holy-Holy-Spirit the Earnest of the Saints Inheritance Page 305 The holy-Holy-Spirit compared to a Seal Page 309 The Spirit compar to a River Page 313 The Spirit compar to Water Page 319 The holy-Holy-Spirit a Witness Page 321 The Holy-Spirit a Teacher Page 323 The Holy-Spirit compared to a Dove Page 326 The Holy-Spirit the Saints Guide Page 327 BOOK III. The Fourth Head of Metaphors Allegories Similies and other borrowed Terms in Scripture that relate to the most Sacred WORD of God THe Word of God compared to Light Page 1 Or the Gospel glorious Page 9 Kisses of Christ's Mouth Page 41 The Word of God compared to a Net Page 45 The Word of God compared to Gold Page 47 The Word of God called Milk Page 50 The Word of God compared to Strong Meat Page 51 The Word compared to Honey Page 51 The Word compared to Fire Page 53 The Word compared to a Hammer Page 58 The Word of God the Sword of the Spirit Page 59 The Word of God compared to Leaven Page 61 The Word of God compared to a Glass Page 62 Professing the Gospel compared to a Plough Page 65 The Word compared to Seed Page 67 The Word compared to Rain Page 70 The Word compared to the Dew of Heaven Page 73 The Gospel compar to Treasure Page 74 God a Father JOHN 20.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I ascend to my Father and to your Father 1 JOHN 3.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God THe Title of Father is attributed to God in a four-fold Respect 1. As he is the Eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is his only begotten Son John 1.14 Eph. 1.3 2. As he is the Father of Adam and all his Natural Off-spring in respect of Creation Luk. 3.38 3. As he is the Father of Mercies all flowing from his Bountiful Hand to the Creature 2 Cor. 1.3 Eph. 4.6 4. The Father of all Good Men in respect of Adoption and Regeneration wrought in them by the Power of his Grace Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 The word Abba is a Syriack word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is derived from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ab from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to will or acquiesce It is only found in three places in Scripture as Mark 14.36 Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 and in all those places the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Father is joyned to it which intimates as learned men say that the Gospel-Grace belongs to the Greeks who were Gentiles as well as the Jews It is observed that this is the first word that usually Children speak which carries a Spiritual Allusion Whether it be read backwards or forwards it sounds Abba which by a sweet allusion seems to imply that God is the Father of the Faithful even when in their crosses and calamities he seems averse to them Others think that the Gemination or doubling of the word in Syriack and Greek carries an Emphasis signifying that God is always a Father and that the Invocations of his Children should be put up with earnest Geminations and vehemency of desire Hierom makes the later an interpretation of the former as Rev. 1.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even so and Amen where the first is the explication of the second being a Hebrew word In the ensuing Parallel we take the Title Father in the fourth respect above mentioned and so it may not unfitly be termed a Metaphor taken from a Natural or Earthly Father Because God has the same love to and care of his Spiritual or Adopted Children as Worldly Parents have of their Natural Off-spring and in what degrees of Paternal Eminence God excels them shall be shew'd in the Disparity METAPHOR I. A Father gives Being to his Children as Jacob begat the Twelve Patriarchs Hence his Posterity are said to proceed out of his Loyns and are called his Issue or Off-spring II. A Father makes provision for the nursing nourishment and bringing up of his Children III. Fathers Cloath their Children Jacob made Joseph a Coat of many colours they allow not only for necessity but also for Ornament that they may take the more delight in them IV. A Father dearly loves highly esteems and greatly pities his Children If they are sick or under any calamity his tender and compassionate Bowels yearn with pity and sympathy to them V. A loving Father protects and defends his Children from hurts injuries and abuses to the utmost of his power taking their part and vindicating their Innocency against all their Enemies whom he warns not to wrong them at their peril VI. The thoughts of a tender Father run out most towards their weakest Children who are least able to help themselves giving special charge to such as are intrusted to look after them to take particular care of them VII A Father provides Food and Physick for his Children If they ask Bread he will not give them a Stone nor a Serpent if they ask him a Fish How ready was the Noble-man to seek Jesus from place to place that he might heal his sick Son at Capernaum VIII A Father takes delight to hear his young Children learn to speak and is better pleased at their endeavour to express their minds though in a lisping stammering or inarticulate Language than in the most florid Rhetorick or quaint Deliveries of others and will answer their Requests before the most perswasive Oratory of Strangers IX A loving and discreet Father proposes himself as a patern and example of good to his Children and exhorts them to imitate hlm X. A Father loves those Children best that are most like him XI A Father takes care to educate his Children and instruct them in all points of manners and good behaviour in the various circumstances of their lives at home and abroad towards Superiours Inferiours and Equals towards Friends and Enemies and towards each other giving them Precepts of good learning and other qualifications suitable to their ranks and qualities XII Fathers are very ready to hear the humble suit and requests of their dear Children for such things as they stand in need of Isaac crys to his Father and he answered Here am I my Son XIII If a prudent Father grants not his Childrens request it is because he knows they ask things that are not good for them but such as would prove in conclusion hurtful and prejudicial XIV If a tender Parent sees his Children play with any hurtful thing or to be fond of that which may wound kill or destroy them he takes it away from them XV. Fathers take care of their Children and are mindful of their welfare when at the greatest distance XVI A Father overlooks the common weaknesses and infirmities of his Children and pardons them upon their humble applications for it XVII A loving Father is much griev'd if his Children prove wicked and rebellious and useth all
that there was one above even God that seeth all things Besides these two Witnesses that are of such mighty Credit there may be three more added namely 1. The good Angels which are much busied in this World to watch Men and inspect their Ways 2. The evil Angels who are never out of Mens Company and have voluntarily of their own accord been Accusers of the Brethren who will give Testimony at the Bar of Christ against their own Proselites if God calls for it 3. The ordinary Companions of Transgressors with whom Counsel was held about evil Projects Designs and Actions of Murder Theft Drunkenness and Adultery whose Tongues shall no doubt be as ready to accuse their Comrades as to confess their own Faults concerning whom we are inform'd that not only every Knee shall bow but every Tongue shall confess c. IX Jesus Christ will magnify the Law and make it honourable in that the Word or Law spoken by Angels by Moses by Himself and his holy Apostles shall be the Rule of Judgment at the last Day X. Jesus Christ the high and great Judg of Heaven and Earth at the end of the World on his Judgment-Seat will be very terrible in three respects 1. He is set forth as being cloathed with Majesty as Judges are with their Scarlet-Robes Red in his Apparel cloathed with a Garment down to his Foot girt about the Paps with a Golden Girdle his Hair like Wooll as white as Snow his Eyes like a Flame of Fire and his Feet like fine Brass as if it burned in a Furnace his Countenance as the Sun shining in its Strength and his Voice like the Roaring of a Lion the Noise of Thunder or the Sound of many Waters 2. He will have great Attendance even all the Angels in Heaven When the Son of Man shall come and all the holy Angels with him he shall sit upon the Throne of his Glory All the Saints that ever were in the World since the beginning thereof shall sit upon the Throne with him The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with him Know you not that the Saints shall judg the World 3. He will pass a most solemn and fatal Sentence upon the Ungodly They shall not stand in this Judgment nor Sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous The Sentence will be Depart from me ye workers of Iniquity I know you not Go ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Which with the Consequences of it and Reasons assigned you have at large Mat. 25. O the sad Shreeks the hideous Noises the woful and lamentable Out-crys from high and low that will attend this solemn Sentence which no Tongue of Man is able to express XI So Jesus Christ the Universal and Supream Judg hath the full Command of all the good and elect Angels who attend the Court at the great Assizes to see that no Resistance nor Escape be made but that Sentence be fully executed upon all the treasonable black rebellious and condemned Crew Take and bind them hand and foot and it follows These shall go away into everlasting Punishment Inferences IF there be a Judge a Time a Place and work of Judgment we do infer these three things I. What great need Unbelievers Rebels Traitors and all Offenders have of Pardon there being nothing else will stand them in stead when they appear before the great Judge where there will be no pleading not guilty because of full Evidence as to matter of Fact no pleading Ignorance because a known and establish'd Law is broke No benefit of Petitions because the King is gone off the Mercy-Seat No relying upon the wrong Verdict of Corrupt Jurors because no such Persons will be found there to afford help Nothing avails with the Judge in this Judgment-Day but a white Stone a Wedding-Garment the spotless Righteousness of Jesus Christ all who want this Robe will in that day be speechless II. How sad will it fare with all those that go out of this World without Faith in the Son of God without the Pardon of their Sins Wo unto such in that day that ever they were born Look to it all you Unbelievers Swearers Whoremongers Persecutors Liars Sabbath-breakers lovers of Pleasures more than lovers of God Covetous Persons Proud Persons Thieves Drunkards and Backsliders what will you do in that day as sure as God liveth you will be all condemned unless you repent and believe in Christ to the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone What will you do in this day of Visitation who shall plead for you now you have lost the prevailing Advocate Where will Sinners and ungodly Ones appear how will you be able to look the Judg in the Face How can you escape this Judgment that have neglected so great Salvation How can you escape the Damnation of Hell that have no Christ no Faith no Pardon III. But thrice happy are they who appear before this great and mighty this high and terrible Judg with a white Stone with a Wedding Robe with a Pardon under Hand and Seal 1. The Law is silent being fully answered 2. The Judg smiles and takes Knowledg of them as the Favorites of Heaven Well done good and faithful Servant c. Come ye blessed of my Father enter into the Joy of your Lord. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you c. 3. The Witnesses are freed from Trouble and excused from giving Testimony against them because Guilt was owned the Fact was confessed a self Judgment passed and the King's Pardon obtained through the Redemption that is in Christ's Blood Now if God be for us who can be against us If God justifies who shall condemn who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect Who shall condemn if Christ hath died shed his Blood and sent his Spirit to seal that Pardon God the chief Witness is pleased Conscience is purged Peace being there his Power to accuse is gone the inward Thoughts are for excusing altogether What remains now but Liberty proclaimed There is no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 And the Joyous Jubilee sounded forth Lo this is our God we have waited for him the Lord is our Lawgiver our Judg our King He is come to save us we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation He is come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe Sing Praises to our God sing Praises to our King sing Praises to our Judg sing Praises Glory be to God and to the Lamb to the King and to the Judg for ever and for ever World without end Amen Christ compared to the Brazen Serpent Joh. 3.14 15. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life Type
and Opposition are broken in pieces by it When it once blows briskly upon the Soul it presently cries out Lord what wouldest thou have me to do Immediatly saith Saul I conferred not with Flesh and Blood XII The Spirit dissolving the Clouds of Iniquity waters the Heart with Tears of Repentance and Godly Sorrow XIII The Blowings or Operations of the holy Spirit ought carefully to be observed with the access and recess thereof for a Christian can make no Earnest of the Duties of Religion unless these Winds blow Moreover there are certain Signs whereby a Man may know which way the Spirit blows 1. If the Desires of the Soul are after God and Holiness it is one sign the Wind is in a right Point 2. If the Understanding be enlightned and Clouds of Ignorance scattered the Affections changed so that heavenly Objects are principally delighted in if the Will is brought to yield and readily to submit to the Will of God the Spirit blows the right way 3. If a Man leaves his old and evil Courses and Company if that which was once pleasant to him is now become grievous to him if his Discourse be savoury and his Life holy you may know which way the Wind blows They that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit 4. If there be new Habits wrought in the Soul so that altho a Man may sometimes be obstructed in his way and hindred in his course Heaven-ward yet immediatly as it were by a natural or divine Instinct he falls into his former Way and Course of Grace and Holiness again 't is a sign which way the Wind blows You know the Wind is sometimes obstructed or stopped in its usual course by Houses or Trees c. so that you can hardly discern by Vanes or Smoak c. which way it is so it may be with a Christian. Besides sometimes you can scarcely perceive any Wind to blow at all no more can you the Operations of the Spirit XIV The Spirit of God blowing upon the Soul of a Sinner causes his Pride and external Glory to fade away which is compared to the Flower of the Field The Rod hath blossomed Pride hath budded All Flesh is Grass and the Goodliness thereof is as the Flower of the Field The Grass withereth the Flower fadeth because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it XV. The holy Spirit tho it be invisible and its Operations mysterious and not to be discern'd by many Men yet they may see and hear the Effects of it they may perceive what Alteration and Changes it makes in this and that Man such as were very vicious and ungodly are by the Workings of the Spirit formed into another likeness and become pious and truly religious that Tongue that was wont to blaspheme God they now hear to praise and admire him c. And Believers themselves clearly feel and experience the blessed Effects and Operations thereof in their own Souls XVI The Spirit of God causes the Saints to grow in Grace and in the Knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Spirit moves upon the Affections and every other Faculty of the Heart and by that means causes the Seed of Grace to take the deeper Root The Ground or Spirit of a Christian must be broken and loosened from the World and from the Love of sensual things more and more by the Wind of the Spirit or he will not be fruitful in Grace and good Works XVII Unless the Spirit blows upon the Soul or upon the Church they lie becalmed and cannot sail towards the Haven of eternal Happiness no Duty or Service performed in publick or private can avail any thing we get not a Bit of Ground nor any real Advantage by them unless they are performed by the Help and Influence of the Spirit God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth XVIII The holy Spirit winnows and fans God's People who are compared to Wheat and good Grain 'T is said of Christ His Fan is in his Hand and he will throughly purge his Floor How doth Christ fan and purge his People but by his Word and Spirit 't is that which cleanses and makes them pure from the Dross and Pollutions of Sin and Wickedness as the Apostle observes 1 Cor. 6.11 XIX The Spirit of God sometimes comes on a sudden upon a Soul and by its powerful Operation in a short space makes a great and wonderful Change as appears in the Case of Saul but at other times it riseth and worketh upon some Mens Hearts gradually XX. The holy Spirit when it gets into the Heart of a Man by its powerful Operation it makes him tremble and shakes him to pieces as it were causing strange tho glorious Workings in the inward Man This he doth by setting the Evil of Sin before his Eyes and his woful Condition thereby A Man never trembles as he should till the Spirit enters into him Saul was taken with such a trembling when the Spirit entred into him and began to work that he could not stand upon his Feet METAPHOR SOme Winds are sent in Judgment to destroy and overthrow which many times blow down Houses and Trees and make great Desolation witness that prodigious Wind in the Year 1661. II. Some Winds are of a blasting Nature and cause the Fruit to fall before it be ripe III. There hath been a Wind in which the Lord hath not appeared IV. Some Winds are compared to Words and Speeches of one that is desperate V. Sometimes Wind is made use of to set forth that which is vain and empty VI. Some Winds are without Rain Whoso boasteth himself of a false Gift is like Clouds and Wind without Water VII If some Winds be observed Men must not plow nor sow their Seed He that observeth the Wind shall not sow and he that regardeth the Clouds shall not reap VIII Man's Iniquity is compared unto the Wind. Disparity BUt the Spirit being the great Promise of the Father and the Fruit and Effect of Christ's Ascension is sent in Mercy to strengthen and establish and is so far from destroying or overthrowing as that it causeth the Church in general or a Christian in particular to take the more firm Root and stand the faster II. But the Spirit as compared to the North and South Winds ripeneth a Christian in Grace and causeth the Spices thereof to flow forth Grace ripeneth and fitteth for Glory III. But there is no greater Demonstration of the Lord's presence with his People or with a Soul than by the Indwelling of his Spirit Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I saith Christ. IV. But no Man speaking by the Spirit calleth Jesus accursed Men are by the Spirit brought into their right Minds witness the Prodigal V. But where-ever the holy Scriptures make mention of the holy Spirit it is to set forth
Spirit your Sin will cleave to you 3. This River is large enough and yet as 't is large 't is free All may come and partake of these Waters none are excepted Whoever will may come and take of the Waters of Life freely 4. This River is near the Streams thereof run by your Doors VI. Moreover from hence let Professors try themselves whether they have been washed and bathed in this River and have tasted of its Waters yea or no. Art thou mollified Is thy Heart made tender Art thou cleansed Is thy Life and Heart made holy Art thou healed of the Sores and Wounds of Sin These Waters have a healing Virtue in them they will heal a wounded Spirit a gauled Conscience they are good to clear the Sight causing one to see far off Are the Eyes of thy Understanding enlightned Dost thou prize the Ordinances of God that convey these Waters of Life unto thy Soul Is the Water of this Râ—â—ver sweet to thy Taste Is this River thy chief Element Dost thou live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit VII VVhen you remove from one Place to another from one Country to another from one Land to another be sure to plant your selves near the Chanel of this River go not from these VVaters Labour to live near the Ordinances of God and where the VVater of Life is to be had VIII Pray fervently that God would never turn the Course of this River another way VVhat would become of God's Church in England were it not for this Chrystal Stream The Holy-Spirit compared to Water Ezek. 36.25 Then will I sprinkle clean Water upon you c. Joh. 7.38 39. He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Water But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive c. In both these places and divers others the Holy Spirit is compared to Water METAPHOR WAter for its rise is from the Ocean thence it comes and thither it returns II. Water cleanses from Filth and Pollution Cloaths and other things that are defiled are usually washed and made clean in Water It is indeed the Bath of Nature which the God of Nature hath appointed for the cleansing of things or Creatures that are polluted III. Water hath a cooling Virtue it cools the Earth after a vehement hot and parching Season so the sweating Travellor cools himself by washing in Water When the Sun by its scorching Beams hath made a Room hot wash it with Water and 't is brought immediately into a cool Temper IV. Water makes the Earth fruitful 't is of a fructifying nature How barren how unprofitable is it in a great Drought The Grass fadeth withereth and is dried up but when a soaking Shower falls upon it how green and flourishing is it immediately made thereby V. Water softens and mollifies the Earth David speaking of the Earth saith Thou waterest the Ridges thereof and makest it soft with Showers VI. Water hath a healing Virtue in it Some great Wounds have been healed only by washing in Water Some Waters in England are soveraign good to cure many Distempers and Diseases of the Body like the Pool called Bethesda VII Water is so necessary a thing that we cannot live without it many have perished for want of it VIII Water is good to quench ones Thirst to allay the heat of our Stomacks and to satisfy the longing Desire and remove the intolerable Pains that rise from an excess of Drought IX Water is free and cheap easy to come at it doth not cost us much 't is a common Element none are barr'd from it X. Water is necessary to quench Fire when by Treachery of Enemies our Houses have been set on fire over our Heads how serviceable have we found Water to be to quench it Parallel THe Spirit flows from God the Ocean of all Fulness But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testify of me Joh. 15.26 II. The Spirit of God purges and washes the Conscience from the horrid Defilement of Sin I will sprinkle clean Water upon you and ye shall be clean from your Filthiness And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God The Spirit cleanseth by applying Christ's Blood and by creating clean Dispositions in the Soul See River III. The Spirit hath a cooling Virtue in it The Heart of a Man is subject to great Heats sometimes its sweltered with Temptation Satan by shooting his fiery Darts puts a Believer into violent Heats As the Hart is by the Hunter put in a foaming Sweat and brays after the Water-brook so Satan that Blood-Hound makes the Soul thirst after the Water of Life Sometimes Men are put into great Heats by prevailing and raging Corruptions They are saith the Lord as an Oven heated by the Baker The Spirit cools this Heat partly by subduing the lustings of the Flesh and partly by strengthning the renewed part Jesus Christ opens the Oven of a distempered Heart and by casting the Water of the Spirit upon it brings it into a cooler Temper When Saul was in that hot and raging Heat to shed the Blood of the Saints the Spirit quickly allays his Rage and Fury IV. The Spirit where e're it falls makes the Soul fruitful Men's Hearts naturally are barren and like the parched Heath in the Desert but when this sacred Rain comes down upon them they quickly look green and in a glorious manner fructifie and bring forth the Fruits of Righteousness as appears in the Case of Zacheus no sooner did he receive of this divine Water and Salvation was come to his House but he crys out Half my Goods I give to the Poor V. The Spirit softens the hard and flinty Heart by applying the Blood of Christ. No sooner doth the Water of the Spirit come down upon a stubborn and rocky-hearted Sinner but he is made tender and pliable thereby Lord saith Soul what wilt thou have me do He was soft mollified and melted willing to do what ever the Will and Pleasure of God was VI. The Spirit heals all the Wounds and Diseases of the Soul Lord be merciful unto me and heal my Soul saith David for I have sinned against thee He sent forth his Word and healed them No Soul that ever took down one draught of these Waters but was cured of whatsoever Disease he had It searches to the bottom of every Sore and purges out the Corruption and then by applying the Blood of Christ it heals the Soul of all its Wounds perfectly VII The spirit is of absolute necessity without it we cannot live to God can't live the Life of Faith the Life of Holiness many perish and are utterly lost for
