in Religion and in common conversation which they kept on foot from father to son as things of necessity and helps to holiness as standing by themselves in the Synagogue to pray by themselves Luke 18.11 that they might not be defiled by being near to sinners washing their hands to their very elbows lest some uncleanness had crept beyond the wrests before they eat washing of cups and tables and many other things in a superstitious imitation of their predecessors From this vain conversation they were redeemed by the blood of Christ and the grace of the Gospel taught them not onely to abandon the lusts of their former ignorance and the apparent breaches of the Law but also those foolish and unsavoury traditions Wilt thou now bring thy state and wayes to this Touchstone Thou hopest that thou art redeemed but canst thou shew us these tokens this resolution and endeavour Hast thou learned to cast away thy old iniquities Dost thou feel really a separation betwixt thy soul and thy formerly beloved sin If not thou deceivest thy self But observe further there be sundry by courses too usual not onely with the men of the world but those also that profess Religion some clearly sinful others at least groundless and unprofitable as communicating onely or necessarily at Easter coming to the Sacrament fasting as more holy dropping down to prayer in the Assembly in time of publick worship idle and unnecessary meeting in the Ale-house to drink shots for good-fellowship mixt dancing garish attire curious dressings flaring long haire Doing one ill turn for another Mat. 5 38 â—9 So did they and so do we these and the like practices are at the best but so many parcels of a vain conversation and if thy soul have truly tasted the sweetness of this precious benefit thou canst freely let them fall both out of thine heart and hands and say unto them Get you hence If thou hast no minde to part with them but holdest them fast and stretchest thy wit to plead for them I feare thou hast yet no portion in this benefit Sect. 3. Other three marks of interest in Redemption 4. SEparation from the world from the earth from men They are not of the world even as their Redeemer is not of the world Joh. 17.14 St. Paul doth solemnly profess that the world was crucified to him 1 Ioh. 5.4 and he to the world by the Cross of Jesus Christ Gal. 6.14 Those hundred forty four thousand which stood on Mount Sion with the Lamb are redeemed from the earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and from among men Rev. 14.3 4. They are partakers of the Divine nature and so escape the corruption that is in the world through lust 2 Pet. 1.4 They are more excellent than their neighbours Prov. 12.26 Their designes desires delights aimes are higher than the earth they aspire above it On the contrary those that abide in their sin have their portion in this life Psal 17.14 And its one bad property of the enemies of the Cross of Christ that they minde earthly things Phil. 3.19 What saith thy heart to this Art thou carried up above the world Doth the earth and the things of it seem mean and base and vile in thine eyes Art thou in the frame and carriage of thy soul above the common pitch and scantling of the sons of men So that thou thinkest not willest not affectest not as they do but goest in an higher orbe thy conversation is more in heaven than in earth Phil. 3.20 This is a sweet evidence of a redeemed soul But art thou a friend to the world Is it thy Darling Do the profits pleasures Iam. 4.4 contentments of it allure and prevaile with thee to fall down and worship them and to devote thy self to their service Is the earth thine element Do the things of this life take up thy thoughts thy cares thy imployments so that thou art even drowned in them and thou hast not an heart that can savour things of a better life Dost thou walk as a man Are thy words actions aimes like thy neighbours Are they no better nor higher than other mens Why then it seems thou art still in thine old bondage 5. Walking in and after the Spirit The walk of the natural man who is the Devills bond-slave is in and after the flesh The corrupt wisdome of the old man which is enmity to God Rom. 8.7 is his light and the will thereof is the very life of his soul He hath neither light nor life within him available to salvation the instinct and dictatings of his fallen nature carry him on in his whole course But when the grace of Redemption is brought home to the soul and the Son hath set him free then the Spirit of the Son who of a slave hath made him a Son doth animate act lead and guide him all along in the residue of his conversation according to that remarkable promise Ezek. 36.27 and the Apostles grave Aphorisme Rom. 8.14 The flesh abiding in him will be still lusting against the Spirit and drawing him out of his way but his frame bent desire and constant endeavour is to be at the direction and appointment of the Spirit in all his wayes He looks upon the flesh as a very bad guide and not to be trusted therefore if at any time he be misled by it when he perceives it he turns away from it with sorrow for his folly It is the Spirit of God which he chuseth for his guide unto it speaking in the word he repairs continually for counsel and resignes himself up to follow it in all things This is the signal evidence which the Apostle gives of those that are freed from condemation by Jesus Christ and he makes it out upon this ground Because the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.1 2 3. When the Angel of the Lord had rowsed up Peter in the prison and caused the chaines to fall off from his hands he gave him a command to follow him Peter being now set at liberty goes after him from one place to another Act. 12.7 8. c. Even so when the Spirit of God hath loosed a sinner from his bonds by setling upon him the benefit of Redemption he is then fit and ready to walk after the same Spirit from one stage of duty to another As in Ezekiels Vision the Spirit that was in living creatures acted the wheels to go when they went and to stand when they stood Ezek. 1.19 20 21. So the members of Christ are carried on by the breathings of his Spirit dwelling in them in all their wayes But take notice that it is not a private spirit but the Spirit of God speaking in the word not a spirit opposed to the Scriptures but the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures which is the Guide whom the Redeemed follow The word of God revealed in them is the breathing and voice of
and so insufficient being but a kind of entrance made by faith and other preparative dispositions the latter is that on which the maine waight of the business lies and it s done say they by the improovement and exercise of those good dispositions according to the command of the Law So that a Papist keeping to the principles of his religion must either have his blessedness from the Law or stand accursed still and if we make the best of it he is chargeable with that follie for which the Apostle taxeth the Galathians vers 3. Of beginning in the spirit and seeking to be made perfect by the flesh And herein the hand of God is remarkeable either in mercie or justice or both to some of them in taking them off from their old plea so that when they are to die they dare not trust their soules in so crazie a bottome yea their great Champion Bellarmine when he hath bett his braines and stretched his wits in sundrie pages to uphold the doctrine of justification by inhaerent righteousnes yet at length he comes to this resolve * Because of the uncertaintie of our owne righteousnes and the danger of vaine glorie therefore it is * the safest way to trust onely in the mercie and goodnes of God In which words he doth upon the matter unweave his owne webbe and destroy what he had built For if this be the safest way it is so because it is Gods onely approoved way for the justification of a sinner and conseq this way alone must be taken and all other wayes must be rejected and avoided as being not onely not the safest but positively unsafe and certainly full of danger yea unquestionably destructive 2. Blind ignorant Protestants which have nothing of religion but onely the bare name a meer outside their Christendome the faces of