Light for them that sit in Darkness OR A DISCOURSE OF JESUS CHRIST AND That he undertook to accomplish by himself the Eternal Redemption of Sinners ALSO How the Lord Jesus addressed himself to this Work with undeniable Demonstrations that he performed the same Objections to the Contrary Answered BY JOHN BUNYAN Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us Gal. 3. 13. LONDON Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle near the Royal Exchange in Corrthil 1675. The Author to the Reader Gentle Reader IT was the great care of the Apostle Paul to deliver his Gospel to the Churches in its own simplicity because SO it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth And if it was his care so to deliver it to us it should be ours to seek so to continue it And the rather because of the Unaptness of the Minds even of the Saints themselves to retain it without commixture For to say nothing of the Projects of Hell and of the cunning craftiness of some that lie in wait to dâ—ceive even the Godly themselves as they are dull of hearing so much more dull in receiving and holding fast the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ from their Sense and Reason and Unbelief and Darkness arise many imaginations and high thoughts which exalt themselves against the Knowledg of God and the Obedience of Jesus Christ wherefore they themselves have much ado to stand compleat in all the Will of God And were they not concerned in electing love by which they are bound up in the Bundle of Life and blessed with the Enjoiment of Saving Grace which enlightneth their Souls and maintaineth their Faith and Hope they would not only be assaulted and afflicted with their own Corruptions but as others overcome thereby Alas How ordinary a thing is it for Professors to fall from the Knowledg they have had of the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God and to be turned unto Fables seducing-Seducing-Spirits and Doctrines of Devils through the Intoxications of Delusions and the Witchcrafts of false Preachers Now this their swerving from the Gospel ariseth 1. Either from their not-having or having notretaining the true Knowledg of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Or 2. From their not believing the true Causes of his Coming into the World with his Doing and Suffering there Upon one or both these accounts I say it is that they everlastingly perish for if they have not and do not also retain the Knowledg of his Person they want the HE on whom if they believe not they 〈◊〉 die in their Sins And if they know not the Reason of his Coming Doing and Suffering they are in the same condition also Now those Professors that have had some Knowledg of these things and yet have lost them it hath come thus to pâ—ss with them because they first lost the Knowledg of themselves and of their Sins They know not themselves to be such nothing-ones as the Scripture reporteth them to be nor their Sins to be so heinous as the Law hath concluded Therefore they either turn again with the Dog to his Vomit or adhere to a few of the Rags of their own Fleshly Righteousness and so become pure in their own Eyes yet are not purged by Blood from their Filthiness For the Person and Doings of Jesus Christ are only precious to them that get and retain the true Knowledg of themselves and the due Reward of their Sins by the Law These are desolate being driven out of all these embrace the Rock instead of a Shelter the Sensible Sinner receiveth him joyfully And because a miscarriage in this Great Truth is the most dangerous and damning Miscarriage therefore should Professors be the more fearful of swerving aside there-from The Man that rejecteth the true Knowledg of the Person of the Lord Jesus and the Causes of his Doing and Suffering in the World takes the next way to be guilty of that Transgression that is not to be purged with Sacrifice for ever That FEARFUL Transgression for which is left NO Offering AT ALL nor any thing to be expected by the Person transgressing but fearful Judgment and fiery Indignation which shall devour the Adversary Now for their sakes that have not sinned this Sin for their sakes that are in danger thereof but yet not overcome for their sakes have I written this little Book wherein is largely and yet with few words discovered the Doctrine of the Person and Doings and Sufferings of Christ with the true Cause thereof also a removal of those Objections that the crafty Children of darkness have framed against the same And I have been the more plain and simple in my writing because the Sin against the Holy Ghost is in these days more common than formerly and the Way unto it more beautified with colour and pretence of Truth I may say of the way to this Sin it is as was once the Way to Jerusalem strewed with Boughs and Branches and by some there is eried a kind of Hosanna to them that are treading these Steps to Hell Oh the plausible Pretences the golden Names the feigned Holiness the demure Behaviours mixt with damnable Hypocrisie that attends the Persons that have forsaken the Lord Jesus that have despised his Person trampled upon him and counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith he was Sanctified an Unholy thing They have crucified him to themselves and think that they can go to Heaven without him yea pretend they love him when they hate him pretend they have him when they have cast him off pretend they trust in him when they bid defiance to his Undertakings for the World Reader let me beseech thee to hear me patiently read and consider and judg I have presented thee with that which I have received from God and the Holy Men of God who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost do bear me witness Thou will say all pretend to this Well but give me the hearing take me to the Bible and let me find in thy Heart no favour if thou find me to swerve from the Standard I say again receive my Doctrine I beseech thee in Christ's stead receive it I know it to be the Way of Salvation I have ventured my own Soul thereon with gladness and if all the Souls in the World were mine as mine own Soul is I would through God's Grace venture every one of them there I have not writ at a venture nor borrowed my Doctrine from Libraries I depend upon the sayings of no man I found it in the Scriptures of Truth among the true sayings of God I have done when I have exhorted thee to pray and give heed to the Words of God as revealed in the Holy Writ The Lord Jesus Christ himself give thee Light and Life by Faith in him to whom with the Father and the good Spirit of Grace be Glory and Dominion now and for ever Joh. Bunyan Amen The
Testimonies that this Coming of Jesus is his Coming to Save us 1. SImeon the Just gives Testimony of him And the Holy Ghost was upon him and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see Death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the Temple and when the Parents brought in the Child Jesus to do for him after the Custom of the Law then took he him up in his Arms and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Luk. 2. 25 26 27 32. The Testimony of Anna. 2. Anna a Prophetess one of a great Age which departed not from the Temple but served God with fasting and prayer night and day And she coming in at the same instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of him to all them that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem Luk. 2. 26 27 28. The Testimony of John Baptist. 3. John Baptist as he fulfilled his Ministry he cried concerning this Jesus Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World And he saith John that sent me to baptize with Water the same said unto me Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding or remaining the same is he which shall baptize with the Holy Ghost And I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God Joh. 1. 