being found in him and so it is upon all them that beleeve for there is no difference for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus That vers 24. answers to and shews the reason of both the former branches viz. That the righteousness of God is unto all and upon all them that beleeve though all have sinned c. and so is to be understood in a two-fold sence 1 The whole Nature is justified in the second man Christ Jesus that stood for all to bear their sins in which all have already sinned and with which the whole Nature is thence polluted in that he is justified for them from the sins imputed to him in his Resurrection and this is freely by his grace through the Redemption in Jesus 2. All that beleeve every one of them beleeving what he hath done and is become for sinners and so through his Name beleeving on him are in their particular persons justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in him God accepts them in his Son and remembers not nor doth impute to them their former wickedness or present unprofitableness but imputeth to them righteousness without works as in Acts 10. 35. 43. that saying That in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him vers 35. is thus explicated as fulfilled among those where the Gospel comes That through his name whosoever beleeveth on him shall receive the forgiveness of sins vers 43. So Acts 13. 39. By him all that beleeve are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses they are delivered from under the condemnation of the wrath which in respect of the execution of it is yet to come under which they all abide that on hearing beleeve not on the Son of God 1 Thes 1. 10. Joh. 3. 18. 36. He justifieth even the ungodly beleeving and so coming to and being found in the righteous one that being justified freely by his grace they might be more and more made heirs according to the hope of eternal life given us in Christ that through the righteousness of God and our Saviour they might be made to be meet partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Rom. 3. 20-22-24 25 26. 4. 3 4 5. Tit. 3. 4-7 And so 3 Therefore also are such beleevers on his name called The righteous because the end and fruit of this righteousness of God and our Saviour in which beleeving they are accepted is also that through the knowledge and faith thereof the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in them even the righteous affections and services the Law required but gave no strength to bring forth as well as the life and peace it was ordained to but could not give that the beleever might bee filled with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ Rom. 8. 2 3 4. Phil. 1. 10 11. even the fruites of the Spirit whose evidence and demonstration is of Christ in his testimony bringing forth in the beleeving receiver love joy peace long suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance And they that are Christs have in the light and strength of the Lord crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts That henceforth they should not serve sin Rom. 6. Gal. 5. They beleeving with the heart that God hath raised Christ from the dead doe through the grace and power of that beleeved and beleeved in receive in a first fruits of the Spirit the end of their faith even the salvation of their souls for with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousness in this sence also Giving all diligence through the knowledge of him they adde to or in their faith vertue his goodnesse compassions holinesse c. as manifested in Christ frames to some likenesse or conformity to him in like love bowels mercies holinesse c. And so in their vertue they adde or proceed to further knowledge tastes and proof of his graciousnesse and therein temperance and so godlinesse brotherly kindness charity Hence it is the Apostles would have these things namely the righteousnesse of God and our Saviour through which they were made partakers of such precious and operative faith to bee always bad in remembrance seeing hereby they were saved if they kept in memory 1 Cor. 15. 1-4 2 Pet. 1. 1-12 c. this word of faith and so this faith that is of the operation of God is not without its works It works through love as from the consideration of Gods love in Christ as the foundation and fountaine of it whence it hath all its fresh Springs so in a channel of love towards God and man It favours therefore of ignorance of the righteousness of God and our Saviour and of the preciousnesse of this faith of Gods operation through it when any say to us That it is not enough for us with the heart to beleeve and close with Gods testimony concerning Christ but we must also look for the work of the Spirit inwardly to quicken save and sanctifie us such sayings at least signifie that the work of the Spirit for quickning saving and sanctifying the soul is another thing besides and divided from this testimony and not certainly met with in this way of beleeving and having the heart and minde exercised and stayed on that name and grace of his beleeved so that a man may with his heart beleeve and confesse that God hath raised Christ from the dead and yet not therein experiment the quickning and saving work of the Spirit contrary to Rom. 10. 9 10. 