Now this Hand of God is also the Hand of Christ the second Person as made Flesh It s the Hand of Flesh especially as risen from the dead and glorified the holy Ghost is his Breath Shadow Wings Arme Hands and whatsoeuer proceedeth from him towards his Church both Ministers and people is nothing but that eternall Spirit the third Person who proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne Iohn 14.26 By which as High Priest Heb. 9. hee offered himselfe without spot to God as with his owne Hands So now much more the same Spirit proceedth from him in more abundance from his Flesh glorified For before Ioh. 7.39 the Spirit was not giuen in that abundance because that Iesus was not yet glorified But now this Flesh of Christ being glorified this eternall Spirit is all the Breath Armes Hands Strength Shadow Light and Glory of Christ He now breathes nothing but the holy Ghost and Spirit He breathed vpon his Disciples Ioh. 20.21 and said Receiue ye the holy Ghost He hath it now at command as his Breath and as naturall to him and can as easily and plentifully giue it He holds the 7. Starres his Apostles and Ministers in his right hand not of Flesh but of the holy Ghost and being risen he gaue commandements to his Apostles not by a humane breath and voice as before but more specially by the holy Ghost Acts 1.2 See Iohn 5. The time shall come and now is but shall be much more that the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God that is shall shall haue his quickning spirit 1. Cor. 15. The first Adam was made a liuing soule and all that he could communicate to his posteritie and children if he had continued in innocency had bin only a liuing soule qualified with Gods holy Image but the second Adam is made a quickning spirit which hee communicates to his members and posteritie and which proceedes from him This Spirit is Christs light by which he shines to vs Eph. 5. Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and Christ shall shine vnto thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whatsoeuer proceeds from Christs Flesh now in heauen is nothing but Spirit He is ascended farre aboue all things Eph. 4.7 8. to fill all things with his Spirit Whereas therefore he is said to feed vs from heauen with his Bodie as Manna and to wash vs from our sinnes in his blood to guide vs with his light all this is nothing but his Spirit which being purchased by his death comes as it were through his body and blood giuen to vs as our own flesh and blood This Spirit is obtained and giuen by his death and sufferings and comes to vs by his humane flesh and nature into our flesh and nature Ioh. 6.63 Therefore his Flesh is called meate indeed and his blood drinke indeede For the flesh of it selfe profiteth nothing but because for the merit of his sufferings in his flesh and by it as by a cundit the third Person the holy Ghost proceeding naturally from the Father and the Sonne is hereby procured to flow issue and come forth to vs and into our hearts by grace Galat. 4.4 Because yee are sonnes reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts which cryeth Abba Father The Spirit doth and would euer naturally issue and proceed from God into vs as Iam. 1.17 did not our sinnes stop the currant and keepe him out of our hearts by our indisposition and vnworthinesse and vncapablenesse of receiuing him as Ioh. 14. Which the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but our sins remooued and abolished by the death sacrifice of Christ and by his flesh and body broken through it as by a conduite the spirit againe hath its issue and vent to flow into our sinfull flesh and hearts and God becomes againe that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That liuing God Iam. 1.3 that giues to all men simply without exception whatsoeuer his sinnes he and reproacheth no man that by faith comes to him but poures of his Spirit vpon all flesh Act. 2.17 This Spirit as its God the Fathers hand so it s Christs our Sauiours hand the hand of flesh which Christ reacheth from heauen to vs as to his brethren and takes vs by the hand Now that Christ is glorified in our flesh and nature that Spirit which from eternitie proceeded from the Father and the Sonne and was as their breath and hand by which they made the worlds and breathed into mans face the breath of life and made him a liuing soule the same spirit and third person doth now proceed from the Father of Christ as man and from Christ the second Person Incarnate and is now both the breath of Christ and the arme of Christ which breath of eternall spirit Christ now breathes into man dead in sinne to make him a new creature created in Christ Iesus vnto good works creating anew all the powers and faculties of soule and body as it were new hands and feete quickned with a new life for new motions towards God and seruices and workes it s the hand and arme of Christ which he now reueales and makes bare from heauen