29 30 31 32 33 34. The Testimony of the Star and Wise-Men 4. The Star that appeared at his Birth in the East and that coasted through the Heavens till it came over the Place where the young Child Jesus was that Star gave Testimony that he was the Saviour This Star alarmed many especially the Wise-Men of the East who were brought by it from afar to worship him And lo the Star which they saw in the East went before them till it came and stood over where the young Child was And when they saw the Star they rejoiced with exceeding joy And when they were come into the House they saw the young Child with Mary his Mother and fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their Treasures they presented unto him Gifts Gold and Frankincense and Myrrhe The Testimony of the Angels 1. To Mary herself And in the sixth Month the Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a City of Galilee named Nazareth to a Virgin espoused to a Man whose Mame was Joseph and the Virgin 's Name was Mary and the Angel came in unto her and said Hail thou that art highly favoured And the Angels aid unto her Fear not Mary for thou hast found favour with God And behold thou shalt conceive in thy Womb and bring forth a Son and shalt call his Name Jesus He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest And the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David and he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end Luk. 2. 26 35. 2. The Angels Testimony to the Shepherds as they were feeding their Flocks in the Fields by Night And lo the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the Glory of the Lord shined round about them and they were sore afraid and the Angel said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Luk. 2. 8 9 10. 3. How the Angels Solemnized his Birth among themselves And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on Earth Peace good-will towards Men Luk. 2. 13 14. The Testimony of God the Father 1. When he was Baptized And Jesus when he was Baptized went up straightway out of the Water and lo the Heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and lo a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Mat. 3. 16 17. 2. The Fathers Testimony of him at his Transfiguration And he took Peter and James and John and went up into a Mountain to pray and as be prayed the fashion of his Countenance was altered and his Raiment was white and glittering c. And there appeared Moses and Liias talking with him and a Cloud from Heaven overshadowed them at which the three Disciples began to be afraid Then there came a voice out of the Cloud saying This is my beloved Son hear him Luk. 9. 28 29 30 35. This is that Testimony of God which Peter speaks of saying We have not followed cunningly devised Fables when we made known unto you the Power and Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of his Majesty for he received from God the Father Honour and Glory when there came such a voice to him from the Excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And this voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the Holy Mount 2 Pet. 1. 26 27 28. 3. God gave Testimony of him by Signs and Wonders Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me The words that I speak unto you I speak not of my self but the Father that dwelleth in me he doth the Works God also bearing them witness that preached Salvation by Jesus both with Signs and Wonders and with divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own Will Joh. 14. 10. Heb. 2. 4. Concerning Jesus how he put himself upon the Test among his Adversaries THe Lord Jesus also putteth himself upon the Test among his Adversaries divers ways First he urgeth the time of the appearing of the Messias to be come The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand repent ye and believe the Gospel Mar. 1. 15. For this he had a three-fold proof 1. The Heathens had invaded and taken the Land according to that of Daniel Dan. 9. 25 26. 2. The Scepter was departed from Judah according to that of Jacob Gen. 49. 10. to which also suited that Prophecy Before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and chuse the good the Land which thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her Kings 3. The Roman Emperor had not only subdued the Nation and put down the Kingly Race of the Jews but had set up and established his own Power over them In the fifteenth year of the Reign of Tiberius Cesar Pontius Pilat was Governor of Judea Herod was Tetrarch of Galilee Philip Tetrarch of Iturea and Lysanias Tetrarch of Abilene all Heathens and of Tyberius his making Besides The Kingly Race of Judah was at this time become so low by reason of the Roman oppression that the chief of them were put to get their living by their own
53. Not for that he hated him considering him in his own harmless innocent and blessed Person for he was daily hid Delight but by an act of grace to usward were our Iniquities laid upon him and he in our stead bruised and chastised for them God loved us and made him a Curse for us He was made a Curse for us That the Blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Faith in Jesus Christ Gal. 3. 13 14 15. Further Demonstration of this Truth BEfore I pass this Truth I will present thee Courteous Reader with two or three Demonstrations for its further confirmation First That Christ did bear our Sin and Curse is clear because he died and that without a Mediator 1. He died Death is the Wages of Sin Rom. 6. 23. Now if death be the Wages of sin and that be true that Christ did die and not sin either the Course of Justice is perverted or else he died for our Sins there was no cause of death in him yet he died Act. 13. 28. He did no Evil Guile was not found in his Mouth yet he received the Wages of Sin Sin therefore though not of his own was found upon him and laid to his Charge because he died Christ died for our Sins Christ gave himself for our Sins 1 Cor. 15. 1 2 3. Gal. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 22. He then that will conclude that Christ did not bear our Sin chargeth God foolishly for delivering him up to death for laying on him the Wages when in no sence he deserved the same Yea he overthroweth the whole Gospel for that hangeth on THIS hinge Christ died for our Sins Object But all that die do not bear the Curse of God for Sin Ans. But all that die without a Mediator do Angels died the Cursed Death because Christ took not hold of them and they for whom Christ never prayeth they die the Cursed Death for they perish everlastingly in the unutterable Torments of Hell Christ too died that Death which is the Proper Wages of Sin for he had none to stand for him I looked saith he and there was none to help and I wondred that there was none to uphold therefore mine own Arm brought Salvation unto me And he saw that there was no man and he wondered that there was no Intercessor therefore his Arm brought Salvation unto him and his Righteousness sustained him Isa. 63. 5. Isa. 59. 16. Christ then died or endured the Wages of Sin and that without an Intercessor without one between God and he He grappled immediatly with the Eternal Justice of God who inflicted on him Death the Wages of Sin there was no man to hold off the Hand of God Justice had his full blow at him and made him a Curse for Sin He died for sin without a Mediator he died the Cursed Death Secondly A Second thing that Demonstrateth that Christ died the Cursed Death for Sin It is the Frame of Spirit that he was in at the time that he was to be taken Never was poor mortal so beset with the apprehensions of approaching death as was this Lord Jesus Christ Amazement beyond measuâ—e Sorrow that exceeded seized upon his Soul My Soul saith he is exceeding sorrowful even unto Death And he began saith Mark to be sore amazed and to be very heavy Mat. 26. 38. Mar. 14. 33. Add to this That Jesus Christ was better able to grapple with death even better able to do it alone than the whole World joyn'd altogether 1. He was anointed with the Spirit without Measure Joh. 3. 34. 2. He had all Grace perfect in him John 1. 16. 3. Never none so soaked in the Bosom of his Fathers Love as himself Prov. 8. 23 30. 4. Never none so harmless and without sin as he and consequently never man had so good a Conscience as he Heb. 7. 26. 5. Never none prepared such a stock of good Works to bear him company at the Hour of Death as he 6. Never none had greater assurance of being with the Father Eternally in the Heavens than he And yet behold when HE comes to die how weak is he how amazed at death how heavy how exceeding sorrowful and I say no cause assigned but the Approach of Death Alas How often is it seen that we Poor Sinners can laugh at destruction when it cometh yea and rejoice exceedingly when we find the Grave Job 3. 