1 Cor. 15. and so doe indeed lead beleevers having begun in the Spirit to seek to bee made perfect by the flesh True it is a man may say he hath faith when yet his faith hath no works nor spirit left in it only an empty and idle opinionating such a thing or professing to beleeve it as true without any hearty mindfulnesse of the importance or grace of the truth he pretends to cleeve And of such a faith James saith Can it save faith if it have no works is dead a spiritlesse and unprofitable thing being alone yea even that faith is signified by him to be nothing else but a dead Carcasse pretence outside profession or shew of that which indeed is not or not with the heart not kept in beleeving remembrance and mindfulnesse for even there he signifies that if it were unfeigned or with the heart according to the discoveries given lesse or more it would work savingly like as the same Propositions beleeved to be true by the Devils works horror because they speak as much against them as they doe for man even so man any of mankind beleeving with the heart it would be unto righteousnesse Let God bee true and every man a lyar if any say hee stedfastly and with his heart beleeves the truth and greatnesse of Gods love to man ward as
manifested in Christ and yet perceives no such preciousnesse in Christ and his testimony as to move him according to his measure to count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ but easily listens to and admires the pretended excellencies of other spirits that lift not up the Son of Man according to the Apostles Doctrine but privily some other thing or work in his stead or embraces and cleaves to the things of this present world nor is moved with like love and compassion towards men from the grace in Christ beleeved nor united in heart with them that fear his Name and call upon him in truth to know and own them as brethren and strive together with them for the faith of the Gospel but hath left his first Love or else hath not yet so received the love of the truth as to save him let us not acknowledge his sayings to bee true that he doth so unfeignedly beleeve the truth as it is in Jesus for so we shall render God a Lyar and his Word without effect but let God be true and every man a Lyar for that grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men teacheth us That denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live righteously soberly and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the mighty God and our Saviour Let none of us therefore be moved to mean thoughts of the efficacy of the word of faith because we or others prove it not while we think and say we beleeve that thence we should slight that as vain and run to some other way to wait for the Spirit or for perfecting what was begun by the Spirit in the hearing of faith but let us judge our selves of wavering unconstancy or double mindednesse and of neglect of that so great Salvation and having itching ears after something sutable to our divers lusts and let us suffer our hearts by the grace of God while yet admonishing and striving with us to be more fixed trusting in the Lord without guile or waveringnesse seeking righteousnesse in Jesus through the knowledge and faith of him through which he gives all things pertaining to life and godlinesse Let us give more earnest heed to the things we have heard in the word of the truth of the Gospel least at any time we let them slip Consider that love of God to manward appearing in and through Christ saved the Apostles and so and therein they had the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost shed on them abundantly through Jesus Christ and that Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation to every one that beleeveth for therein is the righteousnesse of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written The just shall live by faith And to this answers the other descriptions of the righteous ones in this text They are merciful men or men of kindnesse or godlinesse Men filled and seasoned with the apprehension and perswasion of the mercies compassions and kindnesse of God to sinners to the unkind and evil and of that as discovered in the face of Christ where he is to be truly known and worshipped And so of his good will in Christ begotten through the word of truth to their faith and hope in him and joy in hope of the glory to bee revealed and patience in tribulations and thence moved and filled with bowels and mercies compassions and kindnesse answerable to that they beleeve and perceive to be in God towards others even towards all in blindnesse and distresse yea to the unkind and evil the love of Christ constraining them to perswade them to be reconciled to God in Christ and to seek â—heir good by all means within their capacity and with all earnestnesse knowing also the â—errour of the Lord because they thus judge That if one dyed for all then were all dead and that be dyed for all that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but to him this dyed for them and rose again yea hence also they are filled with delightful love of and desire of fellowship with those that call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart and with bowels of mercies humblenesse of mind meeknesse and goodnesseone towards another and towards all men answerable to the kindnesse and mercies of God in Christ And so if we read it men of godlinesse it will come to the same for they are the right and true worshippers of God who worship the Father in spirit and truth and such the Father seeks to worship him they worship adore honour magnifie beleeve and trust in him in the Spirit that is in the light and power of and according to the testimony of Jesus and of Gods glory as shined in his face which testimony the Holy Ghost hath given and in it his evidence and demonstration of Christ and of the Father is And therefore when we are called upon to godlinesse or to worship God that testimony of Jesus is said to be the spirit of Prophecy in and according to which we are to worship Rev. 19. 