being of worth or sufficiency to compasse things so glorious as to bring to God to purchase to himselfe a peculiar people to sanctifie to cleanse to perfect and to make them spotlesse and unblameable all which are cut off and fall to the ground if the Spirit of God which begets faith and sets down the soul in the holinesse and innocency of Christ come not by this giving himselfe And a second thing by way of answer to be minded is what this Spirit is wherein though I am infinitely short in the comprehending of the height thereof and deepnesse of Christs unfadom'd misteries yet I conceive there is severall mistakes as that the Spirit that dwels in beleevers by which they beleeve see and know the mystery of Christ is the person of the Godhead whereas under the word Father sets forth the whole Godhead as John 14.7 8 9 10. where Christ declares that he that hath seen him hath seen the Father and shewes that all his workes of power and words of wisdome and knowledge were wrought in him by the Father and proceeded from none else but from him alone and this he teacheth us more largely when he saith the Son doth nothing of himselfe but what he seeth the Father doe that doth he and the Son knowes not of that day but the Father only though he was not ignorant as he was in union with the Father as he saith I in the Father and he in me yet as the Son begotten and borne knew not Now by the Spirit that hath its indwelling and abode in Regenerate persons is that breathing forth of power from the Essence of the Godhead which begets formes and raiseth dead things to life makes darkness light sometimes called seven spirits by reason of the more abounding and large breathing or working of God and this Spirit that is full of power and life in revealing the true God and him whom he hath sent is also the Spirit of the Son in that God workes not any thing in the new creation but wholly by in and through Iesus Christ and therefore this new Spirit revealeth both the Father and the Son that there is no true knowledge of the one without the other yea indeed if we consider Gods proceeding towards man in the old and first Creation we shall finde he never moved in the least but through and in the Son Let us make man By him were all things made that were made He upholds all through and by the word of his power So that laying Before Abraham was I am stands true concerning the Manhood of Christ all things having their being with God things not manifested to us and so likewise That I was daily his delight Prov. 8. For God ever moved in and through and for the excellency of Christ much more are all his goings forth according to the new Creation so that now the Spirit is thus purchased by Christ that the worth and vertue of the Sacrifice of that spotlesse Lambe did prevaile with God to bring forth all his treasury of grace and all his glorious workes of the new Creation Or thus in that God could in no wise give his spirit of Faith wisdome and revelation but in and through Christ by reason that is could not stand with his infinite holinesse and purity to doe any thing towards vile and sinfull flesh but in that holy thing Iesus and indeed it must needs argue want of the knowledge of God and his name which Christ saith he hath manifested and why he but that in all his testimony declares the Fathers co-working with and in him that conceive that God should give any mercy but wholly in by and through Christ Again whereas it is said these things come from a higher cause then the blood of Christ even the meere good pleasure of God I answer that we have cause then without doubt to judge that God would have given us all things else without him for if he give the greater even the Spirit of faith and wisdome which is the glory of salvation that makes salvation to be salvation heaven to be heaven yea God to be God minding in relation to the soul much more would he have given the lesse even that which is a thing of no force and falls to the ground without any effect without his Spirit so that he would then surely have spared his only yea welbeloved Son from that bitternesse and severity of his unexpressible wrath which made him cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Againe If it be possible let this cup passe from me But it was impossible for God could not doe any mercy all the worke of Salvation would be spoiled if he drunke it not Object Likewise where it is obiected that Faith is no more the purchase of Christ then Election Answ I answer Christ was the first begotten of God even the first in the beginning of the Creation so that Election never entred into the breast of God before his Christ suffered so that all his love in Election moved in him so as it is said he chose us in him so that as we have minded he purchased that as well as any thing else Object If Faith be purchased by the blood