22. looking upon death as a part of our Portion yea as that which will be a means of our present relief and help 1 Cor. 3. 22. This Jesus Christ couldnot do considered as dying for our Sin but the nearer death the more heavy oppressed with the thoughts of the Revenging Hand of God Wherefore he falls into an Agony and Sweats not after the common rate as we do when death is severing Body and Soul His Sweat was as it were great drops Clodders of Blood falling down to the Ground Luk. 22. 44. What I say should be the Reason but that death assaulted him with his Sting If Jesus Christ had been to die for his Vertues only doubtless he would have born it lightly and so he did as he died bearing witness to the Truth He endured the Cross and despised the Shame Heb. 12. 1 2 How have the Martyrs despised death and as it were not been careful of that having peace with God by Jesus Christ scorning the most Cruel Torments that Hell and Men could devise and invent but Jesus Christ could not do so as he was a Sacrifice for sin he died for sin he was made a Curse for us O my Brethren Christ died many deaths at once he made his Grave with the Wicked and with the Rich in his Deaths Look how many thousands shall be saved so many deaths did Jesus die yet it was but once he died He died thy death and my death and so many deaths as all our Sins deserved who shall be saved from the Wrath to come Now to feign that these Sorrows and this Bloody Agony was not real but in shew only What greater Condemnation can be passed upon Jesus Christ who loved to do all things in the most feigned Simplicity It was therefore because of sin the Sin that was put into the Death he died and the Curse of God that was due to Sin That That made death so bitter to Jesus Christ 't is Christ that died The Apostle speaks as if never any died but Christ nor indeed did there so wonderful a Death as he Rom. 8. Death considered simply as it is a deprivation of natural life could not have these Effects in a Person personally more Righteous than an Angel Yea even Carnal Wicked Men not awakened in their Conscience how securely can they die It must therefore also be concluded that the Sorrows and Agony of Jesus Christ came from a higher cause even from the Guilt of sin and from the Curse of God that was now approaching for that Sin It cannot be attributed to the Fear of
Name And hence again he is called a LAMB upon the Throne In the midst of the Throne of the four Beasts and in the midst of the Elders stood a Lamb as it had been slain having seven horns a Demonstration of Kingly Power But mark he was a Lamb upon the Throne he had his Horns as a Lamb. Now by LAMB we are to understand not only his meek and sweet Disposition but his Sacrifice for he was as a Lamb to be slain and Sacrificed and so his having a Throne and seven Horns as a Lamb giveth us to understand that he obtained this Dignity of King by his Blood When he had by himself purged our Sins he sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty in the Heavens When he had offered up one Sacrifice for Sins for ever he sat down on the Right Hand of God Revel 5. Heb. 4. Chap. 10. Now put all these together to wit his Resurrection from the Dead his Ascension and Exaltation to Office and remember also that the Person thus Exalted is the same Jesus of Nazareth that sometime was made accursed of God for Sin and also that he obtained this Glory by vertue of the Blood that was shed for us and it must unavoidably follow That Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them The Third Demonstration BUt to proceed A Third Demonstration That Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them is because he hath received for them the Holy Spirit of God Thus Jesus hath God raised up whereof said Peter we are all Witnesses Therefore being by the Right Hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth that which ye now see and hear Act. 2. 32 33. The receiving of the Holy Ghost at the Hand of the Father who had bruised him before for the Transgressions of his People The receiving of it I say upon his Resurrection and that to give them for whom just before he had spilt his Blood to make an Atonement for their Souls argueth that the Divine Majesty found rest and content in that Precious 〈…〉 od and found it full price for the Sinners for whom he shed it And if you consider the necessity of the giving of this good spirit to Men and the benefit that they receive by his coming upon them you will see yet more into the Truth now contended for First Then of the Necessity of giving this good Spirit 2. And then of the Benefit which we receive at his coming First Of the Necessity of its being given 1. Otherwise Jesus could never have been proved to be the Saviour for the Promise was that Messias should have the Spirit given him given him to communicate As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit which is upon thee and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth meaning the Redeemer ver 20. shall not depart out of thy Mouth nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed nor out of the Mouth of thy Seeds Seed from henceforth and for ever Isa. 59. 21. Here is the Promise of the Spirit to be given to Christ and by him to his Seed for ever And this was signified long before in the Anointing of Aaron and his Sons And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his Sons and consecrate them Exod. 30. 30. This Spirit Jesus promised to send unto his at his Exaltation on the Right Hand of God The Spirit I say in the plentiful Pourings of it out True the Church in all Ages had something of it by vertue of the Suretyship of the Lord Jesus but this in comparison of what was to come into the Church after his Resurrection is not reckoned a Pouring forth therefore Pourings forth thereof are reserved to the time of the Ascension and Exaltation of this Jesus I will pour out of my Spirit in THOSE Days Hence Jesus reserves it till his going away and 't is expresly said The Holy Ghost was not yet given because Jesus was not yet Glorified Accordingly did the Apostles wait after his Resurrection for the pouring forth of the Holy Ghost and at the set time did receive it by the giving of which he declared himself to be the son of God and Saviour of the World John 14. 26. Chap. 15. 26. Chap. 16. 7. Act. 1. 4. 5. Joel 2. 28. Acts 2. 16 17. Joh. 7. 39. Rom. 1. 4. 2. Without the giving of the Holy Ghost there had wanted a Testimony that his Gospel was the Gospel of Messias Moses his Ministration was confirmed by Signs and Wonders and mighty Deeds both in Egypt in the Wilderness and at the Red-Sea wherefore 't was necessary that the Doctrine of Redemption by Blood which is the Doctrine of the Gospel of this Jesus should be also confirmed with signs following Hence both himself and Apostles did as frequently work Miracles and do mighty Deeds as his Ministers now do preach which Signs and Miracles and Wonders confirmed their Doctrine though themselves both Master and Scholar was in appearance the most considerable mean yea they by the means of the Holy Ghost have so ratified confirmed and setled the Gospel in the World that no Philosopher Tyrant or Devil hath been able hitherto to move it out of its place He confirmed the Word with Signs following Mar. 16. 20. Heb. 2. 4. 3. As the giving of the Holy Ghost was necessary thus so was it necessary also to strengthen them that were intrusted with his Gospel 1. To preach it effectually 2. To stand to it boldly 3. And to justifie it to be the Doctrine of Messias incontroulably 1. To preach it effectually in demonstration of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2. 4. 2 Cor. 6. 4 5 6. Joh. 16. 8 9. 2. To stand to it boldly Then Peter filled with the Holy Ghost said And they saw the Boldness of Peter and John Act. 8. 13. 3. To justify the Doctrine incontroulably I will give you a Mouth and Wisdom which all your Adversaries shall not be able to resist or gain say And they were not able to resist the Wisdom and Spirit by which he spake Luk. 21. 15. Act. 6. 10. Now I say that God should give the Holy Ghost to Jesus to confirm this Gospel Redemption from sin by his Blood what is it but that by his Blood he hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them But again the Benefit which we receive at the Coming of the Holy Ghost doth more demonstrate this Truth hath Christ purchased Sinners and are they the Price of his Blood Yes But how doth that appear Why because by the Holy Ghost which he hath received to give us we are fitted for the Inheritance which by his Blood is prepared for us 1. By the Spirit of God we are quickned and raised from a state of