10. and so they in that light and strength of the Spirit have their rejoycing in Christ Jesus The truth And have no confidence in the flesh Joh. 4. 23 24. 5. 23 24. Phil. 3. 3. and in this true worship and fear of the Lord they are made partakers of the Divine Nature in interest in it union or fellowship with it conforming to it so as by Christ through faith so as thereby they goe on purging themselves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of the Lord 2 Corinth 6. 16-18 7. 1. purifying their hearts through beleef of the truth and retaining the hope of it in them to unfeigned love of the brethren and to more freedome from the intanglements and cares of this world as those that are pressing after the mark of the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus which pure religion and undefiled brings forth its fruit in their visiting the Sick the Widdows and fatherlesse in their affliction and keeping themselves unspotted in the world so as they walking in the Spirit though they have flesh warring in them are by the light and power of the Spirit in the testimony of Jesus kept from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh and so preserved blamelesse unto the day of Christ Rom. â— 8. 1-13 Gal. 5. And to this agrees that two-fold description of the Persons that shall ascend into the hill of the Lord and stand in his holy place Psal 24. 3 4 6. The first is He that hath clean hands and a pure hears that hath not lift up his soul to vanity nor sworn deceitfully for though there is none righteous no not one but all have sinned and are wholly polluted and unclean yet this truth remains for ever Without holiness no man shall see the Lord so that if there be
righteousness which is of the Law that the man which doth these things shall live by them according to which rule there shal no man be justified in the sight of God for by the Law is the knowledge of sin yea it concludes under the Curse Every â—â—â— that continueth not in all that is written in the book of the Law to doe it Gal. 3. 10 11 12. so that whoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point Jam. 2. 10. and there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not Eccles 7. 20. yea la many things we offend all Jam. 3. 2. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wife Say not in thy heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring down from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead it sets not men a work to enquire how these things she ll bee wrought for them in Christ or to fancy or seek for an accomplishment of them over again in them But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even that preaching of peace by Jesus Christ declaring all this freely done and finished for us by God in the Person of Christ without any thought motion or desire of ours This word of Reconciliation is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart even this word of faith which wee preach declaring the ground of Faith prepared and true in him and thence instructing and perswading to beleeve it This is made nigh in those preachings of it vouchsafed that by its owne light and power it might bee acknowledged and beleeved that if according as in this nigh coming of the Word light and power comes with it instructing moving and strengthening the heart thou shalt confess with thy mouth and beleeve in thine heart that God hath raised Christ from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousness c. Rom. 9. 30-33 10. 1-11 therefore also this Prophet Isaiah interprets the true followers after righteousness to bee they that seek the Lord for righteousness and strength that on the report of his righteousness being near in Christ in whom he hath caused his Judgement to rest for a light to the people doe beleeve that report and entertaine in their heart that his Law or Doctrine Isa 51. 1-7 45. 22-25 53. 1. Those that in the light and power of Gods testimony concerning Christ in the opening of it to them as therein it is made nigh them fall down in the sence and acknowledgement of their owne sinfulness and vileness and the unprofitableness of all their owne works to help them and seek righteousness in Christ even by faith in him in what hee hath done and is become for sinners that through the knowledge and faith of him they may bee found in him clothed with his Righteousness and not that of their own Phil. 3 8 9 10. 1 Job 5. 20. These are the righteous and so of the righteous Nation that learneth and keepeth the truth as it is in Jesus these are the righteous spoken of in this text and therefore truly so called 1 Because herein they doe Righteousness or Justice they are doers or workers of good Rom. 2. 10. Acts 10. 35. 43. 1 Joh. 2. 18 29. 3. 6. 2 Joh. 9. 