want of the Spirit for not coming to these Waters VIII The Spirit of God allays that great Drought that is in Men and Women naturally after perishing things But whosoever that drinketh of the Water that I shall give him shall never thirst c. It greatly satisfies the spiritual Desires of the Soul giving Peace inward Contentment and Joy through believing IX The Spirit and the Blessings thereof are free Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters Whoever will let him take of the Water of Life freely X. The Spirit quenches the Fire of Lust the Fire of Pride the Fire of Passion which Satan and our own treacherous Hearts are ready at every turn to kindle in us and which would were it not for this sacred Water burn and consume our Souls and bring us to utter Desolation METAPHOR OTher Water many times doth prove prejudicial to the Body when it is received at certain times too freely it surfeits and indangers the Life II. Waters whether taken in the common Acceptation elementary Water or cordial Waters or Spirits prepared by Art are not Waters of Life no Water can beget Life nor give Life to the Dead III. Water may be defiled made muddy and become unwholsome and unfit to drink or wash in Disparity THe Spirit never hurts any who drink thereof though in never so great a heat you may freely take down this Water and not be hurt thereby it surfeits none no danger of drinking to excess here II. The Spirit is called the Spirit of Life and Water of Life and may fitly be so termed 1. Because it begets spiritual Life in all poor dead Sinners 2. Because it maintains Life that which gives Life and Being to us as we are Men or Christians preserves the same Whether it be natural or spiritual 3. Because it makes the Hearts of Christians lively and increases Life in them 4. 'T is called Water of Life because it brings unto everlasting Life The Water that I will give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up into Everlasting Life III. The Spirit ever remains pure and admits of no Filth 't is impossible to defile this Water or make it unfit for the Souls of Sinners See River Inferences FRom hence we may infer that those who have not received of the Spirit or drank of this sacred Water have no spiritual Life in them If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Those that have not this clean Water sprinkled upon them their Filthiness remains II. What Fools are those Men who refuse to drink of the Water of Life 't is but drinking and live for ever III. Be exhorted to pray earnestly long for and endeavour after a Participation of the Spirit How ready are Men and Women to go to this Well and that Well to drink Water for the help and healing of Bodily Distempers go many Miles dispense with all other Affairs that they may be recovered of external Diseases But how few inquire after the Water of Life or leave all their secular Business for the good and health of their immortal Souls To perswade you to acccept of a word of Counsel take these few Motives You are invited Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters c. These Waters are free you may have them if you have a Heart and Will in you to them the Well is open and Christ stands with his Arms spread forth to call and embrace you If any Man thirst let him come to me and drink The holy-Holy-Spirit a Witness 1 Joh. 5.6 10. It is the Spirit that beareth Witness because the Spirit is Truth He that believeth on the Son of God hath the Witness within himself Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth Witness with our Spirit c. Rom. 9.1 My Conscience also beareth me Witness in the Holy Ghost c. A Witness is absolutly necessary for the keeping up of Justice deciding of all Matters of Moment or to the putting an end to Controversies that may arise between Parties and for the confirming and establishment of Truth METAPHOR WItness imports something to be done that is to be attested when it shall be required or when there is need of it II. A good Witness is a just and impartial Person one that will tell only the Truth III. A good and faithful Witness decides Controversies upon Trial the right way IV. One Witness is not sufficient to the deciding of some Differences in some Cases there should be more than one Witness In the mouth of two or three Witnesses shall every Word be established V. A Witness is highly esteemed and his Testimony prized by a Man falsely accused when his Life lies at stake thereby especially when such clear Evidence is given in for the Defendant that tends to the clearing up his Innocency and absolutely to acquit him and to his great Honour set him at liberty notwithstanding those cruel and false Accusations of his Enemy VI. A good Witness many times gives in such clear Proof and Circumstances to the deciding of Controversies and ending Differences that the Matter appears exceeding plain in the sight of all Persons VII A good and faithful Witness brings a Man sometimes off triumphantly that all were ready to conclude was a dead Man VIII A Witness is so necessary to confirm Bonds Contracts and solemn Covenants that they are not look'd upon Authentick and good in Law without Parallel THere is somthing done by Christ for us and in us which it is needful there be a Witness of to confirm and establish both 1. Whatever the Lord Jesus did in the days of his Flesh as the sent one of the Father was born witness to by the Holy Spirit by those mighty Works which were done by the means and power thereof 2. The Lord Jesus hath also done great things in those who do believe the Truth of which the Holy Spirit beareth Witness II. The Holy Spirit is a just and impartial Witness The Spirit beareth Witness because the Spirit is Truth III. So the Holy Spirit decides and ends the great doubt that arises in the Heart about the work of Grace the right way will not speak Peace to him to whom it doth not appertain will not clear the Guilty viz. him that believeth not notwithstanding his seeming Zeal Holiness c. nor condemn the holy and sincere Person notwithstanding the Weaknesses and Infirmities of his Life IV. So in the great case of Interest or no Interest in Jesus Christ or about Faith and Regeneration there must be two or three Witnesses no more is required First The Spirit of God And secondly Our Spirit or the Testimony of our own Conscience The Spirit it self beareth Witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God V. When the Spirit of God with a Man 's own Conscience gives in Evidence for him touching his Sincerity when accused by Satan and by wicked Men and
18.14 and 29.11 Eccl. 7.9 Isa. 29.10 and 37.7 Jer. 51.11 Ezek. 13.3 Dan. 5.20 Hag. 1.14 Hab. 1.11 Rom. 11.8 1 Cor. 2.12 c. God hath given the Spirit of slumber Eyes that they should not see and Ears that they should not hear Now you have received not the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God c. 2. The Organical Cause or Instrument is put for the thing Effected by it THE Mouth is put for Speech or Testimony as Deut. 17.6 At the Mouth of two or three Witnesses shall he that is worthy of Death be put to Death but at the Mouth of one VVitness he shall not be put to death that is by the Witness or Testimony of two or three c. so Deut. 19.15 One witness shall not arise against a man for any Iniquity or for any sin in any sin that he sinneth At the Mouth of two Witnesses or at the Mouth of three Witnesses shall the matter be established which is expounded Matth. 18.16 and John 8.17 2. The MOUTH is put for a Command or Prescription Gen. 45.21 And Joseph gave them Waggons according to the Mouth of Pharaoh c. That is as we translate it according to the Commandment of Pharaoh Exod. 17.1 And the Children of Israel Journied according to the Mouth that is the Commandment of the Lord. So Numb 3.16 39. and 20.24 and 17.14 Deut. 1.26.43 and 34.5 So Moses the Servant of the Lord died there in the Land of Moab according to the Mouth of the Lord that is according to the Word of the Lord. Upon which Sanctius says in his Comment on Isa. 49. Therefore they do not rightly judge who from the Hebrew reading say that Moses dyed in the kiss of the Lord for that Tradition is not from the Hebrew Text but from the Targum which is attributed to Jonath Vziel who renders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the Mouth of the Lord Ad Osculum verbi Domini that is according to the kiss of the Mouth of the Lord. But what 's spoken of the Mouth of the Lord is better to be referred to the Trope Anthropopathia of which we shall hear hereafter The Tongue is put for Speech Prov. 25.15 A soft Tongue breaketh the bones that is a mild civil and courteous speech so Jer. 18.18 Let us smite him for that Tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is for his importunate unseasonable and odious Speech But more especially for the Idiom or particular Language of Nations Act. 2.4 11. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance Cretians and Arabians do we hear them speak in our Tongues the great things or wonderful works of God It is also put for the Gift of strange Languages In my name shall they cast out Devils they shall speak with new Tongues Mark 16.17 and 1 Cor. 14.19 Yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others also then Ten Thousand words in an unknown Tongue That is in a Language which the People understand not c. The Lip is put for Speech Gen. 11.1 And the whole Earth was of one Lip and of one word that is of one Language and of one Speech or Idiom of speaking the Chaldee sayes of one Tongue and one Speech That the Hebrew Language is meant here which in Isa. 19.18 is called the Lip of Canaan we translate it Language by the same Trope And which by the Targ. Hierosolym and R. Saloom upon the place is called the Holy Tongue is shewed elsewhere Neither was Hebrew the peculiar name of that Language in those times because there was no need of a term of distinction there being no other Speech in the World till after the Confusion of Tongues and scattering of the People at Babel Pro. 17.7 A Lip of excellency does not become a fool much less a Lip of lying A Prince that is a worthy and excellent Speech do's not become or is not to be expected from a Fool much less should a Noble or brave mind tell Lies Esa. 33.19 A People of a deeper Lip so the Hebrew then thou canst perceive that is such as speak so obscurely that you cannot understand them as Pagninus renders it See Pro. 12.19 the Lip of Truth shall be established for ever but a lying Tongue is but for a moment Job 12.20 He removeth away the Lip of the faithful c. so 't is in the Hebrew The Palate is put for Speech Pro. 5.3 For the Lips of a strange Woman drop as an honey Comb and her Palate so the Hebrew is smoother then Oyl that is her Words or Speech The Throat is put also for loud Speaking Isa. 58.1 Cry with the Throat so the Hebrew spare not c. by which the Organ of Crying or Speaking is to be understood for the Explication follows viz. lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and what the Scope or Argument of that loud Speech or Shrill Cry was to be is added in these words And shew my People their Transgression and the house of Jacob their sins The Hand is put for Actions done by it where there is also a Synechdoche For by the Actions of the Hands some other things as also Principles or beginnings of Actions are understood as Counsel Machination or contrivance thought endeavours care c. as 1 Sam. 22.17 Slay the Priests of the Lord for their Hand is also with David that is they help him with their Counsel So 2 Sam. 3.12 and 14.19 1 Kings 10.29 Psal. 7.4 Isa. 1.15 The Hand is put for Writing 1 Cor. 16.21 The Salutation of me Paul with mine own hand that is mine own Writing and Col. 4.18 The Salutation by the Hand that is the Writing of me Paul This is ordinary viz. for a mans Writing to be called his hand among the Greeks as Pollux and Suidas sayes and among the Latines see Cicero lib. 7. Epist. ad Attic. as also in our common Language The Hand is put for a Gift reached by the Hand Psal. 68.32 Ethiopia shall make her Hands run to God so the Hebrew that is Ethiopia shall speedily transmit her Gifts as Psal. 72.10 Isa. 60.6 to which Relates that of Pliny the Ancient Greeks called Doron the palm or fist and therefore they called the Hand Gifts that word so signifying because they were given thereby See Psal. 22. 35 36. And more under the Head or Title Metaphors A Sword is put for War or Slaughter which are in a great Measure performed thereby Exod. 5.3 Let us go we pray thee three days Journey into the Desert and sacrifice unto the Lord our God lest he fall upon us with Pestilence or with the Sword Levit. 26.6 Neither shall the Sword go through your Land so Isa. 1.20 Jer. 14.12 13 15 16. and 43.11 Psal. 144.10 Rom. 8.35 and several other places It is said Matth.
almost infinite Others say that 't is as possible to empty the Sea with sieve as to reduce or confine Metaphors to certain Classes or bounds The like may in a manner be said of the Metaphors in Holy Scripture But in as much as it is very profitable for such as are studious in that Sacred Writing it shall be endeavoured so to dispose of most if not all the Metaphors as much as may be done among such a multitude of them found there especially the most frequent and illustrious as that they may be reduced to a certain Order under their respective Heads which will inable us to give a found judgment of the most Elegant and Rhetorical part of the Bible And if any be missing the Harvest being large it may stir up others to gather up and improve the gleanings 6. As to the right distribution or distinction of Metaphors into their right Classes or Heads some take the Method of Plutarch and Quintilian who to avoid confusion in such an infinite variety which can scarce be concluded or terminated by art rightly say that the most illustrious sort of Metaphors are to be expounded and distinguished under certain heads and they make them four viz. 1. From animate things viz. such as have life to animate as when God is put for a Magistrate or a Shepherd for a Prince or Ruler 2. From animate things to inanimate viz. things which have no life as when the Earth is said to Groan and the Olive to Lye 3. Or from inanimate things to animate as when Christ is called a Door a Vine c. 4. Or from inanimate things to inanimate as when the Mystery of Salvation is called a foundation 1 Tim. 6.19 2 Tim. 2.19 c. Others not respecting things as they are in Nature observe a Grammatical series or order because Metaphors are found in Nouns Verbs and Adverbs In Nouns Substantives as where it is said Deut. 22.14 The fat of the Kidneys of Wheat for choice grains of Wheat where is a double Metaphor First In Fat for the choiceness or preciousness and Secondly In Reins which is put for Grains because they are like them in Form and both are joyned because the Reins in a living Creature are covered with Fat Thus Christ is called the Light of the World Joh. 8.12 The Good Shepherd Joh. 10.11 The Apostles are called the Salt of the Earth Matth. 5.13 c. In Nouns Adjective as when one is said to be of Vncircumcised Lips Ears Heart as Exod. 6.12 Jer. 6.10 and 9.26 For to be of an impure and sinfull heart when the unbelieving and worldly minded man is said to be Dead Mat. 8.22 When the Word or Heavenly Doctrine is said to be sound 1 Tim. 1.10 and 6.3 2 Tim. 1.13 and 4.3 c. In Verbs As when 't is said of the Wicked they shall wither Psal. 37.2 That is they shall perish The Soul is said to thirst when it earnestly and vehemently desires any thing Psal. 42.2 So when putting on is taken for assuming as Eph. 4.24 In Adverbs As when to take a thing hardly is put for Grief and Sorrow as Gen. 21 11. To speak hardly is put for roughly or severely as Gen. 42.7 To be grievously wounded is put for very much 1 King 22.34 Thus in the vulgar Latine Edition but the Hebrew is without Adverbs there But a more proper Example is in Matth. 26.75 He wept 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bitterly that is very much a Metaphor taken from Tast So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Splendidly is put for eminently or sumptuously Luke 16.19 But waving these our method shall be to consider this Trope 1. More Specially 2. More Generally 1. More Specially which shall be about things that are translated to God which properly belong to Man Chap. 7. The 2. About what things belonging to other Creatures are ascribed to God Ch. 8. The 3. When things properly ascribable to persons are attributed to things that are not persons Chap. 9. 4. More Generally which shall be to lay down the distinct Heads and Classes of Metaphors with succinct Explications of each 5. We shall produce such Metaphors taken from God and the Creatures as are obvious in Universal Nature ch 10 11.12 6. Such as are taken from Sacred persons and things as Divine Worship c. Chap. 13. CHAP. VII Of Metaphors Translated from Man to God which kind is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ANthropopatheia is a Metaphor by which things properly belonging to Creatures especially Man are by a certain similitude attributed to God and Divine things It is likwise called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 condescension because God in his Holy Word descends as it were so low as our capacities expressing his heavenly Mysteries after the manner of men which the Hebrews elegantly call The way of the Sons of men In this Metaphor it is very necessary to take great heed that no mean base or indecent thing be attributed to the most High and Holy Majesty but that the Reason of the similitude be always improved with this Caution or Canon of Divinity viz. Whatsoever is translated from Creatures to God must first be separated from all imperfections and then that which is perfect may safely be ascribed to God To understand these similitudes as the Lord descends graciously to us so let us with a Devout mind by Faith and Prayer ascend unto him comparing spiritual things with spiritual 1 Cor. 2.13 That we may have honourable apprehensions of him and his Divine Mysteries which cannot be done without the aid of the Holy Spirit who only knows the things of God and the depths of his Wisdom revealing them to men by the Word 1 Cor. 2.10 11. To this may our Saviours speech be referred John 6.53 When by a similitude of humane things he speaks of the participation of heavenly things some of the Disciples being of gross and carnal understandings said This is an hard Speech who can hear it abhorring such Flesh eating and Blood drinking to whom Christ says ver 63. It is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life That is my words are not to be received in the mode and measure of vulgar or Earthly things but waving such thoughts by the aid and guidance of the Spirit as things spiritually spoken they are to be spiritually understood and by Faith to be beleived for so they are Life and give Life c. In proceeding we shall not only shew those Metaphors that respect God considered singly in his Essence and Divine Majesty but also as manifest in the flesh Some Metaphors are taken from Man and some from other Creatures From Man as 1. His Parts and Members 2. His Affections 3. His Actions 4. His Adjuncts Of which in order The Parts and Members of a Man attributed to God A Soul is attributed to God by which his Life Essence and Will and therefore God himself is
to surprise Laish Judges 18. And Sampson by stratagem not by open War destroy'd so many of the Philistins Judges 14. c. The Papists wrest this text to denote Antichrist which they say is to be of the Tribe of Dan and is the Serpent here meant but that conceit is grounded upon some obsolete figments of Jewish Traditions and upon no Scripture Foundation c. By the Root of the Serpent Esa. 14.29 The Progeny of King Vzziah is understood who grievously afflicted the Philistins 2 Chron. 26.6 And by the Viper King Hezekiah who yet afflicted them more and almost involv'd them in incurable mischiefs 2 Kings 18.8 Betwixt these two Ahaz Reigned by reason of whose sloath God punishing his impiety the Philistins became insolent harassing and wasting Judea without controul 2 Chron. 28.28 But the Prophet here denounces that they shall be no longer suffer'd to rage at that rate but that they shall be destroy'd c. Scorpions denote most malignant and perverse men Ezek. 2.6 Also most grievous and intolerable strokes 1 King 12.11 14. 2 Chron. 11.11.14 Spiders Webs denote the vanity of wicked designs Job 8.14 Esa. 59.5 6. Moles to which Bats are joyned Esa. 2.20 denote such as are spiritually blind and ignorant of God because Moles live obscurely under ground and Bats in dark nights fly about as if he had said when they are converted to Christ they will leave their Idols which they worshipped to such as are obstinately blind and unbeleiving but they themselves shall serve God being divinely illuminated A Worm denotes a thing Vile and contemptible Psal. 22.6 Esa. 41.14 Sometimes perpetual affliction Esa. 66.24 Mark 9.44 46 48. Because it is always gnawing and consuming the Wood or living Creature wherein it is A Flea denotes extraordinary vilifying extenuation of worth 1 Sam. 24.14 and 26.20 Hitherto we have treated of Terestrial Creatures Now of Volatile or flying Creatures and Aquatile that is such as live in waters we will give what Metaphors are met with which are but few Of the wings and flight of Birds we have spoke before Eccl. 10.20 Fame or Report because of its swiftness is expressed by the Metaphor of a Bird Curse not the King no not in thy Conscience and Curse not the Rich in thy Bed Chamber For a Bird of the Air shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter That is because Fame is an Evil than which nothing is more swift and shall with great speed like a flying Bird convey thy words to the hearing of such as will create you danger Some refer this to a Hyperbole that the sence may be that Princes and great men are full of Ears so that there is scarce any thing done or said but they have notice of it by their spies and observers Hence came the Greek Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The King has many Eyes and many Ears Of the warlike Host of the King of Assyria it is said Esa. 8.8 That the stretching out of his wings shall be the breadth of thy Land O Immanuel Upon which Musculus in his Comment h. l. says That by this Metaphor of a great Bird the multitude of his Host is denoted which is of so vast a body and of such large and spreading wings that nothing in the whole Land can escape his depredations c. The Lord says Esa. 46.11 That he will call a Ravenous Bird from the East that is Cyrus a Leader of a notable Expedition who subdues all difficulties as if he had wings to fly over them The Epithet Ravenous denotes his cruelty which he exercised in the destruction of Babylon as wings signifie the swiftness of the execution Jer. 12.9 My possession is to me as a talloned Bird or a Bird with Claws or Tallons In the former verse he compared that stubborn people to a Lion and here to a rapacious Fowl which invades his prey with Tallons as if they were fingers He proceeds in the Metaphor the Birds round about her are against her come ye assemble all the Beasts of the Field come to devour this is a challenge to the Chaldeans and other Gentiles to come against the Jews c. The Chattering of Birds is put for the Groans of men in sickness Esa. 38.14 Where some Species of Birds as a Crane a Swallow and a Dove are mentioned Also in the Hebrew Text Esa. 8.19 Of VVizards or such as have familiar Spirits upon which place the paraphrase of Junius and Tremellius is excellent Those Seducers are not endued with such a faculty as to shew openly and with a clear voice or expound in plain terms what should be said as we the Prophets relate the Judgments of God in an intelligible and most evident phrase But they speak in their Throat and keep a piping as Chickens hardly hatcht or if they utter any thing with an audible they do so mutter as the Sybil out of her tripod Which self same reason the Prophet explains chap. 29. ver 4. And Historians almost every where Musculus upon the place says Ecquid aliud vocandi sunt qui inter Missandum sic Mussitant c. What shall we otherwise call them who mutter and murmur at that rate when they are a Massing as if they designed of set purpose to conceal their words from such as are present and attribute a certain hidden vertue to that Mussitation or muttering by which the substance of Bread and Wine are converted into the Flesh and Blood of Christ That Species of muttering and antick gesture bespeaks not an Apostolical and Christian Spirit but rather that which consists of Magick and Legerdemain c. A Nest the habitation of a Bird is put for Rooms or Chambers Gen. 6.14 Nests shalt thou make in the Ark so the Hebrew that is separate lodgings for the respective kinds of Creatures in Noahs Ark. Sometimes it is put for the Dwellings of men especially such as are built in High Places as Ravenous Birds build their Nests in steep and craggy Rocks Job 29.18 Numb 24.21 Jer. 22.23 and 49.16 Obad ver 4. Habak 2.9 See Job 29.38 Of the kinds of Volatiles The Turtle Dove denotes the People of Israel or the Church Psal. 74.19 O deliver not the Soul of thy Turtle Dove unto the multitude of which he spoke ver 18. that is thy Church and People who worship none but but thee as a Turtle Dove that never entertains Conjunction with another and who in their affliction like a Turtle Dove Esa. 38.14 expresse their grief in solitary groans and sighs to thee And which is unarmed weak simple and meek like a Dove yea like a Turtle Dove which is esteem'd the least among the Species of Doves as Aristotle says The Chaldee renders it the Soul of such as learn thy Law that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Turtle Dove being of some affinity with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Law Christ calls his Church a Dove Cant.
