Ability to revive her dead Brother she believed indeed he should rise at the last day and not before why saith Christ they that shall then rise from the dead shall rise by my Power and if I will raise up the dead then I can as easily do it now The hour is comming in which all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done Good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5. 28. 29. And I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6. 54. That there shall be a general Resurrection of the dead at the last day when every Body though now consumed shall be raised up and reunited to the Soul and be brought to the final Judgment is not questioned by those that believe and know the Scriptures The Author of this Resurrection is God as God but the second Person the Lord Jesus is delegated to accomplish this Work which he shall do by his own Voice saith Christ himself by a Shout by the Voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trump of God saith the Apostle 1 Thes 4. 16. with a great Sound of a Trumpet saith the Evangelist Mat. 24. 31. That is the Lord Jesus shall at that last day by his mighty Voice pronounced by the Arch-Angel cause all the dead both small and great to arise in their same Bodies though chang'd into an immortal State and suitable Capacity to that Condition to which they are intended to receive their Soul and to come to Judgment And is not this a mighty Work to quicken the dead a work peculiarly ascribed to God 2. Cor. 1. 9. For we had the Sentence of Death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the Dead 'T is the work of God and of none but God to raise the dead 'T is a work full of Wonder and Amazement beyond all Principles of created reason to conceive how those Bodies dissolved to dust mingled with other Bodies in the Grave digested into other Natures by Beasts Fishes Fowls that have devoured them should yet return and be separated from other Dust and Natures into the same Individuals is such a Miracle as is only fit matter for Faith not Sense and a firm Foundation for the Believers Hope and Comfort It may be thou seest nothing but Deaths on thy Graces Frames and Capacities thou findest Decayes in thy Soul the Spirit of Life seems to be departed from thee thou canst not pray hear converse with that sweetness and delight as heretofore Comfort thy self Believer He that is the Life is the Resurrection also He that quickned thy Heart when Dead will revive it when decay'd 'T is as easie with him to restore thy Spiritual Frames as to bestow them He that can raise the whole World from their Bodily total Death can easily and will in due time cure thy Soul-dyings also Again This will chear drooping Sion who faints at her Desolations and fears what will become of the destruction on her Interests 'T is lamentable to observing Souls to see how Religion goes down daily Holiness is departed from the Earth The Rod of the wicked lies on the back of the Righteous the wicked are exalted and the Righteous oppressed The House of David waxes weaker and weaker and the House of Saul waxes stronger This is a sad Spectacle yet in this case Relief is to be fetch'd from an Omnipotent Jesus who hath said His dead men shall live who can open his Peoples graves and revive his decay'd Interest and cause a Nation to bring forth in a day and Overturn Overturn Overturn till his Kingdom be established in the Earth CHAP. III. The Humane Nature of Christ distinctly consider'd it 's Reality proved His Personality or the Divine and Humane Nature in one Person shewing what kind of Vnion it is and the glorious Consequents and Advantages thereof WE have a little enquired into the Divine Nature of Christ the Beams of whose Glory but darkly seen yield a wonderful splendor and reviving to a believing Eye In the next place let us consider his Humanity The Nature of Man which the second Person assumes into a Personal Union with himself He is perfect Man as well as God The Woman's Seed Made of a Woman made under the Law Gal. 4. 4. Made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh Rom. 1. 3. For he took not on him the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. The Children being partakers of flesh and blood he likewise took part of the same ver 14. And was in all things made like to his Brethren ver 17. Called the Son of Man the Man Christ Jesus having the Substante of the Humane Nature though not the Personal Subsistence thereof He did not take the Person of Man into Union with himself for then he would have had two Persons and so have been no true Mediator The Mediator being one 1 Tim. 2. 5. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus But if the Lord Jesus had taken the Person of Man then he would have consisted of two Persons the Divine Subsistence and the Humane and so there would have been two Mediators or Persons mediating which is contrary to Scripture Neither did he take on him the vicious Qualities or Accidents of the Humane Nature being holy harmless separate from Sinners the Holy Spirit overshadowing the Virgin Mary and purging the Humane Nature of all its sinful dregs forming it of the Substance of the Virgin not of his own Essence whence the Holy thing begotten by the Spirit was not God but Man called the Holy Child Jesus purely conceived in the Womb of a Sinner without the least participation of her Sin or vicious Defects of her Nature receiving only the perfect Substance of Man Having the Essential parts of the Body Soul Humane Nature A true and real Body and not a Phantasme and Airy Vehicle as the Marcionites and Hereticks of old held He had Flesh and Bones which a Spirit hath not Luke 24. 39. Handle me and see me for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have This was after his Resurrection when the Disciples doubted that it was an Apparition and not him and even then Christ had a real Body palpable and visible the object of External Senses A Natural and not an Heavenly Body as the Manichees affirm'd from 1 Cor. 15. 47. The first man is of the Earth Earthy the second man is the Lord from Heaven But to this I answer with Zanchy The Apostle doth not speak here of the Essential Body of Christ but of his Heavenly Spiritual Power which he lets out in raising the Dead as in the former verse The first man Adam was made a living Soul the last Adam was made a quickning Spirit He speaks not here of the Nature but of the person of the
2 Thes 1. 6 7. Psal 116. 7. Hâ—b 4. 3. Fifthly Sin shall never more have dominion over them Rom. 6. 14. Sixthly God will withhold no good thing from them Rom. 8. 32. No temporal blessing Math. 6. 33. No spiritual blessing 1 Tim. 4. 8. No instruction Jer. 31. 33. Isa 54. 13. Joh. 14. 26. No sanctified correction Heb. 10. 10 11. Rom. 5. 3 to 5. No consolation Isa 51. 3. 2 Cor. 1. 4. No edification and increase in Grace Eph. 4. 12 16. Nay all things shall work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. Lastly They can never forfeit their state of Grace and interest in the Favour of God Joh. 13. 1. 2 Cor. 7. 10. They shall be sure to be kept by the mighty power of God unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. There is not the least room left for a falling off from Grace Because First Salvation is purchased for them and if the end be purchased then all the means to the end and God in Justice is bound to make good Christs purchase and to deliver what he bought and paid for 2 Tim. 4. 8. Secondly Preservation in grace is ingaged to them Jer. 32. 40. 1 Thes 5. 23 24. The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blamelesse unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it Here we may see both Sanctification and Salvation is secured to all that are savingly called of God Salvation is the End and sanctification is the Means and both are sounded not on the will of Man or on his care and fidelity but as depending on the act and faithfulnesse of God not only the first Act of Sanctification but Preservation continuance and growth in Grace is the work of God and it's perseverance is laid upon divine preservation to which God hath bound himself by promise to every Soul that is truly sanctified and his Faithfulness is engag'd to make it good Thirdly They are put into the Hands of Christ on purpose to be secured in Grace to Glory Joh. 10. 28 29. They shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand They are engraven on the palms of his hands their walls are continually before him Isa 49. 16. Their Walls that is their safety This was spoken in a time when the Walls of Jerusalem were broken down Yet at that time God had Walls about them to secure them which they saw not Both Believers themselves their Graces and all the Promises are put into the hands of Christ hence they cannot fall away Fourthly True Grace is of an abiding nature 1 Joh. 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed abideth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not at constantiam penitissimam inhaesionem saith one 'T is an abiding and constant inhesion of Grace Some to evade the evidence of this Truth would pervert the sense of it taking it for the new Creature which is born of God whereas the Original is clear against it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Masculine Gender which notes a person not a thing Again it would be a Tautologie to add a reason why such a one cannot sin because he is born of God and his seed remaineth in him whereas the new Creature and the seed of God are all one but here they note two things First A Person Secondly The Regenerate part of the Person which is fully explain'd in the following ver where he that is born of God or the Child of God is opposed to the Child of the Devil which is meant of a distinct Person not a different Nature in the same Person and this seed of God is of an abiding nature wherever it comes it comes never wholly to depart more Isa 59. 21. Fifthly Because their Life is hid in Christ and therefore cannot be lost and perish at their pleasure Col. 3. 3 4. The Believers Grace is sure in the Root however it be in the Branch and therefore Christ engages to his people that they shall live because he lives Joh. 14. 19. Lastly They have an Inseparable union with the Spirit of Grace that dwells in them Rom. 8. 11. He that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Where the Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as one observes ever notes the Person of the Holy Ghost not his Graces so that the Saints have an abiding union with the Spirit of God the third Person and so cannot perish for want of Grace but are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation He can never want Water that may have access to the Fountain or Ocean nor can any Soul be destitute of Grace that is united to the Spirit of Grace The Graces of Saints are sure their Faith their Preservation is sure O what a glorious priviledge is this that flows to Believers from this purchase of Christ that their Salvation is sure and they may know it to be so CHAP. XVIII Sanctification and Holiness is purchas'd for Believers by the Death and Sufferings of Jesus Christ ANother part of Christs purchased Treasure for Believers is Fourthly The Sanctification of their Natures and Persons Here I shall shew 1. That the Lord Jesus hath Purchased Grace and Holiness 2. For whom this Holiness is purchased 3. What this Holiness is he hath purchased 4. That this is part of Christs Treasure First That the Lord Jesus hath purchased the sanctification of the Natures and Persons of his people This I shall prove by several Arguments First All the Types under the Law do imply so much and darkly open this great truth to Believers We find that Christ in the non-age and Infant state of his Church and People dealt with them in Figures and Shadows So the Laver and Sacrifices the Priests pure and white Robes and Vestments and the washing of their Garments when they were to approach the Divine Majesty were Typical of this Holiness which he was to procure for his people in the fullness of time so much the Apostle imports Col. 2. 17. Which are a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ The shadow goes before and the body follows These Types are precedaneous to the coming of Christ and his full accomplishment of the things intended and signified by them thus Christ is the Altar that sanctifies the gift In him we have those true and solid good things which were shadowed out in those Ceremonies under the Law saies Daven on the place Secondly The Names and Titles given to Christ import so much He is called Jesus because he shall save his People from their sins Mat. 1. 21. He is called a Redeemer to deliver them from their Bondages and hard Service He is termed the Sanctifier For he that Sanctifieth and they that
second Adam as Mediator the Difference between whom was great the first Adam but a Creature this a Creator or Quickning Spirit the first Adam had his Rise from the Earth this second Adam as to his person from Heaven whence saith Paraeus 't is evident the Apostle doth not speak here of the matter of Christs Body but of the Original and Dignity of his Person for he grants in this whole Discourse that Christ's Body is one and the same with ours else how can his Resurrection be a proof of ours and 't is said As by man came death so by man came also the Resurrection of the Dead 1 Cor. 15. 20 21 22. And if Christ had not a real natural Body then he could not be the Seed of the Woman neither had his Death been a real Death or a satisfactory Propitiation if the same Nature that sinned had not also suffered And therefore it must needs be that Christ had a Natural Body He Eat Drank Spake Walked was weary smitten bound crucified which are also demonstrations of a Natural Body And as he had a perfect Body so had he a Soul also contrary to the Doctrine of Apollinaris or else he could not be a perfect Man and in all things made like unto his Brethren for 't is said when God made Man He breathed into his Nostrils the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul Gen. 2. 7. Hence saith Lactantius A Soul-less Body is no Humane Body 'T is said His Soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto Death Mat. 26. 38. Had not Christ a real Soul he had not been a living man nor could be said to have died when he cried out Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit Luke 23. 46. And having said so he gave up the Ghost This Spirit the Lord Jesus gave up into his Father's hands was not his Divine Nature for that was one with and ever with the Father and therefore must needs be his Soul which was his Life and that departing he is said to dye and give up the Ghost Besides That Knowledge in which he is said to increase with those Humane Affections that manifestly appeared in him and those Acts of his Natural Will plainly proves his Soul these being the Essential Faculties of a Rational Spirit Neither could he have perfectly transacted the Office of a Mediator and undergone all the Sufferings that were to be borne for the Sin of Man had he not consisted of a Humane Soul as well as Body part of these Penalties yea the greatest part being Spiritual and such as none but the Soul could be fully sensible of And in point of Justice the Soul of man having sinned there must be a Soul also in the Redeemer to undergo Sufferings wherefore he must needs be perfect man in the Essential Parts of the Humane Nature Body Soul He had also the Properties of the Humane Nature both Essential and Accidental The Essential Properties of man as well of the Soul as Body were in him The Essential Properties and Faculties of the Soul which are the Understanding Will Affections were seated in his Nature he had a created Understanding that eminently shin'd out in his youthful years being able at Twelve years old to dispute with the Learned Doctors of his Day even to the astonishment of his Hearers Luke 2. 46 47. And they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them Questions and all that heard him were astonished at his Vnderstanding and Answers And ver 52. Jesus increased in Wisdom and Stature He had likewise Natural Affections so as without sin He loved the young man in the Gospel for those Excellencies that were in him Mark 10. 21. And had a peculiar degree of Affection to John above the rest of the Disciples Joh. 19. 26. He had compassion on the multitude Mat. 9. 36. And was grieved for the Heart hardness of his Disciples Mark 3. 5. And had indignation against Peter's tempting him to decline his Redemption-work Mark 8. 33. He had also the Essential Properties of a Humane Body such as do flow from the Essence thereof and are so absolutely necessary to it as that without these the Body would cease to be a Body as Quantity Figure Members Dimensions He had a Material Body consisting of Flesh and Bone with its Lineaments and Members Face Hands Feet he had a Stature in which he grew as other men do Luke 2. 52. A Body circumscribed in a place that must needs have a Circumference and be in one place at once circumscriptively not definitively as Spirits are Neither does its Union with the Divine Nature or its glorified state in Heaven alter this Essential Property of a Body Nor is the Omnipotency of God a sufficient Argument to warrant the Body of Christ to be in Heaven and Earth and in divers places at once seeing God's Absolute Power never crosseth his Actual Power or infer a contrariety to his Truth and to the natural Being of things Neither did he assume the Parts and Essential Properties of Man only but the Infirmities also and accidental Properties of the Humane Nature though not those which were Personal and Vicious and procur'd by Personal Sins or defection in their particular Natures as Diseases Blindness Lameness Deformity which were not the absolute and universal Products of Original Sin incident to every one but arising from some particular Causes and peculiar to some Persons onely these our Lord Jesus did not take upon him but such Infirmities as were accidental to the whole Nature for that he himself also is compassed with Infirmities Heb. 5. 2. not sinful as culpable Ignorance and Errour but Natural Infirmities such as were incident to our Natures Sin excepted and such as were the Effects and Punishment of Sin these Christ took on him as inculpable Ignorance Humane Passions of Sorrow Fear Anger in the Soul Hunger Thirst Weariness Pain bloody Sweat and Death in the Body Mark 13. 32. Mark 11. 13. Math. 26. 38. Math. 9. 36. Mat. 16. 23. Joh. 19. 28. Joh. 4. 6. Heb. 5. 8. Luke 22. 44. Mat. 27. 50. And O what enriching Priviledges and full Consolation do flow to Believers from the Words assuming the Humane Nature into Personality with himself And what glorious Excellencies are in Jesus Christ as he is God-Man in one Person infinite Treasures which can never be traced out nor fully understood by the Children of men as will appear if we consider the kind of this Union and the Consequents of it First Consider the kind of this Union between the Divine and Humane Nature of Christ and O what a glorious Mystery is it First It is a real Union 't is not Nominal in Name onely or Metaphorical in Shew or Similitude but in Reality and Truth The Divine and Humane Nature do constitute one Person which is Jesus Christ We have already proved that Jesus Christ is perfect God and perfect Man he is really so in one
with Laodicea Rev. 3. 17. And with those Jews Acts 2. 23 36. Opens to them their cursed damning Sin and wretched state by reason of sin that their hearts might be pricked and wounded So the Jaylour was this way prepared for Christ Acts 16. 30. He was made to see his doleful state Thus the Law is School-Master to bring to Christ Gal 3. 24. To beat and wound the sinner that he may see his need of a healing Jesus Thus the Spirit is promised to convince the World of sin Righteousness and Judgment Joh. 16. 8. And so did God deal with the unconverted under the Gospel 1 Cor. 14. 25. Secondly Another requisit to the Souls getting this title to Christ is this that there be a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ his sutableness and sufficiency to save his grace and real willingness to heal and cure all that come to him Heb. 11. 6. hence Eternal Life is said to lie in the knowledge of Christ Joh. 17. 3. that is in the knowledge of his sufficiencie and willingness to save therefore when Paul came to obtain Christ in order to it says he It pleased God to reveal his Son in me Gal. 1. 15 16. True faith carries knowledge with it Faith is not hoodwinkt and blind but hath his discerning By faith we come to understand hence the Gospel is to be preached to every Creature what is the Gospel but the opening of Jesus Christ his sufficiencie and willingness to save sinners while persons lie in a state of ignorance they cannot come to have a true title to Jesus Christ Thirdly 'T is necessary that the Soul see the worth and excellency of Christ to satisfie That were there no Heaven at the end yet Christ himself were Heaven enough So Paul saw an excellencie in Christ Phil. 3. 8. And the Apostles also Joh. 1. 14. The Soul that comes to Christ must see him to be the chiefest of ten thousand the onely desirable one none in Heaven but Christ and none in Earth in comparison of him Psa 73. 25 He that only eyes Salvation in comming to Christ takes him upon necessity not upon choice Fourthly Another requisite to this comming to Christ is that the Soul be brought to a real and actual willigness to part with all for him yea to a throwing all over board to take him in Phil. 3. 8. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them dung to win Chrisi It was no small sum these Converts parted with before they could close with Christ Acts. 19. 19. They brought their Books and burned them and counted the price and found it fifty thousand pieces of Silver which amounts in our money to one thousand five hundred sixty and two pounds and ten shillings hence 't is said That he that will be saved must pluck out his right Eye and cut off his right Hand Math. 5. 29 30. And the want of which made the Young man go away from Christ sorrowful Fifthly In order to a closing with Christ 't is necessary that the Soul see an utter poverty and inability in himself ever to come to Christ without Christ Draw me and we will run after thee Cant. 1. 4. No man cometh to me says Christ except the Father which sent me draw him Joh. 6. 44. They must see themselves poor that come for satisfaction in Christ Isa 41. 17. Thou must deny thy own Abilities and Rigteousness and see thy self utterly unable so much as to look to Christ till he give an Eye Math. 11. 5. Lastly The Soul must be brought to close with all the terms of the Gospel propos'd to him and made heartily willing to take Christ on his own conditions Math. 16. 14. A person is never fit for Christ till he can give him a blank and bid him write his own terms unfeignedly saying Lord command me any thing I stick at no proposals so I may be thine he that would fain beat down the bargain shall never have Christ Isa 44. 5. now to such a reception of Christ 't is needful that things be plainly opened and all the demands of Christ be known and considered Luk. 14. 28. So that there may be a known and hearty consent to Christ and a full compliance with all his conditions 4. What are the certain fruits and effects of the Souls obtaining Christ Ans First That Soul that hath an interest in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are past away all things are become new As the Lord Christ when he was crucifi'd was laid in a new Tomb so when he is received he must be lodged in a new heart In redemption work all things are new there 's a new Covenant Heb. 8. 8. A new Mediatour the first Covenant had none Heb. 9. 15. Souls are now brought into a new state of new and glorious Priviledges They were dead but now are made alive Eph. 2. 1. There 's a new Law also the Law of the Gospel called the Law of the Spirit of life Rom. 8. 2. Therefore 't is necessarie that the Soul be renewed also this is promis'd under the Gospel Isa 65. 17. Behold I create new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness so 2 Pet. 3. 13. there will be a wonderful change wrought in that Person above what flesh and blood can do an inward change a new heart and a new Spirit Ezek. 36. 26. new desires Ps 63. 1. Before the Soul did long after the world pleasures vanities but now My Soul breaks for the longing it hath to thy Judgments at all times Ps 119. 20. Ps 42. 1 2. New affections to God Ps 116. 1. new love to Christ 1 Cor. 16. 22. new love to the Law of God Ps 119. 97 127. new love to the people of God 1 Joh. 3. 14. new love to the name and glory of God Ps 26. 12. Psa 145. 15. new affections for the Cross of Christ and reproach for his name Gal. 2. 14. Heb. 11. 26. a new will to loath sin and cleave to God and Holiness Rom. 7. 19 Act. 11. 23. a new Conscience Heb. 10. 27. 2 Tim. 1. 3. and they have a new Convesation Rom 6. 4. Eph. 2. 10. Phil. 1. 27. They will walk in newness of the Spirit Rom. 6. 4. They are created to good works to walk in them Eph. 2. 10. At least they design it though they fall short of it Thus a Soul that is come to Christ is a new Creature That Soul that hath no renewings in him that hath the same Spirit desires affections will conscience that ever he had cannot prove his interest in Christ Secondly Thaâ— Soul that hath received Christ hath received the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his 1 Cor. 12. 13. for by one Spirit we are all baptiz'd into one Body None can receive the Son but he must have
no way known but by Revelation and unveilings of the Spirit and in this sense are called Unsearchable Secondly As to the fulness of their Worth and Excellency they cannot be understood by any in this Life no mortal man no unglorified Soul can know them as they are to cast up the total value of these Treasures is beyond the Arithmetick of Saints themselves nay Men and Angels cannot understand the things that God hath prepared that Christ hath purchased for them that love him Here sayes the Apostle we know in part and we prophesie in part 1 Cor. 13. 9. We both you and I the most elevated Light by this side Glory know nothing of these lock't-up Mysteries as we ought and on this account also they are Unsearchable The Words being opened and the Cabinet unlock't I come to the main Subject and Treasure laid up in them which you may take in this general Doctrine and Proposition Doct. There are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ opened and tender'd to Sinners in the Gospel In this Doctrine lie three grand Assertions to be proved Assertion 1. That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ Assert 2. These vast and hidden Treasures of Christ are opened in and by the Gospel Assert 3. 'T is the Will of God that all these great and glorious Treasures which are in and come by Jesus Christ should be open'd and offer'd to Sinners yea the chiefest of Sinners I shall speak to each Assertion but more largely to the first That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ And here I shall first prove by Scripture That there are great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ Secondly Shew you according to the Grace given me what are those Unsearchable Riches of Christ First That there are such Riches in and come by Jesus Christ the whole Gospel attests which is a Revelation of the Excellency of Christ and those glorious things which come by him I shall give you three or four Scriptures to prove it Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory In the former verse the Apostle calls the Gospel a Mystery hid from former Ages the Excellency of which he opens in this verse and sets out in these two Epithetes 1. Rich. 2. Glorious First 'T is a rich Mystery in that it opens the glorious Riches of Christ which are better than the Gold of Ophir and all precious Substance the Riches of his Wisdom Grace Righteousness and Redemption which he calls tryed Gold and counsels poor Sinners to come to him for it Rev. 3. 17. Secondly 'T is a glorious Mystery called the Riches of his Glory Rom. 9. 23. That he might make known the Riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy Eph. 1. 18. The Riches of his Glory c. The Gospel is a glorious Mystery because it brings to light great and glorious things even the Treasures of unknown Glory and what these Treasures of Glory are he tells you in the close of the verse they are Christ in you the hope of Glory Christ Jesus applied by Faith and received into the Soul by the Spirit is this glorious Treasure in that he gives them in his Union with them an evident Right to Glory See Prov. 8. 18 19. Riches and Honour are ascribed to him Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness My Fruit is better than Gold yea than fine Gold and my Revenue than choice Silver This is spoken of Christ the true Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. Christ the Wisdom of God and Power of God who is the Subject of this Chapter And 't is said of him that Riches durable Riches are with him better Treasures than Gold than choice Silver Durable Treasures which Time cannot waste or alter Riches that last to all Eternity which Rust and Moth cannot consume And Righteousness i. e. Treasure justly gotten Riches of Wisdom and Grace given him by the Father and Riches of Righteousness bought by his Blood All this Treasure is in him and offer'd by him unto Sinners In Christ must needs be Unsearchable Riches for in him dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2. 9. that is the Divine Nature united to the Humane Nature perfect God as well as perfect Man the infinite Treasures of the Divine Nature are his He is the Heir of all things and therefore must needs be rich Heaven and Earth are his Jews and Gentiles all Persons and Things put under him in which Glory and Majesty set over all the Works of Gods hands he mounts his Throne having confirmed his Title by his Blood and gives Gifts to men and makes a tender of Grace and Glory of Thrones and Crowns to all that come unto him promising to his Servants that they also shall inherit all things Rev. 21. 7. and therefore he himself must needs be rich In him are Treasures of Mercy and Goodness of Wisdom and Knowledge Riches exceeding Riches of Grace Eph. 2. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Riches of Strength Honour Glory and Blessing So that the Scriptures give in full testimony to this Truth That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ And now I shall endeavour to shew Secondly What are those exceeding great and unsearchable Riches of Christ But alas this Well is deep and wherewith shall we draw these Treasures are out of sight who can find them out they are boundless bottomless numberless endless where shall we begin where can we make an end who can search them out to Perfection The best of men are but Learners the Angels are Enquirers the wisest men but Fools in these Searches we can know but in part nor prophesie but in part when the utmost is spoken you have not heard of one half of his Glory But according to the Revelation of Christ I shall open some of these Treasures of Christ to you under these two Heads His Riches Personal Purchased with some Applications and Improvements of them as we go through these Deeps CHAP. II. The Personal Riches of Christ opened in his Divine Nature manifested in his Attributes with the wonderful Advantages thereof to Believers PArt of these glorious Treasures of Christ lies in his Personal Riches that vast Worth and unknown Excellency that reside in himself which become the Believers Treasure also by their Relation to their Union with Contemplation of it with the communicated Fruits and Effects thereof Col. 1. 27. which is Christ in you the hope of glory i. e. which Treasure is Christ in you or Christ united to you by Faith and dwelling in you by his Spirit Christ his Personal as well as purchased Treasures are yours through your Union with your Relation to your Enjoyment of him and his glorious Communications to you Now these Personal Treasures of Christ are demonstrable in