3. Joh. 11. For 1 In this they doe nothing in any light wisdome or strength of theirs as of them in or by which no man can understand the things of the Spirit or come to Christ or doe good but as knowing their strength is to sit still in this respect letting their imaginations fall and every high thing that exalts it self against the obedience of Christ they by him do beleeve in God they through Grace beleeve and that not of themselves but of the gift of God they come in his drawings see light not in their own but in his light beleeve in the evidence and demonstration of his Spirit and by the power thereof coming along to them in his words and works so that their faith is of the operation of God who of the discovery of his owne good will in Christ through the word of truth begets them they are in this not their owne but his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus who of God is made to them Wisdome Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and so doe work the work of God not only which hee requires of them but which himself is working in them Joh. 6. 29. for they are born to this beleeving on his name not of bloud nor of the will of flesh nor of the will of man but of God Joh. 1. 12 13. 1 Jâ—h 5. 1. Jam. 1. 18 19. 1 Cor. 1. 29 30. Eph. 2. 10. and yet this is graciously imputed or counted to them for righteousness though it is the powerful operation of the grace of God in them through his name As on the other hand that which is in Scripture called Vnbelief that is to reject when men hear is truly charged on men as their owne proper sin disobedience and unrighteousness even wilfully committed against the light and power of Gods grace bringing Salvation for though men have neither light of understanding nor freedome or inclination of will in themselves as of themselves yet while he is calling hee is certainly putting forth his hand drawing with the cords of love and the bands of a man the demonstrations of his love evidenced in the lifting up the Son of Man and lifting up the yoke of thraldome on the Jews setting meat before them so that his goodness not only hath tendency but sutable operation in it It doth lead men to repentance though they draw back and harden their hearts again so that he that despiseth despiseth not man only but God who hath also given them of his holy Spirit to instruct and reprove them they harden their hearts against the word spoken in his Spirit in the light and power of that by his Prophets Isa 65. 1 2. Hâ—s 11. 2-7 Rom. 2. 4 5. Nehem. 9. 20. 26. Zach. 9. 11 12. 1 Thess 4. 8. and so are fighters against God closing their eyes and stopping their ears and hardening their hearts when hee is opening and working upon them lest they should be converted and hee should heal them Mat. 13. 15. 2 They doe in this beleeving on his name doe nothing but what they have good reason and substantial ground for in what he hath done and is become for them as declared in his testi-Mony and what they are thence obliged to as their reasonable service there being a righteous ground and foundation of faith prepared and laid for us in Christ as declared in the Gospel whether men beleeve and so come and be built upon it or no for God hath made him that knew no sin to be sin for us that wee might hee made the righteousness of God in him Whence also the Holy Ghost reproves the world of
doubtless in any thing wherein his heart is departing from his refuge or his eye wandring into corners the immortal Seed the Word of God not retained in his heart in beleeving mindfulness Sin gets the advantage of him and his readiness to halt appears and so in many things we offend all and are therein of Satan not of God 1 Joh. 3. 5 8-10 Psal 38. 17 18. Prov. 28. 13 14 Psa 19. 12 13. 119. 8. 11. 133. 176. 51. 1-7 3 Such also is this beleeving with the heart that God hath raised Christ from the Dead that in it the Lord himself becomes the Beleevers hope his expectation of all further grace and glory is in him begot and strengthened from the infinite grace of God to man ward commended in this that while we were sinners and enemies in due time Christ dyed for us and the infinite vertue of his Bloud in which the peace and attonement was made with God for us while we were yet enemies This grace in Christ beleeved renders him precious fills the heart with high esteeme of the greatness and truth of Gods love in him and of the infinite and abiding vertue of his Bloud and his fitness and faithfulness throught it to perfect what concerns them So that in this faith of Gods operation their expectation and hope is not grounded either on a peremptory conclusion that they cannot fall or miscarry or on their act of beleeving or faithfulness and resolutions of constancy and abiding nor are they left to draw up their consolation and hope by way of Argument from their being such or in such a state as to which such Promises are made but the grace in Christ understood and beleeved the heart being exercised in the hearty beleef and mindfulness of him what he hath done and is become for sinners and his office faithfulness and readiness to help teach and draw them and to accept all commers without upbraiding and to give them through his name in the vertues and openings of it forgiveness of sins and eternal life in the knowledge and faith of it and first fruites of the Spirit now and in the hope of the Harvest in due time I say the heart and mind being exercised in the hearty belief and mindfulness of this grace in Christ and so stayed on his name is not then left to reflect back into it self to draw up its consolation and hope from its being such a beleever but is filled with strong consolation and hope through the grace understood and perceived in Christ while the heart is only minding him that is the ground and object of hope the hope is begot and strengthened in a Divine and Spiritual way through the opening of that name and shedding abroad his love in the heart therein so that Jesus Christ received by faith in his testimony and not their receit of him is unto them and in their hearts the hope of glory the ground and foundation of it and he from whom viewed it springs and in whom it iâ— And that after the same consideration of him as hee is in the Gospel preached to every man He that spared not his owne Sonne but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things See Rom. 5. 