Sin but that we could not be were it not that an Atonement is made for us first by the Blood of Christ our Saviour This is true for they that are quickned by the Holy Ghost are quickned by it through the Word of the Gospel which offereth Justification to Sinners through Faith in his Blood yea we are said to be quickned together with him dead and risen with him yet so as by the Spirit of God 2. We are not only quickned by the Holy Ghost but possessed therewith it is given to dwell in our Hearts Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts Gal. 4. 4 5 6. which Spirit is also our earnest for Heaven until the Redemption of the purchased Possession that is until our Body which is the purchased Possession be redeemed also out of the Grave by the Power of the same mighty Spirit of God Ephes. 1. 13 14. 3. By this Holy Spirit we are made to believe Rom. 15. 13. 4. By this Holy Spirit we are helped to pray and call God Father 5. By this Holy Spirit we are helped to understand and apply the Promises 6. By this Holy Spirit the Joy of Heaven and the Love of God is shed abroad in the Heart of the Saved 7. By this Holy Spirit we are made to wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith that is to stand fast through our Lord Jesus in the day when he shall judg the World And all this is the Fruit of Redemption by Blood of Redemption by the Blood of Christ. This is yet further evident 1. Because the Work of the Spirit is to lead us into the sayings of Christ which as to our Redemption from death are such as these I lay down my Life that you may have Life I give my Life a Ransom for many And the Bread which I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the Life of the World Joh. 6. 2. Because IF the Spirit in the Wisdom of Heaven is not counted a sufficient Testimony on Earth but as joyned with the Blood of Christ. There are three that bear witness on Earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood These are the Witness of God The Spirit because it quickneth the Blood because it hath merited and the Watter to wit the Word because by that we are clean as to life and conversation 1 John 5. 8. Ephes. 5. 26. Rom. 8. 16. Psal. 119. 9. 3. Because as by the Spirit so we are sanctified by Faith in the Blood of Jesus Heb. 13. 12. 4. Because when most full of the Spirit when that doth work most mightly in us we are then most in the belief and admiring apprehensions of our deliverance from death by the Blood of Jesus Revel 15. Chap. 5. 9. 5. The Holy Ghost breaheth no-where so as in the Ministry of this Doctrine this Doctrine is sent WITH the Holy Ghost from Heaven yea as I have hinted one of the Great Works of the Holy Ghost under the Old-Testament was to testifie of the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow 1 Pet. 1. 11 12. Put all these things together and see if Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath not paid full price to God for Sinners if he hath not obtained Eternal Redemption for them The Fourth Demonstration THat Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them is evident if you consider how the preaching thereof hath been from that time to this a mighty Conquerer over all kind of Sinners What Nation what People what kind of Sinners have not been subdued by the preaching of a Crucified Christ. He upon the White Horse with his Bow and his Crown hath conquered doth conquer and goeth forth yet conquering and to conquer Revel 6. 2. And I saith he if I be lifted up from the Earth will draw all men unto me but what was it to be lifted up from the Earth Why it may be expounded by that saying As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 12. 32. Chap. 3. 14 15. He was then lifted up when he was hanged upon a Tree between the Heavens and the Earth as the Accursed of God for us The Revelation of this it conquers all Nations Tongues and People And they sang a new Song saying thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Revel 5. 9. Hence the Apostle Paul chose above all Doctrines to preach up a Crucified Christ and resolved so to do For I determined saith he not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2 3. 1. The Doctrine of Forgiveness of Sin conquered his very Murderers They could not withstand the Grace them bloody ones that would kill him what-ever it cost them could stand no longer but received his Doctrine fell into his Bosom and obtained the Salvation which is in Christ Jesus They shall look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn for him as one mourneth for his only Son they shall be in bitterness for him as one is in bitterness for his first-born Zech. 12. 10. Now was this Scripture eminently fulfilled when the Kindness of a Crucified Christ broke to pieces the Hearts of them that had before been his Betrayers and Murderers Now was there a great mourning in Jerusalem now was there wailing and lamentation mixed with joy and rejoycing 2. Though Paul was mad exceeding mad against Jesus Christ of Nazareth yea though he was his avowed Enemy seeking to put out his Name from under Heaven yet the Voice from Heaven I am Jesus c. I am the Saviour how did it conquer him make him throw down his Arms fall down at his Feet and accept of the forgiveness of Sins freely by grace through Redemption by Faith in his Blood 3. They at Samaria though before Philip preached to them worshipped and admired the Devil in Magus yet when they believed Philip's preaching of Christ unto them and forgiveness of sins through Faith in his Name great joy was amongst them and they were baptized both Men and Women Act. 8. He preached saith the Text the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ that is all the Blessings of Life through the Name of Jesus Christ for he is the Mediator and without his Blood come no spiritual blessings to men 4. How was the sturdy Jailer overcome by a Promise of forgiveness of sins by Faith in Jesus Christ. It stopt his Hand of self-murder it eased him of the gnawings of a guilty Conscience and fears of Hell-Fire and filled his Soul with rejoicing in God Act. 16. 30 31 32 33. 5. How
us Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The God of Peace fill you with all joy and peace in believing Rom. 5. 1 2. Chap. 15. 13. This Peace is expressed diversly 1. Sometimes it is called QUIETNESS for it calms the Soul from those troublous Fears of damning because of sin And the work of Righteousness shall be Peace and the Effect of Righteousness Quietness and Assurance for ever Isa. 32. 17. 2. Sometimes it is called BOLDNESS for by the Blood of Christ a Man hath encouragement to approach unto God Having brethren Boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh Heb. 10. 19 20. 3. It is sometimes called CONFIDENCE because by Jesus Christ we have not only encouragement to come to God but confidence that if we ask any thing according to his Will he not only heareth but granteth the Request which we put up to him In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of Jesus Ephes. 3. 12. 1 John 5. 14 15. 4. Sometimes this Peace is expressed by REST because a Man having found a sufficient Fulness to answer all his Wants he sitteth down and looks no further for satisfaction Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Mat. 11. 28. 5. It is also expressed by SINGING because the Peace of God when it is received into the Soul by Faith putteth the Conscience into a Heavenly and Melodious Frame And the Ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and Everlasting Joy upon their Heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall fly away Isa. 35. 