16. 1 Pet. 2.5 9. Rev. 1.6 5.10 20.6 because they Sacrifice spiritually to him The Ministry of the Gospel is expressed by the Name of the Levites Isa. 66.21 Jer. 33.18 21 22. Paul is said Rom. 15.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sacra operari vel sacerdotio fungi to act the Priesthood whence the Papists infer that he said Mass which is a ridiculous and false conclusion for he adds immediately the Gospel of God so that the term is Metaphorical and signifies the preaching of the Gospel as ver 19 20. Upon which Illyricus well says If the Apostle had not spoke so clearly of this Metaphorical Sacrifice of Preaching the Adversaries would by any Means from thence endeavour to confirm their Mass c. Secondly Sacred Actions have either God or Men immediately for their Object Of the first kind are Sacrifices offer'd to God according to his VVord This word Metaphorically denotes the whole Obedience Passion and Death of Christ and so his satisfaction for the sins of the VVorld Eph. 5.2 Heb. 9.23 26 28. and 10.10 12 14. Of which the old sacrifices were Types and Shadows Then the whole worship of Christians is call'd a Sacrifice Isa. 19.21 and 56.7 and 60.7 1 Pet. 2.5 More particularly by the word Sacrifice is expressed serious Contrition of heart Psal. 51.18 19. Faith and Holiness Mal. 1.11 Rom. 15.16 See Rom. 1.5 Phil. 2.17 New Obedience and Mortification of the Flesh Rom. 12.1 See Psal. 4.5 Sacrifice the sacrifices of Righteousness Devout Prayer is called a Sacrifice Psal. 141.2 Isa. 50.7 So is glorifying of God Psal. 50.14 107.22 Hos. 14.3 Heb. 13.15 Helping our Neighbour Phil. 4.18 Heb. 13.16 Martyrdom for the Truth Phil. 2.17 2 Tim. 4.6 Gods vengeance on his Enemies Isa. 36.6 The offering of first Fruits mentioned Lev. 23.9 10. Numb 15.20.21 Deut. 2â—â— 2 c. yeilds some metaphors 1 Cor. 15.20 It is said that Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The First Fruits of them that sleep that is of the Dead that shall rise again ver 23. For as a plentiful Harvest followed the offering of First-fruits so shall an universal Resurrection in due season succeed or follow the Resurrection of Christ. Some observe from Lev. 23.11 That the First-fruits were to be offered to the Lord on the Morrow after the Sabbath that is our Christian Sabbath or Lords-day vulgarly after the custom of the Heathens call'd Sunday and that in that very year wherein Christ suffered the day of offering First fruits fell on that day wherein our Lord rose from the Dead so making an excellent congruity with this allusive metaphor which Paul used 2. Beleivers are said to be First fruits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aparche that is selected from the whole lump of mankind and consecrated to himself into the Adoption of the Sons of God as the First fruits were separated from the rest of the fruits and consecrated to God The glorified Saints in heaven are so called Rev. 14.4 Beleivers are said to have the first fruits of the spirit Rom. 8.23 For as the Israelites by the oblation of first Fruits had hopes to receive the remaining part in due season by the blessing of God So Beleivers by those gifts they receive in part of the Holy Spirit have hopes of a fulness of Joy and a full Harvest of Glory Some understand this of the Apostles only who received the First-Fruits of the Spirit miraculously Acts 2. But the former explication is more conformable to the scope of the Text. 3. It is said of the Jews Jer. 2.3 That they were the First-fruits of his increase that is chosen out of and before all other people of the World and consecrated to him The metaphor is continued All that devour him shall be desolate that is because as any that converted the sacred provision of offerings to their own use against Gods order were guilty and punished Lev. 5. so the People that would eat that is make Israel desolate shall themselves be destroyed Rom. 11.16 If the First-fruit be holy the lump is also Holy and if the Root be Holy so are the Branches that is as the whole lump was holy according to the Law when the first-fruits were offered so whereas the Patriarchs and Elders of the Jews were holy unto the Lord or a people peculiarly separated from all people to him this prerogative shall not expire with respect to their posterity but these also shall enjoy the participation of heaven and blessedness provided they believe the Gospel and heartily embrace it Neither does the Apostle speak of a spiritual but of a legal Holiness Sacred Actions of the latter kind which have men immediately for their Objects although primarily directed to the Worship of God are these Circumcision the peculiar Character of the people of God is put for Regeneration called the Circumcision of the Heart Deut 10.16 and 30.6 Rom. 2.28 Of which there is a fair Periphrasis Col. 2.11 In whom also ye are Circumcised with the Circumcision 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ and ver 12. adjoyns baptism a principal medium of Renovation c. As the Jews were metonymically called the Circumcision of which we have spoke in the chapt of that Trope so Christians are metaphorically so called Phil. 3.3 And the prophane and wicked are called the Vncircumcision Lev. 26.41 Esa. 52.1 Jer. 4.4 And 6.10 And 9.26 Ezekiel 44.9 Acts 7.51 Col. 2.13 Moses is said to be of uncircumsed Lips Exod. 6.12.30 that is dull of speech or not Eloquent Of the Circumcising of Trees we have treated before Sprinkling upon the people either by Blood as Exod. 24.8 and 29.21 Lev. 14.7 c. Or by water mixt with the ashes of a red Heifer Num. 19. Heb. 9.13 c. Because it was a Type of Cleansing by Christ from sin is metaphorically put for it Esa. 52.15 Heb. 10 2â—â— and 12.24 1 Pet. 1.2 In this are three things remarkable 1. The Satisfaction and merit of Christ called the blood of Sprinkling Heb. 12.4 compared Heb. 9.13 14. 2. The Evangelical Word of Christ which is as it were Hyssop Psal. 51.7 which the Priest sprinkled upon unclean things as the Chaldee paraphrases it See the foregoing and following verses is sprinkled as it were upon the soul in order to its cleansing from sin See Romans 16.25 26. c. Gal. 3 2 5. c. 3. True Faith which is that very sprinkling of the blood of Christ by the Holy Spirit or the application of his Merits and satisfaction therefore they are joyned together Heb. 10.22 Annointing or Vnction because it was used to Kings 1 Sam. 10.1 and 16.13 1 Kings 19.16 To the Cheif or High Priest Exod. 40.12 c. And to Prophets 1 Kings 19.16 Metaphorically denotes any that have a singular call or Consecration to God who are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Annointed Psal. 105.15
his protection like a refreshing shade is round about them Thou hast been a shadow from the heat II. God is the Souls chief and only Sanctuary When I am afraid saith David I will trust in thee that is as the Emphasis of the word bears I will retire into thee my blessed Habitation for thou art a strength to the poor and needy and a refuge from the storm When the blast of the terrible one is as a storm against the wall c. In the strangest Convulsions of State Revolutions of Kingdoms and Epidemical Calamities that afflict the World the Inhabitants of this blessed Mansion are sure to enjoy certain safety and tranquility III. Such as dwell in this heavenly habitation are preserved from a dead frozen and benummed frame of spirit they are made zealous and warm for God fervent in spirit serving the Lord inflamed with a divine fervour by the influence of the holy Spirit which is called Fire animating them with courage and resolution to stand for God and his ways against all opposition IV. God is a good mans chief comfort he is the joy and delight of his Soul for as he is the summum bonum in himself so all good things are radically and originally derivative from him therefore such as would partake thereof must have recourse to him In him is the Saints treasure laid up with him is the most desirable Communion Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee says David V. Such is God to the Soul thither is the weary and heavy laden sinner invited in order to receive rest there 's eternal repose after the troublesome Pilgrimage of the flesh in reversion for all that die in the Lord Return unto thy rest O my Soul saith David c. VI. God is a Christians Home one may be said to be absent from God when he strays abroad giving the full Reins to a loose carnal and dissolute mind pursuing the vanities and follies of the world neglecting the solid comforts and delights of his proper home exposing himself to the hazards and disorders of a strange and dangerous entertainment among his Soul-Enemies whereas to live with God in a way or spiritual Love and Communion is to dwell in God and makes way for a more immediate and personal participation of his glory after death which made the Apostle desire to depart Phil. 1 21 22 23. Because death was gain to him inasmuch as it was to state him in his blessed and eternal home VII The Lord Jesus is the way that leads to this heavenly habitation I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by me he is a Priest to attone a King to govern and a Prophet to teach and direct his people VIII God is a Sanctuary to his Saints and a safe retreating place from the assaults of Satan sin and in-bred corruption From these Enemies there is no safety but by flying to the mercy of God in Christ. IX Christ is the Door that lets into this heavenly habitation this Door is always open to such only as are his known and approved Friends I am the Door by me if any man enter he shall be saved No man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son shall reveal him X. This heavenly habitation is furnished with all those glorious Ornaments that are needful for spiritual profit or delight Gospel Institutions and Ordinances are by Expositors understood to be the Galleries of this habitation where the King is held In all places where I record my Name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee The blood of Christ is a Fountain of life Rev. 21.6 A Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness Zach. 13.1 His Church is his Garden A Garden inclosed is my Sister my Spouse Cant. 4.12 His word as a green and pleasant pasture Psal. 23.2 and his Spirit the Spring that waters every plant and flower I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed c. Isa. 44.3 XI 'T is an Interest in God that makes a Soul to value him at so high a rate Thou art my God I will praise thee Thou art my God I will exalt thee Psal. 118.28 The Lord is my portion therefore will I hope in him XII To this heavenly habitation friends are solemnly invited Hoe every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without monâ—â—y and without price Now hath God granted to the Gentiles who were Strangers and Aliens repentance unto life This is the receptacle of poor hungry souls where a plentiful relief is daily given and freely distributed XIII He that dwells not in God through Christ is in a very sad and dismal condition being exposed to the cursâ—â— of the Law and divine wrath upon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest XIV The glorious Attributes of God are as so many retiring Rooms and places of security and repose to which the Saints must have recourse in times of danger Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as if it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast More particularly inasmuch as he is Omniscient he knows what 's best for us and we ought to acquiesce in his will He is all wise and therefore orders all things to work for our spiritual good He is Almighty and can accomplish or effectually bring to pass whatsoever his knowledge dictates for our good He is faithful and therefore whatsoever he has promised shall be certainly fulfilled He is good and merciful which is a great encouragement to sinners to make application to him and commit themselves to his protection When I am afraid saith David I will put my trust in thee He is eternal and therefore an Everlasting Salvation c. METAPHOR I. A Habitation or house though never so stately and magnificent is yet the work and contrivance of a humane Architect and is composed of perishing materials II. Habitations here below serve only to accommodate the body the Rich Man in the Gospel that fared sumptuously every day had no Habitation for his Soul but Hell verse 23. III. A Habitation may be overthrown by an Earthquake blown down by a Storm demolished by an Enemy consumed by fire or the decays of time c. IV. A House may secure from some but not all dangers for Thieves may rob us of our Treasure or an Enemy if stronger may dispossess us and strip us of that and all our Estate V. A Habitation in its circumference and dimensions is limited and may be easily filled neither is any so compleat but may admit of further improvement or
eternal Purpose which was purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2. It was for the Glory of his Mercy and Goodness which moved Wisdom to seek out and provide this blessed Mediator and glorious Means of Reconciliation when God might justly have left fallen Man as he did the fallen Angels Moreover this of a Mediatâ—â—r shews us that God must be dealt with in a way of free Grace Entreaty and Request Hence we read how fervently Christ prayed and interceded for us yea what strong Cries and Tears he offered up in the Days of his Fiesh Whatsoever blessed Relief Pardon Peace c. Mankind receives 't is wholly in a way of Mercy and free Grace through the Mediation of the Lord Jesus Chriist By Grace ye are saved God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son 3. It was for the Glory of his Justice which must be dealt with in a way of Satisfaction Grace will be dealt with in a way of Intreaty salvâ Justitiâ Therefore the Covenant is established in the hands of a Mediator that is able to lay down a Price or Ransom That so God might be just and the Justifier of those that believe in Jesus Nay when the Lord Jesus undertook on our behalf to come up to the Demand of Justice 't is said God spared him not but delivered him up to Death for us all He bore our Sins in his own Body on the Tree 4. The Sovereignty of God is manifested in its Glory that through a Mediator he is pleased to extend Mercy to Mankind when none is afforded to the Angels that sinned and that Jesus at his Command should lay down his Life for the Sheep 5. It magnifies the Glory of God's Power and All-sufficiency who can raise up and restore Man to greater Happiness than ever he had before his Fall when Devils and Sin had done their worst 6. The like might be said of the Holiness Patience and Faithfulness of God c. Moreover this Undertaking adds to the Glory of Christ Jesus who is the Mediator himself God had hereby a design to greaten the Name of his Son the second Person of the Trinity in our Nature 1. In that he is constituted by undertaking in this honourable Office King Priest and Prophet 2. In respect of that great Power which is given to him to make Peace between God and Man to have the Keys to open and shut and to give eternal Life to as many as he pleaseth or are given by the Father to him 3. Nay his Glory shines forth herein to such a degree that 't is the Duty of all Men to honour the Son as they honour the Father 4. Christ hath hereby the Honour of accomplishing the whole Affair being Author and Finisher of our Faith and Salvation Secondly In respect of Man there was great need of such a Mediator 1. God would not treat with Sinners upon any other Terms There is no Knowledg of God which is saving nor Union with him without a Reconciliation You that were sometimes afar off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ. Neither knoweth any Man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him 2. Without a Mediator to atone and make Peace between the Father and us there is no Communion with him Can two walk together unless they are agreed Nor Eternal Life Such as are without Christ and without God must die that is be damned in their Sins X. Christ was every way qualified and fitted for this Work He was not only wise but the Wisdom of God much for Justice but yet inclined to Mercy and Pity to the Poor And then again how was he fitted by his being God 'T is from the Worth and Excellency of his Person that the Price comes to be satisfactory Besides had he not been God as he could not have expiated Sin so he could not have overcome Death and other Enemies he was to encounter with that he might accomplish our Redemption 2. He must be Man because he is to plead for us and be sacrificed on the Cross in our stead he must bleed as well as intercede for Man For without shedding of Blood there is no Remission He must be Man that he might be one with us that his Righteousness might by Imputation be ours and that he might receive the Spirit for us and we from him who is the Son receive it with the Adoption of Sons and thereby be sure of the eternal Inheritance 3. He must be God and Man in one Person A Mediator is not a Mediator of one but God is one And by this Means he is fitly qualified for his Office He must be a Person at an equal distance from and drawing near and allied to both Parties having Interest in and participating of the Nature of each Hence it is thought that he is called our Dayes-man or Kinsman that lays his hands on both Having access unto them knowing what will stand with the Honour of the one and be for the Relief and Profit of the other XI Christ is faithful both to God and Man greatly for the Honour of the one and as much for the Comfort and Salvation of the other He is said to be faithful to him that appointed him And in respect of Man he is called a faithful High-Priest XII Jesus Christ met with much Trouble in the Days of his Flesh in managing our Business as Mediator from the Devil and wicked Men. He found the World very averse to accept of Terms of Peace and not only so but they offered violence to him and grievously abused him XIII Jesus Christ was meek and lowly in Heart he patiently bore the Hidings of his Father's Face How quietly did he bear and endure the Punishment due to us for our Sin notwithstanding we esteemed him not but hid our Faces as it were from him He was oppressed he was afflicted yet he opened not his Mouth He patiently waits upon poor Sinners XIV Jesus Christ as he was potent so he was of a very couragious and undaunted Spirit He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he hath set Judgment in the Earth XV. Jesus Christ was a pacifying Mediator for instead of a personal Satisfaction from the Sinner God accepts of his Mediation He was made Sin for us who knew no Sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Instead of an inherent Righteousness God accepts of a Righteousness imputed and accepts of Sincerity instead of a perfect keeping the whole Law and through his Mediation obtains pardon for human Frailties XVI Jesus Christ our Mediator hath a Time set him to finish his Mediatorial Kingdom and Office which will cease at the end of the World when all the Elect are gathered in XVII Jesus Christ our Mediator uses most weighty and powerful Arguments such as in the Word of God
subsequent to Man's Obligation IV. Christ being a fit Person undertook not only to be a Mediator betwixt God and Man but also to be the Surety of the Covenant on Man's part upon consideration of his Impotency or Inability to perform the Conditions of the first Covenant since the Fall and to bear the Punishment for the Breach of it for Man having once failed and become Bankrupt God will neither treat nor trade with him more without a Mediator and such a Surety as Christ. Because they continued not in my Covenant I regarded them not saith the Lord. See Dr. Owen on Heb. 7.22 p. 225. V. The Stability of the new Covenant depends upon the Suretiship of Christ and 't is secured to Believers thereby For the first Adam in whose hands the whole Estate and Riches of Mankind were trusted ran out of all and therefore God established another Covenant and constituted Christ as a responsible Security of known Fidelity and mighty to perform to be the Surety thereof that so it might be a firm and sure Covenant between Him and Man VI. Christ by becoming Surety stands engaged to the Father to satisfy in the behalf of Man so far as God sees it necessary or comports with his Wisdom and the Perfections of his holy Attributes That he might be just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus VII Those that Christ the Surety of the Covenant undertook to make Peace for were not only spiritual Debtors but Criminals also such as deserved Death dead in Law and under the Sentence thereof spiritually dead being under the deprivation of the Light of God's Countenance VIII Christ seeing how unable we were to make Satisfaction according to the Demands of Law made a full Compensation and laid down a valuable Price satisfactory to Law and Justice for he bore the Punishment due to us for our Sins First he endured Death and the Curse of the Law he died and was made a Curse for us Secondly he bore or sustained the Wrath of God being under a deprivation of the Light of his Countenance the Favour of God was for a time suspended and withdrawn from him My God my God why hast thou forsaken me He was made Sin for us that knew no Sin c. God hath laid on him the Iniquity of us all IX Tho Christ was appointed by the Father to be the Surety of the Covenant yet all that he did was his own voluntary Act I lay down my Life freely no Man taketh it from me c. X. The Love and Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was such that tho he was rich yet for our sakes he became poor that we through his Poverty might be made rich I. live says the Apostle by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Surety I. A Surety among Men is not of the Creditor's but of the Debtor's procurement II. Sureties and Debtors amongst Men enter into the same Bond and the Debtor is look'd upon to be the principal Bondsman III. Among Men when the Surety makes a full Compensation for Debts the Party indebted cannot be said to receive a Release or Discharge in a way of Grace and Favour but only in a way of Justice IV. Among Men usually the Surety's Bond is for Debts contracted at or before the Surety's Bond is given in and for a particular Sum or Sums specified V. A Surety sometimes repents his coming into Bonds and 't is a great Trouble and Perplexity to him and seeks ways to be released My Son if thou be a Surety for thy Friend if thou hast stricken hands with a Stranger thou art ensnared with the Words of thy Mouth c. VI. A Surety many times undoes himself by being bound for other Men he engages for more than he is able to pay and is thereby cast into Prison and never capable to deliver himself out Disparity I. THe Surety of the Covenant was of God's procurement who is Man's offended Creditor or rather Creator God chose called and anointed Christ to this Office tho 't is true he was as ready to accept of it as the Father was to assign it him In this the infinite Grace and Mercy of God was manifest to Mankind for among Men the Creditor is not concerned to seek out a Security from the Debtor But should a Creditor do so all must confess 't is in his Choice to propound when how and upon what Terms the Debtor should be discharged and it would be thought very reasonable especially if he hath wronged or abused the good Name of his Creditor that before he be acquitted he should be brought upon his Knees and humbly confess his Fault and beg Forgiveness in regard tho a Compensation was made according to the Demands of Law and Justice for the Debt yet the Surety being of the Creditor's own procurement and indeed his own Son who having vast Riches and Abilities and likewise equal Love with the Father to the poor Debtor knowing the Law was such that Satisfaction must of necessity be made offered freely to lay down the Price or full Sum. Even so God and Christ in making of this Covenant in behalf of Sinners agreed that upon Christ's laying down his Life as a satisfactory Price when and upon what Conditions we should be discharged of the Guilt of Sin which binds us over to eternal Wrath And these Conditions are expressed in the Word of God viz. Faith and Humiliation for 't is certain that no Man is actually acquitted before he believes and takes hold of the Satisfaction purchased by Christ applying his Merits and the Virtue of his Blood unto his own Soul by the help of the Spirit which Christ the Surety hath promised to give to all sincere Ones that he might thereby make his Death effectual to them and so compleat his Work and Office of Suretiship II. Christ engaged as our Surety without us Our Bonds and Obligations signify nothing by reason of our utter Inability Christ hath therefore changed our Name and in the room and place of it put his own so that Death and the Curse fall upon him He was wounded for our Transgressions He looked and there was none to help therefore his own Arm brought Salvation III. Christ the Surety of the Covenant of Grace makes full Compensation for Sin and yet the Sinner receives his Release in a way of Grace which may be thus demonstrated First God as was said and not the Sinner found or provided the Surety which his own Sovereign Grace and Goodness moved him to being wholly at his own choice whether he would save Man or no having cause enough to cast him off for his Disobedience as he did the Angels that sinned So that whatever Relief or Discharge Sinners receive it is of Grace being wholly the Contrivance of the Creditor to find out the way which best comported in his Wisdom to the satisfying of Law and Justice