angry and then to Love which argues a Mutation yet that Change is not in Gods Will and Affection which is one Essence with himself but in his outward Dispensation So that the Divine Nature in Christ is unchangeable both in his Nature and Will he cannot he will not vary in him is no Variableness or Shadow of turning he is a Rock and his Work perfect Time or Change in Creatures work no Change in God 't is the Mistake of Unbelief to think that the Heart of God changes as the poor Believer doth like those that row by the Shore fancy the Land and Houses on it to move when 't is but the Vessel changes his place Comfort thy Heart poor Soul who hast sincerely chosen the Lord to be thy Portion on this Assurance that the Thoughts of God are the same towards thee as evâ—â— all thy changeable Frames and unfaithful Dealings with him works no more Alteration in his Heart to thee than the interposing Clouds do on the essential Light of the Sun or the Provocations of the Child on the Fathers Relation who is still a Father how unlike soever he carries himself to the Child but these Instances are too short to adumbrate and set out the Immutability of God who cannot but be Truth though every man be a Lye he is faithful and cannot deny himself to his though they believe not 'T is his Faithfulness secures thy Faith and not thy Faith makes good his Faithfulness Rom. 3. 3. 4. Shall their Vnbelief make the Faith or Faithfulness of God of none Effect God forbid Mat. 3. 6. I the Lord change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Is Christ immutable Then there is Ground enough for Believers to cast Anchor on him and to bottom their strong Hopes upon his Promises for faithful is he that hath promised Heb. 10. 23. He is not as man that he should lye or as the Son of man that he should repent Numb 23. 19. Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good He cannot alter the Word that is gone out of his Mouth Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one Tittle of his Word till all be fullfilled For this end hath God shewed to the Heirs of Promise the Immutability of his Council confirmed by an Oath that by two immutable things his Purpose and Promise in which 't is impossible for God to lye they might have strong Consolation who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope set before them Heb. 6. 18. 19. O Believer suffer not thy Soul to be tossed to and fro with every change of Providence without or of thy heart within but roul thy Hopes on this Rock of Ages on whom the Pillars of the Earth hang for their Stedfastness the whole Creation for its Sustentation by whom Winter and Summer Day and Night are kept within their Seasons and all the changes of his People reduced into a Consistency with his Covenant Fidelity This also yields encouragement to Believers for perseverance in the way of Duty whatever Alterations are in their Conditions and the Times they live in because he that leads them is the same in the worst as well as the best of Times and as able to secure them and as firm in his Affections to them seeing he changes not and therefore cannot will not leave them Again To this Immutability of God in Christ may gracious Souls go to get their unsteddy Hearts fixed and derive by Faith more constancy to their Spirits towards God He who is faithful hath engaged it to establish their Hearts with Grace and keep them from Evil. 2 Thes 3. 3. But the Lord is faithful who shall establish you and keep you from evil 2 Chro. 20. 20. Believe God so shall you be established As Christ's Life is Security for the Believer's Life Joh. 14. 19. His Power for their Preservation 2 Tim. 1. 12. so is his Immutability for their Stedfastness Psal 102. 12. The Author of this Psalm under the sense of his weakness and the languishing state of Sion comforts himself in the consideration of Gods Immutability But thou O Lord shalt endure for ever And upon this mountain of Spices raises his hopes of Sion this he takes for granted from his unalterableness He shall appear in his Glory Go Believer and lay by Faith thy changeable Heart on Christ's Constancy as the Shunamite did her dead Child on Elisha's Bed till she received him to Life again 2 Kings 4. 21. And she said when her Child was dead It shall be well vers 23. So in the same Spirit of Faith with her Leave thy Soul with a Faithful Jesus to be made faithful also 1 Thes 5. 24. Faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it Fifthly The Omniscience of Christ is another of his Divine Attributes by which he doth perfectly and in one Eternal and immutable Act know himself and all things that were are or shall be and things that are not that never were or never shall be things natural and voluntary necessary and contingent things in their Causes and Effects acted or intended good or evil finite or infinite all are most clearly and fully naked and open in his sight He alone fully knows himself and his Divine Perfections 2 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God ver 11. For what man knoweth the things of man save the Spirit of a man which is in man even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God So Matth. 11. 27. No man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son That is No man can know the Divine Nature but God himself immediately and perfectly That knowledge which the Saints have of God is but a secondary and communicated knowledge of Gods back parts as revealed in his Works Word and in a Mediatour according to the measure of the Gift of Christ But God knows himself immediately and fully as he is for his Knowledge is his Essence and so as Infinite as his Being is He is a pure Act without any potentiality therefore his Understanding and himself are the same He knows also all things else that are in Being and not in Being things past present or to come in one eternal Act without any search into Principles or Causes as Humane Understandings do in a discoursive way and by succession but hath the Idea's of all things in himself his Essence being the Exemplar of those things seeing he gives them their Being As the Artificer knows the Forms of the Pieces he makes and the Writer the proportion of his own Letters so doth God the first Cause know all things that receive their Nature from him they being first in him and so eternally present to him Hence the knowledge of God is most certain and infallible and things are as he knows them seeing his Knowledge gives them their Being which must be understood of the things that God
person Joh. 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his Glory The Word that is the divine Nature the God-head of Christ was made Flesh that is united to the humane Nature and this in a visible way and dwelt amongst us it was not a Fiction but really Christ God-man dwelt amongst us and we beheld his Glory it was obvious to our view 1 Tim. 3. 16. Great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels If this be not real what can be so He was manifest in the Flesh How By way of real Union Justified in the Spirit by the divine Nature here 's Flesh and here 's the divine Nature in one person Jesus Christ God-Man seen of Angels Rom. 1. 3. 4. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord which was made of the seed of David according to the Flesh and declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the Dead Here 's a Person consisting of both these Natures real man born of the Seed of David then real God thus the Divine Nature was manifested to be in Christ by the Resurrection of the dead Rom. 9. 5. And of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever Here both Natures are attributed to one Person Jesus Christ as concerning the Flesh descended from Abraham he came from David that is he received the humane Nature from the Virgin Mary and he is God over all blessed for ever The God-head is said to dwell in him bodily Col. 2. 9. Secondly It is a very near Union the nearest Union that possibly can be As the Soul and the Body make up one man so the divine and humane Nature of Christ make up one Person It is set forth by way of Inhabitation Col. 2. 9. In him dwells all the Fullness of the God-head bodily God manifest in the Flesh and justified in the Spirit makes up one entire Person As the Matter and the Form makes up one Being so this divine and humane Nature makes up one person Thirdly It is a mystical and unconceivable Union There 's a relative Union between Man and Wife making one Flesh a real Union between the Head and Members constituting one Body but this cannot reach this Union it is unconceivable above all Conception 1 Tim. 3. 16. Great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in the Flesh We may admire it and adore it but we cannot fathom the depth of this Union between the divine and humane Nature of Christ Fourthly It is a pure and unmixed Union as to each Nature In regard of Essence the divine Nature cannot be converted into the humane nor the humane into the divine but each Nature remains distinct and it's Properties are distinct Rom. 1. 3. 4. So that there are in Jesus Christ two Natures two Wills a divine Will and a humane Will he hath the Will and Affections of a man though fully sanctified and glorified he wills whatever the God-head wills but still as to his humane Nature it is with a humane Will so that something of the workings of Christ are by the divine Power and something by the humane Nature This Union consists in the Communication of the divine Nature with the humane the God-head and the humane Nature agree so that the divine Nature of Christ communicates all its fullness as far as may further Redemption-ends for the Sanctification and Salvation of the whole body of Christ and for the fulfilling of all Redemption-Work 1 Pet. 3. 18. This is a glorious Union but it is worthy to be known Ah how little of Christ is known as to these two Natures how little a portion do we know of him Fifthly It is an inseparable Union it can never be parted more Therein lies the Happiness of Believers that Jesus Christ is God-man to all Eternity never can there be an end of this Relation Jesus Christ God-Man is the same Yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. He was the same while in his obediential Work on Earth he is the same in Glory and will be the same to all Eternity This Union of Christ's two Natures must be eternal or else he cannot be said ever to live to make Intercession But he ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. That which made Christ's Redemption infinite was that he was God as well as Man Christ the Interceder God-Man is now in Heaven and this must be for ever O what a glorious Truth is this that there can be no Cessation of this Union could this Union be separated as Nestorius holds then Redemption-work would cease He is over all God-Man blessed for evermore Rom. 9. 5. If the Saints Union with Christ be inseparable and their Interest in the Love of Christ inseparable then Christ is unalterable but because the Saints must have an eternal Union with him and he is an eternal Jesus he must be eternally God-Man Romans 8. 34 35 36 37 38 39. Joh. 17. 21. 23. 24. Secondly What are the Effects and Consequents that flow from and issue out of this Union between the divine and humane Nature â—â— Christ First from this Union of these two Natures in Christ there follows a Communication of Properties so that which is said to be done by each Nature is applied to the whole Person of Christ O this is a very glorious Mystery as this Christ's Sufferings in the humane Nature is applyed to the whole Person of Christ therefore the Blood of Christ which was but the Blood of the humane Nature is called the Blood of God Acts 20. 28. Feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood being of infinite Value and Worth So the Sufferings of the humane Nature are ascribed sometimes to the divine Nature and to the whole person of Christ so 1 Tim. 3. 16. God manifest in the Flesh and justified in the Spirit yet both these applyed to the person of Christ whatever the divine nature can do is applyed to the Person of Christ by a Communication of Properties â—â—owing from this Union Secondly From this Union flows this Consequence That there is Fullness of Grace plac'd in Jesus Christ to be given out to all his Seed The God-head fills the humane Nature of Christ Jo. 3. 34 God hath not given the Spirit by measure to him When we read of Christ's receiving any thing understand it of his humane Nature for the divine Nature cannot be capable of receiving any thing it is as full of Grace as ever it can hold And as the Breast is full of Milk for the Poor Babe so is Jesus Christ full of Grace in his Humane Nature to distribute to his Children His pity moves him to give out this and the other Grace to his People and it is in him to bestow it He wills the best good to all his People and what he wills
he is able to perform hence 't is said Joh. 1. 16. Of his Fulness we have all received and Grace for Grace Of that Fulness which the Divine Nature is alwayes issuing out to the Humane Nature of Christ do Believers receive Grace for Grace Grace sutable to Grace in Christ so that the Humane Nature of Christ must needs be alwayes full of Grace by reason of its Union with the Divine As the Sun that gives out Light is alwayes full of Light and the Sea that sends forth Waters to the Rivers is never vacant This is a glorious Mystery of wonderful Encouragement to Believers to consider what a full Jesus they are related to Thirdly By vertue of this Union the Lord Jesus Christ hath right to all Glory and Adoration of Men and Angels as Mediatour He is the most Illustrious Person all Honour Blessing Praise Glory Adoration is due to him Heb. 1. 6. When he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him Surely he must be a glorious Person when all the Angels must bow at his Feet Seraphims Cherubims and all the Host of Heaven stoop and give Homage to him this the Lord Jesus Christ hath a proper Right to as he is God-Man Phil. 2. 9. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name Every Tongue shall confess at last that he is Lord ver 11. Rev. 1. 17. And when I saw him I fell at his Feet as dead O the very Vision of Christ is enough to strike a poor Creature to the Earth Rev. 4. 9 10 11. The four and twenty Elders fell down and worshipped this glorious Person that sate upon the Throne which is Jesus Christ Joh. 5. 23. That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father So that God the Son the Second Person the Mediatour of his People deserves all that Divine and Religious Worship which is due to God as God Thrones and Principalities are made by him and put under him Col. 1. 16. 17. Fourthly By vertue of this Union the Lord Jesus Christ hath absolute Authority Kingship and Headship in his Church and over all things to the Church Matt. 28. 18. All Power is given to me in Heaven and Earth O what vast Power is this All Power on Earth to do what he will there All Power in Heaven to do what he will there Eph. 1. 22. And hath put all things under his Feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church Jesus Christ as God-Man is invested with all Power and Authority to transact the Work of a Mediator to perform the Offices of Prophet Priest and King The Godhead of Christ working as God and the Manhood of Christ working as Man yet both these Natures concurr towards the management of Redemption-work As a Prophet he is able to reveal the Will of God for he knoweth the mind of the Spirit being God he is infinite in Wisdom Job 36. 4. Rom. 11. 33. All Knowledge comes from him as Mediator In him are hid the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. He maketh Wise to Salvation He giveth Wisdom Prov. 2. 6. He openeth the Eyes of the blind and giveth Light to them that sit in Darkness and in the Region and shadow of Death Matth. 4. 16. Luke 2. 32. Ministers can but preach to the Ear but Christ can preach to the Heart Ministers can but open the Scriptures Christ can open the Heart He is a full and effectual Head to his Body the Church to guide influence and adorn it Col. 1. 18. As a Priest And so there 's an infinite Sufficiency in his Satisfaction and Intercession seeing he is God-Man In his Satisfaction enough to silence all Pleas against his People He can arrest all the Sentences and Executions of the Law against them As an High-priest he is a sufficient Sacrifice for the Sins of the People He was made Sin for us that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. By the Obedience of Christ all Believers are made Righteous Rom. 5. 19. The Obedience of the Saints is represented compleat in Christ though imperfect in themselves Hence Believers that are wounded with the shortness of their Services in themselves may lift up their Heads when they look upon the perfect Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ Hence 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. If any man Sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous And he is the propitiation for our Sins Though the Saints do sin Christ becomes a Sacrifice for them This one Offering of Christ ever appears before God when new Provocations appear in his People By one Offering he perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. By vertue of this Union his Blood becomes infinite Blood equally as large as the Offence Nay it is more able to save than the Sins of Believers to damn It is the Blood of Christ that cleanseth from all Sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. Therefore his Obedience is a perfect Obedience and his Sufferings perfect Sufferings of more satisfaction to Divine Justice than if all the Sinners in the World had lain in Hell to all Eternity This Blood is so wonderfully precious that it is accounted by the Father as the Blood of God Acts 20. 28. If Infinite can satisfie Infinite then the Father is satisfied by the Blood of Christ because whatever the Justice of God can expect the Obedience of Christ can fully satisfie This Righteousness to Justification the perfect Obedience and Sufferings of Christ receives no Addition or Diminution by the Obedience or Disobedience of his People Eph. 1. 6. He hath made us accepted in the Beloved Ah! little do Souls know the Bottom they stand upon It is not poor Believer the shortness of thy Obedience the multitude and greatness of thy Sins can out-match this matchless Righteousness of Christ All the Injuriâ—s and Wrongs thou hast done is but the Injury of a Creature but the Satisfaction of Jesus Christ is the Satisfaction of God it is the Satisfaction of God the Soh presented to God the Father O what a blessed state are Believers in where there is such a price paid for their Sins Again By vertue of this Union There 's Sufficiency in the Intercession of Jesus Christ He must needs be able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him seeing he ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 24 25. How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Consciences from dead works Heb. 9. 14. The Blood of Christ meritoriously purges the Soul from all filthiness being offered through the Eternal Spirit God will not deny himself whatever God the Son intercedes for God the Father will grant so that Christ's Intercession must needs be effectual O what potency hath Christ in Heaven what Prevalency in all his Addresses
Conformity to the Will of God a gracious Soul would be holy as God is holy O says the poor Believer I cannot evidence that Holiness I should but God knows I would be holy I would cast off every Sin I would perform every Duty in a right manner so in the Affections there is the Seed of divine Love to God his Will and Holiness there is sincere Love though but in part and imperfect but seeing this Holiness begun in the Saints in Truth is but in part and full of Spots Christ comes in the next place and presents his spotless Obedience in the Behalf of Believers and by Vertue of this mystical Union between Believers and Christ this Holiness of Christ is the Holiness of Believers and God accepts of it as their Holiness O if Souls did but see more into this they would not take up all their standing upon their own Legs and see their Happiness or Misery lye in their compleat or incompleat Obedience but they would see all Holiness lye in Christ hence you see the meaning of that Scripture Rom. 5. 19. By the Obedience of one many are made righteous God looks upon sincere Souls as presented in Christ that so far as Christ is holy they are holy in him for all the Obedience and Holiness of Christ as Mediator is the Obedience and Holiness of his People for what he did was not for himself but for his people And thus much of the first how this Mediator deals with God the Father for fallen man Secondly The Lord Jesus Christ as Mediator deals with men the other party too Now this he doth First As an Interceder to Sinners in the Behalf of God the Father he comes and treats with men by virtue of his Mediatorship to draw and perswade them to Terms of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 18. All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and hath given us the Ministry of Reconciliation The Lord Jesus Christ comes as the Messenger of the Lord and delivers over Counsel and tenders God the Father to Sinners this he doth in his person vers 19. God in Christ reconciling the World to himself By his Ministry in opening the Gospel to Sinners discovering those great Transactions between the Father and himself and the great willingness of God to be reconciled and inviting lost Souls to himself vers 20. We pray you in Christ's stead be you reconciled to God You see the Errand of the Gospel to you Souls and the Business of Christ in every Sermon it is to bring you to a willingness to accept of the Terms of Reconciliation to come over to God by Jesus Christ that you may be saved Secondly By giving out the holy Ghost by which Sinners are effectually called and adopted into the Sonship of God this is necessary in order to the Application of what the Lord Jesus Christ hath done in his own person whilst on Earth he promised when he left the World to send the Spirit in his Room seeing it is of necessity he must go away and take possession of the Kingdom of Glory for his people and must go within the Veil as the great High-priest therefore that this Work might go on in his Absence the comforter must come Jo. 16. 7. If I depart I will send him unto you And what shall he do He will reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and Judgment vers 8. He will guide you into all Truth vers 13. So that the Lord Jesus Christ sends the Spirit in the Gospel to make all the Administrations of it effectual to such as shall be saved All that Ministers can do cannot remove the thick Veil that is upon the Minds of Sinners we cannot give eyes to see nor Ears to hear it is the work of the Spirit it must be an Almighty power must open this two leafed gate and let in Jesus Christ into the Heart it must be by the Almighty Power and Energy of the Spirit that the work becomes successful to any Soul we find it so How many precious Sermons are cast away upon flinty Hearts they will not bow nor turn till the Spirit comes therefore the Lord Jesus Christ in the exercise of his Mediatorship pours out the Spirit Gal. 4. 6. That we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith Gal. 3. 14. Or the promised Spirit through the Word of Faith for Faith cannot be had till the Spirit be had Faith comes by hearing How received ye the Spirit by the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3. 2. There 's no such Commission given at all to the Law to give out the Spirit it is by the hearing of Faith by the opening this Box of precious Ointment this blessed savour comes to Sinners till that be done no Conversion-work can be done till the Spirit enters the Soul Jesus Christ cannot enter the Soul the Spirit of Christ is the harbinger and goes before and makes way for this blessed Mediator to come into the Sinners heart the Spirit is tendred to all but the Lord gives it to whom he pleases for it is as the Wind that blows Jo. 3. 8. So is the way of the Spirit thus the Lord Jesus Christ gives the Spirit to all that come to him and by this he carries on his Mediatory work Thirdly Another thing Jesus Christ doth with respect to men in the exercise of his Mediatorship He applies his Redemption-work to all those that do believe in him he makes over himself and all that is his by a free Donation to all that receive him Rev. 3. 20. If any man open the door I will come into him and will sup with him The great work is to get open this bolted door of the Heart to Jesus Christ and when the door stands open and the Sinner consents to take Christ and esteeming it a good Bargain to have him upon the most costly Terms then he makes over himself to the Soul I will sup with him I will impart my Spiritual refreshings to him I will give my self to him he shall feed upon my Flesh and Blood we have an Overture made Rev. 21. 6. I will give to him that is a thirst of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely So Rev. 22. 17. When once God hath brought the Sinner to a thirst for Christ to a sense of his Misery without Christ that he cannot live without him when the Sinner is persuaded to believe in him and give up himself to him then the Lord Jesus gives out himself his Spirit these Waters of Life the Waters of Regeneration then he puts the Believing Soul into the possession of Life and Righteousness of Grace and an earnest of Glory He gives to such a Right and Title to all that is his Joh. 1. 12. He gives out to them the fruit of his Sweat and Bleeding the fruit of his Groans and Dying as they are capable to receive He died that they might have Life
in Glory when I see how Satan buffets and assaults you from day to day then I look upon the Palms of my hands and see your names engraven there and will not leave you comfortless I will come again to you He sends his Spirit to keep them Company here on Earth and he will come and fetch them home at last he will be faithful to them in all things that pertain to God and for the Salvation of their Souls Heb. 2. 17. and Believers may urge him with his Promise and Faithfulness and this obliges Christ to do all he can for them Seventhly Because of the great Necessity they have of his pleading for them He sees they would be undone if he did not stand up for them Satan would lay in his Accusations he is the Accuser and what ways he hath to accuse the Saints before God we know not he accused Job and doubtless he is ever and anon laying in fresh Charges against the people of God therefore Christ pleads for them he sees they want Grace and want Strength therefore he cannot be silent he saw Peter had need of Support Luke 22. 31 32. therefore he prayed for him Christ sees they stand in need of Promises Experiences Consolations and Priviledges therefore he pleads in Heaven for them Sixthly What are the Comforts and Advantages that flow from the Intercession of Jesus Christ to believing Souls There 's Cause of wonderful Joy and Consolation to Believers when they cast their believing Looks towards Heaven to see their Advocate there First In regard of the Excellency of this Intercessor O! what a glorious mighty and potent Friend have Believers to plead for them he is no mean person he is the Son of God the express Image of his Fathers Person Heb. 1. 3. He is one that made the World and upholdeth the World and after he had suffered for Sin he is gone to Glory and takes his Seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high he doth not stand by as a Begger but sits down on the Throne by the Fathers side and speak as a Friend for them O what a glorious and transcendent person is he it is not an Angel it is not a Saint but it is the Lord Jehovah Jehovah Christ O when the Believer by Meditation comes to reflect on his Glorious Agent in Heaven how he is honoured by Angels Saints and every Creature it will wonderfully consolate his Languishing Spirit Secondly Consider the Successfullness of this Intercession and it cannot but yield much Comfort the Father heareth him always Joh. 11. 42. The Father and he are one of one Nature one Glory one Will what the Son wills the Father wills and Jesus Christ is the Executor of his own Will and hath all Power in his hands to give out and perform what he pleads for What would'st thou have Soul Lord sayes the Soul I would have more Grace be more holy have strength against this and the other Temptation I am afraid I shall perish under these Blasphemous Thoughts Oh the horrible injections of Satan Lord support me Why sayes Christ Fear not Soul In me is Everlasting strength thou shalt have it in my time and according to my measure Thirdly Consider the extent of Christs Intercession and that will contribute wonderful Joy to Believers His Favour is not narrowed up to one or two Favourites but for all his Saints All that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. All that believe in him Joh. 17. 20. Christ excepts none In this he out-goes the Affections of all Creatures It is rare for the largest Affections of Men not to run within some narrow limits but Jesus Christ hath an equal respect for all his Seed And then he intercedes for them in all their Matters Isa 63. 9. In all their Affiictions he is afflicted There is no part of their Trouble but he is concern'd in it As Christ is an Advocate in Heaven he is engag'd to attend the Concerns of his People though they should neglect him Isa 57. 18. He is privy to all their Matters How should this revive the Believing Soul It is the usual complaint of Souls O I fear Christ will not intercede for me I am so Carnal so full of Deceit Hypocrisie and Backslidings It is true He takes pleasure in the Prosperity of his People but I fear I am none of his They that pray and plead Spiritually may hope but I cannot pray nor look up But let me tell every poor trembling Believer There 's never a Soul that hath the Lord for his God that Jesus Christ can be unmindful of He intercedes for all his People and in all their Concernments Fourthly This may yield wonderful Comfort to Believers to consider That Jesus Christ doth not onely intercede in Heaven in their Names but in their very Natures He presents the Humane Nature in his own Person glorified and in this Nature he pleads to God for them He is set forth as the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. He cannot but be full of Pity and Compassion because he is of the same Nature with them They are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones Eph. 5. 30. O if that Scripture were but put into the Believing Meditation of Believers what Comfort will flow from it O trembling Saint thou mayest object thy Unworthiness and defiled Nature but Jesus Christ hath thy Nature glorified now in Heaven at the Father's right hand Fifthly The restlesness and unweariedness of Christs pursuing the Blessedness and Salvation of all his Seed is that which may yield wonderful comfort to the Believing Soul Consider his Temper and Disposition whiles he was on Earth His Spirit shall not fail till he hath set Judgment in the Earth Isa 42. 4. And if Christ was so earnest to undergo such work then and was so restless and active till it was done surely he must needs be restless to carry on this Work now in Heaven He lives ever to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. There are some times when men on Earth cannot agitate the Cause of their Friends but Christ is alwayes taken up about this Work of Mediation Christ's Authority is capable to manage all the Affairs of his People were they millions of men therefore it must needs be matter of wonderful Comfort to Believers that they have such a Mediator in Heaven Sixthly Consider the Advantages that flow from this Intercession of Christ to Believers and it will yield matter of wonderful comfort Their Sins shall be surely pardoned O what wonderful comfort is this Blessed is the man whose Transgression is forgiven and whose Sins are pardoned Psal 32. 1. He is an Advocate for them to take away their Sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. 1 Joh. 1. 7 9. No Bill shall be laid in against them at the Bar of God Who dares accuse that Soul that is covered over with the Blood of the Redeemer Rom. 8. 33 34. Their Persons and Performances shall surely find acceptance
