Wants and Necessities to distract us and take off our Minds The whole Strength of our Souls is carried out to God and our time is spent wholly and only in worshipping and serving God Constant and perpetual solemn Service is a Celestial Privilege and they that serve God most uninterruptedly come nearest Heaven For there Christ is ever with us and we ever with him 2 Cor. 5.8 We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord. When absent from the Body we are present with the Lord and shall follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth 4. There we are admitted into a nearer Communion with God than now in this mortal Estate We draw nigh to him now but we are not so nigh but there is some Distance But in the Palace of Glory our Approach will be so near as to take away all Distance and we shall have immediate and full Communion with God Now God is in Heaven and we upon Earth we receive no more of God than an Ordinance can convey to us Here and there he droppeth in a little Comfort and Quickening into the Soul the Pipe cannot convey much and the Vessel can hold less the Means are narrow and the Person is not capacitated to be filled up with all the Fulness of God But then the Lord will do his Work by himself the means shall not straiten him God will communicate himself without Means and be instead of all Means he will be all in all and therefore will communicate his Grace in full Perfection The more we draw nigh to God here the more like him Moses while he conversed with God in the Mount his Face shone Christ was transformed in his Prayers Luke 9.29 And as he prayed the Fashion of his Countenance was altered and his Raiment was white and glistering So by Proportion in Heaven the nearer we draw to God the more we injoy of him 1 Iohn 3.2 When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Perfection of Holiness is the Glory and Happiness of the Saints in Heaven As Iron by lying in the Fire seemeth to be all Fire when it is red hot the Qualities of Fire are imprinted on it So we by being