Christians They were baptised they keep their church they come to the communion and receive their Maker as they carnally and grosly speak they have a share in the outward priviledges of the church saying Lord Lord and therefore they think that no blame lies upon them the curse is farre enough of from them they are accepted of God and in a blessed condition thus the Jewes gloryed in the Temple of the Lord which the Lord condemneth as a trusting in lying words Jer. 7.4 They boasted of their priviledges that they were Abrahams seed never under bondage yea that they had one father even God c. The Lord Jesus tels them plainly that they were the servants of sinne and of their father the Divel Jo. 8.33 34 41 44. A clear glasse wherein the generalitie of our people may see their faces all their religion stands in this that they are called Christians and goe among the people of God this is their blessedness But oh wofull people how came you by this blessedness whence had you it you are under the Law it holds you under guilt and pronounceth you accursed and alas these priviledges and services are far too weak and poor things to take off that guilt and to remove that curse which sticks to your wretched souls Oh my soul pitties your sottishness Awake from your slumber and deliver your selves from these delusions before ye perish in them 3. Civil livers which go far in the observation of the outward duties of the second Table they are honest in their dealings equal in their actions sweet in their behaviour and as far as the letter os the Law will carry them unreprovable these are the righteous men which justifie and bless themselves as the young man Matth. 19.20 and the Pharisee Luke 18.11 but these went away unjustiâ—â—ed and therefore accursed Thus it was with the Apostle Paul before his conversion who had more to boast of in the flesh than any man for besides circumcision and many other Jewish priviledges which he enjoyed he came up so high in conformity to the righteousness required in the Law that as touching it he saith he was blameless and these things were his gain but when he found Jesus Christ he looked upon them all as loss and cast them away as dung yea as dogs-meat ⸪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 q. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alluding to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 2. before Phil. 3 5-8 as if he had said If those dogs those evil workers the Jewish Teachers which press circumcision and legal righteousness do taste such savour and sweetness in this kinde of meat let them take it to themselves as fittest for them it will not down with me I have other meat which these men either do not know or cannot digest This is just the case of many among us But oh man if thou wilt bring thy self and thy work to the standard thou wilt finde that although thou blessest thy self and others bless thee too yet thou art without the sun-shine of Gods blessing For if it were granted that thou hast gone thorow-stitch in thy duty to men yet still the business is lame and halts on a side all this while thou hast neglected thy duty to God and dost thou look to be accepted for thy partial obedience would this be a sufficient acquittance to a child in his fathers house that he hath discharged himself well in all his carriage to his brethren and servants in the family while he hath never regarded his duty to his father or can he expect his fathers blessing may he not rather fear his curse This is thy case who restest in the moral righteousness of the second Table 4. Religious professors who besides all these have also a form of godliness they have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Law Rom. 2.20 and in the Gospel too 2 Tim. 3.5 they have seen and sorrowed for their sins and bad courses they have broken off their iniquities and reformed their ways they perform religious duties pray reade the Scriptures hear the Word preached observe the Lords day shew some degrees of love and respects to good men In a word they have sundry commendable abilities within and bring forth many materially good fruits without and hereby they work out unto themselves a carnal peace perswading themselves that they are in good case and accounting themselves righteous and blessed of God but all this will go for no more in the Court of Heaven than the righteousness of the Law which holy Paul durst not stand to for his justification He did not onely disclaim those priviledges and that righteousness which before he had accounted his gain but all things whatsoever yea doubtless saith he I do count all things but loss I do even at this present since I came truly to know the Lord Jesus Christ renounce and cast away all things whatsoever I am or have in the business of my justification before God save the righteousness which is through the faith of Christ Phil. 3.8 9. Let a man reach out as far as is possible in conformity and obedience to the first Table
c. and in that Prayer which he put up so solemnly before his passion he makes requests for those that should beleeve hereafter Joh. 17.20.21 Non humiliter supplicando quasi genibus flexis sed gloriose representande c. Ames Medul l. 1. c. 23. And what he did on earth he doth much more in heaven although not in the same manner but in such a way as agrees to a glorified estate not by falling down on his knees in humble supplications but by presenting his sufferings with the satisfaction and merit of them and procuring at the hands of his Father the actual application of them to poor sinners for their conversion and salvation according to that Psal 2.8 Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance c. It was by vertue of his prayer on the Cross that so many thousands were brought in as the first fruits immediately after his Ascention and it is by vertue of his intercession in heaven that the whole harvest of the Elect shall be brought in also in all succeeding generations 2 For those that are actually made partakers of this grace of Redemption He appears continually before God to plead their cause Aaron had a brestplate of Judgement wherein were set twelve precious stones with the names of the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel engraven upon them that he might bear them upon his heart when he went into the holy place for a memorial before the Lord Exod. 28 15.-29 So our Lord Jesus the High Priest of our profession hath the names of all his redeemed people as signets on his heart and presents them continually to his Father in heaven that upon the account of his All-sufficient Sacrifice offered for them he may perswade and prevaile with him for all necessary supplies of grace in all their concernments to continue them in their reconciled condition to give them daily strength to obey him to issue out pardons for their daily slips 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In opposition to Satan who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 12.10 1 Joh. 2.1 2. He that is our Propitiation is also our Advocate with the Father and to hold them close to him so that not one of them shall perish but they shall all arrive at the happy haven of eternal glory All this was prefigured in the Law The High-priest having first offered a Goat for the whole Congregation of Israel must come the same day into the Holy of Holies and bring the blood with him and sprinkle it on and before the Mercy-seat withall burning Incense that a cloud might arise and cover it that by thus doing on one solemn day every year he might make an Attonement for all their sins Lev. 16.15 16 -33 34. Even so Jesus Christ our High-Priest having given up himself a sacrifice for the sins of the world and thereby obtained eternal Redemption entered into heaven and there appears with his blood to make Intercession through the merit of it for guilty sinners sprinkling their consciences with it to purge them from dead works Heb. 9 12.