5-10 8. 32. Col. 1. 26 27. Gal. 2. 20. Joh. 6. 51. And such is the truth and excellency of this name of God in Christ that they that kâ—â—w it will trust in it if any man whatever did know own listen and seek to it according to the discoveries of it brought him it would beget trust and hope of which he should not be ashamed it quickens to new and living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Again in this faith of the operation of God their expectation is so in him even of all things pertaining to life and godliness to be now given with him not without him or in any other way but through the knowledge of him whom he spared not but delivered up for us all that even that hope retained in them purifies their hearts from ways of iniquity in which presumptuously growing careless or wandering from him they might miscarry and fayl of the grace of God so as they are instructed and admonished by it to give diligence and attend always to read the vision of God as written in the face of Christ that so they may be strengthened to run and kept through faith to the Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time Yea such it is as from the excellency and grace in the ground of it as also in the way in which it is to be met with rather to bee chosen then any other way or rule and the excellent glory of the end of it as strengthens them to all patience and long suffering with joyfulness and as those that beleeve in him and look for such things not to make hast to fancy an accomplishment of the great things hoped for in this day or to bring about the accomplishment of Gods promises he that beleeves makes not hast Behold his soul that is lifted up either above the reading of the Vision of God in Christ in his testimony given for guiding his feet in the way of peace that he may run with patience the race set before him as Heb. 12 1 2. or to imagine and boast of an enjoyment of the Vision so as by seeing and possessing the great things the glory in the hope of which we are called by the Gospel or to put to his hand in striving and fighting for the hasting or bringing forth of Gods righteousness in the things behind His soul is not upright in him but the just shall live by faith In all which considerations it appears they are in this beleâ—ving through his name workers of righteousness doers of the truth and therefore truly called The righteous As well as also 2 Because they are herein justified in the sight of God imputed accounted and accepted righteous in that perfect righteousness Christ hath wrought and is become for them with which faith closeth By the deeds of the Law shall no man be justified in the sight of God but now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets even the righteousness of God by faith of Jesus that is by the Preaching or Doctrine of Jesus So now manifested unto all and upon all them that beleeve unto all by way of redundancy tender and manifestation but upon all that beleeve even by way of imputation of it to them and acceptation of them in it so in the next Chapter God is said to impute righteousness without works unto them to accept their persons into delightful favour and fellowship by and in the vertue of that perfect righteousness which they have by faith accepted and so they are made accepted in the Beloved they are made or pronounced and presented good just righteous in the sight of God
27. yea the commemoration of that as broken for us and the infinite grace and vertue of the sufferings sustained therein is the subject matter of his Discourse there The Lords Body in a secondary sence is his Mystical Body his Church those that through the tastes of his graciousness are built upon him in whom the poor and rich bond and free Brother of high degree and of low do meet together they being all in coming to him through the tastes of his grace and so in being baptized into him baptized into one Body and made to drink into one spirit Now that not discerning perceiving considering knowing or owning the Lords Body that the Holy Ghost charges upon men as their sin and God judges them for is not such weakness or ignorance as is of necessity through natural frailty or for want of means and discoveries vouchsafed but a wilful and rebellious not knowing discerning or taking notice of it in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit in the testimony of Jesus setting it before them and therein opening the eyes and lifting up the yoke of Natural thraldome Hos 11. This is the condemnation that when light comes men love darkness rather because their deeds are evil and reproved by the light Joh. 3. 19. And so when the righteous the true worshippers of God in Christ that are set as Lights in the world holding forth the word of Life in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power are lifting up the Son of Man in what hee hath done and is become for sinners and the infinite vertue and grace of his Personal sufferings and Sacrifice and therein shewing forth his vertues and praises and so in both preaching not themselves but Jesus Christ the Lord and rendring themselves servants to all for his sake beseeching alluring and drawing them in the light and power of his Spirit with them as Hos 11. Zach. 7. 