with God through this Intercession of Christ Eph. 1. 6. Who hath made us accepted in the Beloved All that glorious Chain of Mercy that is made over to and fastned upon the Believer hath its tye to Jesus Christ Predestination Adoption Justification Sanctification and Salvation are all laid upon Christ It is a piece of usual weakness in poor Believers or rather Doubting-souls to judge of their Acceptance with God or Non-acceptance according to their Deservings or ill-deservings and the nature and frame of their Spirits and Duties when they have been drawn out in Frames and wonderfully rais'd in Duties they think now they shall find Favour But it is not that which gives your Suits Entertainment in Heaven it is as God accepts the Soul in Christ notwithstanding all the Failings and Infirmities of Believers they are entertained with a well done good and faithful Servant upon the account of Christ Again They are sure to be secur'd against the prevailing Power of all their Enemies let Beelzebub with all his Train and Forces be united against them he must be broken to pieces for Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding for them Sin shall have no Dominion over them Rom. 6. 14. God will bruise Satan under their Feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. Hence it is they may be sure none of their Enemies shall prevail Luke 1. 74. Again They may be sure to receive more Grace and Life more abundantly God giveth more Grace James 5. 6. whilst Christ's Interest holds in Heaven whilst he hath a Fullness of Grace to bestow Believers may expect more Access to the Throne of Grace at all times in his Name is another procured Advantage of his Intercession it is by the Blood of Christ Believers come to God with Boldness Heb. 4. 14. 16. Heb. 10. 21. 22. Hence the Blood of Christ makes Peace and an open door for Believers to approach to God Eph. 3. 12. Because he is there at the Throne of Grace he will open his Door to his Children and let them in within the Veil what tender Mother would shut the door against her weeping Child Again They have not only Access to the Throne of Grace but Success they shall speed when they cry with all their Hearts Joh. 14. 13. 14. Whatsoever you shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son if you shall ask any thing in my Name I will do it Christ was leaving his Disciples and they might tremblingly dispond how shall we live when thou art gone the World will persecute us and Satan will devour us Why says Christ I will protect you then as well as now and hear your Requests you think it is only your Concernment to have your Prayers answered no it is the Concernment of my Father too his Glory lies at stake for it O! what bold Encouragement is this Rev. 8. 3 4 5. Prayers ascended up and presently comes down Thunders Noises Lightnings and Earth-quakes as a Symbol of God's Reception believe it Saints have still as great Potency with God on the Account of Christ as ever and their right Prayers shall surely find an answer at the Throne of Grace Again They shall certainly have Perseverance in Grace for the Certainty of a Believers Graces depend not upon his own Strength that it should dye if he cease to exercise it but is secured by the Intercession of Christ Luke 22. 32. Jer. 32. 40. Another Effect of Christ's Intercession is this The Saints have Oneness with and an Interest in the Love of God Jo. 17. 21. 22. And they shall be sure of Grace and of Glory they shall have a Mansion in Heaven Jo. 14. 3. Jo. 17. 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am to behold my Glory CHAP. VI. Shewing the Willingness of Christ that Sinners should be saved the Sin and Misery of such as refuse Christ with Reproof to several sorts of Persons WE have a little opened the Transcendent Glory of Christ as Mediator wherein so much of his vast Treasury lies we come now to make some Application of this glorious point First By way of Information First How wonderfully are poor Sinners indebted to the Lord for giving such a Mediator as Jesus Christ God-Man none else in Heaven or Earth could have procured the Salvation of lost Sinners had he been God only he had had neither Right or Capacity to suffer had he been only Man he could never have born up under the dreadful weight of these Sufferings Death would have had Dominion over him his Sufferings unsatisfactory his Intercession rejected and all the hopes of Sinners perished but now he is able to save all that come to God by him O admire at and rejoyce in this Love of God in giving Christ Jo. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Life and Liberty Health and Strength Peace and Plenty are excellent Mercies but the giving of Christ is transcendently super-eminent Can you bless the Lord for lower Springs O adore these upper ones this Grace that brings Salvation Secondly See the Willingness of Christ that Sinners should be saved he would never else have assum'd the work of a Mediatour nor have given himself for this very end that Sinners might be brought to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. He would never have undertaken the bloody way of Death nor drunk off such a bitter tremendous Cup that Sin had brewed for him he would not have interceded with God for Terms of Reconciliation nor undergone such direful unconceivable Torments had he not been willing Sinners should live hath Christ so carefully prepared the Ministration of Reconciliation and absolutely commanded the Promulgation of the Gospel to every Creature Mark 16. 15. Hath he laid such a Necessity on his Messengers and Ambassadors and oblig'd them by the Penalty of fearful Woes to preach the Gospel and he is not willing that Sinners should be saved 1 Cor. 9. 16. See how he charges his Servants to be instant in Season and out of Season to reprove rebuke and exhort with all Long-suffering and Kindness 2 Tim. 4. 1. To perswade and beseech men to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 11. 20. And will he reject them when they come He would not have griev'd and mourn'd so much at Sinners Unbelief and out-standing the day of Grace had he been unwilling they should have liv'd Joh. 5. 40. Luke 19. 41. 42. Behold how he waits till the last hour of the Day and treats his Enemies with an affectionate Kindness why will you dye O House of Israel He heaps up Coals of Fire on their Heads and draws them with Cords of Love and with the bands of a man Mat. 5. 45. Hos 11. 4. he offers Violence by his Spirit to unwilling Souls and attempts the most charming Persuasions to allure them to him he thunders and lightens as on Mount Sinai and threatens them terribly if they will
filthy heart cleansed thy covetous heart spiritualized and thy captivated Soul set free from the damning Power of Sin and Satan had'st thou but improv'd a Mediator in Heaven Know Soul if ever Life and Salvation be obtained it must be by a Mediator Thirdly Here 's a Reproof to such as make Mediators of their Duties that trust their Prayers more than Christ and lay all their hopes of obtaining on the act of seeking Indeed the Promise of having is made to asking Matth. 7. 7. but not for asking Thy Matters saith Luther do not depend on the worth of thy Self or Prayer but solely on the account of Christ Joh. 14. 13. It is Prayer in his Name And therefore saith Luther Nulla Oratio extra Christum There is no Prayer at all out of Christ 'T is the Altar that sanctifies the Gift Matt. 23. 19. Our very Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags Isa 64. 6. When you have done all you are unprofitable Servants Luke 17. 10. Not unto us O Lord not unto us but to thy Name give Glory Psal 115. 1. All acceptance with God is through Christ To trust to thy Prayers is to trample on the Blood of Christ accounting it an unholy thing and the most effectual course to provoke the Lord to a real abhorrency of thy Duties and to throw them back as Dung on thy Face CHAP. VII Shewing what Consolation flows to Believers from the Intercession of Christ IF the Lord Jesus Christ be the onely Mediator between God and Man then here 's Comfort for Believers in several Cases First To weak Believers such as need Mercy and are unable to beg it as they should Poor Soul Art thou sensible of thy urgent Necessities that thy Wants are more than can be numbred Knowest thou the Hardness Pride Filthiness and Ungratefulness of thy Heart understandest thou thy need of the Spirit of Grace and the Gifts of Grace but canst not pray for supplies so understandingly sensibly affectionately and believingly as thou oughtest and therefore fearest shalt never find an Answer or obtain any reviving comfort to thy Soul in the believing view of Christ's Intercession in Heaven Let me tell thee desponding Christian thou canst not be really poor and pray in Faith thou canst not perish for want and have a Jesus in Heaven interceding for thee Heb. 7. 25. Him the Father heareth alwayes Joh. 11. 42. If the matter depended upon thy own Oratory and Eloquence thy Case were sad but there is one in Heaven that is wise mighty merciful omniscient who minds thy case considers thy needs hears thy groans knows thy distresses and ever liveth to make Intercession for thee Object But sayes a Soul How shall I know that Christ intercedes for me who am not worthy to lye under his Table nor crawl at his Feet I fear he hath greater concernments upon his Heart than to remember me For Resolution in this look back to Chap. 4. where is shewn for whom Christ intercedes He prayes for all that believe in him Joh. 17. 15. Art thou one that believest in Christ Hast thou chosen him as thy Lord and Righteousness And is he precious to thy Soul Could'st thou be content to part with all for him Pleasures Profits and Worldly Grandeur are they nothing when they come in competition with him Canst thou not say O! None but Christ none but Christ Christ with Poverty with Disgrace with Bondage and misery is far more preferrable than Riches Repute Liberty and Mercies without him Dost thou consent to all his terms and art thou willing to take up his yoke and to learn of him to bear his Cross and follow him to leave all and come to him and that considerately and from thy whole Heart Dost thou cast and adventure thy Soul and thy All upon his Ability to save thee Believest thou all that the Scripture reporteth concerning him his Personal Excellencies and purchased Sufficiencies That he is able and willing to save all that come to God by him and will not cast out any that really come And in this hope art thou resolved to trust thy All upon him and if thou perish to perish at his Feet Then art thou that Soul for whom Christ intercedes in Heaven Luke 10. 42. Lam. 3. 24. Isa 44. 5. Esth 4. 16. Mark 9. 24. Object But I cannot pray as I ought according to the Will of God Alas how cold dead spiritless are my Prayers and will God hear me Sol. 'T is not for thy name thou art heard but for the Name of Christ as you have already heard Joh. 14. 13. Rom. 8. 26 27. We know not what to pray for as we ought Neither I Paul nor you believing Romans know how to pray as we ought If thou wantest words yet if thou hast sighs and groans thy Prayers are heard through Christ Again Thou sayest thou canst not pray according to the Will of God I Answ 1. If thy Prayers are for such things as God requires for things that concern his Glory and the good and Salvation of thy Soul and for these outward things as God sees needful for thee If thou prayest for these as God promiseth them for Spiritual blessings absolutely and for others with submission to his Wisdom and Will if thou seekest these onely in the Name of Christ and ultimately for the Glory of God with all thy Heart and with all thy Strength thou askest aright and God will grant thee Secondly God in his infinite Grace through Christ accounts those things in his People that are not as if they were Rom. 4. 17. He judges his People to be what they would be Rev. 2. 9. I know thy Works and Tribulation and Poverty but thou art rich The Lord judgeth of his People not so much by their Frames inherent Qualifications and external Performances but by their real Sincerity and unfeigned desires Psal 38. 9. Thou complainest thy Prayers be cold and dead heartless and lifeless but doth this please thee or trouble thee Is not this the burden of thy Soul that which thou mournest over prayest and strivest against Doth no Prayer content thee but what is spiritual and fervent affectionate and upright Why poor Soul chear up thy self God esteems thy Prayers such through Christ as if they were so Thirdly The Procurement of thy needed Mercies doth not depend upon thy Prayer-frames or the Modes and Measures of thy Holiness but on the Mediation of Jesus Christ Pray weigh that Scripture Joh. 14. 14 16. If you shall ask any thing in my Name I will do it And I will pray the Father Any thing that is any thing you absolutely need Any thing that is fit for you to ask and me to give I will do it He doth not say The Modes of your Prayers the measures of your Frames and Holiness shall do it but if ye ask though with broken Language and troubled Expressions Sighs and Groans I will do it You have but one Advocate with the Father I will word your Requests
was undone because a man of unclean Lips Isa 6. 4 5. And the Church Isaiah 64. 6. profess they were as an unclean thing Paul an elect Vessel a man of singular Revelations yet laments that in him dwelt no good thing Rom. 7. 18. That he was carnal and sold under Sin ver 14. and when he would do good evil was present with him ver 21. Secondly Here 's Comfort that their Corruptions in them shall not break their Covenant Relation to God Psal 89. 30. to 35. There can be no Forfeiture of this Promise I will be their God and they shall be my People Thy Lye cannot make God untrue Rom. 3. 3. 4. Thy evil Eye cannot make his Eye evil too Matth. 20. 15. Thy wicked Thoughts cannot alter his gracious Thoughts Isa 55. 8. 9. Thy invincible Corruptions cannot overcome his Mercies nor the Enmity of thy Nature make God thy Enemy Thirdly Christ is employed in Heaven about this very Work of subduing thine Iniquities he intercedes ever and why That this People might be sanctified by the Truth Joh. 17. 17. That they might have more Grace and the Spirit given out to mortifie their Corruptions he reigns in Heaven on purpose to bring down his and their Enemies 1 Cor. 15. 25. He carries on the work of Redemption in Heaven and what is that but to set his People free indeed he hath an assured care now in Glory to fulfil his Promises one of which is that Iniquity shall be subdued Mic. 7. 18. Romans 6. 14. Fourthly Christ's promise to the Father is security for the Destruction of thy Sin he is engaged to present his people compleat to the Father Eph. 5. 27. and to keep them unblameable to his heavenly Kingdom 1 Thes 5. 23. Fifthly His Glory and Pleasure is concerned in the Death of thy Corruptions Isa 53. 10. The Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand What is this Pleasure of the Lord It is the Redemption of his People from the Tyranny of Sin and the Slavery of Satan into the glorious Liberty of the first born of Glory 2 Thes 1. 11 12. Lastly Grace is of a prevailing Nature and must destroy thy Lusts at last and the Spirit of Grace is in his people Mat. 12. 20. the Interest of Sin and Sinners cannot always stand before the Interest of God and his people Esther 6. 13. Fourthly Here 's Comfort to tempted Believers such as are always dogged with filthy and frighâ—ing Temptations restlessly haunted with vile and blasphemous Thoughts and miserably buffeted with dreadful and dangerous Suggestions if Christ be interceding in Heaven then surely he will one day or other put an end to all the Temptations and in the mean time over-rule them that they shall not prevail over thee 1 Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 2. 19. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour those that are tempted Christ is a merciful High-priest and wants neither Knowledge Bowels or Abiliiy which might render him capable to relieve the tempted he hath the tempting Serpent the roaring Lion in Chains and will mercifully say to that proud one come so far and no farther Fifthly Here 's Comfort to Gods people under their Afflictions and Sufferings in the World or by the World if Christ be interceding in Heaven for them then surely he will not leave them comfortless in their Sufferings for him Joh. 14. 8. chap. 16. 32. 33. Then Tribulation nor Persecution nor any thing else can separate them from the Love of God in Christ Rom. 8. 35. He that is for them is stronger than all that are against them â—ers 31. He will be with them in the Fire and in the Water Isa 43. 2. Christ is never sweeter than when the World is most bitter to a Child of God Afflictions can but file away the Rust and scoure away the Filth it cannot diminish the Grace nor injure the State of those that are interested in Christ's Mediation Christ's Cordials are never better than when his people are most faint and languishing Christ in Heaven laughs at the vain hopes of his Enemies and will dash all their Attempts against himself and Interest in pieces Psal 2. 4 9. He will strengthen his tyred distressed Servants under Sufferings Isa 42. 10. 2 Cor. 12. 9. His Arm is made bare his Power display'd and his Strength made perfect in their Weaknesses Psal 27. 14. This may be the Trouble and dejecting Fears of some how they shall hold out-in times of Tryal I am afraid says one I shall never bare Reproaches Hatred Bonds Loss of Goods and death for Christ with a magnanimous and Gospel Spirit Why Soul It shall be given thee in that hour not only to believe but to suffer for Christ Phil. 1. 29. The Fury of the Adversary shall not terrifie you nor their rampent Rage deject your Courage Isa 35. 4. Sixthly Here 's Comfort to such as are Mourners for Sion and grieve at the Afflictions of God's People That lament to see Christ's Interest on foot and the Wicked on horse-back Transgressors to prosper and the Godly afflicted that weep to behold Divine Providences thwarting his Promises The Lord hath promised that to Christ shall every Knee bow and every Tongue confess Men read of glorious things spoken of Sion but when they look to the Interest of God they see nothing but matter of trouble and grief They look to the Earth and behold Darkness and Confusions they look to the Church of Christ and lo Decayes and Dyings Now this breeds trouble to the Friends of Christ to see things run counter and cross to expectation and promise yet here is Comfort from the Intercession of Christ on this account For First The Lord Jesus sits at Helm he is upon the Throne and reigns as King for ever and this hath been the Faithful s Refuge and Support in the worst of Times Psal 10. 2. 4. 16. Psa 29. 10. The Lord Jesus hath the Government of Nations as well as of Sion on his shoulders Isa 9. 6. Eph. 1. 22. He rules over all Psal 103. 19. His Kingdom ruleth over all Men and Devils cannot wrest the Scepter out of his hands In spight of all he is King of Sion Psal 2. 6. and his Government is maintained in all the Confusions that are on the Earth and if so there is no cause for the People of Christ to be dejected Fear not said Caesar to his Mariners in a Storm Caesar is here Why are ye so fearful said Christ to his Disciples when trembling at their Dangers in a boysterous Storm O ye of little Faith Matth. 8. 26. That Vessel cannot miscarry that hath Christ at Helm and if it could said Luther mallem ruere cum Christo quam regnare cum Caesare I had rather perish with Christ than reign with Caesar Secondly His Paths are in the deep waters Psal 77. 19. Thy way is in the Sea thy paths are in the deep waters and thy foot-steps are not
an hour of Salvation O Sinner be not wise too late Fourthly It is a most dreadful tremendous thing to leave the World without an Interest in Christ to be summon'd to Judgment and have nothing to help them no Mediator to plead for them no Righteousness to cover them no Duties to accompany them no Eye to pity them Isa 57. 12. chap. 30. 13. Jer. 5. 5. This is sad indeed when all Bowels are gone and boundless Miseries to be undergone Fifthly Of all perishing Sinners such as perish under the Gospel have the most dreadful Miseries Matth. 11. 21. 22. The Heathens and Pagans Publicans and Harlots shall have a more tolerable place in Hell than such as refuse a tender'd Jesus How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2. 3. O miserable Sinners sleight not Salvation tenders despise not Gospel calls but hasten away to this Redeemer Secondly Let the People of God be exhorted first to bless God for this Mediator Eph. 1. 3. Christ is the Fountain of Blessings the Author of Salvation the Gift of God and have you no Hosanna's for the Enjoyment of so rich a person 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. Secondly Ply hard the Throne of Grace find Work for Christ Heb. 4. 15 16. Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace make known your Requests unto God Phil. 4. 6. Consider Soul You have always need of Mercy not a Moment but you want Supplies from God for Soul and Body your Corruptions are alwayes resisting the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. never at peace with Grace but as a Bow that is bent are still pressing after their former Liberty and as Waters penn'd back are striving to force their way therefore Christians you alwayes need the Spirit 's help and fresh Supplies of Grace your Guilt is always encreasing James 3. 2. The Righteous falleth seven times a day hence daily Sacrifices were appointed because of daily Sins Heb. 7. 27. Your Temptations are continually renewed 1 Pet. 5. 8. New Tryals are daily falling on you new Difficulties are frequently occurring your Life new Troubles and Afflictions are constantly betiding you This is God's appointed way in which he will give out Mercy Ezek. 36. 37. Matth. 7. 7. 'T is true sometimes God hears before we ask but yet preventing Mercy doth not excuse from Duty and we have no ground to expect Mercy out of the way of Duty You are invested with a holy Priest-hood on purpose that you may be much employed in this Work 1 Pet. 2. 5. Your Work and Offices lies in this to offer up daily Sacrifices to God by Christ The Lord Jesus waits in Heaven to receive your Prayers 't is his Business and work in Glory to pursue your Advantages and therefore he expects to hear from you 9. Heb. 24. As an Agent that expects to hear from his Clyent and receive Intimation about his Condition as a Friend in a forreign Country that is hearkning for Letters from his Friend Christ in Heaven desires to hear from his People on Earth not that he is ignorant of them or needs to be put in Remembrance but this way are his Graces in them exercised their Love and Duty maintain'd and himself glorified Isa 30. 18. Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious In the Original it is he longs and as it were greedily and enlargedly desires an Occasion to be gracious he waits in Heaven to be puâ— in Remembrance to do his People good This way is their blessed Intercourse maintained betwixt Christ in Heaven and Believers on Earth by this Christ hears from them on Earth and they from him in Heaven Cant. 2. 14. chap. 8. 13 14. Thou that dwellest in the Gardens the Companions hearken to thy Voice cause me to hear it 'T is in the Original Cause to hear me which occasions a twofold reading First Cause me to he heard they are Christs Words to his Spouse Let me be the Subject of thy Discourse to others Secondly Cause me to hear it that is let me be spoken to let me hear thy Voice in Prayer as a man desires to hear from his Wife when absent and in the next vers She eccho's back the same Request to Christ that he would hasten his Return to her that she might have his Company also by Prayer Christ and Believers have sweet Intercourse with each other Cant. 1. 7 8. chap. 2. 5. 8. The Lord Jesus is wonderfully delighted to hear from his People Cant. 2. 14. chap. 4. 11. chap. 6. 13. Return Return O Shulamite c. This word Shulamite comes either from Solomon and so her Husbands name is named on her or from Salem Peace which is Jerusalem shewing her Descent to be from Jerusalem above hence Christ desires her Company because it was pleasure to him to look upon her her Countenance was as two Armies it is in the Original Mahanaim the same word that Jacob puts on the place where God met him Gen. 32. 1. 2. As if Christ should say thy Sight is Angelical to me tho thou art impure in thy self yet thou art fair in mine Eye 'T is a mighty thriving way there 's no such course can be taken to grow rich apace in divine Treasures Prayer is the Key that opens Christ Treasury and fetches out the Riches of Heaven because such may have of God what they will Joh. 15. 7. God is always giving where gracious Souls are rightly asking God's readiness to give should be an Argument always to crave as Sir Walter Raleigh when Q. Eliz. ask'd him when he would leave off beging answered when your Majesty leaves off giving Thirdly Trust to an interceding Jesus expect all your Mercies from him Psal 5. 3. In the Morning I will direct my Prayer to thee and look up the Arabick and some other Versions have it I will prepare or stand before him and he will see me But this agrees not with the Original where 't is I will order or dispose my Prayer as a General doth his Army and will look out as a man that watches on a Tower to see what I can espy and what Answer he will give By a Metonomy it signifies to expect or look for some thing Matth. 22. 21. In his Name shall the Gentiles trust The Lord Jesus is the sure and certain Object of a Believers Trust O Christians is Christ entred into Heaven there to appear for his People O then depend upon his Intercession expect all your needed Mercies by him take up your Acquiescence in his Mediation for you rest satisfied Believers that your case is good and it shall be well with you in every Condition because Christ intercedeth for you Now to strengthen your Dependance on Christ Consider His Engagement to the Father to become your Advocate Heb. 10. 9. Joh. 6. 39. His Promise to Believers to pursue their Cause in Heaven Joh. 14. 16. And his full Accomplishments with whatever is needful to compleat this Work He is infinitely wise and knows how to
God and one another Creature-affections are but streams deriv'd from this Ocean Candles lighted at this Sun We love him because he first loved us 1 John 4. 19. The ascending Love of Saints is a faint Reflection of the descending Love of Christ the same Waters that empty themselves into the Sea have their Birth from it Seventhly An active love Creature-affections are dull and sluggish and savour rankly of the Vessel they are in but Christ's are vigorous and laborious a parental Love that sets his Wisdom on designing his Faithfulness on securing and his Power on accomplishing the chiefest Concernments and highest good of his Children Lastly a fruitful Love full of good Works 't is commended love Rom. 5. 8. manifested love 1 John 4. 9. Not love in the Womb or abortive but love in the Birth I shall name some of it's Fruits to his People First the giving of himself for them Eph. 5. 25. Who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2. 20. This is the highest Testimony of his Love imaginable he could not have bestowed a better thing he that gives himself gives all He gave himself to procure a purchased Treasure to enrich them to destroy the partition Wall and fill up that bottomless Gulf that lay in their way to glory he gave himself to discharge their Debts remove their Guilt justifie their Persons fulfil all Righteousness and make good the new Covenant Secondly The opening of his heart to them John 15. 14 15. I have called you Friends for all that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you O! the wonderful Love and Kindness of Christ to his People that he communicates his Secrets and opens to them the Thoughts of his Heart from all Eternity he leads them into his retired Chambers and secret Recesses and feasts them liberally with hidden Manna and excellent Discoveries of the things freely given them of God Saints cannot ascend up into Heaven and see the Length Depth Breadth and Height of those glorious things God hath prepared for them but they have the Priviledge to wade deep into sanctuary Waters and the Spirit of Grace is freely given them to reveal the Depths of divine Love Thirdly The Communication of all good things to them He will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold Psa 84. 11. Psal 34. 10. O boundless Love indeed he may bestow some sublunar Portions on his Enemies but his Children only shall have the Inheritance they shall have his Wisdom to direct them his Goodness to supply them his Power to protect them and his Spirit to instruct them Joh. 16. 13. 14. And O what a wonderful Gift is the Spirit he will shew them their Duty reprove them for their Sin answer their Doubts clear up their Way and enlighten them in their Darkness he will open their Hearts enlarge their Souls regulate their Wills illuminate their Minds and sanctifie their Persons he will communicate Counsel reveal Christ discover their Inheritance and seal them up to the day of Redemption Fourthly His minding and pursuing all their Concerns in Heaven the Business Believers have in another Country where they cannot come is very weighty they need Receptions of more Grace every day Strength against Corruption Wisdom in their Difficulties Patience in their Sufferings and Faith in their Temptations now Christ doth agitate their Cause becomes their Factor and dispatches their Work Exod. 28. 29. Heb. 7. 25. Isa 49. 15. 16. Fifthly His gracious Presence with them Joh. 14. 18. I will not leave you comfortless Heb. 13. 5. Jer. 32. 40. 2 Cor. 6. 16 He may hide his face for sometime and suspend the gracious light of his Countenance he may stand behind the Wall and step behind the Curtain yet these are but momentary not continual and imaginary not real Sixthly His bearing with them and forbearing of them 1 Cor. 13. 7. Charity beareth all things it cannot easily be overloaded what gross Indignities and abusive Injuries doth Christ patiently receive from the hands of his People Amos 2. 13. Psal 95. 10. Seventhly His thinking often and well of them and his being a Friend to their Friends and an Enemy to their Enemies where a mans Affections are there will his Thoughts be also the Adulterers Thoughts are on his Uncleanness the wordly man 's on his Treasures and the Ambitious on his Honours but Christ's are on his People Isa 43. 4. They are his Hephzibah's the delight of his Soul his Jewels and Treasures Isa 62. 4. Mal. 3. 17. He esteems their Enemies as his Exod. 23. 29. and favours their Friends with peculiar Blessings Exod. 1. 20. Gen. 39. 5. Eighthly His being troubled with their Troubles and delighted with their Welfare Joh. 11. 33. 35 36. when the Lord Jesus came to raise Lazarus from the dead and saw Mary weeping and the Jews that were with her 't is said He groaned in Spirit and was troubled nay when he came to the place where Lazarus lay he wept whereupon the Jews said Behold how he loved him and his Heart is the same now in Heaven Isa 63. 9. True love will suffer in the Tryals of it's Friend Acts 9. 4. hence the Afflictions of Saints are call'd the Afflictions of Christ Col. 1. 24. what Hester said concerning her people may be more truly spoken by Christ Hester 8. 6. How can I endure to see the Evil that shall come upon my people He is grieved at the Evil of their Sins or Sufferings Mark 3. 5. Eph. 4. 13. and takes wonderful Pleasure in their Welfare Poov 8. 31. no tender parent can more earnestly desire the Happiness and rejoyce in the Advantages of his Children than Jesus Christ in his Psal 147. 11. If the Joy of his Ambassadors doth much depend upon the Prosperity of the Souls of their Auditors 3 Epist Joh. ver 4. Then surely himself is not altogether unconcern'd Lastly His preparing a Heaven for them John 14. 2 3. In my Fathers House are many Mansions I go to prepare a place for you c. The Lord Jesus knows that his departure from the World with the sad Consequences thereof would breed great Trouble in the Hearts of his Disciples therefore labours to prevent it by telling them of the occasion of his Departure that it was for their sakes and in their business and though the World would abuse them when he was gone and cast them out of their House and Country yet he tells them he had a Father in Heaven that would receive them and he was going thither to prepare a place for them and there was store of room for them in Heaven The word translated Mansion here signifies an abiding fixed place Here you dwell in Tabernacles but in Heaven are places for you out of which you shall never be turned more Don't expect much Happiness in the World but look to Heaven for all your satisfying Comforts There 's a Rest for you after all your wearying Duties and Troubles there are