-14 to render them accepted by the Incense of his prayers and to manage the whole business of their salvation to the end Christ our Surety carries the price of our Redemption to heaven and renders it in his Fathers house See here righteous Father saith he this is the ransome for lost Man-kinde I have brought the full summe my will is that it shall be effectual both to deliver those that are still captives and to bring those home thou hast given me infallibly to salvation Thus ouâ— redemption by Christ becoming a Curse for us was not onely fully satisfactory to justice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A savour of rest Gen. 8.21 Numb 28.2 but also an offering and sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour Eph. 5.2 Oh what an happiness is this Dear heart thou hast a fast friend in the Court who is both able and willing to look to thy cause and to follow thy business that it shall not miscarry thou needest not fear but he will save thee to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 4 Our Redeemer hath purchased of his Father the gift of his holy Spirit that he may bestow it on all the Elect Having purchased it by hâ—s passion he conveyes it by his intercession Ioh. 14.16 and thereby both fetch them in and carry them on in the state of grace The Apostle acquaints us with this priviledge also in the 14. verse following God sent his Son to redeem us that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith Christ in his Sermon at Nazareth applies to himself that notable Prophesie which is set down Isa 61.1 2. concerning his anointing and sending to heal the broken-hearted and to set at liberty them that are bruised ascribing this to the Spirit Luke 4.18.21 The Redeemer coming out of Zion shall not onely turn away ungodliness from Jacob but convey unto them his Spirit which shal never be taken away from them Isa 29.20 21. The Lord promiseth to put his Spirit on the Messiah his Servant that he may bring forth judgement unto victory Isa 42.1 2. c. which was fulfilled in part Matth. 12.17 18 c. Christ promiseth the Apostles to send the Spirit of Truth from the Father to testifie of him Joh. 15.26 and that even for the conversion of those that hated him as vers 24. Yea he shall convince the world of sin righteousness and judgement Joh. 16.8 c. shewing them the things which he receives from Christ and so glorifying him vers 14. They that are freed from condemnation by Christ coming in the flesh have the Spirit of God dwelling in them Rom. 8.1 2 9. for all necessary supplies in the way of salvation to teach them all things Joh. 14.26 to soften their hearts and to inable them to obey Ezek. 11.19 20. to change them into the image of the Lords glory 2 Cor. 3.18 to frame them to the affections of children and to stir up in them groans of prayer Rom. 8.26 27. Gal. 4.6 to witness with their spirits their adoption As Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to plead for us with God in heaven so the Spirit is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to plead for Christ with us on earth Ioh. 14.16 Rom. 8.16 to be a seal and earnest of their inheritance untill the day of final Redemption Eph. 1.13 14. and to raise up their mortal bodies at the last day Rom. 8.11 Oh admirable priviledge Judge in your selves If a King having ransomed a company of his subjects from Turkish slavery should send to every one of them a Noble-man to be alwayes near them were not this an incredible favour And if Jesus Christ the King of Saints should send a glorified Saint or a good Angel to abide with his redeemed people what an honour were it But if he should give his Spirit to be our Keeper Comforter Leader yea our All under himself
imputing of righteousness go together as it appears by the Apostles explication of the Prophet David's meaning Psal 32.1 2. Romans 4.6 7 8. God sees no iniquitie in Jacob and when the sins of Judah are sought for they shall not be found Jer. 50.20 understand this not in regard of the inordinacie and blameableness of the acts nor yet simply in reference to the just desert of sin considered in it self for these are of the very nature of sin and cannot be separated from it but in respect of the particular guilt and punishment of those persons which being taken away they do thereupon stand right in the Court of heaven We see it here in Courts below if nothing come in against a man if there be no accuser he is quit and stands as innocent in point of Law as if he had not been questioned So when Christ hath by his satisfaction disabled the Law from giving in any evidence against the poor sinner he then is absolved and stands clear before the great Judg when the Lord hath found a ransome then he doth not onely say Deliver the sinner but he shews unto him his uprightness that is he makes him partaker of the righteousness of Christ Iob 33.23 24. c. and so looks upon him as righteous through his satisfaction This was one end why the Lord made Christ sin for us 2 Cor. 5 21. Let the poor convinced soul take notice of this also Thou feelest much guilt on the spirit thou groanest under it and fearest damnation but here is thine acquittance When the poor woman's accusers were slunk away Christ said to her Woman hath no man condemned thee neither do I John 8.10 11. so saith the Lord to thee See poor soul the Law saith nothing against thee the mouth of thine accusers are stopp'd none can condemn thee neither will I yea thou mayest make the same challenge that the Apostle make's Who shall lay any thing to my charge God justifies c. Rom. 8.33 34. Sect. 3. Other four benefits flowing from Redemption 4. Adoption by Creation we were the sons of God we bare his image as a son bears the image of his father Luke 3.38 but yielding to Sathan's temptation and affecting a new fancied Divinity we fell from God lost the title and dignitie of sons forfeited all our birth-right and made our selves no better then the bratts of hell But the son of God manifested in the flesh hath not onely washed off our sin in the guilt and curse due to us but hath restored us to the dignity of children This was one of those high ends which the Lord had in his eye when he sent him in that humbled posture to redeem us it was that we might receive the adoption of sonnes Gal. 4.4 5. The Apostle Paul reckoning up eight several honours which God had conferred upon the people of the Jews wherein they excelled all other nations he sett's adoption first as the most eminent Rom. 9.4 according to that Exod. 4.22 Israel is my son even my first born This being but an external dignity to continue for a time till the partition wall should be broken down was a shadow and resemblance of that Gospel-honour which we have by the work of Redemption even the right or dignity to be the sons of God Jo. 1.12 the Congregation of the first born Heb. 12.23 and if children then heirs yea joint heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 for being now in Christ and made partakers of his righteousness we have fellowship also with him in his Sonship Gal. 3.26 This is a fruit of the abundant grace of Christ and an high advance of the work of Redemption applied If the Lord be pleased to have pity on base runagate prodigalls he might have bought us out into the condition of hired servants that had been favour far beyond expectation But to adopt us into his family Luk. 15.19 22 23. Dignitas quaedam sablimis Ames to kill the fatted calf for us to put upon us the best robe to set us at his table and to grace us with the honour of sonnes yea heirs of God a better estate than Adam lost what an high dignity is this behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed on us and admire it 1 Jo. 3.1 2. Indeed it doth not yet appear what we shall be our happiness lyes under a cloud vailed from the eyes of the world and in a great part from our selves also but yet we are even here the Lord's first born and the glory of this condition shall one day be revealed in despite of hell and the world Judge not your selves miserable because your neighbours so account you but know that your Redeemer hath purchased your enfranchisement and now the Lord takes you for his sonnes and daughters never to be disinherited or cast out any more 5. Sanctification The first Adam having wantonly engaged in a rebellion against his Maker did thereby not onely implunge himself and all his into the gulf of Gods curse but also forfeit that matchless Jewel of his Image which was infinitely too good to be prosticuted to his inordinate