and thrusts into our hearts quickning and creating in vs new hands that is new faculties of our soules to lay hold on and fasten on spirituall good purchased by his death and offered vs by his Gospel Christ by his Priestly Office hath performed all things needfull for our saluation and prepared all sauing matter And by his Propheticall Office in the Ministery of his Word offers vs himselfe the second Person incarnate to be our Sauiour and all his sauing benefits and spirit if we will reach forth our hands that is the faculties of our soules to receiue and apprehend him but our hands lye dead in sinnes that is our minds and hearts from vnderstanding choosing willing and affecting any such Person and his Spirit and benefits offered Therefore Christ as King risen from the dead and as Lord of life reacheth forth his arme hand from heauen and creates in vs new hand◠that is new mindes and hearts Hee breathes into vs the breath of life that is his quickning spirit that quickens our dead hands to apprehend spirituall things For the naturall man by his naturall soule and spirit 1. Cor. 2. as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore the Spirit creates in vs. First a right hand of Faith to know and apprehend the Person of the Son of God and to choose and take him for our Sauiour as he is reuealed and offered in the Word reiecting all other Persons Angels or Saints or any creature or our selues and our workes betaking our selues to Christ alone and to this second Person in Trinitie made flesh fastning vpon him and receiuing him as offered and commended to vs in the Gospel euen as crucified and made our King
of Christs spirit as the Iewes pierced through and crucified through ignorance fleshly Christ as I may say in the dayes of his flesh when he was in abasement to whom Christ promiseth pardon vpon repentance Matth. 12. If any man speake a word against the Sonne of man that is as onely knowing him as a Man and ignorant of his God-head and Spirit it may bee forgiuen him But if any man blaspheame the Holy ghost and God-head of Christ shining and sparkling in him it shall neuer bee forgiuen him Some now maliciously crucifie Spirituall Christ risen from the dead and shining into their hearts and soules by his Spirit and comming to apply his Crosse and Death to crucifie their flesh and lusts by his Spirit and Spirituall hands they now not as in the dayes of his flesh but in the eternitie of his Spirit and Glory would crucifie againe and abolish for euer They that are thus affected towards the spirit are said to be so affected to Christ because the Spirit is Christs hand and because it reueales presents and offers Christs person merits righteousnesse and the sauing vertue of his Crosse to crucifie all our lusts for this spirit takes of Christ and shewes it vnto vs Ioh. 16.9 10. it comes with its hands full of Christ So that as I loue Christ and take him by the hand when I gladly imbrace his Spirit and suffer my selfe to bee led by it and its spirituall motions so contrarily they hate Christ and crucifie him and pierce through his hands that hate his Spirit and destroy his spirituall motions suggested to their hearts For as some of the Iewes through ignorance of Christs God-head crucified Christ onely as a poore man the Carpenters sonne that had proudly vsurped a Kingdome ouer them and against Caesar and therefore put him to death as a Traitor and as onely crucifying his fleshly hands Yet some others and especially the Scribes and Pharisees that knew him by the light of the Holy Ghost that hee was God and by the finger of God had cast out deuils as Christ knowing their hearts professeth they did They crucified him not as the Sonne of man nor onely his fleshly hands as hee was the Carpenters sonne but his Spirituall hands as he was the Sonne of God hating his spirit and power in the Ministery of his Word and Miracles and Doctrine and Disciples for which sake they chiefely crucified him that if they could possibly they might abolish for euer his Name Doctrine Religion Profession Spirit and Church which now began to bee gathered Hee was crucified of these not as the Sonne of Ioseph but as the Anointed and Holy One of God anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power doing what they could to crucifie the Holy ghost to pierce through the hands and feete of the Spirit They trode vnder feet not the sonne of man but the Sonne of God and made a mocke of him Hebr. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in confidence Christ leading and taking vs by the hand and we laying hold on his flesh crucified for vs wee goe confidently If wee lay hold on any creature else and bee led guided by any Saint or Angel wee goe with feare and doubting with perplexitie and anxietie when conscience of sinne accuseth vs and are neuer secure that wee shall bee saued To bee bould and confident with God at any time but especially in the conscience of sinne is a marueilous courage Before whose face and presence the Angels are abashed the mountaines melt whose Maiestie and presence is so glorious fearefull and terrible that no creature can abide his presence when hee is angry The most Holy Angels without spot of sinne in nature and conscience yet couer their faces as abashed at his presence though doing his will in obeying the voyce of his mouth How much more must sinfull man dust and ashes melt and bee confounded with shame and horrour at the presence of so Holy a God yet Faith in Christ makes confident and bold Iacob had strength and courage preuailed with God Moses indured as seeing him that is inuisible by this Faith in Christ who at Horeb in the giuing of the Law where the sight was so terrible hee confessed I feare and quake Rom. 5.11 Wee not onely glory in afflictions saith Paul which some stout hearted carnall men haue done by pride ambition or strength of nature who vpon the sight of God haue trembled like Belteshar but wee also glory in God see 1. Iohn 4.17 3.21 Abrahams boldnesse was with God to parle with him though hee was but dust and ashes Wee see how hard a thing it is to be bold in the presence of a King a mortall man especially if he be angry His wrath is like the roaring of a Lyon How much more to bee bold in the presence of God the King of Kings when hee is angry who cutteth off the spirit of Princes who is terrible to the Kings of the earth that they feare in their Priuie-chambers Psa 14.4 Psal 76.5 Sinne weakens and breakes the heart and soule of man by breeding doubts feares griefes tremblings and horrours So the Deuils and Adam by their fall brake themselues into shiuers of feares and tremblings And as the Deuill trembles so our corrupt nature and guilty conscience like his is to doe as the Deuill doeth for wee are broken and infected like him by sinne Rom. 5. when wee were yet of no strength Christ died for vs that is when wee were broken and infected with the guilt of all sinnes Therefore the Lawe first breakes vs and kils vs with the sight and guilt of sinne before Christ cures vs and binds vs vp and this is the cure of the heart and soule by Faith in Christs blood and breaking for vs his terrours horrours griefes and paines in soule and body that we are strengthened with confidence Ephe. 3.16 by his spirit in the inner-man 2. Tim. 1.7 and haue not the spirit of feare but of power and loue and of a sound minde Rom. 8.15 Isa 61.1 not the spirit of bondage to feare againe but of adoption to cry confidently Abba Father This is to bind vp the broken hearted Therefore is Christ called the Rocke of the soule Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rocke will I build my Church because hee giues the heart and soule built on it by Faith strength of courage nd confidence Therefore the fearefull and vnbeleeuing are cast out with dogs Reuel 21. Christ is the Redeemer of the soule chiefely and therefore from feares doubts and griefes chiefely and from the spirit of bondage to feare againe The chiefest vertue of bread is to incourage and strengthen the heart So Christ crucified his body broken and fed on by faith its vertue is to incourage and strengthen the heart with confidence towards God If therefore wee feele feare fainting doubting goe the more to the Sacrament of Christes body which as it requires some courage and hope that we shall
Whose house ye are if ye hold fast your confidence and hope of your reioycing c. 1. Cor. 1.30 31. Col. 2.6 As ye haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him And by his life vertue and strength to doe all things and not by the strength of nature and of your naturall spirit as Paul Philip. 4.13 I can doe all things by the helpe of Christ strengthning me Rom. 8.10 If Christ be in you the bodie is dead in regard of sinne but the Spirit is life in regard of righteousnesse that is the bodie lies dead from sinfull actions and motions from which a mans naturall spirit wit and pollicy cannot restraine him and his bodily members to make them lye dead but rather quicken and powerfully sway them Rom. 3.15 and 7.5 The passions of sinnes which are by the Law haue force vigour in our members to bring forth fruit vnto death and Romanes 6.12 but if Christ be in vs he deads these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the passions of sinnes or sinfull passions that they cannot worke in our bodily and earthly members For they that are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the affections and the lusts Gal. 5.24 Reason As Satan shewes his habitation in man as his house possessing as a strong man the pallace of the minde Luk. 11.21 and heart in peace by the vigour hee exerciseth in swaying their minds wils and lusts as Eph. 2.2 Iohn 8.44 2. Corinth 4.4 So Christ 2. Reason We are the children of the first Resurrection begotten of Christ risen from the dead 2. Pet. 1.3 by the greatest vertue and power of Christ quickning the dead 1. Peter 3.21 Wee are not only begotten of Christ by vertue of his Propheticall office as he is light as Hypocrites only inlightned are but we are begotten of Christ by vertue of his Priestly office as crucified for vs vnto Adoption and Iustification of life and by vertue of his Kingly office as risen from the dead to Sanctification and participation of his Diuine nature 2. Pet. 1.4 As Christ was discerned and differenced from all the sons of men to be knowne to be the Sonne of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 1.4 by his resurrection from the dead as the first begotten from the dead Col. 1.18 So are all we his yonger brethren by the same Spirit of power raising vs to a new nature and life with him Rom. 6.4 5. Col. 3.1 and 2.12 Eph. 2.6 we are discerned and differenced from all the naturall sonnes of men Vse That we may know whether we haue Christ in vs or no we must examine tempt and trie our minds hearts wils affections what vertues of Christ worke in them and sway them such as are propper to Christ and which no creature else can exercise in vs 2 Cor. 13.5 2. Cor. 4.10 As we beare in our bodies the dying of the Lord Iesus that is the greatest miseries and afflictions So the life of Iesus is manifested in our mortall flesh that is his greatest quickning comforting vertue when no creature can doe our mortall bodies any good in sicknesse or in death or other infirmities Christ is not only our light but our light of life that is in whom we haue not only light of knowledge but the same a quickning knowledge putting life into our wils and affections bodily members to practise what we know The Hypocrites light of knowledge is like the candle light which quickens nothing the Saints light of sauing Knowledge is like the Sun-light which quickens hearbs trees plants our light of naturall reason Philosophy Pollicy cannot so quicken vs and make vs so liuely and vigorous to good duties as this light of the sauing Knowledge of Christ Eph. 4.20 21 22. Let vs shew forth the vertues of Christ our light in vs Eph. 5.8 1. Pet. 2.9 A man may haue a wonderfull light of Knowledge in the lanthorne of his braine and yet his heart will and affections lye as dead as stones from desire or endeauour to embrace or practise the good hee knowes and haue no vertue from Christ to liue walke and fructifie This is for comfort to such as though they cannot feele Christ in them nor faith possessing Christ as long as Christ shewes himselfe to be within by such vertues exercised in them they may know themselues to bee in the faith and that Christ by faith is in them 2. Cor. 13.5 For as many haue Satan in them that doe not know or feele or beleeue Satan to be in them So many haue Christ c. and as many intertaine Satan in them by receiuing his lying Gospel and promises of wealth peace comfort by sinning and his temptations and perswasions to sinne So we receiue Christ when we beleeue and receiue his perswasions and temptations to good duties and suffer the words of exhortation and beleeue his promises and gladly embrace his word Therefore such as so did were baptized into Christ for seale and assurance that Christ was in them Acts 2.41 2. Iohn verse 9. See Iohn 14.23 If any man loue mee hee will keepe my words and my Father will loue him and we will come vnto him and make our abode with him Adam and Eue and Iudas receiued Satan into them when they receiued his counsels and temptations and suffered themselues to bee swayed thereby So coÌ„trarily we receiue Christ If when wee giue place to wrath Eph. 4.26 27. we giue place to the Diuell counselling and exciting vs thereto then contrarily wee giue place to Christ and receiue him into our hearts when we receiue his Gospel of peace counselling and commanding vs peace and loue by reasons from the Gospel that is from his loue and peace towards vs. Euery one that harbours willingly in his heart any knowne sinne and sinfull suggestion of Satan he intertaines Satan the malicious man hath a furious Diuell the wanton a voluptuous Diuell So he that regards no sinne in his heart but casts it out Christ perswading him thereto by his Gospel and not the Law alone inforcing him by terrors He that turnes from sinne vpon such suggestions promises perswasions as Christ makes to him he receiues Christ by faith first Vse And Faith beleeuing and receiuing Christ for Prophet and only Rabbi to be his Disciple and as the only Way and Truth it goeth before Repentance which is nothing else but a walking in Christ as we first receiued him by faith shewing forth the vertues of Christ and the life of Christ to walke as he hath walked For Repentance is the life and vertue of Christ receiued as our way Truth and Life and made all our Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption and our light of life What is Repentance but liuing and walking in Christ For out of Christ euery motion is to death â—nd hell and can a man walke in Christ before hee haue Christ by faith in his heart Coloss 2.6 As yee haue receiued Christ Iesus the Lord so walke in him