pleasant Habitations after all your Wilderness Journeyings There 's a large dwelling-place here you are thrust into corners and may be have little conveniencies in your Houses Here you dwell in Strangers and perhaps Enemies Houses but there your dwelling shall be in your Father's House 'T is really so I do not flatter you with vain hopes or feed you with false reports if it were not so I would have told you Some might object here That there may be Houses in Heaven and yet they in Hell No says Christ I go to prepare a place for you when I come to Heaven I will bespeak a House for you it shall be your own your own proper Right every one of you and of all my People shall have a House of their own and it shall be Fee simple theirs to all Eternity But some may say How shall we be sure of this that when we dye we shall have a place in Glory Why saith Christ As sure as I go to Heaven shall you have a Mansion there for 't is one end of my going thither 't is part of my business there I go to prepare a place for you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word saith Grotius notes a Divine Appointment a place that God allots and appoints for you that you might not think it is procured by your own Merit and labours As if he should say you may be sure my People you shall not miss of a place in my Father's House because he hath given you a house in Heaven and I go to possess it for you and to make it sure My Father hath given it and I have purchased it and now I go to take it into my own hand for you yea to fit and sute your Lot in Heaven as may be most meet for you and as may bear a full proportion to all your Labours and Sufferings for me And thus the word likewise imports saith Dr. Preston to fit and fashion one as a Vessel is fashion'd and shap'd to its proper Use But Believers may urge Lord how shall we get thither the Journey is far the Way we know not many Dangers lye betwixt this and Heaven the Prince of the Air and all the Devils of Hell lye betwixt this and Glory and how shall we get safely through all these Dangers Why saith Christ I will come again and receive you when I have done your Work in Heaven when I have difpatched my gathering and compleating work on Earth when all my Saints are called and perfected then will I come again and receive you to my self I will come and unite your Souls and Bodies together and then will shew you the way to Heaven and lead you into your own habitations there and as surely put you into possession of Glory as I am going to possess it for my self and in the mean time I will take care of you in the way and send my Spirit to guide you and bear you thorow it and my Angels when you are at your Journeys end shall receive your Souls and bring them unto me that where I am you may be also Joh. 17. 24. Joh. 12. 26. What greater Love can there be than the Engagements of Christ's Heart to get all his Children brought home to Heaven that they may be ever with him and partake of his Glory 1 Cor. 15. 22 23. CHAP. X. Several Deductions drawn from the Love of Christ IF the Lord Jesus be so full of Love and tender Affection then First What reason have Sinners never to be quiet till the Lord Jesus become their Friend till they have an Interest in his special Love Alas poor Souls the common Love of Christ though now you fare the better for it will shortly be at an end His Philanthropy though procious yet is but like a Box of Ointment which may be wasted and consum'd Mark 14. 4. But his special Love is like the two Olive Trees Zach. 4. 12. always emptying out it self through the golden Pipes of his Ordinandes to his People Christ's common Love to Sinners is like a Land-flood that will be drained But his special Love is compar'd to a Fountain a Wood of Water that springeth up to Life Eternal O then labour after an Interest in this Love of Christ that brings Salvation Put away the Evil of thy doings hearken to Christ's counsel receive him into thy Heart by Faith obey his Voice take him to be thy Lord and God and thou shalt possess his love too Psal 45. 10. Secondly Then what an abominable thing is it to hate Christ how unexcusable will Sinners Enmity against him be when he comes to Judgment Jer. 2. 5. Prov. 8. 36. All they that hate me love Death Psal 21. 8 9. Psal 132. 18. Nah. 1. 2. 3dly Then why should Believers take up such hard thoughts of Christ Isa 40. 27. Why sayest thou O Jacob my way is hid from the Lord and my Judgment is passed over from my God that is my Condition my trouble my Soul is out of God's thoughts He takes no notice of nor cares what becomes of me And my Judgment that is God's judging my Cause his righting and helping my oppressed Soul is gone from me or he hath laid it aside he will not help me in my Affliction This was Sion's complaint and hard thoughts of God and this displeased him Why sayest thou O Jacob c As if he should say what cause hast thou O Israel my People to entertain such harsh conceptions of my Love what Iniquity hast thou found in me what wrong have I done thee Have I not born thee from the Womb and carried thee all the dayes of old Look back to the Red Sea and to the Wilderness who cared for thee there Call to mind the Manna and the Rock the Bread and Water on the Way I suffered none to do thee harm I delivered thee out of the hands of all thy Enemies and plagued them that injured thee Thus have I been thy help from thy Youth up and why sayest thou then my way is hid from the Lord O Jacob thou dost ill to censure me so severely Is this the requital of all my love and kindness to thee hitherto Repent of these injurious apprehensions and put more favourable constructions on my wayes Gracious Souls have no reason to prejudge the Heart of Christ and censure him of unkindness and negligence for 't is impossible he should forget his People Isa 49. 15. He hath paid too dear for them to do so They have cost his Blood Eternal Counsels many Troubles many Wonders and will he reject them after all O no. He hath engraven them on the Palms of his hands where he cannot but see and must secure their names Isa 49. 16. I cannot look upon my hands but I must remember thee I should forget my self should I forget thee thou art set as a Seal upon my Heart and thy Walls are continually before me that is though thy Protection be gone for a time and I
have left thee to the Will of thine Enemies yet I will redeem and secure thee I will raise up thy Walls and re-establish thy State for thy Walls are before me though thou seest them not I can and will preserve them thou art Weak but I am strong I faint not though thou faintest I am never weary though thou art tyred and as sure as I have Strength I will give it thee they that wait on the Lord shall renew their Strength Isa 40. 28. Again you cannot see the way to get out of your Troubles your Wisdom is non-plust but mine is not so There is no searching of my Vnderstanding O then do not give up thy Hopes O Jacob or conclude I have forgotten thee He hath promised he will not cast off his People nor leave them comfortless 1 Sam. 12. 22. Joh. 14. 18. And he is not as a man that he should lye c. Numb 23. 19. He hath given them his Seal to it 2 Cor. 1. 22. Eph. 4. 30. Nothing can separate his love from them Rom. 8. 35. 38 39. Object But I am afraid I am none of Christs nor have the Spirit because of the Filthiness Obdurateness and Irregularity of my Heart Answer If ever thou hadst the Spirit thou hast it still John 4. 14. Isa 59. 21. Gracious Souls may sometimes seem to themselves to be carnal and sold under Sin Rom. 7. 14. They may not see any good thing dwell in them ver 18. but be like to the slain that lye in the Grave Psal 88. 5. So Heman thought himself one free among the dead whom the Lord would remember no more in the Winter there 's little visible difference between the living and the dead Tree neither is there betwixt a Saint and a Sinner in time of Desertion and Temptation God's Children may be led captive by Sin and brought into Bondage by their Lusts Rom. 7. 23. and then 't is hard to say how unlike they are to them that never knew God and therefore Christian judge not thy self by thy changeable Frames if thou dost not repent of thy Change thy leaving thy old Courses and chusing God and Grace a Corinth 7. 10. If thou dost not approve of any Sin or secretly love thy filthy ways Romans 7. 15. 20. If thy Heart be discontented with thy state of back-sliding and longeth after a return to thy resting place then thou art gracious Jer. 31. 18. Psal 14. 7. If thou dost find a War betwixt thy Members and thy Mind the Law of the Spirit of Life warring against the Law of Sin and Death thy state is good Rom. 7. 21 22 23. Gal. 5. 17. The Plesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary one to the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word notes a vehement and continued Desire a Desire which is still in Action and working till we have it accomplisht not a sudden Motion or momentary Passion Look how Corruption and Lust works against Grace so doth Grace against Corruption for these two are contrary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the one lays Seige against the other as a Souldier in a Trench against a Fort. Now if it be so with thy Soul that thou findest in it two parties as Twins in the Womb opposing each other and dost experience something in thy Will against Sin as well as for it and something in thy Affections an Enemy to thy Corruptions as well as a Friend if thou longest as much for Freedom from Sin as from Hell and thy Heart cannot be at peace whilst the Body of Sin remains in thee then lift up thy head O Soul Judgment shall be brought forth to Victory and the top stone shall in due time be laid with shouting Grace Grace to it Fourthly Then you that are Christ's take heed you abuse not his Love Rom. 6. 15. What then Shall we sin because we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid That is shall we yield our Souls to the Service of Sin as vers 16. or give a willing Consent to the Commission of it God forbid That is far be it from us noting it to be a vile and abominable thing to Sin under Grace and against Grace this is a most disingenuous thing to abuse love and requite Evil for Good it is most unjust to injure him that loveth you 't is a costly Sin and will have a bitter reckoning at last 't is a Spot notoriously like the Spot of Reprobation Jude v. 4. But if it may consist with Grace yet it will break your Bones and scourge you soundly e're God hath done what did David Solomon and Peter get by abusing divine Love Fifthly Admire Christ's love his love is admirable passing Knowledge you use to admire things that are strange and beyond your reach but what more miraculous and unparellel'd than this That the Lord of Glory who hath Angels at his Service should set his Affections on poor polluted Dust and Ashes on Fleas and Worms as Abraham and David acknowledged themselves to be that so illustrious a person as the Lord Jesus should fall in love with so deformed a piece as man in whom was neither Beauty nor Riches Vertue nor Honour and be enamoured of him so greatly as to take him into his Bosom and a conjugal Relation with himself 't is so stupendious a Miracle that 't is said he shall be admired of all that believe when he comes 2 Thes 1. 10. O Christians gather in all your Valuations from Creatures for your Creator and Redeemer Isa 63. 1. Sixthly Adventure on the Love of Christ swim on these deep Waters roll your selves on these divine Depths and confide in his new Covenant love for 't is unchangeable love to the end many waters cannot quench it Cant. 8. 7. Trust his Love I say in the way of Obedience Joh. 14. 21. 23. If his love be free then 't is not for your sake Deut. 7. 17. Not for your Beauty or Holiness but for his own good Pleasure Of his own Will begat he us Jam. 1. 18. He loves you Believers because you are his own Joh. 13. 1. And because it hath pleased him to make you his people 1 Sam. 12. 22. If he loves those that love him then surely he will kindly resent the Ardency of thy Affections to him O adventure on this Love Seaventhly love him who hath so loved you 1 Joh. 4. 19. Psal 31. 23. O love the Lord all ye his Saints The Reason is laid down from the 19. verse to this O how great is thy Goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee c. The greatness and Excellency of Christ's Love deserves yours O love him at all times and in all things with a free supream steady rational and expressed love Lastly Be full of love to others for Christ's sake Eph. 5. 2. Walk in Love as Christ also hath loved you 1 Joh. 4. 11. Love all men such a love is in God he
they cannot sleep through trouble he will sit up with them when they are solitary and dejected he will come and see them Fifthly His comforting them in their Troubles He is the Father of Mercies and God of all Comfort who comforteth us in all our Tribulations Consolating is an act of pity to those that are in trouble 1 Thes 3. 2. So Job's Friends when they had heard of all the Evil that was come upon him they came every one from his place to mourn with him and to comfort him Herein lies much of Christ's pity to his People he would not have them swallowed up of overmuch grief 2 Cor. 2. 7. When they are cast down he charges his Messengers to speak comfortably to them Isa 40. 2. When he brings his People into the Wilderness he will speak comfortably to them Hos 2. 14. Isa 66. 13. chap. 57. 18. This is part of Christ's Intercession in Heaven that the Father would send the Comforter to them Joh. 14. 16. And part of his last counsel that he left with them was That they would be of good cheer Joh. 16. 33. Joh. 14. 1. He began his Sermon with a Use of Comfort Let not your hearts be troubled c. and here he closeth the same with a word of Comfort And indeed the whole of Christ's Fare-wel Sermon was Consolation to his People He would not have them be in Heaviness longer than need did require 1 Pet. 1. 6. but commands them to rejoyce evermore 1 Thes 5. 16. Sixthly His counselling them in all cases wherein they stand in need of his Advice Hence they have Line upon line and Precept upon Precept that they might be wise to Salvation and therefore he is called the wonderful Counsellor Isa 9. 6. Psal 16. 7. I bless the Lord who hath given me counsel Counsel saith Ainsworth about my Sufferings and the Glory that shall follow Job 36. 8 9 10. Adversity sometimes is God's University and Schola Crucis saith Luther is Schola Lucis Mysterious Truths many times spring out of Affliction-depths Seventhly His giving to them and forgiving of them Pity hath open hands and stretcht out arms Christ hath left a large witness of his liberality 1 Tim. 6. 17. Who giveth richly all things to enjoy Men give sparingly but Christ bountifully they with straitned hearts but he with open bowels they sometimes in Reversion but he in possession And he doth not only give but forgive Mic. 7. 18. Who is a God like unto thee that pardons iniquities c Exod. 34. 6. Psal 86. 5. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive Numb 14. 20. 1 Joh. 2. 1. They run into debt and he dischargeth them They do as it were write down their Iniquities and he blots them out Now Are not these admirable demonstrations of his Pity and affectionate compassions of his tender Bowels towards his People Secondly He hath infinite Pity for his Enemies Mercy and good will for Sinners Luke 6. 35. This appears First In his bearing with them and forbearing of them Rom. 9. 22. Endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction How doth the Lord suffer the vilest of men to live and that very long Lo I have come these three years looking for fruit Luke 13. 17. These forty years have I been grieved with this People Psal 95. 10. An hundred and twenty years did he bear with that high and uncurable wickedness of the first World and that after it was come to the full Gen. 6. 3. Four hundred years did God bear with the sins of the Amorites even after he had given Abraham their Land Gen. 15. 13 16. How long did the Lord bear with the Ten Tribes after their Apostasie from his pure Service even the space of two hundred and fifty years in which time there were Nineteen Kings and all wicked men walking in the steps of Jeroboam O! the slowness of God to Anger even against his Enemies that dare him to his very Face yea that trample his Glory under foot and that every day yea hour and yet God spares them to old Age many times Alas how soon are we angry at our Enemies and if but slighted a little ready with the Disciples to call for Fire from Heaven to consume those that receive us not Luke 9. 54. But the Lord Jesus is not so he waiteth that he may be gracious and his long-suffering leadeth to Salvation Secondly His maintaining of them and that sometimes at the highest rate giving them Honour and Riches Prosperity and Favour Pharoah must have a Kingdom and yet an Enemy to his People Nebuchadnezzar an Empire Ahasuerus an hundred twenty and seven Provinces Croesus vast riches and Sardanapalus delicate Pleasures All the Creatures are pressed at their Service the Air Earth and Sea are ransack't to satiate their Lusts Hos 11. 2 3 4. He feeds and cloaths helps and prospers his greatest Enemies and all to heap up Coals of Fire upon their heads Thirdly His affectionate seeking their Salvation This was his Errand into the World he came to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Lost Sinners Matth. 18. 11. Bloody Sinners Ezek. 16. 6. Blind Idolaters Acts 17. 23. Cruel Persecutors Acts 9. 4. Wicked Sorcerers Acts 8. 9. These the Lord Jesus seeks to save he sends his Gospel to invite them to come unto him Matth. 11. 28. Yea beseeches them 2 Cor. 5. 20. Makes large promises to them if they will return Isa 55. 7. Act. 3. 19. Yea how doth the Spirit strive with Sinners that they may be saved Reasons with them Why will you dye Come let us reason together Isa 1. 18. Why wilt thou not suffer me to save thy Soul and to make thee happy to all Eternity Poor Sinner I have a real mind to do thee good an affectionate kindness for thee I came from Heaven to save such as thee Behold my hands and my feet see how my heart bleeds for thee Behold how ready my purchase is yonder is thy fair Estate if thou wilt be mine Lift up thine eyes to those Mansions Crowns and Thrones all these shall then be thine See those beautiful Garments consent to me and thou shalt wear thy filthy Rags or lye in those pinching straits no longer thou shalt lodge no more in those stinking Kennels of thy Lusts O poor Sinner why wilt thou stand in thy own light and slight this offer which thou mayest never have made thee more Lo how my Bowels move towards thee see how my Arms are open'd to thee Be mine and I will be thine My Kingdom shall be thine my Friends will be thine my Servants shall be thine My Angels shall protect thee yea attend thee my Creatures shall maintain thee my Wisdom shall guide thee my Faithfulness shall keep thee my Power shall be laid out for thee my Love shall delight thee my Honour shall adorn thee and my Treasure shall enrich thee I will be a loving Husband to thee I will provide all good things for
thee I will rejoyce over thee I will forget the wrongs thou hast done me I will requite thy Vnkindness with Kindness and draw thee with cords of Love with cords saith one woven and spun out of my very Heart and Bowels O miserable Caitiff embrace my Counsels listen thine Ears to Heaven gate and hear the melodious Musick that is there made by refined Spirits why wilt thou rather lye with damned howling Devils than sing Hallelujah's and the Song of the Lamb with saved Souls Accept of me and unchangeable Glory unspeakable Priviledges and Rivers of Pleasures shall be thine Thus doth the Lord Jesus woo poor perishing Souls to be happy and is not this Pity indeed Fourthly His readiness to receive them when they come to him No sooner do they open the door but he comes in Rev. 3. 20. If any man open the door I will come in unto him No sooner doth the Prodigal return but his Father meets him yea runs to meet him as if he could never come soon enough at him Luke 15 20. Mercy is upon the wing when it comes to receive returning Sinners No sooner did Ephraim repent but God repented too As soon as he said Turn thou me God said He shall be turned when he cries Thou art the Lord my God presently God Answers Is he not a pleasant Child So willing is Christ to receive returning Sinners as that he promiseth he will in no wise cast them out Joh. 6. 37. Yea if they cannot come unto him he will go and fetch them and if they cannot go he will draw them Joh. 6. 44. Fifthly His great Joy when he hath obtain'd them The Father of the Prodigal keeps a Feast and makes merry when his lost Child is found Luke 15. 23 24. Psal 104. 31. The Lord shall rejoyce in his Works and this he doth when he hath finished them Heb. 4. 4. But there is nothing the Lord Jesus Christ takes more pleasure in than in the Redemption of Souls Prov. 8. 31. He delighted in the habitable parts of the Earth This you vvill find further amplified in the Parables of the lost sheep and lost piece of Silver Luke 15. from vers 4. to 11. CHAP. XII The Improvement of the Pity of Christ by way of Terrour Encouragement and Advice ARE there such deep and large Bowels of Pity in Jesus Christ not only towards his Friends but his very Enemies Then here is First Terrour to Impenitent Sinners Ah Souls hovv fearfully great is your Sin being a plain defiance to the Mercy and pity of Christ Every Transgression of yours is a kicking the very Bovvels of Mercy and a stab at the Heart of Divine Pity O! hovv vile are your Iniquities vvhilst vvithout Christ They are no less than a despising of the Riches of the Mercy and Goodness of God which would have led you to Repentance and a treasuring up of Wrath against the day of Wrath Rom. 2. 4 5. O Sinners you run on score in abusing of the highest Mercy that ever was you provoke your best Friend against you Alas Who can help you if Mercy it self becomes your Enemy The Bowels of Christ are your last Asylum if this door be shut against you Farewel Souls and can you hope that Mercy will plead for you when rejected by you or will not God hear the Complaint of despised Mercy think you Sinners the Compassion of Christ shall come forth at the last day and say I would have saved that Soul but it would not how often would I have gathered it but it resisted Mat. 23. 37. I offered to pay it's Debts and to get him an Acquittance in the Court of Heaven but he refused it I would have ransom'd him from Death to Life and adopted him to an Inheritance in Glory but he would not I would have stamp'd the divine Nature on him and brought him into the Likeness of the Lord of Glory but he would not I would have put down his Name in the book of Life and secur'd his Title to Heaven but he would not I called he would not answer I perswaded he refused I beseeched he despised I strived he resisted and now Justice into thy hands do I deliver these rebellious Souls to be dealt with according to the Threatnings of the Gospel and Severity of the Law that my Wrongs may be avenged O! what a terrible Complaint will this be Sinners tremble then at the Thoughts of your abusing divine Mâ—rcy Vse 2. Of Encouragement to dejected Souls If there be such tender pity in the Lord Jesus O then take Courage hence to hope for Mercy these Mercies of Christ are infinite boundless and bottomless O what a stock of Mercy is in him for troubled Souls to trade upon what unfathomed Deeps are there in divine Compassions enough to serve all thy Turns and Necessities have thy Sins been many The free Gift is of many Offences to Justification Rom. 5. 6. Of the Offences of many persons be they never so many or the many Offences of one person there is vertue enough in this free Gift of the Blood of Christ for the pardoning them all if such return he saith one that had love enough to give us Christ hath Bowels enough to give us pardon believing Souls shall never dye for Debt if the Bowels of Christ hath wherewithal to pay it O! what Shifts will tender Parents make to keep their indebted Children out of Prison They will beg and borrow of others pinch themselves and spare what they can rather than their Children shall be undone and surely the Mercy of Christ must needs make the most of his Blood and Obedience of his Intercession and Satisfaction for the Pardon of his People And therefore Daniel joyns Mercies and Forgiveness together Dan. 9. 9. Is thy Unworthiness great and deservest thou nothing but Wrath from God O bear up thy Sinking Spirit on the Arm of Mercy Mercy is in vain and signifies nothing if Justice only must take place hast thou abused Mercy and sinn'd away the Favour of thy God Thou hast lost his Gift but he hath not lost his giving the Child spils his Water and goes to the Well to fill his Pitcher again there is more Mercy O troubled Soul in the deep Wells of Salvation for those that seek it Obj. But I have provoked God to withhold Mercy Ans Let me tell thee O distressed Believer there are Forgivings as well as Givings in the Bowels of Christ and I know not which are greater Are thy Wants many Be of good chear Mercy hath enough to supply them all and is as free to give as able and take this for they Encouragement Mercy never gives where there are Deservings Are thy Griefs Labours Fears Troubles and Burdens great Yet comfort thy self Misery and Mercy are a Kin Mercy lives in the â—lymate of Misery and never thrives better than in Misery's Ground to do good to miserable Creatures is Meat and Drink to Mercy John 4. 32. I have Meat to eat
to these also he exerciseth much Long-suffering and Patience if you weigh First the Multitude of their Sins they are more than can be numbred more than the hairs of their head Psal 40. 12. Sins of Thoughts Words and Deeds Sins against Law and Gospel the first and second Table Sins in Duty and out of Duty Sins every day every moment Gen. 6. 5. Sins to the last hour of their Lives till their Tabernacle be pull'd down and the body of Death destroyed and this is not only the Condition of one or of a few Souls but of all the Elect every man that liveth 1 Kings 8. 46. There is none that sinneth not Secondly The Aggravation of their Sins taken First From the persons sinning The redeemed of God such as have been bought with a great price 1 Cor. 6. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 18. The pardon of whose former Sins cost so dear the Sons and Daughters of God Deut. 32. 19. Souls loved and chosen out of all the World to be his yea they only elected and all others left Amos 3. 2. Adopted to a glorious state to be Kings and Priests unto God to be Heirs and Co-heirs with Christ to be a name and a Glory to him and yet for these to be always grieving always provoking always reproaching of him is hard indeed but not too hard for Christ to bear Secondly From the person against whom they sin they sin against their Father who loved them with an everlasting Love drew them with the Cords of Love and led them in the paths of Love who hath given his Son for them and to them and fixed his unchangeable Love upon them imparted the royal Priviledges of Sons to them and yet to Sin against him who is the Father of Christ and their Father whose Glory was dearer to him than his own Blood is an aggravated Sin indeed They sin against God the Son who gave himself for them and bought them with a great price They sin against the holy Ghost who visited them in their low Estate and brought them the good News of Salvation who broke open their Prison-doors and let them forth into a glorious State of Liberty who quickned enlightned comforted and helped them in all their Soul-straits now to sin against this God the Father Son and Spirit cannot but exceedingly provoke the Soul of Christ Thirdly the State in which they sin O! how inconsistent is this with such an high and glorious Condition Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall have no more Dominion over you because you are not under the Law but under Grace The Sins of such are the works of Darkness in the day time Acts of Enmity in a state of Reconciliation and grievous Bondage in times of Liberty Fourthly The dangerous Effects of their Sinning 'T is a corrupt Tree that brings forth sad Fruit even the Grapes of Sodom and the Wine of Gomorrah their Sins rob God of his Glory and bring a greater Dishonour to him than all the Sins of the World besides Rom. 2. 23. They grieve the Spirit of Christ whereby they are seal'd up to the day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. They depress and load yea break the Heart of God Amos 2. 13. They endeavour to frustrate divine grace and render the Death of Christ in vain Gal. 5. 4. They do as it were reduce the Lord to a great strait what to do to save their Souls Hâ—s 6. 4. they Shipwrack all their Duties and put a Vanity upon all their Profession Labours and Sufferings such run in vain Gal. 2. 2. They sadden the Hearts and weaken the hands of the Godly and become stumbling blocks in their way Psal 119. 158. And they do a great deal of mischief to the wicked in prejudicing them against the Lord Jesus and his holy ways in hindring their Reception of the Gospel and depriving them of the Fruits and Labours of Christ towards their Conversion in justifying them in their wayes encouraging them in their Sins and in causing them to blaspheme the holy Name of God Fifthly The blessed Advantages they have enjoy'd against their Sins they have many Obligations against it and many Experiences of the Evil of it and yet still continue in it O this doth make the burden of the Sins of the Godly exceeding heavy to Christ and yet that he should bear them so patiently and not consume them That though provoked daily by the Brambles and scratching Abominations of his People yet his Fury should not be kindled into a terrible Flame to burn them up doth manifestly demonstrate his meekness to be exceeding great Secondly Christ's forbearing of his People is another Evidence of his Slowness to Anger He is not easily provoked Neh. 9. 17. How long doth he forbear before he strikes he first threatens and then waits calls and exhorts shakes the rod and then strikes gently Isa 30. 18. Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious Thirdly His readiness to be reconciled to them when angry Psal 86. 5. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive O consider his perswading them to Repentance how doth he labour to convince them of their Sin and invite them to return he entreats reasons and beseecheth them to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. Lo how affectionately doth he receive them when they return how willingly doth he listen his Ear to their confession of Sin and bemoaning of their condition Jer. 31. 18. Fourthly The moderation of his Anger when raised shews his meekness Isa 27. 7 8. In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it He stayeth his rough wind in the day of his East-wind Job 11. 6. Lastly His actual forgiving all their Iniquities Psal 103. 3. Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities Luke 7. 47. Isa 44. 22. Vse Now if the Lord Jesus Christ be so full of meekness to his very Enemies so rich in gentleness sweetness of Nature and Patience to his People then learn this needful Lesson of him to be of a meek and patient Spirit Behold how quietly he took up his Cross and bore reproaches and Indignities from the worst of men yea how still he was under the infinite weight of his Father's wrath Learn meekness from his Gentleness as the Elephant doth from the Lamb when the Elephant is in his greatest Fury set but a Lamb before him and his wrath will presently be allay'd Learn of Christ to bear Injuries to restrain your Anger not to be angry but when Duty and the Cause of God calls you to it 'T is onely Sin should be the Object of a Christian's Anger Moses was calm at his own Reproaches but could not be still when God was dishonoured Learn from Christ to moderate the measure of your Anger he corrects in measure Let not your Anger exceed the desert of the Provocation Learn from him to time your Anger As a word fitly spoken so Anger seasonably exerted is beautiful and learn from him to remove it when the Cause is gone Anger should be as Physick