lust Whence followes a wofull change in our natures by a depravation of the whole frame of our soules in all the powers of them and making us like unto Sathan So that now we are every way dead as to our spiritual estate both by sin in the loss of God's favour which is better then life and in sin by the loss of that conformity to him which once we enjoyed But our great redeemer frees us from this death also by Sanctification This was one end of Christs giving himself for the Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it Eph. 5.25 26. his death hath a soveraign vertue to work the death of sin as his life hath to work the life of righteousness Rom. 6.4 5 6. He is made of God to us Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 and now as there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ so they are set free from the Law of sin and death by that law of the spirit of life which is in Christ and all this ariseth from God's sending him to condemn sin in the flesh Rom. 8.1 2 3. Christ was put to death in the flesh and for a requital he puts to death the flesh that is the body of sin in us The law laid the Curse upon him and he having borne it turn's it upon the Law of sin which is in our members and blasts that rotten stump saying to it as once he said to the unprofitable fig-tree Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever Matth. 21.19 and seting a new plant of holiness in the soul to bring forth fruit unto God Indeed we see it not yet fully done but the Curse is gone out against the old man and he is wasting and shall be utterly destroyed in time Let the Lords people see their happiness in this also Poor soul thou cryest out unclean unclean I
Christ testifies of the woman that was a sinner that her sinnes which were many are forgiven her Luke 7.47 Be thy sinnes never so many if they fill a roll that reacheth from the East to the West or from earth to heaven they can but wrap thee in the curse and Christ hath taken upon him the whole curse that he might redeem thee from it If thou hast multiplied to sin God will multiply to pardon Isa 55.7 he will cast all our iniquities into the depths of the Sea Mic. 7.19 If thou shouldest fill a thousand baskets with sand and cast them all into the midst of the Sea the waves would so sweep them all away that no remnant of them would appear so the streames of Christ's blood are able to wash away thy manifold sinnes that not one of them shall remain When the dew is fallen upon the ground thou mayest see infinite millions of drops but when the Sun breaks out and shines in its strength it licks up and scatters them all in a very short time and thou seest not one left So the Sonne of righteousness can dispel thy numberless transgressions as a cloud or a mist that they cannot be found Isa 44.22 Jer. 50.20 3. Long continuance in the state and trade and under the guilt and power of sin Oh I am a sinner of a long standing I am old and aged in sin Ierem. 2.33 Ier. 22.21 Eze. 23.43 I am soaked in iniquity I have served many apprentiships in it and am grown gray-headed I have drawn out a long train of vanitie and sin as it were with cartropes Isa 5.18 Methinks I feel the guilt of it so sodered into my spirit by dayly custome that it cannot be plucked out But stay a while poor soul if the Lord hath begun to draw thy heart to seek an interest in the grace of Redemption let not this dismay thee Although thou hast spent all thy dayes in a course of sin spun out a long thread of iniquity lived under guilt even to the age of Methuselah yet the Redemption that is in Christ is richly able to set the free He to whom a thousand years are but as one day can take of thy guilt of 1000 years standing There were means for cleansing an old Leprosie of long continuance and sacrifices to be offered to that end Lev. 13.11 and 14.2 The Israelites after the death of every Judge returned to their old trade of sin and ceased not from their stubborne way Judg. 2.19 Yet the Lord stirred them up Saviours still and though thou hast continued long in sin yet Christ continues still a Saviour The sinner that is 100 year old is accursed Isa 65.20 but the curse which thy Redeemer did undergoe is strong enough to shatter in peices the most inveterable curse and to turn it into a blessing The removal of guilt so deeply rivetted into thy soul by length of time seems to thee impossible but to him all things are possible To shut up this I would have the humbled soul to resolve thus Christ Jesus hath offered up himself to God through the eternal spirit and wherefore thus surely that he might by his blood purge my conscience from dead works and so deliver my soul from that eternal guilt and curse wherein it is intrapped Heb. 9.4 4. The advantage which Justice might have against the sinner for rejecting or neglecting the offer and season of grace Oh how often hath the Lord made a render of salvation to me by the Gospel how affectionately hath he invited me to come in and to take hold on the strength of this great Redeemer yet I have resisted the spirit and trampled this great grace under my feet or at least slighted it shamefully therefore I have cause to fear that the time is past and that mercy shall never reach to my soul Had I thoroughly closed at the first call or seen some reasonable time to lay down armes and submit I could hope that the Lord would have passed by all my former offences But that he should now accept me after the abuse of so much mercy such unprofitableness under his ordinances strong opposition against grace so unweariedly offered and settling my self on the lees of mine old sinful condition contrary to the light which I had received this is quite beyond mine expectation These and the like aggravating circumstances cannot but exasperate divine Justice and even compel it to vindicate its own honour and to avenge it self on such a notorious wretch as I am Surely the Lord hath determined to glorifie himself in my finall condemnation Thus the poor afflicted soul is apt to plead against its interest in this redemption But oh my dear heart be not so peremptory open thine eyes thou shalt see mercy glorying against Judgement James 2.13 None of these aggravations shall obstruct the sweet fruit of this glorious benefit but it shall break through them all True it is one of the Lords ends in suffering sin to abound and shewing forth so much patience to sinners is the manifesting of his Justice upon the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction Rom. 9.22 as in the case of Pharaoh Exod. 9.16 But what is this to thee who hast laid down thine armes and art gasping for mercie He hath another and a more desirable end in respect of thee namely that grace may much more abound and may raign thorough righteousness unto life Rom. 5.20 21. And what wilt thou say if the glory which he gets by delivering thee from the curse be double to that which he might have by leaving thee under it By this he onely glorifies his justice but by the former he glorifies both his justice and mercy this in rescuing thee from guilt and wrath that in laying the curse upon his onely Son that mercy might have free way to serve thee Why then dost thou not rather conclude thus surely the Lord which doth all things for his own glory will more regard a greater then a lesser glory my unbelieving heart saith it will be his choicest glory to destroy me being guiltie of such foul rebellions But the mercy of the redeemer saith No not so I have borne the whole curse for thee that justice might have no advantage by thy rebellion therefore I will rather raise up my glory by thy deliverance The Jews did alwayes resist the Holy Ghost Acts 7.51 and trample the grace of God under their feet even to the shedding of the blood of the Son of God yet a great number of them are and shall be ransomed by the merit of that same blood which they shed Zach. 12 1â— 13 1â— Ioh. 6.9 Peter having plainly confessed that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God Matt. 16.16 yet shortly after he rebukes Christ for speaking of his suffering and death vers 22. whereby although ignorantly he opposed the work of redemption and when the time of suffering came he disowned him with swearing and cursing Matth.