him and coming into the World Secondly by those hard things he met with in this Life for our sakes Thirdly by shedding of his Blood Fourthly he commends his Love by the continual Motions of his Spirit upon our Hearts and by those inward Checks of Conscience besides those blessed Offers and Tenders of Grace which dropp'd from his gracious Lips If any Man thirst let him come unto me and drink Look unto me and be saved all ye Ends of the Earth Come to me all ye that are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you Rest. Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any Man hear my Voice and open the Door I will come in unto him and sup with him and he with me IX Jesus Christ loves poor Sinners not for any thing he sees in them not for Beauty Riches c. For naturally Mankind hath nothing that may render them any way desirable in Christ's eye he might see enough in them to loath them but nothing to love them X. Jesus Christ sues hard is very importunate uses many powerful and weighty Arguments to prevail with Sinners to accept of the Terms of Grace and join in an holy Contract of Love with him 1. One is taken from the Dignity of his Person being the Root and Off-spring of David David's Lord as well as David's Son I saith he and my Father are one 2. From that early Love and good Will he bore to them When there were no Depths was I brought forth When he gave the Sea his Decree Then was I by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his Delight rejoycing always before him Rejoycing in the habitable Parts of the Earth and my Delights were with the Sons of Men. And in another place I have loved thee with an everlasting Love therefore with Loving-kindness have I drawn thee 3. From the Intention or Purpose of his coming so long a Journey I am come that ye might have Life Not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Come to seek and to save that which was lost 4. His great Abasement and Condescension 5. From his Suffering I lay down my Life for my Sheep Can there be a greater Argument than this 6. He argues with Sinners from the Consideration of their own Misery and that absolute Necessity there is of closing with him and the blessed Effects of it He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him XI Jesus Christ waits long and hath much Patience before he doth desist his Suit and leave Sinners to perish in their Iniquities How long did infinite Patience wait upon the old World was it not one hundred and twenty Years and forty Years upon Israel in the Wilderness I have saith he spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious People But if he prevails at last he thinks nothing too much that he has suffered for Sinners He waits at the Door of his Spouse until his Head is wet with Dew and his Locks with the Drops of the Night yet does he not think all too much XII Jesus Christ doth express and manifest great Love to Sinners which he intends to take into Covenant-Relation with himself His Love like Nilus overflows all Banks and Bounds his Grace is without Limits beyond the Love of Jonathan to David What doth the Gospel shew or express more plainly than the Strength of Christ's Love to Sinners Christ express'd such Love that never any other had in laying down his Life for his Enemies for such that were Rebels to him and his Father There is Depth Heighth Length and Breadth in it it passeth Knowledg XIII Jesus Christ is greatly troubled at the ungrateful Repulses he meets with from Sinners which appears 1. By his being grieved He was grieved because of the Hardness of their Hearts When he drew near to Jerusalem he wept over it perceiving how basely they had slighted and rejected him 2. By condoling and bewailing their miserable State and Obstinacy Israel will have none of me O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not 3. By hiding of his Face and bringing Afflictions upon them I will go and return to my place till they acknowledg their Offences and seek my Face In their Afflictions they will seek me early XIV Jesus Christ notwithstanding all the Unkindnesses of Sinners hath afforded them his Word wherein is expressed his good Will and Desire to them nay and more than this sends many a kind Message to them by the sweet Motions of his Spirit to awaken their Consciences before he leaves them finally Thus he strove with the old World XV. Jesus Christ sends his faithful Ministers who are as Spokesmen for their Master I have saith Paul espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ. I have espoused you the meaning is I have been employed as an Instrument sent and commissionated by the Lord Jesus to do it Many Arguments they use to bring poor Sinners to accept of the Offers of Grace and receive Jesus Christ as 1. They like Abraham's Servant set forth the Greatness and Riches of their Master The Lord saith he hath blessed my Master greatly and he is become great he hath given him Flocks and Herds Silver and Gold c. And Sarah my Master's Wife bare a Son to my Master when she was old and to him hath he given all that he hath God is very great all things in Heaven and Earth are his the Cattel upon a thousand Hills and saith the Servant of God he hath given unto Christ all that he hath All things are delivered unto me of my Father Christ is very rich the Heir of all things 2. They set not out only the Greatness and Riches of Christ but his excellent Beauty also Thou art fairer than the Children of Men. 3. The Power of Christ. 4. His Wisdom 5. His Love and rich Bounty 6. They set before Sinners what the Promises are if they receive him and what Glory they shall be raised to 7. The Wofulness of their present State and what it will be in the end if they do refuse him Knowing therefore the Terror of the Lord we persuade Men. XVI Jesus Christ sends tokens of his gracious Love to all such that he intends to marry and betroth unto himself for ever he gives them a Cabinet of costly Jewels the Graces of the Spirit to adorn them They shall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head and Chains about thy Neck Grace is like a Box of precious Ointment whose odoriferous Smell perfumes the Hearts and Lives of Believers XVII Jesus Christ cannot endure that the Heart of-a Professor should be divided or that a Man or Woman should have
Death of the High-Priest the Slayer shall return to the Land of his Possession By the High-Priest's Death an Atonement was made for him saith Mr. Ainsworth XXIV The High-Priest brought the Bodies of those Beasts whose Blood was brought into the Sanctuary to be burnt without the Camp Parallel I. CHrist was of the Race of Mankind of the Seed of David according to the Flesh Forasmuch as Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood he likewise took part of the same but was altogether pure spotless without the least Stain of Sin II. So Christ glorified not himself to be made an High-Priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son c. and in another place Thou art a Priest for ever c. The Father invested him in this Office Him hath God the Father sealed He was baptized and the Spirit came down visibly upon him when he was about thirty Years old III. Christ was anointed with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy-Ghost and with Power He had also immaculate Sanctity and Purity in him IV. Christ was said to be glorious in his Apparel cloathed with the Divine Nature as with a Garment he was adorned with perfect and compleat Righteousness V. Signifying saith Mr. Guild the Deity of Christ which as a Circle hath neither beginning nor end and the Royal Dignity whereby he is advanced to be the Supreme Head in all things to his Church or his Kingship See Goodwin's Moses and Aaron VI. Christ's Humanity is cloathed with true Holiness which is compared to fine Linnen clean and white VII The Lord Jesus as our High-Priest presents â—â—or bears the Remembrances of all his faithful People upon his Heart when he appears before God to make Intercession for them He knows his own Sheep by Name VIII Christ hath in him the Perfection of true Light Beauty and Holiness Vrim and Thummim signified Christ's Prophetical Office whereby He as a standing Oracle to his Church answers all Doubts and Controversies whatsoever IX Christ is the real Antitype of this engraven Plate in likeness of a Signet Holiness to the Lord in that the Father hath actually communicated to him his Nature who is the express Image of his Person a glorious Representation of him to us being able to bear and hath born our Iniquities The Lord hath laid on him the Iniquities of us all X. Christ is the Mouth of the Father to the Sons of Men He is called the Word of God God hath spoken unto us by his Son XI Christ's Church must be a pure Virgin chast unstained with Superstition or Idolatry giving neither Love nor Worship to any other Christ owns none but such a People for his Spouse XII Christ offered up his own Body as a Sacrifice for our Sins He appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself Christ was once offered to bear the Sins of many c. XIII As Christ was offered upon the Cross for the Sins of Mankind as a propitiatory Sacrifice so must his Blood in a spiritual manner be sprinkled upon our Consciences that we may be cleansed from our Sins and accepted in the sight of God Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience c. For if the Blood of Bulls and Goats and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinkled the unclean sanctified to the purifying of the Flesh how much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself to God purge your Consciences from dead Works to serve the living God But ye are come to Mount Zion c. And to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the Blood of Sprinkling that speaks better things than the Blood of Abel XIV Christ's Righteousness remains for ever to cloath and adorn all true Believers 'T is the Wedding-Garment whosoever hath it not shall be shut out of the Marriage-Chamber and cast into utter Darkness XV. Christ sounds the great Trumpet of the Gospel for the assembling and gathering together of his Elect to himself from all the four Quarters of the Earth and will sound an Alarm at the last Day to the general Judgment The Trumpet shall sound and the Dead shall be raised c. XVI Christ is the great Teacher of God's Law 't is he that gives us the knowledg of Salvation that guides our Feet into the way of Peace We must seek the Law i. e. the Mind and Will of God at his Mouth who shews us plainly of the Father His Tabernacle is only standing not Moses's not Aaron's not Elias's but Jesus's This is my beloved Son hear him He is the last and only Teacher sent from God XVII Christ is Judg concerning the Plague of every Man's Heart what Sin is deadly and what not Tho there is no Sin venial as the Papist's affirm yet there is much more danger and evil in some Sins than in others As for example 'T is worse to have Sin in the Affection than in the Conversation to love it than to commit it The best of Saints have not been without Sin Infirmities have attended them yet they loved them not 'T is a loathsom thing to a true Believer That which I hate that do I. The Priest was to pronounce a Man utterly unclean if the Plague was got into his Head So if a Man's Judgment Will and Affection are for the ways of Sin if they chuse and love that which is evil Christ the High-Priest in his Word pronounces such unclean When Men approve not of God's ways because they forbid and give no toleration to their beastly Lust and Sensuality and from hence secretly contemn Religion in the strictness of it these surely have the Plague in their Heads XVIII The Lord Jesus makes and anoints many to be Kings for besides his acting towards Men in bringing of them to their Thrones and Kingdoms as 't is said By me Kings reign he makes all his Saints Kings and Priests and they shall reign on Earth XIX Christ hath the absolute Power of appointing what Officers should be in his Church He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers Those that make any other spiritual Office or Officer than Christ hath ordained will be found grand Criminals in the great Day XX. Christ was sent to bless the People by turning every one of them from the evil of their Ways to give Pardon yea the holy Spirit and eternal Life to as many as believe on him XXI Christ entred into Heaven it self alone for us as Mediator through the Merit of his precious Blood shed to make Atonement once for all there to appear in the presence of God for us Neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in
once into the holy Place having obtained eternal Redemption for us XXII Christ only makes the Prayers of the Saints to come up into the Nostrils of God through his own Mediation as sweet Incense and no other Prayer must be made to God but such only as the High-Priest directeth us in XXIII Christ's Death makes an Atonement for all guilty Sinners that flie to the spiritual City of Refuge not for the Man slayer only but for the Adulterer Drunkard and Murderer also all whoever they be that take hold of God in Christ by a lively Faith are set at liberty and for ever delivered from the Avenger of Blood and all spiritual Thraldom whatsoever XXIV Jesus also that he might sanctify the People with his own Blood suffered without the Gate that so we might from thence go forth unto him without the Camp bearing his Reproach Type I. THe Jewish High-Priest was taken of the Tribe of Levi and so was after the Order of Aaron II. The Jewish High-Priest was made without an Oath and after the Law of the carnal Commandment III. The High-Priests under the Law were Men that had Infirmities and needed to offer up Sacrifices for their own Sins IV. The Priests under the Law offered up Sacrifices of Sin continually Every Priest standeth daily ministring or offering often the same Sacrifices which cannot take away Sins V. The Priests under the Law offered up the Bodies of Beasts and it was impossible that the Blood of Bulls and of Goats could take away Sin or purge the Conscience or make the Comers thereunto perfect Hence 't is said there was a Remembrance of Sin every Year VI. The High-Priest under the Law had a Successor there were many because they were not suffered to continue by reason of Death VII The Priest under the Law and the Sacrifices were two things VIII The Priest under the Law entred into the holy Place with the Blood of Bulls and Calves IX The Priest under the Law offered Sacrifices only for the Jewish Nation or Israel according to the Flesh. Disparity I. CHrist sprung of the Tribe of Judah and not after the Order of Aaron but after the Order of Melchisedec Wherefore the Priesthood being changed there is of necessity a Change of the whole Law II. Christ was made a Priest with an Oath By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better Covenant III. But Christ is an High-Priest without Infirmity For the Law maketh Men High-Priests which have Infirmity but the Word of the Oath which was since the Law maketh the Son who is consecrated for evermore For such an High-Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from Sinners and made higher than the Heavens IV. Christ having offered up but one Sacrifice for Sin sate down at the right-hand of God Nor yet that he should offer himself often as the High-Priest entred into the holy Place For then must he have often suffered since the Foundation of the World but now at the end of the World hath he appeared to take away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself Christ once suffer'd to bear the Sins of many c. By one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified V. Christ offered up his own Body which was the Antitype of all those Legal Sacrifices By which we are sanctified through the offering up the Body of Christ once for all Those Sacrifices cleansed only ceremonially The Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better Hope did Christ's Blood who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purges the Conscience from dead Works to serve the Living God The Blood of Christ cleanses us from all Sin VI. Christ because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood He hath none needeth none can have none to succeed him in the Priesthood seeing he ever liveth and hath taken the whole Work upon himself being infinitely able and sufficient to discharge the whole Trust reposed in him VII Christ is both Priest and Sacrifice The Divinity or eternal Spirit offered up the Humanity as an acceptable Sacrifice unto God VIII Christ entred into the Holiest by his own Blood having obtained eternal Redemption for us IX Christ offered up a Sacrifice both for Jews and Gentiles He is a Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but for the Sins of the whole World Corollaries I. FRom hence we may learn that without the Blood of Christ offered up as a propitiatory Sacrifice to God there is no Remission of Sin nor eternal Life God's Wrath is only appeased by a Sacrifice and this was clearly hinted from the beginning II. From hence we may learn how far the Priesthood of Christ and the Gospel-Covenant doth excell that of the Law moreover the End and Design of God in the one and in the other Many things have been briefly touched wherein the great Differences do consist some of which for the sake of the Weak I shall reiterate in this place The Priest under the Law was a mortal Man Christ God-Man Those Priests were Sinners themselves and needed a Sacrifice for their own Sins Christ was without Sin and needed no Offering for himself Christ offered up his own Body on the Tree Those Sacrifices were the Shadow the Sacrifice of Christ is the Substance of them The Priest and Sacrifice is the Type Christ the Antitype Those Sacrifices could not take away Sin nor purge the Conscience Christ's Sacrifice doth both III. Moreover this reprehends such as slight and invalidate the meritorious Sacrifice of Christ and account his Blood to have no more virtue nor efficacy in it to Justification than the Blood of any godly Man IV. It also calls upon all faithful Christians to study the Nature of Christ's Priesthood more and more much of the Mystery of the two Covenants consisteth in Priesthood and Sacrifice there is something in it hard to be understood V. This greatly detects the Ignorance and abominable Error of the Romish Church that continues to offer up fresh Sacrifices for Sin as if Christ had not offered up a sufficient Sacrifice once for all or that he needeth Competitors and Help to atone and make Peace between God and Sinners VI. It may also confute their blasphemous Notion concerning Christ's Priesthood as if it passed from him unto them whereas nothing can be more plainly asserted than his continuing a Priest for ever His Priesthood is unchangeable exercised in his own Person as a principal part of the Glory of his Office and on the discharge of it depends the Churches Preservation and Stability He ever lives to make Intercession for us And every Believer may from hence go with confidence unto Him in all their Concerns for Relief and Succour who Himself is said to be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities But this of Christ's offering once for all and continuing
