Iustification and Life 1 It is a believing of the report God hath given concerning his Son that is that he is the Son of God Mat. 3.17 the son of man God and man Rom. 1.3 4. Col. 2.9 That he is a mighty God the everlasting Father the prince of peace Esay 9.6 That he came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 To save them from their sins Mat. 1.23 and from all their enemies Luke 1.71 This is the record God hath in Scripture given concerning his Son and faith is required to believe it John 5.10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witnesse in himselfe he that believeth not God hath made him a lyar because he believed not the record God gave of his Son that is to believe that he is the Christ the Auointed sent of God and fitted for the work to save sinners ver 1. with ver 11. This is the record that God hath given to us eternall life and this life is in his Son 2 Faith is a dependancie upon this Christ for life flowing from a sensible apprehending of all that fulnesse that is in him John 6.68 When many Disciples went from Christ Jesus said to the twelve Will yee also goe away Simon Peter answered and said Lord to to whom shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ the Son of the living God marke here is the Apostles faith We believe thou art the Christ thou hast the words of eternall life therefore whether shall we goe but to thee If all forsake thee yet we cannot whether shall we goe Here is faith when a soule believes indeed Jesus to be the Christ the Sonne of the living God and there leaves it selfe sees no way or means else in the world of help but sticks close to the Lord Jesus in a way of dependancie and this none can doe but by the power of God see Mat. 16.17 Jesus answered and said unto him blessed art thou Simon flesh and bloud hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven and none can call Iesus the Lord but by the Holy Spirit c. 1 Cor. 12.3 Now the fruit of this faith is Obedience where ever Christ works this faith it produceth obedience Rom. 1.5 By whem we have received Grace and Apostleship to the obedience of faith so is the word in the Greeke Faith is a working grace it is not idle where it is it worketh by love Gal. 5.6 Circumcision availeth not nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh by love Christ is ever teaching a believer and hee receives this teaching by faith which worketh by love and constraineth the soule in whom it is to submit unto the teachings of Christ which still is according to Scripture as you have heard Quest What doth Christ teach a believer after he hath given him faith Ans Christ teacheth many things to his Disciples which they receive by faith and they may be called in some sort the fruits of faith because by faith we receive them and submit unto them but they are indeed the fruits of the spirit which Christ our Prophet giveth to his people Gal. 5.27 but I shall confine my selfe in the discovery of the teachings of Christ to the Saints under three heads The first is Selfe denyall 2 Universall obedience 3 To live by faith The first is self-denyall and this Christ teacheth in the first place where he comes I mean to a believer for self-denyall is a fruit of faith how can a man deny himselfe till hee sees somthing out of himselfe worthy thy of his love See Christ teaching this lesson Luk. 9.23 If any man will be my Disciple let him deny himself and take up the crosse and follow me Christ teacheth his Disciples to deny whatsoever is of flesh in the creature Now there are ten things in selfe which Christ teacheth his in some measure to deny and to lay all down at his feet There is 1 Selfe sinfull 2 Selfe righteous 3 Selfe wisdome 4 Selfe glorying and boasting 5 Selfe profit 6 Selfe pleasure 7 Selfe love 8 Selfe will 9 Selfe strength Selfe sufficiencie 10 Selfe ends First Self sinfull or sinfull self now it is true that it is in it self all very sinfull whatsoever is of self is sinfull But for the more cleer opening of this grace of self-deny-all I branch it forth under these heads the first is Sinfull self where Christ is hee teacheth men thus to deny themselves they cannot sin willingly see 1 John 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remayneth in him and he cannot sin that is he cannot sin with a mind to sin he denies his sin he loves not his sin therefore he is able to say It is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me as the Apostle Rom. 7.17 and therefore he is ever at enmity with his sin and lusts the grace of God teaching him to deny them Titus 2.11 12. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared teaching us that denying ungodlines and worldly lusts we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world The grace of God manifested in the Gospell teacheth men that rightly receive it to deny themselves to deny all ungodlines and worldly lusts believe it this is the grace of the Gospel it is not as some pretend a Gospell of liberty to sin but such grace as teacheth men to deny sin who-ever he be that takes liberty in sin under a pretence of grace certainly it is not that grace that brings salvation that teacheth men to deny ungodlinesse and sinfull lusts that teacheth them to live soberly in respect of themselves righteously towards men and godlily towards God This is the effect of the grace of the Gospels Saul a persecutor shall be so no more Zacheus an oppressor shall be so no more it makes a separation between a man and his lusts and between man and his sinfull courses as Job 40.4 5. Behold I am vile and what shall I answer the I will lay my hands upon my mouth once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I will proceed no farther So when once the grace of the Gospel comes then it makes a man lay down all sin and lust whatever it be as Saul Acts 9.4 5. once have I spoken but I will proceed no farther perhaps once I have been a persecutor yea twice but I will proceed no further once I have been light vain prodigall walked unbeseeming the Gospel of Christ yea twice but I will proceed no further this grace teacheth men to deny ungodlinesse 2 There is righteous selfe that is in selfe apprehension though it is true none can doe good and the best actions out of Christ are but filthinesse yet such a disposition there is in nature that is ever apt to have high thoughts of it selÃe they that know
the great commands of the Gospel Ans 1 Love is the great command and where true faith and love is there will be the effects of it 1 Tim. 1.5 Now the end of the commandement is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfained This is both the beginning and end the first and last in the Law of the Gospel Love first God out of love hath given us a law wee out of love yield obedience to it James calls it the royall Law Jam. 2.8 If ye fulfill the royall law according to the Scripture thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyselfe 2 Now this love is manifested 1 To Christ 2 To the Saints 1 To Christ and that first in keeping his commandements Joh. 14.23 Jesus answered and said If a man love me he will keepe my words ver 24. he that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings Love will cause those in whom it is to submit to Christ in every thing 1 John 5.3 This is the love of God that wee keep his commandements that is here in is our love to God made manifest in keeping his commandements Quest What are the commands of Christ to his children with relation to himself Ans His command is first love as you have heard 2 Obedience flowing from her this obedience is first to Gospel commands 2 In a Gospell manner 3 To Gospel ends First it must be to Gospell commands wee are to heare Christ in all things not Moses Act. 3.22 him shall you heare in all things c. believers are to receive every comand as from the hands of Christ John 15.14 Ye are my friends if you doe whatsoever I command you The first command that Christ requires of believers and that next after faith received is Baptisme Mar. 16.17 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved so likewise Mat. 28.19 Disciple Nations and baptize them this was the first thing in the commission to be submitted to and it was ever so in the Apostles practice which must be our pattern Act. 2.41 As many as gladly received the Word that is believed the truth of the Gospel and gladly received the Lord Jesus the summe and substance of the Gospel were haptized so Act. 8.12 They believed and were baptized both men and women so Act. 16. Lydia and the Goalar In a word this was the first duty that ever the Saints performed the first ordinance that ever they subscribed to after faith received in the Scripture there is neither precept nor president either to baptize before faith or after to teach faith or else after faith is received to neglect or slight baptisme it being a command of Christ love in the Saints compelling them to yield obedience to every ordinance of Christ for his own sake with an expectation of a farther discovery and manifestation of love and grace from God in his own ordinance in his own way Now I confesse there are many objections that by many are made against this truth who plead for and practice the baptizing of insants But because I have in another treatise indeavoured from the light of Scripture to cleare the truth and answer those objections I shall in this place passe them by onely by reason of our late conference I shall briefly touch upon these three Scriptures we then had in disputation The first is Act. 2.38 39. The promise is to you and to your children c. The Promise in this place was concluded upon that it was remission of sins and the gifts of the holy spirit hence was drawn this conclusion that the infants of believers found as large an interest in this promise as their parents and therefore ought to bee baptized Which I cannot but deny and assirme that the promise here was to the Iews as many as the Lord did call to their children as many as the Lord should call to the Gentiler afar off as many of them as the Lord should call There is a sound truth in the Scripture thus interpreted for God gave remission of sius his spirit all the good things of the Gospel to as many as he called both Iow and Gentile and so he will to the worlds end and indeed he never promised it to any other He that believeth on the Son hath life he that believeth not hath not life Joh. 3.31 If the promise of the Covenant of grace remission of sins and the goodthings of the Gospel had been to the Iews that beleeved and to their naturall seed it must then have been made good to them or else there was no truth in the promise but it was never made good to them for then they had not been apostated as they are to this day nay the Lord was so far from intending any such thing to the Iews that hee intended their rejection and casting off Rom. 11.15 neither was the promise to the naturall seed of the believing Gentiles but the elect of God both Iews and Gentiles obtain it Rom. 2.7 and God under the Gospel makes no difference between the seed of the believer and unbeliever with relation to their Generation but it is grace that makes the difference The second Scripture was Mar. 10.13 14. Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdome of God That which is hence inferred is that children are blessed that they are a part of the Church and therefore have a right to baptisme whereas it is very probable that those infants were brought to Christ to be cured of some diseases for the Text sayth They brought young children to him that he might touch them and he blessed them that is gave them the blessing they came for to wit health and cure and whereas Christ sayth of such is the kingdome of heaven that is of such qualified spiritually as those infants were naturally so Christ himselfe interprets it ver 15. Verily I say unto you whosoever doth not receive the Kingdome of Heaven as a little childe be shall not enter therein that is whosoever doth not receive the Kingdom of God both of grace and glory as a little childe that is humble and meek and teachable able to doe nothing himselfe but Christ is his all and in all he shall never enter therein so that Christ takes occasion from those little infants to discover a Gospel mystery a mystery indeed to naturall men Mat. 18.2 3. The third Scripture was that in 1 Cor. 7.14 The unbelieving wife is sanctified to the believing husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Now it was first granted that the sanctification of the wife is but a civill sanctification shee is sanctified to his use that he ought not to put her away 2 This was granted also that holinesse is a fruit of sanctification then I say the fruit or effect cannot be greater then the cause the cause cannot produce a greater effect then it selfe the cause being onely a civill sanctification the holinesse of the children