reason of frequent neglects faylings wandrings swarvings from the rule of the word since his conversion Oh saith the godly soul I can do nothing aright how often do I miscarry in the manner motives and ends of obedience Methinks I am fettered that I cannot go a foot pace much less run in the way of Gods Commandements To some kinde of evill ready and free enough to some kinde of good too often dead and sluggish If I be redeemed indeed why am I thus or what comfort can I have in the work of Redemption while I am in this case Doth the prisoner when he is released feel the shackles still on his legs If Christ by undergoing the curse of my former bondage hath brought me into liberty why am I still in bondage who shall answer for me now or where is the ransome for it But now consider if these distempers are the unavoidable workings of remaining corruption which cannot be wholly shaken off The best Saints may finde in themselves an indisposedness to good and forwardness to evil especially about those things which are most spiritual and require much self-denial in their carnal and earthly interest of ease credit and other outward enjoyments as in a constant course of secret prayer private reproof of others upon just occasion acknowledging a miscarriage to their own disgrace putting up wrongs for the maintaining of peace and such like Why is thy heart dejected for that which is the common lot of all the godly Thou mayest think it is well that the Lord hath not left thee to grosser sins and although thou hast many failings yet the Lord looks upon thee according to thy better part he will own his own grain in the midst of much chaffe And here is the crown of thy comfort Christ Jesus hath offered a sacrifice for every one that erreth and for him that is simple Ezek. 45.20 and he can reasonably bear with the ignorant and those that are out of the way Heb. 5.2 and he will carry on his work in thy soul till thy sinful distempers bee wholly subdued and thou shalt have no more cause to complaine Sect. 2. Comfort against inward terrours reproaches of men and outward afflictions 2. AGainst inward fears and terrours of conscience arising from sense of guilt and liableness to Gods displeasure Even the Lords redeemed may have shrewd remainders of the spirit of bondage upon them their spirits are sometimes startled and terrified with the fear or feeling of Divine wrath God lets Satan loose against them to bring their old sins to remembrance or to roar upon them as a Lion for new miscarriages And when he meets with a timorous unbeleeving heart he plies it so long with his fiery darts till at length he bereaves the sinner of all comfort Sometimes he is dejected and laid low in the sight of his own vileness Sometimes he is tossed and disquieted as the Sea with storms and tempests Sometimes he is even swallowed up with waves of soul-trouble as a ship ready to sink so that Satan seems to have his will of him Lam. 3.18 and he saith My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. A sad and unwelcome business I confess yet many of Gods dear servants have been thus put to it as both Scripture and experience do testifie Job complains that God held him for his enemy and made him to possess the iniquities of his youth Job 13.24 26. and therefore the poyson of his arrows did drink up his spirit and the terrours of God did set themselves in array against him Iob 19.25 Chap. 6.4 yet elsewhere he professeth his faith in the Redeemer David cries out that Gods arrows stuck so fast in him and his hand pressed him so sore that there was no soundness in his flesh nor rest in his bones Psal 38.3 4. The like we may see in Heman the Ezrahite Psal 88.3 6 7 14 15 c. But let the afflicted soul now have recourse to this harbour of Redemption and there he shall finde good shelter against all these storms What hast thou to fear save the curse of the Law why but that is removed and gone Thy Surety hath freed thee from it by making an end of thy sins No sin no curse If the Lord hide his face and frown upon thee it will bee for a moment for a small moment but he will return and with everlasting kindness have mercy on thee And for this thy Redeemer hath ingaged his word Isa 54.7 8. As for Satan that Lion of hell when he can neither hold nor recover his prisoners it is his next policy to disquiet them and to make their lives uncomfortable But tell him that thou art Christs devoted servant by vertue of a dear ransome and he hath nothing in thee neither shall hee rule in thy conscience he may go lash and torment his own marked slaves but thou art out of his reach And if the Lord and Satan do still pursue thy soul with terrours remember that thy Master Christ hath drunk of this bitter cup before thee and be assured that he will plead thy cause with his Father and at length he will take that roaring Lion under-hand and rend him as he would rend a Kid as it is said of Sampson Judg. 14.6 Know it dear Christian for thy comfort there are no storms in heaven 3 Against the cursings evill speakings reproaches contradictions of the men of the world Their tongues are set on fire of hell and they are very eloquâ—nt in the hellish art of cursed language especially against the Lords Redeemed ones smiting them with bitter words and heaping upon them the basest indignities which either the Devil can suggest or their malicious hearts invent Hast thou been acquainted with such unwelcome salutations Do thy prophane neighbours open their mouthes against thee And dost thou hear the words of cursing and bitterness yet be not troubled at it These arrows though they be very sharp and sent from a strong arm yet they shall not reach to pierce thy heart these coals of Juniper though they keep in the fire a whole year yet thou needest not fear scorching by them the malignity of them is taken away by the grace of Redemption If the curse of Gods righteous Law be voided to thee much more is the curse of mans unrighteous law If the Lord hath reversed and disanulled his just sentence passed against thee in heaven will he suffer the unjust sentence of sinful man on earth to stand in force against thee If the curse which is deserved shall not come much less shall that which is causeless Prov. 26.2 Say thou to God as David Let them curse but bless thou Psal 109.28 thou mayest hope that the Lord will requite thee good for their cursing as 2 Sam. 16.12 when the children of Israel were brought out of Egypt and upon their way to the promised Land Balaam was hired to curse them but the Lord turned the curse into a
blessing Deut. 23.3 4. So if thou be redeemed out of thy cursed condition and art travelling heaven-ward thou shalt meet with curses by the way but thy Redeemer will turn them into a blessing yea he hath blessed thee already so that all their imprecations censures slanders are but the flashings of powder without shot or like squibs which breath out fire but suddenly vanish and dye Thou mayest pitty their folly in speaking evill of the things which they know not The day is comming wherein they shall hang down their heads for shame and say We counted their life madness but indeed we are the mad-men they are the Lords Redeemed and numbred among the Saints we are the Devils bondmen and must go in the black band How have we raved against them by cursing and railing and all malicious language But now we finde that they are the blessed of the Lord and we Wo wo unto us are the children of the curse 4 Against outward temporal afflictions which they meet with in this life These are the lot of the Lords people whereunto they are appointed 1 Thess 3.3 Every one must have his several cup of one kinde or other None of us can be wholly discharged from this war while we are in the body yet here is safety in the hand of our great Reedeemer The Châ—ldren of Israel being brought out of the house of bondage had a troublesome journey through the wilderness to the Land of Canaan by reason of many difficulties they must encounter withall in the way but the Angel of the Covenant went before them and carried them forward as on Eâ—gles wings and at length gave them rest You that are happily rescued from the Curse and bondage of