washed us from our Sins in his own Blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and to his Father This Election was before the Foundation of the World was laid 2 Thess 2. 13. God hath * Primum dixit sanctificationem spiritus ut â—steâ—deret quod nequaquam ad fidem venissemus nisi ipsa gratia Spiritus Sancti dâ—â—isset Oâ—cum Quomodo eos separavit Deus sanctificando eos per Spiritum quomodo pervenitur ad illum Spiritum per fidem habitam Evangeliâ— Grot. from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth Wherefore the Apostle calls the Saints Elect and that according to the fore-knowledg of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience Those that are elected unto Glory are elected unto Holiness No Holiness no Happiness A second Motive is drawn from Creation Motive 2. We are created unto Holiness we are created unto Holiness All the Members of our Bodies and all the Faculties of our Soul should be employed for holy uses to serve God External and Internal Purity are required 2 Cor. 7. 1. Let us cleanse our selves from filthiness of the Flesh and of the Spirit The Heart must Jam. 4. â— be purified and the hands cleansed the Tongue must minister Grace to the Hearer Holiness must sit upon the Lips Heart and Life To this purpose were we created Eph. 2. 10. We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk therein Good works are as a Father saith The way to the Kingdom Via ad Regnum non causa râ—gâ—â—â—di Bern. not the cause of reigning there We may not we dare not trust to our own Merits and expect to be justified by our own Works yet we must perform them in Obedience to God's Command in Testimony of our Duty and Thankfulness They are necessary necessitate praecepti non necessitate causae Wherefore let us seriously reflect upon our Creation and consider that we are ingaged thereby to Holiness of Life The frequent remembrance of our Creation should excite us unto the practice of Holiness 3. Let 's consider our Redemption and Motive 3. We are redeemed unto Holiness this was purchased at the dearest rate even the purchase of Blood and that not of an ordinary Blood but of Royal Blood and more than that it was the Blood of God Acts 20. 28. So we must understand it by a communication of Idioms To this purpose hath Christ redeemed us out of the Hands of our Enemies that we might Luke 1. 74 75. serve him without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our Life Christ did not redeem â—â— that we might live to our selves or as we list but as the Apostle expresseth it Christ gave himself for his Church that he might Eph. 5. 26 27. sanctify it and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Whosoever then hath an Interest in the Blood of Christ is sanctified by the Spirit of Christ He is redeemed from his vain Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Eph. 4. 23. He is a new Creature He is renewed in the Spirit of his Mind The Image of Christ is imprinted in him and that consists in Righteousness and Holiness Eph. 4. 24. SECT III. Of Glorification SAnctification is here begun in this Sect. 3. Glorification is thâ— Purchase of Christ Life and it must receive daily Augmentations till it be consummated in Glory Now Glorification is Christ's Purchase The Kingdom of Heaven the Crown of Glory the price of our high Câ—lling Abrahams Bosom the purchased Possession the lot of the Saints in Life an Inheritance immortal undefiled which fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for us all these are synonymous Expressions to set forth the State of Glory and all these are the Purchase of Christ Glorification is one of the Links even the highest of them in that Golden Chain Rom. 8. 30. Whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Christ himself is in Glory and he the Head would have Glory put upon all his Members Christ is in all the Saints the Hope of Glory The Salvation which is Col. 1. 27. 2 Tim. 2. 10. Cum ibi erimus ubi ipse est tum quidem eum perfecte coram videbimus câ—m autem videbimus â—um sicut â—st tum plene perfecteque â—psi glorificabimur â—am si fides nos glorificat ex parte hoc est dum â—um quasi eminus intuâ—mur profecto aspectus nos plâ—â—â— perfecteque glorificabit Rolloc in Christ Jesus is with eternal Glory and this is Christ's grand Petition unto his Father John 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the Foundation of the World Christ is gone before to prepare a place for his Children He sits at the right hand of the Father in Glory and hath purchased Glory for all his Members Hence the Apostle assuredly concludes in his own Name and in the Name of all true Believers Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in Glory And there shall not only be Glory put upon the Bodies but also upon the Souls of the Saints Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our Here then is a notable comfort for all God's Children that not only our Souls after this Life shall go unto God that gave them but our Bodies likewise in the last day shall be raised up again and made like unto Christ his glorious Body that our Souls and Bodies being united together We may live for ever with him in his Kingdom of Glory Dr. Ayry on Phil. 3. 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Excellentissimè gravem gloriam Hic Hebraeo more per verbum geminans Apostâ—luâ— summam quandam excellentiam indicavit Grot. vile Bodies that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself Whatsoever Sufferings we meet withal they are not to be compared to future Glory There 's a Superlative above a Superlative mentioned beyond the capacity of our Language to express to the full 2 Cor. 4. 17. For our light Affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory Thus I have endeavoured to represent A brief recapitulation of the Premises the Excellency and Dignity of Christ and have endeavoured to make good this Assertion That Christ is of inestimable Dignity
And Faith through Gods Gift is a Buckeâ— to Isa 12. 3. draw Waters of Consolation out of those Wells All the Promises are as so many Breasts of Consolation and Faith is as i were a Mouth to suck Milk out of those Breasts Wherefore in all Conditions inward or outward let Faith act on Promises and depend on them and by experience a Believer will find ground of singular support and comfort in the Promises 5. Faith gives us an insight into Heaven 5. Faith gives us an insight into Heaven and a Prospect of Eternity and a prospect into eternity Paul was wrapt up into the third Heaven and by Faith had a foretast of those unspeakable Joys * A Reverend and eminegâ—ly learned Divine gives his conjecture that at that time when Paul was Stoned â—â— was in a Trance and saw the third Heaven The Reaon of his Supposition he gives because the self same Year that Paul was Stoned he was caught up into the third Heaven A. B. Uâ—â—â—r Stephen by the Eye of Faith though the Stones were about his Ears saw the Heavens opened and Christ standing at the Right Hand of his Father Job on the Dunghil when he was scraping himself with a Pot-shread by the eye of Faith saw his Redeemer By Faith Moses amidst all the Reproaches and Cruel Bondage in Aegypt saw the recompence of reward Faith is the Eye whereby we peep through the Curtains of Mortality and take a view of the Glory of Heaven By Faith we enjoy Communion with Father Son and Holy Ghost we receive the first Fruits of that plentiful Harvest earnest or part of payment of a greater Sum which we shall receive in Heaven The Glory which is to be revealed is apprehended in part in this Life by true Believers We have a pledge and some foretasts of the Glory in Heaven What necessity then is incumbent on us to get this Grace of Faith both as to the truth and growth thereof We have such daily need of Faith as we cannot live without it When we pray Faith makes us successful when we hear the Word Faith helps us to profit when we suffer Affliction Faith helps us to be Patient In a Word in dissertion Faith makes us comfortable in Tryals and Encounters Faith makes us so couragious as to stop the Mouths of Lyons quench the Heb. 11 33 34. violence of Fire c. In Life Faith makes us fruitful and in Death Faith makes us Victorious And whilst we live in this World Faith helps us to a Prospect of Heaven As the Israelites saw a glimps of Canaan though a far off whilst they were in the Wilderness so a true Believer by the Eye of Faith sees the Heavenly Canaan He enjoys a Sacred Acquaintance and Communion with God in his Covenants Promises Gracious Influences so that by Faith we enjoy an Heaven upon Earth i. e. some fore-tasts of that Eternal Happiness which is reserved in Heaven for us SECT II. Containing an Vse of Direction SEeing then as it 's evident by the Use 5 for Direction how to get and increase Faith premises that only true Believers set a high estimate upon Christ and Faith is essentially requisite to get and keep so high an estimation of Christ I shall now proceed to the 5th Use which is for Direction how we may get and increase Faith To this purpose I shall prescribe some means partly internal and partly external both exceeding necessary First for Internal Means and that is the The Spirit is an internal means of getting Faith Holy Spirit of God Faith is a Divine Habit infused into the Soul by the Spirit of God Hence we are said to have the Spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 5. 13. The Spirit doth not stand in need of Moral Persuasions to excite us to Faith leaving it to the indifferency of our wills and understandings whether we will chuse or refuse assent or dissent But the Spirit of God Nolentem praevenit ut velit volentem subsequitur ne frustra velit Arg. de Grat. lib. Arg. works powerfully and irresistably and of unwilling makes us willing by antecedent Grace of willing makes us more willing by Subsequent Grace The Seeds of Faith are not sown in our Nature We are Dead as were those dry Bones mentioned by Ezek. 37. 2. Ezekiel until the Spirit of God infuse vital Operations into the Soul The Beginnings of Augmentations and finishings of our Faith all proceed from the Operations of the Spirit of God Where this Spirit is it opens the eyes of the Mind that so we may understand the infinite value of Christ and the absolute necessity of Faith to make particular application of him unto our selves Faith is a wise gift of God and it makes Believers wise unto Salvation Faith and knowledge are hand-fasted and may not be separated Joh. 17. 3. This is Life Eternal to know thee to be the true God and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Alex. There can be saith a Learned Author no Knowledge without Faith nor any Faith without Knowledge 2. The Spirit of God as it opens the eyes so it inclines the will to yield ready Obedience unto Christ As soon as Divine Light breaks in upon the Soul by the powerful illumination of the Spirit then by the assistance of the same Spirit the will is made pliable and willing and becomes as swift in it's Motions as the Chariots of Aminadab to embrace Jesus Christ with the Arms of Faith Now we cannot Cant. 6. 12. John 6. 44. Cant. 1. 4. come to Christ unless the Father draw us Wherefore the Spouse prays draw me and I will run after thee Though we are not to be accounted as meer Stocks and Stones Because God hath endew'd us with a reasonable Soul and the faculties of understanding and Will yet unless we be assisted with Supernatural strength we cannot perform any Supernatural works We must fetch strength from Heaven otherwise we cannot perform any Spiritual action in a Spiritual manner But being prevented and assisted by Divine Grace we can cooperate through the assistance of that Strength as the Apostle professeth Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me We cannot understand any saving Mystery till the Spirit inlightens us neither can we will any good thing till the Spirit of God inclines us But by the assistance of the Spirit we have our eyes opened to discern what is good and our Wills inclind to act what is good Having mentioned the Internal means of getting and increasing Faith I come now to the External means and External means of getting increasing Faith they are three the Word Prayer and the Lords Supper 1. The Word is an External means 1. The Word is a means to get and encrease Faith both to get and increase Faith and we are to consider the Word in a threefold Capacity as it is Read Preached