carries it upon the Power of his Grace and Love into the Sheep-fold with Joy XI Christ binds up the broken-hearted restores Sight to the Blind and sets at liberty them that are bruised he pours in Oil and Wine into the Sinners Wounds I will bind up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick c. XII Christ judges between Member and Member between one Saint and another And if any oppress and injure his Fellow-Christian or if the Rich wrong the Poor or the Strong the Weak and retain their Right or would justle them out of the Church Christ takes special notice of it and will reward them accordingly I will destroy the Fat and the Strong if they repent not The Gentiles exercise Lordship and their great Ones usurp Authority but it shall not be so among you Diotrephes who loveth to have the Preheminence among them receiveth us not I will remember his Deeds He that doth Wrong shall receive for the Wrong XIII Christ continually keeps a strict watch over his People his Eye is never off them I will keep it night and day In this Night of Darkness how happy are we that the good Shepherd hath his Eye upon and watcheth his threatned Flock since so many Roman Wolves are abroad XIV Christ gives the Father an account of all his Sheep Of all those that thou hast given me I have lost none but the Son of Perdition XV. Christ hath loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood 'T is his Blood that cleanses us through Faith from all Sin XVI Christ is wonderfully pleased to see his People grow in Grace and in the Fruits of the Spirit Hereby is my Father glorified that you bring forth much Fruit. XVII Christ if he sees any evil infected and corrupted Members in the Church that may endanger the rest he he gives command to purge them out or separate them from the Church by the righteous Censure thereof XVIII Christ will make a plain Decision at the last Day He will separate the Godly from the Wicked as a Shepherd separates the Sheep from the Goats XIX Christ hath the like care of his Flock He is as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land by his gracious Promises and Protection in the Day of Persecution Metaphor I. OTher Shepherds are generally Hirelings they keep other Mens Sheep and not their own II. All other Shepherds are no more than Men and generally poor and of a mean Race or Descent III. Other Shepherds may fail in Skill or Care or may want Power to help and save their Sheep from Danger when the Lion or Wolf cometh IV. Others are Shepherds of a few Sheep of a few particular Flocks V. Other Shepherds are but Sheep themselves nay and if his they can't have greater Dignity conferred upon them VI. Other Shepherds may lose their Sheep they may be diseased rot and perish and they cannot help them Disparity I. CHrist's Sheep are all his own by Creation his by free Donation of the Father his by Election You have not chosen me but I have chosen you They are his by Purchase or Redemption he bought them with the Price of his own Blood II. This Shepherd is the Son of God never was there such a Shepherd in the Church before nor ever shall arise after him He thought it no Robbery to be equal with God III. Christ is called the Wisdom of God and the Power of God His Bowels Covenant and Faithfulness will not suffer him to forget or neglect his Flock He is able to drive away all the Beasts of Prey with his Voice can make the fiercest Lion tremble He can make the Devils flie and restrain the Wrath of Man and Powers of Darkness at his pleasure IV. Christ is the great Shepherd of the Sheep He is called Great 1. In respect of his Person 2. In respect of his Power 3. Great in respect of the Flocks he hath the charge and care of He is the Universal Shepherd 't is false of the Pope but true of Christ. All the Sheep or Flocks that live or ever lived were and are his 4. Great in respect of the Pastures he hath to accommodate his Sheep The World is his and the Fulness thereof 5. Great in respect of the many inferior Shepherds that are under him that must be accountable to him V. Christ is the Shepherd of Shepherds The Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles themselves and all Ministers of the Gospel are Christ's Sheep and under his charge and keeping VI. Christ will lose none of his Sheep He is able to cure all their Diseases and to keep them from perishing My Sheep hear my Voice and they follow me and they shall never perish neither can any Man pluck them out of my hand Inferences 1. IF Christ be the Shepherd of his Sheep if he hath the Care and Charge of all the faithful People of God this informs us that they shall not cannot be at any time without a Shepherd for Christ is not short-liv'd or suject to Death as other Shepherds are He ever lives c. 2. Believers may say with David If Christ be their Shepherd they shall not lack 3. Let other Shepherds remember they are but Christ's Servants Christ's Deputies and must be accountable to Him the chief Shepherd when he appeareth 4. We may infer from hence That the State and Condition of such Men is sad that worry and make a Spoil of the Righteous they are Christ's Lambs they thus grievously abuse and make Slaughter of 5. Follow this Shepherd in his Doctrine in his Example 6. Examine your selves whether you be his Sheep or no His Sheep know his Voice from the Voice of Strangers See more under the Metaphor of Sheep 7. Take heed you do not straggle from the Fold and refuse the Guidance and Conduct of this Shepherd 8. Enquire where this Shepherd feeds his Flock and where he makes them rest at Noon Christ the Branch Zech. 3.8 I will bring forth my Servant the Branch Zech. 6.12 Behold the Man whose Name is the Branch THe Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latin word Germen do metaphorically signify Christ. The Greek Interpreters translated it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Vulgar Latin Orientem for they judged that Christ might be so called from that Glory and Brightness by which he chased away the Darkness that overspread the World but the Word will not bear that Sence as the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sheweth In these places of Scripture where Christ is called a Branch we are to understand his human Nature is intended and this according to the Judgment of divers Expositors I will cause the Branch of Righteousness to grow up unto David Hence he is said to be a Branch out of the Stem of Jesse And this is according to the Apostle where he minds that
was to have hands laid upon the Head this was a Sign of Death XII The Head is the Subject of Humility When Men have been much affected with some great Thing they put Earth upon their Heads XIII But notwithstanding all the Head is the Glory of the Man XIV The Head sheweth the greatest Signs of Pity and Sympathy to the poor distressed and afflicted Members XV. The Head is the governing Part of the whole Man the Eyes the Ears the Hands the Feet are all governed by the Head XVI The Head loves the Body that belongs to it and is concerned night and day for its Prosperity XVII The Head receiveth Reverence and Respect Love and Honour from the Body and the Members Parallel I. THe Son of God as he was higher by Birth than Men yea than the greatest of Men Kings and mighty Potentates of the Earth c. so is he by Place and Office God hath anointed him with the Oil of Gladness above all his Fellows and set him over the Works of his Hands II. The Son of God the mystical or spiritual Head is the Seat of the spiritual Senses There is the clear seeing Eye the perfect hearing Ear the pure true and infallible Taste by which Things are distinguished aright the good from the bad for the benefit of the whole Body the Church III. Jesus Christ as a publick Person and Head of his Church is Receiver-General and common Treasury of the whole Body Whatsoever came originally from God for the Good and Benefit of the Church is lodged in Christ as Mediator and Head of his Church As David said All my Springs are in thee so may the Church say of Christ We beheld his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten Son of God full of Grace and Truth It pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell IV. The Son of God doth transmit or cause to be transmitted by way of communication all the Supplies of the Mystical Body whether it be Peace of Conscience Ease for Soul-pains by an Application of his Blood and Spirit to comfort 'T is by Him that the whole Body by Joints and Bonds have Nourishment administred one to another as knit together in all parts and increasing with the Increase of God Of his Fulness we all receive and Grace for Grace V. The Son of God is the Fountain of Strength to his Church 't is said All Power is given to him I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me VI. Jesus Christ was a Man of Labour that carried our Burthens for us in Divine respects The Burthen of Temptations from Satan and the World fell upon him the Burthen of Persecution even to Death it self The Lord laid on him the Iniquities of us all VII The Lord Jesus was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief There was no Sorrow like his it was heaped upon him even to perfection VIII The Lord Jesus is the Man of God's Right-hand made strong for Himself upon whom the Blessing is conferred by the Father as a Token of Good to the whole Church In Him all the Families of the Earth are blessed IX Christ the holy and spiritual Head received the Consecration of God for he was filled with the Holy-Ghost from the Womb and as a perfect Nazarite continued separate till his Baptism at which time the holy Anointing being upon him in a visible manner did furnish him for his Ministry and fit him to be a Priest unto God this holy Unction descended on him as it did on the Head of Aaron not only drenching his Beard but all the parts of his Body also even to the Skirts of his Garment Say ye of him whom the Father sanctifieth and sendeth into the World c. Who through the eternal Spirit offered himself to God X. The Son of God not only beareth the Glory of Priesthood but the highest Glory of his Father's House which consists of Kingship c. Thou art a Priest for ever c. We see Jesus made a little lower than the Angels c. crowned with Glory and Honour XI Christ was the principal Object of Envy and Hatred The Devil envied him the Jews hated him without cause Herod threatned him One while they waited to kill him at another time they led him to the Brow of the Hill that they might cast him down headlong to destroy him At last they came and laid their hands upon him in the Garden where he received the Sign of Death after his most bitter Agony and was soon after offered up on the Cross as a publick Sacrifice He died for our Sins according to the Scriptures Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us XII The Lord Jesus was a Subject of great Humility much affected with God's Providences and Mens Wickednesses He wept when Lazarus died Christ wept when the Jews rejected him to their own Destruction and as Publius Lettius saith of him he was never seen to laugh but often to weep The Devil Herod Pontius Pilate with the Jews were not content to persecute and drive the Son of God to Corners but after they had agreed with Judas to betray him they endeavoured as much as lay in them to take this blessed Head off from his Mystical Body nothing would satisfy them till they had slain the Lord of Life and Glory XIII And so is Jesus Christ the Glory of God the Glory of the Church She glories in Him His Head is as the most fine Gold He is altogether lovely This is my Beloved and this is my Friend O Daughters of Jerusalem XIV Christ being in all things like unto us Sin only excepted hath shewed no small Signs of Pity and Sympathy as one touched with our Infirmities as appears both before he left the World and since 1. He comforts them by good Words and Promises he will not leave them comfortless but will come to them 2. He assureth that he would send another Comforter the holy Spirit 3. He prays the Father to take them into his Care and Protection 4. He cries out from Heaven when Violence is offered to them Saul Saul why persecutest thou me c. XV. The Son of God as Head of the Church hath the Government on his Shoulders his Members hear his Voice and keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous unto them XVI Jesus Christ loves his Church yea all his Members He died to save and redeem them he shed his Blood to wash and sprinkle them and went to Heaven to prepare a Place for them and is concerned both night and day for their Prosperity and Welfare he will come again from thence to solemnize the glorious Marriage and receive them unto himself that where he is there they may be also I love them that love me He gave himself that he might redeem us from all Iniquity He hath loved us and washed us from our Sins with his own Blood
that find Christ have enough they need no more Riches they are not only made happy here but also to Eternity and may say with Jacob they have all XI Christ is the Saints richest Ornament Those that are grac'd and adorn'd with this Pearl are the most renowned and honourable Ones in the World The Righteous are more excellent than their Neighbours XII There is no Cordial to a disconsolate and drooping Spirit like Christ the Virtue of his Blood and the Comforts of his Spirit revive immediatly the sick and fainting Soul 'T is he that keeps us from the Poyson and venemous Sting of the old Serpent that strengthens us and purges out all our Corruptions XIII Christ is singular there is but one Christ one Mediator between God and Man Metaphor I. PEarls are of an earthly Original II. Pearls are of a very small dimension for tho they be very considerable in value yet are the least of all precious Stones III. Men may find a rich and precious Pearl and yet be miserable in divers respects and that cannot help them IV. Men that find precious Pearls may sell them if they please and sin not nor injure themselves thereby V. Other Pearls are of a perishing Nature they may be defaced broken dissolved and come to nothing Disparity I. JEsus Christ is the Lord from Heaven II. Christ is infinite in respect of his Deity without measure filling Heaven and Earth with his Presence He is in Heaven and yet with his People on Earth to the end of the World III. He that finds this Pearl of great Price can never be miserable Christ supplies all the Wants and Necessities of Believers IV. No Man can sell Christ nor part with him but he sins thereby and ruins himself as Judas did V. Christ is durable this Pearl of Price can never be spoiled or dissolved nor diminish or lose his Beauty Inferences 1. Happy are they that find this Pearl 2. They are Fools who will not adventure the Loss of all for Him 3. Esteem highly of Christ you can never overvalue Him 4. Bless God for bestowing his chiefest and best Pearl upon you The Name of Christ like to Precious Ointment Cant. 1.3 Thy Name is as Ointment poured forth c. THe Spouse knows not how to set out the Transcendent Excellencies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before she saith His Love is better than Wine and here she compares his Name to Ointment poured forth c. The Words are a Proposition in which you have two Parts 1. The Subject 2. The Predicate 1. By the Name of Christ some understand the Doctrine of Christ declared in the Gospel others by his Name his Person Illyricus in locum Ye shall be hated of all Nations for my Name-sake I will shew him how great things he shall suffer for my Name that is for my Sake 2. Christ hath several sweet Names or Appellations given him in the Holy Scripture that may be compared to Precious Ointment as first his Name Jesus Emanuel the Lord our Righteousness Prince of Peace c. Simile I. OIntment is of a fragrant and odoriferous Scent Precious Ointment yields a very sweet Smell the Box of Ointment which was poured upon Christ the Text says the whole House was fill'd with the Odour thereof II. Ointment hath an exhilarating Virtue it chears elevates and makes the Heart glad Ointment and Perfume rejoyce the Heart hence the Antients in their Banquetings and joyful Feastings used choice and precious Ointments III. Oil hath a drawing and cleansing Quality in it it is powerful in attracting or drawing Pollution or noxious Matter out of Wounds or Sores in the Body IV. Ointment hath a mollifying and suppling Virtue it will soften any hard Tumor or Swelling in the Body the Lord alludes to this They have not been mollified with Ointment V. Ointment is of a beautifying Nature David tells us it makes the Face to shine Naturalists says there is a sort of Ointment that will fetch out Wrinkles VI. Some Ointments are of great Worth and Value as appears not only by Historians but by what is said of that Box Mary bestowed upon our blessed Saviour VII Ointments are of a healing Nature VIII Some Ointments are of a strengthening Nature the Joynts being weak and benum'd or parts of the Body anointed therewith it recovers their Strength IX Ointment being poured forth denotes the use of it 't is of little Profit whilst it is kept close shut up in the Box nor doth it yield that fragrant Smell till poured forth X. Ointment poured forth denotes Plenty as one observes upon the place as also a free Communication of it Parallel I. THe Lord Jesus is very sweet and of a fragrant Smell to Believers as hath been shewed upon divers Metaphors nay he makes their Persons Prayers and all their Performances as sweet Odours in the Nostrils of God Christ perfumes as it were all Persons and Places where he cometh the Person Example Passion Intercession Word Promises Ordinances of Christ are of a sweet Savour II. Jesus Christ and the Spirit that flows or proceeds from him is of a glading refreshing and comforting Nature he anoints his Saints gives the Sorrowful the Oil of Gladness for the Spirit of Heaviness Thou hast put Gladness in my Heart more than in the time when their Corn and their Wine increased III. Christ draws the Soul when his Name is poured out so that the Soul feels the nature of his Sovereign Love and Grace out of the World and the Kingdom of Satan and from all Uncleanness of the Heart and Life to himself Saith Christ And if I be lifted up from the Earth I will draw all Men unto me With loving Kindness have I drawn thee Draw me and I will run after thee Christ draws the Soul from Sin and Sin from the Soul and so cleanseth it thereby IV. Christ's Name poured forth viz. his Perfections and Excellencies made known to a Sinner presently softens his hard Adamant-like Heart all the Hearts of Sinners that have been broken and made tender it hath been done by the Virtue of this precious mollifying Ointment V. This Spiritual Ointment will fetch out all the Stains and Spots of Sin all those Blemishes and Wrinkles of the Soul of which the Apostle speaks that so we may be presented amiable in the sight of God Believers have no Beauty but what they have from Christ. VI. The Lord Jesus Christ is of an inestimable Worth who is able to account the value of this Box of precious Ointment Wisdom is the principal thing Christ is the Wisdome of God its price is above Rubies VII Christ heales the Soul he is not only the Physician but his Blood and the precious Graces of his Spirit is the Balm or Ointment that cures all our Sores VIII All Spiritual Strength is from Christ 't is he only that confirms and strengthens the Feebleness and the Hands that hang
gather there drive away Darkness and clear the Sight And further saith Quid possit Vitis alia quae fundit sermone explicare nemo potest that no Tongue could sufficiently tell the Virtues of the Vine the like says Pliny Parallel I. JEsus Christ in his state of Humiliation did not appear in that outward Glory Pomp and Magnificence which the proud Grandees of the Earth glitter in he was not entertained with the Royalties of Imperial Palaces for his Kingdom was not of this World He was look'd upon in comparison of the Mighty Men who are compared to the Cedars of Lebanon and Oaks of Bashan as a poor mean and contemptible Shrub as the Prophet foretold He shall grow up before him as a Tender Plant and as a Root out of a dry Ground he hath no Form nor Comliness and when we shall see him there is no Beauty that we should desire him II. Jesus Christ hath a Name above every Name he infinitely excels whatsoever is good great and glorious in Angels Saints and Men. The spendor and Stateliness of Monarchs Courts is nothing in comparison of that unexpressible Lustre and Majesty that surrounds him The Heavenly Luminaries are dim to him he is the Royal Ofspring of Heaven of the sublimest Extraction When he bringeth the first begotten into the World he saith and let all the Angels of God worship him III. Christ when in his young and tender Age grew much in favour both with God and Man and when he was twelve years old disputed with the Learned Doctors hearing them and asking them Questions and all that heard him were astonished at his Vnderstanding and Answers c. IV. Jâ—â—sus Christ is full of Life and Divine Vertue the Treasuries of his communicable Graces are immense and unspeakable All Wisdom and Knowledg are hid in him In him all Fulness dwells his People mystically united to him are his Branches them he supplies with spiritual Quickning Nourishment and Growth and though scattered over many Kingdoms and Nations his Protection environs them round about provides a sufficient Supply for their spiritual Wants which is to be found no where else If a Man abide not in me saith he he is cast forth as a Branch that is withered c. V. Christ the Spiritual Vine is not only a green spreading and flourishing Plant but also exceeding fruitful he was so in his Life going up and down doing good both to the Bodies and Souls of Men fruitful in his Death In that Cluster there is much choice Fruit as Atonement Reconciliation Redemption Victory over Sin and Satan the abolishing of the Law and establishing the everlasting Righteousness he was fruitful in his Resurrection Ascention Intercession c. The Graces of the Spirit Holy Ordinances and Promises of Eternal Life are all Fruits of this heavenly Vine from him is all our Fruit found See Metaphor Light VI. The Lord Jesus brings forth the most pleasant and most desirable Fruit. I sate down under his Shadow with great delight saith the Spouse and his Fruit was pleasant to my Taste No Cup so refreshing as the Cup of Divine Consolation No Wine nourishes or quickens the Body so much as the Love of Christ Peace with God Reconciliation Pardon of Sin Justification Adoption c. These Blessed Fruits of this mystical Vine do chear feed and enliven a Drooping and Languishing Soul VII The Lord Jesus yields Fruit every way profitable All the Good that Soul or Body is capable to receive flows from him and is the Fruit of his Love purchased by his Death and communicated by his Word and Holy Spirit It warms supports and strengthens the Souls of his People His Grace is of a healing quickning and vivifying nature See Metaphor Wine and Ointment c. VIII Jesus Christ is a Shadow to his Church a hiding-place from the Wind and a Cover from the Tempest as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land He defends from the Rage of Satan from Sin from the Fury of Man in the heat of Persecution yea from the wrath of God by which were it not for the interposition of this blessed Skreen or Shade we should be scorched burnt yea utterly consumed See Rock Apple-Tree c. IX Christ the Spiritual Vine being affronted rejected and abused by the rebellious obstinate and unbelieving Jews when he approached and beheld the City He wept over it was grieved for the hardness of their Hearts but more especially when he came under the execution of Divine Wrath for Mans sake and in his stead which he did willingly undergo how did his bruised and abused Body sweat as it were great drops of Blood until he yielded up his blessed Life and precious Spirit for us X. The Grace of Christ the Spiritual Vine is precious Eye-Salve which removes those thick Clouds of Darkness and Ignorance that are upon the Understanding by which a Soul spiritually comes to have a clear Prospect of those never-fading Glories of the other World and plainly discerns the gilded Follies and transitory Vanities of all things here below In a word no Tongue can sufficiently exalt the transcendent Virtues of this ever-blessed Vine Metaphor I. THe Vine is a Plant of an earthly Extract the choicest and goodliest are only the Plantation of Men. II. The Vine is not always green the Leaves fall off in Winter You may look for Fruit when the Vintage is gathered and find none III. The Fruit of the Vine taken to excess is offensive to God hurts and injures the Soul breeds Diseases and destructive Humours in the Body bereaves Men of Reason intoxicates the Brain c. IV. The Fruit of the Vine diminishes by gathering Cluster after Cluster you may soon strip it off all V. The Fruit of the Vine is only good for the Body VI. The Vine wants Support unless it be underpropt it falls being not able to bear the weight of its own Branches Disparity I. CHrist is of an heavenly Original and Extraction a Vine of God's own planting who prepared a Body for him and appointed him to the work of Redemption He is the true Vine and God the Father is the Husbandman no other could plant so Noble a Vine as Christ is II. Christ the Spiritual Vine perpetually flourishes always abounds with Fruit and knows no Winter he is the same from Generation to Generation yesterday to day and for ever without variation or shadow of turning there 's always a full Vintage that never diminishes withers nor decays never grows old but ever remains in its full growth and absolute Perfection III. The Fruit of Christ the Spiritual Vine never hurts any no danger of Surfeit here the more you eat and drink the better 't is here 's no fear of Excess The Wine of Consolation neither gluts nor inflames nor intoxicates but nourishes and feeds the Soul