hell may expect to meet with much tribulation in the way to the Kingdome of God Act. 14.22 But this may be your comfort Jesus Christ your strong Deliverer looks after you and will not suffer you to be trodden under foot Hee is the Captain of your salvation and he knows by experience what it is to be afflicted for the Father thought it most convenient to make him perfect by sufferings Heb. 2.10 and he hath drunk the bitterest cup even to the bottome and will so sweeten yours as you shall have no cause to shrink at it I shall inlarge this further in some particulars Not to insist on such grievances as the godly suffer in common with the men of the world The grace of Redemption affords some reliefe against these There be three sorts of Afflictions very remarkable which do oftentimes deject and weaken the spirits of Gods people so that they need to bee comforted with the savoury and restorative Apples which grow upon this Tree 1. Persecutions for righteousness By this excellent benefit we are made capable of high enjoyments but it is with the proviso of suffering persecutions so hath Christ himself determined Mark 10.29 30. and his chosen witness Paul tells us positively All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3.13 which hath been abundantly verified in all ages See Davids complaint Psal 38.20 119.86 Act. 8.1 1 Cor. 4.12 Gal. 4.29 But now the Saints which suffer for the truth or for well-doing may chear up their hearts when they consider that the Redeemer himself hath led them the way in this fiery trial Did ever any undergo so much his whole life was a continued persecution Herod sought his life while he was a childe and when hee was grown up the Jews persecuted him to the death and he hath given us warning before hand that we may not think it strange if we be baptised with the same baptisme Joh. 15.20 Let the poor suffering Christian then resolve thus Luke 4.28 29. Ioh 5.16 18. and 8 59. 10.30 c. If my Redeemer was persecuted for righteousness sake in defence of his heavenly doctrine the avouching of his eternal God-head the Fathers sending him to be the Saviour of the lost world and the doing of good works and all this for me and on my account then it is but equal thâ—t I should undergo any kinde of persecution for him and not stick at it This is but to help to fill up the remainder of Christs sufferings Col. 1.24 and for thine encouragement take notice that he hath pronounced those blessed that are thus persecuted Matth. 5.10 c. Look up unto him who for the joy that was set before him indured the Cross Heb. 12.2 and do thou likewise 2 Sufferings in their innocency The godly are exposed to hardships in the world not onely for bearing witness to the truth and for well-doing but also when there is no cause at all save the unreasonable will and malice of men Thus it was with David Psal 13 4. 35.7 59.3 Prov. 1.11 They lurk privily for the innocent without cause So Joseph Gen. 39.8 12 20. and Daniel 16.4 16 22. Some men are so malignantly affected against sincerity that rather then fail they will forge and invent matter of mischiefe against the godly If this be thy case thine integrity and innocency may bear up thy spirit thou needest not fret against the Agents but consider that the Lord hath an hand in it for thy good at least for the trial of thy faith self-denial patience Above all remember that this also was the lot of thy Redeemer He had no sin neither was guile found in his mouth yet he suffered he was brought as a Lamb to the slaughter yet opened he not his mouth Isa 53.7 1 Pet. 2.21 22. Say then Although I suffer without cause yet I will not be cast down but I will commit my way unto the Lord and he shall bring forth my righteousness as the light Psal 37.5 6. The Redeemer which pleads my cause with God will plead it also with men Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy when I fall I shall arise Mic. 7.8 He will awake to judge my cause in due time 3. Punishments for sin The Redeemed of the Lord by giving way to the temptations of the wicked one and the prevailing of lust do so far forget themselves that they even waxe wanton against him and provoke him to take them underhand and to inflict some judgement upon them Thus he punished David for his sin in the matter of Bathsheba 2 Sam. 12.10 11 14. and Moses for not sanctifying him before the people Num. 20.12 Deut. 32.50 51. and the Saints of Corinth for unworthy communicating 1 Cor. 11.30 which is called judging vers 31. The godly sometimes by their miscarriages bring upon themselves sickness poverty losses crosses in children or good name yea bodily death By complying with the sins of the times they become partners in the judgements Ezek. 21.3 Wise Solomon observes it as very remarkable prefixing a Behold to it that the righteous shall be recompenced in the earth Prov. 11.21 even he is not spared but paid home for his folly there is a time that judgement
not fail of her desires Thus it is with a poor son of Adam now made partaker of Redemption by Christ he is greatly in love with his Redeemer but considering the great inequality betwixt them and his proneness to offend he is jealous over his own base heart least some unworthy walking should give his love the lie and Christ the dearly beloved of his soul should turn him over to Sathan again and leave him to be a slave to sin and the curse or lest his love should decay or cool and Christ his onely one should be displeased at him and frown upon him The Gentiles grafted into the Olive-tree must not be high-minded but fear Rom. 11.20 Such are pronounced blessed Prov. 28.14 If Paul was jealous over the Corinthians much more might they themselves 2 Cor. 11.2 3. If this jealousie be a stranger to thee thy love may well be suspected By these signes thou mayest trie the truth of thy love to Christ and if thou findest this frame of spirit thou mayest conclude that thou art redeemed A love thus qualified is a sure evidence of thy Redemption For none can possibly love the Redeemer at this height but those which are actually partakers of the benefit By nature we do not we cannot love him onely the banner of his love in the work of Redemption displayed to the sinner by the spirit of God drawes his heart to love him It may be thou hast no assurance of any interest in this benefit but if thou findest in thy soul such an high estimation of Christ and grace and such an advised complacency of spirit in him as inclines thee to fix the dearest love of thy heart upon him notwithstanding the contrary struglings of the flesh within thee though it certainly draw after it the loss of all worldly interests whatsoever I say if this be thy frame thou hast no cause to fear thy condition Sect. 2. The second and third mark of interest in Redemption 2. WEariness under the bondage of sinne both that which is past and present 1. The remembrance of his late wofull thraldome under the guilt and power of sin doth sometimes sadden his spirit he cannot think of it without some degree of regret and sorrow The misery of his former slavery under sinne is his wormwood and gall when he hath it in remembrance his soul is humbled in him Yea although he hath good hope through grace that he hath escaped the danger of it yet that doth not damme or drie up the spring of sorrow in his soul but rather renders it now spiritual and kindly Now he saith in the language of the Prophet Oh let me never return into the house of this prison again lest I die there Trie thy self Iere. 37.20 It 's no sure signe of a good estate if upon supposal of thy interest in this benefit thy soule be lifted up to such an height of joy as drownes all thoughts of thy old sinfull condition and leaves thee altogether unaffected If the Apostle had judged this a commendable disposition he would never have exhorted the saints of Ephesus to remember in what a pitifull condition they had formerly been while they were farre off and in the flesh Ephes 2.11 12. 