9 12 13. 2 Cor. 5. 14 20. Phil. 2. 12 16. 1 Pet. 2. 9 13 c. even to the most High to consider the Lords Body and in the grace and power of its vertue and demonstrations to bee reconciled to God yet none at all will exalt him but are bent to back-slidings when so called allured drawn and wrought upon they will not know nor regard the Work of the Lord or the operation of his hands but despise both him and them for his sake neglecting so great Salvation This iniquity is found in many Branches as we shall see in this and the other Scriptures where these Judgements are bewayled and the reason of them given As 1 When by the righteous and merciful men the large extent of the infinite grace and vertue of the Lords Death is so commended and lifted up that the Lords House his Temple where he may bee worshipped and place of entertainment in his Son and with them that call upon him in truth is presented as a house of Prayer for all people where a rich Feast and Treasury of all things pertaining to life and godliness is prepared and set on the Table for them all that all through his grace might come in thither and eate of his Bread and drink of the Wine that hee hath mingled and that whosoever comes by him in the light and power of his drawings while his grace is bringing Salvation to them as it doth to all in due time might be accepted and therefore graciously inviting them all as in the Chapters before the text Isa 55. 1 7. 56. 7 8. with Prov. 9. Mat. 22. 1 Tim. 2. 1 8. Ioh. 3. 14 15 16. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15 19 20 21. 6. 1 2. Yet men not only set light by it neglect so great Salvation make excuses and will not come but also wilfully close their eyes and harden their hearts against this grace of God that brings Salvation to all men and also like the Beasts of the Field come to devour forbidding the plaine and faithful preaching of the Gospel of Christ to the world that through him they might bee saved In which they please not God and are contrary to the good of all men and persisting in this wilful opposition of the grace of God in the Lords Death to all men they fill up the measure of their sin till wrath come upon them to the utmost 1 Thess 2. 15 16. And in this way of iniquity are found chiefly and as Ring-leaders the Generality of the Watch-men the Masters Teachers and builders that are approved by and of high account with men they come chiefly under this charge in the Chapter before the text Isa 56. 9 10 c. His Watch-men the Watchmen of their owne setting up and approving are blinde and ignorant not having learned truth as in Jesus but professing to be wise in Science falsly so called and thinking thereby to comprehend the things of God in Christ have erred from the faith and turned aside to vaine jangling the generality of them have in all Ages refused and set at nought that Stone which God hath made the foundation and head of the corner Psal 118. 22. Matth. 21. 42. with Chap. 22. 1 15. Joh. 3. 10. 14 15 c. Acts 4. 11 12. Job 7. 48 49. And where any of them doe see any truth in that Doctrine that exalts or lifts up the Son of Man and Gods glory in him yet they are dumb and will not confess it as Joh. 12. 42 43. Among the chief Rulers also many beleeved on him but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him least they should bee put out of the Sinagogue for they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God yea they generally love to flumber are loath to be stirred up and awakened to consider and set their hearts to that which might bee for their owne and others good but lying down to sleep doe reject and stop their ears against that knowledge of him that comes to awaken them to righteousness and discovers the falseness and vanity of their Dreams See further what follows of them in that Isa 56. with 1 Tim. 3 5. 2 Another sort there are that doe not so much or directly set themselves to oppose the Doctrine of the Grace of God in Christ or the preaching thereof yet will not diligently mind or consider it or the weight importance tendency and instructions of it but doe inwardly shun the light and power of it and harden their hearts against the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit in it because it discovers and reproves their deeds as evil not suffering grace to make them willing in the day of his Power so to receive the love of the Truth as that they might be saved by it doe wilfully reject and harden their hearts against the reproofs of the instruction of the Lords Voyce crying unto them discovering and reproving their Covetousness Oppression In-justice Violence least they should be converted and healed by it And in this are found chiefly the generality of the