and a great Favourite in the Court of Heaven II. Jesus Christ the Messenger of the Covenant or God's Embassador to Sinners is full of Wisdom and Skill in all the grand Affairs which concern the Glory of his Father and the Welfare of Sinners He knows how to end the Differences between God and Man and to make up that grievous and destructive Breach that hath been so long between them III. The Lord Christ hath in him all the Perfections of the glorious Deity He is called the faithful and true Witness Never did Embassador act with such Integrity to Prince and People as Christ doth between God and Sinners He would not have God dishonoured nor Man to miss of Pardon IV. Christ was chosen and appointed Messenger of the Covenant by the Determination Counsel Purpose and Foreknowledg of the King of Heaven hence is Christ said to be a Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World V. The Lord Jesus Christ when chosen to be sent on this great Embassy or Message of Peace to Sinners readily accepted it Lo it is written in the Volumn of the Book I come to do thy Will O God VI. Jesus Christ the greatest Embassador and Plenipotentiary of Heaven and Earth hath Matters of such weight and moment committed to his Trust that very far exceed those things that concern Peace and War amongst Men and Nations for they are Matters in which are wrapp'd up the spiritual and eternal Weal or Wo of all People and Nations of the World He is entrusted with those high and wonderful things that concern the Glory of God and the Peace and eternal Felicity of our Souls VII As Christ was chosen and ordained God's Messenger and entrusted with the great Concerns and sole Management of the Covenant of Grace so that he might every way be rightly constituted authorized and empower'd he received a special Commission from the Father He gave me Commandment what I should say and what I should speak I have a greater Witness than that of John for the Works which the Father hath sent me to do the same bear witness that he hath sent me VIII Christ that he might negotiate and fully accomplish and compleat the great and important Affairs of making Peace between God Almighty and poor Sinners left his own Kingdom and the Glory he had with the Father and came into this World When the Fulness of Time was come God sent forth his Son IX Christ Jesus the Messenger of the Covenant represents the Person of God himself so that whosoever reverences the Son reverences the Father also He that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me The Father judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment to the Son that all Men should honour the Son as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him X. The Lord Jesus Christ did require and command nothing of Mankind but what was the absolute Will and Pleasure of the Father My Doctrine is not mine but the Father 's that sent me I lay down my Life that I may take it up again This Commandment received I of the Father c. XI Christ was sent to put an end to that dismal and desolating War which was occasioned by Sin and the horrid Breach of the first Covenant between God the Creator being offended and the sinful guilty and rebellious Creature God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself c. For if whilst we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son much more being reconciled shall we be saved by his Life 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 And to you that were sometimes alienated and Enemies in your Minds by wicked Works yet now hath he reconciled in the Body of his Flesh through Death XII Christ the Messenger of the Covenant offers gracious Terms of Peace and Reconciliation to Sinners Repent and believe the Gospel Believe and be baptized He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy-laden and I will give you Rest. O what sweet and easy Terms of Peace are these 'T is but to acknowledg our own Guilt and Vileness lay down our Arms and accept of Mercy by believing in the Lord Jesus Look unto me and be ye saved all ye Ends of the Earth Whoever will let him take of the Water of Life freely XIII Jesus Christ the Messenger of the great God was greatly grieved to see the Jews to whom he was first sent stubbornly to refuse and reject that glorious Salvation offered to them by himself When he came near the City he wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things that belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathers her Chickens and ye would not O that Israel had hearkned unto me XIV Jesus Christ hath many Servants who wait on him in the Accomplishment of this great and glorious Work viz. the holy Angels and the blessed Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel The Lord Jesus deserveth eternal Honour for this glorious Work Let the Angels of God worship him All ought to honour the Son as they honour the Father At the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow XV. The Lord Jesus Christ ratified and confirmed the Covenant of Grace between God and Man by his own Blood and thereby opened a free Commerce with God For through him we have access by one Spirit to the Father Saints may with boldness come to the Throne of Grace by the Blood of Jesus XVI The Lord Jesus when he had done his Work returned home unto his Father and is highly honoured being cloathed with Glory and Majesty and is set down at the right hand of God on high far above Principalites and Powers XVII Those People and Nations that refuse the Offers of Grace and Peace made to them by Jesus Christ God proclaims War and eternal Death against them He that hath the Son hath Life but he that hath not the Son hath not Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that City If we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledg of the Truth there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin but a fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation that shall devour the Adversaries and all those that have stubbornly refused the free Tenders of Grace XVIII Jesus Christ was and is
Christ if he sees that a small Fire and easy Afflictions will not refine and purifie the Soul of a Believer adds greater Afflictions puts them into a very hot Fire great Trials according to his own Wisdom and good pleasure of his Will If need be you are in heaviness through manifold Temptations That the trial of your Faith being much more precious than Gold c. Think it not strange concerning the fiery Trial which is to try you as if some strange thing happened unto you VII Jesus Christ by refining his People separates their Dross from them separates Pride Passion Luke-warmness Worldly-mindedness c. and thereby makes Them and their Graces exceeding valuable Tried Faith tried Patience tried Love is highly esteemed 't is far beyond tried Gold This is the fruit of all the taking away of your Sin I will make a Man more precious than Gold even a Man above the Golden Wedg of Ophir And Christ by refining and putting the whole Church into the Furnace separates the Gold the sincere Christians from drossy Hypocrites VIII Christ to refine and throughly purge and purifie his Church and the Hearts of Believers puts them into one Fire one Affliction and then into another hence God speaks of purifying his People seven times for if you will not for these things obey me I will punish you seven times more according to your Sins God hath many Fires IX Christ adds something of another nature other Metal as I may say into his Gold viz. his Church and People that are in the Furnace there is the additament of his Word and Spirit Did not he add these to his People to refine and purifie them they would be long in the Fire before their Dross would be washed and consumed away nay without the Word and Spirit Afflictions could never accomplish nor perfect the Work and make them fit for his use X. Jesus Christ doth not put his Church or any one believing Soul into the Furnace to destroy or any ways to hurt them but purely out of a gracious Design to make them more pure and serviceable unto him Fathers for a few days chasten us after their pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness After he hath tried me I shall come forth as Gold He takes much care that nothing be lost none of them receive detriment thereby XI Christ will not suffer his People to remain in the Furnace or under Afflictions any longer than he sees need of it no longer than till all their dross and filth be purged away 'T is but in measure he knows when it is enough and then he soon abates the Fire XII Christ oft-times in refining of his Church wasteth the Wicked who are his Fuel by which he many times purges them In a secret way they hereby come many times to be bruised and smitten the Fire of God's Wrath seizes upon them as in the case of Pharoah whilst they are persecuting his People XIII Christ Jesus by putting his Children into the Furnace of Affliction resolves to burn up waste and destroy all Hypocrites and drossy Professors in a day of fiery Triall they pass away like Smoke But the Wicked shall perish even like Smoke they shall consume as the Smoke vanisheth so shalt thou drive them away XIV The Lord Jesus knows that sincere Souls or faithful Christians will abide the day of his coming when he sits as a Refiner viz. in a day of Distress and Tribulation and though the Church thereby is made less in bulk or quantity the formal and drossy part being many times more than the other yet in quality the Church thereby will shine forth more gloriously and consequently more acceptable unto God XV. Jesus Christ when he hath thorowly refined and purged his Saints they are made choice and golden Vessels the delight of Christ and for the use and ornament of the Church In a great House there are not only Vessels of Gold and Silver c. 2 Tim. 2.20 The precious Sons of Zion comparable to fine Gold how are they esteemed as Earthen Pitchers c. Lam. 4.2 See Vessels METAPHOR I. A Refiner refines but a little Gold at a time comparatively his Furnace is of small Dimension II. When a Refiner hath put Gold into a Crucible to be melted in order to make it pliable and fit to be wrought adds a quantity or allowable proportion of Allay which is of less value as Silver or Copper Disparity I. CHrist many times in one Furnace of Affliction refines almost all the Gold or godly Ones in a whole Kingdom as he dealt with the whole House of Israel II. Christ when he puts his Saints into his Furnace to make them maleable and fit to be wrought by the Hammer of the Word into the Image of God he puts in a measure of the Holy Spirit which is of more worth and value than the Gold it self viz. the Saints for indeed so hard is the Heart notwithstanding the Fire of that Affliction that there is no work can be made of it without the Spirit Inferences I. THis may inform us concerning the purpose and design of Christ respecting fiery Trials which the Godly meet with in this World that Afflictions are not for the hurt or injury of the Church II. It also shews us what Filth and Corruption is in our Hearts what reason have we to bewail our inward Pollution that nothing will purge and cleanse us but Christ's Blood his Word Spirit and Affliction III. Moreover let us learn from hence to cry to God when we are in the Furnace when in the Fire that Christ would apply his Blood Word and Holy Spirit to our Souls for if otherwise all Sufferings and Afflictions will be unprofitable unto us IV. And O that Christians would take heed in days of Liberty and Prosperity to walk humbly and holily before the Lord and beware lest they contract Filth and Pollution upon their own Souls and so provoke Christ to put them into his Furnace If the shaking of the Rod would bring us upon our Knees and reform our Hearts and Lives Christ would not bring slaying and fiery Dispensations upon us V. It may put us all upon the search to see if we are sincere Gold and not Dross for if we are corrupt Matter the Furnace will make a clear Discrimination of it for indeed Every Mans Work shall be tryed so as by or out of the Fire 1 Cor. 3.13 VI. Let all Professors from hence be wakened Christ the Refiner is near and the day of Trial comes on apace but how wilt thou stand when he appears There is an Amazing Dispensation at hand the Church of God shall be throughly purged and made white the drossy Christian e're long shall be consumed and pass away like the Smoak of a Refiners Furnace VII How good is God to take so great Pains with us that he might make us fit
Believer's All and he esteems him so to be Not to exclude the Persons of the Father and of the Holy-Ghost for what Christ is as God they all are being but one and the same eternal Being So that he that honoureth the one honoureth the other also he that honoureth the Son honoureth the Father and the Holy-Ghost I. Christ is All in All in the First Creation though this I do not say is directly intended in this place 1. He was before all things 2. He is the Original of all Creatures the Founder or to use the Scripture-Phrase the Beginning of the Creation of God Rev. 3.14 He made all things all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made 3. He upholdeth all things by the Word of his Power c. And by him all things do consist 4. As he was before all the Original and first Former of all things and as he upholdeth them so likewise for him all things are and were created 5. He hath the disposing of all things By him Kings reign and Princes decree Judgment All Power is given to him in Heaven and Earth He hath the Keys of Hell and Death He sets up and pulls down kills and makes alive at his Pleasure 6. He is Heir of all things He hath universal Lordship over Angels Saints wicked Men and Devils See Christ the Heir II. But more directly Christ is All in All in the second Creation 1. He is the Substance of all Shadows Which are Shadows of good things to come but the Body is of Christ. 2. He is the Anti-type of all Types the All which Moses and the Prophets pointed to 3. He is all in all in Pacification and Reconciliation of God to Man and of Man to God He hath abolished in his Flesh the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances for to make in himself of twain one new Man so making Peace 4. Christ is all in all in Satisfaction and Payment of our Debts He was made Sin for us that knew no Sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him The Lord hath laid on him the Iniquities of us all 5. Christ is all in all in Justification He is the Lord our Righteousness It is in him all the Families of the Earth and every believing Soul is justified In the Lord shall one say have I Righteousness and Strength 6. Christ is all in all in Election he is the Root of it the first of Election the Sum of our Election we are chosen in him for him and given to him None shall be saved but such as are elected but had it not been for Christ none had been elected had not Christ been found as the Fruit of the Wisdom of God what would have signified Election the Fruit of the Grace of God 7. Christ is all in all in Vocation He it is that hath called us and that makes that Calling effectual to us Who hath saved us and called us not according to our Works but according to his Purpose and Grace 8. Christ is all in all in Sanctification But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption He hath loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood 9. Christ is all in all in Acceptation He hath made us accepted in the Beloved 10. Christ is all in all in respect of Salvation he is the Author of Salvation I looked and there was none to uphold therefore mine own Arm brought Salvation He hath no Partner or Competitor His Name shall be called JESVS because he shall save his People from their Sins Neither is there Salvation in any other 11. He is all in all in Conversion 1. It is he that shews the Soul the Need and Necessity of it 2. He it is that quickneth us You hath he quickned who were dead in Trespasses and Sins 3. He it is that hath begotten us by his Word and Spirit and hath given a new Heart to us and hath planted a new Principle of Life in us 12. He is all in all in the Pardon of Sin 1. He purchased Pardon for us 2. He gives us a broken Heart in order to it and a Heart to ask it and a Hand to receive it 3. Pardon is given for his Name 's sake 13. Christ is all in all in every Grace 1. He gives Faith To you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake 2. 'T is he that hath shed abroad the Love of God in our Hearts by the Holy-Ghost All Grace is treasured up in him Of his Fulness have we all received and Grace for Grace He is the Author Increaser and Finisher of our Faith and all other Graces in us 14. Christ is all in all in the Ministry of the Word 1. 'T is Christ that is preached We preach Christ crucified 2. 'T is Christ that gives Grace and Gifts to preach To me is this Grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ. 3. 'T is he that ordains and appoints Men to this Work and puts all true Preachers into the Ministry 4. 'T is he that opens the Mouth to speak and the Ear and Heart to hear and receive the Word Take Christ away and what Gospel can be preached c. What is Paul and what is Apollo I am nothing Gospel-Ministry and Ministers are nothing without Christ. So then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the Increase 15. He is all in all in every Ordinance First In Baptism 1. This Ordinance shews forth Christ's Death 2. It holds forth his Burial We are buried with Christ in Baptism 3. It holds forth his Resurrection take Christ away and what signifies Baptism Secondly In the Lord's-Supper Christ is all in all 1. It holds forth that his Body was broken and his Blood was shed 2. It shews his Love to us and his Suffering for us Thirdly In Prayer Christ is all in all 1. We must ask in his Name 2. By the help of his Spirit 3. 'T is he that presents and makes our Prayers acceptable to God 4. What is Prayer or any Duty Saints can perform if they meet not with him in it and if it be not done to his Glory An Ordinance without Christ is but as a Cabinet without a Jewel or a Shell without the Kernel 16. Again Christ is as one saith all from the Father all to the Father and all with the Father 1. All from the Father I am come that ye might have Life Life here and Life hereafter and that ye might have it more abundantly The Life of Grace and of Glory they are by Christ. 2. Christ is all to the Father I am the Way the Truth and the Life Every Word here hath
me II. The Spirit hath all excellent Qualities in it 't will not only beautify and perfume but 't is also soveraign good for healing all Distempers of the Soul what rare Property is there in any sort of Oil but the Spirit in an heavenly manner far excels it III. The Spirit ever abides the same never corrupts nor loseth its Virtue it lasteth from everlasting to everlasting Inferences FRom hence we may see the excellent Nature Properties and Usefulness of the Spirit 2. It may move and stir us up to pray to the Father for fresh Anointings 3. Let us ascribe all tenderness and brokeness of Heart to the mollifying Virtue of this Precious Oil. 4. When ye see choice and excellent Oil think seriously on the Holy Spirit 5. Labour to get much of it in your Vessels lest your Lamps go out and you go to buy when 't is too late The Holy-Spirit the Earnest of the Saints Inheritance Eph. 1.13 14. After ye believed ye were sealed with the Spirit of Promise which is the Earnest of our Inheritance c. METAPHOR AN Earnest is usually part of the best things which are in common Use and Estimation among Men as Gold Silver c. II. An Earnest imports some thing bought or sold as also an Agreement or Consent between two Parties for the confirming of some Contract or Promise which before was not settled III. An Earnest is given as a Pledg of some future good thing purchased or promised to a Person IV. An Earnest oftimes of a great Bargain or Purchase is a considerable Sum twenty or thirty Pounds sometimes more hath been given in earnest of an Inheritance an Earnest is commonly proportioned according to the worth or value of the Purchase V. An Earnest is that which confirms or makes sure a Bargain or Contract between two Parties by the means of which each claims his own Interest and Property VI. An Earnest puts a Bar to any who would unjustly stop disanul or make void the Covenant agreed upon VII An Earnest confirms a Bargain so that it gives assurance to him that receives it of the Inheritance or Purchase of whatsoever it is the Earnest VIII An Earnest though it may be in it self something of considerable value yet it is always far short in worth to that which it is the Earnest of IX An Earnest as it is something given of a valuable consideration to confirm a Bargain so the Person that receives it immediately enjoys it he hath it in hand for his present Profit and Advantage and many times a Man hath nothing else to live upon till he receives the whole Sum but the Earnest-Mony X. There is always some distance of Time between the laying down of the Earnest of an Inheritance and full enjoyment of it or entering into the Possession thereof Parallel THe Holy Spirit viz. the Gifts Graces and Operations thereof is part of the best things which the great God in this World gives unto his dear Children II. The Earnest of the Spirit doth also denote as 't is observed by some that spiritual Bargain which is made between God and a Believer The Lord in a solemn Contract requires of us our whole Soul Life Strength the best we are and are capable to perform for the Glory of his holy Name and to the end he might have as I may say the Bargain punctually observed hath given us an Earnest to wit his Spirit and we in receiving of it shew our Assent and Consent to the Contract to serve the Lord and become his for ever III. The Spirit is given by the Father to Believers as a Pledg or Earnest of the blessed Inheritance which Christ purchased by his Blood for them and upon the account of his own free Grace is promised to them Who hath also sealed us and given us the Earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 IV. The Spirit which God giveth to Believers as the Earnest of Eternal Life is a great Sum or that which is of considerable Value the Purchase being infinite or invaluable 't is meet the Earnest should bear some Proportion to it who is able to account or reckon up the worth of the Spirit of God which is the Earnest of the Saints Inheritance We may judg of the Value and Excellency of it by the fruits thereof which are Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Faith Meekness Temperance c. One particular Fruit of the Spirit viz. Peace is such an inestimable Jewel that the Apostle saith It passeth all Vnderstanding V. The Earnest of the Spirit which God hath given to his People confirms that mutual Contract and Agreement which is between him and them God hereby claims a new Covenant-Right to Believers and Believers claim Interest and Property in God Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit 1 Joh. 4.13 VI. The Earnest of the Spirit prevents Satan from steping in to break and make void the Spiritual Bargain or Contract between the Soul and the Lord Jesus Christ. A Saint can by this means say I have received Earnest of God I am not mine own I have agreed covenanted and sold my self to him Depart from me ye evil doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God The Lord rebuke thee Satan c. And hereby God looks upon himself concern'd to secure and make sure of the Soul to preserve his Right and Interest he hath in his People against all Enemies that he might not lose his Bargain VII The Spirit confirms the Covenant of Grace so to Believers that it gives them an assurance of Eternal Life and Glory to come hence 't is called The Earnest of the Saints Inheritance until the Redemption of the Purchased Possession VIII The Gifts Influences and Graces of the holy Spirit tho they are in themselves of great Worth and Value and accordingly greatly prized by the Godly yet not to be compared to the full Fruition of God and the glorious Inheritance which the Spirit is given as the Earnest of IX The Spirit which is the Earnest of Glory is given to Believers for their present Profit God's infinite Favour bestows Grace Peace Joy and the like whilst Saints are in this World and indeed 't is upon this Earnest-Mony they live and 't is so much as is sufficient to bear all their Charges and defâ—â—ay all their Expences till they receive the everlasting Kingdom X. There is also a distance of Time between the Saints receiving the Spirit which is the Earnest of that glorious Inheritance and the full Possession of it They receive the Spirit as the Earnest when or soon after they believe the Time when they receive the Inheritance is not till they die and not the full Fruition or perfect Enjoyment of it till the Resurrection Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the righteous Judg will give me at that Day c.