and Intercession Christ's Blood his Agony his Sweating in the Garden his Crucifixion upon the Cross all these were for his People Isai 53. 5. He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities The chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his Stripes we are healed So that hence it evidently appears that Believers and they alone have interest in Christs Merits and enjoy the benefits flowing from them They are his Seed the Church his Body his Members 〈◊〉 Redeemed ones a Peculiar People For them Christ pray'd Joh. 17. 9. For them Christ shed his Precious Blood For them he became a Ransome and a Price of Redemption For them he Died and Rose again For saith the Apostle Rom. 4. 25. Who was delivered for our Offences and rose again for our Justification And which is the highest Degree of Christs meriting for us He took our Sins upon him by imputation as the Apostle saith the 2 Cor. 5. 21. For he hath made him to be Sin for us who knew no Sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him A third Demonstration is That Believers Demon. 3. Believers have the Precious Influences Christs Spirit have the Precious Influences of the Spirit of Christ All true Believers do pertake of such Heavenly Influences as are from the Head shed down upon the Members Now the Influences of the Spirit of Christ are discovered 1. By the Graces of the Spirit and the resemblances whereunto the Spirit is compared 1. For the Graces of the Spirit or Fruits they are mentioned Eph. 5. 9. Goodness Righteousness and Truth And a large enumeration is set down Eph. 5. 22 23. Love Joy Peace Long-Suffering Gentleness Faith Meekness Temeprance Every Grace is the Fruit of the Spirit Now Christ as Head Communicates Grace to all his Members and they receive according to their Measure and Proportion There 's in Christ a fulness of Wisdom to Counsel of Mercy to Pardon of Righteousness to Justify of Holiness to Sanctifie And Pro Legis gratia quae praeteriit gratiam Evangelii accepimus hanc manentem pro numbris imaginibus veteris Testamenti gratia veritas per Christum facta est Aug. Epist 11. there 's a derivation from the Root to the Branches Joh. 1. 16. And of his fulness have all we received and Grace for Grace 2. Le ts consider the Resemblances whereunto the Spirit is compar'd There are certain Metaphors mentioned in the Scripture whereby the Properties and Influences of the Spirit of God are more evidenced as for instance 1. The Spirit is compared to a Fire 1. The Spirit is compared to a Fire 1. As Fire enlightens and gives Light to a whole Room so the Spirit of God inlightens the understanding 2. Fire ascends so where the Spirit of God is there the affections are raised from Earth to Heaven 3. Fire is Consumptive it burns Stubble so doth the Spirit burn and consume Corruptions 4. Fire hath a penetrative vertue to creep into the pores of a combustible Body So doth the Spirit penetrate the Windings and Diverticles of the Heart The Spirit searcheth the Reins and discovers the most hidden things 5. Fire doth inflame and transform things into its own nature It makes combustible matter like it self So the Spirit of God fills the Soul with a Divine Ardour It 's called the Spirit of burning Isa 4. 4. where the Spirit of God comes it purgeth away the Dross of Corruptions by the Spirit of Judgment and by the Spirit of Burning 2. The Spirit is compared unto Water 2. The Spirit is compared to Water 1. Water hath a quenching Vertue In Water there 's a quenching and purifying Property 1. In Water there 's a quenching Property Water quencheth Fire at least abates and cools the heat so where God's Spirit comes it sometimes quencheth the heat of inordinate Passions and sometimes abates cools and moderates the heat of them God's Spirit is a Spirit of Meekness A Man 's own Spirit is a boistrous Spirit which upon any disgust is all in a Flame But God's Spirit extinguisheth the heat of Fury and Anger When Christ bad the raging Sea be still there was a great Calm so when the Spirit of God comes into the Spirit of Man it becalms all the Affections it sets them in order and fixeth them upon the right Objects Philosophers write De sedandis affectibus and yet they are meer Strangers to that Meekness which is one of the Beatitudes Mat. 5. 5. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth That is Meekness in a Theological acceptation which moderates Anger and keeps it within just bounds when there are causes of provocation To know when to be angry and when to be meek is a great Point of Wisdom To be zealous in the cause of God and meek in a Man 's own cause is well beseeming a Christian Wherefore Luther speaking of a right placed Anger or Zeal saith It 's the best Ira in suo loco est optimuâ—â— Dei Donum Luth. Gift of God But when Men are transported with Passion like the Lunatick in the Gospel rending and tearing themselves or like Cities without Gates or Bars or like Waters that will keep in no Banks or like Fire that flames higher and higher O! what necessity is there of the cleansing Vertue of the Spirit of God which as Water quencheth flames of Fire so it quencheth the flaming Fury of exorbitant Passions and brings a Man into a sedate and composed frame of Spirit In Water there 's a purifying and cleansing 2 Water hath a cleansing Vertue Property Water casts out Garbidg and noisom Carrion And as Water cleanseth bodily Filthyness so the Spirit of Christ cleanseth from filthyness of Flesh and Spirit i. e. both outward and inward defilements Where the Spirit of God takes it's habitation it ringeth and washeth all clean what 's filthy and noisom it throws out For God's Spirit will not cohabit with a Cage of unclean Birds and noisom Lusts We read that Elias Christ's Fore-runner was like a Refiners fire and like Fullars Soap As the Refiner purgeth out Mal. 3. 3. Dross so doth the Spirit of Christ purge out Sin and Corruption and as the Fullers Soap scours washeth and cleanseth the Cloth and makes it pure and white so doth the Spirit of Christ purify and cleanse the Soul At Christ's transfiguration we read Mark 3. 3. And his Rayment became shining exceeding white as Snow so as no Fuller on Earth can white them From this comparison it 's intimated that although other Fullers can make Garments white and clean yet no Fullers Soap can make the Cloth so white and clean as the Blood of Christ can purify and cleanse the Soul 3. The Spirit is resembled to Ointment A third comparison of the Spirit whereunto it 's resembled is Ointment The Properties of Ointment are 1. To supple and asswage Humors in the Body so doth the
our Signs there is no more any Prophet neither is there among us any that knoweth how long Eligat opportunitatem qui libere dat misericordiam Aug. However it is a grand Duty incumbent on us to be earnest in Prayers and Supplications in the behalf of the Church as Psal 14. v. ult Psal 126. 4. Isa 62. 1 7 8. Some others there are who are inwardly Wounded and that Wound must needs be more full of dolour and Prov. 18. 14. anguish A wounded Spirit Who can bear God withdraws Deus unus animum fractum quassatum erigere restaurare potest idque verbo suo â—uâ— innitentes e naufragio emergemus caput attollemus Carthw the Light of his gracious Countenance from them and this is their greatest affliction They complain frequently of their Troubles by reason of Gods hiding his Face from them The Terrours of the Almighty affright them and Sorrow drinks up their Spirits To such are many suitable Promises to be applyed and the Application of them to themselves in particular is matter of singular Consolation Particularly let them Read and Meditate on what they Read viz. Psal 94. 11. Psal 112. 5. Isa 50. 10. He that Woundeth can only Heal Hos 6. 1. Una eademque manus vulnus opemque tulit Whether the Wound be outward on the Body or Estate or inward on the Soul and Spirit we must make our Adresses and Applications to that one only Healer the great God of Heaven and Earth Exod. 15. 26. For I am the Lord that healeth thee And our Duty is to make use of Gods healing Medicines Jer. 8. 22. What then is our great Duty but to hearken what God speaks in his Word and beware of Relapses Corporal Relapses are dangerous but Spiritual much more Psal 85. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will Speak For he will Speak Peace unto his People and to his Saints But let them not turn again to Folly CHAP. IV. Contains a Third Argument drawn from God's Providences A Third Argument shall be drawn Arg 3 from divine Providences from divine Providences God's Providences fulfil his Promises As God promiseth help supplies and succours unto his People so by his good Hand of Providence he performs what he hath Promised God Promised great things to Abraham Gen. 17. 1 2. And when Abraham was Ninety Years Old and Nine the Lord appeared to Abraham and said unto him I am the Almighty God Walk before Me and be thou Perfect And I will make my Covenant between me and thee and will Multiply thee exceedingly And God made his Word good to a tittle to him For God gave him Riches in abundance and a numerous Posterity and in him were all the Families of the Earth blessed At God's Command Abraham Heb. 11. 8. left the Land of his Nativity he disputed Valde commendat Abrahamum credulitas promissionis quoniam immediate credidit Deo relinquendo presentia dulciâ— chara ut obediret Deo propter absentia quae non videbat Tena not the Command but yeilded Obedience thereunto And where ever he went he had abundant experience of God's gracious Providence He and his Wife though exposed to great Temptations were safely preserved in the Court of Abimelech As soon as he went Gen. 12. 10. into Canaan there was a Famine in the Land yet God made Provision for him and Preserved him whither ever he went and he obtained Favour both in the Eyes of God and Man Not to multiply many more Instances In Joseph there was a Concatenation of several signal Acts of Providence Although he was envyed by his Brethren cast into the Pit sold to the Ishmaelites and by them to Potiphar Yet God was with him And when Act. 7. 9. through the false accusations of his Mistress he was cast into Prison yet God Gen. 39. 