on Eagles Wings out of the reach of their destroying Adversaries Deut. 32. 11. Exod. 19. 4. Deuâ— 33. 27. The eternal God is thy Refuge and underneath are everlasting Arms. He will keep the Feet of his Saints 1 Sam. 2. 9. And be a little Sanctuary to them in all places Lastly His cleaving to them for ever and being one Felsh with them 1 Sam. 12. 22. For the Lord will not forsake his people he is a present help to them in time of Trouble always with them never unmindful of them and their guide unto death Psal 48. 14. Yea in Death and to all Eternity he will be their Life and Salvation here death determines the Capacity of the most faithful husband but Christ will accompany his Spouse and be a Salvation in and beyond the Grave Fourthly As a head is the Lord Jesus Christ faithful to his people That is another Relation in which Christ stands to believers Col. 1. 18. He is the head of the Body the Church c. He is compleatly furnished with all Excellencies and Fullness for that end to be the head of his Body the Church both as to natural and purchased grace As God he is eternal and so hath all sufficiency in him Before all things and is their Maker and Preserver and as man he is the first-born from the dead and by his death hath purchased a Mediatorly Sufficiency to be the head of and to preside his Body and perform all the Offices of Headship to it as to Honour Government and Influence And he hath not only a Fitness to be a head to his Church but a Right too for the Father hath given him to be the Head over all things to his Church Eph. 1. 22. Gave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 constituit saith Zanchy he appointed him and parted actually with him and made him over to the Church to the whole body of Believers and to every single person to their use intent and purpose that he should be a Head to them a true head a perfect head an only head and an eternal head Now in this Relation is Christ faithful also answering the ends filling up the plâ—ce and discharging the Offices of it Now in this headship of Christ are six things wrapt up First Counsel and Wisdom In him are all the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. All that Light and Knowledge which is needful to make his people wise to Salvation all that Wisdom which is requisite to repair the lost Image of man and all that Wisdom which may render him exceeding excellent and glorious for in him is the excellency of Knowledge Phil. 3. 8. And all this Counsel he stands engag'd to impart to his people as they are able to bear it Eph. 1. 8 9. Wherein he hath abounded towards us in all Wisdom and Prudence Wherein that is Qua gratia By which Grace saith Zanchy He hath abounded towards us that is hath made us to abound in So the Scholiast and Erasmus He hath plentifully imparted to us hence 't is ensured to all that truly seek it of God Jam. 1. 5. He will tell them what to do in all cases as Christ did to Cornelius by Peter Acts 10. 6. He hath all Wisdom in him the stone on which is seaven Eyes Zach. 3. 9. and will be in every Difficulty and Danger with them As Moses said to Hobab we are to encamp in the Wilderness but thou mayest be unto us instead of Eyes Numb 10. 23. So he hath engaged to guide them continually Isa 58. 11. Deut. 1. 33. He is as Eyes to them where they are in a Land of Pits and Desarts to guide them in the Wilderness Journeys while they are searching out the Land of Glory Secondly Care His Eyes and his Heart are on them continually 2 Chro. 7. 16. He is measuring Jerusalem to see what is the Length thereof and what is the breadth thereof that she may be built Zach. 2. 2. Thirdly Conduct is the Office of a Head It ought to lead and dispose of the body and all it's Members to their several Offices So the Lord Jesus is given to his Church for their Leader as well as Commander Isa 55. 4. chap. 48. 17. I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way thou should'st go 'T is in the Original making or causing thee to walk he doth not only shew them the way but leads them by the hand and helps them to go as Hos 11. 3. Deut. 32. 12. So the Lord alone did lead them Christ undertakes to conduct his people thorough the World unto Glory Fourthly Government is another act of Headship Mic. 2. 13. Their King shall pass before them and the Lord on the head of them that is The Lord shall be their Governour and General Isa 9. 6 7. The Government is upon his Shoulders Heb. 3. 16. He is the Son over his house to rule and govern it and this he doth by making righteous and perfect Laws and Rules thereby to govern his Church Matth. 28. 20. Acts 1. 2. Heb. 3. 1 2 3. And by governing and subduing the Hearts and Wills of his people unto them Psal 110. 3. 2 Cor. 10. 5. Fifthly Influence This comes from the Head all animal Influence for Subsistence Motion guiding and action come from thence in the Head are all the Senses and Intellectuals exerted for the use and Service of the Body so is the Lord Jesus the head of all vital Influences to the whole Church and every part of it Psal 87. 7. All my Springs are in thee Joh. 15. 4. As the Branch cannot beare Fruit except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me Col. 3. 3 4. chap. 2. 19. Believers can no longer live than Christ becomes a quickning Spirit to them he alone animates their Souls to every good work anoints their Eyes and causeth them to see regulates their Palate and maketh them to tast the Sweetness of spiritual things open their Ears to discipline causeth them to feel the Weightiness of Sin and to smell a sweet savour in his precious Oyntments Lastly Ornament The head is the beauty of the Body if that be removed the Body is but a deformed lump Christ is the Believers Excellency and Glory he hath the preheminence in all things Col. 1. 18. And his glory is the Glory of the body 1 Cor. 12. 24. All the Saints Excellencies are in and from him Psal 68. 34. Psal 89. 17. For thou art the Glory of their Strength 't is through his Comeliness they are perfect Ezek. 16. ver 10. to 14. Fifthly Christ is faithful in the acts of distributive Justice and renders to every one their Due Psalm 62. 1â— Thou renderest to evâ—ry man according to his Work There is a legal and evangelical Debt legally There is nothing due to the Children of men but Wrath and Tribulation Rom. 2. 9. But Evangelically all the Believers Rights are due on the account
Inheritance in Glory Eph. 1. 14. But nothing that defileth shall enter within the Gate of the new Jerusalem Rev. 21. 27. So much for the first Head That Jesus Christ hath Purchased Holinesse We shall now enquire Secondly For whom hath the Lord Jesus Purchased Holinesse Answ For all his feed for every Soul the Father hath given him Joh. 17. 9. Christs Purchase death and Intercession is only for those the Father hath given him and every one of them for all his seed that belong to him as the second Adam And in this sense is that Scripture to be taken Rom. 5. 18. As by the offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon all Men to Justification of life That is As death came by Adams fall to all his seed so life comes by Christ to all his seed neither can it be stretched further as the Apostle affirms 1 Joh. 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath life but he that hath not the Son hath not life Neither will any affirm that all Men are justified unto life nor any but those that believe in Christ which are his seed The Lord Jesus tells us Joh. 17. 20 'T is for all them that believe on him through his word Gal. 3. 22. That the Promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe The Apostle speaks here of a double Promise made to Abraham and through him to Believing Gentiles 1. The Promise of Righteousnesse in Justification ver 18 19. 2. The Promise of the Spirit in Sanctification ver 14. That we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith and both these are made over to Believers You that come to Christ in truth and receive him into your hearts by faith and take his Yoke on your shoulders obey his Laws sincerely give up your all to him and are no more your own but though you see your want of Holinesse yet are really willing to be Holy as God is Holy submitting to all the appointments of Christ in order to it you are the seed of Christ the people to whom the Promise of Holinesse doth belong Thirdly What is the Holinesse Christ hath Purchas'd for his People Answ First The truth of Grace in opposition to Hypocrisie The Lord Jesus never shed his blood for counterfeit grace His purchas'd Treasure consists not of Counters but tryed Gold Rev. 3. 17. What he offers to Sinners that he purchased and dyed for but Christ offers tryed gold to invited Souls Any thing short of saving grace is not worth the shedding of the blood of the Son of God That which Christ Promiseth to his people is the same with that he hath purchased but he promiseth true grace Ezek. 36. 26 27. He Promiseth a new heart and a new heart is a truly sanctified heart 'T is his Spirit he will put within them and his Spirit is a Spirit of truth Joh. 14. 17. There is never a Soul whose heart is made willing to be the Lords but Jesus Christ hath purchased sincerity for him Christ never dyed for Lies and Untruths but seeming grace is a lye and not of the truth This is wonderful comfort to poor troubled Souls that are always doubting of the truth of their graces and would give a thousand Worlds to be sure that their gold is tryed gold and their graces true graces Now if ever thy Soul were brought to desire Christ in truth and to receive him with a lively Faith thou mayest be sure thy graces are true because the Lord Jesus hath purchas'd this for all Believers Now this truth of Grace consists in a through change of the Soul even of the whole Man which may be distinguished into these two parts 1. The taking away of Sin 2. The giving of Grace the delivering the Soul from the power of Satan and the reducing it under the power of God and into his Kingdom The purging the Soul from Lust and possessing it with Grace the destroying the works of the Devil and creating it the workmanship of God In freeing the Soul from the Ruling Power of sin in every part and implanting the Nature and Image of God on every Power and Faculty of it Acts 26. 18. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Tit. 2. 14 Rom. 6. 14. Secondly Perseverance in Grace Their continuance in a state of grace And the abiding of the seed of God in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 't is the same word that signifies the Spirits abiding with Believers which Christ saith shall be for ever Joh. 14. 16. 1 Joh. 2. 27. This he hath Promised in the new Covenant and therefore this he hath purchased Jer. 32. 40. And therefore the sanctified are called the preserved in Jesus Christ Jude ver 1. And the Saints are said to be kept by the Power of God through faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. This Christ stands engaged to the Father to do Joh. 17. 12. If Jesus Christ hath not purchased perseverance in Grace to the end for all his people but leaves their continuance in the truth to their free-will then he leaves them in the same state in which they were under the first Covenant For the standing of Adam in the first Covenant was upon his own choice and will but this cannot be because Christ hath taken away the first Covenant from Believers and Established the second which makes the Commers thereunto perfect Heb. 8. 6. to 11. Chap. 10. 9 10. Thirdly Growth in Grace What he calls them to that he hath purchased for them for Christ cannot invite his people to uncertainties or disappointments what he exhorts them to he promiseth to work them to Phil. 2. 12 13. Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling For 't is God that worketh in you both to will and to do Now he bids them to grow in Grace 2 Pet. 3. 18. And this he Promiseth also Hos 14. 5. 7. I will be as a dew unto Israel and he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon they that dwell under his shaddow shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine Psa 92. 12. The Righteous shall flourish as the Palm-Tree and grow as the Cedars in Lebanon What God Promised under the new Covenant Christ hath dyed for for this Covenant is wholly Confirmed by blood by the death of the Testator Heb. 9. 14 17. Quest Then what is the reason Gods People grow no more in Grace this day Answ First All are not Israel that are of Israel Many passe for Saints in the Judgment of Men which were never sanctified in Christ Jesus nor will appear to be so in the approbation of God and therefore some in whom you see no growth are no contradiction to this truth at all they being none of the seed of Christ Secondly The Lords Trees as well as the Trees of the Wood have their growing times The Winter is no time to
undeserving in themselves into a state and Relation of Sons and Heirs bringing them into a new Family and Condition And such is the Adoption of the Sons of God 't is a Translation of called and sanctified Souls out of the Family of Satan into the Family of God Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God 1 Joh. 3. 2. Now are we the Sons of God And this Adoption-Priviledge is the Fruit of the Death of Christ Gal. 4. 4 5. When the fullness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons For though this Adoption be an act of Grace in God to take Souls into Sonship with him yet 't is by Jesus Christ Eph. 1. 5. Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ That is To be redeemed and made fit for it by Jesus Christ Now in the Adoption of Sanctified Souls into the Family of God there are these five things A change 1. of Relation 2. Of Obligation 3. Of Disposition 4. Of Condition 5. Of Duty First There 's a change of Relation they were the Children of the Devil Joh. 8. 44. Heirs of Hell and under the Power of the God of this World Eph. 2. 2. Who rules in the Children of Disobedience They were of the kindred of Hell of that Family whose Head and Ruler is Satan This was their state when Redemption-grace found them Now Adoption alters this relation and being taken out of this Family by effectual calling they are by Adoption entred into a new Relation and made the Sons and Daughters of God Gal. 4. 4. Now they can call God their Father Christ their Husband the Saints their Brethren verse 5. Eph. 2. 19. Ye are no more Strangers and Forreigners but Fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Secondly A change of Obligation they were bound to the Law of Satan under the Law of Sin and Slavery of the World led Captive by Satan at his Will Col. 1. 13. But when Adoption-grace comes it delivers them from this Obligation and they are brought under the power of God and Scepter of his Kingdom Acts 26. 18. Rom. 6. 14 17 18. Heb. 1. 8. Thirdly a change of Disposition they have the Nature and Spirit of Children Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts c. They were by Nature Enemies but now are Children they have a disposition to love God to honour and obey him 't is their Meat and Drink to do his will Joh. 4. 34. Mal. 1. 6. To serve Christ before was burdensome but now delightful The Love of Christ constrains them 'T is as natural for them now to obey Christ as ever it was to rebel against him they are never satisfi'd but when God is well pleas'd Fourthly A change in their State and Condition they are brought into a state of Glorious Priviledges in respect of 1. Liberty 2. Rights and Interests 3. Boldness 4. Instruction 5. Correction 6. Provision 7. Protection 8. Inheritance And by these the state of an Adopted Soul appears to be a glorious state First They are brought into a state of Freedom Joh. 8. 36. If the Son shall make you free then are you free indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word Imports that Freedom that is opposed to Servitude as it appears also by the word ver 33. Christ tells them ver 32. The truth shall make them free And they answered him We be Abrahams seed and were never in bondage to any Man So that by freedom here Christ intends a delivering of them from that bondage they were in by reason of sin and Satan and he tells them that this is that freedom that comes by him all that are the Children of God are free Men and Women 1 Cor. 7. 22. 2 Cor. 3. 17. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty The Apostle tells them ver 8. That the Ministration of the Spirit is much more glorious than that of the Law or letter that is the Ministry of the Gospel is far more Excellent than that of the Law which he proves by several arguments And here he tells us that the Lord is that Spirit that is the Lord Jesus is the Author of that Spirit or Spritual Ministration under the Gospel and where that Spirit or Administration is or where the Soul is brought into this Gospel-state there is liberty Rom. 8. 21. Now this liberty that all the Children of God are brought into is a two-fold liberty 1. A liberty from Servitude 2. A liberty to service Or as a Reverend writer expresseth it A liberty from the Family of Satan and liberty in the Family of God There are some things which all Adopted Souls have a liberty from and some things they have a liberty in or to First All that are Adopted in Christ are set free from that slavery they were in under the Law Sin Satan and the World They are freed from Bondage under the Law from Bondage-work and Bondage-wrath All that are under the Law of Moses as all are who are out of Christ are oblig'd to Bondage-work to the work of slaves not of free Men. First they are bound to do work that is above their strength which they can never perform Rom. 8. 3. The Law was weak through the flesh that is there was an impotency in fallen Man ever to fulfil the Law or attain life by it The Law required perfect and perpetual Obedience but this could never be performed by sinful Man and therefore legal-work was hard work work never to be done by fallen Man and this is bondage-work Secondly Legal-work is mercenary work Do this and live Gal. 3. 12. The Man that doth them shall live in them Like a Servant if he doth his work he shall have his wages if not he must expect nothing and this is hard indeed that the poor weak Creature that is utterly destitute of all strength worth and ability must have no more than can deserve Thirdly 'T is rigorous work prest by arguments of severity threatnings of death and Hell to all the Transgressours of it Gal. 3. 10. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the Law to do them Fourthly 'T is fruitless work works that cannot make the comers thereunto perfect Heb. 9. 9. 'T is Labour in vain Heb. 10. 1. Fifthly 'T is work without Wages no reward at all could ever be received from it Gal. 3. 21 22. For had there been a Law which could have given Life verily Righteousness had been by the Law But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin c. There is no Life no Crown no
Kingdom at all is the reward of all such labours Sixthly 'T is work that will surely end in death Let men work never so hard yet they must dye and be damn'd at last for falling short and this is bondage-work indeed but the Children of God are freed from this work Rom. 7. 6. But now we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we are held that we should serve in newness of Spirit and not in oldness of the letter Again As they are freed from bondage-work so are they freed from bondage-wrath The wrath of God is upon all the Children of disobedience all Christless Souls are Children of wrath bound over to an Inheritance of wrath Eph. 5. 6. Chap. 2. 3. Because the Law worketh wrath Rom. 4. 15. It brings all its Servants under wrath under the curse and under death Rom. 6. 23. But from this also are all the Sons of God freed Heb. 2. 14. And destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil And not only from the Devil but from the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 8. Rom. 6. 14. Chap. 8. 2. Gal. 3. 13. Again they are free from all yokes of bondage laid on their Consciences by Men. Gal. 5. 1. 1 Cor. 7. 23. Ye are bought with a price be not ye the Servants of Men Do not give up your Faith and Conscience to their Commands obey not them contrary to the Command of Christ Gal. 1. 10 11. if I yet pleased men I should not be the Servant of Christ This is the first part of liberty the Children of God are brought into even a liberty from Servitude Secondly They have a liberty to service in the Worship of God Their service of God is free and ingenuous Service their offerings are free-will Offerings Psa 119. 108. Accept the free-will offerings of my mouth That is those offerings or vows which my mouth hath freely offered The Children of God are a willing people Psa 110. 3. They serve the Lord freely from the heart Rom. 6. 17. They obey from the heart that form of Doctrine deliver'd to them They delight in the Law of God after the inner Man Rom. 7. 22. The strictest Service of God is to them the most desired liberty the Commands of God are no wayes grievous to them that is to their inner Man indeed so far as flesh and Corruption get head they drag heavily to duty when the spring of their motions even their child-like love to God is abated and all the Indispositions of a child of God flow from decaies of love to God and some abatement of the Adoption-Spirit in him The Children of God are never in their Element or as they would be but when their hearts slow out after God and they can run the paths of his Commandements this they pray and labour for Psa 119. 32. I will run the way of thy Commandements when thou shalt enlarge my heart So ver 69. I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart Their hearts move naturally after God when in their right temper As the Waters run towards the Sea and the Sun runs his race Their service of God comes from a new Principle even from Faith that works by love and is directed to new and higher ends than all the services of Hypocrites The sense of divine love constrains them to duty that they cannot but chuse the things that please God further than they are bound back by Corruption and Temptation their works are wrought in God from a Principle of life raised and revived by grace They have no mercenary aimes in their Duties to attain any carnal selfish end below God but their Motives are high and heavenly pure and spiritual as the Love of God and care they have to please him They see a beauty in Holiness and a pleasantness in the ways of God and find a sutableness in their hearts to love these though under never sâ— great discouragements and disadvantages aâ— to flesh and blood hence 't is a Child of God cannot cast off God and his Worship though he see nothing of good or comfort coming in by them nor be perswaded to consent to any thing that is sinful though to save his purse person yea life it self All the threatnings of Men or visible dangers in his way can't bring his heart to comply with ungodliness or speak or do any thing against God his people or wayes 2 Cor. 13. 8. We can do nothing against the truth None but a Judas can come with a Band of men and Officers against Christ to apprehend him or his people for owning him Micaiah would speak nothing against the truth though to please a King 1 Kings 22. 17. Nor Jacobs Soul enter into the secret of the wicked in their sinful enterprise A fearful Peter may forsake the professing of Christ for a time but he will not be seen on the side of those that do oppose him no this is far from the true Spirit of Gods Children We read of the Christians in the primitive times that left their preferments rather than they would be seen against Christ people and the whole Legion chose rather to lay down their lives than to oppose their fellow Christians Such shufflings and Compliances are opposed to the Spirit of the true Children of God they can run after God in a Wilderness but cannot be drawn against God by all the World Secondly They have new Rights and Interests Believers being once entred into the Family of God by Christ are presently invested with new and Glorious Rights whicâ— they never had before nor any besides the Chilâ—ren of God have or can ever have which will appear in these fix things First They have a right to the special and blessed presence of God the Father Son and Spirit Psa 140. 13. The upright shall dwell in thy presence The upright that is the faithful the Children of God these shall dwell in thy presence in thy special presence for all Men and Devils are in the general presence of God but the Saints shall be in Gods special presence and not step into it only as strangers may but continue for ever as Sons Joh. 8. 35. The servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever Psa 26. 6. Secondly They have a right to the purchase of Christ to all the fruit of his Obedience and sufferings His blood is theirs with all the procurements of it Isa 53. 5. He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed whatever Christ dyed for according to the agreement betwixt the Father and him is the Right of his Children Joh. 17. 9. Thirdly They have right to the Promises 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises Whereby that is by the knowledge of him as ver 3. Or through Faith in him that is by Jesus Christ we come to have
right to the promises for all the promises are in him Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. The promises of this Life and of that which is to come all are theirs 1 Tim. 4. 8. Fourthly They have Right to Communion with and to the blessing of the whole Family of Christ Being entred into Gods Family they have a Right to fellowship with all his people 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit are we baptised into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit The great design of the Apostle in this chap. is to shew that all Believers are brought into nearest Union with Christ and each other even into one body this he proves in this ver by the end of the Ordinances of Baptism and the Supper both which do signifie and seal up Believers into the nearest Union and Communion by reason of which they have equal right to one another and the whole body they have right to Communion with Angels and Saints All the Sons and Daughters of God have right to his House to his Church and all the priviledges of it Isa 56. 5. Ordinances and Ministers are theirs 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Yea they have right to the blessings of God on all Psalm 3. 8. Thy blessing is upon thy People Eph. 1. 3. Fifthly They have a right to all the good things of this Life Rev. 21. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things Even the good things of this Life Ps 37. 9. They that wait on the Lord shall inherit the Earth They are Heirs with Christ who is Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. They have through Christ a Right to all the good things of this world so far as God sees it best for them they have their right in the Second Adam who is Lord of all this is a New-Covenant-Right not over other mens rights to invade or break the civil properties of any but to those Creatures God gives them and to the good of all things even wants and enjoyments and have a sanctified use of them which none but the Children of God have Tit. 1. 15. Sixthly They have Right to the inheritance of Glory Tit. 3. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Heaven is the Country Home and Inheritance of all Saints Their Title is founded on the Purchase of Christ and Adoption of Grace not upon their Merit or Holiness and therefore 't is called on the account of Christ the purchased possession Eph. 1. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased Possession That is until we are actually redeemed from Corruption and put into the possession of purchased Glory yea their Reversion in Heaven is so freely procured for them without any of their money or price duties or obedience further than 't is the way to walk in to Glory that Eternal Life is said to be the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. Death comes by Man's merit but not Life and Salvation and is not this a glorious state and blessed condition to be made Heirs and Coheirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. And if Children then heirs and Joynt-heirs with Christ partakers of the same Rights with him Heirs of the Righteousness of Faith Heb. 11. 7. So was Abraham and so are are all Believers they have a right to Justification by believing and a right to the Kingdom of Glory Jam. 2. 5. Heirs of the Kingdom They have as good a Title to this by Grace and through the purchase of Christ as any man to an Inheritance here on Earth yea and far more sure of it for men may be turn'd out of their Rights and Properties here but Believers cannot be deprived of their Title and Inheritance through Christ Seventhly They have an interest in Gods love they are upon his Heart at all times Joh. 16. 27. For the Father himself loveth you He loves with an infinite Love a Love passing knowledge and transcending the love of all Creatures Isa 49. 15. A Mother may forget her Child but God cannot forget his He loves at all times Eternally and unchangeably He loves his Children ardently when they have but little love to him He loves them notwithstanding their unkindnesses and provocations Psal 89. 31 32 33. He loves them when he seems to be angry with them and is forced to correct them Heb. 12. 6. He always thinketh on them for good Jer. 29. 11. I know the thoughts I think towards you saith the Lord thoughts of Peace and not of Evil. He is very tender of them and hath the bowels of a Compassionate Father towards them Psal 103. 8 13. Mal. 3. 17. And I will spare them as a man spareth his Son that servâ—th him Eighthly They have a right to the Spirit of Grace the Spirit is put into their Hearts Gal. 4. 6. Not the spirit of Bondage but of Adoption Rom. 8. 15 16. They have union with the Spirit never to be seperated more v. 11. they have the Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zach. 12. 10. To quicken teach influence assist in Duty and make intercession for them Rom. 8. 26. O what a blessed priviledge is this to have the Spirit of the Son whereby they can go to God as a Father and to have the Spirit working in them the disposition and working for them the actions of Sons Thirdly They have holy and reverential boldness to come into the presence of God through his Son Ps 26. 6. I will wash my haâ—ds in innocency and so will I compass thine Alter Eph. 2. 18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father They can come to God at all times and behold his Face in Righteousness unless their sins do cause him to hide himself for a time Eph. 3. 12. And plead their cause through Christ with boldness Heb 10. 19 20. And they are not only free to come but sure to speed Joh. 16. 23 24. 1 Joh. 5. 14 15. Fourthly Instruction is another Priviledge of Sons They shall be taught of God Isa 54. 1â— He will teach instruct and shew them things they know not He will lead thâ—m into all truth Joh. 16. 16. The Spirit searcheth the deep things of God and revealeth them to the Saints 1 Cor. 2. 20. He wll teach them all things which they are able to bear They shall have the openings of Christs mind to steer their course whiles in this Wilderness of the World and shall receive the revelation of all truths necessary to Salvation Fifthly They have choice and delicate provisions and rich maintenance this is the duty of Parents to provide for their Obedient and indigent Children 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any man provide not for his own House he hath denyed the Faith He cares for his Children Mat. 6. 31 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. He that gives his Son how can he but with him freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your wants
He that gives a Kingdom at the Journeys end will not deny Bread and Water in the way He will provide for their Bodies and Souls for their Persons and Families Sixthly Correction is theirs Psal 89. 32. Heb. 12. 8. Correction is the Saints Priviledge and great advantage they have need of it 1 Pet. 1. 6. Though for a season if need be you are in heaviness c. And they have advantage by it Psa 119. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted Heb. 12. 10. But he for our profit Seventhly Protection is another priviledge of Children He will keep them as the Apple of his Eye Psa 17. 8. He will hide them in the secret of his Tabernacle Ps 31. 20. He will keep them Day and Night Isa 27. 3. He gives his Angels charge concerning them Psa 91. 11 12. Heb. 1. 14. Lastly The Kingdom is theirs O think what rest what joy what holiness what perfection what immutability and Eternity of Glory is in Heaven and say all this is my Estate by Adoption I shall one day be possessed of it here I am poor but there I shall be rich here I am empty and hungry there I shall be full here I am despised there I shall be honoured here I have not a house lay my head in there I shall have a Mansion to all Eternity here one and another says come sit at my Foot there shall I sit on a Throne and be a Crowned King for ever Here my Comforts go and my troubles stay worms breed in all my enjoyments but thereis no Rust nor Moth no Decay nor Death O blessed state indeed that Believers are Adopted to in Christ Fifthly The last considerable thing in Adoption is the Duties that flow from such a state and this is part of their priviledge also as being the Fruit of an Adoption-state and that which they are purchas'd as well as oblig'd unto by the blood of Christ all the filial duties of Believers are the fruits of Adoption-Grace Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts The Spirit of his Son to make you really such and to form in you the Nature and work you to the duty of Sons So that Adopted Souls are not only chosen of God to be heirs with Christ but are also begotten of God into the Nature and Image of Christ Rom. 8 29. Whom he did foreknow them he did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that as Christ carryed himself as a Son so should the Children of God in their measure and time and that by the same Spirit Now these duties which Gods Children are spirited and engaged to are First To love God as their Father even from a sense of his Fatherly love 1 Joh. 4. 19. We love him because he first loved us Deut. 6. 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy Soul and with all thy might The Lord thy God because he hath pleased to make thee his Son and to place thee in so near and high relation to himself Psa 31. 23. O love the Lord all ye his Saints You that are set apart for him and Sanctified by him O you of all Persons from the sense of this relation should love him This is a filial duty and so essential to Sons as that 't is put for the ground of all their Obedience Joh. 14. 13. If a man love me he will keep my word and my Father will love him that is manifest his love to him as a Father This is not a forced but a natural love to God arising from that new Nature and Spirit of Adoption in them so that a Child of God may as well cease to be a Child as cease to have a disposition to love him Indeed a gracious Soul may not alwayes actually love God but he hath a disposition to love him and can appeal to God that he knows he would love him and there is nothing in all the World he can value like him Secondly To obey him 1 Pet. 1. 14. As obedient Children not fashioning your selves according to former Lusts 'T is a great duty of Children to obey their Parents in all things lawful and so they that are Gods Children are much more oblig'd to obey God whose relation much more binds them being so far above all other relations whose love constrains them 2 Cor. 5. 14. whose Laws invite them they being holy just and good Rom. 7. 12. Whose rewards also encourageth them there is a reward in keeping them Psa 19. 11. and a reward upon those that keep them Rev. 2. 10. Now this Child-like obedience differs from all other obedience in that 1. 'T is the fruit of faith Joh. 8. 47. He that is of God heareth Gods word that is obeyeth Gods word but what an Obedience is this see the former ver It is an Obedience from faith ver 46. If I say the truth why do ye not believe me 2. 'T is the labour of love 1 Thes 1. 3. Remembring without ceasing your work of Faith and labour of love 3. 'T is delightful Obedience Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inner Man Thirdly A fear of offending him Hos 3. 5. And shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter daies This is a filial fear arising from their relation to God as their Father 1 Pet. 1. 17. And if you call on the Father c. pass the time of your sojourning here in fear This is a fear springing from and consisting with love there is a fear that love casteth out 1 Joh. 4. 18. perfect love casteth out fear that is slavish fear 'T is such a fear as keeps the Soul close to God and not drive him from him Jer. 34. 40. O how fearful is such a Soul of offending God Job 34. 31. He will do all he can to prevent sin Psa 119. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee Fourthly A zeal for Gods glory Psa 69. 9. The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up That is the zeal which I have for thy house or for thy pure Worship against them that would corrupt it hath like fire consumed me Zeal is the burning fire of love which will not bear any thing that dishonours God So Phinehas could not endure to see God dishonoured by the whoredomes of his People but in his zeal executes the Law upon one of the highest offenders Numb 25. 11. The want of the zeal made Laodicea in danger of being spued out of Gods mouth Rev. 3. 16. and therefore God calls her to Repentance and to this zealous Spirit in his Worship ver 19. Be zealous and Repent This zeal was that Child-like temper that God commended in Ephesus Rev. 2. 2. Thou canst not bear them that are evil A zealous Soul cannot suffer any reproach on Gods Name Psa 69. 20. Reproach hath broken my heart