10. 6. Sometimes it is expressed or discovered by an Heavenly glorying and boasting in Jesus Christ because this Peace causeth the Soul to set its Face upon its Enemies with Faith of a Victory over them for ever by its Lord Jesus Let him that glorieth glory in the Lord and My Soul shall make her boasts in the Lord the Humble shall hear thereof and be glad Jer. 9. 23 24. Psalm 34. 2. 7. Sometimes it is expressed or discovered by Joy Joy unspeakable because the Soul having seen it self reconciled to God hath not only quietness but such apprehensions do now possess it of the unspeakable Benefits it receiveth by Christ with respect to the World to come that it is swallowed up with them Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. 8. Lastly It is expressed or discovered by the Triumph that ariseth sometimes in the Hearts of the Believers for they at times are able to see Death Sin the Devil and Hell and all Adversity conquered by and tied as Captives at the Chariot-Wheels of Jesus Christ Taken captive I say and overthrown for ever Thanks be to God who causeth us always to triumph in Christ. O clap your Hands O ye People sing unto God with the voice of Triumph 2 Cor. 2. 14. Psalm 47. 1. Now that all this should be a cheat is impossible that is it is impossible that Believers should thus have Peace with God through the Blood of his Cross he having not paid full price to God for them especially if you consider that the Authors of this Peace are all the three in the Godhead and that upon a double account 1. In that they have given us a Gospel of Peace Rom. 10. 15. or a New-Testament which propoundeth Peace with God through the Redemption that is in Christ. Now as this is called the Gospel of Peace so 1. It is called The Gospel of God 1 Thes. 2. 9. 2 Thes. 1. 8. 2. The Gospel of Christ Rom. 15. 19. 3. A Gospel indited by the Holy Ghost 1 Thes. 4. 8. I say therefore that Redemption and Salvation being that throw Christ and the Truth thereof proclaimed by the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost in the Word of the Truth of the Gospel it must needs be that we who believe shall be saved if we hold the confidence and the rejoicing firm unto the End 2. As the three in the God-head are the Authors of this Peace by inditing for us the Gospel of Peace or the good Tidings of Salvation by Jesus Christ So they are the Authors of our Peace by working with that word of the Gospel in our Hearts And hence 1. the Father is called the God of Peace now the God of Peace be with you all And the very God of Peace sanctifie you Rom. 15. 33. 1 Thes. 5. 23. And because he is the God of Peace therefore he filleth those that believe in his Christ with joy and peace through believing Rom. 15. 13. 2. Again Christ is called the Prince of Peace therefore the Prayer is Grace be with you and Peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes. 1. 2. 3. The Holy Ghost also is the Author of this Peace this inward Peace Even righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. And I say as I also have already said the procuring or meritorious Cause of this Peace is the doings and sufferings of Christ. Therefore by his Doings and Sufferings he paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them else God would never have indited a Proclamation of Peace for them and the Tenour of that Proclamation to be the Worthiness of the Lord Jesus yea he would never have wrought with that Word in the Heart of them that believe to create in them Peace Peace Secondly As peace with God is an Evidence the Blood of Christ being the Cause thereof that Christ hath by it paid full price to God for Sinners so Holiness in their Hearts taking its beginning from this Doctrine makes this fist Demonstration of double strength 1. That Holiness true gospel Holiness possesseth our hearts by this Doctrine 't is evident because the ground of Holiness which is the Spirit of God in us is ministred to us by this Doctrine When the Apostle had insinuated that the Galatians were bewitched because they had turned from the Doctrine of Christ Crucified he demands of them Whether they received the Spirit by the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3. 1 2 3 4. That is whether the Spirit took possession of their Souls by their Obedience to the ten Commandments or by their giving credit to the Doctrine of the forgiveness of their Sins by Faith in this Crucified Christ strongly concluding not by the Law but by the hearing or preaching of Faith that is of the Lord Jesus as Crucified who is the Object of Faith 2. As this Doctrine conveyeth the ground or ground-Work which is the Spirit so also it worketh in the Heart those three Graces Faith Hope Love
of Jesse and a Branch shall grow out of his Roots and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him This answereth the Text David was the Son of Jesse and Christ the Son of David Isa. 11. 1 2. 4. He is promised under the Title of a King Behold a King shall rule in righteousness and a Man shall be for a hiding-place from the Wind and a covert from the Tempest as Rivers of Waters in a dry place as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land Isa. 32. 1 2. 5. He was promised under the name of an Elect Servant Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles he shall not cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the Streets a bruised Reed shall he not break and smoking Flax shall he not quench Isa. 42. 1 2 3. Matt. 12. 18. 6. He was promised to Jeremiah under the name of the Lord our Righteousness Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch and a King shall reign and prosper he shall execute Judgment in the Earth in his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name wherewith he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23. 5 6. 7. He was promised by the Prophet Ezekiel under the name of David a Shepherd And I will set one Shepherd over them and he shall feed them even my Servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their Shepherd and I the Lord will be their God and my Servant David a Prince among them I the Lord have spoken it Ezek. 34. 24. Joh. 10. 1 2 3. 8. He was promised by the Prophet Daniel under the name of Messias or Christ the most Holy And after threescore and two weeks shall the Messiah be cut off but not for himself Dan. 9. 26. 9. He was promised by the Prophet Micha under the name of the Ruler of Israel But thou Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be little among the thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall be come that is to be Ruler in Israel Mic. 5. 2. Matt. 2. 6. 10. He was promised to Haggai as the desire of all Nations I will shake all Nations and the desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill this house with Glory saith the Lord of Hosts Hag. 2. 7. 11. He was promised by Zechariah under the name of Servant and Branch For behold I will bring forth my Servant the Branch and again Behold the Man whose name is the Branch he shall grow up out of his place and he shall build the Temple of the Lord and he shall bear the Glory Zech. 3. 8. 12. He was promised by Malachi under the name of the Lord and the Messenger of the Covenant Behold I send my Messenger and he shall prepare the way before thee and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple even the Messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in behold he shall come saith the Lord of Hosts Malachi 3. 12. Indeed the Scriptures of the Old-Testament are filled with Promises of the Messias to come Prophetical Promises Typical Promises For all the Types and shadows of the Saviour are virtually so many Promises Having therefore touched upon the Prophetical I will briefly touch the Typical Promises also for as God spake at sundry times to the Fathers so also in divers manners Prophetically Providentially Typically and all of the Messias Heb. 1. 1. The Types of the Saviour were various 1. Sometimes he was typed out by Men. 2. Sometimes by Beasts 3. Sometimes by Insensible Creatures First He was typed forth sometimes by Men. 1. Adam was his Type in many things especially as he was the Head and Father of the first World He was the Figure of him that was to come Rom. 5. 