29. was with him in Prison and gave him favour in the Eyes of the Keeper of the Prison It 's very probable that there were several Prisons in Egypt but Joseph was cast into that very Prison where the King's Servants the chief Butler and Baker were Prisoners And it came to pass that each of the King's Servants Dreamed and Joseph Interpreted their Dreams and the Interpretation accordingly was Fulfilled for the chief Butler was restored unto his Place and the Gen. 40. 21 22. chief Baker was Hanged Joseph might hope that he had now purchased a good Friend at Court he reckoned upon the chief Butlers Friendship but he as soon as restored to his Place forgot Joseph Gen. 40. 23. He ungratefully past an act of oblivion of his Ingagements to Joseph But God's time is not yet come for Joseph's Deliverance Wherefore Pharaoh himself Dreams and then the chief Butler remembers his faults and becomes a Remembrancer of Joseph's Skill in Interpreting Dreams Hereupon Joseph is sent for and Interpreteth Pharaoh's Dreams and for his great Wisdom and Understanding is preferred by Pharaoh to be Ruler over all the Land of Egypt And here 's a further Remark of Providence that Joseph hath a Price put into his Hand to be not only under God a Saviour of all Egypt but likewise of his Father and Brethren For when the Famine was in Egypt Cannan and other Places Joseph supplyed their Wants and through God's Blessing upon his wife and provident care preserved multitudes of Families from Perishing Joseph himself acknowledged Act. 7. 9. Non esâ— sine exâ—mplo quod Deus benefacit iis quibus vos nocetis maxime Grot. God's Hand in all things And St. Stephen making an Historical Narration of the several signal Providences exercised towards Joseph ascribes all to the Hand of God remarkable in Joseph's Preservation notwithstanding the envy hatred and malice of his Brethren To this History of Joseph we may add a series of divine Providences fastned together concerning the deliverance of the Jews from the bloody Designs of Haman Although Haman was highly advanced by Ahassuerus and obtained the King's Seal and Pur was cast even a day design'd by Lot for a barbarous Massacre yet Esther by a wonderful Providence though she was a Jew was advanced to be Queen instead of Vasthi She certified the King of Mordecai's faithfulness in discovering a Treason and Mordecai's Loyalty was Chronicled In perpetuam rei memoriam Esther Invited the King to a Banquet and Haman was Invited likewise She then interceded for the People of the Jews and Haman's intended Mischief was seasonably prevented and his horrid Design'd Wickedness fell upon his own Pate The Table proved a snare and the Banquet a forerunner of Hamans Destruction Mordecai was a Loyal and true hearted Subject to the King but Haman hated him for not doing | Non solum consuetudo sed etiam lex domestica Iudaeorum diserte vetat honorem deo debitum ulli mortalium exhibere Drus. in Est 3. 2. that reverence which he expected from him Some are of Opinion that Haman expected more
redditas benedictione sc Domini quae abunde ditat Merc. The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before Christ makes a large Promise consisting of many particulars which according to the Rule of an Induction concludes Universally Mat. 19. 29. And every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my Names Sake shall receive an Hundred Fold and shall Inherit Everlasting Life The meaning is not that a Man should receive an Hundred Fathers or Mothers c. but that he should receive Christ who is infinitely | Ipse unus Christus erit tibi omnia quia in ipso uno bono bona sâ—nt omâ—â—a August Exoâ— 12. 36. more worth then all Sometimes God makes up the Losses of his Suffering Servants in kind God gave the Israelites Favour in the Eyes of the Egyptians so that at parting from them They Spoiled them And God took away the Substance of Laban and gave it unto Jacob in Recompence of his rigorous Servitude however if God doth not make up worldly Losses with the Riches of the World yet he makes them up to his Children with Spiritual Riches which are as much better as Heaven is better than Earth David lost his Wives his House even all that he had of the World at the sacking of Ziglag but he had that which was infinitely better than all that he had Lost for he had Consolations from Heaven and Supportation from God 1 Sam. 30. 6. But David incouraged himself in the Lord his God It 's a saying commonly observ'd Virtus repulsae nescia Sordidae I have Read that when Alexander was in a great Strait and was put upon an hard Service he said En periculum par animo Alexandri here 's a Danger fit for the Mind of an Alexander to Encounter withal So David in his great Straits at Ziglag discovered heroical Magnanimity he sunk not under those heavy Pressures but made use of the Right and only Support and Strength in Trouble as the Text Specifies But i. e. notwithstanding the Burning of Ziglag the carrying away his Wives and many People Captive and the Mutiny of the discontented Souldiers who threatned to Stone him David encouraged himself in the Lord his God Manasseh gain'd more good by a Prison than by a Palace and was a greater gainer for his Soul by an Iron Chain than by a Chain of Gold when the Prodigal fed on Husks he understood himself better than when he fed delicately at his Fathers Table Zeno could say after he Jam didici Philosophari Zeno. had suffered Shipwrack Now I have learned to be a Philosopher And should not a Christian say Experimentally By Sufferings Losses and Crosses I have Learned to value all things under the Sun at a lower rate than ever and Christ and his Graces and Heaven at an higher rate It was a frequent saying of Aquinas that great School-Doctor Mallem bonam conscientiam quam plenum marsupium Aquinas I had rather have a good Conscience than a full Purse But instar omnium the Apostles Determination takes place Phil. 3. 8. who counted all things but Loss and Dung in comparison of Christ The Original words are Emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Loss and Garbidge Put Christ and his Riches in one Scale and the World with all its Pomp and Bravery in another Scale and these are less than the Dust of the Ballance in comparison of Christ and his Riches for these will infinitely preponderate Wherefore let us make sure of Eternal and never fading Riches It was a choice saying of Lewis of Bavoyer Emperour of Germany Hujusmodi comparandae sunt opes quae cum naufragio simul enatent i. e. Such Riches are to be got as when a Shipwrack comes they will Swim out with us And these are only the Riches of Christ CHAP. VIII Containing a Second Reason drawn from the excellency of a quiet and submissive Frame of Spirit I now Proceed to a Second Reason 2. Reason drawn from the excellency of this submissive Spirit drawn from the excellency of this submissive Frame of Spirit which yields to God and Resignes all to his Disposal Solomon tells us Prov. 12. 26. The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour and Prov. 17. 27. A Man of Understanding is of an excellent Spirit Now wherein doth the excellency of this Wise Man Shine but by the lustre of his Graces Grace is the Beauty of the Soul and no Ornament like those of Divine Graces to Adorn a Christian Now a Man of a Wise composed Spirit who depends on God for his Portion and stays upon his All-Sufficiency and makes it his Study to resign himself and to submit to God's Will in all Estates and Conditions whatsoever such a Man doth in a Conspicuous and Eminent manner exert and exercise six choice Graces viz Wisdom Faith Hope Patience Self-Denial and Holy Courage Every one of these is an expedient and help for the right Management of a Christian excellent Spirit amidst varieties of Hardships and Sufferings incumbent on us First For Wisdom As it is a sign of 1. Wisdom Prov. 22. 3. Mich. 6. 9. Prudence to Foresee Evil so it is a Character of a Man of Wisdom To hear the Rod and who hath appointed it He is a Wise Man that deliberately observes the handy Works of God and acknowledgeth his Wisdom Power and Soveraignty in ordering all Affairs It 's a doggish Quality to snarl at the Stone and not to take notice of the Hand that Threw it To make a strict enquiry into Second Causes to find out such and such an Evil Instrument and to quarrel wlth them by reviling words and revengeful deeds Oh! How unsutable is this to a Christian Spirit That eminent Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. Dod was a signal example of Meekness and Compassion towards his Enemies In the beginning of the late sad and lamentable Wars a Souldier who had Plundred his House and gave him reproachful and threatning Language a few days after that Souldier being Sript in the Battle at Edge-Hill Fled for his Life and came again to Mr. Dods House in a forlorn Condition ready to be Starved for want of Cloathing which when that good Man Mr. Dod heard of hâ— sent Cloaths unto him to cover his Nakedness Here 's the Wisdom of a Christian Spirit to understand the great Duty mentioned by the Apostle Not to Rom. 12. 21. be overcome of Evil but to overcome Evil with Good When the Psalmist tells of the Afflictions of God's Children Psal 107. 39. and of their Deliverance ver 40 41 42. he Concludes ver 43. Who so is Wise and will observe those things even they shall understand the Kindness of the Lord. Quid de paenarum acerbita te qnecimur unus quisque nostrum se punit Slav. lib. 3. A Wise Man under Afflictions will inquire into the Cause and reflect upon himself as the Church did
take these following First There 's an Insufficiency and Mot. 1. There 's Insufficiency in all Creatures utter Impotency in all the Creatures in the Universe If you make an Extract of the choisest and most admired Creature-Comforts they cannot give any reaâ— and solid Satisfaction They are in their best Estate Vanity and Vexatiâ— Eccles 2. 11. Isa 55. 2. Eccles 1. 8. on of Spirit and no way able to satisfy an Immortal Soul The Eye is not satisfied with Seeing nor the Ear filled with Hearing The Heart of Man is Triangular and the World is a Circle and it 's imposible for a Circle to fill a Triangle Take all the Melodious Musick to tickle the Ear and all the gaudy Pageants to please the Eye and all the admirable Fancies Contrivances and Imaginations to affect the Heart yet upon a serious deliberate Review there 's Vanity Insufficiency and Dissatisfaction in them all The desire is Insatiate crying out with the Horse-leeches Daughter Give give When Men are upon their Sick-beds and Tormented with great Pains What help can Riches afford When Men are troubled in Conscience the Guilt of Sin flies in the Sinners Face | Multo difficilius est conscientean afflictum consolari quam Mortuos texcitare Luth. in Gen. What can the Pomp and Riches of the World do to quiet and settle the Spirit A Man may as soon hoard up the Graces of Faith Love Patience and such like in his Coffer as satisfy his Soul with Gold and Silver The Soul is Immaterial and Infinite the things of the World are Material and Finite and between Material and Immaterial Finite and Infinite there holds no Rule of Proportion Secondly Confider whatsoever is Mot. 2. All that 's Good is derivative from God Good Amiable and Desirable in any of the best Creatures it is derivative and borrowed from the Creator Creatures are when compared to God not so much as the Dust to the Ballance nor so much as a Ray to the Sun or a Drop to the Ocean God is not only Eminently Good and All-Sufficient but Exclusively for he admits no Competitors nor Corrivals with him God is a Fountain opened Zach. 13. 