Thus we see that all sauing good things are sauing vertues in and from Christ Now how and by what meanes do we receiue and draw these vertues from Christ or inioy them in him Ans This is only by faith of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is by Faith receiuing or going to Christs person pitching on him alone as reuealed and offered in the Gospel By Faith of him Doct. Faith in Christs person Name is the only meanes of receiuing all sauing vertues from Christ Rom. 3.22 Act. 3.16 When we beleeue the Gospel and glad tidings offering vs Christs person with all his benefits and vertues and behold him to be such a one towards vs as the Gospel reueales and offers him to vs that is as 1. Cor. 1.30 our Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption our King Priest and Prophet then is he indeede become such a one towards vs and we are made such in him 2. Cor. 3.18 Beholding as in a looking glasse viz. the Gospel the glory of the Lord with open face we are changed from glory to glory For in the Gospel God sets forth Christ before our eyes Rom. 3.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Mercy-seate was exalted and lifted vp before the eyes of the people that all may looke vp to him as the only Propitiation through faith in his blood and so finde mercy and peace with God Faith lookes vp to this Propitiation or Mercy seate and to this brazen Serpent thus lifted vp in the preaching of the Gospel and so finds healing vertue It directs our thoughts and desires to Christ in the sense of all sinne and misery as offered in the Gospel for cure and so receiues remedie Isay 45.22 Looke vnto mee and yee shall be saued all the ends of the earth c. Looke not vnto lying vanities Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched your eyes that is corrupted your minds and iudgements and drawn away your thoughts and desires from Christ that ye should not looke vp to him who by the Gospel is so cleerely manifested and described before your eyes that yee should not obey the Truth beleeuing Christ to be such a one to you as the Gospel offers him to you but looke a squint to circumcision and workes and other meanes of saluation Beleeuing the Word of the Gospel offering vs Christ and embracing the same gladly we receiue Christs Person and all that is his and inioy them by this only meanes as fully as any creature can inioy any naturall good by any naturall meanes as trees inioy the earth and sap of it by their roots so by faith in the Gospel wee inioy Christs person and all the sappe of the Spirit of Life in him Coloss 2.6 7. As the members inioy the Life and Spirits of the Head by the bond and vnion of the nerues and arteries So we the members of Christ by this Faith receiue the spirit of life from Christ our Head Rom. 8.2 with Gal. 3.2 5 14. As meate is receiued and inioyed by eating light by looking on it So is Christ by Faith By Faith in the Gospel and promises we know Christ we taste him and feede on him 1. Pet. 2.3 Wee are rooted in him built on him Col. 2.6 vnited to him By it we receiue his Person and are begotten by him into his Nature and life Ioh. 1.12 13. By Faith we goe to his Person and receiue life Ioh. 5.40 Ye will not come vnto me that ye might haue life and wee are made liuing stones by comming to him this liuing Stone 1. Pet. 2.4 By this Faith we are built on him as on a Rocke and the gates of Hell cannot preuaile against vs Math. 16. By Faith we walke in him Col. 2.6 We eate his body and drinke his blood that is we inioy all the Diuine vertues of his Godhead and the merits of his Person in all his sufferings and that fulnesse of the Godhead as dwelling in him bodily that hee is Emanuel God with vs and we are filled with all fulnes of God and all this only by beleeuing the Gospel that there is no facultie or vertue of soule or body of man or any creature that can inioy any naturall good belonging to it more fully and surely then we may inioy Christ and his Person life merits vertues by Faith in the Gospel only and the promises Hereby we know him we taste him we are rooted in him built on him vnited to him married to him Such is the necessitie and vertue of Faith in the Gospel that by it the Sonne is ours we haue and possesse him for our owne euen his Person as our Husband and his vnsearchable riches See 1. Ioh. 5.9 10 11 12 13. Vse Would we then inioy Christ and his benefits there is no meanes but his Word and Gospel imbraced by Faith and this meanes is infallible and all-sufficient by Gods ordinance Therefore care to get nothing but Faith in the Gospel that the word of Christ may dwell plenteously in vs and then Christ himselfe with all his riches and sauing benefits are in vs Colos 3.16 Wee neede not take thought who shall ascend vp to heauen or who shall descend into the deepe if the word be neere vs in