14. 2. Moses was his Type as Mediator and as Builder of the Tabernacle Heb. 3. 2 3. Aaron was his Type as he was High-Priest and so was Melchisedec before him Heb. 5. 4 5. Chap. 7. 1 21. 4. Sampson was his Type in the effects of his death for as Sampson gave his life for the deliverance of Israel from the Philistins Christ gave his Life to deliver us from Sin and Devils 5. Joshuah was his Type in giving the Land of Canaan to Israel as Jesus will give the Kingdom of Heaven to the Elect Heb. 4. 8. 6. David was his Type in many things especially in his subduing of Israels Enemies and feeding them hence he is sometimes called David their King and David their Shepherd Ezek. 34. 23 24. 7. Solomon was his Type in his building the Temple and in his Peaceable Kingdom Hence it is said he shall build the Temple of the Lord and again Of his Government and Peace there shall be no end Beasts were his Types To instance some First The Paschal-Lamb was his Type Exod. 12. 1. In its Spotlesness Christ was a Lamb without blemish and without spot 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. 2. In its being Roasted It was a Figure of the cursed Death of Christ for to be Roasted bespake one accursed Jer. 29. 22. Gal. 3. 13. 3. In that it was to be eaten He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood saith Christ hath Eternal Life John 6. 57. 4. In that its Blood was to be sprinkled upon the doors of their houses for the destroying Angel to look on The Blood of Christ is sprinkled upon the Elect for the Justice of God to look on Heb. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 1 2. 5. By eating the Paschal-Lamb the People went out of Egypt by feeding upon Christ by Faith we come from under the Egyptian Darkness Tyranny of Satan c. Secondly The Red Cow was his Type Numb 19. 2 c. 1. In that she was to be without blemish 2. In that she was to be slain without the Camp Jesus also that he might sanctifie the People with his own Blood suffered without the Gate Heb. 13. 12. 3. In that her Flesh was to be burnt a Type of the grievous Death of Christ. 4. Her Ashes was to be carried into a clean place without the Camp a Type of the clean Sepulcher where the Body of Jesus was laid John 19. 38 39 40 41. There was also divers other Sacrifices as Bulls Goats and Birds which were Types of him which I here omit Thirdly Insensible Creatures were his Types As first The Mannah in the Wilderness Ex. 16. and that 1. As it came down from Heaven for so did Christ I came down from Heaven saith he and again I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven John 6. 51. 2. The Mannah was to be eaten so is Christ by Faith If any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever and the Bread that I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the life of the World John 6.
Righteousness should arise among them with healing under his Wings 3. I may add another cause of their stumble They did not understand the Prophecies that went before of him 1. He was to come to them out of Egypt Out of Egypt have I called my Son Mat. 2. 15. 2. He turned aside into Cana of Galilee and dwelt in the City of Nazareth That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets he shall be called a Nazaren Mat. 2. 23. 3. That saying also was to be fulfilled The Land of Zebulon and the Land of Nepthaly by the way of the Sea beyond Jordan Galilee of the Gentiles the People that sat in Darkness saw a great Light and to them that sat in the region and shadow of Death Light is sprung up Mat. 4. 12 13 14 15 16 17. At these things then they stumbled and 't was a great Judgment of God upon them Besides There seemed to be a Contradiction in the Prophecies of the Scriptures concerning his Coming He was to be born in Bethlehem and yet to come out of Egypt How should he be the Christ and yet come out of Galilee out of which ariseth no Prophet Thus they stumbled Hence note That though the Prophecies and Promises be full and plain as these were that he should be born in Bethlehem yet men's Sins may cause them to be fulfilled in such obscurity that instead of having benefit thereby they may stumble and split their Souls thereat Take heed then hunt not Christ from plain Promises with Herod hunt him not from Bethlehem lest he appear to your amazement and destruction from Egypt or in the Land of Zebulon But thus much to the Second Question to wit What it was for Jesus to come into the World I come now to the Third Question Quest. 3. What it was for him to come to be a Saviour For the further handling of this Question I must shew 1. What it is to be a Saviour 2. What it is to come to be a Saviour 3. What it is for Jesus to come to be a Saviour To these three briefly First What it is to be a Saviour 1. A Saviour supposeth some in misery and himself one that is to deliver them 2. A Saviour is either such an one Ministerially or Meritoriously Ministerially is when one person engageth or is engaged by virtue of respect or command from Superiours to go and obtain by conquest or the Kings Redemption the Captives or Persons grieved by the Tyranny of an Enemy And thus was Moses and Joshuah and the Judges and Kings of Israel Saviours Thou deliveredst them into the Land of their Enemies who vexed them and in the time of their trouble when they cried unto thee thou heardest them from Heaven and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them Saviours who saved them out of the Hand of their Enemies Nehem. 9. 27. Thus was Jesus Christ a Saviour he was engaged by virtue of respect and command from God to obtain by conquest and redemption the Captives or Persons grieved God sent his Son to be the Saviour of the World John 4. 14. Meritoriously is when the Person engaging shall at his own proper cost and charge give a sufficient value or price for those he redeemeth Thus those under the Law were redeemed by the Mony called the Redemption-Mony And Moses gave the Mony of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his Sons Numb 3. 46 47 48 49 51 52. And thus was Jesus Christ a Saviour he paid full price to Divine Justice for Sinners even his own precious Blood Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed from your vain Conversation received by tradition from your Fathers with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1 18 19. And forasmuch as in mans redemption the Undertaker must have respect not only to the paying of a price but also to the getting of a Victory for there is not only Jesus to satisfy but Death Devil Hell and the Grave to conquer therefore hath he also by himself gotten the Victory over these 1. He hath abolished Death 2 Tim. 1. 10. 2. He hath destroyed the Devil Heb. 2. 14 15. 3. He hath been the destruction of the Grave Hos. 13. 14. 4. He hath gotten the Keys of Hell Revel 1. 17 18 19. And this I say he did by himself at his own proper cost and charge when he triumphed over them upon his Cross Col. 2. 14 15. Quest. 2. Secondly What it is to come to be a Saviour 1. To come to be one supposeth one ordained and fore-prepared for that work Then said he lo I come a Body hast thou prepared me Heb. 10. 2. To come to be a Saviour supposeth one commissionated or authorized to that Work Thâ— Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me authorized me to preach the Gospel to the Poor He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted to preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering of sight to the Blind and to set at liberty them that are bruised Luk. 4. 18. And upon this account it is that he is so often called CHRIST or the Anointed one the Anointed Jesus or Jesus the Anointed Saviour Thou art the Christ the Son of God that should come into the World This Jesus whom I preach unto you is Christ He testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ and he confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus proving by the Scriptures that this is the very Christ Joh. 11. 27. Acts 17. 3. Chap. 18. 5. Chap. 9. 22. The very Anointed of God or he whom God authorized and qualified to be the Saviour of the World 3. To come to be a Saviour supposeth a resolution to do that work before he goeth back I will ransom them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from death O Death I will be thy Plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes Hos. 13. 14. And as he resolved so he hath done 1. He hath purged our Sins Heb. 1. 2 3. 2. He hath perfected for ever by one Offering them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. 3. He hath obtained Eternal Redemption for them Heb. 9. 12. See further 2 Tim. 1. 10. Heb. 9. 26. Col. 2. 15. Heb. 6. 18 19 20. Quest. 3. I come now to the Third Question What it is for Jesus to come to be a Saviour 1. Ans. It is the greatest discovery of mans misery and inability to save himself therefrom that ever was made in the World Must the Son of God himself come down from Heaven or can there be no Salvation can not one Sinner save another cannot man by any means redeem his Brother nor give to God a Ransom for him cannot an Angel do it cannot all the Angels do it no Christ must come and die to do it 2dly It is the greatest discovery of the Love of God that ever the World had For