Terms to give them his Spirit as the Earnest thereof Turn you at my Reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit upon you I will make known my Words unto you The Holy-Spirit compared to a Seal Eph. 1.13 In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the Word of Truth the Gospel of your Salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of Promise Eph. 4.30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the Day of Redemption A Seal is an Instrument fitted to make an Impression or Mark by which a Man knows the thing done whatsoever it be to be his own and not anothers Act as also to ratify and make authentick Bonds Covenants c. And in opening this Metaphor of Believers being sealed by the holy Spirit these things are meet to be noted 1. The Letter written or the Vessel filled with Treasure every true Christian. 2. The Wax appointed to the Seal and that is the Heart the relenting and pliable Heart of a Sinner Heb. 10.16 3. The Sealer that is as some conceive the Father or the Lord Jesus Christ others more immediatly the holy Spirit or third Person of the Trinity 4. The Seal as some understand is the Word of God others the Spirit we include both jointly considered 5. The Sealing or Impression active is the Act of applying the Word in the Ministry of the Gospel by the help of the Spirit to the Soul 6. The Print or Impression passive or Image of the Seal left in the Wax is called the Image of God or Knowledg Faith Love Truth Holiness c. which are originally in God and communicated to us by the Word and Spirit from him 7. The End of Sealing which is Secrecy Property and Security which things will appear more fully in opening the Metaphor METAPHOR A Seal especially if it be the King's Seal is highly prized and very carefully kept II. A Seal makes an Impression in the Wax like it self or leaves a resemblance of it III. Before the Seal can make an Impression the Wax must be melted or made pliable soft and fit to take it IV. The Seal alters the Form of the Clay 't is set or stamp'd upon A piece of Clay is a rude Lump without form or figure saith Mr. Caryl but if you take a Seal and stamp upon it that Clay receives any Figure or Coat of Arms that is engraven upon it V. A Seal is to confirm and make sure Bonds Contracts or Covenants that are made between Man and Man If an honest Man makes a Promise of such and such things to his Friend he thinks he hath ground to hope those good things so promised him are his own but if he gives it under his Hand in Writing he concludes he is more sure but if the Writing Covenant or Promise be sealed 't is as firm and as sure as he can desire to have it VI. A Seal is used to distinguish or differ things one from another whereby Property is known and secured a Merchant knows his Goods from other Mens by the Seal or Mark he sets upon them VII A Seal is used to confirm and make Laws Authentick till they have the King's Seal stamp'd upon them they oblige not the Subject to Obedience VIII A Seal is used to secure preserve or keep safe several things which otherwise might be spoiled run out and become good for nothing Things that we would not have any to touch nor meddle with we set a Seal upon IX A Seal many times is counterfeited by ill Men they indeavour to imitate it as nigh as they can to cheat poor ignorant People thereby X. A Seal is used to hide or keep back others from the Knowledg of things if a Man have any thing to write unto his Friend that he would not have others know he seals up his Letter upon the account of Secrecy tho 't is like afterwards in convenient time those things so conceal'd are discovered Parallel THe holy Spirit is the King's Seal the glorious King of Heaven and Earth and therefore is highly valued and prized by every true Christian. II. The holy Spirit makes an Impression on the Heart there is in a Believer a Similitude a Likeness or Resemblance of God every Saint hath the Image of the Spirit upon him he is holy harmless heavenly c. III. Before the holy Spirit seals any Person to the Day of Redemption the Heart is broken softned and made pliable by the Word and powerful Operations of Grace and so made fit to take that heavenly Impression And thus you have David speaking I am poured out like Water and all my Bones are out of Joint My Heart is like Wax it is melted in the midst of my Bowels IV. The Spirit makes a change upon the Soul of a Man or Woman that receives the Impression of it it alters every Faculty and puts a new Form or Figure as it were upon it Man naturally is a rude Lump a gross and confused Piece by reason of Sin till the Spirit stamps upon him or infuses into him new Habits V. The Holy Spirit confirms and makes sure the Covenant and Promises of God to Believers God hath not only made gracious Promises to them of Pardon Peace and Eternal Life c. But he hath left these Promises written in the Holy Scriptures and not only so but such is his great Love and Kindness to them he hath given them his Seal they have his Promise his Word and his Spirit also that they might not doubt of the Truth and Stability of his Covenant We are his Witnesses of these things and so is also the Holy Spirit whom God hath given to them that obey him VI. The Holy Spirit distinguishes or differs one Man from another God hath set his Seal or Mark upon all his People The Foundation of God remaineth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his If any Man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his VII The Holy Spirit is the broad Seal of Heaven by which all the Laws and Institutions of the Gospel were ratified and confirmed with Signs and Wonders in the Primitive Time by which means they come to be Authentick and everlasting Laws obliging all Men to Obedience and all Laws of Spiritual Worship Traditions and Institutions injoyned by any Potentate Assembly or Council whatsoever that were not thus sealed or witnessed to are utterly to be rejected VIII The Spirit secures preserves and keeps safe all true Believers from the Danger they continually are exposed to from Sin Satan and the Insnarements and Mischiefs of this evil World Satan nor wicked Men must not cannot destroy the Servants of God because of the Mark or Seal he hath set upon them Set a Mark upon the Men that mourn c. saying Hurt not the Earth c. till we have sealed the Servants of our God in
the Forehead c. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the Grass of the Earth neither any green thing neither any Tree but only those Men which have not the Seal of God upon their Forehead IX The Spirit is oftimes counterfeited by Satan who transforms himself into an Angel of Light as do his Ministers as if they were the Ministers of Righteousness hence they pretend to Light Spirit and Holiness and beguile the ignorant and unwary Souls to their Eternal Ruine X. The Holy Spirit hath hid or seal'd up some things from some Men Bind up my Temstiony seal the Law amongst my Disciples Many things are hid from Saints themselves in dark and mysterious Prophecies in the Holy Scripture Seal up those things which the seven Thunders uttered c. Yet in due time those things shall be revealed and not only so but the Saints of God themselves by the Spirit are such a sealed and hidden People that but a very few can read and understand them though legible to be read of all the chosen and elect Seed and Heirs of Promise and in that great Day they shall be known by all the World METAPHOR A Seal among Men after a Bond or Covenant is sealed therewith may be defaced or broken and thereby the said Bond or Covenant may lose its Virtue Efficacy and not be deemed good and Authentick in Law II. A Seal among Men can make no Impression without a Hand or one to seal therewith III. A Seal is an Instrument made by the hand of some Artificer of earthly Matter or Substance and makes only a humane or external Impression IV. A Seal may be lost or grow old and defective and so make no perfect and clear Impression Disparity THe Holy Spirit having once made a gracious and glorious Impression in the Soul of a Man neither Devil nor any other Enemy can ever by all their Strength and Skill utterly deface tear or break it so as to make the Covenant of Grace to lose its Virtue and become of none Effect to the Soul hence Believers are said To be sealed to the day of Redemption II. The Spirit is not only the Seal but the Sealer he makes the Impression needing no other and also is the Seal by which the Impression is made III. The Spirit is an uncreated Being or an immortal Substance and makes a divine and heavenly Impression in the Mind or Soul of a Man or Woman which by the operation of God's Grace is made pliable and meet to receive it IV. The Spirit can never be lost grow old be wore out or become defective so that the Impression it now makes is the same in every respect with that it made five thousand Years ago Inferences FRom hence we may perceive by whom the Change or Difference is made which is in any Person Man is born in Sin and rather resembles Satan bears his Image than the Character and Likeness of God Almighty till the Holy Spirit stamps a new and heavenly Character upon them or infuses a spiritual Habit into him Who makes thee to differ from another or what hast thou which thou hast not received c. II. It may serve to stir every one up to examine their Hearts whether they have received the Impression of this Spiritual Seal as is the Seal such is the Impression it makes They that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit But we all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. III. For further Trial take these few brief Notes following 1. Were your Hearts ever humbled in the sence of Sin broken in pieces melted made soft and pliable to receive the Seal The Heart of Man naturally is hard and obdurate and will not take this spiritual Impression 2. Did the Spirit ever set home and seal any Promise in particular or Promises in general upon your Hearts so that you can say with the Prophet David Lord remember the word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal. 119.49 The Ephesians are said to be sealed with the Spirit of Promise Eph. 1.13 3. Are you formed into the Likeness and Image of the Spirit There is in that Soul that is sealed by the Spirit a certain Impression of Divine Light former Darkness flies away and the Eyes of the Understanding are enlightned the Soul sees an Excellency in God and in Jesus Christ a transcendent Beauty in divine Objects and values the Knowledg of Jesus Christ and him crucified above all the things in this World 4. Are you holy heavenly spiritual are there Principles of true Piety and Godliness wrought in you Do you love God because he is holy and love his Word because of the purity of it Do you breath and pant after a further Conformity and Likeness to him 5. Is thy Heart washed from its Filthiness If thou art not cleansed from thy former Wickedness and swinish Nature thou mayest assure thy self thou hast not the Spirit of God in thee thou art far from being sealed therewith 'T is by the virtue of those Promises that are imprinted upon the Soul by the Holy-Gost that a Man comes to cleanse himself from all Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit and to perfect Holiness in the Fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 6. Doth not thy Heart condemn thee for allowing thy self in any known Sin or for living in the continual neglect of any one known Duty The Spirit witnesseth with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Where it is a sealing Spirit it is a witnessing Spirit It compares the Heart and Life of a Man with the Rule of the Word and if the Bent and Stream of the Soul be Heaven-ward and his sincere Design is after God and to live to him in this World as well as to live with him in the World to come to be holy here as well as to be happy hereafter then the Spirit witnesses for him But if otherwise it witnesses against him and his own Spirit condemns him IV. Moreover this may inform sincere Christians to their unspeakable Joy how firm and sure the Covenant of Grace is to them They are sealed with the holy Spirit unto the Day of Redemption they are mark'd for Heaven and cannot lose their Title to the eternal Inheritance because they cannot lose the Seal of it As they have received the Earnest of it so they have the Witness and Seal of it that it might be every way firm and sure to them V. Let all who profess the Gospel and pretend to the Spirit strive to get this Seal 'T is not enough to read of the Covenant of God and to have some external knowledg of it and dispute about it but labour to get it sealed to you by the holy Spirit VI. If the Spirit be the Earnest and Seal of this blessed Inheritance
them We must not pry too curiously into the Depths of God he having set Bounds by the Word how far we should go and let all take heed on their Peril that they adventure no further V. The holy Spirit is the proper Element of all true Believers they are born by the Spirit live by the Spirit and walk in the Spirit Ministers are Fishers of Men. See the Parable of the Net VI. This River is good to wash purge and carry away Filth and all abominable Pollution of Sin both in Souls Churches and Nations where the Water of this River runs Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God VII The Spirit hath its proper Bounds and always runs in its spiritual Chanel viz. the Word and Ordinances God's publick and private Worship and thither all must have recourse that would receive the precious and glorious Blessings and Benefits thereof if you would have these sacred Waters you must observe the Chanel where this River runs Where I record my Name I will come unto thee and will bless thee When the Disciples were assembled together they met with the Spirit that being their Duty and Christ's Institution VIII This spiritual River hath several times overflowed there being a Redundancy of Water in it Great Multitudes have been marvellously watered and made fat and fruitful on a sudden and shall again when the time is come God sometimes extends Mercies and Gospel-Blessings beyond his usual method being a free Agent may if he pleaseth anticipate his own Order He hath promised to open Rivers in the Desert And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall bear off from the Chanel of the River unto the Stream of Egypt God meets with some as he met with Paul who was running from him The Scripture speaks of a Time when the Knowledg of the Lord shall cover the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea In that day this River shall overflow and cover the whole World There shall be on every high Mountain and on every high Hill Rivers and Streams of Water I will open Rivers upon high Places I will make the Wilderness a Pool of Water and the dry Land Springs of Water Behold I will do a new thing now it shall spring forth shall ye not know it I will even make a Way in the Wilderness and Rivers in the Desert The Beasts of the Field shall honour me the Dragons and the Owls because I give Waters in the Wilderness and Rivers in the Desert to give Drink to my People my Chosen IX The holy Spirit is gloriously advantagious for spiritual Commerce and Traffick 'T is that which by the use of Ordinances conveys the Riches of Heaven to Dwellers here below He shall receive of mine and shew it unto you He will bring all things to your remembrance 'T is the Spirit that stores the City of God with all its Divine Riches There is no Trading to Heaven but by sailing in this River Faith can do nothing without it If these Waters do not run our Souls can make no good Return from the Celestial Shore The Church and every Family of the Godly would soon be starved were it not for this heavenly and spiritual River hence 't is said to rejoyce the Righteous There is a River the Streams whereof make glad the City of God the holy Place of the Tabernacle of the Most High By means of this River we often take a Voyage to our Father and come to Jesus Christ and daily in the Word hear from them For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father X. This spiritual River as 't is deep so 't is very swift tho 't is not always discerned to be so by us nor doth the Stream indeed seem to us to run always with a like Motion But when God doth as it were open the Flood-Gates then it runs very swift and is so impetuous that it drives all down before it Lord said Saul what wouldest thou have me to do When God causeth its Passage to be clear it bears down all Opposition carries away our slavish Fears our Unbelief our Earthly-mindedness and all Consultings with Flesh and Blood making thereby our Souls very clean washing us as in a Stream which is very powerful carrying away all our great Defilements 'T is not in the Skill of Men or Devils to stop this River even the strong Operations of the Spirit in a Person Church or Nation when God opens the Sluces for it XI This River is a Believer's Strength Not by Might nor by Power but by my Spirit saith the Lord. 'T is the Churches sure Fortification When the Enemy comes in like a Flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard against them Those that are environed by the Spirit need not to fear the Stormings of Men or Devils even those Churches or Souls who enjoy the smooth and sweet Streams of this River XII Those Churches or Souls who enjoy the blessed Streams of this spiritual River grow flourish and bring forth much Fruit. He shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of Water that bringeth forth his Fruit in due season his Leaves shall not wither They shall spring up as Grass as Willows by the Water-Courses Blessed is the Man that trusteth in the Lord whose Hope the Lord is For he shall be as a Tree planted by the Waters which spreadeth forth his Root by the River and shall not know when Heat cometh but her Leaf shall be green and shall not be careful when the Year of Drought cometh neither shall cease from yielding Fruit. XIII This spiritual and heavenly River yields the Church and all true Believers much Joy and sweet Delight no Pleasures like those that flow from the Spirit The Fruit of the Spirit is Joy Peace c. And sometimes when they partake of these Celestial Streams they are so delighted thereby that they cannot forbear breaking forth into singing There is a River the Streams whereof make glad the City of God c. XIV This spiritual River in the use of the Ordinances and Appointments of the Gospel will carry a Soul whose Purpose and serious Intention is bent that way to God the Ocean of all Fulness and into the great Depths of everlasting Bliss XV. The Spirit of God sometimes seems not to strive or move at all upon the Hearts of Men and Women not only upon the Wicked of whom God hath said My Spirit shall not always strive with Men but also the Godly themselves cannot sometimes perceive a visible or sensible Operation thereof And then their Spirits seem like Vessels becalm'd no Duty or Service perform'd hath any Life or Activity in it it being only performed by the Strength of natural or acquired Parts and Abilities XVI
This spiritual River divides the Church from the World Believers from Unbelievers For who maketh thee to differ from another And what hast thou which thou didst not receive XVII After brokenness of Heart or a Multitude of unfeigned Tears and true Contrition of Soul how high do the Waters of the Spirit rise how doth Peace and Joy abound in the inward Man XVIII This spiritual River carries and bears up the weight of the whole Church which sails like a Ship along these Waters and every Saint notwithstanding all those heavy Weights of Sin and other unprofitable Burthens that are in and about them are sustained by these Divine Waters XIX The Spirit is a pure Stream as clear as Chrystal its Waters are sweet and savoury and wheresoever they come they cleanse and wash away all Corruption No Man's Heart tho it be never so much polluted and foul like a stinking Ditch yet if a small Stream or Branch of this River be let into it and hath a free Passage it will carry away all the Filth and Pollution thereof XX. The Waters of this River are exceeding good for the Soul to drink and nothing else can allay or satisfy the inward Thirst and Desire thereof METAPHOR ALL earthly and elementary Rivers have a beginning II. Other Rivers are fed by Springs or Fountains c. They have not their Waters from themselves a River is not the same Head or Original from whence it proceeds III. Other Rivers are subject to decay do not always run with the same Strength a dry Summer makes abatement of its Waters many Rivers have been quite dried up God threatned the Egyptians that he would deal so with the River Nilus IV. The Waters of natural Rivers only cleanse and wash the Body from external Filthiness V. Other Rivers may grow muddy foul and unsavoury the Water not good nor wholesom to drink of VI. Other Rivers may be lock'd up or turned another way 't is possible to turn the Chanel and Course thereof Many Rivers have been made to forsake their ancient Currents This goodly River which feeds London may be lock'd up and turn'd another way by an Enemy VII Other Rivers may be frozen up tho running Streams do not freeze so soon as standing Waters yet sometimes they freeze also VIII Other Rivers breed noxious Creatures of strange and different Qualities Creatures that will eat and devour one another IX The Length Breadth and Depth of other Rivers may be measured and are of a small dimension comparatively Disparity THis River the Spirit is from everlasting to everlasting without beginning and without ending II. This River the Spirit is a Fountain as well as a Stream tho it is said to proceed from God yet it is God himself But Peter said to Ananias Why hath Satan filled thine Heart to lie to the Holy-Ghost Thou hast not lied to Man but to God There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these Three are One. The Spirit of the Lord hath made me c. The Spirit knoweth all things sheweth us things to come is the Object of Divine Worship the Sin against the Spirit can never be forgiven From all which Instances it is evident that the Spirit is God See the Metaphor Light Book 3. pag. 22 23 24. III. This River the Spirit never decayeth it hath as much Water in it as ever it had 't is as broad as deep and as full now as it was at the beginning tho many Thousands have taken plentifully of it No Drought can abate its Chrystal Streams it is infinite in it self Tho God hath provided a Chanel of Ordinances to convey some of its Waters to his Chosen yet it cannot be circumscribed nor limited as 't is in it self IV. The Water of this River cleanseth the Soul and Conscience it washeth away all spiritual or internal Pollution and Uncleanness V. This spiritual River can never be foul'd nor made muddy nor be unsavoury 't is beyond the Power of Men or Devils to corrupt the Spirit of God VI. The River of the Spirit cannot be diverted or forced to leave its Chanel 'T is impossible to lock it up or turn its Course How can Men of finite Beings obstruct the infinite God in his ways and manner of working Whither shall I go from thy Spirit I will work and who shall let it VII This River can never be frozen The bleakest Wind the sharpest Air the coldest Season cannot change it These Divine Waters run as freely in the cold Winter as in the Heat of Summer they are of a very warming and comforting quality VIII This Spiritual River bringeth forth only Creatures of a harmless Quality All Believers so far as they are regenerated are the Production or Off-spring of the Spirit are of the same holy heavenly merciful and harmless Disposition IX This River is of great dimension Who by searching can find out God to Perfection His Length Breadth and Depth are past finding out The Spirit is incomprehensible an immense and infinite Being These Waters are like those spoken of by the Prophet Afterwards he measured a thousand Cubits and it was a River that I could not pass over for the Waters were risen Waters to swim in a River that no Man could pass over Inferences WE may perceive from hence the Excellency and Necessity of the holy Spirit He is much more useful and necessary to the Church than Rivers of Waters are to the World For our Hearts are naturally dry and parched like the Heath in the Wilderness and it is the Spirit that moistneth them our Hearts are hard and the Spirit mollifieth them they are naturally filthy and he washeth and cleanseth them yea our Hearts are barren and the Waters of this River make them fruitful II. It also sheweth us the Excellency of Ordinances which are as the Chanel in which the Waters of this River run or the Pipes through which these Streams are conveyed to the Soul III. Bless God for this River for his opening a free Passage through Jesus Christ for its flowing forth unto us and for causing us the People of England to live by the side of such a Chrystal Stream O what a happy Land is that which hath a River of Water of Life running through it IV. When you see profitable and delightful Streams think seriously of this sacred and heavenly River V. Let all be persuaded to come to this River Hoâ—â— every one that thirsteth come to the Waters c. Four Motives considerable 1. Consider have you not great need to have your Hearts purged and softned by this Spiritual River c. 2. There is no other River no other Way no other Fountain that can supply your Wants If you wash your selves with snow-Snow-Water it will not do away your Filth if you could bathe your Souls in a River of Tears yet unless you are washed in Christ's Blood through the