our mouth and in our Heart then Christ descending and ascending both abased and exalted crucified and glorified and all-sufficient to Saluation is ours and in vs as Rom. 10.4 6 7 10. Say not what may I doe to obtaine eternall life and as Iohn 6.29 to worke the workes of God to serue him that wee may earne the bread of life This is all the worke that God requires and meanes of obtaining all sauing good to beleeue in him whom hee hath sent first from Heauen to Earth by incarnation now to all of vs by the preaching of the Gospel Act. 3.26 Eph. 2.17 Eph. 3.6 receiuing the promise of Christ by the Gospel wee are made one body with him and the whole Church and inheritors of all the same sauing good Christ hath ordained and Sanctified this meanes only and infallibly to conuey himselfe into vs his spirit life righteousnesse merits and not the Lawe or any workes or merits of man or any creature Gal. 3.2 3 4. Obey Christ the Son Iohn 3. vlt. Stumble not at his word 1. Pet. 2.8 bee not offended at it Ioh. 6 60 61 67 68 69. heare Christ Matth. 17.5 this great Prophet Act. 3.22 23. and hee will giue the holy Ghost to them that obey him Actes 5.32 The reiecting of the Word is the reiecting of Christ the receiuing of it and his Ministers is the receiuing of Christ Iohn 14.21 and 13.20 2. Thessa 1.10 Vse Abandon Transubstantiation Crucifixes Relickes Oralem manducationem for by none of all these doe wee inioy Christ which Idoles the Deuill taking away the Word and Gospel hath substituted in the roome to hold Christ by sense and not by Faith Admit wee could receiue Christ by sense yea and fill all our senses with him
in this estate no benefite of this Mediatour Vse Hereby we see what it is to be a Puritan To professe or thinke himselfe to be so holy of himselfe as daring to goe to God in his owne name that he needs not a Mediatour to lead him that feeles no such filth and corruption in himselfe for which God should abhorre him or if there be sinne and corruption yet it s so little light and veniall that we neede not make so great friends and suite a Saint or Angel may be sufficient for mediation Such a Puritane was the proud Pharisee and euery carnall presumptuous Atheist who without faith and repentance dare goe to God in the Church to the Word and Sacraments and such as goe in confidence of their ceremoniall righteousnesse These lay the imputation of Puritanisme on others which themselues chiefely practise Vse Sinne being an infinite euill and infinitely hated of God its infinite pride and presumption for any creature to dare to present such a sinner to God For its worse then any sinne committed against God to be an Aduocate for sinners to dare to speake for them and to countenance them before God as Romanes 1. verse last vnlesse that hee that shall dare to doe this be as great as God and as a surety will vndertake to satisfie and answer God for them and therfore to make any Saint a Mediatour to God for sinners is to make him God So much of the Ground of this leading In the Meanes and Manner of leading we consider First the Person leading Secondly the Persons led Thirdly the hands by which the one leadeth and the other is led The Person leading as I haue shewed is only the second Person in Trinitie the Sonne of God made flesh like vnto vs as I haue already shewed The Persons led are the Saints and children of God reconciled by Christs flesh crucified and imperfectly sanctified as is also shewed The hands by which this leading is made are carefully and distinctly to bee considered And first the hand of Christ the Person leading The hand of the second Person in Trinitie Iesus Christ euen now as he is man is his spirit As it was the hand of the second Person before hee was made Flesh so it is now since he is made Flesh especially since his Resurrection The hand of God is the hand also of Flesh now risen from the dead and glorified Now God hath no hand but his Spirit the Father and the Sonne haue no hands but the Spirit the holy Ghost For nothing can proceed from the Father and the Sonne but the holy Ghost which is sometimes called the hands of God Thy hands haue made mee and fashioned me that is as else-where is expounded his Spirit Eccl. 11.5 Who knoweth the way of the Spirit and how the bones grow in the wombe of her that is with childe Iob 26.13 His Spirit garnished the heauens and renueth the Face of the Earth Psal 104. â—0 Thou sendest forth thy Spirit and they are created which in other places is called his hands His hands prepared the dry land Psal 101.26 And Christ calles it the finger of God If I by the finger of God cast out Diuels Luk. 11.20 then is the Kingdome of God come vnto you which is expounded by him to be his Spirit It s also called the breath of God which proceeds from him the heauens were made by the word of the Lord and all the Host of them by the breath of his mouth and His word and Spirit proceede and come forth from him together that is his