were those that used curious arts that were next to if not Witches indeed I say how were they prevailed upon and overcome by the Word of God which is the Gospel of good Tidings through Faith in the Blood of Christ Act. 19. 17 18. 6. How were the Ephesians who sometimes were far from God how I say were they made nigh by the Blood of Christ Ephes. 2. 13. 7. The Colossians though sometimes dead in their Sins yet how were they quickned by God through the Forgiveness of all their Trespasses and they had that through his Blood Col. 2. 13. Chap. 1. 14. What shall I say no man could as yet stand before and not fall under the Revelation of the Forgiveness of Sins through a Crucified Christ as hanged as dying as accursed for Sinners he draws all men unto him men of all sorts of all degrees Shall I add how have men broken through the Pricks to Jesus when he hath been discovered to them neither Lyons nor Fires nor Sword nor Famine nor Nakedness nor Peril neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 35 36 37 38 39. The Fifth Demonstration THat Jesus Christ by what he hath done hath paid full price to God for Sinners and obtained Eternal Redemption for them is evident by the Peace and Holiness that by that Doctrine possesseth mens Souls The Souls of Men awakned and that continue so By awakened men I mean such as through the Revelation of their Sin and Misery groan under the want of Jesus to save them and that continue sensible that they needs must perish if his benefits be not bestowed upon them For otherwise the Gospel ministreth neither Peace nor Holiness to any of the Souls of the Sons of Men that is to say not Saving Peace and Holiness ☞ The Gospel of Grace and Salvation is above all Doctrines the most dangerous if in word only it be received by graceless men if it be not attended with a Revelation of Men's need of a Saviour if it be not accompanied in the Soul by the Power of the Holy Ghost For such Men as have only the notions of it are of all Men liable to the greatest Sins because there wanteth in their notions the Power of Love which alone can constrain them to love Jesus Christ. And this is the Reason of these Scriptures They turn the Grace of God into wantonness They turn the Grace of our God into lasciviousness Jude 4. For some when they hear of the Riches of Grace through Christ that hearing not being attended with the Faith Love which is in Christ Jesus those Men receive the notions of this good Doctrine only to cloak their wickedness and to harden themselves in their Villanies Others when they hear being leavened before with the Leaven of some other Doctrine some Doctrine of the Righteousness of the World or Doctrine of Devils forthwith make head against and speak evil of the blessed Doctrine and because some that profess it are not cleansed from their filthiness of flesh and spirit and do not perfect Holiness in the Fear of God therefore others conclude that all that profess it are such and that the Doctrine it self tendeth to encourage or at least to tolerate licentiousness as they imagined and affirmed of Paul that he should say Let us do evil that good may come Rom. 3. 8 9. The ground of that wicked Conclusion of theirs was because he by the Allowance of God affirmed That as sin had reigned unto death so grace reigned unto life in a way of Righteousness by Jesus Christ our Lord. Nay then says the Adversary we may be as unholy as we will and that by the Doctrine you preach for if where sin abounds grace abounds more the consequence of a wicked life is but the hightening advancing and magnifying of Grace But what saith the Apostle my conclusions are true That grace doth reign above sin but to say let us therefore sin that Man's Damnation is just because such an one abuseth and maketh the most devilish use of the Blessedest Doctrine that ever was heard of in the World amongst Men. Besides 't is evident that such know not the Power thereof nor have felt or savored its blessedness for where this Gospel cometh in truth it naturally produceth Peace and Holiness 1. Peace He is our Peace he is the Prince of Peace he giveth peace in his High Places This word Peace hath in it a double respect 1. It respecteth God He hath made peace by the Blood of his Cross that is he hath made peace for us with God having appeased the rigor of his Law and satisfied justice for us Hence it is said The Peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your Hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus Col. 1. 20. Phil. 4. 7. The Peace of God that is the Doctrine of Reconciliation by Christ's being made to be sin for us THAT shall keep the Heart that is from despair or fainting under apprehensions of weakness and justice But yet this Peace of God cannot be apprehended nor be of any comfort to the Heart but as the Man looks for it through Christ Jesus Therefore that clause is added through Christ Jesus for he is Peace-maker 't is he that reconcileth us to God in the Body of his Flesh through death for by his doing and suffering he presented God with Everlasting Righteousness with Everlasting Righteousness for Sinners Upon this we have Peace with God Hence Christ is called King of Righteousness FIRST first being by interpretation King of Righteousness and after that also King of Salem which is King of Peace Heb. 7. 1 2. For he could not make peace with God 'twixt us and him but by being first the Lord of Righteousness the Lord our Righteousness but having first compleated Righteousness he then came and preached Peace and commanded his Ambassadors to make Proclamation of it to the World 2 Cor. 5. 19 21. For 't was want of Righteousness that caused want of Peace now then righteousness being brought in it followeth that he hath made peace For he is our Peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle-Wall of Partition between us Having abolished in his Flesh the Enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances for to make in himself of twain one new Man so making Peace and that he might reconcile both unto God in one Body by the Cross having slain the Enmity thereby and came and preached Peace to you that were afar off and to them that were nigh for through him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father Ephes. 2. 14 15 16 17 18. 2dly This word Peace respecteth our inward quietness of heart which we obtain by beholding this Reconciliation made by Christ with God for