of Christ then it cannot be the gift of God but Ephes 2.8 it is said to be the gift of God Answ First that Christ himself is the gift of God and therefore whatsoever comes by him must needs be given also shall we therefore say nothing is purchased by him Secondly we shall finde that that which is purchased is also given and said to be given as Ephes 1.14 a possession purchased yet saith Christ Feare not little flocke it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdome so Heb. 2. Behold I and the children which God gave me are for signes and wonders yet he saith Feed the flocke which Christ hath purchased with his blood Act. 20.28 Object But Christ dyed alike for all therefore Faith is not the purchase of Christ for all have not faith 2. The Gospell is to be preached alike to all 3. Unbeliefe is a great sin and of a high condemning nature Answ First it is impossible but the death of Christ should fully effect all things that were thereby intended for the Manhood that dyed was acted by the Godhead Heb. 9.15 He offered himselfe by the Eternall Spirit the Sonne doth nothing of himselfe the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper his handiworke Isa 53.10 So that the will of God can in no wise be frustrated unlesse there ware a superiour power and then should he indeed cease to be God who is from all Eternity to Everlasting But more To the first That he dyed for all I answer by way of grant That he did die for all even all taken at the largest extent yet not alike for all and that this may appeare considering Christ in his Offices we shall finde they reach to all but in a different manner and nature which
1.14 Where the testimony of the Apostle is this That the beleevers have their redemption by the blood of Christ he saith not they have part of their redemption by this blood but whatsoever may be said to be redemption so that if faith if beleeving and knowing of the mystery of the Gospell be any part of redemption or make redemption to be redemption he declares plainly that this they have by the blood of Christ and so more fully in Rev. 5. Where thus expresly speakes the Spirit Thou hast redeemed us out of every kindred and tongue and nation and herein commends to us that they are a people differenced from and redeemed out of others which cannot be but by faith and fellowship in the mystery of the Gospell and this faith or difference from others is only wrought by the blood of Christ as before is proved therefore is the Spirit that dwelleth in beleevers called the Spirit of the Son God Gal. 4.6 Object But some are said to be bought which deny the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2.1 and therefore all are redeemed the which words cannot stand in relation to the Church for then he should have said denying the Lord that bought you Answ That all men are bonght by Jesus Christ but how Not in respect of the redemption from the guilt of sin and wrath to come but in respect of their enjoying their lives and being for all men have their naturall subsistance by him by him doe all things consist and thus he bought them in that he holds the hands of wrath and justice for a season and therefore these now by the Law of equity ought to honour him for God would have all men to honour the Son as they honour the Father Now for these to deny him trample him under foote by whom they have all the mercies that ever they enjoyed how then shall these escape swift damnation Thus may we see clearly that such as are the proper subjects of wrath to come do receive mercy are cloathed and sed in this life as well yea commonly beyond the Sons of promise who are as clearly differenced from them notwithstanding the poverty of one for a moment and the barne filled with Corne for a night with the other the one sort being out of Christ Jesus are out of the promise the other being in Christ Jesus are under the promise yea all the promises are yea and Amen to them yea they are in Christ Jesus all that are not Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 and therefore freed from condemnation Rom. 8.1 Rom. 8 9 10. yea the knowledge of the mystery of the hidden Gospell 1 Cor. 1.7 which are as a sealed Booke to others is opened to them Rev. 5. Isa 29.11 the which all the wisdome and learning of the flesh cannot in the least measure reach unto Luk. 10.21 1 Cor. 11.19 20 21. but it must be brought into the soule by the revelation and teaching of the Spirit John 16.13 14 15. 1 Cor. 2.11 12 14. 