Apostle sayth Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should rejoyce in any thing else save in Iesus Christ and him crucified Christ crucified is a Christians onely joy onely delight therefore the Apostle Paul prays Rom. 15.13 That God would fill them with all joy and peace through believing and why by believing the soule comes to enjoy this crucified Christ and so justification and peace Rom. 5 1. Question But some may say how shall I know that I doe indeed exalt Christ in my soule Answer First Christ is then exalted in the soule when the Lord brings over the soule to look upon Christ as its alone justification O beloved then is the Lord exalted when the soule comes to see that there is nothing but emptinesse in it selfe when the soule can through the power of God cast down all at the feet of Christ and looke upon all its own righteousnesse as dung and drosse in comparison of Christ so the Apostle Paul Phil. 3.7.8.9 the Apostle having in the 5 and 6 verses laid down what he was once in divers particulars in his own righteousnesse he amongst all the grounds as once he thought them grounds of comfort one and the least was hee walked as touching the Law blamelesse but what things were gain that is I counted gain and rested upon them I now count them losse for Christs sake yea doubtlesse I count all things but losse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord and ver 9. and be found in him not having my own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith ô here is a soule exalting Christ above all laying all his own righteousnesse low even as low as dung and drosse in comparison of Christ ô what saith thy soule to this now man woman didst ever see thine own righteousnesse or at least thine own unrighteousnesse hath the Lord opened thine eyes to see a vanity an emptinesse in that you once trusted hath the Lord let forth a glimpse of his glory into thy soule shining down in the face of Jesus can you say Yea donbtlesse I account all things but losse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. Is thy soule carryed forth above and beyond thy selfe to the Lord Jesus as thine alone righteousnesse see Esay 45.24 25. Su ely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength ver 25. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israell be justified and shall glory In the Lord Christ thou seest thy justification and in him thou gloriest thou canst say God forbid I should glory in any thing below Christ Ier. 23 6. This is his name by which he shall be called The Lord our righteousnesse the Lord our covering our justification this is the ground when thou canst look upon Christ as thy alone righteousnesse and justification and so seeing an excellencie in the knowledge of Christ in this particular 2 A soule then exalts Christ when it looks so upon Christ as that it is carryed with a principle of love after him and it is by love as it were glewed and knit up to him so the Apostle Rom. 8.35.38 Who shall separate us from the love of God and when love constrains thy soule to follow God 2 Cor. 5.14 the love of Christ constrains us and when love so glews and knits thy soule to Christ that thou takest him as the wife takes her husband for better for worse as we use to say when thon canst follow Christ in all conditions to tryall prisons death nothing severs thee from him when as with Abraham thou goest forth from thine own Countrey thy sins sinfull companions and followest Christ not knowing whether thou goest whether to liberty or prison that makes nothing with thee Heb. 11.8 By faith Abraham obeyed and went forth of his own Countrey not knowing whither he went this flows from faith Gal. 5.6 3 When the Lord Jesus is the alone delight and joy of thy heart believe it beloved if the soule exalt Christ rightly he will bee thy delight and joy thou wilt be able to sing the song of Mary Luke 46.47 My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour there will be joy and peace come in through believing joy unspeakable and full of glory according to Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always and again I say rejoyce c. 4 The soule that truly exalts Jesus is satisfied in the enjoying of him and now the soule hath enough when it hath Christ let who will have the world sin pleasure I have Christ sayth the soule a goodly portion now the soule is fitted for any condition come affliction persecution the soule glories in all because it enjoyes God through Christ in all 2 Cor. 11.30 after the Apostle has mentioned his afflictions he concludes that he will glory in all see Chap. 12.9 5 Lastly when Christ is all in all to the soule then doth the soule rightly exalt and lift up Christ when it enjoys a fulnesse in Christ in the want of all things and sees an emptinesse in all things without Christ this the Apostle could see and say he is all and in all Col. 3.11 Christ is all and in all he is the way the truth and the life Iohn 14.6 He is the light and life of men Ioh. 1.4 He is meat drink and cloathing as wee use to say to the Saints he is their meat and drink see Iohn 6.55 My flesh is meat indeed and my bloud is drinke indeed ô beloved revery believer spiritually eats and drinks the flesh and bloud of Christ that is lives upon Christ he doth not build upon ordinary prayers duties no no give me Christ sayth the believing soule Christ in hearing Christ in preaching in the Supper of the Lord c. Believe it beloved nothing lesle then Christ can satisfie the living the believing soule and likewise in temporall things the believer sees all purchased for him by the bloud of Christ and so in every creature he lives upon the flesh and bloud of Christ and believe it beloved thus every beleever lives upon Christ see ver 53. Then Jesus said unto them verily verily I say unto you except yea eat the flesh of the Son of man and drinke his bloud you have no life in you harke you friends Hee that doth not thus spiritually eat and drink the flesh and bloud of Christ hath no life in him a signe of a dead soule that lives upon ordinary creatures without Christ 2 Christ is cloathing and covering also he covers the nakednesse of men and women that believe see Rev. 3.18 I counsell thee to buy of me c. white rayment that thou maist be cloathed what is this cloathing the righteousnesse of the Saints see Rev. 19.8 The fine linnen is the righteousnesse of the Saints Christ Jesus is the Saints righteousnesse 1 Cor. 1.30 Jer. 23.6 and so the Saints covering
and gather his lambs in his armes c. sayth ver 13. Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord and who was his Counsellor with whom took he counsell and who instructed him c. certainly none beloved there was none to do it for he determined his whole work both of creation and redemption before all things if there had bin any being then for any of the sons of men who could have invēted such a way such a means of recovering of reconciling fallen man truly none but the God of wisdome and therefore Christ is called in Scripture the wisdom of God Luk. 11.49 therfore also he is called the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1 21. we preach Christ the wisdom of God c. Chap. 2.7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world began Note beloved the Lord Jesus Christ the wisdome of the Father him in whom the Father manifests his wisdome was ordained before the world began Ephes 3.10 11. it is called the manifold wisdom of God Well may it be called manifold for it is infinite there is no numbering of it Ps 47.5 Great is the Lord and of great power of his understanding there is no number How should this take off from the Saints all cares and feares concerning the things of this world he who is infinite in wisdom wisdom it selfe hath taken care for thy soul for thine eternity Doubt not but rest upon him his wisdome shall be for thee hee will so order and dispose of all thy actions as shall be most advantagious for his owne honour and thy good And know this that nothing comes to passe but by his wise disposing hand of grace nay he is made unto thee that believest wisdome 1 Cor. 1.30 ô admirable mercy that the God of wisdom should not only wisely contrive a way for the reconciling of sinners to himself but should become their wisdome he is made to us wisdome admire at this all the sons and daughters of God what God himself become your wisdome then truly thy solly shall not harm thee ô thou art ready to say I am so foolish so ignorant c. ô poore soul it matters not it is mercy thou seest thy solly for the truth is thou must be a foole that thou mayst be wise 1 Cor. 3.18 4.10 that is thou must renounce all thine own wisdom as folly for it is self-wisdome that is the greatest enemy to Christ Therefore let no man deceive himself If any man amongst you seem to be wise in this world let him be a fool that he may be wise 2 What cause have the Saints to admire God in Christ for his love ô admirable love what God to give his Son to become a propitiation for the sin of sinners Is not this rich grace and mercy for God to take upon him the nature of man and the sins of men to make peace and reconciliation for men what soule can behold this love this mercy and not stand admiring in the enjoyment of it Beloved this love of God manifested unto men it is Free Full Everlasting Love it is free without desert there was nothing in man for to procure it hee hath loved thee freely poore soule Hos 14.4 I will heal their back-sliding I will love them Freely for mine anger is turned away Beloved God loved freely for he loved his before they were Ephes 1.4 he loved them freely for he loved them when they were sinners Rom. 5.8 the manifestation of it is free for