1. Jer. 2. 13. and a Fountain of Living Waters An inexhausted Fountain which never fails nor can be drawn dry Creatures are oftimes Pits without Water and what Water they have at any time it 's borrowed elsewhere But the Spring never fails The Fountain of Grace and Mercy is a Well of living Water Springing up unto Eternal Life Thirdly God is infinitely Excellent Mot. 3. God is infinitely Excellent absolutely perfect and what he doth is Compleat and every way Perfect Eccles 3. 14. I know that whatsoever God doth it shall be for Ever nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it and God doth it that Men should fear before him It 's ordinary amongst Creatures for one Artificer to mend the Work of another because one Man hath more Dexterity and Sagacity in managing his Trade than another Every one hath not Arrived to the Skill of Bezaliel and Aholiab who were filled with Wisdom from God Nothing more common than for one to find fault with anothers Work And many Eyes may See Plus vident oculi quam oculus more than one It 's not unusual for the self-same Man to mend his own Work for One day may learn of another But all Posterior dies est prioris discipuâ—uâ— God's Ways are absolutely Perfect And God alone is able to perswade the Heart to Acquiesce and rest satisfied in him alone Whereas no Creature-comfort can quiet the Heart and remove all discontents The want of a bended Knee more vexed and displeased Haman than all his Court-Favours and Promotions pleased him | Omnia haec non habent pretium valorem dignitatem apud me Lud. de Dieu Esth 5. 13. Yet all this availeth me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King's Gate Fourthly God is an Universal Good Mot. 4. God is an Universal Good at all times in all Cases Places and in all Conditions Creatures at the best are but particular Goods and serve for use only in some particular Cases and in others are not useful nor helpful at all For Instance Fire and Cloaths warm the Body but cannot satisfy Hunger nor quench the Thirst Friends may be willing to help but are absent and cannot convey help or if they be present they may not be able They cannot help a Man to Health in Sickness nor to Riches in Poverty nor to Peace in a time of War But God is every where by the Ubiquity of his Presence and alwayes able to help All Creatures are at God's Command All Cattle on a Thousand Mountains are at God's Disposal In all Conditions Wants and Distresses Supplies Helps and Relief come from God It hath pleased the Father that in Christ should all Fulness dwell Col. 1. 19. There 's Fulness of Wisdom to Counsel of Power to Defend of Mercy to Pardon of Righteousness to Justify of Habet omnia qui habet possidentem omnia August Holiness to Sanctify of Grace here and of Glory hereafter Now He hath all who hath Interest in him who Possesseth all Fifthly God is an Eternal Good His Mot. 5. God is an Eternal Good Jer. 31. 3. Ps 130. â— 2 Sam. 23. 5. Inter peritura vivimus Sen. Love is Everlasting his Mercy Endureth for Ever his Covenant Everlasting No Creature in the Universe is of any long Continuance Time is short and Riches are but for a short time Health Peace Friendship Relations dearest and nearest are Transient and of short Continuance It 's to be Observed when Solomon Breve est quod delectat aeternum quod cruciat Bellar de Contemptu munâ—i reckons a time for several Purposes and Conditions Eccles 3. 1 2 3. c. He Mentions no time to Live Orimur morimur From our Cradle to our Gravâ— there 's one continued progressive Motion There 's something cutting at the Root and hastening us each Moment to our Grave Where then shall we Rest and confidently Secure our â—elves We must Ascend from Earth to Heaven from Transient and Fading Creatures to an Eternal and Unchangeable God No rest for Noah's Dove till She was took into the Ark no rest nor acquiescence for a Christian but In omnibus quae percurro non invenio tutum locum animae meae nisi in te quo colligantur sparsa mea nec a te quicquam recedat ex me Aug. confes l. 10. in God Whereever I go saith Augustin I find no Safety but in Thee Let 's then have continual Recourse unto God In his Presence there is fulness of Joy and at his Right Hand there are Pleasures for Evermore Withal Holy Greediness and unwearied Pains let us pursue the Wayes of Wisdom There 's a great Incouragement Prov. 8. 18. Riches and Honours are with me yea durable Riches
believe when Sense Fails him He will not pray alwayes he will not hold on in the Profession of Religion farther than may consist with his own Secret Designs and Self-Interests CHAP. XV. Directing to Three special Duties to be put in Practice viz. To Live by Faith and To set the Spirit of Prayer a working and To get a meek and quiet Spirit HAving laid down several Motives and removed some Impediments for a Close of this Use here are several Duties as Helps to stay our Selves and rely upon God necessary to be Practised The First Duty is To Live by Faith 1. Duty To Live by Faith There 's no Life like to this All other Lives in Comparison of this are no better than sharking shifting Lives Epaminondaâ— that great Theban-Commander after a great Overthrow ask't Whether his Buckler was safe A great Man of our Nation in the Time of his Sufferings ask't Whether his Honour was safe Now the Buckler and Honour of a Christian is the Life of Faith Faith is a Shield and a Buckler a Stay and a Staff in the greatest Afflictions When Sense and Reason fails and Men are even at their Wits ends then is the Time for Faith to act on Promises then is the Time to live the Life of Faith and to strive that Faith and Patience may hold out It is storyed of Cynagirus That when Justin. he was thrown over Ship-board then he held by his Hands and when one Hand was cut off he held by the other and when that was likewise cut off he held by his Teeth and as the Historian saith Instar rabidae ferae morsu navem detinuit Thus a true Believer will not let go his Hold he will not be beaten from his Strong-hold The Promises are as so many Fort-Royals to a Believer wherefore he is resolved to stand his Ground and lay fast hold on the Promises Though he be beaten off several Holds and deprived of several Helps and disappointed of his Expectations yet he Heb. 10. 35. is resolved not to let go his Confidence in God Here then consists the Life of Faith in an Eminent way when the Oyl fails in the Cruse and the Meal in the Barrel then to depend upon God's All-sufficiency and trust God upon his Word though Sense and Reason fail And such a Man who acts Faith on Promises applyeth himself to all good Means he Fides Maxima Heroiâ—a operatur Lut. in Gen. 29. will not tempt God by Negligence and Sloathfulness presuming of Supplies without the Use of lawful Means But as the Antients held the Plow and Prayed so a Believer will be diligent in his Calling seek God by Prayer exercise Faith and Patience This is the most excellent Life in all the World The Apostles experimented it Gal. 2. 20. The Life which I live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God The Life of a Believer is a None-such without a Parallel there is none like to it Some live by their Lands some by their Trades some by their Wits and Shifts not one of these Lives will hold out when a Storm comes Wherefore let us labour to live that Life which will hold out amidst the greatest Sufferings and support us against the sorest Burthens either Imminent or Incumbent upon us This Grace of Faith is not an Herb that groweth in our Gardens It is a Plant of our Heavenly Father's Plantation it 's the Gift of God There are Three sorts of Faith viz. Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fidem ipsam nobis exigit Deus non invenit quod exigit nisi dederit quod inveniat August A General Assenting-Faith A Special Resting-Faith and A Particular Applying-Faith We must joyn all these together for we have need of all i. e. We must trust God upon his Word because he hath said it We must Assent unto the Truth of his Word Thus did David trust God upon his †Psal 119. 42. Numb 23. 19. Word Whether God threatens Judgments or promiseth Mercy we must believe his Word to be True Balaam himself though a Mercenary-Prophet gives a true Attestation viz. God is not a Man that he should Lie neither the Son of Man that he should Repent Hath he said it and shall he not do it Or Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good 2. There is a Special Resting-Faith which is called a Faith of Adherence or Recumbence when we rely and stay our selves upon God and will not part with any one of his Promises The People when Rabshakeh Railed Rested themselves 2 Chron. 32. 8. on the Words of Hezekiah All Rabshakeh's Railing Speeches could not batter down Jerusalems Walls nor drive back Hezekiah and his People from Trusting and Relying on God Thus Job did act singularly and resolvedly Job 13. 15. Though he Slay me yet will I Trust in Him There 's a Third sort of Faith which is a Particular Applying-Faith Thus did Thomas acknowledge Christ in particular in those words My Lord and my John 20. 28. God And St. Paul professeth Christ hath loved me and given himself for me Gal. 2. 20. A Believer will apply the Promises to himself by Faith And though under some Desertion he is afraid to apply Christ to himself yet he applyeth himself to Christ begging his Counsel and his Wisdom to direct and his Consolations to revive him Christ is All in All to the true Believer Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life Whereupon St. Bernard gives a choice Exposition We saith he will Nos sequemur â—e perte ad te quia tues via veritas vita via in exemplo veritas in promisso vita in praemio Bern. Serm. 2. de Ascen Domini follow Thee by Thee unto Thee because Thou art the Way the Truth and the Life Thou art the Way in Example the Truth in Promises the Life in Reward A Second Duty is To set the Spirit of Prayer Duty 2. To set the Spirit of Prayer a working a working To pray by the Spirit is the Property only of a Gracious Spirit For the Spirit of Grace and Supplication are joyn'd together Zech. 12. 10. That we may know wherein the Spirit of Prayer consists we have it set forth Rom. 8. 26. With Groanings which cannot be uttered By the Spirit of Adoption crying Abba Father Gal. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 15. 1 Sam. 1. 15. by Pouring out the Soul as Hannah did by Wrestling as Jacob did Gen. 32. 24. And what this Wrestling was the Prophet Hosea * Hos 12. 4. expounds Yea he had Power over the Angel and prevailed he wept and made Supplication unto him Although God is Omnipotent and is every way able to help his People yet he will as it were suffer himself to be commanded by the Prayers of his People for so we read Isa 45. 11. Thus saith the Lord the Holy One of Israel and his Maker Ask of Me