This Child-like zeal in Craesus dumb Son open'd his mouth when his Father was in danger to be slain Fifthly A fiducial dependence on his care and faithfulness Psa 23. 1. The Lord is my shepheard I shall not want Rom. 8. 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you This was the Child-like confidence of Job in his God Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him This dependence on the Fathers care quieted Musculus when he was forc'd to labour in the Town Ditch for his Maintenance Est deus in Coelis qui providus omnia curat Credentes nunquam deseruisse potest Mat. 6. 32. Your Heavenly Father knows you have need of all these things Sixthly Humble Submission to him Heb. 12. 9. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word notes an orderly subjection according to that order and place in which God hath set a Man that subjection that is in an Inferiour to a Superiour The same word is used of Christ Luke 2. 51. And he went down with them to Nazareth and was subject to them that is submitted himself to that place duty he owed to them as his Parents Seventhly A carefulness to please him Isa 56. 4. That chuse the things that please me to them will I give within my house a place and a Name better than of Sons and Daughters That is such will I own for my Family my Sons and Daughters that chuse the things that please me So did the Lord Jesus evidence his filial duty to his Father Joh. 8. 29. I do alway the things that please him 1 Joh. 3. 22. Eighthly An endeavour in all things imitable to resemble him 1 Pet. 1. 15. As he that called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Luke 6. 36. Be ye merciful as your Father in Heaven is merciful Mat. 5. 48. Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect that is In the grace of love to Enemies Eph. 5. 1. Be ye followers of of God as dear Children Ninthly A labouring to walk worthy of so high relation and nearness unto God 1 Thes 2. 12. That you walk would worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory Worthy of so high a Calling like the Children of a King like Gideons Brethren who all resembled the Children of a King Judges 8. 18. Your duty is to live above the Children of this World who only are wise in their generation Luke 16. 8. But be ye wise in the things of God evidencâ— your highest wisdom to be in keeping â—he Law of the Lord Deut. 4. 6. Live like them that are Adopted Heirs of a Kingdom even the Heavenly Kingdom that fadeth not away O live above the snares and fears of this world Lastly A maintaining a real Love to your Brethren and an endeavour to live peaceably with them 1 Pet. 3. 8. Love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous c. 1 Joh. 5. 1. Every one also that loves him that begetteth loveth him also that is begotten 1 Joh. 3. 11. Gen. 13. 8. Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee between my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren Chap. 45. 24. See that you fall not out by the way 2 Cor. 13. 11. VSE Thus you see what a glorious Treasure Adoption-grace is view over this Inventory Believer and tell me what thou thinkest of it Is it not a Treasure indeed which all the Gold of Ophiâ— cannot equallize Nor all the glory of the World worthy to be compared with And see all this procured by the Sweat and Blood the Obedience and Death of the Son of God and then say whether Christ be not precious indeed Look upon the Children of this World in all their Glory view their priviledges in their utmost latitude and extent and answer me whether a Believer in rags doth not far surpass them Christ speaks of Solomon that he in all his Glory was not to be compared to one Lilly in the Field So one Saint and Child of God infinitely excels the Great men of this World in all their Grandure and Advancements O then admire the Lord Jesus on this account also for procuring Adoption-grace 1. Quest But how may I know whether I have obtained this Adoption-grace Answ This is a point worth the enquiring into and satisfaction in so fundamental a point is very necessary But 't is the Office of Gods Spirit to seal us up to the day of Redemption and bear witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8. 16. Men may lay down marks but 't is God must determine the Quest yet notwithstanding for thy resolution Believer consider First Such are partakers of the Divine Nature and are really Sons as well as Relatively 2 Pet. 1. 4. They have the Image of God instampt upon their Souls They have the seed of Holiness Faith Love Hope Patience and Humility in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. Rom. 8. 29. And they have received of his fulness Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. Secondly Such prize nothing in all the world like to Relation to God Ps 73. 25. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the Sons of God Thirdly Christ is exceeding precious to such in whom they are chosen and by whom this Grace comes 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious None in Heaven or Earth that they value like to Christ they account all things but dross and dung in comparison of Christs excellency Phil. 3. 8. Fourthly Such will employ their greatest care to imitate God Eph. 5. 1. 1 Joh. 3. 22. Fifthly such have a Spirit of prayer and supplication Rom. 8. 15 16. Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Not Parts not Light not the gifts of Prayer only but such a Soul hath the Spirit of Prayer very strong strains of Faith and Love run through all his Duties He hath a Spirit of boldness whereby he comes to God as to a Father O how earnest and unwearied are his breathings after God what wrestlings with God in secret hath he what pourings out of strong cries to him as Christ did in the days of his Flesh Heb. 5. 7. O the struglings O the wrestlings O the ardent breathings of such for the pardon of their sins for the mortifying of their lusts and for the reviving of their graces Now where the Spirit of Adoption is there is the state Sixthly Such are enabled to bear and profit by affliction Heb. 12. 7. If you endure chastening God dealeth with you as with Sons Lastly Such have endeared affections to the people of God 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren 2. Quest What must
we do to obtain this Adoption-grace Answ This is an act of Sovereign pleasure and Free-grace Rom. 9. 15 16 18. It cannot be purchased by any thing in or done by the Creature You cannot with Simon Magus buy this Relation Act. 8. 18 19. yet there are some ways in which Adoption grace may be obtained as First Get your Souls separated from sin 2 Cor. 6. 17. Secondly Get justifying Faith Eph. 2. 13 19. Thirdly Beg the Spirit of Adoption Gal. 4. 6. Lastly Open the door of thy heart to the Spirit Psa 24. 7. Rev 3. 20. CHAP. XX. The Confirmation of the new Covenant is the Fruit of Christ's purchase prov'd by several Arguments ANother glorious Fruit of Christs blood and purchased Treasure for saved Souls is the establishment of the new Covenant to Believers and Believers in the Covenant This is the certain effect of Christ's death the making sure the Covenant to all his seed That there is no more possibility of making it void to the Heirs of promise This is the great thing undertaken in the new Covenant that it shall be sure to all the seed Rom. 4. 16. There are Eight things which secure this to Believers First This new Covenant must needs be firm and unalterable because the reason why God â—â—und fault with the old Covenant was because it was weak and could not secure those that were within it Heb. 8. 8 9. Which Covenant they brake though I was an Husband to them saith the Lord Jer. 31. 32. Now if this were the reason why God did alter the first Covenant then the new Covenant he makes in the room of it must nâ—eds be free from this Imperfection and mutability or else it would abundantly reflect on the infinite wisdom of God to make a new Covenant guilty of the same errour Secondly This was Gods design in making a new Covenant that it might be ordered in all things and sure 2 Sam. 23. 5. That it might be firm and established upon better promises Heb. 8. 6. Why are they called better promises Are there better promises than the promises of Heaven and Glory They are called better because more pure and absolute promises and because it was Gods design to make them sure Rom. 4. 16. Thirdly It is confirmed by the blood of Christ and therefore the blood of Christ is called the blood of the Covenant Mat. 26. 28. This is my blood of the new Testament 'T is the blood of the new Testament in that it seals to the fulfilling of this Covenant The death of the Testatour makes the Testament to be in full force Heb. 9. 17. That now all the Promises and Legacies are certain and cannot be disappointed to the Legatees and Heirs of Salvation Again this blood of Christ is the blood of the Covenant and confirms it in that it makes good all the conditions of it that whatever is required to make this Covenant good is undertaken by Christ in the behalf of all his feed and therefore he is called the surety of the new Covenant Heb. 7. 22. By death he hath fulfill'd the Condition of the first and undertaken for the fulfilling of this new Covenant in and by Believers Yea his obedience is for them to present them compleat to the Father notwithstanding all their failings Fourthly This new Covenant is sure to Believers because the Administation of it is in the hands of Christ Heb. 8. 6. But now he hath obtain'd a more excellent Ministery by how much he is the Mediatour of a better Covenant The whole trust about the Administration of new-Covenant-blessings is devolved on Jesus Christ and therefore he is called the Mediator and Minister of the Covenant So that the Covenant must needs be sure seeing the dispose thereof is by compact betwixt the Father and Christ deliver'd into his hand upon the account of his death Now he that is the Believers Friend Head and Husband hath all power in Heaven and Earth to make good the Covanent to them Mat. 28. 18. So that the promises of the Covenant cannot be forfeited by Believers being made over to Christ as to a Trustee for them and their Covenant state also being so surely confirm'd that they cannot fall from it Fifthly Christ's sufficiency to see new-Covenant-promises made good and new-Covenantends accomplished to them is security enough for their safety He is an alsufficient Saviour able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. He is able to see Gods part fulfilled having all the promises in his hand and all the things promised at his dispose and he is able to see the Believers part fulfilled also for he hath all that in him which is needful for the making of the Condition good on their part For First He hath all Wisdom in him to make them wise to Salvation Col. 2. 3. He is made of God to his people Wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. Appointed of God to receive Wisdom for them whatever they need to guide them in the way and fit them for Salvation Knowledge is necessary to Eternal Life Joh. 17. 3. The Image of God consists partly in it Col. 3. 11. Without it the heart is not good Prov. 19. 2. No Faith without Knowledge 2 Cor. 4. 4. No Obedience without Knowledge Psa 18. 44. This is needful to discern the wiles of Satan 2 Cor. 2. 11. The sinfulness of sin Rom. 7. 13. The preciousness of Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. The beauty of holiness Ps 110. 3. The love of Christ that passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19. The hope of your calling and the things freely given of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. And for this end all Wisdom is laid up in Christ to be given out to his people by his Spirit through his word hence 't is said that Believers have an Unction from the holy one to teach them all things 1 Joh. 2. 20 27. And the promise of the Spirit is made to them to lead them into all truth Joh. 16. 13. So that whatever is needful for Saints to fit them for Covenant-Duties and Mercies all this is in Christ for them and so he is able to make the Covenant good to them Secondly He hath all Grace in him that tends to the fulfilling of this Covenant in Believers and for them He hath received the Spirit without measure Joh. 3. 34. And why is this But that from his fullness Believers may receive Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. He is the fullness that filleth all in all Eph. 1. 23. And therefore hath promised Grace sufficient to his people in all their temptations 2 Cor. 12. 9. 1 Cor. 10. 13. under all their burdens Psa 55. 22. For all duties and undertakings Phil. 2. 12 13. Chap. 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Thirdly He hath all power in Heaven and Earth put into his hand Math. 28. 18. Power to bruise Satan under his peoples feet Rom. 16. 20. To subdue Corruptions in them Mic. 7. 19. To
There 's no cause for such to fear 1. That God is their Enemy being once reconciled to them in his Son he can hate them no more 2. Their sins shall never Condemn them Rom. 8. 1. 3. God will never totally leave them Heb. 13. 5. 4. They shall not wholly fall from God Jer. 32. 40. 5. They have no cause to fear the wrath to come Rom. 5. 9. Much more being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Thus you see all the grounds of tormenting fears are gone 'T is true a Cautelous fear and circumspection may be maintained but the workings of a Bondage-Spirit are removed Thirdly Then dejecting Conclusions from self-impotency to fulfil this Covenant and all seeming difficulties in the way are wholly Insignificant if this Covenant be confirmed by Christ to and for Believers then no insufficiency in them to make good these Covenant-Duties can render it void Because First the Certainty of this Covenant depends not on the Creatures ability but on Gods Faithfulness 't is true if this new Covenant as the first did wholly depend upon the Integrity and Faithfulness of the Soul in Covenant then indeed the enjoyment of those mercies and promises comprehended in it would be very dubious but 't is not so for God himself hath undertaken the accomplishment of it 1 Cor. 1. 8 9. Who shall also confirm you to the end that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ God is faithful by whom ye are called to the fellowship of his Son Christ Jesus our Lord. So 1 Thes 5. 23 24. So that the Saints Confirmation in holiness and preservation to glory depends on the faithfulness of God in Christ who having perswaded their hearts to embrace his call will finish Salvation-work in and for them Secondly Strength sufficient to finish their work and to obtain Salvation is ensured to them 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee my strength is made perfect in weakness Grace in thee may fail but grace in God cannot Christ hath a stock sufficient for thee to carry thee through Temptations and to lift thee above thy Corruptions So Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes The Spirit is a Fountain that will fill up your empty vessels supply all your wants and engage your hearts to keep the way of his Commandements Fourthly Then none of the well-grounded hopes of believers shall be lost Psal 119. 49. Remember thy word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope God will never forget to fulfil those promises which he causeth us to confide in for he is faithful who hath promised Heb. 10. 23. Rom. 5. 6. And hopâ— maketh not ashamed That is by reason of a disappointment shame usually ariseth from some frustrations of expectation but this cannot befall well-grounded hopes because they have their dependence upon the firm word of God which cannot be disappointed Fifthly Then your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord if the Covenant be confirmed then you cannot run in vain or lose any part of that work you do for God 1 Cor. 15. 58. Gal. 6. 7 8. What a man soweth that shall he reap He that soweth to the Spirit shall reap life Everlasting O Souls all your sincere duties will appear again and bring their reward with them All your pains in serving God hardships in following him dangers in owning him and industrious labours to please him shall be fully and certainly recompenc'd with a far more and exceeding Massy Crown of Glory Sixthly Then all your warrantable desires shall be satisfied in due time For this is part of the Covenant-promise Psa 37. 4. Delight thy self also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart Psalm 145. 16 19. All the breathings of your Souls after God and unfeigned longings for more spotless holiness more perfect victory over sin for humble submission to divine pleasure more sincerity of heart and raised capacities for service shall certainly be satisfied first or last Seventhly If the Covenant of grace be sure then nothing can make the believers state miserable indeed he may seem to be in a bad condition when under the power of temptation and corruption and pressed grievously with severe and bitter Providences and stroaks of seeming vengeance but yet his state is good who could have past a favourable interpretation on the afflictions of Job when on a dunghil and on the tryals of David when pursued by Absalom yet we find there was hony in these Rods and David could notwithstanding lye down and sleep in peace Psa 3. 5. So Josiah in an evil day when wars and frowning providences did surround him all about yet dyed in peace 2 Kings 22. 20. Lastly Then a gracious Soul is a blessed Soul both here and to all Eternity because this Covenant takes care for the good things of this â—ife and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness hath the promise of this life and that which is to come Hence the Scripture doth so often pronounce the Godly Man to be a blessed Man Psa 119. 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way Psa 112. 2. Psa 141. 2. Thus we have now briefly toucht on some grounds of Comfort that Believers may derive from the certainty of this new Covenant we now come to consider Secondly The excellency of this Covenant which the blood of Christ so confirms to Believers this new Covenant is a choice and precious Covenant what David said of Goliah's Sword may be affirmed of this That there is none like it 1 Sam. 21. 9. This would abundantly apear could I with consistency to my design here run out at large in the demonstration of this great truth but to touch a little on some evidences of its excellency under these two general considerations 1. The things that are promised in this Covenant 2. The way appointed of God to attain them First The things stipulated in this Covenant are First Great and glorious things the products of infinite Grace and discoveries of unconceivable greatness such Promises as were never offered in any other Covenant In this Covenant God makes over himself to Believers to be their God their Sun and Shield their exceeding great reward all that he is and all that he hath to be theirs so far as they are capable to receive I will be to them a God that 's in the Covenant He whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain whom the Angels cannot define far above the searches of the most refined Spirits far beyond the knowledge of those that always dwell in his sight this invisible unknown God in this Covenant makes himself over to Believers He will be theirs for ever Heb. 8. 10. A God in the nearest Relations that Creatures are capable to approach to him in He will be a Father Husband Head to them and to every one of them in the Lord
God but mercy and the excellency of Christ doth constrain them now Christ is willing that every lost sinner that sees and believes in him should be saved Thirdly That so all his Elect that lye among the perishing world might thereby be gathered in Joh. 10. 16. The Election must obtain though the rest be blinded Rom. 11. 7. The Lord Jesus Christ cannot lose one Soul the Father hath given him they must come in first or last and for their sakes as the evil-days are shortned Math. 24. 22. so shall the Gospel-days be continued till Christ hath gathered all his Elect into union with himself from the four winds even as many as are ordained to Life Now there 's no such way to fetch in Souls to Christ as by opening those Treasures Lastly That they who perish under the Gospel might be left without excuse Joh. 15. 22. They have nothing to plead against damnation who despise so great Salvation Heb. 2. 3. And turn their backs on such tendered blessedness To leave tryed Gold for Counters and Treasures for Trifles the portion of Saints for the pleasures of sin is utterly inexcusable and this is one reason of Christs opening his Treasures to the world 't is to justifie his severity against unbelievers that will not come to him that they may have life he will have every mouth stopped and the whole world of unbelieving sinners become guilty before him Rom. 3. 19. Thus have I dispatch'd the third Assertion I now come to make Application of the whole CHAP. XXIII Containing two Branches of Information What a great blessing the Gospel is The greatness of their sin that oppose the Gospel IF there are great Glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ If it be by the Gospel these Riches are brought forth opened and tendered to sinners O then what a mercy is it for Souls to enjoy the Gospel The Gospel is the field in which this treasure is hid The Ministery of the Gospel is the digging out and laying open this treasure The Gâ—spel is the Cabinet in which these Jewels lye lock'd up And the Ministery of the Gospel by the Spirit is the opening and unlocking this Treasury and Cabinet Jesus Christ is this treasure The Ministers of the Gospel are Messengers and Ambassadours of Christ sent into the world with news of this Treasure and impowered to treat with perishing Souls about making them Rich The Ministers of Christ are Stewards of this great Lord of Glory entrusted with the tendring and Ministerial disposings of these vast treasures according to his instructions This way God brings to light the hidden things of the Gospel 2 Cor. 4. 7. We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels As if the Apostle should say O Corinthians there is a treasure there are Riches in the Gospel and we have these Riches in Earthen Vessels The Lord commits them to us that we may open them and make a tender of them to perishing sinners according to his order Our business is to preach Christ and open the treasures of Christ with all his vast Inheritance to every Soul that receives him O then the singular happiness they have that have the word of this Grace sent to them Oh what a mercy is it to live within the day-spring from on high and under the joyful found To hear the good news of a Saviours being born and offer'd to perishing Souls To have the tydings of those Soul-enriching overtures O think upon the blind perishing world that live without the Line of Communication with whom Free-Grace holds no correspondence about Salvation those Indians and Pagans that live without the Gospel and then reflect upon the priviledges you enjoy and see what a mercy this is and then say who hath made you to differ O why should the Sun shine on your borders and the day spring from on high visit your coasts leaving others to perish without regarding O is it not Grace that God should visit you with the Gospel and suffer others to persecute it O these are the motions of Sovereign pleasure and the paths of distinguishing mercy O sinners how much are you indebted to this free unsearchable Grace that should pass by so many parts of the World and pitch on this little spot of ground O wonderful Mercy indeed That these swarms of Mellefluous dews and priviledges should light on your branches That the Cloud by day and a Pillar of Fire by night should come and stand over you O little do you know what it is to lye in darkness and in the Region and shadow of Death O! this should cause you to value the Gospel who can tell but they that feel it what it is to be shut up in the Region of death and be bound in chains of darkness to lye in a wast howling Wilderness where there is none to guide their feet in the way of peace O what a sad judgment is this O Souls If ever you live to see the light put out and the Ministery of the Gospel gone from England then you will know what doleful miseries are and will you not prize the Gospel then that is such a wonderful mercy beyond all your Estates and all the enjoyments of the whole world How will some men value those Sciences that feed their natural minds with knowledge and feast their Rational desires with discoveries of some unknown Notions And will not you love the Gospel that brings to light the glorious truths of Christ How will Tradesmen prize the Rules of their Arts that make them skilful How will the Worldlings hug those Counsels that help to make them rich And should not you prize the Gospel that comes to make you wise to Salvation Shall men prize instructions about the obtaining of perishing things And shall the Counsel God gives you about the Food that endureth be slighted O Souls what shall I say O labour to know the worth of the Gospel before you feel the want of the Gospel O prize it prize it indeed The Gospel is the best Treasure the best Comforter the best Friend that is in the World 'T is the best Counseller in all sinners difficulties it shews you the safest and best way out of all your Clouds and darkness Pro. 8. 14. Counsel is mine and sound Wisdom It is meant of Christ In his word is the best Counsel to make men wise to Salvation 1 Tim. 3. 15. There 's the best Counsel to make you happy Rev. 3. 18. 'T is the best Interpreter in all the World to resolve your dark cases and there 's no such way to get solution in all your doubts and greatest troubles The Psalmist found it so when he went into the Sanctuary Ps 73. 17. Christians the Gospel and Word of God tells you what you should do in all your difficulties Acts 9. 6. The Gospel is the chiefest comforter O what happy Messenger the ministery of the Gospel is it brings the best Balm to heal your wounds Balm of Gilead to heal your soul
wounds it affords the sweetest Consolations Rom. 15. 4. That we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Ah! There 's no such pure Elixir drops to any as the Gospel drops 'T is the most reviving Spirits imaginable the water of Life that come through the Gospel O how reviving how chearing are these to drooping Souls The Gospel is the power of God to Salvation Rom. 1. 16. 'T is the arm of God to stay up the poor sinking Soul 'T is the Weapons of our Warfare which are mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds 2 Cor. 10. 4. O Souls what cause have you then to be much affected with the Love of God in giving the Gospel get your hearts warm'd with the sense of this mercy and more appreciative thoughts of these priviledges O I know not how to commend it to you O Souls prize the Gospel rate it in your esteem above the whole World Psa 119. 167. My Soul hath kept thy Testimonies and I love them exceedingly O rest not till you can say so I love the Gospel exceedingly I prize it above gold above tryed gold 'T is better than all treasures ver 72. Sweeter says David than Hony and the Hony Comb Psa 19. 10. If the Gospel be stuff'd with such Riches who would not prize the Gospel 'T is a rich Cabinet bespangled with beauty in every letter 'T is a discovery of the manifold Wisdom of God and should not you be affected with the Gospel O testifie your valuation of the Gospel by all possible demonstrations First Shew your valuation of the Gospel by blessing God for it O send Clouds of Incense to Heaven full of praises and Hosannahs to God for the Gospel Paul blesseth God that the Phillippians had the Gospel Phil. 1. 3 5. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now As much as to say that you have enjoy'd the Gospel a great while O from your whole hearts bless God for the Gospel 1 Thes 1. 2 5. O I am afraid Christians are not enough in this duty of praising God for the Gospel It deserves solemn days of Thanksgiving Secondly Testifie your valuation of the Gospel by doing all you can to keep it with you A person that prizeth a Jewel or piece of Gold in his hand will hold it fast O Christians if you prize the Gospel you will do all you can to keep the Gospel Pro. 23. 23. Buy the Truth and sell it not Lay out any thing to enjoy the Gospel part with your Lusts part with your Treasures let all go so you may keep the Gospel But then do not sell it O the Gospel is Treasure enough count nothing too dear for it Thirdly Testifie your valuation of the Gospel By your willingness to part with all or any thing if God call you to it for the Gospel Doth God bid you pluck out a right eye cut off a right hand let it go if God call for it Doth he call for your liberty your lives for the Gospels sake let them go Acts 21. 13. O Souls be not like the Gadarens to value your Swine above the Gospel and rather let the Gospel go than part with a little of your Estates Luke 8. 37. Fourthly Christians shew your high esteem of the Gospel by your readiness to attend it at all times To run at every call of the Gospel with Mary to sit at Christs feet though other things be out of order Luke 10. 39 40. Will not you part with a little of your business and let your Plow stand still awhile to attend upon the Ministry of the Gospel O Christians shew your prizings of the Gospel by your willingness to sit down under it at all times Fifthly Shew your high esteem of the Gospel by the greatest improvements of it while you have it Sirs you cannot tell how soon it may be taken from you or you from it you see what attempts are made against the Gospel you have reason then to make the most of it while you have it Christ gives this argument to his hearers to prize it Joh. 12. 35. Yet a little while is the light with you walk while you have the light lest darkness come upon you Be sure at the best 't is but a little time you shall have it if you live out all your time under the Gospel till your glass be run every dust 't is but a little while you shall sit under the dews of this Hermon hill the time of your life is but a little while the time of your digging in this Mine is but a little while Death will draw the Curtain and set you beyond the droppings of these dews and golden Oyls O then improve the Gospel while you have it make the most of it get all the good you can from it by way of illumination instruction Correction Faith and Consolation Christians get your heads and hearts fill'd with this precious substance what you can this will be your wisdom you will find it so when you come to reckoning O fill these Chambers of your Souls with precious treasures lay up those choice fruits that may last you in your Winter Days Get the kowledge of Christ and the unsearchable Riches of Christ more and more while you may come under the news of it O draw hard at these breasts that you may get much food and nourishment for your Souls that may serve you many a day Sixthly Shew your high valuation of the Gospel by your believing in it by your loving and obeying of it Joh. 12. 36. While you have the light believe in the light Those friends we value much we trust much Souls if you value the Gospel you will believe it The Gospel tells you He that hath the Son hath life he that hath not the Son hath not life It tells you he that lives after the flesh shall dye O believe it the Gospel saies If you forsake your evil ways you shall have mercy if you hold fast your sins you shall dye It tells you you cannot come at Salvation but in Salvations wayes O believe the Gospel they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee Psa 9. 10. If you did but know the worth and truth of it you would believe it you may hang all the weight of your Souls upon the Line of the Gospel you may adventure your immortal Souls upon the promises of the Gospel It will bear all your weights then love the Gospel Love the truth and peace Zach. 8. 19. Is the Gospel such a good Messenger that brings you such good news and will you not love it O Souls love the Ministrations of the Gospel And then obey the Gospel If you love Christ indeed you will keep his Commandements Joh. 14. 23. you will obey his voice This argues your esteem of the Gospel when you follow the instructions it gives you Doth God bid you forsake your