it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercie Rom. 9.16 1 Cor. 1.27 he manifests it unto them when they would none of it when men had rather keep their sins then receive Christ as a Priest and an atonement so Paul Act. 9. the Lord meets him and over powers him when he was going in a way of persecution as it is in Esay 65.1 I am sought of them that asked not for mee and found of them that sought me not c. God first seeking and finding causes the creature to seek after God 2 It is full grace and love great love John 3.16 God so loved the world that hee gave his Son c. O unspeakable love that nothing lesse then the Son of God can serve for a gift and truly beloved nothing lesse could have done the deed and therefore nothing lesse could be given from a God of love who intended in his gift to doe good to man John 4.9 10. Herein is love not that we loved God but that hee loved us and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins and herein is the love of Christ manifested to become a Priest a Sacrifice to lay down his life for sinners Iohn 5.13 Greater love then this hath no man that a man lay down his life for his friends Here is great love love to be admired of al the Saints 3 This love of God manifested in the Son is everlasting love Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore in loving kindnesse have I drawn thee Harke you beloved friends God hath loved his people from everlasting and he will love them to everlasting Iohn 13.1 Having loved his own which were in the world hee loved them to the end that is for ever Hence it is that the kindnesse of God is called everlasting kindnesse Esay 54.8 In a little wrath I hid my face frone thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercie on thee c. his mercie is everlasting mercie Psal 100.5 For the Lord is good and his mercie is everlasting and his truth endureth to generation and generation His Covenant made with thee who art a believer is an everlasting covenant Esay 61.8 I will make an everlasting covenant with them saith the Lord a Covenant that shall not bee removed Esay 54.10 neither shalt thou depart out of it Jer. 32.40 and hence it is that the joy of the Saints shall be everlasting for indeed were not Gods mercies Gods Covenants c. everlasting There could he no true joy but this is that which occasions both true and everlasting joy and consolation 2 Thes 2.16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himselfe and God even our father which hath loved and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace c. Note beloved here is everlasting consolation flowing from the love of God and truly the consolation could not be everlasting were not that love communicated through grace everlasting Here is admirable mercie admirable grace free full everlasting 3 The Saints have cause to admire God in his Justice for beloved those two attributes of God are admirably exalted in this one particular giving Christ a reconciliation between God and man his love and his mercie is exalted in that he to accomplish his own end in a way of grace gives his own Son to become an offering for sin to this very end and purpose
CHRIST The alone PROPHET of SAINTS CHAP. II. I Come in the next place unto the Prophetical office of Christ wherein hee is also in the dayes of the Gospell to be exalted In the handling of which I shall first shew you from the word of life That he is the Prophet and teacher of his people and secondly that hee is to be exalted in the days of the Gospell as the alone teacher of his people First that he is the Prophet and teacher of his people now for the better proceeding in the unfolding of this particular unto you I shall goe along comparatively holding forth the Prophetick office of Christ by the Prophets under the Law Now there were three things ordinary to the Prophets under the Law viz. Teaching working miracles and foretelling of things to come Now in all these three Christ answers them yea and excels them all for he himselfe is the substance of all their prophesies Iohn 1.45 1 It was the worke of the Prophets to teach the people so Moses a type of Christ both in respect of Law and worship God taught Israel by him so Esay 1 throughout Jer. 1.5 6 7 Chap. 2. and all the Prophets In this Christ hath manifested himselfe wonderfully to be a Prophet this part of Christs Propheticall office to wit as hee is the teacher of his people may be considered under these three heads First as hee was a teacher of his people before he came in the flesh Secondly When he was in the world Thirdly Now he is in heaven 1 before hee came in the flesh Christ taught them by the Prophets therefore you have ever the Prophets in the Old Testament saying The word of the Lord came unto me Jer. 1.4 Cap. 2.1 This Peter confirms 2 Pet. 1.20.21 For the prophesie came not in old time by thye will of man but holy men of God spake as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit No Scripture is of private interpretation that is men did not speak of their own private spirits not that private men as they call them may not interpret Scripture there is no such thing in the word but the truth held forth to us in it is that holy men that writ the Scripture did not speak their own mindes their own fancies but spake as they were inspired by the holy Spirit and hence it is that upon good grounds we receive the Old Testament for Scripture because it is the Word of God But 2 Christ performed his Propheticall Office when he was in the World hee then taught personally Mat. 5.12 He teaches his Disciples in the Mount he teaches a very long Sermon the longest Sermon we read of in all the Gospel it continues to the end of the seventh Chapter Mat. 13.1 2. you have Christ teaching multitudes in a ship by the Sea shore hee continues his Sermon almost throughout that Chapter speaking to them in parables In John you have Christ often teaching in the third Chapter teaching Nicodemus in chap. 5 6 8 9 10. and almost in every Chapter you have Christ teaching the Jews But beloved in the third place Christ is still a Prophet to his people now he is in heaven which is the principall thing I intend to speak unto In the handling of which I shall indeavour First To prove from Scripture that Christ is still the Prophet of his people Secondly By what rule he teaches his people now he is in Heaven Thirdly The manner how he teaches Fourthly The matter what he teaches 1 That he is a Prophet still to his people now he is in heaven he never fails teaching his people he is still powerfully present with his people now he is in heaven Mat. 28.20 I will be with you to the end of the world hence it is that Christ sayth John 6.45 And they shall be all taught of God and Christ when he ascends promiseth to send the Holy Spirit what to do to teach his people Ioh 14.26 But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance and this is the new Covenant the Covenant of Grace Heb. 8.10.11 I will give my Laws into their mindes and write them upon their hearts and they shall all know mee from the least to the greatest for they shall be all taught of the Lord Esay 54.13 so that you see Christ is still teaching and leading his people as a Pophet in the way he would have them to walke The second particular propounded was by what rule Christ teacheth his people now he is in heaven and that is by his Word the word of God is the alone rule by which Christ teacheth his people now he is in heaven therefore he sayth Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them you think to have eternall life and they are they that testifie of me and Esay 8.20 To the Law and to the testimony if any speak not according to this rule it is because there is no morning in them Ob. But some may say this was before Christs ascension into heaven Ans True but the same rule holds still see it confirmed after Christs ascension Gal. Co 6. He that walketh according to this rule peace shall be upon him and upon the Israel of God Marke it he that walketh according to this rule peace shall be upon him c. Note first The Word of God is the rule of a Christians life and secondly they are to walke according to it see 2 Pet. 1.18 20. We have also a more sure word of prophesie wherento you doe well that yoe take heed as unto a light that shineth in a darke place c. A sure word of prophesie that is the Scriptures and note in ver 20. he confirms the Scriptures for that end Know this that no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit now the Scripture brings a sure word of truth It is that which ought to be the rule of the Saints in all their actions and believe it Christ never teacheh contrary to this Scripture If this be truth how may this reprove two sorts of people First those that cast off Scripture and refuse to walk according to it under a pretence of being lead by the Spirit and so above Scripture refusing to receive the Scripture as the rule by which Christ teacheth looking upon the Scripture as nothing to them It is a very sad thing that men professing Godlinesse should fall into such absurdities in receiving such principles as are destructive to the very power and being of godlinesse how can a man walke if he have no rule how can a man walke without his compasse his line he knows not when he is in or when he is out so it must needs be with those that cast off Scripture they cannot know when they walke according to the mind of God or when they
and the priviledges of the Jews 4 the difference betweene Gospel Ministers and the Ministers of the Law 5 The difference between the Gospell and the Legall Covenant 1 The Church of the Jewes before and the Church of Christ under the Gospel some say the Church of the Jews was a type of the Church of the Gospell both Jew and Gentile and hence doe draw this conclusion That as the Church of the Jews was Nationall so the Churches of the Gentiles under the Gospell must be Nationall and that it is the duty of the civill Magistrate to compell all in the Nation to the Christian Religion now here lyes the mistake 1 It is true the Church of the Jews was typicall the body of the Jews being the naturall seed of Abraham and so all that was of Abrahams posterity were born members of the Church the Church of Christ under the Gospel are the spirituall seed the seed according to the promise Rom. 2.29 He is a Jew which is one inwardly Cap. 4.16 none are to be looked upon as the sons of Abraham by naturall generation as they are borne of the bodies of believers under the Gospel see a cleare Scripture Gal. 3.26.29 Yee are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus and if yee be Christs then are yee Abrahams seed and heirs according to the promise Observe it you must first bee Christs before you are Abrahams seed not Abrahams seed as soone as you are borne it is by faith that ye are manifested to be Christs and being thus manifested by faith then they are Abrahams seed according to the promise Abrahams promised seed are onely believees such as are indeed Christs It is true some may professe faith in hypocrisie of whom we having no ground to the contrary are bound to receive but none are indeed Abrahams seed but they that are Christs 2 The kingly power of Christ put in Israel after the slesh was a Type of the kingly power of Christ ruling in and over his spirituall Israel their