and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Then the Lord shall cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaketh proud things c. for to him belongeth vengeance their foot shall slide in due time c. Deut. 32. 34 35 c. Jude 14 15. In the mean time therefore let us look to him for counsel and see what use hee instructs us to make of this consideration when we shall see the daies so evil and iniquity thus abounding and evil men and deceivers waxing worse and worse by every warning and judgement Truly then 1 Let them alone withdraw from them reprove not a scorner lest hee hate thee for hee that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot though still as grace instructs wee may yet mourn in secret for their pride as Jer. 13. 17. And not bee hasty in desiring the woful day but let our prayer bee for them if yet there may bee hope even when God appears to bee rising up as one that will no more be intreated See Jer. 14 15. 2 If there be any that will hear be diligent and earnest in season and out of season in instructing and admonishing them while it is to day not to harden their hearts rebuke a wife man and hee will love thee and be yet wiser and with meeknesse instruct them that ignorantly oppose themselves c. 3 And let us together be admonished 1 In the way of his judgements to wait for the Lord quietly to bear his indignation because we have sinned and reverently listening to him and standing in awe before him under such testimonies of displeasure knowing that he is righteous and faithful as well as infinite in wisdome and power as hee hath manifested himself in that faithful witnesse setled for ever in Heaven and in due time hee will bring us forth and wee shall behold his righteousnesse Then she that is mine enemy shall bee ashamed Micah 7. 6. 10. And fret not our selves because of evil doers wait patiently on the Lord commit our way to him and hee shall bring it to passe despise not his chastisement neither faint when rebuked of him seeing it is the Lord The helpers taken from us were no otherwise helpers but in the Lord and hee hath not taken himself from us in whom is our help 2 When wee see how the reproaches and blasphemies of men are increased against him and do set themselves against the heavena let the consideration of it make us more willing to bear them seeing they are the reproaches of them that reproach him that fall on us and commit vengeance to him 3 Bee wee stirred up to cry mightily to God for help Help Lord for the godly man ceaseth the faithful fail from among the children of men they speak vanity every one with his neighbour with a flattering lip and double heart do they speak cry therefore with more earnestnesse to God in Christ 1 For pardon of our iniquities and healing of our distempers Psal 41. 4 5 and 38. 12 16 17 19. 2 For wisdome in the knowledge of him and those great things of his Law that may guide us in a plain path because of our enemies that watch for our halting Psal 27. 8 11 c. And to this purpose also 4 Let us redeem the present time yet left us and bee admonished by his judgements to awake to righteousnesse and not sin against him for it is a shame for us that wee are yet found so much without the knowledge of him what the summer past the harvest ended and yet wee not saved Jer. 8. 20. Oh that at least in this day before it bee wholly past wee did wisely consider our latter end yea the rather because the dayes are evil redeem the time and be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is and to that purpose take heed to our selves lest â—â— any time our hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkennesse or cares of this life and so the day of death and of judgement come on us unawares Be not drunk with Wine of earthly pleasures and cares wherein is excesse but be we filled with the Spirit speaking to our selves and one another in Psalms Hymns and spiritual songs c. not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some it but exhorting one another and so much the more as wee see the day approaching and for our encouragement herein that we be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience do already in Spirit inherit the promises Mark the perfect man and behold the upright look upon him in the light of Gods testimonie there you shall see That the end of that man is peace And this brings us to the last instruction 3 That even in these sad judgements to the survivers there is special mercy and choice blessednesse to those so taken away and that to be considered also They are taken away from the evil or as we read it from the evil to come 1 They are then taken away from and do depart out of the flesh in its weak and corruptible state out of a vile or wretched body that had sin in it to be striven against as well as death upon it A law in the members warring against the law of the minde And shall not again return to it until it shall be renewed or given them in a new glorious and incorruptible state in the first resurrection 2 They are then taken from an evil generation that was continually vexing their righteous souls with their unlawful and ungodly doctrines and practises and so from all Satans temptations and batteries the accuser of our brethren is cast down from Heaven hee cannot reach the spirits of just men made perfect which are with Jesus and have finished their warfare their end is peace 3 They are taken from the evil and judgements to come as Lot was pluckt out of Sodome that they may bee out of danger of being defiled with the sins procuring such judgements that so they may not partake with them of their plagues yea that they may no longer plead for sparing and diverting such judgements Oh heavy judgement to the survivers yet therein the dead are blessed Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours combates and dangers and their works follow them Vse 1 This consideration instructs us that while they are in these mortal bodies they are not taken away from the evil though through grace delivered kept and daily getting escape from the pollutions and intanglements of it and victory in the continual combate yet they have sin in them as a Law in the members to strive against even unto blood to death and that continual leading them captive though they minding the things of the Spirit in the light and power of the grace vouchsafed are