commandement and infinite diuine Spirit and power as his Arme and therefore it s called the Word of his power Heb. 1.2 Who hath beleeued our report and to whom is the Arme of the Lord reuealed and the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 breathed forth by his Spirit It s called the shadow of God and the wings of God and whatsoeuer proceeds from the Father and the Son to Man or to any creature is only the holy Spirit Luk. 1.35 The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most High shall ouer shadow thee Psal 90.1 Psal 90.1 Such as dwell in the secret of the most High shall abide vnder the shadow of the Almightie Psal 63. Vnder the shadow of thy wings will I reioyce all which must be meant of his Spirit counselling comforting strengthning as Isa 30.1 Woe bee to them that seeke a couering and not by my Spirit Therefore Mary conceiuing by the holy Ghost without all power of nature a weake woman sings Luke 2. that God had shewed strength with his Arme. As the shadow comes from the body so the holy Ghost from God which is therefore sometimes called a shadow because it shewes it selfe but darkely obscurely and mystically and yet surely and powerfully and this especially in the Ministry of the Church both in Ministers and people In Ministers as Isa 50.16 I haue hid thee vnder the shadow of my hand that I may plant the heauens c. that is I will powerfully by my Spirit way thee and inable to this so great a worke as to make a new world by thee and protect thee from diuels and men No shadow can proceede from God but what is God himselfe his Spirit and Diuine power and vertue which when it s giuen obscurely and not so manifestly is called a shadow In people as Acts 3.19 that is when God in his infinite loue mercy and grace shining to you as his face shall send to you his Spirit the Comforter which shall assure you of the pardon of your sinnes and refresh you with ioy peace comfort in Christs righteousnesse applied to you blotting out your sins out of your consciences if ye continue to grieue repent and to be sorrowfull for them daily and by sorrow to kill and mortifie them Let all your care be only to repent and to lament your sinnes to mortifie them and to grieue for them all your dayes and God knowes the best season when to refresh you with comfort which is the Season of all Seasons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is when to giue you the Spirit the Comforteâ— as an infinite gift of his Fatherly loue and mercy and when to shew you that his Fatherly Face and the refreshing from it by sending his holy Spirit to assure your grieued hearts of his fauour and true reconciled in Christ which is the most comfortable refreshing season that can come to a mans soule Now we must not appoint God this season when to refresh vs with the comforts of his Face and Loue by his Spirit but we must goe on in our worke and labour of repentance and daily turning to God flying all sins and vsing all meanes of obtaining all the good promised vs and God in his due time after all our toile labour and sorrowes will send his Spirit to refresh vs. But this by the way to shew what Gods Hand is
Priest and Prophet our Wisedome Righteousnesse sanctification and redemption and all that good which the Gospel sets him forth and commends him vnto vs Christ himselfe giues vs such a minde 1. Iob. 5. The Sonne of God is come and hath giuen vs a minde to know him that is true and his infinite hand and arme that is his Spirit creates this minde as a hand by which we fasten vpon this Person euen the hand of Faith beleeuing the Gospel by which we are vnited to Christ this Person and are in him that is true and the only true Sauiour that is in his Sonne Iesus Christ this is very God and eternall life and therefore can by his Spirit giue vs such a minde to know him and quicken our dead minds as a liuing hand to apprehend his Person with all his benefits offered to vs. 2. This Spirit and Hand of Christ creates and quickens in vs a left Hand of a renewed Will and Affections For our wils and affections being dead in sin selfe-loue and lusts of the world this Spirit breathes into them such holy motions as casts out these wicked lusts and swaies the will and affections to heauenly things which spirit the Comforter so felt quickning the will and affections they againe close with this spirit consent to it imbrace and hugge these holy motions and resigne vp themselues with full resolution to forsake all for his Spirit and Graces and to be ruled guided and swayed only by this Spirit as by the hand of Christ and to be comforted supported and ordered by it That as the Faith of the minde as a right hand chuseth the right Person and preferreth him before all and takes him only by the hand as a Mediatour all-sufficient to bring him to God So the renued will and affections ioyne hands with his spirit that omnipotent quickning hand which hath created them a new and put a new life into them by spirituall and diuine inspiration which Person with all his offices and benefits offered and which hand of his spirit and spirituall motions and inspirations felt in our hearts by the word preached when our hearts wils and affections doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gladly imbrace then Christ and wee are one we goe hand in hand together to God and to heauen he leading vs by the hand of his Spirit and we following him by the motions and inspirations of it Rom. 8. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sonnes of God But if any man haue not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his Now some in hearing the Word resist and put backe the hand of Christ the holy Ghost reiecting all spirituall motions and will not bee led by them but choosing rather to follow their owne reason flesh sense and lusts to walke after the flesh not after the Spirit as sheepe that goe astray and will not returne to Christ the Shepheard of their soules to bee led and guided by him 1. Peter 2. Rom. 10.21 In preaching of the word Christ stretcheth foorth his hands that is offereth vs his Spirit to counsell guide inlighten sanctifie and men refuse it which some doe ignorantly the Spirit hauing not inlightned their mindes to inable them to discerne it selfe to bee the hand of Christ graciously offered and reached forth to them and this is the common state of the World and of all sinfull naturall men as Christ sheweth Iohn 14. Which the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not nor knoweth him that is which Spirit and hand of Christ the world and all naturall men cannot receiue nor lay hands on or ioyne hands with because they are not inlightned by it to know it Christ and therefore cannot will or desire them but yee know him for hee dwelleth with you and shall be in you Some doe it vpon knowledge wilfully and maliciously who beeing made partakers of the holy ghost and inlightened by it so farre as to know Christes person the Lord of glory and his Spirit of glory and to see and discerne his gracious arme and power and to taste and feele in some measure and to perceiue the spirituall motions and inspirations of it and the powers of the world to come that is the powerfull vertues and suggestions to a better life but this Spirit and the hand of God not ouercomming the stony hardnesse and impenitencie of the heart and will dead as a stone in selfe loue and lusts of the world to make it resolue to forsake it selfe and its lusts and the world to receiue and choose Christs person benefits counting all things as doung for him and to imbrace the hand of his Spirit and promises aboue all creatures and his spirituall motions and inspirations but though they know them to bee such yet for selfe-loue and for their lusts sake to keepe them vnmortified they will rather fight against the spirit checke it and kill and strangle the good motions of the spirit and rather crucifie Christ againe and peirce through his hands and feete then that hee shall crucifie their flesh and lusts and his hands mortifie them their lusts and therefore through the rottennesse of their vnrenewed hearts they vtterly fall away from Christ his person and Gospel whom they know and haue professed and acknowledged and maliciously hate him and persecute him and his Ministers and members and in the disposition and affection of their hearts as much as in them lies they crucifie againe to themselues the Sonne of God and make a mocke and scorne of him of sinceritie and holinesse and tread vnder feete the Sonne of God despight the spirit of grace seeking to expose to all shame godlinesse and sinceritie and godly Ministers and people euen whom their consciences know to be such and onely because they professe and vrge the mortification of their flesh and lusts and liuing and walking spiritually which their corrupt and impenitent hearts and willes cannot indure But they that are Christs Galat. 5. haue crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts that is in the heart choice will and purpose accepting and allowing and imbracing that which Christ hath done for them to that end which wicked men abhorre and reiect being offered them Some through ignorance reiect the gracious mercifull hand of Christ reached from Heauen euen his Spirit and sauing vertues and benefits Some though knowing them by illumination of minde and by some taste of Diuine sweetnesse and comfort in them yet ouercome of their lusts and loue of the world their hearts and willes vnrenewed and vnchanged grow to hate and detest them seeking their destruction and abolishing because they seeke the destruction of their flesh and lusts and therefore had rather Christ were againe crucified and dead for euer in the graue then that hee should rise with such hands of his Spirit as should crucifie their flesh and lusts Therefore such is their malice that they would euen pierce through these hands