compelling or enslaving those that would not submit to that government holding forth that power Christ hath left in his Churches spiritually to slay those that walk inordinately in any Church of Christ according to that Scripture Luke 19.27 As for those mine enemies that would not that I should reigne over them bring them hither and slay them before me It is true this shall perfectly be fulfilled at Christs second comming but in its measure it is or ought to be fulfilled of every true Church of Christ according to Act. 3.23 Whosoever will not he are that is submit to the Prophet shall be cut off from amongst the people that is cut off by excommunication as a dead and withered branch this is the first ground of mistake between Church and Church The second is betweene Ordinance and Ordinance they judge baptisme to be one with that of circumcision and therefore is to be administred upon infants as well as circumcision and this is the ground of much confusion at this very day Now for the cleering of this argument I shall lay down these grounds 1 That the Scripture no where sayth it that baptisme is one with Circumcision therefore it may be a delusion nay to say what the Scripture sayth not is but a meere fancie and invention of man Now there is but one Scripture that is mentioned for this purpose by those that stand most strongly in this opinion and that is Col. 2.11 12. mentioning circumcision that to wit that circumcision made with hands in ver 11. sayth ver 12. being buried with him in baptisme here say they the Apostle sayth baptisme is come in the roome of circumcision judge your selves whether there be ever such a word in the Text whether it be not a meere forged and forced interpretation but say they the Apostle is here perswading the Collosians from Circumcision and therefore mentions Baptisme as come in the room of it I answer this is also forged for the Apostle doth not in any measure tax the Collossians with this errour of holding circumcision throughout his Epistle onely in the 11. ver he sayth They are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands holding forth unto them what they have in Christ namely righteousnesse through the circumcision that is the righteousnesse of Christ for Christ being circumcised performed all the righteousnesse that circumcision required This is the first ground The Scripture no where sayth that baptisme is one with circumcision 2 The ground why baptisme is not one with circumcision is because the rule for baptisme under the new Testament is not one with the rule for circumcision under the Law the rule for circumcision was that every male childe of the naturall seed of Abraham was to be circumcised the eighth day the rule for baptisme under the Gospel is that whosoever believeth man or woman Jew or Gentile shall bee baptised Mark 16.17 with Mat. 28.19 Act 8.12 Both men and women hearing and believing were baptized so that the command for circumcision and baptisme doe in no case agree the one is for males onely the other for believers both men and women 3 Circumcision hath its authority in other things as namely 1 In the circumcision of the heart the cutting off of sin lust and corruption it is called in the fore-mentioned Scripture the circumcision made without hands Col. 2.11 see also Rom. 2.29 Circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter this was the type of circumcision And 2 it typed forth Christ his fulfilling the righteousnesse of the Law to which circumcision had a relation Rom. 2.25 and so of the Christians freedome by Christ Col. 2.11 we are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ Note it is by the circumcision of Christ that is by that righteousnesse Christ being circumcised and so bound over to fulfill the Law hath performed for us namely who believe 4 Baptisme hath no where those titles given unto it which circumcision hath as namely a Covenant Gen. 17.10 A seale to Abraham Rom. 4.11 baptisme is no where called a seale neither doe I read of any seale to the believer but the Spirit of God although it is true this of baptisme hath though for all that I know groundlesly been called a seale Yet it is true the spirit of God in it may convey comfort to the soules of the Saints as in other Ordinances 5 Baptisme and circumcision differ in the thing it selfe the one being the cutting off the foreskin of the flesh onely of the males the other the dipping in or under water of believers men or women In the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost 6 They differ in the ends the end of circumcision was 1 To confirme to Abrahams and to his posterity that Christ should come of that seed therefore it was annexed unto that promise Gen. 17. No such
gives power against this cursed fruit of the flesh in some measure there is a disposition of nature even in the Saints to be exalted and that above measure not onely in their own personall excellencie but in those graces received from Christ The Apostle Paul was sensible of both in 1 Cor. 9.27 where the Apostle sayth he beats down his body c. There was a lifting up the Apostle was sensible of it he found that in him that which was enough had not God let him see it helped him in it as he apprehended notwithstanding his preaching to others to make him a cast away so also a Cor. 12.7 Least I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations the Lord sent me a prick in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet me that was to pull him down that he might not be exalted in himselfe there is in every childe of God a naturall disposition to spirituall pride he that knows any thing knows it The Lord teach you and I to search our own hearts in this particular and give us power against it see 2 Cor. 6.1 Having such promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit c. This is the filthinesse of spirit that the Saints are lyable unto truly we have little cause to glory in any thing except in Christ Jesus What hast thou sayth the Apostle that thou hast not received and if thou hast received it why dost thou yet boast 1 Cor. 4.7 therefore the Prophet sayth Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome nor the strong man in his strength but let him that gloryeth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth the Lord. It is the exhortation of Christ to his Disciples Luk. 10.20 Rejoyce not that the Devils are made subject to you but rejoyce rather that your nanaes are written in heaven and this lesson the Apostle Paul learned and every Christian in some measure must learn Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world 5 There is selfe profit which every man naturally is apt to looke after O how hard is it for a poore creature to deny himselfe How hard is it for a rich man sayth Christ to enter into the Kingdom of heaven The world is a common baite wherewith the Devill inticeth man to sin as Iudas Ananias and Saphyra Act. 5. Nay Christ lumselfe is set upon with this temptation Mat. 4. O this profit the love of money is the root of all evill But where Christ comes teaching effectually he teacheth the soule to deny it selfe to look upon the world as a very empty thing he gives power to overcome the world Whosoever is borne of God over commeth the world and this is the victory that over commeth the world even our faith 1 Ioh. 5.4 Now the soule sees that it is his duty not to looke onely on his own things but every one on the things of another Phil. 2.4 Now hee hath learned to sympathize with the body every member he looks not upon himselfe at a distance from the meanest member making himselfe equall to them of the lower sort 6 There is self pleasure also and this of two sorts 1 In delighting in pleasures of these the Apostle speaks of 2 Tim. 3.4 They shall be lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God Beloved it is much unbeseeming Christians to be lovers of pleasure see 1 Tim. 5.6 But shee that liveth in pleasure or shee that liveth delicately is dead while shee liveth Now beloved Christ takes off his people from these pleasures by presenting better pleasures to them he makes them drinke of the river of his pleasures Psalme 36.8 so that the Saints are not without pleasures spirituall and that abundantly and eternally Psal 16.11 At his right hand are pleasures for ever more But God takes off his from those earthly carnall pleasnres which is indeed dangerous and destructive Prov. 21.17 Hee that loveth pleasure shall be a poore man it is true spiritually as well as temporally carnall carthly pleasures and profits are two great enemies to the power and being of god linesse Luk. 8.14 cares and riches and pleasures is that which choaketh the Word that men bring forth no fruite to perfection A second sort of Self-pleasure is when men resolve to please themselves O sad word that men should have such a disposition to please themselves but where Christ teacheth hee teacheth men in this case to deny themselves Now this may be considered under a twofold relation eyther to God or our brethren 1 To God where Christ teacheth effectually there the soule will rather deny it selfe then God It will rather please God then it selfe Christ who is the Saints pattern did always so walk as to please God John 8.29 For I do always those things that please him to wit the Father Now Christ as hee was man in our flesh pleasing the Father alwayes in all things and so was our pattern so he teacheth his the same lesson This is a Maxime in Religion That whosoever chuseth to please himself rather then God Christ hath not taught him 1 Thes 4.1 We beseech you brethren and exhort you by the Lord Iesus that as ye have received of us how yeought to walk and please God so ye would abound more and more As if the Apostle had sayd that which ye have received of us is that ye ought to walke according to the example of Christ to please God This is the doctrine that wee have taught you we beseech and exhort you by the Lord Jesus That ye abound more and more in this grace This is an excellent choice grace to please the Lord ever to have that in thine eye to please God though thou displease thy selfe that is thy fleshly carnall selfe Col. 1.10 O this is a soule taught indeed by the spirit of God when he prefers the pleasing of the Lord before himself or carnall friends or any thing see Prov. 16.7 When a man ways please the Lord hee maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him when a man seeks to please God in walking answerable to the rule of God though hee displease his enemies God will make those enemies to be at peace with him 1 This being rightly learned is that which would carry you along through all oppositions in a way of truth perhaps somethings yea some truths may seeme hard to a poore creature to be submitted unto perhaps the poore creature resolving with flesh and bloud which will have its bouts even in the Saints Rom. 7.21 may be ready to conclude sometimes if I submit to this way to this truth I must expect reproach persecution perhaps losse of liberty estate yea life and all now it would wonderfully please carnall reason to deny such a truth to hide and conceal such a truth in unrighteousness but