forth of the Heart against him now sin and great confusion puts forth it self in all yea the more the Sinner desireth to do a duty sincerely the further off it always finds it self For by how much the Soul struggleth under these distresses by so much the more doth Satan put forth himself to resist still infusing more poison that if possible it might never struggle more for strugglings are also us poison to Satan The Fly in the Spider's Webb is an emblem of the Soul in such a condition the Fly is entangled in the Webb at this the Spider shews himself if the Fly stir again down comes the Spider to her and claps a Foot upon her if yet the Fly makes a noise then with poisoned Mouth the Spider lays hold upon her if the Fly struggle still then he poisons her more and more what shall the Fly do now why she dies if some-body does not quickly release her This is the case of the Tempted they are entangled in the Webb their Feet and Wings are entangled now Satan shews himself if the Soul now struggleth Satan laboureth to hold it down if it now shall make a noise then be bites with blasphemous Mouth more poisonous than the Gall of a Serpent If it struggle again then he poisoneth more and more infomuch that it needs at last must die in the Net if the Man the Lord Jesus helps not out The afflicted Couscience understands my words Further though the Fly in the Webb is altogether uncapable of looking for relief yet this awakened tempted Christian is not what must he do therefore how should he contain hopes of life If he looks to his Heart there is Blasphemy if he looks to his duties there is Sin if he strives to mourn and lament perhaps he cannot unbelief and hardness hinder shall this Man lie down in despair No shall he trust to his duties No shall he stay from Christ till his Heart is better No What then Let him NOW look to Jesus Christ Crucified then shall he see his Sins answered for then shall he see Death a-dying then shall he see Guilt born by another and there shall he see the Devil overcome This sight destroys the Power of the first Temptation purifies the Heart and inclines the Mind to all good things And to encourage thee tempted Creature to this most Gospel-Duty Consider that when Jesus Christ read his Commission upon the entering into his Ministry he proclaimed The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor he hath sent me to heal the broken-Hearted to preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering of sight to the Blind to set at liberty them that are bruised to preach the acceptable Year of the Lord Luk. 4. 18 19. These things therefore should the Tempted believe but believing is now sweating-work for Satan will hold as long as possible and only stedfast Faith can make him fly But O! the Toyl of a truly gracious Heart in this Combate if Faith be weak he can scarce get higher than his Knees Lord help Lord save and then down again till an Arm from Heaven takes him up until Jesus Christ be evidently set forth Crucified for him and Cursed for his Sin for then and not till then the Temptation rightly ceaseth at leastwise for a Season Now the Soul can tend to look about it and thus consider with it self If Christ hath bora my Sin and Curse then 't is taken away from me and seeing thus to take away sin was the Contrivance of the God of Heaven I will bless his Name hope in his Mercy and look upon Death and Hell with Comfort Thine Heart shall meditate terrour thou shalt see the Land that is very far off Isa. 33. 16 17 18. The fifth use Fifthly This Doctrine makes Christ precious to the Believers Unto you therefore which believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2. 5. This Head might be greatly enlarged upon and branched out into a Thousand particulars each one full of weight and glory 1. By considering what Sin is 2. By considering what Hell is 3. By considering what Wrath is 4. By considering what Eternity is 5. By considering what the loss of a Soul is 6. What the loss of God is 7. What the loss of Heaven is 8. And what it is to be in utter Darkness with Devils and damned Souls for ever and ever And after all to conclude from all these Miserie 's the Lord Jesus delivered me Further This makes Christ precious if I consider in the next place 1. How he did deliver me 't was with his Life his Blood it cost him Tears Groans Agony Separation from God to do it he endured his Fathers Wrath bare his Fathers Curse and died thousands of deaths at once 2. He did this while I was his Enemy without my desires without my knowledg without my deserts he did it unawares to me 3. He did it freely cheerfully yea he longed to die for me yea Heaven would not hold him for the Love he had to my Salvation which also he hath effectually accomplished for me at Jerusalem Honourable Jesus precious Jesus loving Jesus Jonathan's Kindness captivated David and made him precious in his Eyes for ever I am distressed for thee my Brother Jonathan said he very pleasant hast thou been to me thy Love to me was wonderful passing the Love of Women 2 Sam. 1. 26. Why what had Jonathan done O! He had delivered David from the Wrath of Saul But how much more should he be precious to me who hath saved me from Death and Hell who hath delivered me from the Wrath of God! The Love of Christ constraineth us Nothing will so edge the Spirit of a Christian as Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood This makes the Heavens themselves ring with joy and shouting Mark the Words Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God with thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation and and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the Earth What follows now And I beheld and heard the Voice of many Angels round about the Throne and the Beasts and the Elders and the Number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands saying with a loud Voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing and every Creature which is in Heaven and on the Earth and such as are in the Sea and all that are therein heard I saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the LAMB for ever and and ever Revel 5. 9 10 11 12 13. Thus also is the Song that New-Song that is said to be sung by the Hundred fourty and four thousand which stand with the LAMB upon Mount Sion with his Fathers Name written in their Fore-heads These are also called Harpers Harping with their Harps And they sang as it were a new Song before the Throne and before the four Beasts and the Elders and none could learn that Song but the Hundred and fourty and four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth Revel 14. 1 2 3. But why could they not learn that Song Because they were not redeemed none can sing of this Song but the Redeemed they can give Glory to the Lamb the Lamb that was slain and that redeemed them to God by his Blood 'T is Faith in his Blood on Earth that will make us sing this Song in Heaven These Shoutings and Heavenly Songs must needs come from Love put into a Flame by the Sufferings of Christ. The last Use. If all these things be true what follows but a Demonstration of the Accursed Condition of those among the Religious in these Nations whose notions put them far off from Jesus and from venturing their Souls upon his Bloody Death I have observed such a Spirit as this in the World that careth not for knowing of Jesus the Possessed therewith do think that it is not material to Salvation to venture upon a Crucified Christ neither do they trouble their Heads or Hearts with inquiring whether Christ Jesus be risen and ascended into Heaven or whether they see him again or no but rather are for concluding that there will be no such thing These Men speak not by the Holy Ghost for in the Sum they call Jesus Accursed but I doubt not to say that many of them are Anathematised of God and shall stand so till the Coming of the Lord Jesus to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen THE END Books writ by Mr. Bunyan and printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle near the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1. SIghs from Hell or the Groans of a Damned Soul discovering the Lamentable Estate of the Damned 2. Resurrection from the Dead and Eternal Judgment asserted and with what Bodies the Dead arise 3. A Discourse of Prayer and what it is to pray with the Spirit and with Understanding 4. The Holy City or the New-Jerusalem or the Glorious State of Believers after this Life asserted 5. Christian Behaviour teaching Husbands Wives Parents Children Masters Servants to walk so as to please God 6. Grace abounding to the chief of Sinners discovering the woful Estate of the Impenitent and the Greatness of Gods Mercy 7. A Map shewing the Order and Causes of Salvation and Damnation c. 8. Serious Meditations on the four last things viz. Death Judgment Heaven and Hell 9. A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification by Faith in Jesus Christ. 10. A Confession of the Author's Faith and a Reason of his Practice in Matters of Worship