1 Joh. 2.27 then this knowledge comes by the blood of Christ who thereby hath prevailed to open the booke Rev. 5.5 and therefore is he faidito give his people an understanding whereby they know him that is true 1 John 5.20 the like is testisied concerning Faith that he is the author thereof Acts 3.16 Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith that Jesus that endured the Crosse as in the same verse the Spirit witnesseth even Jesus to him that was born and so called Mat. 1.21 So that it is not as some would have it that the Godhead only or simply he as God is the Author that is the causer of faith that gives the first being to it but looking to Jesus giving us to understand that as the Godhead is the Author thereof so likewise is the Manhood this so prevailing with the Father in the Sacrifice thereof so as that now he that was borne is set downe in the Fathers Throne as he himselfe saith I over came and sate downe in my Fathers Throne Rev. 3.21 which overcomming is by worth and excellency of his death as Christ saith concerning his Spouse Cant. 6.4 Psal 45.11 and she overcomes him through her beauty Cant. 7.10 and perfect comelinesse which he hath put upon her Ezek. 16.14 so that as the Manhood workes not at all without the Godhead so neither doth the Godhead worke without the Manhood as he himselfe saith The Father workes hitherto and I worke so that as the Father quickneth whom he will so the Son quickeneth whom he will likewise which shews their ioynt-working that whatsoever the Father wills the Son wills and whatsoever the Son wills the Father wills also as in this he manifests I and my Father are one and the Spirit shall take of mine and shew unto you for all that the Father hath is mine even as all the Son hath is the Fathers John 16.15 Iohn 17.10 Now in that all life faith spiritoall knowledge comes by the Son how comes he to be thus highly exalted but by reason of the prevailing excellency of the Sacrifice of himselfe as Phil. 2.6 7 8 9 10. and he hath a purchased possession which consists not in meate and drinke but is a Kingdome full of ioy and peace of the Holy Ghost and shall for ever remaine now the Spirit makes all this appeare to be purchased by Iesus Christ Therefore are beleevers said to be Gods workmanship created in Christ Iesus God moves not the least out of his Son Object That Faith cannot be the purchase of Christ because Faith is by the Spirit of God which is too high to be purchased by the blood of CHRIST and therefore it must proceed from a higher cause even the meere good pleasure of God Answ To which by way of answer 1. To shew what may be understood concerning this word purchase by which I understand no more then according to that in Revel 5.5 where it is said The Lion of the Tribe of Iudah obtained to open the booke which is Christ Jesus it being of singular worth and excellency God so accepting of it the spirit and power of working into the hands of Christ for which end CHRIST gave himselfe as 1 Pet. 3.18 The just for the unjust that bee might bring us to God which cannot be without putting life into us and therefore are we said to be made nigh unto God by the blood of Christ Ephes 2.13 so that in Tit. 2.14 also Ephes 5.26 27. Declaring the ends that Christ had in his eye in giving himselfe to death which were as the recompence of reward and as a means of comfort and refreshing to him that by his death he should bring forth such glorious effects as are there mentioned and therefore these things being denyed to come by this gift of himselfe as effects thereof and as a thing purchased thereby must needs frustrate the end and ayme and desire of Christ and make his death voide as not
alludes unto be taken up according to the former onely that his allusion in the second and third Verses cannot be so proper For so long as a man liveth the Law is his Lord that is till he become dead to himselfe and live in another as it was with the Apostle himselfe and is with all beleeving Saints according to that Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I live is by the Faith of the Sonne of God even till this new life be breathed in the Law exerciseth dominion over a man but when hee no longer lives Christ is his life as Col. 3.4 Ioh. 11.25 1 Ioh. 5.12 then the Law cannot have dominion over him for now he is a new creature and walkes in newnesse of life 2 Cor. 5.17 Esay 43.19 Rev. 21.5 and therefore the Law which is the Lord the Husband the Rule the Line for the old Man the Naturall Man the Carnall Man cannot have to doe with him it being not answerable to that new creature that is of such a heavenly divine Spirituall and Evangelicall being and is above the Law as much as heaven is above the earth yea the new Adam above the old 1 Cor. 15.47 48. For as is the heavenly so are they that are heavenly and therefore they cannot have union with the Law or it have dominion over them they being highly advanced above Dominions Principalities and Powers sitting with Christ in heavenly places Ephe. 2.6 Rev. 12.5 and therefore saith the Church Other Lords have had dominion over us but now are they dead unto us and we are called by thy Name So that the force of the Apostles Argument must needs