other things of the like nature that are in some Countries 4. Others are more pleased with such Histories that treat of things different to all these Now the Gospel of Christ contains variety of matter upon every Respect what is there Famous Rare Delightful or Marvelous but 't is out done here First concerning Love what history may Compare with the Gospel in this respect here you have an account of a mighty King whose Dominions Power and Glory was Infinite who was higher than the highest and Rul'd over all who had but one Son and he most Dear to him and lay in his Bosom the Joy and Delight of his heart the very express Image of the Father whose Beauty Lovelyness of his Person and other Personal Excellencies and Perfections had we the tongue of Men and Angels we could not set forth the Thousandth part thereof This Glorious King had a mind to dispose of his Son in Marriage and to this end very early proposed the matter to him and whom he had Chose for him As also the way means and manner how or what he must do in order to obtain her for himself To which the Son with abundance of Joy consented to And so it had fell out that the Person agreed upon to be the Intended Spouse was once in great favour with this mighty King and a near dweller to him in Eden but for horrid Rebellion and Treason was banished his presence and was fled into a far Country And now there was no ways for the glorious Prince to accomplish his business but he must suit himself in a fit Equipage and take a Journey into that Country where this Creature was astrayed away 1. Now were the nature and glory of the Kingdom considered which Jesus Christ left or the place from whence he came 2. The greatness of his glory there and excellency of his Person 3. The length of that Journey he undertook 4. The nature of the Doleful and Miserable place or Countrey into which he came 5. His great abasement or manner of his coming 6. What he met with or how entertained at his first Arrival 7. VVhat the quality and condition of the Creature was for whose sake he came 8. VVhat he suffered and underwent from the greatness of that precious Love he bore to the said Creature 9. And how after all this he was slighted and rejected by this Rebellious one and of his much Patience and Long-suffering before he took his last Denial together with the powerful arguments and wayes he used and doth use to obtain the Souls affection If these things I say were Considered this history will appear to every Discerning Person the most pleasantest and glorious for Love that ever Mortal heard See Metaphor Bridegroom Secondly Should we speak of warlike Atchievements what history in this respect can compare with the history of the gospel was there ever such a Champion as Jesus Christ or such terrible Battles fought as were fought by him as witness that glorious battle of his with Satan the mighty King of the bottomless Pit also those conflicts he had with sin and wrath in the Garden and last of all with Death the King of terrors over all which he obtained a perfect Conquest Thirdly As touching great Rarities and wonderful things which some histories abound withal none afford such wonders as doth the gospel is it not marvellous that a VVoman should compass a Man that he that made the world should be born of a VVoman that the Ancient of Dayes should become a Child that Death should be destroyed by Death and many other like Mysteries the Gospel abounds with Secondly As the word and gospel of God is glorious in respect of the historical part thereof so its glory appears in Respect of those Titles or Epithets given to it I. 'T is called the word of Reconciliation 1. Because it shews how Peace and Reconciliation is made between an offended God and offending Creatures 2. Because by it terms of Reconciliation are offered to poor sinners 3. Because 't is the medium or means God offered to remove the Enmity that is in sinners hearts II. 'T is called the gospel of the grace of God and may well be so termed 1. In respect of the Testimony that is born therein of Gods great grace and favour to men in giving Jesus Christ for them 2. In respect of its being the clearest discovery of Gods grace that ever was afforded to the Children of men 3. Because 't is the Instrument or Means by which God works grace or makes the Souls of Men gracious who were once void thereof and ungodly so that Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God 4. Because 't is the way by which God increaseth strengthens and perfects his blessed grace in the Soules of his Elect. III. The gospel is called the gospel of Peace 1. It is a message of Peace Peace peace to him that is a far off and to him that is near And came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh 2. Because it is that which being received alone pacifies the Conscience of a wounded sinner He sent his word and healed them 3. Because as an Instrument it brings the Soul into a state of Peace and Friendship with God and reconciles men one to another IV. It is called the gospel of the Kingdom 1. Because it discovers the gospel Church which is called often in the holy Scripture the Kingdom of God 2. It shews the way into this Kingdom of God 3. It fits and prepares men and women for Christs Spiritual Kingdom 4. It contains all the Laws Ordinances and Customs of the Kingdom 5. It inriches all the true and sincerce Subjects of the Kingdom 6. In it is contained all the priviledges and immunities of the Kingdom 7. It shews men the Ready way to the Kingdom of Glory and from hence may fitly be called the gospel of the Kingdom V. The gospel is called the word of Life 1. Because it shews who is our Life 2. It shews the way how we come to be made alive viz. by Christ Receiving the Spirit of Life for us as Mediator and laying down the price of his own blood he died that we might live I am come that you might have Life and that ye might have it more abundantly 3. The gospel may be called the word of Life because by the help of the Spirit it works life in us 't is hereby we are quickened and raised from death to life the Dead saith our Saviour shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall life 4. 'T is by the Word and gospel of God life is maintained in us 't is the support of our spiritual live Man Lives not by Bread alone but by Every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God 5. It leads to Eternal Life all those who beleive
Obedience in our Conversion to God be not the effect of his Grace in us he doth not work in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure 1. The work of Conversion it self and in especial the act of Believing or Faith it self is expresly said to be of God to be wrought in us by him to be freely given unto us from him the Scriptures saith not that God gives us ability or power to believe only Namely such a power as we may make use of if we will or do otherwise but Faith and Conversion themselves are said to be the work and effect of God But it maybe Objected that every thing which is actually accomplished in potentia before There must therefore be in us a power to Believe before we do so actually The Act of God working Faith in us is a creating work for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus And he that is in Christ is a new Creature now the Effects of creating acts are not in potentia any where but in the active Power of God so was the World it self before its actual existence This is termed potentia logica which is no more but a Negation of any Contradiction to existence not potentia physica which includes a disposition unto actual existence Notwithstanding therefore all these preparatory works of the Spirit of God which we allow in this matter there is not by them wrought in the Mind and Wills of men such a next power as they call it as should enable them to believe without further actual grace working Faith it self Wherefore with respect to believing the first act of God is to work in us to will So Phil. 1.13 he worketh in us to will This God worketh in us by that grace which Austin and other Learned men call gratia operans 2. Faith and Repentance 'T is said to be given of God Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance unto Israel and remission of sin to you it is given in behalf of Christ not only to believe but to suffer for his sake By Grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is gift of God Our own ability be it what it will however assisted and excited and Gods gift are contra-distinguished If it be of our selves it is not the gift of God if it be the gift of God it is not of our selves and the manner how God bestows this gift upon us is declared ver 10. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good work And from hence Faith is called the Faith of the operation of God 3. Love that precious prevailing Grace is planted in the Soul by the Spirit causing the Soul with Delight and Complacency to cleave unto God and his wayes the Lord God will Circumcise thine heart to love the Lord Deut. 30.6 Hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 The fruit of the spirit is love Gal. 5.22 4. It might be further demonstrated by considering how Conversion with the manner how it is effected is set forth in the holy Scripture The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart c. What is this but the putting off the Body of Sin Col. 2.11 This is the mediate work of the Spirit of God no man ever Circumcised his own heart A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and will take away the stony heart that is that impotency and enmity which is in our hearts unto Conversion 5. The work of grace upon the Soul is called a vivisication we are by nature dead in Sins and Trespasses in our Deliverance from thence we are said to be quickened The Dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and Live being made alive now no such work can be wrought in us but by an Effectual Communication of a Principle of Spiritual Life and nothing else will deliver us Some think to evade the power of this Argument by saying that all these Expressions are metaphorical and arguing from them are but fulsome Metaphors And 't is well if the whole Gospel be not a Metaphor unto them But if there be not an Impotency in us by nature unto all Acts of spiritual Life like that which is in a Dead man unto acts of Life natural if there be not an alike Power of God required unto our deliverance from that Condition and the working in us a Principle of spiritual Obedience as is required unto the Raising of him that is dead they may as well say that the Scripture speaks not truly as that it speaks metaphorically 6. Believers are said to be begotten and born again of the Spirit by which it appears that our Regeneration is not an Act of our own I mean not so our own as by outward helps and assistance to be educed out of the Principles of our nature Of his own will begot he us by the word of truth c. Born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible c. Which were born not of blood nor of the will of man but of God This being so it behoveth them who plead for Active Interest of the will of Man in Regeneration to produce some Testimonies of Scripture where it is assigned unto it as the Effect unto its proper Cause where is it said that a man is born again or begotten anew by himself and if it be granted as it must be so unless violence be offered not only to the Scripture but Reason and common sence that whatever be our Duty and Power herein yet these Expressions must denote an Act of God and not ours Regeneration being thus proved to be the glorious working and operation of the holy Ghost we shall now proceed to shew further the nature and excellency of grace as it shines forth in the gospel and is experienced by every sincere Christian. 1. Gospel grace is glorious because when received in Truth it delivers the Soul from Bondage it breaks the bonds For the Soul is not set at liberty by the bare shedding of Christs blood without the application of it by the spirit or infusion of grace into the heart 2. The gospel through the grace of it when received in Truth opens blind Eyes it makes them see that never saw in a spiritual sence before it opens their eyes that were born blind how blind was Saul till the gospel grace shone upon him or rather in him 3. The gospel through the grace of it when received in Truth raises the dead Soul to Life 'T is hereby we come to be quickened the flesh profiteth nothing 't is the Spirit that quickeneth that is the Humane nature without the Divine cannot accomplish Salvation for us nor shall any Soul receive any saving
attain this great Happiness and Honour to be embraced in the Arms of the Lord Jesus 1. Wouldest thou have the Kisses of his Mouth Thou must with Mary Magdalen fall down and first kiss his Feet and bedew them with the Tears of a broken Heart be humbled for thy Sin 2. If thou wouldest have him give thee a Kiss of Reconciliation and Affection do thou kiss him with a Kiss of Subjection Kiss the Son lest he be angry If thou wantest Motives take these following 1. The Father presents his Son the Lord Jesus Christ before your Eyes in the Gospel as he doth the like himself as a Person every way deserving your Love and Affection to see whether you will respect him or not 2. The Father highly honoureth the Son he hath given all things into his hand he is his Heir 3. The Father hath sent him into the World to seek himself a Spouse 4. He became Flesh that he might be a fit Object for Sinners 5. Christ hath a great desire to give himself unto you and so become yours for ever 6. He hath abundance of Love great and strong Affection 7. Christ left his Glory and came into the World in a low and contemptible condition and denied himself for thy sake and wilt not thou accept of him 8. Shall he die and come through a Sea of Blood to engage thy Affection and wilt not thou yield him a Kiss of Subjection 9. Shall he send his Ministers as Spokes-men to entreat you and will you say Nay 10. Shall he move you by the Motions of his Spirit and Checks of Conscience and will you still refuse to close in with him 11. Shall he knock loud and long and cry continually to you and can you still stand it out against him 12. VVill not your Gain and Preferment be great what Honour and Dignity excelling Union with Christ can you think to meet withal 13. Are not you like to be miserable at last if you die before you have an Interest in him If any love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha IV. But some may say How comes it to pass the Spouse is so bold and thus familiarly speaks to Christ Let him kiss me Should not Fervor of Affection have with it Humility of Reverenee To this says Bernard Nè causamini presumptionem ubi affectio urget reclamat pudor sâ—â—d urget amâ—â—r qui nec consilio temperatur nec pudore fraenatur Be not presumptuous where Affection presses forward be neither kept back by Advice nor restrained by Bâ—â—shfulness in your Approaches to Christ. Besides Saints who truly love Christ may boldly come to Christ. Tokens of Love and Evidences of Divine Favour are the proper Rights and Privileges of Believers they may be bold with their dearest Friend The Word of God compared to a Net Mat. 13.47 Again the Kingdom of God is like a Net cast into the Sea SOme understand by the Net and Kingdom of Heaven that our Saviour intends the Church others the Gospel It may have respect to both but in my Understanding it is more clearly applicable to the Gospel Parable A Net is made or prepared as a convenient thing to catch Fish II. A Net is made use of by skilful Fishers it requires Wisdom rightly to use it to the End it is appointed A Fisher uses oft-times much Policy and Craft in putting in and drawing of his Net III. A Net is cast into a Multitude of Waters at an Adventure the Fisherman not knowing whether it may catch many or few or any at all IV. A Fisherman works hard with his Net sometimes a great while together and catcheth nothing V. A Net takes Fish of every sort some great Ones and some little Ones some good and some bad as 't is express'd in this Parable VI. A Net takes Fishes out of their own natural Element and as soon as they are taken out of the Water they dy VII A Net takes or compasses sometimes a Multitude of Fishes at once When Simon Peter put in his Net at the special Command of Jesus Christ he enclosed a great Multitude of Fishes VIII A Net tho it be cast into the Sea and has taken many Fishes yet 't is not known of what kind or sort they be until the Net is drawn up IX After the Fisherman hath drawn his Net about so long that he concludes it hath taken all it is like to enclose and compass in he then draws it to the Shore and severs the Good from the Bad the Good he puts into Vessels and the Bad he throws away Parallel THe Gospel or Word of God is appointed to catch or convert the Souls of Men Fear not from henceforth thou shalt catch Men. II. The Word of God is made use of by skilful and able Ministers and it requires much spiritual Wisdom rightly to use it for the Conversion of Sinners Paul being crafty tells the Corinthians He took or catched them with Guile III. The Gospel is preached by a faithful Minister to a Multitude of People who are compared to Waters in many Places of Scripture and yet he knows not when he preaches or casteth his Net in whether he shall take many or few Souls nay whether one Sinner shall be reached or converted thereby or not IV. So a Minister sometimes labours a long while together and takes much Pains in preaching the Gospel and yet converts not one Soul Who hath believed our Report c. They may sometimes say with Peter We have laboured all Night and have taken nothing V. So the Gospel-Net takes hold of some of every sort and degree of Men Some great and honourable rich and mighty in the World tho not many such some little Ones such as are mean and poor in the World Again some great and notorious Sinners are taken such as Mary Magdalen and Paul were before converted and some that are not such great and capital Offenders For tho every Man is a great Sinner in a proper sence yet comparatively some are greater or more guilty and prophane than others And there was a Woman in the City that was a Sinner Not but that all the Women in the City were Sinners but this Woman was a notorious one or one noted and eminent for Wickedness Also the Gospel and Church of God takes some bad Professors and counterfeit Christians as well as such as are sincere VI. The Gospel or Word of God the spiritual Net takes Sinners out of their natural Element and as soon as they are savingly taken thereby they die to Sin and to all sensual Objects and carnal Delights of the Flesh and this World and to their own Righteousness Rom. 6.2 6 11. VII The Gospel-Net also sometimes takes hold of or encloseth many Sinners at one Cast. At one Sermon three thousand Souls were converted by that glorious Preacher and famous Fisher of Men the Apostle Peter VIII So the Gospel and Church of God tho
III. Treasure hath a great Influence upon the Hearts of the Sons of Men. IV. Treasure is much sought after with great Care and Pains and when obtained Men are very loath to part with it V. Treasure is usually kept in some strong or secure place to the end it may be safely preserved VI. Treasure sometimes signifies Store and Plenty of good Things VII Much Treasure makes Men great and honourable in the World VII Treasure will carry a Man a great way in and through great Straits Afflictions Sorrows and Sufferings Parallel THe Gospel is much in little it hath been of that Esteem that in the time of its scarcity a Load of Hay hath been given for one Leaf of the Epistle of James in English See the Word of God compared to Light II. So doth the Gospel How many poor miserable wretched Men and Women have not only been supplied as to their need but enriched thereby III. So hath the Gospel through the Spirit and therefore the Lip of Truth saith Where the Treasure is there will the Heart be also IV. What Pains did the holy Men of old use in seeking after a Discovery of the Truth of the Gospel and of the things therein contained And what a Cloud of Witnesses are there who rather than they would part with this Treasure parted with their Lives and all they had V. So the Word and Gospel of God hath been preserved in the worst of Times when the great Design of Men and Devils hath been to destroy or corrupt it Thy Word have I hid in mine Heart VI. There are Store of good Things held forth in the Gospel viz. Christ Grace Glory and every good Thing else with him and by him VII Faith in the Gospel raiseth to great Honour O what Dignity ariseth from that noble Birth that is from above until which how mean and disgraceful an Object is fallen Man VII So the Gospel and the Grace of it O how far and through what Difficulties will it carry a Man With what contentment have Christians behaved themselves in the want of all outward Enjoyments having had a little of this Treasure METAPHOR ALL Treasures here be they never so rich or rare yet they are but earthly or from the Earth II. Earthly Treasures are corruptible and many times are spoiled they become worth little or nothing Lay not up Treasure on Earth where Moth and Rust doth corrupt c. III. Earthly Treasures tho they may go far and supply many bodily Wants yet they cannot supply Soul-Wants IV. The Poor have but little of worldly Treasure and therefore 't is they are accounted poor it is mostly in the hands of the great Men of the Earth V. Men by their natural Care and Industry may get worldly Treasure and grow rich thereby VI. Worldly Treasure may be taken away by Thieves as well as eaten by Moths Disparity BUt such is the Glory of the Gospel as that it is a Treasure from Heaven and of an heavenly product and extract II. But the Gospel and Grace thereof is a Treasure incorruptible it cannot putrify or be spoiled its Splendor and Glory is durable But of incorruptible the Word of God c. III. But the Gospel or Word of God extendeth to the Supply both of the Soul and Body The Gospel heard and received by Faith makes up a full Supply to the Soul of whatever it needs My God shall supply all your Wants c. IV. But it is evident that the Poor receive the Gospel and James saith expresly that God hath chosen the Poor of this World rich in Faith c. The Poor of this World have generally most of this sacred Treasure and so are the richest Men. V. No Man whatsoever tho never so worldly wise ingenious careful and industrious in laying out all his natural Parts can enrich himself with this sacred Treasure What hast thou which thou hast not received VI. But the Gospel is a Treasure that cannot be taken away by Thieves nor can the Moth corrupt it it is called the everlasting Gospel Inferences THis shews who are the truly rich Men and Women in the World and what is indeed the true Treasure that will make them so here and to Eternity Jam. 2.5 2 Cor. 6.10 II. It shews the Folly and Madness of those that slight and despise the Gospel Heb. 2 2 3. Jer. 8.8 9. III. What strong Motives might I produce in order to the getting of this Treasure 1. Would you be rich for ever would you have durable Riches c. 2. VVould you be defended and know how to subsist another Day Then get much of this Treasure Quest. But is not this the way to be in the more danger For 't is not the Poor that the Thief cares to meddle withal but the Rich We see what Assaults they meet withal that have this Treasure therefore 't is best to be at ease and quiet and forbear to middle with it Answ. God's Power and Strength is laid out for its Preservation and of the Vessels in whom it is It is God's Treasure and the Vessel too for his People are his peculiar Treasure He will keep it night and day lest any hurt it meaning his People whom he hath enriched with this Treasure Quest. But why is this Treasure put into such earthen Vessels Is it not in the greater danger therefore to be lost they being so subject to be broken Answ. 1. They are tho mean in the VVorlds eye and also in their own yet chosen and sanctified Vessels and fitted for the Lord's use so that the Treasure can suffer no loss by the Vessel 2. The Power of God is the more manifested in preserving this Treasure in an earthen Vessel Object But these Vessels may be nay have been and are often broken and turned to Dust. Answ. Yet God never wanted a Vessel for this Treasure nay those that are turned to Dust are not destroyed they are but dissolved that the Treasure might be the more diffusive and spread it self The Blood of the Saints hath been the Seed of the Church FINIS ADVERTISEMENT THere is a second Volume ready for the Press which consisteth of two Parts The First opens by way of Metaphor and Parallel c. about One hundred sixty eight Metaphors Similes Allegories and other borrowed Terms contained in the holy Scriptures consisting of all the principal Metaphors Similes c. that the Authors can meet with under these ten Heads following 1. Such as concern the Graces of the Spirit and Ordinances of the Gospel 2. Such as concern the holy Angels and the Souls or Spirits of Men. 3. Such as respect the Church of God 4. Such as concern 1. Man in general 2. Good Men 3. Wicked Men. 5. Such as concern the Ministers of the Gospel 6. Such as respect Sin wherein the odious Nature of Sin is largely opened 7. Such as concern the Devil 8. Such as concern the false Church and false
Christ opened in 10 Particulars 92 93 The difference of Christ's Suretyship and Suretyship amongst Men shewed in six Partic. 94 95 T. Teacher THe Spirit of God a sacred Teacher opened in eleven Partic. 324 325 The Saints chief Teacher 325 Who have the Spirits Teaching ibid. Better lose all other Teachers than lose the Spirit ibid. Terrible Christ terrible as a Judg in a three-fold manner Met. Par. 10. 283 Testator Christ a Testator opened in fifteen Particulars 119 to 121 Wherein Christ exceeds all other Testators 122 A five-fold Testimony to Christ as a Testator ibid Thief Christ's coming is compared to a Thief in the Night in 6 Partic. 279 280 Traffick All heavenly Commerce and Traffick is by the Spirit 314 Tree Christ under the similitude of an Apple Tree opened in eleven Partic. 229 230 Trinity The Persons of the Trinity made known by Christ six manner of ways 110 V. Vessels SAints earthen Vessels God very careful of his choice Vessels par 7 63 Vine Christ the true Vine opened in ten Particulars 223 to 225 Wherein Christ exceeds all other Vines in six things 225 Union The present Time to be improved to obtain it 257 Universe The happy State of the whole Universe when Christ shall take unto him his great Power Infer 6. 148 Utichian Utichian Heresy detected 165 166 W. Wall GOD a Wall of Fire about his People 76 77 Want God as a Portion frees the Soul from fear of Want par 13. 7 Want of Christ will occasion violent Motions par 15. 213 Water The Nature of Water 319 The Spirit compared to Water opened in ten Partic. 319 320 The excellent Nature of this sacred Water shewed 320 321 Water of Life free to all 321 War The Cause why God proclaims War against a People par 9. 24 God excells all other Warriors shewed in ten Partic. 25 26 God gives warning before he makes War Dispar 5. 25 Way Christ the Way opened in ten Particulars 167 168 Way made plain to the City of Refuge Met. 7. 168 In what respect Christ is called the Way to the Father answered in four Particulars 169 What kind of Way Christ is answered in 10 Partic. 169 Wedding The Wedding-Garment 270 Whore The great Whore shall be burned with Fire 68 Wicked Wicked Men compared to wild Beasts 76 Wind. The Property thereof shewed 297 The Spirit compared to the Wind in twenty Partic. 298 299 How to know which way the Wind of the Spirit blows Par. 13. 299 Witness Christ a Witness opened in ten Particulars 235 to 237 Witness in the Day of Judgment who and what par 8. 283 The Spirit a Witness opened in eight Partic. 321 322 Two Witnesses necessary for a Christian 322 World This World had a beginning par 1. 55 This World a Wilderness abounding with wild Beasts 76 77 Works Christ's undoubted Right to all the Works of God's hands shewed in 5 Partic. Infer 1. 148 Wrath. Wrath of God terrible par 1. 65 66 67 AN Alphabetical Table OF The Principal Things Contained in the THIRD BOOK A. Attributes ATtributes of God shine forth in the Gospel Page 10 13 21 22 23 B. Baptism Baptism and the Lord's Supper glorious Ordinances 33 Beauty Beauty of Christ opened in 10 Partic. 16 Book The Gospel called a Book 9 What kind of Book shewed in 8 things 9 C. Christ. CHrist's Person glorious 13 Christ very beautiful 16 Christ's Love wonderful 17 18 Christ very rich 18 Counsel The Gospel-Covenant the Contrivance of Godâ—â—s eternal Counsel 9 D. Deity THe Deity of Christ proved by 19 Arguments 14 Deity of the Holy-Ghost proved 23 Design What God's Design was in sending Christ shewed in six Partic. 11 Dew The Word of God compared to the Dew of Heaven in five Partic. 73 F. Father THe Glory of the Father shines forth in the Gospel 10 Fire The Word of God compared to Fire 53 G. Glass THe Word of God compared to Glass in 8 Partic. 62 63 64 Gold The Word of God compared to Gold in 12 Partic. 47 Gospel Glorious Gospel largely opened 4 5 6 Gospel glorious in respect of the Author in respect of the Law in respect of its self 4 Gospel excells the Law shewed in 14 Partic. Gospel glorious in respect of the Names and Epithetes given to it shewed in fourteen Partic. 8 9 Gospel glorious in respect of the Time when contrived 9 Gospel glorious in respect of the Revelation made therein of the Blessed Trinity 10 Gospel glorious in respect of the Manifestation made therein of the Father 40 Gospel glorious in respect of the Revelation made therein of Christ 13 14 15 Gospel glorious as it respects the Holyâ—â—Ghost 21 Gospel glorious in respect of Grace and powerful Operations of it upon the Heart of Men. 29 Gospel glorious in respect of the Offers and Tenders of it 30 Gospel Reconciliation glorious Reconciliation 30 31 Gospel glorious in respect of the Ordinances of it 33 Gospel glorious in respect of Pardon of Sin 33 Gospel glorious in respect of Peace 33 Gospel glorious in respect of the Promises 33 34 Why Satan endeavours to binder the Gospel 40 Grace The excellent Nature of true Grace shewed in 16 Partic. 28 29 H. Hammer THe Word of God compared to a Hammer in 4 Partic. 58 History History of the Gospel a glorious History Holy Holy-Ghost a Divine Person 22 23 I. Justice GOD's Justice must be satisfied 11 No Man or Angel can satisfy God's Justice for his Sin 11 God's Justice only satisfied by a Sacrifice 11 K. Kingdom THe Church called the Kingdom of God 8 Why the Gospel is called the Gospel of the Kingdom 8 Kiss The Word Kiss as mentioned in Scripture opened in 12 Parric 41 42 Kisses of Christ's Mouth opened in four Partic. 43 L. Leaven THe Word of God compared to Leaven 61 62 Light The Word of God compared to Light opened in 8 Partic. 2 3 4 The various Acceptations of the Word Light 1 Love Christ's glorious Love opened in 10 Partic. 17 18 M. Meat THe Word of God campared to strong Meat 51 Mercy God will not save Men in a way of Mercy to the wronging of his Justice 11 Milk The Word of God compared to Milk in five Particulars 50 Moral Moral Persuasions not sufficient to turn a Sinner to God 26 27 N. Net THe Word of God compared to a Net in nine Partic. 45 46 O. Operation OPerations of the Holy Spirit glorious 24 P. Peace PEace of Conscience a glorious Blessing 33 Pelagianism refuted 26 Plough The Word of God compared to a Plough in ten Particulars 65 66 Priesthood Christ's Priesthood excells the Priesthood of Aaron shewed in nine Partic. 5 Promise Promises of the Gospel glorious Promises 33 Gospel Promises glorious in respect of Him through whom and in whose Name they are made 34 Gospel Promises glorious in respect of the Firmness of them shewed in 5 Partic. 35 36 Gospel Promises glorious above the Promise of the Law 36 Gospel Promises glorious