that which would knit the hearts of christians one to another It was the Apostles desire and care for the Colossians that their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love Col. 2.2 This knitting together of the Saints is that which makes them meet to watch over each other to build up each other it is as the joynts and sinews of the body naturall knitting each member together and so nourishing the whole body Col. 2.9 Being knit together increaseth with the increase of God this is the excellent property of love it knitts up the souls of the Saints together where it is in truth there cannot be an easie dissolving of this knot of love this was the love of David and Jonathan 1 Sam. 18.1 The soule of Ionathan was knit with the soule of David and Ionathan loved him as his own soule this is the true property of love it knits the soul to the partie beloved it is not possible if there were true love that there should be such divisions amongst the Saints if it be but a difference in opinion presently the love the fellowship is broken A second excellencie of true love is It coven a multitude of infirmities it is not easily moved it is not easily provoked it is naturally easie to be intreated it will not suddainly believe evill reports it will not suddainly have bitter envyings and evill surmisings this is the excellencie of the grace of love it will bear much and long it will not censure without wonderfull just cause 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7. Love suffereth long it is not easily provoked it will not starte at shadows love envyeth not anothers prosperity but rather rejoyceth in it as one member of the body rejoyceth in the prosperity of another it vaunteth not itselfe it is not puffed up love is an humble grace it maketh those in whom it is to serve each other in love to prefer each other before itselfe it seeketh not its own it seeketh not its selfe but the good of another it is not easily provoked it thinketh noill it rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth it beareth all things it believeth all things all things that it hath any ground or warrant to believe it hopeth althings that is the best of all things where there is any ground or probability of hope it endureth all things that is all things that God himself inflicts or suffers man to inflict upon him here is the excellencie of love O who would be without this grace of love nay but who can ever attain it but those whom God sheds abroad his love in their hearts by his holy Spirit how is this grace of love wanting among the Saints whence is it that there are such discords such bitter enyings such secret whisperings in a word such rents and breaches of communion and fellowship amongst Saints for slight things but the want of this grace of love truly were the love of God shed abroad in the hearts of his people more abundantly it would not be thus love is of absolute necessity for the peace and communion of Saints 3 Excellencie of love It is on everlasting grace it shall be made perfect in another world other graces fail but love never faileth 1 Cor. 13.8 Prophesies they fail and faith that shall cease but love shall abide for euer it shall be so far from ceasing that it shall after the ceasing of faith and other graces be made perfect and the Saints that love God indeed here and from that fountain of love love each other they shall then for ever live in the bosome of love their souls being satisfied in the enjoyment of him the fountain they shall be then perfectly knit together in one being filled with the enjoyment of God made perfect in love through that abundance of love it enjoyes in him The third particular propounded is the manifestation of this love how the Saints manifest this their love each to other 1 In a faithfull diligent watching over each other in love Phil. 2.4 look not every one to his own things but every one to the things one of another there should not be such a spirit amongst Christians as was in Cain who said Am I my brothers keeper no no you are keepers of each other and it is love that will make you faithfull to each others soule in this particular The second manifestation of love is in building up one the other in the most holy faith edifying one the other in love helping forward each other in the way of holinesse being compacted together in the order fellowship of the Gospel maketh increase of the body to the edifying it self in love Eph. 4.16 3 In bearing with the weaknesses of each other Col. 3.12 13. Put on as the elect of God bewels of mercie kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse long suffering for bearing one another and for giving one another even as God for Christs sake forgave you Here is the manifestation of love when you are able to beare with and forbeare one another from this principle because God hath borne with you God hath forgiven you Rom. 14.1 him that is weak in the faith receive unto you 4 In restoring a falne brother with the spirit of meeknesse Gal. 6.1 If any brother be falne through weaknesse yee that are spirituall restore such a one with the spirit of weeknesse much tendernesse is to bee used towards a brother in this case the ground is we our selves the strongest of us are subject to and may fall by the like temptation if the Lord prevent it not 5 In speaking kindly to each other good words and comfortable this is the manifestation of love and truly where there is love in the heart it will appear in the countenance in the words a cheerfull and loving countenance loving words here will be words both for the Saints and to the Saints First for the Saints to go to God in prayer Ephes 1.16 for them in their vindication when any scandall is unjustly laid upon them so Ionathan for David 1 Sam. 19.4 Ionathan spake good of David and good for David 2 In speaking kindly one to another so the Apostle Paul he ever gives the Saints the title of Brethren wherefore holy Brethren pertakers of the heavenly calling and Solomon sayth That a soft answer turneth away strife 6 And lastly love is manifested incondoling each with other in afflictions the Saints are all of them members of the body of Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 and the members of the naturall body are sensible of the sufferings of each other if one member suffer all suffer with it if one member rejoyce all rejoyce with it so it is or should be in the body spirituall we should beare part of one anothers afflictions be truly sensible of the affliction of each other and so beare part with each other bee truly sensible of the comsorts of each other and so rejoice together this is the property of true love where it is I
have very briefly hinted upon some particulars much more might be said in this particular but I desire not to be tedious in this place I might branch forth in many other particular Gospel commands which would be too tedious only thus where the love of Christ is indeed shed abroad by the holy spirit there love cōstrains the soul to yeeld itself up wholly to the Lord Jesus all his comands whatsoever things are of good report whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are warranted and required in Gospel the soule that truly loves the Lord Iesus is ready in the peace and strength of Jesus to walk up unto it it will not consult with flesh and bloud it will not stand upon carnall arguments but as the Lord Jesus hath glorified mercy grace and love in doing unto the soule so it will now look what it is may conduce to the exaltation of his name then the soule that truly loves the Lord Jesus is satisfied let the name of Iesus have the glory and the soul that truly loves him hath its end and and rests satisfied Use It concernes every one to looke if Christ hath been their Prophet hath Christ given thee a heart willing to submit unto him in all things ready in his power to yeeld universall obedience to all his commands ô it neerly concerns you to try your selves and if so then whether your obedience flows from love It is possible there may be externall obedience from base and by-ends and then all is nothing Love is the fulfilling of the Law whatsoever is done in love that is from the love of Christ shed abroad in the heart is well done but all done without love is nothing preaching praying professing communicating it is all nothing without love it is one thing to preach and pray and professe it is another thing to doe it out of love to Christ then it is a fruit of faith Faith worketh by love and all works done without this are not acceptable 1 Cor. 13.1 2. Though I speak with the tongue of men and angels and have not love it is nothing it is but as a sounding brasse or tinkling eymball a man may have excellent words fine composed sentences admirable expressions all flowing from a notionall knowledge that may much affect the eares and hearts of the people and yet all be but a sound of words attained by art as a sounding brasse or a tinkling cymball which seems to make a sweet sound to the eare when there is nothing in it indeed but a composure of humane art and so being brought out of that frame there is nothing indeed worth looking after or harkning unto even so are those persons who seemingly do glorious actions and yet indeed have not the love of God in them But to proceed the third thing that Christ usually teacheth his people as to beleeve which faith you have heard produceth its effects so in the third place he teacheth them to live by faith that is to act and exercise this faith upon all occasions in all times according as they have need to make use of it and indeed this is a great Gospel mystery which the Saints are too much ignorant of It is one thing to have faith and another to live by faith it is one thing to have legs and another thing to make use of them to goe with them Quest What is it to live by faith Ans 1 It is to exercise faith that is to make use of it as need requires or 2 It is a living upon Christ in the want of all things Or 3 It is a living by believing of what the soul shall one day enjoy 1 It is to exercise faith as occasion calls for it that is to exercise it upon the object for faith hath ever an object and if it be right and true the object is Christ now it is true there is occasion for the Christian to exercise faith in every condition either Internally or Externally for the Christian hath many enemies to encounter with all the flesh and the Devill and the World all these comes in a mayn upon the soul Now faith overcomes 1 The flesh that will be ever lusting against the spirit Satan comming in working by it self will be in every action self wisdom self priding and self boasting this is contrary to the mind of the spirit and now the spirit is troubled and freed so that many times there is a hot conflict in the soule of the Saint but how comes the Christian to overcome it by cying and applying Christ it can say as Paul I haue a body of sin a proud cursed self seeking nature but thanks to God through Jesus Christ c. and there is no condemnation to them in Christ It is true I have a base nature a wicked cursed deceitfull proud self-seeking heart yet the Lord hath let forth a glimpse of his glory to my soul hee hath let mee see and hath sealed this by his spirit unto me that I am in Christ and there is no condemnation for me and so by faith seeking to Christ the soul overcomes this enemy flesh and then secondly it ever lives in believing that this fleshly corrupt part shall be every day more and more subdued and so is ever cying a crucified Christ for the killing and crucifying of this body of sin 2 The Devill hee will come in with his darts daying hard and heavy things to the charge of the soul although the Apostle faith Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth although God himself pronounce a man cleet and just yet the Devill will come in and endevour to make work in the godly justified soule O sayth the Devill thou art a vile cursed creature thou hast a base earthly carnall heart thou art able to performe no duty but it is full of sin and as good never a whit as never the better Thy services hadst thou no other sin to be accountable for are enough to condemne thee and besides all the rest of thy sins of thy basenesse in performing duty this is that is worst of all thou hast a wicked proud heart of thine owne thou art ready when ever God hath assisted thee to take the honour to thy selfe and to pride thy selfe in those weak duties thou performest What sayst thou to this Christian hast any experience of this try all in thy soule I dare say thou hast if Christ dwell there but what course will you take to over come in this combat see Ephes 6.16 There are the enemies the Saints are to encounter with they are no small no mean enemies see Verse 12. and the armour the Christians armour it s all armour of proof but above all take the sheeld of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fire darts of the wicked the Devill will come and come againe hee will have one dart and another dart now the way to overcome is