etiam de iis usurpatur qui futura praedicunt Sol. Glass onomat the Prophet he was the Doctor of all Doctors a Doctor that nonplust the greatest Doctors Christ is the Law-giver Jam. 4. 12. The Counseller Isa 9. 6. The Master or Rabbi Matt. 23. 10. He taught with Authority and by vertue of his Prophetical Office he teacheth the Church all things appertaining to their Salvation Christ reveals the Will of his Father concerning all the ways and means of Salvation Christ was the principal Author of Prophecy He had the Gift of Prophecy immediately he exactly knew his Fathers will but all other Prophets had the Gift mediately They had their Revelations from the Power of the Spirit of Christ their gift was transient and by Intervals and there were Intermissions amongst them But Christ had a permanent gift of Prophecy abiding in him without measure and limitation For a farther inlargement of these Particulars I shall indeavour to resolve three Inquiries 1. Why Christ must be a Prophet 2. How he differs from all other Prophets 3. What fruits and benefits accrue unto us by Christs Prophetical Office 1. Why Christ must be a Prophet 1. Why Christ must be 2 Prophet 1. Christ was a Prophet to reveal the Will of God to his Church This I shall Answer in a few Reasons 1. Christ was a Prophet to reveal the Will of God to his Church and instruct them by his Word Christ received his Message not only from the Mouth of God Joh. 8. 26. but also from the * In sinu esse est proximum infimum esse dicitur de conjugibus inter se Grot. 2. Christ was a Prophet to place Ministers in his Church Bosom of God Joh. 1. 18. Christ was a great Prophet Luk. 7. 16. He was the most eminent of all Prophets a Prophet to direct all other Prophets and he was the substance and main end of all their Prophecies 2. Christ was a Prophet to place Ministers in his Church to teach his People Ministers are of Christs institution Officers Commissionated by Jesus Christ They are not a Calling nor an Order of Men of their own appointment running upon their own Heads and Fancies as Novatus made himself a Bishop neither are they of any humane appointment for politick ends and interests It is true that by Humane Authority Ministers are permitted pro hic nunc to exercise their Ministerial function in the places where they live yet their calling is from Christs Institution And Gifts and Qualifications wherewith they are endowed are the fruits of Christs Ascension The Apostle is clear Eph. 4. 11. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of the Body of Christ In this Text we observe two sorts of Church-Officers viz. Extraordinary as Apostles Prophets Evangelists Doctoris munus fuit verbum Domini fideliter explicare veluti Scholam Ecclesâ—asticam regere ut sincera doctrina dogmatum et verae interpretationes in Ecclesia retinerentur At pastorum qui Episcopi dicebantur 1 Pet. 2. 25. munus longe latius patebat nimirum ut verbâ— orationi vacarent et ecclesiam sibi commissam modis omnibus tuerentur ex quibus etiam satis perspicitur haec dâ—o munera perpetua esse â—portere in Ecclesia Dei Beza which were changeable and for a time only and afterward ceased and ordinary as Pastors and Teachers which are standing Officers and abide to the end of the World So that maugre all the malitious Oppositions of Men and Devils against the Gospel Ministry it shall continue Though it may be laid low yet it shall never be overthrown neither shall Christs Ministers be ever laid aside for Christ hath promised them his presence And that promise Matth. 28. 20. Lo I am with you always even to the end of the World makes more for the Ministery of the Gospel than all the malice and fury of inveterate implacable Adversaries can make against them 3. Christ was a Prophet to teach his 3. Christ teacheth inwardly Church by the inward effectual Teachings and Inspirations of his Spirit This grand Prophetical work Christ undertook from the beginning of the World 1 Pet. 3. 19. Christ by his Spirit went and preached unto the Spirits in Prison This is to be understood of the old World who though they were then in Prison i. e. Hell when the Apostle wrote this Epistle yet in the days of Noah they were alive and Christ by the Ministery of Noah and others Preacht unto them whilst they were in the Land of the Living Those abominable Sinners had means of Grace offered unto them They had the Ministery of Noah Enoch Methuselah and other Patriarchs who warned them of a Deluge coming And Christ by his Spirit Preacht unto them An antient Father and a modern Divine both eminent in their times fully as I apprehend expound this Scripture One saith Per Spiritus in Carcere intelligit animas impiorum viventium tempore Noah corporibus inclusas quasi carcere quodam his praedicasse Christum dicit secundum divinitatem vel per internaâ— inspirationem vel per linguam Noae Aug. Epist 99. ad Evodium Non potest dubitari quin hoc referatur ad ea quae sequuntur i. e. ad illud tempus quo Spiritus per os Noae arcam constituendi iram Dei imminentâ— praedicabat Nam cui fuerunt immorigeri Certâ— illi qui praedicabat Non potest ergo prâ—dicatio ista ad posterius aliquod tempus referri Beza By Spirits in Prison he understands the Souls of wicked Men living in the time of Noah shut up in their Bodies as in a certain Prison and he saith that Christ Preached unto them according to his Divinity or by inward inspirations or by the Tongue of Noah So far that Learned Father The other saith that it cannot be doubted why his may not refer to those things which follow i. e. unto that time wherein the Spirit by the Mouth of Noah that made the Ark Preached the wrath of God hung over their heads For to whom were they disobedient Truely to him that Preached therefore that Preaching cannot be referred to any after time There was no Preaching to them after they were in Hell All Reproofs and Exhortations then are out of date for time is past and the door of hope shut But now whilst we are on this side the Grave the Spirit of Christ moves wooes and entreats us to make our peace with God Christ sends his Ambassadors to beseech us to be reconciled unto God Now we are called 2 Cor. 5. 20. Is 55. 6. to seek the Lord whilst he may be found now to call upon him while he is near And thus you have the Reasons why Christ must be a Prophet SECT II. How Christ differs from other Prophets A Second Inquiry is how Christ
2. A Vine is exceeding nourishing 2. A Vine is nourishing Wine makes the Heart glad and refresheth the Spirits and comforts the Weary and Afflicted So Christ abundantly refresheth and comforts his Children His Consolations are abundantly sufficient for them 3. The Vine communicates Juice and 3. The Vine communicates Juice and Nourishment unto the Branches Joh. 1. 16. nourishment unto the Branches so Christ communicates his vertues to his People In Christ there is a fulness Col. 1. 19. and there is a Derivation from the Root to the Branches Of his fulness we receive Grace for Grace A 3d. Tree whereto Christ is compared 3. Christ is compar'd to a Medicinal Tree is a Medicinal healing Tree a none-such and unparallel'd for its excellent virtues Rev. 22. 2. It 's the Tree of Life which bears twelve manner of Fruits and yielded her Fruit every Month and the leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations Such a Tree as this was Prophesyed of Ezek. 47. 12. and the Fruit thereof shall be Meat and the Leaf thereof for Medicine Now who is the Healer of Soul and Body but Jesus Christ The Word of God is our Souls Physick but Jesus Christ is the Physician who prescribes the Physick And Christs Spirit accompanying his Word makes it effectual The twelve manner of Fruits mentioned in the forecited place Rev. 22. 2. shews variety of comforts and plenty And as Leaves laid on Wounds conduce to the healing of them So in all the Ordinances of God when Gods Spirit sanctifieth them there 's a healing vertue not as if they healed by their own Power but by the Power of Christ working effectually upon them I might add further comparisons but I conceive there 's no necessity to make farther Inlargements in so clear a point CHAP. VIII Concerning Christs Purchases of Justification Sanctification and Glorification SECT I. Of Justification by Christ FUrther to represent the excellency of Sect. 1. Of Justification by Christ Christ we are to consider his threefold purchase viz. Of Justification Sanctification and Glorification for all true Believers In order we begin with the Purchase of Justification And herein we are to consider that we are not to treat of any legal Justification by works so no Man can be justified for we have all sinned None but Christ who was and is God and Man United in one Person could keep the Covenant of works but we are to treat only of Evangelical Justification which consists in the imputation of Christs Righteousness In handling of this Justification we are to consider Quid Nominis and Quid Rei i. e. The Name and the Thing 1. For the Quid Nominis The Greeks 1. For the Name of Justification express it by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Terms are Forensical opposite to Condemnation The Metaphor of Justification is taken from a Judge who absolves the Prisoner at the Bar when a Pardon is brought from the King So though we are Condemned by the Law at the Bar of Divine Justice yet we are justified and acquitted by the imputation of Christs Righteousness We read in Scripture of being Justified before God Rom. 2. 13. and of being made Righteous Rom. 5. 19. and of imputing Righteousness Rom. 4. 3. and of being accounted Blessed who have Righteousness imputed and Sins remitted Rom. 4. 6 7. All these are Synonymous Expressions and serve for the farther Explication of the Doctrine of Justification From the Quid Nominis let 's come to the Quid Rei and inquire concerning the thing it self or nature of Justification 2. Consider the thing it self or nature of Justification The Article of Justification was so highly valued by Luther that his thoughts Night and Day ran upon it This indeed is the Foundation of all our Comfort and all our strength lies in the Doctrine of Justification by free Grace In corde meo regnat iste unus Articulus in quâ— fiuunt refâ—â—untque mâ—ae cogitationes theologiâ—â— die nâ—cteque Luth. Instead of giving Definitions of Justification because they are many I will make a farther Inquiry into the causes of Justification and the Properties or rather Singularities which appertain there unto 1. Let 's consider the causes of Justification 1. Consider the Causes of Justification The Efficient cause is God Is 43. 25. The impulsive moving cause is the Mercy of God Eph. 2. 2. The Material cause is the effusion of Christs Pretioâ—s Blood The formal cause is the imputation of Christs Righteousness The Instrumental cause is Faith But considering every Instrumental cause is to be reduced to it's efficient cause from whence it proceeds I shall distinguish * Non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut qualitas propriè aut â—otus actiâ— vâ—l passiâ— aut opus aliquod bonum eximii pretii quasi ipsâ— sit justitia aut ejus pars aut etiam justitiae loco ex censu aestimatione Dei sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nâ—mpe ut modus medium Instrumentum ceu oculus manus qua Christi ejusque Justitiae participes redâ—â—mur adeoque relative ad objectum Jesum ipsius justitiae prâ—â—â—ssâ—â—â—is gratiae Purions Theol. Synops with a Learned Author that we are not Justified by Faith primarily in a proper sence as a Quality but secondarily as a means and instrument as an Eye to see and as an Hand to lay hold on Christ Lastly the final cause of Justification is either in respect of God and so it is his Glory for all things must be done to the Glory of God or as in respect of our selves and so it 's our Salvation 2. Now let 's consider the Properties or 2. Consider the Properties or Singularities of Justification 1. Justification is an Act of free Grace rather the Singularities of Justification 1. Justification is an Act of free Grace No Intuition of merits no concurrence of Good Works moved God to set his Heart upon any How free this Act of Justification is we may read Rom. 3. 24 Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ The Word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 freely nothing that we can do of our best works merits any favour at the Hand of God For when we were in our blood in a most loathsome forlorn condition he said Live that was a time of Qui docet in opera confidere is negâ—t meritâ— Christi sufficere Aug. Love So then here 's not the least ground to trust in our works That were to derogate from Christ's righteousness Can any thing be freer than free-gift The Justification of a Sinner springs from free Grace free Love and Mercy Faith is the instrumental but not efficient cause of Justification neither can the bare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Credere the Act without the Object Justifie Christ is he that justifieth Faith is the Hand to lay hold on Christ
Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him the Eyes of your understanding being inlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints 2. A true Believer hath a spiritual tasâ— 2. A true Believer hath a spiritual tast â— ph 1. 14. and relish of Christ's Goodness He hath tasted that the Lord is gracious he hath received the earnest of his Inheritance viz The first Fruits of Glory even some glimpses of a beautiful and Transcendently excellent Saviour Now having experimental knowledge of Christs Mercy in pardoning and purging of him and making particular Application of Christ as St. Paul did Gal. 2. 20. who loved me and gave himself for me Upon these considerations I say how can it be otherwise but Christ must be Precious to such an one Christ hath preheminence in a Believers estimation for in his doubts he hath experimented Christ to be his Counsellor and in his distress his Comforter a Refuge in storm Riches in Poverty Health in Sickness Life in Death Christ is all in all to those who have experienced of his goodness All true Believers put the highest appretiation upon Jesus Christ both for what they already have and whatever they shall have 1. They already have part of payment 1. Believers receive in this Life part of payment earnest given in this Life of his love They have Influences from the Spirit of Christ They are endowed with the Graces of his Spirit They injoy a Sacred Communion with him They tast sweetness in his Ordinances by his Gracious Presence and by the Gracious Operations of his Spirit For it 's Christ's presence and the effectual working of his Spirit that makes an Ordinance effectual to the Soul Of this all the Adopted Sons and Daughters of God are Partakers more or less in this Life Now for what they now enjoy they have cause and accordingly endeavour to extol the Dignity and Honour of Jesus Christ 2. For what Believers shall have hereafter they account Christ pretious Though 2. Believers shall have Glory Heb. 11. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It importeth a removing of the lâ—ye from one Object to another Moses turned his Eyes from the Pleasures of Egypt and fix'd them on Heaven Dr. Gouge Col. 1. 27. â—ui Christus dulcescit mundus amarescit they are not mercenary yet with Moses they have an Eye unto the reward The Israelites in their tedious Pilgrimage had Canaan in their eye and the Thoughts of Canaan sweetned their present hardship and Sufferings Observe the order mentioned Rom. 12. 12. Rejoycing in hope patient in Tribulation The hope of Glory is cause of rejoycing and will make us more chearful to undergo Afflictions in this present World Christ the hope of Glory when he hath the preheminence in all things and we account him all in all then all things are but loss and dung when compared with Christ All things are accounted bitter where Christ is sweet Now the Crown of Glory the purchased Possession and the price of the high calling and Eternal Life all these are the gift of God through Jesus Christ having then these things in our deliberate and serious Meditation O! how infinitely shall we esteem of Jesus Christ more then our Hearts can conceive or our Tongues can express 3. A true Believer hath Spiritual Affections 3. A true Believer hath spiritual Affections and sets them all on work to magnifie the excellency of Christ For Instance 1. His Love is swallowed up with the 1. The Love of a Believer is on Christ Love of Christ He is with the Spouse sick of Love for Christ The Love of Christ constrains him 2 Cor. 5. 14. to do and suffer what Christ would have him 2. His Joy is fixed on Christ Christ is 2. His Joy is fix'd on Christ the Believers Joy he cannot rejoice in Corn and Wine and affluence of earthly things for there is Vanity and vexation in them all But he rejoyceth in Christ He delights hearing Christ speak to him in his Word and in his speaking to Christ in Prayer and Supplication We read of the Joy of Espousals and of the Joy of Harvest and Vintage but no Joy like to the Joy in God and to Joy in the Holy Ghost which is Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Senica would have Joy Volâ— laetitiam tibi esse Domi. Sen. Vis nunquam esse tristis bene vive Bona vita semper Gaudium habet conscientia rei semper in poena est Beza de inter Dom. to be at home Inward Joy Joy of the Heart is better than an outward flashly Joy and that is Joy wherein the Mind is quieted Now Christ alone can quiet the Mind and rejoyce the Spirit For other Joys Men may be seemingly Merry and force an outward Mirth when there 's a damp upon their Spirits and they are inwardly sad but the Joy of Christ causeth a serious solid Mirth so that a Believer may be full of inward Joy though he may seem outwardly sad i. e. or rather serious having a sedate and composed Spirit Now to rejoice in Christ shews how much we prize him 3. Our desire is on him That which 3. His desire is on Christ we desire above all and are most eager in pursuit of it plainly evidenceth that it 's in our highest estimation It 's Christ whom the Believer desires above all and as Rachel cryed out Give me Children or else I dye So a Believer cries Give me Christ or else I dye So did the Martyr in J. Lambert Fox Act. and Mon. Vol. 3. the Flames None but Christ none but Christ Christ is the Love Joy Delight and Desire of every true Believer The Hunted Hart doth not more earnestly thirst after Water then a Believer thirsts after Christ Nothing but Christ can satisfie his desire Cicero's works could not please Austin because Christ was not mentioned Aug. Con. l. 3. c. 4. Valde protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab â—o Ad in vita Lutheri in them Luther would not be put off with outward things he lookt for Christ and his Riches He preferred them before all Preferments They would not satisfie Bazil nor Caracciolus nor other Heroick Spirited Christians Their Desires and Longings were after Christ and Christ alone could satisfie their Desires No satisfying or quietting a Believers Heart without Christ SECT IV. Containing an Vse of Reproof to alâ—Vnbelievers Of Reproof THE second Use is for Reproof unto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non credentibus Vulg. Ed. all Unbelievers These are call'd disobedient in the next words following my Text Christ is the Stone which the â—uilders disallowed yet it 's made the head of the Corner Now as Christ is to Believers Pretious and esteemed the chief Corner Stone so unto Unbelieves he is a
their Sins will find them out and they shall appear not only odious to God but to Men also We read of Redwald King of the West Saxons that after he had professed himself converted to Christianity he â—rected in the same Church one Altar for the Worship of the God of the Christians and another for the Worship of his Heathen Gods And this way of worshipping God was no worshipping and worse than no worshipping at all We have an Instance in that mixture of the Samaritans Religion Several Nations and Cities amongst them according to their own devised Intentions chose several Gods And it is said 2 Kings 17. 33. They feared the Lord and served their own Gods But what a Judgment the Lord passeth on them Psal 34. Vnto this day they do after their former manner they fear not the Lord. If then we pretend to love Christ and love other things in competition with him we do not love him at all It was the great Sin of the Jews to make mixt Marriages and to be unequally yoaked with Heathens Insomuch as their Language betrayed them not to be a genuine sort of the Jews not of the right breed of the Jews For they speak in the Language of the Jews and in the Language of Ashdod So it 's their Sin and a far greater to join Christ with Harlots I mean to yoak Christ and Anti-christ as far as in them lies together And such there are who would reconcile England and Rome Protestantism and Popery But they may as soon reconcile the Artick and Antartick Poles considering that there are between us fundamental differences both in Principles and Practices Christ will say one day as Elias doth to the Worshippers of Baal How long halt ye between two 2 King 18. 21. Opinions If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then follow him So it may be said why do People hanker between Christ and Antichrist Why do they not plainly declare themselves what they design that so we may know where to find them But be assured that if Men neglect Christ and seek after other Lovers If they leave the true Worship and betake themselves to false Worship they will pay dear for it Let Men pretend what they will if they have a Heart and a Heart a double and a divided Heart partly between Christ and any other Christ will not accept of their Love as genuine and right but account it false and spurious 4. Our Love to Christ must be sincere 4. Our Love to Christ must be sincere and incorrupt without Hypocrisy abstracted from all self-Interests and sinister Respects He that loves Christ must love him with a single sincere and incorrupted Spirit Incorrupted I name because I have the Apostle for my Warrant Grace be unto all them that love our Lord Jesus Eph. 6. 24. Christ in Sincerity The Word rendred for Sincerity signifies Incorruption Such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Significatur is qui nulla vi nullis precibus nullis illecebris i. e. a recto abduci patitur Grot. who are sincere and incorrupt abhor all mercenary Love and all verbal Complements Between true Love and complemental Love there 's as wide and vast a difference as there is between Courtship and Friendship Christ ought to be loved for Himself for his Beauty Goodness and Excellency There 's enough in Christ to enamour a Soul and ravish it with Delights notwithstanding all the hardships and sufferings which come by Christ For one Beam of Christ's reconciled countenance and one glimpse of his Love will superabundantly recompence the greatest sufferings for his sake Wherefore let us lay aside altogether all oblique aims and collateral Interests and in the simplicity and singleness of our Hearts love Christ with the most ardent Affection The Shecemites embraced Circumcision upon a Politick Design to compass in all the Cattel and Substance of the Israelites The People Gen. 34. 