evil wayes Come and close with Christ O! obey those Counsels he gives you in his Gospel Lastly Shew your high valuation of the Gospel by holding forth a Conversation sutable to it Only let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1. 27. As if he should say chiefly this is the main and sum of all O! live worthy of the Gospel First Then is your Conversation as becometh the Gospel when you live as becomes the grace of God discover'd in the Gospel 'T is infinite grace is revealed in it you should walk so as to honour grace you should press after more grace in your Conversations there should be grace in every step of your lives Tit. 2. 1 12. Secondly Then you live sutable to the Gospel when you live up to those great and Glorious things held out in it When the Gospel is opened there are choice Jewels brought forth to sale O most excellent things produc'd by it and you should live up sutable to these There 's the manifold Wisdom of God held forth in the Gospel Eph. 3. 10. Treasures of wonderful wisdom are opened in the Gospel O live up to these mysteries O Christians let your lives be exact for you have curious eyes to look upon you labour to hold forth much wisdom and much light in your Conversations In the Gospel is held forth the mystery of Godliness 1 Tim. 3. 16. Great is the mystery of godliness O what mysteries are here God Manifested in the flesh God and yet cloath'd in flesh Condemn'd for sin and yet justified in the Spirit seen of Angels Preached to the Geutiles the worst of Sinners in the World Now live sutable to the mysteries of Godliness Again the Gospel opens the glorious priviledges of Saints of every saved Soul O wonderful priviledges That Enemies should be reconciled and strangers made nigh that Rebels should be adopted Sons and Daughters made the Children of God by Christ Rom. 8. 16 17. O what a glorious priviledge is this Believing Souls are brought into by the Gospel to a state of Adoption Gal. 4. 6. A state of glorious liberty Eph. 5. 1. Gal. 5. 1. O live up to these glorious priviledges You are Children of the light walk as Children of the light Eph. 5. 8. The Gospel shews you the the things freely given of God the infinite love of God the wonderful Salvation-Grace of God O then you live sutable to the Gospel when you live up to those great and glorious things held forth in it Thirdly Then are your lives according to the Gospel when they are suted to the Rules of the Gospel look what the Gospel commands and requires that you do Gal. 6. 16. Math. 28. 20. Now the Gospel requires not only Bodily but Spiritual worship to worship God in the Spirit It requires not only external duties but internal holiness It calls for Obedience flowing from love and labours springing from faith well principled duties when you endeavour the greatest strickness in your lives That 's sutable to the Gospel Fourthly Then is your Conversation as becomes the Gospel when it is Subordinate to the ends of it One end of the Gospel is to exalt the praise of the glory of grace Eph. 1. 12. To make you vessels of Mercy for the glory of Mercy O Christians live so as you may most advance the glory of grace live self-denyingly and humbly exclude boasting then you live as becomes the Gospel Another great end of the Gospel is the sanctification of saved Souls to make Souls holy 2. Cor. 7. 1. Then you live as becometh the Gospel when you carry on Gospel holiness inward Holiness outward Holiness 1 Thes 4. 3. The Salvation of Souls that 's another great end of the Gospel that the Promise may be sure to all the seed 2 Thes 2. 10. That he that believes in Christ may have Everlasting Life O then live as you may be saved you must tread upon the World you have so much doted upon you must account all things loss and dung for Christ if ever you be saved O Christians labour then to hold forth a Conversation sutable to the Gospel So much for the first Inference Secondly If such great and unsearchable treasures are opened and tendered to Sinners in the Gospel O then how great is their sin that oppose and persecute the Preaching of it O this is a black sin indeed this activity comes from the Spirit of darkness O 't is a dreadful thing to oppose resist and persecute the Ministery of the Gospel For such do all they can to hinder the tenders of unsearchable Riches to the World they labour to keep the World poor to hinder the Salvation of Souls And is not this sad work Again such as oppose and persecute the Gospel are of the cursed brood and off-spring of the Pharisees who do shut up the Kingdom of God and neither enter in themselves nor suffer them that are entring to go in So do those that do oppose and persecute the Gospel and would put out the light of the Gospel they are the Children of the Devil the first-born of Hell they do their Fathers work Joh. 8. 41 44. They that hate the light are the Children of the Devil their deeds are evil Joh. 3. 20. They carry the Devils mark upon their forehead wherever they go up and down to say there goes the Devils Children there goes an Heir of Hell Again They are Soul murtherers they do hunt Souls and shed the blood of Souls Ezek. 13. 30. As well as they that hinder the Gospel of Life as they that bring in false Doctrines and feed persons with Lies and occasion death They that starve mens Souls as well as they that poyson them both are Soul murtherers They sight against Christ in Heaven They go up and down with drawn Swords pointed against Christ in Heaven O bloody wretches that have murthered Christ on Earth and now would kill him in Heaven too Acts. 9. 4. Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me O Souls 't is a fearful thing to oppose and persecute the Ministery of the Gospel for all the blood of all the Saints from the beginning of the world to this day shall be upon their heads Math. 23. 35. O 't is a sad thing to lye under the blood of one person but to have all the blood of all the Saints in the world to lye upon the head of a poor Creature O what will that Soul do That Soul will go to Hell with a vengeance and lye tumbling under the wrath of God to all Eternity Thus much of the Second Inference CHAP. XXIV Shewing the poor and lamentable State of all Christless Souls IF there are such vast and unsearchable treasures in Christ tendered to sinners in the Gospel Hence see then the poor and lamentable state of all those Souls that are without Christ O they are very beggerly Souls that are Christless Souls As they that are far from the Sun must needs be far from
Poor Men are badly clad Job 31. 19. Sometimes they go in rags as Soloman saies Pro. 23. 21. Drowsiness will cloath a man in rags It notes the Poverty that slothful Persons are brought into when James would discribe a poor man he sets him forth as cloath'd in vile rayment Jam. 2. 2. And there come in a poor man in vile rayment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dirty base cloaths The same word that is rendred filthly garments Zach. 3. 3. Is the dress of poor men So Christless Souls are very poor they go in mean rayment they are naked the Spirit of God tells the Church of Laodicea so Rev. 3. 17 18. Till Souls be cloathed with the white rayment of Christ's Righteousness they be naked and their shame appears they have nothing to cover their nakedness from the sight of God Angels and Saints They go in poor rayment their garments are webs of their own weaving and their works are their covering They are cloath'd with shame and cover'd with Confusion as with a Mantle Psa 109. 29. O what sad rayment do Sinners go in Saints are cloathed with white Rayment and beautiful through Christs comeliness adorn'dwith his Graces bespangled in his Jewels they go up and down in rich Attire But sinners lye in sordid attire cloath'd with vile Rayment Fifthly Poor men usually have but bad Lodging They commonly live in mean Houses little Cottages They sometimes dwell in the dust Psa 113. 7. He raiseth the poor out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill So the Prophet Isaiah describes a poor man as one that is cast out Isa 58. 7. The poor that be cast out O their Loding is hard they do not spread themselves on Beds of lvory nor lye on Cloth of Tapestry The rich have their ceiled Houses fair dwellings The poor many times their Cottages are in a Wilderness and Houses that drop through So 't is with Christless Souls they have poor Lodgings when Saints Lodge in the bosom of Christ they lye in the Arms of Devils They lie upon Thorns yea Spears that will pierce them thorough They lye upon Stones the Earth is their Bed they are Earthy Souls and lodge in the very bosome of the world They dwell in habitations of cruelty they lye in Graves So the Prophet when he speaks of the Jews dead in sin before Coversion he describes them to be in their Graves Ezek. 37. 12. Dead sinners lye like Lazarus bound with a Napkin in their Graves Joh. 11. 44. O there 's your Bed Souls if out of Christ there you lye kept till the day of Judgment held Prisoners till a call comes to bring you to the Bar of Christ O your lodging is mean indeed Saints dwell in God Psa 91. 1 9. their habitation is in the City of God Eph. 2. 19. But all Christless sinners lye without amongst Devils they dwell on pinacles and live upon the borders of death every moment amongst Dogs amongst the unclean O see their habitation and the place where their honour dwelleth Rev. 22. 15. Without are dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murtherers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh alye These are the company Christless Souls lodge with they are turn'd out of doors O sad doleful state indeed Sixthly Another Character of a poor man is this Poor men are Friendless Pro. 19. 4 Wealth maketh many friends but the poor is separated from his Neighbour Every man seeketh the Rulers Favour every mans Cap and Hand and Knee and all is for them But the poor man his very Neighbour comes now to leave him who was his Friend whiles in prosperity When Rich men sit down in places of Honour poor men must stand at the Feet Jam. 2. 3. They are sure to find few Friends to own them to pity and help them So Christless Souls are friendless they have no true Friends in Heaven or Earth Those that seem to flatter them are not Friends but Foes they rather wound them and draw them into mischief whiles they lye in their blood there 's no eye to pity them to do any of these things for them Ezek. 16. 5 No hand to help them to wash salt and swaddle them ver 4. 5. If the Father of Bowels shut up his pity Creatures can extend but little whiles they reject the good Samaritane none that passeth by regards them If God will not withdraw his anger the proud helpers do stoop under him Job 9. 13. If God be angry who can befriend us O sinner If God frown what is the love of Creatures O thy case is doleful thou thou art a poor Soul indeed that art out of Christ if he wound none can heal Job 11. 10. If he cut off or shut up or gather together none can hinder him Christless Souls are like a Gangreen member in danger of being cut off if a sudden cure be not found and who then can befriend them where the Lord of hosts is a Friend Creatures are Friends And where he is an Enemy Creatures are Enemies too If God be in Covenant with a Soul the Creatures are in Covenant too And if God be against a Soul all his armies fight against that Soul too O sinners who can be friend you suppose you have Rich kindred great acquaintance what can they do at the Bar of God for you They will not go to the Judgment seat of Christ and speak for you there Seventhly A poor man is one that is lightly esteemed This David gives as a Testimony of a mean state when some were sent to treat with him about a match with Saul's daughter he modestly puts it off Who I says he I am a poor man and lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 18. 23. The word is contemptible of little little worth Rich men are sure of honour but the poor are little regarded Great persons are Courted when the poor are sleighted passed by little esteemed So 't is with Christless Souls They are lightly esteemed God hath a very low account of them The ungodly in Gods account are like the Chaff the Wind drives away Psa 1. 4. So are the wicked let them be what they will in greatest dignity here below they are glittering stars in the worlds Eye but falling Comets in God's account The mighty King of Babylon being a wicked man God accounts him but an abominable Branch Isa 14. 19. So Christ calls proud Herod a Fox Luk. 13. 32. God reckons them as broken Pitchers Wicked Coniah is as a broken Vessel in whom is no pleasure Jer. 22. 28. No more doth God reckon of wicked men though under all the grandure of the World Angels do not regard them They do not account them worth their company and attendance The Saints are guarded by Angels but wicked men are let alone Angels are Ministring Spirits to the Heirs of Salvation not to the Heirs of Hell they have no charge at all to watch over them but to fight against them They are set in battel array against
His belly is as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires His tender Bowels and boundless affections to his people are wonderfully lovely and delighting they are pure firm and fixed in their nature and they are chearing and enriching in their effects O Christs love is not fleeting 't is firm as Ivory set with gold overlaid with Saphires O how rich are his affections what a Treasure to those that have him His legs are as Pillars of Marble set upon sockets of fine gold The gracious motions and efficacious workings of his Spirit are exceeding mighty and glorious full of strength He hath power to bear up all those that follow him His legs are strong he can carry his Lambs that are committed to his arms there 's no burden too heavy for Christ his loins are strong he can bear what is laid upon him the weight of all the Saints on Earth is nothing to him He can carry on all his intendments and interest in the World his legs are as Marble able to bear his Body quick in motion O what a lovely Christ is this display'd in the Gospel His countenance is as Labanon excellent as the Cedars Those discoveries the Lord Jesus Christ makes of himself in his word and works are wonderful taking exceeding enriching Christ's word is fruit fullizing O when he speaks to the hearts of his Children what a deal of vertue goes through his lips Grace is poured out of his lips Milk and hony is under his tongue His appearances carries excellency riches and glory with them His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely His discourses the openings of his mind is wonderful pleasing The word of Christ never cloys the spiritual part Thus you see what a Person Jesus Christ is O Sinners consider his beauty O how lovely an object is he what can you object against his Person why you will not espouse him Thirdly Consider his lovely dispositions O Sinners will you accept of him He is of an excellent Spirit of a very sweet nature full of grace and goodness His sweet dispositions have been largely opened already he is full of mercy and compassions meekness gentleness patience long-suffering slow to anger ready to forgive great in kindness free and bountiful of a generous Spirit true and faithful Sinners you may trust him with your secrets you may venture your Souls upon him He is harmless and inoffensive he doth wrong to no man his company is lovely and desirable His converses are pleasant and profitable O what a person is Christ O Sinners never was such a one offer'd you as Christ is why will you not come unto him Fourthly Consider his quality and high dignity he is no mean Person but a mighty Potentate 1 Tim. 6. 15. The sole and only superintendent of the whole World the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords He is not only a King but the King the only true Potentate from whom all ohters derive their glory a King not only of Men but of Saints not only of Saints but of Angels of Thrones Principalities and Powers Math. 26. 53. And can command them down now he is in Heaven for the service of his elect Heb 1. 14. Are they not all Ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation O Sinners shall this prevail with you to accept of him Fifthly Take notice of his potency He hath power as well as honour Math. 28. 18. All things are put under his feet Heb. 2. 8. All the Armies of Heaven and Earth are deliver'd over to him He is Lord of Hosts He hath the Keys of Heaven Death and Hell Rev. 1. 18. Who then can lock out Christ or exclude him from doing what he pleaseth seeing all things are at his beck He doth whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven and in Earth in the Seas and in all deep places Psa 135. 6. He sitteth in the Heavens and laughs the Counsels of the Potentates to scorn he makes no reckoning of their combinations but derides their ambitious attempts against him Psa 2. 4. He shall pass thorow and over-flow and break all their consederacies in pieces Isa 8. 8 9 10. Let all the subtleties of Hell be woven together to make a web to catch the interest of Christ in it shall all be as a spiders web that can soon be swept away O admire the Kingdom of Christ the glorious power of Christ nothing is too hard for him He hath an absolute unlimited and uncontroulable power He is the supream over all persons and all things in all places Lands and Countries O what power hath he not only Authority but likewise Might 2 Chro. 20. 6. In his hand there is power and might and none is able to withstand him O Sinners come away to Christ he can protect you and defend you from dangers Sixthly Observe his wisdom too this is taking with some to have a head that hath intellectuals in him and marry one that hath exquisite parts and eminency of knowledge Now all Treasures of wisdom are in him Col. 3. 3. His judgments are unsearchable and past finding out Rom. 11. 33. His judgments his acts in the World his Righteous deeds and the way he takes to accomplish his designs O how wonderful deep are they The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of wisdom and understanding the Spirit of Counsel and might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord Isa 11. 2. He is of quick understanding full of judgment called The wonderful Counsellour Isa 9. 6. The only wise God from whom all wisdom is fetch'd that fills Men and Angels all the World do light their Candles at his Torch He is the Sun that fills the whole Creation with beams There 's no searching of his understanding he can bring to light the hidden things of darkness 1 Cor. 4. 5. He hath eyes can reach where men cannot he can reveal the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. O Sinners what an excellent one is Christ O how worthy of your choice Seventhly Weigh the glorious and blessed effects of your closing with the Lord Jesus Christ Sinners the very day you marry Christ he will pay all your debts and they are many he will pardon all your sins blot out all your iniquities remember them no more He will free you from all your Bondages deliver you from all your fears secure you from all your dangers if you will but espouse him O the very day you marry Christ he will wipe off all your shame and remove your reproach He will heal all your wounds and sicknesses he will begin to heal them immediately and never leave till he hath perfectly cured your Souls He will strip off all your filthy garments and cloath you with broidered rayment he will advance you to highest dignity he will lift up your heads above
the Pool's side near the means of cure but never the better ver 6. 7. And so continued till Christs time came to cure him So Israel were barren and unfruitful till the Lord became a dew to them Hos 14. 5. Therefore this is no discouragement if thou believe and come to Christ God will be a dew to thee and thou shalt quickly find a change 8. Object But saith one I am not only never the better for all the means of grace but I am worse than I was before when I was under first awakenings my heart was more tender but now my heart seems to be more brawny and hard I find more unbelief than ever more indisposition to go to Christ I am worse than I was Answ So was Sarah too as to the receiving the promised mercy more and more indisposed she complaines of the deadness of her womb she was past age to be the Mother of Children till the time of life came then Sarah's growing indisposition becomes no impediment at all to the fulfilling of the promise So was Israel they began to say for their part their hope was cut off and God had forsaken them when mercy was nearest to them So the woman that had a bloody issue twelve years and had spent all that she had on Physitians yet was nothing bettered but rather grew worse till Christ came and healed her Mark 5. 25 26. Persons are usually worst in their own eyes when mercy is nearest their doors Again Thy not comming to Christ is the cause of thy decaies and hardnings 't is thy unbelief that deadens thy heart and withers thy Soul Christ doth withdraw his influence from such and refuseth to do any mighty works in them because of unbelief O then Soul come away to Christ and this is the way to cure thee 9. Object But saies the Soul Christ seems to take no notice of me I call but he heareth me not I come to Ordinances but I cannot see him nay he seems to be angry with me every thing goes against me his word speaks bitter things to me methinks there 's never a threatning but belongs to me I am the Hypocrite and unclean person that God strikes at in every Sermon and his rod lies heavy on me too and in the way of his providence he writes bitter things against me Answ Soul is this thy case doth Christ take no notice of thee It is because thou takest so little of him when he unveils his beauty thou dost not believe in him when he makes a promise to thy Soul When he sends words of Counsel thou dost not obey him He hath called and thou hast not answered and therefore when thou callest he doth not answer Zach. 7. 13. Yet at such a time what follows doth God make an end of such sinners No see Chap. 8. 2 3. O Soul if the Lord Jesus Christ seems to take no notice of thee but to frown upon thee it is to frown thee from thy unbelief it is but to make thee sensible of thy slighting him If thou wilt this day accept of the Lord Jesus Christ his frowns will soon pass away as a dark Cloud doth when the Sun shines he will remember thy Iniquities no more 10. Object But may some Soul say I would fain come to Christ but I cannot I like the terms well but O my unbelieving heart O my impenitent hard heart I cannot sense Salvation-kindness Answ O Soul The afflicting sense of thy unbelief is a hopeful sign of thy faith If thou dost see thy unbelieving heart so as to be burdened under it and be weary of it the Lord reckons it for the beginnings of faith Mark 9. 24. This is the method of Salvation-Grace in begetting faith to convince thee of its impotency to believe Joh. 16. 9. Soul is this thy weariness that thou canst not come to Christ Wouldst thou have a wider heart for him Thou art the Soul he waits for that mournest over thy unbelief Mark 9. 24. But there 's one thing more may be as a discouragement to some Souls 11. Object O saies the Soul I fear the time is past and that God will be gracious no more I have had a day of grace but that is gone The Angel came troubling the Waters but I would not step in I bave had the dawnings of mercy but I resisted I fear I have outstood my Market That I have outstrived the Spirit so long that he will strive no more And this bows me down that I am afraid to look up Answ Sinner if this be thy case know that thy fears of losing the day of grace is a sign it is not lost The greatest symptome of departing grace is security and false peace 1 Thes 5. 3. So it was with the people before the flood Noah threatned judgments but they dreamt of peace Math. 24. 37. c. Security usher'd in the departure of grace from them But while the Spirit of grace strives with thy Soul the day of grace is not past from thee Doth God call upon thee now and plead with thy heart And dost thou find some movings and turnings of thy Bowels in thee crying out O that there might be mercy for me that this day of grace may not be past If so then sure the Spirit strives yet with thy Soul Therefore Soul if now thou wilt close with Christ none of these pleas can debar thy closing with him Well Sinners consider the Lord Jesus Christ invites you to come to him once more he demands your answer what say you will you be his or no Do your hearts accept of him Do you like his proposals will you heartily consent to be his upon all his terms If so I shall lay down some Counsels to direct you in your right comming to Christ First Sinner if thou will come to Christ thou must come as a poor needy empty undone Sinner stript of all beauty as having nothing at all that may deserve his favour 'T is the poor have the Gospel Preached to them Math. 11. 5. It signifies such as are brought to great necessities and extremities So Beza renders it Such as are brought very low Therefore some derive it from a word that signifies falling down at the rich Mens feet As some beggers will Ferus interprets it the poor in Spirit that acknowledge themselves mean and are low in their own eyes So Calvin takes it for them that are oppressed with the sense of their own wants such as feel their pinching necessities that lye down overwhelm'd with the apprehension of their emptiness The Treasures of the Gospel are design'd to such Persons that are poor and afflicted in their own Spirits There 's no greater obstacle in this Match betwen Christ and sinners than a sense of self worthyness This keeps many from seeing the beauty of Christ their own Righteousness hangs in their eye they are too heavy laden with their own thick clay I mean the sense of their own worthyness to be
looking up to Jesus and lifted up to him Sinners may be too rich for Christ in their own opinion but never too poor hence the Lord Jesus Christ tells us he came not to call the Righteous but sinners to Repentance Math. 9. 13. Not them that Judge themselves Righteous but them that feel themselves sinners The Rich he sends empty away those that are Rich in their own thoughts when the poor and hungry are fill'd with good things Men chuse empty vessels to put their liquors in and low rooms to cellar their wines so doth Jesus Christ chuse empty Souls for his good things He chooseth the Low plains for his walks when the high towring Mountains are rejected The high and lofty One comes to dwell in the low and contrite Spirit Isa 57. 15. Sinner thou must strip thy self of thy own Ornaments if thou intend to put on Jesus Christ Thou must throw down thy Crown at his feet if thou thinkest to wear his Crown on thy head O Soul thou must come as a poor wretch to Christ with thy empty sack as Jacobs Sons did to Egypt to buy corn and then thou shalt have Treasure too Thou must see thy self an undone sinner thou must come with Lazarus and throw thy self down at this Rich Kings Door if ever thou wilt be fed with his Crumbs nay rather feasted with his Dainties Secondly Thou must come to Christ as to a full and sufficient treasure able to save and satisfie thee to pay off thy debts and enrich thy Soul for ever Heb. 7. 25. Able to supply all thy wants and fill all thy emptiness Phil. 4. 19. We have shewn already that his treasures are bottomless boundless unfathomable unexhaustible never to be wasted or spent O Soul come to Christ as such a one Measure not Christ's gold by thy bushel nor his plenty by thy poverty think not thy debts too great for Christ to pay because thou knowest not where to get mony of thy own Think not thy straits too many for him to relieve He hath enough for thy Soul to live upon both here and to all Eternity O Sinner believe this and come to him as such a one suppose not the Fountain is empty because thy Cisterns are dry His Righteousness is like the great Mountains Psa 36. 6. It is in the Hebrew The Mountains of God And his grace is without measure Joh. 3. 34. Therefore thou must look to him as having a sufficient fulness for thy Soul Thirdly Thou must look to Christ with expectation as the poor Cripple did to Peter and John Acts. 3. 5. Now shall a poor Creature expect to receive some needful sutable good from a fellow Creature and will not thou expect some mercy from the Lord Jesus Christ thy Creator and Redeemer O sinner come with expectations to Christ believe that he is as willing as able to enrich all that come to him He hath past his word for it He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. He that believeth on him shall not perish Joh. 3. 16. The weary Soul that comes yea creeps to him shall have rest Math. 11. 28. The thirsty Soul shall be satisfied Joh. 7. 37. He goes up and down in the Ministery of the Gospel seeking to save that which is lost Luke 19. 10. And he is angry with them that will not come to him Joh. 5. 40. O sinner do not take up hard thoughts of Christ Such suspitious thoughts of Christ is some of the Devils seed that he doth sow in broken ground When Christ comes to break sinners hearts and make them sensible of their undoneness then the Devil casts in these tares and raises up ill thoughts of Christ It was this did so enervate the diligence of the unprofitable Servant some undue thoughts he took up of his Lords bounty I knew saies he thou wert an hard and austere Man Hence he puts up his Talent in a Napkin and his hand in his bosom Math. 25. 24 25. Jealousies of Christs good-will to sinners are very destructive to Salvation-work The Devil hath hindred many a Soul from coming to Christ by casting this block in his way O then come with expectations at least come to Christ with as great hopes as the Lepers came to the Tents of the Assyrians who were Enemies come to Christ the friend of Sinners 2 Kings 7. 4. They adventured with some hopes we may live and we can but dye they may kill us and they may save us alive But thy case is not so if thou come and adventure on Christ thou mayest be sure he will not kill thee O look to Jesus then with some hopes say who can tell but my Soul may live Fourthly Close first with Jesus Christ himself and afterwards with his Treasure I confess usually something from Christ draws the Sinner's first respects to him The savor of his oyntments some love-tokens kindnesses apprehension of necessity sense of undoneness may conduce to get the first glances of Sinners towards Christ But though these allure to Christ yet the first thing the Espoused Soul must eye in his Match with Christ is Christ himself though these things draw the Soul yet they do not center the Affections Christ's kindnesses are design'd as motives to beget an esteem of himself in sinners hearts The knowledge of what Jesus Christ hath for sinners an intimation of pardon peace and Salvation for all that come to him may be the Prodromus or fore-runner of Christs Person to sinners view but when they come to see him they must first pitch upon himself and till they come to this they cannot have a due and orderly close with Christ In all right and regular Matches the Person must be first regarded then the Portion A Soul is not fit to match with Christ till he comes to see infinitely more worth in him then in all his gifts and favours It was the excellency of Christ himself that drew Pauls highest regards to him with respect to relation Phil. 3. 8. The excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord Paul sets that fore-most And then to be made conformable to his Death and Resurrection The Spouse was more taken with Christ's Person then with his Gifts Cant. 1. 2 3. First himself was lovely then his fruits Cant. 2. 3. David counts nothing in Heaven or Earth like to God in Christ Psa 73. 25. 'T is sordid love and too unworthy of a conjugal State that values the Portion more then the Person that Soul is too unworthy of Christ who values any thing more then him Math. 10. 37 It must be Christ himself must sit in the upermost seat in thy Soul 'T is a saying of Calvin T is an unworthy thing not to perfer one Christ above all Those Matches never prove comfortable where the Estate is eyed more then the Person hence conjugal love is broken when the estate is gone but where true conjugal love is it is setled upon the Person Love