to take the shield of faith a sheeld is for defence so this faith both defends and resists the Devill Quest But how doth faith overcome Ans It ever hath an eye to the foundation Christ it knows the foundation standeth sure and so it turns over the devill the false conclusion that the devill and the heart is ready to make together to Christ and now the soule sayth it is true Satan or it is true heart I am base I have a vile cursed nature I cannot pray nor performe any duty as I should sin is in my best action I confesse I am in my selfe as bad as man or devill can make not a worse heart in the world more subject to evill farther then God restrains it more unable to doe good farther then God inables and what of all this Satan I know there is enough to condemne me for ever were I to answer in mine own person for my selfe but Christ hath been condemned for me Satan he hath borne all my sins and so my condemnation and he hath made himselfe over to me so that now thou must first have something against Christ before thou canst shake my hold and thus by faith flying to Christ the soule overcomes the enemy but if the soule cannot thus have recourse to the Lord Jesus he is gone when the tempter comes he is not able to resist Then sayth the beleeving soule it is true Satan I have a proud self seeking heart ready ever to take that honour to it selfe that is due to God but it is as true that I may thank thee for it who hast thus metamorphozed my nature and made it like thine own and not onely so but commest in and ever stirrost up the heart to pride and selfe-seeking knowing well by experience that it is a sin that much provokes God but this is my mercie God lets me see into this depth of wickednesse and it is my burthen but Christ hath freed me from the power of it and from the iniquity of it hee is ever subduing it in me and one day I shall for ever be freed both from it and thee thus by faith the soule overcomes the devill this is the first particular wherein the Christian comes to liue by faith in the exercising of it according to the manyfold occasions it meets withall 2 To live by faith is a living upon Christ in the want of all things and that both externall and internall 1 Externall in the want of outward things when the creature is tripped naked and bare brought even to a morsell of bread then to live in beleeving the Lord will care for you when that you are brought to Christs condition that you have neither house nor home nor any thing in the world besides a Christ besides a God to live upon then when thou canst get a promise as that Heb. 13.5 He hath sayd I will not fail thee nor for sake thee and stick close to the Lord Jesus in such a promise this is a living by faith when the creature fails Hab. 3.17 18. Although the figtree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the vine the labour of the olive shall fail and the fields shall yeeld no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no therd in the stalls Yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation This is to live by faith when all creatures fail then to live upon God then to rejoyce in the Lord believing that God is able and will help the Lord will sustain The want of this faith was Israels sin Psal 78.18 19. they spake against God and sayd Can God prepare a table in the wildernesse how is the deceitfull heart of man ready to distrust God in such a condition as those Jews can God prepare a table when all is gone but faith in such a condition believes and lives by blieving and the Lord will care for moe sayth the soule and the Lord hath sayd it The lions shall luck and suffer hunger but they that wait upon the Lord shall want nothing that is good This is a hard thing it is easily sayd but not so easily done you thinke it is easie perhaps to live by faith while you have a house a calling that brings you in money perhaps every day or every week or money by you or land c. you can live comfortably upon Christ and your calling upon Christ and your house or land but let all be taken from thee see then how then canst live this may be your condition and then you will be put to the tryall 2 Spiritually when the soule hath nothing of its own to rest upon when duties and performances and all is gone then to believe and live by believing this is to live by faith indeed upon this ground the soule believes Rom. 4.4.5 He that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted to him for righteousnesse he that worketh not he that cannot performe one acceptable duty in way of righteousnesse but sees all is nothing yet believes in Christ and so lives by believing this is the constant stay of a believer he eversees his own emptinesse the untighteousnesse of his best actions I say to believe in and to live upon Christ in all such conditions it is to live by faith above duties and performances but how doe many a professing man and woman comfort themselves in the performing of duties in their inlargement in duty and the like but when they fail in this then they call all in question again this faith was not right for they thinke they believe because they can pray and meditate c. when indeed the soul that rightly believes doth believe because he cannot pray nor act or doe any thing that is acceptable and therefore he cannot live by faith but when that power he has to performe duty fails his faith and all fails this is not to live by faith yet this hath been the life of most professours in this Nation 3 A living by faith it is to live by beleeving of what the soule shall one day enjoy and this mightily bears up the spirits of the Saints And this we may take notice of under a threefold consideration 1 That which the gracious soule longs most after is the full enjoyment of God nothing lesse can satisfie the believing soule the soule that hath tasted how gracious the Lord is O sayth the Soule when shall I come to the full enjoyment of my God and so the seule groanes as the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.2 earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with the house from heaven and the reason is ver 7. for while we are here we walke that is live by faith and not by sense while we are at home in the body wee are absent from the Lord that is absent comparatively with relation to what it shall be for the soule has but a glimpse of glory but a
teacheth us all things that we rightly know we know nothing as we ought to know farther then Christ Jesus by his Spirit teacheth But I proceed to the next particular propounded in the office or work of a Prophet namely to work miracles this the Prophets before Christ did Moses a type of Christ and the great Prophet of Israel work't many miracles when the Lord sent him to deliver his people And this hath Christ our Prophet done and doth to this day this hee did when he was in the world turning water into wine raysing the dead to life restoring those borne blinde to sight c. and this be still doth Christ our Prophet is ever working miracles The conversion of a soule is a miracle it is the changing of the nature and it is above nature to doe it to raise a man from the dead to life is a miracle and this Christ doth to every soule who is indeed raised Ephes 2. the 1. and 5. verses compared ver 1. and you who were dead in trespasses and sins ver 5. Even when wee were dead in sins hath hee quickned us c. now to quicken to give life to a dead soule is a miracle and this Christ doth ordinarily and hee gives sight unto blinde men it was a miracle for Christ to give sight to the man that was borne blinde beloved every man and woman in the world is borne blinde spiritually blinde and this is a greater miracle to cure such yet this is the ordinary work of Christ and every man naturally is both blinde lame and deaf but Christ when he comes he opens the blinde eyes he un-stops the deaf eares he causeth the lame to walke and the tongue of the dumb to sing Esay 35.5 3 The Prophet did foretell of things to come Moses and the rest did fore-tell Christ c. and so did Christ in many particulars Mat 24. but I passe this also 2 Christ is to be exalted Prophet in the dayes of the Gospel see Act. 3.22 23. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you him shall you hear in all things Use 1. To examine if Christ have been thy Prophet When Christ comes first to the soule he findes men dead and gives life unto them he findes men blinde and gives sight unto them Hath the Lord discovered thy dead condition unto thee and given thee life art borne from above That which is borne of the flesh is flesh and thou wert borne flesh dead in trespasses and sins hath the Lord changed thee from a state of death to a state of life from a state of infidelity to a state of believing thou wert blinde thou wert borne blinde not able to see into spirituall things 1 Cor. 2.14 Hath the Lord opened thine eyes canst say I was blinde but now I see I was dumb but now I speak ô this is worth your consideration Use 2. A word of consolation to the Saints whom the Lord Jesus hath taught what is the comfort you will say 1 He will for ever be thy Prophet and will be ever teaching thee Thou shalt hear a voyce behinde thee saying this is the way walke yee in it when thou turnest to the right hand or to the left the Lord Jesus will be for ever thy Prophet he will never fail thee nor for sake thee his eye shall ever be over thee for good he will direct thee in all thy wayes and is not this a mercy 2 He hath made all the Saints Prophets he hath powred down a spirit of Prophesie upon them that now they are enabled by the spirit of prophesie to speake one to another for edification exhortation and consolation 1 Cor. 14.3 and therefore the men of the world might hence be warned to take heed how they meddle with the Saints to persecute them for they are the Lords Prophets 1 Chron. 