23. followed Christ for the Loaves And therefore the Gadarens petitioned for Christ's departute because they were so affected with the loss of their Swine insomuch that they preferred their Swine before a Jesus A Man mentioned in the Gospel pretended such respect to Christ as he offered to follow him whether ever he went But Christ who knew his Heart discovered that he only aimed at his own accommodations for a dwelling place as may appear by Christ's Answer Mat. 8. 20. And Jesus saith unto him The Foxes have holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not whereon to lay his Head Herein consists the high commendation of Love when self is abandoned and the Beloved is entirely embraced and when we renounce all self Love and in Sincerity set our Affection on Jesus Christ then our Love is genuine and of the right stamp For to love Christ for Himself and Holiness for its self is a constitutive difference of a Child of God a divisive difference to distinguish a true from a counterfeit Lover and one that loveth in shew and semblance from him that loveth in reallity and in Truth 5. Love to Christ must be constant and 5. Love to Christ must be constant lasting we must not love him by fits and starts as humors take us and as may serve most for our particular Interests Both in Prosperity and Adversity in a Storm as well as in a Calm in days of Afflictions and Troubles when Wars and Oppositions are multiplyed as well as in Halcionian Days of Peace and Tranquillity our love must be one and the same fixed on Jesus Christ The Church was of such an excellent frame of Spirit as to give thanks in a time of God's displeasure Isa 12. 1. O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me Both in Prosperity and Adversity David had a fixed and an established Spirit For when his Soul was amongst Lyons and when their Teeth was as Spears and Arrows and their Tâ—nguâ—â—a Psal 57. 7. sharp Sword When his Enemies prepared Nets and digged Pits for him yet then he professeth My Heart is fixed O God my Heart is fixed I will sing and give praise And when he was in Prosperity he shews Ps 108. 1. the same excellent temper O God my Heart is fixed I will sing and give praise even with my Glory Love is that grand lasting Grace It lasts unto Eternity Faith and Hope carry us as I may say to Heaven Doors and there leave us for when we enter into Heaven our Faith is turn'd into Vision and our Hope is turn'd into Fruition there we shall enjoy the blessed Presence of the Holy Trinity But Love abideth for ever We shall always love God Our Love is here begun on Earth and shall never be consummated till we pertake of Eternal Glory Wherefore then whilst we live here in this World let us not abate a jot of our Love but dayly endeavour after Augmentations Notwithstanding Hardships and Oppositions from the World let our Love
and Meditated on and in all these respects the Word exceedingly conduceth both to the begetting and encreasing of Faith 1. The Word read is an Instrumental 1. The Word read means both for the begetting and augmenting of Faith John Huss whom Luther calls Sanctissimum Martyrem was Converted by reading of the Scriptures Reading of Scriptures in publick Assemblies is an Ordinance of God and anciently practised for we read Neh. 8. 8. So they read in the Book in the Law of God distinctly and gave the sence and caused them to understand the reading It 's our Duty likewise in our private Houses and in our Closets to read the Word of God Joshuah a great General is Commanded to read the Book of the Law His Military Imployment allows no dispensation from reading of the Book of God He notwithstanding his great and weighty affair was injoin'd both to speak of and Meditate in the Law of God Day and Night This Josh 1. 8. Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy Mouth but thou shall meditate therein both Day and Night that thou may observe to do according to all that is Written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and Deut. 17 18. thou shalt have good Success The Book of Books Kings themselves must read And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom that he shall write a Copy of this Law out of a Book out of that which is before the Priest and Levites And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the Days of his Life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to do them The Holy Scripture is the Rule of the Government and the Conversation of the greatest Potentates By keeping close to the Rule of Scriptures they both learn to govern well and live well We read Acts 15. 21. For Moses in old time hath in every City them that Preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day The meaning I suppose to be this that after reading an Exposition was given of the sence and meaning It concerns all sorts of Persons to read the Scriptures It 's the Peoples Duty though Popish Priests Sacriligiously Rob the People of the reading of the Scriptures to read the Scriptures there 's an express charge given Deut. 66. 7 8. Deut 31. 11 12. And Christ gives a strict Joh. 5. 39. command Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have Everlasting Life and they are they which testify of me The Apostle Paul chargeth Timothy to give attendance 1 Tim. 4. 13. unto reading If then we would get Faith in Christ we must read and study the Word of God Every one is bound to believe with an Explicite Faith and not to take things upon trust by an implicite Faith from Popish Priests We must see with our own eyes as the Spirit of God hath opened them and not trust upon the Popes Spectacles It 's a great Sacriledge in the Pope and his Adherents to keep the Scriptures from the sight of such as they call Lay People It was in Q. Maries days Prohibited to read the Bible and some for reading of it were brought to trouble as William Hunter and others as in the Fox Acts and Mon. Q. M. Acts and Monuments stands upon Record And K. Hen. Eighth made a severe Law against the reading of the Scriptures in English Bellarmine denies the reading of Catholicâ— Ecclesia statuit ne passim omnibus concedatur Sâ—ript urarum Lectio Bellarm. L. 2. de verbo Dei Scriptures to all so doth Molanus Costerus Stapleton and others of that Bran. But are not People commanded to try the Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 1. and to prove all things and to hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5. 21. But how can they do this unless they search the Scriptures Let us than consider it 's our Duty and make it our business to hear the Word read in Publick Congregations and to read it frequently when we are in private Let 's both hear and read with a serious reverential frame of Spirit Let 's in reading compare the Old Testament with the New how the Old Testament abounds with Prophecies and Promises concerning Christ and how the New Testament makes Performances of them 2. The Word Preach'd 2. As we must read the Word so we must with due regard hear it Preach'd The Word read is sound and solid and contains a sincere Milk but something like the Milk suckt out of a Sucking Bottle which through our weaknesses and dull Apprehensions may sometimes be dispirited But the Word Preach'd is like the Breast Milk It being deliver'd with Power and viva voce is like the Brest Milk most Nutritive Though God can work without means yet ordinarily he vouchsafes his Blessing upon the Word Preach'd in the demonstration of the Spirit and Power The Eph. 6. 17. Isai 53. 1. Rom. 1. 16. 2 Cor. 5. 19. Heb. 4. 12. Preaching of the Word is call'd the sword of the Spirit the Arm of the Lord the Power of God unto Salvation the Word of Reconciliation It 's an exact Critick of the thoughts It divides between the Joynts and Marrow There 's no such exact Inquisitor as the VVord Preach'd It will find out a Sinner in the Croud and tell him thou art the Man Though the Preacher knows nothing of such and such secret Crimes whereof the Sinner is guilty for no Man hath acquainted him with them yet the word of God meets with the Sinner and by the powerful Ministry of the word the most secret sins are discovered the most hidden works of darkness are brought to Light Some when such sins have been Preach't against have discovered their Murthers Committed long before The Power of the word hath so prevail'd that the most secret Sinner hath been discovered and with a troubled Spirit hath addressed himself to the Preacher by acknowledging of his Sins and begging Prayers and Counsels for his Souls edification Neither Mountains nor Castles neither Rocks nor Foretresses can be able to withstand the conquering Power of the Word of God If than we would get and increase Faith We must attend at the Posts of Wisdomes Gate and as Bartimaeus did we must lie in the way where Christ comes by We must wait at the Pool of Bethsdah where the Angel will come and stir the Waters We must neglect no Sermon for that Sermon for ought we know might be a means of our Conversion or Confirmation The Apostle tells us Rom. 10. 17. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Therefore if we would get Faith we must attend with all reverence and dilligence unto the Ministery of the Word Faith is like Oyl to the Lamp as it causeth it at first to give light so by additions of supplies it keeps it Burning Therefore let 's neither absent our selves from