lie here that if it be so that these Romanes are dead to the Law that their old man is crucified Gal. 2.19 that they are ingrafted into the new and true Olive Rom. 11.17 that they are made alive in Christ so as that now he is become their Lord their Husband Psal 45.11 2 Cor. 11.2 3. then the Law cannot exercise authoritie or Lordship over them So that the matter the Apostle here drives at stands good the word being lively taken up but we shall finde this interrupts the Apostles method of expressing himselfe for he in this first verse sets forth the Law as having a dominion belonging to it where it is in force in the next verse that he may illustrate his minde he compares it to the husband who is the party to whom dominion belongs and the wife the party in subiection then to set forth to these beleeving Romanes their feedome from the Law he argues the case thus that if the husband be dead then the wife shee is no longer held under his power but is delivered from the law of the man that was her husband so also the Law being dead which is the husband the Lord over the earthly and naturall man then are such to whom it is become thus dead free from the power or soveraignty thereof therefore in the 6. Ver. of the 7. to the Romanes he saith thus But now wee are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we were held meaning the Law being dead so also 2 Cor. 3.7.11 and Gal. 4.24 30. verses so Heb. 10.9 where he shewes the taking away the Law which is abolished In respect of ministration towards all that the Gospel the glad tidings the righteousnesse of Faith not the Law the killing letter the righteousnesse of man is to be preached to all people and to all persons and not onely so but to be abolished in respect of its power and dominion over the body and Spouse of Christ so that such as live and move in the Law they are none of his none of the childten of promise they are but Ishmaels sonnes of the bond woman and shall not be heires with the sonnes of the free woman as Gal. 4.30 and Gen. 21.10 and then also the husband being dead to the wife that hee carmot direct injoyne or command her even the wife also is as dead to such a husband as not in any wise to stand under his power and so the case stands betweene the Law and the beleever that it being dead to him he also becomes dead to it that whensoever it speakes it is as the voice of a stranger which he will not heare John 10.5 though it came in never so smooth a language and with words as soft as butter to draw him from his Virgin and upright affection Cant. 1.2 c. and therefore doth the Apostle change his voyce in that manner one while he saith the Law is become dead to the beleever another while that the beleever is dead to it for the mighty power that workes the death of the Law to the man must needs worke the death of the man to it and therefore in the 4. verse the Apostle saith So you are become dead to the Law Then having by cleare and strong consequence shewed their freedome from servitude or bondage he falls upon a discovery how this freedome is brought about which hee saith is by the body of Christ for no other way is there benefit arising to any The first thing I shall minde is that it must needs be by a mighty working of the power and Spirit of God that his death to the Law must be wrought Man as he lies in himselfe spends and layes out his strength and all his endeavours in obedience to the Law working out a right eousnesse to commend himselfe before God and to raise a relation of being a Son and a Servant to him Thus Paul prest after a righteousnesse being under the Law as himselfe testifies Galat. 1.14 Acts 9.1 Phil. 3.6 And was blamelesse concerning the Law had a hot zeale but not according to knowledge till it pleased the Lord to open his eyes and reveale his Son Christ Jesus to him and to shew him the fellowship of the Mystery of his glorious Gospell which no man naturally can ever see or discerne John 3.5 vers 31. 1 Cor. 2.14 This the Jews were so zealous after seeking to establish their own righteousnesse Rom. 10.2 3. And this many sons of Hagar who have high thoughts of their being beleevers and beloved ones in the sight of God doe rise early and lie downe late eating the bread of carefulnesse must present faire Jewels to this Calfe and their Children even the fruit vigor and strength of their Soules to this Molech it is their glory their riches yea their life for take away their righteousnesse then goes all their hope all their comfort therefore skin for skin and all they have will they give for this So that such as bring them the doctrine of the Law they are the soundest Ministers and the wellcommest to them as Christ saith If one come in his owne name him ye will receive but he that shall come forth with the message of the most High even in the Gospell of Jesus Chrift which will in no