16.22 Touch not mine anointed doe my Prophets no harme Christ takes every wrong done to them as done to himselfe therefore you had need look to it for it is that which will work your ruine in the end THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST The alone KING of SAINTS CHAP. III. I Come to the Kingly Office of Christ Christ is the alone King of his people believe it Christ is the alone King of his people Christ is a King and hee hath a Kindome Psal 45.6 His Kingdome is spirituall it is not of this world although it is in the world Christ hath a twofold kingdome here in this world there is the kingdome within the Saints and the kingdome without the one in the heart the other in the Church they are both spirituall 1 Christ rules and reignes in the Saints the kingdom of God is within you beloved Christ hath a kingdom within you if ye are his Christ is in you except yee be reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 And this is a priviledge more then all the Kings in the earth have they may reign here over their subjects but not in them but Christ first reigns in them then over them he reigns I mean spiritually over none but those in whom he reigns Now Christ reigns in the souls of the Saints first opposing all things that are contrary to himself there are other Lords that will seeke to rule in the hearts of the Saints if Christ subdue them not the Devill hee will seek to be Lord he that is the God of the world and rules and reigns in the hearts of the children of disobedience where Christ doth not rule but when the Lord Jesus coms he dispossesseth him and casts him out and so keeps him out The Devill will make many a strong assault throw many a fiery dart at the soule of the Christian endevouring if possible hee can to shake his hold but Christ he is the King hee is the watchman the keeper of Israel hee giveth in power to the weak fainting soul to overcome all those Laws and Edicts Satan shal endevour to set up in the soule so that now the Christian espyes all Satans plots and artificiall devices to trap and ensnare him rejects all his temptations and says as Christ Get thee behind me Satan when the Devill acts and works in others he hath no power over the soule where Christ reigns it is true hee may throw in his darts sometimes make assays eyther to tempt to some evill or to shake the faith of Christians but Christ the King reigns there still conquers him subdues him and so caries on his own work that the gates of hell cannot prevail against that soul where he dwels Thus Christ reigns keeping under Satan beleeve it beloved Christ and Satan cannot reign both in one soul 2 Christ opposes the power of sin in the soul where he reigns sin bears a strong sway in the soul now Christ he opposeth it sets himselfe against it hence it is there is such a strong opposition between the flesh and the spirit that is the spirit of Christ the spirit Iusting against the flesh the flesh
against the spirit and these two are contrary each to other And thus the Lord Jesus continues opposing of sin of the Iust and corruption that is in the hearts of the Saints Quest How doth Christ oppose sin and Satan for sin is Satans work 1 John 5.8 For this cause was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the work of the Devill The work of the Devill is sin hee that committeth sin is of the Devill Ans Christ destroys sin which is the Devils work two ways 1 First Christ he destroys the guilt of it and that he did in bearing both the sin guilt and condemnation of it upon his own body 1 Pet. 2.24 Rom. 8.3 and now he comes and in the Gospel makes it known unto his people Rom. 5.11 2 Hee destroyes the power of it by his spirit by the operation of his power working reigning and ruling in the hearts of his people Rom. 6.4 Now Christ subdues this iniquity by his Kingly Office reigning in the Saints Ye are not under the law but under grace under Christ in whom was manifested the fulnesse of grace This doth Christ two ways first he comes to the soule of a poore sinner discovering his excellency the riches of his grace and so shedding abroad his love in the heart gets the soule willing to receive him out of love unto him desires to have Christ set up and his Kingdome within it selfe for Christ hath never a Kingdome in the heart of man till hee thus comes and breaks in upon the soul discovering love yet now sayth the soul let Christ be King and none but him although it is true it is by his power he breaks in upon and subdues the stout spirit of man who would not willingly submit of himselfe yet Christ makes him willing by the shedding abroad of his love in the heart Rom. 5.5 So that now the Lord Jesus with the free consent of the gracious soul sets up his kingdome in the heart so that when Christ sayth My Sou give me my heart Lord take my heart sayth the soule dwell there rule there ser up thy kingdome there so that you see Christ doth not rule as Tyrant in the souls of his people but with the free and full consent of the mind of the person in whom hee reigns for this is both the wisdome and power of Christ that hee makes his people a willing people Psal 110.3 Then secondly Christ having purged the heart of man in some measure overcomes those strong lusts and affections and makes it a meet mansion house a Temple for his holy spirit to dwell in he then sets up laws and statutes in the hearts of his children in his kingdome and there he rules opposing all other laws for there are and will be the stirring of corruption and that very strongly too Now Christ first sets up the law of faith in the hearts of his people and that in opposition of infidelity for naturally the Saints are subject to infidelity through the motions of corruptions and temptations of Satan The beleeving soule when it sees what a base nature it still carries about within it selfe being sensible of the stirring of lusts and corruptions Satan helping seriously then it is troubled O this evill nature of mine sayth the soul who shall deliver me from this body of sin Now the law of Christ is to beleeve and in this condition to live by believing and so Christ enables to put faith in exercise and to beleeve above hope almost as Abraham and so hee still quiets the soule by enabling it to believe constantly in the name of the Sonne God and that when it cannot worke for hee is the Prince of our faith the authour and finisher of it and so here is in the heart of the Christian a strong conflict between the law of faith and the law of infidelity the spirit of faith and the spirit of infidelity infidelity it comes in with a mighty commanding authority upon the soule of that Christian set on by the Devils malice and perhaps sometimes seemes almost in the eyes of reason to get the victory over faith but then Christ who maintaines his laws puts them in execution arises and rayseth up the heart above those doubtings and caries on the soul in a way of beleeving still and so quashes infidelity and treads it under fect and leaves it dead executed for present by the law of faith 2 Christ sets up the law of love in his Kingdome I mean in the heart of the Saints and that in opposition to hatred For the truth is that every soul in whom Christ reigns not doth indeed hate Christ now Christ sets up this law of love in the hearts of the Saints love to himself to his holinesse to his Gospell Ordinances Saints every thing that have the name of Christ stampt upon them it loves it for his sake and this law of love opposeth hatred for there may come sometimes hard thoughts into the souls of the Saints under afflictions and fiery tryals ready perhaps to say with David Hath the Lord forgotten to be mercifull hath he shut up his tender mercy in disple asure Now the law of love comes in and helps the soule to see that there is in Christ nothing but love to it notwithstanding the souls present apprehensions and sees all things shall worke for good to them that love the Lord and so can say with the Prophet Lord out of very love hast thou afflicted me and so the soule is knit to Christ in all conditions cannot but have high thoughts of him even then when it suffers either for him or from him For him That is for want of the enjoyment of the manifestations of his pleasing countenance and the fresh incomes of his love the kissings of his mouth Cant. 1.2 or for the bearing up of his name in a visible profession of the Gospel of Christ From him Fatherly chastisements out of love to make us partakers of his holinesse Heb. 12.10 In all these sufferings when perhaps somtimes the carnall part is ready almost to quarrell against Christ this law of love quells and subdues all brings this heart-rising in subjection and knits the soule to the Lord Jesus 2 As it causeth the soule to love the Lord Jesus so it causeth it to love all that is Christs and highly to esteem of it it opposes any other Law that may seeme to arise as sometimes perhaps through the workings of Satan with the corruptions of the Saints there may be some beginnings of slighting the Saints of entertaining hard thoughts of them but then Christ stirs up and revives this Law of love in them kills that hatred those hard thoughts that it was apt to conceive against them and so knits the soule to them by a more firme united love then ever and thus this law of love overcomes this law of hatred in a word it causeth the Saints to doe all that they doe out of love the love of
Christ constr ains them 2 Cor. 5.14 3 Christ sets up in his Kingdome the Law of meeknesse and humility and that in opposition to the Law of pride and vaineglory Learn of me sayth Christ for I am meeke and lowly in heart Mat. 11.29 and this Christ sets up in the hearts of his people for he makes them partakers of his own graces Joh. 1.16 it is a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.23 and of the Law of Christ set up in the soules of the Saints against which there is no law can prevail It is true there will be a rising somtimes in the spirits of the Saints pride will thrust it selfe in and be ready to life up the creature in the apprehension of some selfe excellencie although there is no cause yet this is a truth I believe it those that have any experience of the Kingdome of Christ or of the working of corruption know it right well pride will be pirking in ready to lift up the creature above measure either somtimes Externally to make a difference betwixt himselfe and others as nobility of birth parents or kinted honour in the world Externall carnall excellencies O how will it worke somtimes upon the heart of a poore creature as if he were sombody above others O is not thy soule sensible of this somtimes dear Christian I cannot but think it is But then comes in Christ with his law of meeknesse of humility and puls down this pride of heart and lays it low and brings the soule again to lay all in the dust what is honour sayth the believing soule what is nobility of birth this is my honour that I am a sonne a daughter of Iesus Christ and so the soule comes down ready to doe any service of love to the meanest Saint and now the Saints come to serve one another in love and now they come again to see that they are all one in Christ Iesus Somtimes Internally or with relation to Internall gifts received although we have nothing but what we receive yet this is the basenesse of mans nature it wil grow proude be ready to be lifted up even with those graces received is it not so with thy heart art thou not naturally proude doth it not presse in upon thee somtimes I know it doth and I dare say it troubles thee that art a Christian But now Christ comes with his law and casts all down to the ground lays low those mountains those strong lusts that exalt themselves thus against the Kingdome of Christ for this pride is absolutely against the Kingdome of Christ he will not have such things in his Kingdom it will thrust it selfe in but the Law of Christ discovers it and vanquisheth it and keeps the soule in an humble lowly meeke condition O consider of it where pride domineers and rules Christ hath no Kingdome in that soule there Christ dwels there he reigns where he hath made the soule humble faith in Christ doth not make men proud and high no no it is the greatest enemy to it in the world a proud heart did never can never believe before brought low in the sense of its own nothingnesse and emptynesse 4 Christ sets up in the hearts of his Saints in his Kingdom the law of patience and contentednesse in opposition to anger impatiencie and discontentednesse Rash anger impatiencic peevishnesse of spirit how will they arise and be striving somtimes in the hearts of Christians for a small matter how will the heart be out of order and distemper what words will be ready to flow forth the heart being in this temper but now in the heart of a Christian Christ puts in execution his law of patience and quietnesse of spirit O sayth Christ to the soule thou must be patient and meeke thou must learn of me didst thou ever read that I was moved to anger and impatiencie to fret and fume no not against mine enemies and then sayth the soule ô what a fool am I thus to fret and then to be angry how unlike to Christ am I and then down coms that proud peevish spirit into the dust and so foolish was I and ignorant I was even a beast before thee and then the soule is turned again into a sweet disposition of love a compound of patience not easily provoked not easily again stirred to wrath Somtimes in the soule of a Christian is apt to arise perhaps some impatiencie and discontentednesse under afflictions and persecutions hardly can it bear with patience some heart rising this way may arise but then in comes Christ purting in execution the Law of patience and contentednesse and puls downe all those impatient discontented thoughts and then let patience have her perfect worke and the soule is quieted and contented and willingly submits unto the minde of Jesus and then it can say with the Apostle Paul Phil. 4.11 I have learn'd in what estate soever I am therewith to bee content and now the soule is quieted and waits patiently upon the Lord and now the soule sayth ô how unlike am I to Christ 3 he suffered meekly as a lamb dumb before the shearer and opened not his mouth for me a sinner he suffered for me the just for the unjust that hee might bring me to God and shall not I be contented to suffer reproach and shame for him and then come what will come patience possesseth the soule 5 Christ sets up the Law of heavenly mindednesse in the heart of a Christian and indeed it is no wonder for his Kingdom is there heaven is there The Kingdome of heaven is within you Luke 17.21 and therefore needs must Christ set up this Law in his Kingdome and that in opposition to earthly mindednesse sinfulnesse or any thing that is opposite to holynesse and heavenlynesse and you know how the spirits of men nay of Christians are apt to be below the Lord Jesus somtimes on earthly object somtimes vaine proud unprofitable things run in the mind but Christ he comes and scatters those low things and raiseth the heart to himselfe and keeps the heart in such a temper that nothing can satisfie it but himself and when it loseth its heavenly temper its heavenly glory it is presently troubled and it cannot possibly take comfort in any thing beneath the Lord Jesus and here is a continuall combat and conflict between the flesh and the spirit the corrupt nature and the divine nature and certainly here corruption and Satan manytimes brings sadnesse upon the spirits of the Saints in darkning in overshadowing their heavenly enjoyment I meane in way of sense although they can never shake the faith of the soule in whom Christ dwels Mat. 16. The gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it Consider now doe you finde Christs Kingdom Christs laws these set up in your hearts do you find Christ opposing lust and corruption within you or do you not If Christ be there you will finde it in some measure I confesse it that Christ according
it is the preaching of the Gospel that discovers it I give you these grounds 1 A man never savingly sees his evill condition without a Christ but it is the spirit of God that discovers it unto him this all that are sound in the faith agree unto then the preaching of the Law brings not this spirit see Gal. 3.2 This onely would I learn of you sayth the Apostle speak out of your experience received yee the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith Beloved God hath appointed his spirit to be the means in the preaching of the Gospel to convince the world of sin Iohn 16.9 It is the spirit of God that convinceth the world of sin and that in the preaching of faith the Apostle was once alive without the Law that is without the spirituall understanding of the Law but when the commandement came sin reigned and I dyed that is when Christ had opened his eyes to see into the spirit of the Law for you may see Act. 9.4 5 c. the ministry by which Paul comes to see himselfe is the voyce of Christ I am Iesus of Nazereth then Paul comes trembling c. so that it is Christ in the preaching of the Gospel which is glad tydings for sinners remission of sins for believers and this Gospel this glad tydings cannot be rightly held forth to the world but with all men must be shewed that they are sinners and the emptinesse of duties all other foundations must be discovered the danger of not accepting Christ c. this preaching of Christ and faith in opposition to all legall works and duties is the means Christ hath appointed to bring men to the knowledge both of himselfe and themselves it is true every man and woman without faith is bitten with the fiery serpent the fiery Law but are not sensible of it till Jesus come in the preaching of the Gospel to discover it unto them So that this is the reason why Christ is to be lifted up in the dayes of the Gospel that sinners who behold him may live This is the reason following my Text That whosoever believeth in him may not perish but have everlasting life this is the main reason of the exaltation of Christ that men believing may have life this is ever annexed to the preaching of the Gospel Mar. 16.16 Goe preach the Gospel to every creature he that believeth and is baptized that is whose faith produceth obedience shall be saved This is the reason of the Gospel preaching you see and this is the reason why Christ came into the world that men might have life through him John 10.10 for this end God gave him Ioh. 3.16 God had never sent his Son into the world had it not been that men by believing in him might have life and therefore hath Christ left this Ordinance of preaching in the world that men might be brought to believe and therefore those men are me thinks much beside the truth and the Gospel who pretend to hold forth Christ dying for all alike and yet deny the preaching of the Gospel the means by which God brings over the soules of men and women to believe Rom. 10.17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Those who deny the preaching of the Gospel deny the meanes of working faith Quest But may every one that will believe Answ Every one to whom God gives faith to believe may and shall believe for faith is the gift of God Ephes 2.8 and God works faith by the preaching of the Gospel and this is the maine end of the exalting and lifting up of Christ in the Gospel that men by believing in him may have life and therefore is he to be lifted up as the serpent upon a pole above all things all duties creatures legall performances any thing that the creature may rest upon beneath him Thus you see beloved the truth cleered that Christ is to be exalted in the dayes of the Gospel Use Generally three 1 A word of Examination 2 Of Exhortation 3 Of Consolation 1 A word of Examination and that is double 1 For our selves in particular what say you to this Hath Christ been lifted up in your soules above all things hath he had the preheminence above all he who is indeed above all and in all and through all Have your souls seen Christ the chiefe among ten thousand and is it still so with you are you satisfied with him as the wife with her husband lying down in the bosom of love content with him and him alone seeing and enjoying all comfort and consolation in him Is Christ exalted in your soules as your alone Priest and atonement your peace-maker with God or else doe you look upon any thing beneath Christ as the ground of your peace I feare me the Saints live too much below Christ and that is the cause of so much sadnesse of spirit resting upon duties and legall performances they deprive themselves of much comfort they might otherwise enjoy 2 Is Christ exalted as your alone Prophet to teach you are your eyes upon the Lord Jesus in all his dispensations expecting teaching from him Is Christ exalted as King in thy soule submitting to him in all things yielding uniuersall obedience to him and that out of love submitting to all his laws and statutes 2 Examination Whether Christ have been thus exalted in the Kingdom in the Nation as they desire to stand to him under the relation of a Church as their Priest Prophet and King and in all these it would easily appear that he hath not been thus exalted he hath not been exalted the alone Priest and atonement indeed and in truth but in word and shew but duties preparations and qualifications have been held forth with him and that none but those thus fitted and qualified might in any case believe First bringing men to the Law and then to Christ which is a legall way and not evangelicall it is true the Jews were first brought to the Law and then to Christ but under the Gospel men are first to bee brought to the Gospel to Christ and then to duties of the Gospel for all preparations and qualifications whatsoever which is not of faith is sin and I am sure faith comes by preaching of the Gospel not of the Law Mar. 16.16 17. Therefore the preaching of qualifications and preparations before faith is sin for all things before or without faith is sinne 2 Hath Christ been received as the alone Prophet to teach hath his Word been made the rule of all actions submitting to him in all things Act. 3.22 23. any way Judge of the truth of it 3 Hath Christ been exalted as King to submit to him as the alone law giver of his Church of his people hath not man been submitted unto hath not man sate in the feare of God making laws and constitutions of their own compelling all thereunto as once Darius made a Decree Dan. 6. That all that should