but unto all them that love his appearing A third Character is effectual calling If we make our calling sure thence we may be assured of our election 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your calling and Election sure These may suffice for the Trial of the Grounds of assurance But we must know 1. That many Precious Servants of God may for a time want the sence of Gods favour and be at a loss for assurance Ps 10. 1. Psal 88. 5. David complains of Gods hiding his face from him And so did Heman complain that he was free among the Dead like the Slain in the Grave whom thou remembrest no more And he likewise expostulates the case with God why hidest thou thy face from me Gods Children are always in a safe condition yet they are not always apprehensive of their safety Sometimes they are under Desertions and Withdrawings of Gods Countenance A Child of Light may walk in Darkness Comfort Isa 50. 10. may be near him and yet he may not discern it as Mary could not see Christ for Tears in her Eyes 2. Assurance admits Degrees sometimes it 's more sometimes less The best are not always at a stand Upon strict Inquisition in their Hearts they find cause of Humiliation and walking heavily The remembrance of an old Sin may cause a great damp and sadness upon the Heart 3. Assurance may be a long time before it be obtained There will be long searching the Heart fighting against Sin Fervent and Assiduous Prayer a great deal of combating against the Flesh A Holy Martyr could not get assurance till he came to the Stake at last he told his Friend O Glover Act. Mon. Q. M. dayâ— Austin he is come he is come he is come 4. Notwithstanding there may be assurance yet sometimes Doubts and Troubles may arise in the Spirit upon Apprehensions of Gods clouding his Countenance and upon Apprehension of the difficulty to get rid of some secret Sin Quest But what 's our Duty Answ 1. Allow thy self in no Sin be Direct 1. it ancient customary beloved or secret away with it The hankering after any beloved Sin the delay of executing Justice upon it may break thy peace and hinder thy assurance Wherefore give no quarter to Benhadad nor to Agag Make a League with no Gibeonite Foster no Dalilah no Herodias Throw Jonah over Ship-board that 's the way to make the Sea calm Stone Achan that 's the way to make the Valley of Achor a door of Hope Brain Goliah a Champion Sin and than other Hos 2 14. Sins will sooner be vanquished as the Philistines were when Goliah was destroyed 2. Make it thy serious business to clear Direct 2. Make it thy business to clear up thy evidences up thy Evidences for Heaven Examine whether thou hast Christ formed in thee whether the new Creatute is manifested in thy understanding to know God in thy will to obey God in thy affections to love him in thy Heart and Life whether they are inlarged to run the ways of Gods Commandments search and examine whether Sin be mortified and the Body of Sin Crucified Whether thou art Justified by the Bloud of Christ and Sanctified by the Spirit of Christ whether thou art Redeemed from thy vain Conversation upon such a serious Inquisition into thy Heart assurance may be obtain'd 3. If thy Evidences be dim and thou canst not read them yet let not thy Direct 3. Let not thy hold go hold go What thou wantest in Evidence make up in Adherence to and recumbance and reliance on God Thus did David under Disertions Ps 42. 11. Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet Praise him who is the health of my Countenance and my God And thus did Job behave himself amidst all his Afflictions Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet I will trust in him And such as are in a dark condition who apprehend not the light of Gods Countenance they are exhorted to trust and stay upon God Isa 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeys the voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and have no light Let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God 4. Be fervent and frequent in Prayer Direct 4. Be frequent and fervent in Prayer Gen. Rebekkah when there were struglings in her Womb went to enquire of God If it be so why am I thus So amidst the Troubles Fears and Tumults of thy Spirit exercise Prayer If Gods Countenance be clouded pray with David Restore unto me Ps 51. 22. the Joy of thy Salvation Thou wantest assurance and art troubled upon the suspensions and hidings of Gods Countenance thy duty is to be an earnest Solicitor unto the Throne of Grace and pray that the Lord would lift up the light of his Countenance on thee Ps 4. 6. Great things are promised Ezek. 36. viz. Sprinkling of clean Water v. 26. A new Heart the Spirit 27. Security 28. Plenty and Fruitfulness yet God expects and requires the Prayers of his Children Ch. 36. 37. Thus saith the Lord God I will yet for this be enquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them If than we would obtain assurance of Gods Love we must pray much and joyn Fasting and Watching with Prayer Gods loving kindness is better than Life Ps 63. 3. therefore we must pray for it and labour to get assurance of Gods love unto our Souls How welcome was Samuel to Hannah being the Child of her Prayers And oh how highly valued will assurance be to him who hath obtain'd it in answer to his Prayers Wait than and pray continue instant in Prayer And to Prayer joyn Hearing Reading Meditating and receiving of the Lords Supper And when once thou hast got it be sure thou be thankful and watchful Take heed of the least Sin The least crum of Leaven must be cast out A Servant being incouraged by more wages hath more strong Obligations on him to serve his Master with more diligence and Fidelity Assurance and Manifestations of Gods love to a Christian are Ingagements to excite him to a more humble holy and close walking with God The more mercy he recieves the more he is ingaged to a faithful performance of his Duty Whatever Manifestation of love is given unto thee know that thou ought to be more thankful and fruitful in every good work The Apostle Writing of the Blessed Vision 1 Joh. 1. 2. For we shall see him as he is infers our great Duty to be reduced unto Practice v. 3. And every Man that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as he Matt. 5. 8. Heb. 12. 14. is pure The pure in Heart are Partakers of the Blessed Vision And without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. Let 's than follow after Holiness If ever we hope to
Spirit of Christ asswage and bring down all proud swelling thoughts High Inclinations are cast down by the Spirit of God The hard Heart is molified and of insensible it becomes sensible and of seared it becomes tender and apprehensive of Sin 2. Ointment hath a penetrating Power to pass through the Pores and diffuse it self through every Pore of the ill affected part So where there is the Unction of the Spirit it openeth the Eyes subdues the Will raiseth the Affections enlargeth the Heart Hence saith the Apostle 1 Joh. 2. 20. But ye have an Vnction from the Holy One and ye know all things i. e. All things needful for Salvation And this Unction is an abiding Unction ver 27. But the annointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any Man teach you that is they need not that any should teach them any new Opinion Let them retain those Principles wherein they have been taught and stick close unto them 3. Ointment hath a refreshing and comforting Vertue Ointments as they make way for the emission of all noxious Humors so likewise for the free passage of all Vital Spirits which do enliven refresh and comfort the Heart Hence we Ps 104. 15. â—sal 4â— 7. Isa â—1 3. Joh. 14. 25 Joh. 14. 16 read that Oil makes the Face to shine And it 's called the Oil of Gladness and the Oil of Joy So the Spirit of God is a Spirit of Consolation call'd the Comforter A Comforter that may abide with us for ever In all our Troubles if we can get God's Spirit for our Comforter we shall chearfully rejoice in Tribulation The Question was Job 15. 1. â— propounded to Job Are the Consolations of God small with thee So it may be ask'd Are the Consolation of God's Spirit small with thee No questionless for they abound in Comfort The Illapses Influences and Communications of the Spirit of God in comforting the Afflicted binding up the Broken-hearted refreshing the Languishing raising up those that are Fallen strengthning the Weak all these set forth abundantly the singular benefit of Divine Consolations flowing from the Spirit of God A fourth Demonstration that Believers Demon. 4. Believers have a Pâ—eâ—ions Inheritance are Precious in the sight of Christ is because that Christ assures them of a Precious Inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven Heaven is Christs Purchase and by vertue of Christs Purchase it becomes the Saints Inheritance The Tenure where by the Saints hold is in capite in their Head Christ Now for their full assurance there 's a threefold Title whereby true Believers lay claim to Heaven viz. By Promise Donation and Possession 1. By Promise Christ hath promised 1 Title by Promise Heaven unto his Children Amongst many I shall select a few excellent Promises one is Joh. 14. 23. In my Fathers House aâ—e many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Another nother Promise is Matth. 19. 28. Verily I say unto you that ye which have follow'd me in the Regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the Throne of his Glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thronis Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel A third Promise is Matth. 19. 29. And every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother shall receive an hundred fold and shall Inherit Everlasting Life The meaning is not that all these things should be made up in kind that he should receive so many Fathers Mothers and Sisters in the room of them but the meaning is that he shall receive Christ and Everlasting Life which is his Purchase and is infinitely more worth than all the World A second Title which Believers have to 2. Title by Donation Heaven is a Title of Donation Eternal Life is the gift of Christ as may appear Joh. 10. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand Further Christs Donation is evident John 17. 22. And the Glory which thou hast given me I have given them Heaven is Christs Gift and there is no merit nor any thing in the Creature to procure God to bestow his great Gift for saith our Saviour Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little Flock for it is your Fathers good Pleasure to give you the Kingdome But though we cannot merit Heaven yet we must be constant and conscientious in the performance of our Duties we must repent believe and be zealous to do good works and to such as are faithful unto Death the promise will be made good unto them Rev. 2 10. I will give thee a Crown of Life It 's true that Salvation is a free Gift and Heaven is the purchase of Christs Blood yet our Duty is to work out our own Salvation with Fear and Trembling Phil. 2. 12. A third Title to Heaven is that of Possession 3. Title by Possession Joh. 3. 36. He that Believes in the Son hath Everlasting Life A Believer hath such an assurance as present Possession can give him For the Word of God is his assurance He hath a Witness 1 John 5. 10. He that believes on the Son of God hath the Witness in himself And he hath both Sealing and Earnest Eph. 1. 13 14. Ye were Sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise which is the Earnest of our Inheritance The Sealing of the Spirit is Assurance the Earnest is part of Payment or some first fruits of the Harvest so than to have a Title of Promise Donation and Possession must needs be a strong Title Quest But the Question hence will be moved whether any can be assured of their Salvation in this Life Answ To this I Answer That some have been assured and others may be assured 1. Some have been assured as Job c. 19. v. 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth and Paul Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me and gave himself for me And 2. Why others may be assured of their Salvation in this Life For in those Beautitudes mentioned Math. 5. If upon serious search and Examination a Believer can conclude that he is poor in Spirit pure in Heart c. Thence he may infer that he is in a state of Blessedness Likewise the Scriptures give several distinguishing Characters whence we may evidence the assurance of Salvation One is love to the Brethren 1 Joh. 4. 14. We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren Another Character is the loving of Christs appearing The Apostle speaks not only in his own name but also in the name of all Saints Henceforth there is 2 Tim. â—8 laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that Day and not to me only