2. The sence of that heavie clogg which lies upon him the bodie of death with the lusts thereof which as fetters on his leggs are continually pinching him makes him to sigh and crie out Oh wretched man who shall deliver me and that not onely when he is in the dark about his spiritual estate but also in the day of his choisest assurance when he can heartily thank God in the view of his full deliverance to come Rom. 7.24 25. I conceive S. Paul doth there represent the temper of every right Christian as to this particular in his own example Suppose the armes leggs and other parcels of a dead carkass were chained to the body of a living man although the trunk of that carkass were taken quite away yet Oh how noisome would it be It would make a man wearie of himself Thus it is with the ransomed soul The bulk of the flesh as I may call it is destroyed by the cross of Christ the life of it is in a great measure laid in the dust when he is set free from the Law that is the commanding over-ruling masterfull power of sin yet still the members of this carkass the affections and lusts of the flesh are sprawling and stirring and working in him and these are as troublesome to a gracious heart as the stinking members of a dead body would be to a living body if they were coupled to it Consider thy self now and see how it is with thee Art thou as Rebekah weary of thy life Gen. 27.46 because of those daughters of Heth Canst thou say with all thine heart Oh that I were altogether freed from them oh that this vexatious Inmate with all her unwelcome train might be once pack'd out of doors that I might see it no more When shall it once be This is a sweet signe that thou art actually redeemed But now Art thou a stranger to this frame Is the bodie of sin no burthen nor grief of heart to thee Canst thou go under it without stooping Dost thou not rather bless thy self in thy civil carriage before men or at the best in thy religious outside profession and performances before God wondering at the preciseness of some persons which make so much adoe in sighing and lamenting under that pressing bondage of corruption which thou art not acquainted with nor knowest what it means This is a clear evidence that thou art still a wretched slave a meer stranger to the grace of Redemption 3 A sincere consolation and real endeavour to abandon all iniquity and for ever to relinquish a vain conversation Hee that hath laid a long time in iron fetters for his misdemeanours if he be wise for himself will utterly renounce those courses which hath brought him into that misery and he that hath felt the iron curse of the Law pinching his soul and is set free by the Lord Jesus the grace of God will effectually teach him to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.12 When the Lord hath found a ransome for an humbled soul whose life was drawing near to the destroyers and hath sent his Commission to the Minister of the Gospel to deliver him the poor soul forthwith reflects upon himself and saith I have sinned and perverted that which is right and it profited me not that is I have gotten nothing by the trade of sin but woe and sorrow therefore I will follow it no longer Job 33 23.-27 I will not offend I will do no more Job 34.31 32. The Apostle Peter writing to the dispersed Jews tells them that they are redeemed from their vain conversation which they had received by tradition from their Fathers 1 Pet. 1.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They had sundry idle needless unprofitable customes both
so that there is hope that even thou mayest be actually delivered out of this wofull prison Labour to understand the nature of this mystery be perswaded of the realness of it get thy soul bottomed on the certainty of this main Gospel-truth work on thy heart the consideration of the necessity of it in reference to thine own state Study it and dwel upon it in thy most serious thoughts that thy heart may be duly affected with it as a thing most nearly concerning thine own particular But alas our people although they hear this Doctrine frequently yet either they are as the horse and mule without understanding or they hear it as a common story deserving onely some weak confused assent or they look upon it as an ordinary mercie or as drie Manna never so much as going about to ponder the personal importance of it but busying themselves about and enslaving themselves unto the profits and pleasures and poor contentments of the world so that they have neither minde nor leasure to think of saving their soules from the stroke of God's curse It cannot be expected that these persons continuing such should ever attain to an actual interest in this benefit they forsake their own mercie by observing lying vanities Jon. 2.8 and judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life Acts 13.46 5. But then take this along with you and be it known unto you all that the Lord hath measured out and appointed a way wherein you must go if ever you will come to this city of Refuge Reckon not on actual Redemption meerly upon this score because Christ hath taken upon him the Curse and thereby satisfied the justice of the Law God hath as well fixed the means as the End He hath prescribed something in the nature of a condition Cum unusquisque actui ex sua voluntate pendenti legem possit imponere c. Grotius de Satisfac cap. 6. to be performed on our part yet by his strength in order to the obtaining of a real interest in this benefit In every act which depends upon a mans will and pleasure to do it or not to do it he hath liberty to set down his own termes as that the effect or fruit of it shall enure either absolutely or under a condition As in case I am willing to be at cost for the ransoming of a slave out of Turkie I may lawfully impose upon him some honest reasonable conditions whereunto if he do not submit he shall have no benefit by the ransome If this may be allowed to a man whose breath is in his nostrils how much more to God the great Monarch and Governour of the world Although he was very well satisfied with the price which Christ paid as being fully satisfactory to his justice Yet it was not the minde either of the Father or the Sonne that any sinner should actually be discharged forthwith upon the payment of the price but onely upon a condition of something in himself which may be a ground of a personal title thereunto Suppose the Prince or state should accept of the satisfaction given by another be it his eldest Son for the crimes of certain prisoners resolving that their release should become actual onely upon some conditions to be performed by themselves although not by their one power should any of them under pretence of this satisfaction take it ill that they are not forthwith set at liberty and thereupon offer to make an escape may not this be justly interpreted a breach of prison may not they expect to hear some say Stay friends you make too much haste there goes too words to a bargain Look to your task do that which you are enjoyned and the prison doores will instantly flie open else you must be fetch'd back again and your bonds made more strong Even so if you will snatch at this freedome assoon as ever you heâ—r that the price is paid creeping out at the window and not going forth by the door you will finde at length that you are wretched Bondmen still if you will take possession by leaping over the hedge and not by the way of Liverie Rom. 10.3 Luke 13.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ejected out of illegal possession If not from eternity or before they were borne and Seisin you must be cast out as Intruders and Usurpers Yet alas this is a very common but a dangerous Solaecisme in Christianitie which is rendred more plausible by the late Antinomian doctrine of the actual acquittance of all the Elect at and from the very time of Christ's sufferings Men hear the report of the Redemption of the world by Christ and they presumptuously claim a part in it at the first news not regarding the termes upon which it must become theirs if ever they enjoy it If a Minister go to a careless sinner lying on the bed of languishing and present unto him his sinne and the Curse that he may see his danger and look out for the remedie he will confidently avouch that Christ hath shed his blood for him and will save him he never fears it and yet this man hath all his life time rejected the counsel of God against himself concerning the way to get a particular interest therein Alas poor soul this confidence is nothing else but a pleasant dream and there will be a sad awaking at last when thou hast cheated thy self into everlasting chains Sect. 2. The way to get an actual Interest in Redemption BUt what is that way or mean which God hath fixed as a kinde of condition of the sinners actual interest in this grace of Redemption I Answer 1. The proper and most principal mean is faith in the Lord Jesus The Scripture layes the stress of this business mainly upon Faith As Christ is the way to the Father John 14.6 so Faith is the way to Christ therefore it is called the faith which is into Christ Acts 26.