World O unexcusable Like Dinah they wander after the things of this World as she did after the people of the Land till they deflower their Souls O Christians have you chosen God and will you back to the World again Hath God deliver'd you from this present World and will you yield up your selves to it again Hath grace opened your Prison Doors and will you enter in again Have you tasted God to be gracious and yet long after the worldlings bottle to drink of these Waters of Marah O unreasonable Souls How unsutable is this to your state and condition if you are Saints indeed you are not of this World Joh. 15. 19. Are you the Citizens of Heaven Eph. 2. 19. And would Saints and Angels so dig after the World if they come down from Heaven 'T is contrary to your promises and engagements You go against your convictions and experiences and by your inordinate love to and pursuit of the World you are Enemies to God your own and others Souls Fourthly This reproves those of the People of God who have an interest in these vast Treasures of Christ and yet are miserably poor in their own Souls Many complain Times be hard Estates wast Trades decay but the greatest Poverty lies in Spirituals Faith Love Humility selfe denyal Mortifiedness to the World persons are destitute of these things chiefly little grace laid out little grace laid up Few workings of Spirit in duty and few works of grace in Mens lives this argues wonderful Poverty in mens Souls 'T is not Poverty in Spirit but poverty in Spirituals Professours are so guilty of this day few acts of Piety towards God few works of charity towards Men How lean and ilfavoured are most under the Gospel Many are learning and never come to the knowledge of the truth a strange vail lyes yet upon the minds of many Little right-kind of knowledge few know the meaning of the Spirit few are led into the mysteries of the Gospel Others profess themselves wise and to know God but by works deny him and their Poverty lies here They are ful of notions but empty of holiness Earthly and vain in their Spirit Most mens Religion this day lies in the head little-heart-godliness little life-holiness Little love to God and Saints Little fruits brought forth for God this shews the Poverty of the times we live in Again the difficultness of maintaining Spiritual life hard to get to a life of faith and love hard to keep up hope this comes from Soul Poverty Hard for Persons to live from one Ordinance to another Spiritual life decays wasts languishes 't is with too many Professours as it is with ancient weak Persons that are grown so cold Nature so decay'd that they can hardly keep themselves warm longer then by the fire So t is with many Christians no longer then under a warming Sermon but cold presently nay 't is not ordinary Sermons will heat them The richest feedings the choicest Cordials scarce keep up faith love and delight in God one moment and are not these poor men Corruptions grow a light vain Eearthy frothy Spirit abounds but meekness savouriness humility gravity livelyness decays Little strength for duty hard to hear pray or to manage one duty aright little Spirit and Truth in most duties and services Unable to conflict with temtations corruptions oppositions Hard to live up to light convictions resolutions How do Souls make shipwrack of faith and conscience How easily are they overcome by their hearts lust pride passion Earthyness presently carries them aside Unable to bear the least sufferings The very shaking of the rod will drive some from duty Persons cannot yet digest difficulties and endurings for the Gospels sake How soon are many worn out by the afflictions and persecutions of this day This deserves sharp reproof Lastly It reproves those who partake of those riches of Christ and yet are reserved to others O how unlike are these to Christ He opens his Treasures to you but you shut yours from others he hands out his bounty to you but you shut your eyes from others His streams make glad the City of God your narrow heartedness makes sad the Sons of men His bowels are enlarged yours sttaitned Milk and Honey are under his tongue emptiness and vanity under yours his steps drop fatness your hands cause leanness O Christians see your unsutableness to Christ and be ashamed of your straitned bowels and shut hands towards your poor Brethren whether as to outward or spiritual supplies How few are the better for you in soul or body whose lips bless God for your bounty Deut. 14. 13. A close-handed Professor is a Paradox in nature and differs from God and the whole Creation The Lord is good and doth good Jesus Christ ascended on high and gives gifts to men Eph. 4. 8. He is always doing good The Sun diffuseth freely of his light and heat The clouds drop fatness The Earth brings forth her increase the Trees yield their fruit and when fit for the use of man lets them fall into their bosomes the air communicates its refreshing the fire its heat the Sea its store only man is selfish and with the unprofitable Servant hides his talent in a Napkin Christians be humbled for your non-conformity to Christ and the little use you have made of your Talents and graces for the good of those you live with Note That this use of Reprehension was more fully and largely compos'd by the Author but the substance of it is contain'd in that excellent Treatise of the Author call'd The Heavenly Trade to which the Reader is refer'd Third Vse of Consolation If there be such unsearchable riches in Câ—rist for his people Then here 's wonderful Comfort to those that are in Christ such have cause to rejoyce and be exceeding glad For First In your interest in Christ lies your right to all those great and glorious treasures of Christ He that hath Christ all that is Christ's is his All things are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 21. Such are Joynt-Heirs with Christ put down in the same everlasting Covenant adopted to the same inheritance Rom. 8. 27. They have a Title to all that Christ hath as Mediatour and that by donation and purchase A title that cannot be forfeited nor wasted A Title to the whole inheritance of God Ah Believer if Christ be thine then 't is no presumtion to lay claim to any thing that is his All that have been treated of him as God-Man Mediatour his glorious endowments his personal dispositions and excellent perfections are all thine 1 Cor. 1. 30. Is not this comfort indeed to believers that have such a Beloved in Heaven that is altogether lovely 'T is wonderful reviving when a Person can see some excellency he is related to beyond what is in himself What comfort will a Mother take in a beautiful Child though her self be deformed What delight will the faithful Wife take in
the Spirit too for Christ is not divided He that hath Christ hath the Father and the Spirit for these three are one Now a Soul that hath the Spirit of Christ may know it by the effects of it The Spirit of Christ is a quickening Spirit it begets a principle of Life The Soul that was dead to God and holiness now hath a new life a heart to move after God it works from other motives even from love to God Dost thou find thy heart always dead to every act of Grace No heart to pray hear c. and is this habitual O then here 's no fruit of Christs Spirit The Spirit of Christ is a sin-opposing spirit always quarrelling with Lust always convincing troubling humbling the Soul for sin Gal. 5. 17. Tit. 2. 11 12. It gives no peaceable possession to it but always opposes it as fire doth water Where the Spirit of Christ is 't is a leading guiding Spirit Rom. 8. 14. Christians what is it leads you Is it your own Spirits if you have received the Spirit of God you may know it by those Scripture ways it takes to put you upon duty such a one is coâ—vinced by the word and perswaded and help'd by the word to this and the other duty Again The Spirit of Christ is a praying Spirit A Soul that is in Christ cannot live without prayer though no eye see it and no good come by it yet he cannot omit secret prayer Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 8. 15. 'T is not enlargement of affections parts abilities and expressions in prayer but the inditings of the Spirit inward breathings sighs and groans of the Spirit A man may pray like a Saint or an Angel and yet not have a jot of the Spirit of prayer but it is the encouragement of the Spirit to wrestle with God by Christ the inward suggestions of hope when a Soul can go to God as to a Father when the very heart goes out to God in prayer and when prayer is wing'd with Faith and Love These are the effects of a Spirit of prayer and the fruit of a Souls reception of Christ Thirdly They that have obtain'd an interest in Christ have crucified the flesh with the lusts there of Gal. 5. 24. They and only they that are in Christ have crucified the flesh that is the body of death original sin The general Nature of sin the universal extents of sin come under the workings of this Crucifixtion O try Souls â—ath the Axe been ever laid to the root of sin Have you ever found felling stroaks upon the bodie of your Corruptions are you baptiz'd into the death of Christ and as he died for sin so do you die to sin and by vertue of his death and wounds do you fetch power and strength from him to crucifie it There 's a difference between the curbing and the crucifying of sin sin may be chain'd up imprison'd and not crucified Hypocrites that are under a seeming change do restrain and confine sin yea they may punish sin but do not crucifie it The crucifying of sin is the giving it a deadly mortal wound fetch'd from the blood and death of Christ Faith fetches vertue from the Grave of Christ to destroy the power of sin nothing so mortally stabs this Leviathan as a believing reflection on our propriety in Christs Crucifixtion and a laying hold on promises by Faith in order to the application of the benefit of a crucified Christ Rom. 6. 4 6. Our old man is crucified with him The putting our lusts into the side wounds and grave of Christ A levelling the Ax to the body of sin doth strange work to the crucifying of it Trie then are your corruptions Pride Passions Earthliness as strong as ever deceive not your selves this will never assure your interest in Christ till sin be destroyed 't is true when the wound is given sin doth not immediately die but the bodie of sin is dying and the believing Soul finds his corruptions hath less strength every day as a man that loseth his blood weakens more and more so a Soul that crucifies Lust finds it to weaken day by day Fourthly Another effect of a Souls union with Christ is this There will be some resemblance of Christ 1 Joh. 4. 17. As he is so are we in this World As Christ was Crucified in the flesh so are his Crucified to the flesh And as Christ was risen and justified in the Spirit so are they sanctified by the Spirit and have the nature and Image of Christ Hence we are said to be made conformable to the Image of his Son Rom. 8. 29. They that are Christ's are in some measure of truth like him 1 Joh. 3. 3. They have something of Christ's Nature and Spirit Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2. 5. Christ's mind was off from and above the World and herein lies as great an evidence of interest in Christ as in any thing that Soul is dead to and wonderfully loose from the World Gal. 6. 14. Christ's mind was heavenly he favour'd the things above his meat and drink was to do his Fathers will If you are Christ's you will be of the same mind nothing in the World will so much delight you as to do something for God Christ's mind was heavenly to do his work and hasten home and if you are Christ's this will be your mind to dispatch your work and hasten home Christ was full of mercy humility meekness If you are interested in Christ so it will be with you Lastly They that are interested in Christ do interest Christ in themselves and in all that is theirs 2 Cor. 8. 5. They first gave themselves to the Lord Such do devote and make over themselves and all to Christ and glad they have any interest parts capacities that Christ will accept of they cannot keep back a part no were it a thousand times dearer Christ shall have all Can. 6. 3. I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine The keeping back of part lost Ananias and Saphira they were undone and damned for ever Act. 5. If Christ be yours you will entitle him to all you are and have And thus are we come to a Conclusion in this matter That Soul that can come to seal to those things is a happy Soul O blessed Soul indeed Then mayst thou boldly say The Lord is my helper God Christ the Spirit the Promises the Kingdom and glory is mine Thus much for the use of Examination CHAP. XXX Containing a Vse of Exhortion pressing Believers to several duties HAving already dispatch'd Motives Counsels and Directions to Sinners about their coming to this Christ I shall only apply this last use of Exhortation to those who are interested in this rich and glorious Jesus Christians you that are made happy in your Relation to Christ and invested with a Title to these glorious Treasures of all persons you are most obliged to duty Christians be you advis'd and exhorted to
Regards for these and no more for this Grace of God O wonder more at this Love Fourthly Consider how this is the great Design of God in this grace that you should be to his praise Eph. 1. 12. That is the end which God aimed at in Predistinating you to Glory that you might be to the Praise of his grace that his Grace might procure the Manifestation of his Praise 't is not for an Enlargement of his Revenue or Advancement of his Profit for man cannot be profitable to God Job 22. 22. or for any addition to his Honour being above all Praise but that he might receive the Tribute of his own Glory and the returns of his outgoing Goodness Now if this be the very end why God sets his love upon you Christians then you have reason to glorifie his Grace lest you endeavour to overturn the whole Projâ—cts of Salvation-kindness Fifthly Think how delightful Praise is to God Psal 69. 31. This also shall please the Lord better than an Oxe or a Bullock that hath Horns and Hoofs That is an Adult and full grown Beast which is more fit for Sacrifice as Rabbi D. Kimohy notes a Beast was not fit for Sacrifice under two years old so that Praise is preferred here above all Sacrifice as that which God takes most delight in of any thing because this doth most honour him to acknowledge him the Author of all Mercy and God of all Grace Psal 50. 23. Whoso offereth Praise glorifieth me That is He doth in a singular manner shew forth mine Honour and this is pleasing to him Sixthly This brings Profit to your own Souls Psal 50. 23. For 't is the means and way to obtain the Salvation of God Ponit viam aut praeparat viam saith one it opens the way for Salvation to go out to that Soul this duty of Praise will bring you Gain because it engageth God to give out more Mercy and it leaves Influences of spiritual Good on your own Souls it puts the heart into a good Frame to love God and delight in him and leaves more obligedness on the Soul to fear and serve God so David after that Psalm of Praise to God 2 Sam. 7. was wonderfully influenced to duty to God as you may see chap. 8. 11. and had his Spirit abundantly sweetned to men chap. 9. 1. Lastly Consider also how pleasant this duty of Praise is to the Soul it self it is wonderfully delightful and abundantly affects and ravishes the Heart to have the sense of divine Mercy in it Psal 147. 1. Praise ye the Lord for it is pleasam and Praise is comely O Believers let me effectually perswade you then to the highest Acknowledgments of Redemption-grace and to the utmost Praises for this rich Jesus who hath blessed you with all spiritual Blessings Eph. 1. 3. 2 Duty Secondly You that have an Interest in this glorious Redeemer labour to keep up a high valuation of him in your Hearts if he be so rich as the Gospel reports of him O then prize him acoording to his excellent worth Great men are highly esteemed the Cap the Knee the best Room the chiefest Seat are theirs Jam. 3. 3. And how much more worthy is Christ of your account 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifies an high Estimation of anothers Worth and Excellency ready to be attested by all possible and due Demonstrations four things should oblige Believers to a high Esteem of Christ First His own transcendent Excellency which singularly resides in him and eminently shines out from him ten thousand times brighter than the Beams of the Sun which in their own nature challenge the highest Adoration of men and Angels especially of saved Souls to whom he is most endeared and most nearly related As the Apple-tree excells the meanest and most useless Shrub infinitely more doth the Lord Jesus over top all the Glory of the world as Mediator Cant. 2. 3. He is the chiefest of ten thousands Cant. 5. 10. He is before all things Col. 1. 17. Both in dignity and time he precedes all Creatures he is the Fountain of all Excellencies his divine and personal Perfections make him the glory of Heaven the adoration of Angels the admiration of Saints and the object of all Observance and holy Wonder 2 Thes 1. 10. Secondly The high honour the Father puts upon him He is his Well-beloved Matth. 3. 17. The object of his Delight the Exaltation of his right-hand who hath put all things under his Feet Heb. 2. 8. Set over the works of his hands crowned with Glory and Honour vers 7. Worshipped by all the Angels by the Fathers Appointment and set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1. 3. 6. entrusted with all the Concerns and Interests of God in the World made his pleni-potentiary to compose all Differences betwixt himself and fall'n man now hath the Father such a high Valuation of Christ then surely 't is an unworthy thing in you to detract from his Honour 3dly The Lord Jesus Christ deserves your high Estimation because he is the Fountain of all those Streams that do make glad your Souls the Sun of all those Beams that warm your Hearts the Author of all those Mercies that do supply and delight you all your Excellencies and the things you mostly value are Derivations from his glory things are ratable as they come from Christ he turns your Water into Wine sweetens your bitter Cups and makes them to overflow all your graces come from his Fullness he is your Friend your best Friend your old Friend your none-such in Heaven and Earth Psal 73. 25. The Procurer of all your Mercies the sweetness of all your Comforts the crown of all your Glory and doth he not deserve your Estimation If he hide his Face all Light goes with him if he suspends the Communications of his Favour nothing is comfortable to you if he lock up his Treasures nothing bâ—t Poverty and wasting covers your Souls every thing without him is nothing and with him any little thing is enough Bread and Water is rich cheer with Christ Disgrace and Reproach is Honour with Christ Poverty is Riches with Christ O prize Christ then for he puts a worth upon all things that you can enjoy Fourthly Consider the wonderful value the Lord Jesus Christ puts upon you and let this perswade you to a due valuation of him Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me and gave himself for me Joh. 15. 16. O amazing wonderful sovereign Grace That the Son of God should set his highest Regards upon loathsome Dung swept out of door by divine Justice cast out into the open Field pityful loathsome undone Creatures that he should account you Believers as the Apple of his Eye who have been as Thorns in his side that he should account you as a Seal on his Heart who have been spears to pierce through his Bowels that he should value you as the travel
Derivations from his Excellency Drops of his Fullness Sips of his Sweetness the impress of his Fingers The precious Ordinances of Christ are but the Galleries in which he walks the Chariot in which he rides the Cabinet wherein his Jewels lye the Cisterns through which Waters of Life pass to saved ones and if these be so pleasant O what then is himself and should not Believers then delight themselves in him Quest But how shall I do to get my Heart to this delight in Christ I find my Affections cold and my Spirits dead that I cannot taste that Sweetness in Christ nor take that Pleasure in the Almighty as I would Answ First withdraw your Hearts from all other Delights this course doth the Lord set Israel to get up to a delight in himself Isa 58. 13 14. There is no greater Enemy to true delight in God than a persons own carnal Pleasure and delight in things below God Whoredom and new Wine take away the Heart Hos 4. 11. 'T is impossible a Soul can take pleasure in Christ and Sin together Mat. 6. 24. For carnal Pleasures withdraw the Affections from God Job 21. ver 12. to 15. 1 Joh. 2. 15. Secondly Rest not till you have cleared up your Interest in Christ and can upon good grounds apprehend him as your peculiar and chief Treasure better than all the World besides and appropiate it to your own Souls Cant. 2. 3. 5. This drew the Spouses Heart to so much longing after and solace in the Lord Jesus even the sight of his transcendent Worth beyond all others and her title to all those Excellencies 't is seen Interest in Christ that draws out the Heart after him Cant. 7. 10. Doubts of Relation to Christ and Fears of laying a claim to these precious Treasures damps the Soul pleasure in Christ Thirdly Be satisfy'd about Christ's special love to you and delight in you 1 Joh. 4. 19. Jealousies about an Interest in this love of God did so cool the Jews Hearts towards him Isa 49. 14. But Zion saith the Lord hath forsaken me and my God hath forgotten me From hence they began to slack their pace after God and cryed out behold what a weariness is it and snuffed at it Mal. 1. 13. chap. 3. 14. Suspition of Christs Heart towards you will straiten yours towards him think well of Christ's Heart to you cherish daily a good Opinion of his Nature Affection and Faithfulness Fourthly Beg hard for heart-affecting fights of Christ This so enamoured the Spouses Heart she saw the beauties of her beloved Cant. 2. 1. She beheld him to be the rose of Sharon and Lilly of the Vallies the powrings out of his Name drew her affections to him Cant. 1. 3. The Eye affects the Heart Lam. 3. 51. As with Sorrow so with Joy 'T was David's Sight of God in the outgoings of his Love and Glory that made his Soul thirst after him Psal 63. 1. 2. Fifthly Be much in the consideration of what Christ hath done for you and bestowed upon you this so engaged Hezekiah's Heart to God Isa 38. 17. and filled David's heart wiih such an Extasy of Joy in God 2 Sam. 7. 19 20. Psal 8. Sixthly Get a nature and Spirit sutable to Christ Similo Simili gaudet Psal 17. 15. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness This made the Image of Christ glorious in the Souls eye also when once it becomes changed into it's Likeness 2 Cor. 3. 18. Therefore did Paul delight in the Law of God after the inner man Rom. 7. 22. Because he had his inner parts changed into the Image of it what pleasure will wicked men take in a wicked Cause from the similitude it hath to their own Nature So will the Soul in Christ when once brought into a sutableness to him Lastly Be much in Communion with Christ and this will beget wonderful Joy in him Psal 119. 167. David's being much conversant in God's Laws begat and strengthen'd his delight in it So vers 14. 'T is Intimacy breeds Delight whereas Strangeness lessens all that Familiarity and Pleasure we else might take in Persons Psal 14. 10. A Stranger intermeddles not with his Joy Be not contented to keep to duty but press after Communion with Christ therein 6 Duty Sixthly Be not troubled at your Wants Losses and Sufferings you undergoe in this World Consider these four things First You can want no good thing the God of Glory stands bound for your Supplies Psal 34. 10. They that seek the Lord shall want no good thing Psal 23. 1. The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want It cannot be that those who are so much interested in the Heart Care Person and Treasure of the Lord Christ can be destitute what can you want who are entitled to all good things 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Who are Heirs of the Promises Promises that concern the Life that now is and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. You have a surer Title to your Supplies than they that have most of the World in their hands for God hath laid up in the hands of Jesus Christ a full Allowance for you how short soever he may seem to keep you for a while the Earth is your Lords and the Fullness thereof and the Cattel on a thousand Hills Psal 50. 10. 12. Psal 24. 1. Heaven and Earth and all things therein are made over in the everlasting Covenant for your use Secondly You shall want or suffer no more than infinite Wisdom and fatherly Love sees best for you 't is impossible that divine Purposes should be frustrated towards you he that will work will work and nothing shall let 't is not Men nor Devils nor the greatest injury of time can deprive you of your Fathers Allowance and that is upon infinite Wisdom and good Pleasure The Wings and Wheels of Gods Providence over his people and for them are full of Eyes within and without to shew the wise Care and Providence of God over his in the worst of times and hardest condition and these Wheels are moving for your Good Christians and God sees in the darkest Providence what is best for you all his Dealings with his people are the Fruits of everlasting Love Jer. 31. 3. God doth in infinite Wisdom manage all your Concerns 't is not by Chance or through any inadvertency any Crosses or Losses befall you but all is done in wise Counsel 3dly The less you have of Creatures the more will God give you of himself if you be looking to him and by Faith live upon him God will admit of no Vacuums towards his people they can want no good thing therefore if creature-supplies be remov'd Grace comes in the room as they say Water will ascend to prevent a Vacuum and Grace will descend to prevent Emptiness in Believers God comes in the room of creature-comforts when Job was stript of all he had more of the visions of God Job 42. 5. John had never more
your Lives If your Relation be new then your Conversation should be new also Eph. 5. 8. 'T is an unsutable thing if God hath invested you with new Priviledges to retain your old Practices You were Slaves to Sin and Satan but the Son hath made you free how unbecoming a state of Liberty are Bonds and Fetters Grace hath given you Beauty and is it fit you should lye in Ashes and wear your Sack-cloth still Christians you are arrived to your adult state and to your manly years and will you be like Children and Heirs under age This is unsutable How unbecoming is a carnal Heart to a Spiritual State Works of Darkness to the Day-time Rom. 13. 12 13. You were poor worth nothing stript of all destitute afflicted and naked Redemption-Mercy hath inrich'd you and once more intrusted you with a glorious Treasure O how unmeet is a low Spirit and sordid Life now To live on beggatly Elements to wear filthy Garments to sit in the dust and wallow in the mire of your Corruptions this is most unworthy also of the Grace by which you are advanced Hath the Lord advanced you to Dignity and Honour and will you disgrace the Throne of his Glory and walk unbecoming his Highness and Majesty O Christians you bring Dishonour on that King of Glory you are related to to live like the Subjects of Satan and Inhabitants of the lower World you disgrace his Family into which you are adopted to be heterogeneous to it in your Spirit and carriages you disparage the Table you are admitted to and the Fare you live upon to look so ill-favoured and lean in your Souls as if the Lord Jesus kept a bad House and did not allow meat enough to his Children O Christians live as becomes your Riches and glorious state into which Free Grace hath put you Now 't is becoming such a change in your condition First Not to keep your old Company Persons advanced to high Honour usually cast off their former and obscure Companions and converse with Persons sutable to their Dignity When David was advanced from the Sheepfold to a Crown he leaves his fellow Shepherds and converses with Nobles so should you Christians have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them Eph. 5. 11. Ye are now fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God and your Lives should be like those and your intimate Converses with them Psal 119. 63. What a Christian and yet help on the ungodly in their way and love them that hate the Lord sit with vain Persons and maintain Confederacy with Rezin and Remalian's son Isa 8. 6. What a Christian and look strangely on thy Brethren and become an Alien to thy Father's House O how unbecoming is this Secondly Not to wear your old clothes when Elijah was mounting to a new condition of Honour he left his Mantle behind him 2 Kin. 2. 13. When Joshua was advanced to higher dignity his filthy Garments were taken off and he was clothed with change of Rayment Zach. 3. 4 5. O Christians cast off your filthy garments your old sins by Repentance put off Pride and be clothed with Humility put off Guilt by Repentance and put on Christ by Faith Thirdly Live not on your old fare When the three Children were brought to Nebuchadnezzar's Family they were called to leave their old Pulse and Water and live on the King's Table Dan. 1. 5. O Christians Are you taken from your Kindred and Father's House and brought into the Family of Christ leave then your old Garlick and Onions your stollen Waters and forbidden Fruit and feed on the King's Table eat and drink abundantly of his Provisions his finest Wheat and Honey out of the Rock of Ages feast on his Marrow and fat things the Bread of his Table his Word and Ordinances his hidden Manna let it be your meat and drink to do his Will Fourthly Do not your old work cast off the works of Darkness Rom. 13. 12. Leave off your old Trade of Sin and serving your former Lusts in your Ignorance 1 Pet. 1. 14. ch 4. 2. but carry on a new Trade of Godliness and Heavenly Conversation Phil. 1. 27. Fifthly Leave your old Language speak no more the Language of Ashdod Neh. 13. 24. Let no filthy Communication drop from your Lips nor vain Discourses be found among you but let your Communications be holy Eph. 4. 29. Col. 4. 6. Persons of Honour usually have their Discourses according to their Greatness not so light and familiar but more grave and stately O Christians labour you to live so that more gravity and seriousness appear in your Language and Carriage Lastly Drive on new Thoughts and Designs when Persons are exalted from Obscurity to Honour they will not take up such old Thoughts and Projects So Christians should now have new Imaginations 2 Cor. 10. 5. Grace should bring into captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Christ Vain thoughts must now lodge no more in you Jer. 4. 14. 10 Duty Tenthly If there be such vast Treasures in Christ then you that are the Friends of Christ commend him unto others so did the Spouse Cant. 5. 10 c. so will the Bridegroom's Friends speak for their Friend Joh. 3. 29. compar'd with Pro. 9. 3. Wisdom should be justified of her Children Matth. 11. 19. O Christians set forth the Praises of your Beloved that others may be taken with him Do all you can to further the Match between the Lord Jesus and Sinners Be advising your Neighbours to forsake their evil wayes and come to Christ that they may be saved Be calling upon and stirring up your Christless Friends Relations Children and Servants to be looking after Christ that they may be delivered from the wrath to come You should be publishing his Praises and commend him to all the World O be speaking of his Excellency and the Glory of his Kingdom Psal 145. 11. 11 Duty Eleventhly You that are interested in this Rich Christ be exhorted above all Portions to get Christ to be a Portion to your Children you know what a Treasure Christ is you have found him inriching your Souls when you were as a Syrian ready to perish he came in and took you up he comforted you with the Wine of his Consolation O that you would labour to provide this Treasure for your Children 'T is strange to see Christians heap up Dust for their Children and be so careless to get Christ for them What if you leave them Houses and Lands when you are gone and leave them not Christ what doleful Creatures will they be to all Eternity Time will consume your Earthly Treasures your Children may out-live their Money and Lands that you may leave them O let your chiefest Provisions be for their Souls do what you can to get Christ for them Some may be poor in the World and have no Portions to leave them O how careful should such be to leave them a Treasure in