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uâ—tâ— me So 2 Tim. 2.15 by which sinners receive forgiveness and an inheritance and it is described to be a comming unto Christ John 6.39 God hath set him forth to be a propitiation and he becomes such actually to me through Faith in his blood Rom. 3.25 This is as an hand created in the soule by the Spirit of God to receive and take home Jesus Crist the Redeemer with all his benefits unto eternal life It is when a sinner sensible of his sinne and the curse and so lost in himself renounceth his own righteousness and all creature-helps and betakes himself to Jesus Christ alone accepting him as he is offered in the Gospel that is both to be his Saviour and his Lord both to rest upon him for righteousness and salvation an to resigne himself up to his Government in subjection to his Lawes This is the Faith of the Gospel which as it hath a special aptness in that it acts as the eye sees Non extramittendo sed intramittendo to be a mean of
score and disanulled the Law as to the Curse of it so that it hath nothing to say against thee This lyon may roar upon thee but be not dismayed the Lord hath sent the Angel of the Covenant and hath shut the Lyon's mouth his Dan. 6.22 rage is abated his undoing power is taken away he may shew his teeth and snatch at thee but he cannot wound thee mortally Thou hast now a just and clear ground to go upon in answering all the demands pleeas and accusations that can lie against thee in God's high Court of Justice Therefore doe not nourish Legal feares any longer but turn the Curse over to thy Redeemer and boldly tell it that it hath nothing to do with thee The Apostle in telling the believers of Rome that they had not received the spirit of bondage again to fear Rom. 8.15 intimates that such a condition to be held down under the slavish fear of condemnation doth not well consist with the estate of the Redeemed sonnes of God 2. Bondage of conversation when a sinner having hearkened to the Call and counsel of the Gospel in accepting the offer of Christ and redemption by him gives leave to the bodie of sinne dwelling in him to act its part too much and to bring him into some degrees of willing bondage under those lusts or sinfull practises which formerly he had escaped and relinquished Dost thou challenge a share in this ransome Oh then do not enslave thy self again unto any sinne Art thou fetch'd out of the house of spiritual bondage with a mightie hand Take heed that thou hanker not after the flesh pots of Egypt or attempt a return thither as the people of Israel did Numb 14.4 Hath the Lord spoken peace to thee wilt thou then turne again to folly God forbid Psal 85.8 Oh! alas that any of us should after continuance in the profession of Christ for some considerable time suffer our selves to be ensnared in our olde lusts or fall into new wayes of sinne which yet is the sad case of some who at their entrance gave hopes of better things Jesus Christ that mightie Champion hath cast the Curse of the Law on a dead sleep If thou wilt give libertie to thy self to commit iniquitie or to trade in any forbidden way thou mayest fear that the noise of thy sinne will awake this fierce Lion ere thou be aware to tear thy soul in pieces Hearken to the Apostle's counsel Fashion not your selves according to your former lusts 1 Pet. 1.14 If the Manslayer having fled to the city of Refuge would afterwards make bold to wander without the border of it the Avenger of blood findeing him might lawfully kill him his blood must be on his own head Numb 35.26 c. Even so if thou hast once betaken thy self to Jesus Christ as thy refuge and after that stragglest out of his liberties into any sinfull practise thou art then within the reach of the Avenger of blood the Curse may meet with thee and slay thy soul Thy Redeemer hath hedged thee out from all such base courses as are contrary to the end of thy Redemption If thou wilt take Libertie where he gives none at thy peril be it The best thou canst expect is that when he comes he will complain and say Alas what profit is there in my blood that I have gone down to the pit to deliver thee out of it seing thou art returning thither again Be advised then thou ransomed Christian to lay a strict injunction upon thy self and say O my soul thou art now set free sinne no more least a worse thing come unto thee Ne veniat Christus c si te in peccato invenerit dicat tibi Quae utilitas in sanguine meo c. Ambros alluding to Psa 30.9 Ier. 37.20 John 5.14 and when through the prevailing of corruption thou art drawn aside into some vagarie make haste to returne by repentance and pray earnestly that the Lord would keep thee from going back into that old prison of sinne and the Curse out of which through the grace of Christ thou art escaped Sect. 2. Third Duty 3. GIve your selves up wholly to the pleasure service and obedience of your Lord Redeemer Resigne your selves to him to be at his appointment and to his glorie So doth the Apostle exhort from this very ground 1 Cor. 6.19 20. The Lord Jesus having paid thy ransome and made thee a freeman from the Curse challengeth thee now for his own and saith Thou art mine It is thy part to Eccho and say Lord I am thine and to dedicate thy self to him with full purpose of heart in the whole stream of thy conversation and that 1. In doing Israels deliverance from Egyptian bondage was an ingagement to obedience See the Preface to the Commandements Deut. 5.6 and one end of our Redemption from the hands of our spiritual enemies is that wee might serve him in holiness Exod. 20.2 and righteousness all our dayes Luke 1.74 75. Christ died and rose again that he might be Lord of quick and dead therefore whether we live or die it must be not to our selves but to him Rom. 14.7 8 9. Those that are redeemed to be Christ's peculiar people must be zealous of good works 1 Pet. 1.15 18 19. Tit. 2.14 Christ hath suffered that we being made partakers of the benefit of his sufferings might live all our time after the will of God 1 Pet. 4.1 2. It was no part of our Redeemer's business to free us from obedience but rather by adding this engagement of Redemption to that of Creation to make the bond more strong that a two-fold cord might not be easily broken We are too carnally selfish If we think that Christ had no aim in this great work but onely to deliver us from hell and bring us to heaven Doubtless he had a further end in his eye even to reduce us unto our first subjection and obedience from which we had wickedly departed with the advantage of better abilitie to serve him that we might be to his glory In all which not our own wisdome or will but the word of God must be attended as our line to work by especially the Morall Law which is the platforme of righteousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an eternal fixed Canon for the ordering of our conversation Therefore it 's called the Royal Law because the King of Kings hath appointed it to be the High-way for all his Subjects to walk in yea even believers must fulfil it Jam. 2.8 So that the Law ceaseth to condemne but not to command It is no longer a curse to destroy us yet it is still a Rule to direct us It 's strange that some men either cannot or will not see a clear difference betwixt the mark or finger which shews the way to the Traveller and the strength of body whereby he is enabled to go on in the way betwixt the command of the Law which prescribes us our