Picture of Iupiter on the Wall committing Adultery Quo pacto se non faceret cum in Templo adorare cogeretur Jovem potius quam Catonem But our God is Pure as appeareth by his Laws which are all Holy Just and Good Psal. 119.140 Surely such holy Precepts could come from none but a Pure and Holy God As also by the Work of his Spirit on his People Ephes. 4.24 And that ye put on the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness And 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Gâ—ory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. He puts into us a Nature that is very tender and shie of Sin troubled at it in others 2 Pet. 2.7 8. And delivered just Lot vexed with the filthy Conversation of the Wicked For that Righteous Man dwelling amongst them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous Soul from day to day with their unlawful Deeds He that made the Eye shall not he see He that put into us a clean Heart is not he Pure and Holy This appeareth also by the dispensations of his Providence Hab. 1.13 Thou art of purer Eyes than to behold Evil and canst not look on Iniquity Wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously and holdest thy Tongue when the Wicked devoureth the Man that is more Righteous than he Judgments on Sinners so on his own People Prov 11.31 Behold the Righteous shall be recompenced in Earth much more the Wicked and the Sinner As for Instance in David The Child died his Daughter is defloured Ammon slain Absolon is in Rebellion his Wives Ravished himself Banished from his House and Kingdom Eli's Sons slain the Ark taken his Daughter-in-Law died himself brake his Neck But chiefly in the very Foundation of the Gospel the Son of God dieth a Shameful Painful Accursed Death before God wouâ—d relax the Rigour of his Law and set a-foot the Gospel And all that there might be a perfect Demonstration of his Justice and Holiness and displeasure against Sin Rom 8.3 For what the Lâ—w could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh. 2. The very nature of this Calling enforceth this Sanctification or setting Man apart from a common to a sacred use For it is a calling us not only from Misery to Happiness but from Sin to Holiness and the one is indispensibly necessary to the other For none but those who are in an holy Estate can be in a blessed Condition Our calling is sometimes called a Heavenly Calling Heb. 3.1 Sometimes an Holy Calling 2 Tim. 1.9 Therefore the chief subordinate end is Holiness Rom. 1.7 Called to be Saints from the Devil the World and the Flesh to God 3. The grace and favour which is shewed in our Calling obligeth us to be Holy in point of Gratitude For when we consider in what a sinful estate God found us how freely he loved us and that with a discriminating differencing Love when he passed by others worthier than we and to what estate he is ready to advance us to the enjoyment of himself amongst all those that are Sanctified by Faith All these are as so many strong Bonds and Obligations upon us to walk worthy of God who hath called us to his Kingdom and Glory in Iesus Christ 1 Thess. 2.12 Worthy of his Grace in Calling worthy of the Glory to which we are Called that is with the worthiness of Condecency not of Condignity We cannot fully answer this Grace but we must do that which will become it 4. This Calling enableth us to be Holy because it giveth us all things necessary both to holiness of Heart and Life 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto Life and Godliness through the knowledg of him that hath called us to Glory and Vertue Now this Grace must not lie idle otherwise we receive the Spirit in vain 2. The Ultimate end to obtain the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. The same expression is 2 Pet. 5.10 The God of all Grace who hath called us to his Eternal Glory by Christ. Iesus It is his Glory Mark 1. Here is Glory 2. It is the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1. It is Glory for Body and Soul the Glory is so great we cannot utter it and conceive it Now a little is revealed to us but then it shall be revealed in us 1. The Soul is not annihilated after Death nor doth it sleep till the Resurrection nor is it detained by the way from immediate passing into Glory but assoon as it is loosed from the Body is admitted into God's Presence and gathered unto the Souls of just Men made perfect where it seeeth God and loveth him and enjoyeth what it seeth and loveth For as soon as we are loosed from the Body we are present with the Lord. And therefore tâ—e first benefit we receive in the other World is the Salvation of the Soul 1. Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your Faith even the salvation of your Souls It flitteth hence to God 2. The Body hath its glory also in due time For when it is raised up out of the Grave it will be another kind of Body then we now have both for Impassibility Clarity Agility For Impassibility called Incorruption Clarity called Glory Agility called Power Subtilty called a Spiritual Body by the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.42 43. It is sown in Corruption it is raised in Incorruption It is sown in Dishohonour it is raised in Glory It is sown a Natural Body it is raised a Spiritual Body 1. Impassibility doth not only exclude Corruption for so the Bodies of the Damned are preserved for ever but all grievanceâ— and pain Rev. 21.4 There shall not be any more pain 2. For Glory a shining Brightness The Righteous shall shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of the Father Matth. 13.43 Stephen's Face shone in this Life as it were the Face of an Angel Acts 6.15 And Moses his Face shone by Converse with God in the Mount Exod. 34.30 Our Bodies shall be likened unto his glorious Body Phil. 3.21 In the Transfiguration His Face did shine as the Sun and his Rayment did shine as the Light 3. For Vigour Activity and Strength It shall always be in the height and excellency of it God preserved Moses his natural Vigour for a long time Deut. 34.7 but glorified Bodies shall for ever remain in an eternal spring of Youth 4. Subtilty as Spiritual Body Here we live an animal Life after the manner of Sensitive Creatures maintained by Meat Drink Sleep But hereafter the Body shall live after the manner of Spirits having no need or use of these things There we are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Angels of God Matth. 22.30 and 1 Cor. 6.19 Our Bodies
little Flock for it is your Fathers good Pleasure to givâ— you the Kingdom And this is accompanied with his active Providence and Care over us all the way thither So that all things are sanctified to us that we may be sanctified to God Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the Called according to his purpose 2. It sheweth us that the Elect have cause to bless God if they be chosen to Salvation though not to Wealth Pleasure and Honour These Thessalonians endured great Afflictions for the Gospel sake yet Paâ—l looked upon himself as bound to give thanks always to God for them because he had chosen them to Salvation God disperseth his Gifts variously some are shall I say chosen or condemned rather to Worldly Felicity It is the Will of God they should attain great Wealth and Honour here and will you envy them and repine against Providence though God hath reserved you for a better Estate hereafter Compare two places one is Ier. 17.13 All that forsake thee shall be written in the Earth The other is Luke 10.20 Rejoyce in this that your Names are written in Heaven Which is the better Privilege to be written in Earth or to be written in Heaven To have a great Name in the Subsidy-Book or to have our Names written in the Book of Life The one is their Punishment the other your Blessedness Second Use is Exhortation It presseth you to two things 1. Put in for a share and interest in this Mercy that is to say in the Apostle's words 2 Pet. 1.10 Give deligence to make your Calling and election sure God hath told us who are Elected and who are not Therefore our way is to accept of the general Grace offered and to devote and resign our selves to God and to depend upon the Merits of our Redeemer and put our selves under the Discipline of his Spirit in the use of the appointed Means humbly waiting for his renewing and reconciling Grace and every Day more and more by diligence in the holy and heavenly Life getting your Interest more assured For by this means do we come to know the purposed Love of God and that he hath not appointed us to Wrath but to obtain eternal Salvation by our Lord Iesus Christ. We need not say who shall go up to Heaven to know the Mind of God Our Election is known to us by our Vocation and our Vocation by the Fruits our walking before him in Holiness and Righteousness all our Days Surely the knowledg of our Election is a thing greatly to be desired because our Eternal Happiness and all Spiritual good Things depend upon it Election is the free Love of God by which he intendeth these Blessings to us This is manifested by Calling by which they begin to be applied to us then the effectual Operation which these Blessings have in us discovereth Calling when we call on the Name of Christ and depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 2. We should praise and admire and esteem this glorious Grace and shew our Thankfulness both in Word and Deed. 1. In Word because that is a means to kindle in our Hearts the Love of God and to stir up a Spiritual rejoycing in him Psal. 103.1 2 3. Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities who healeth all thy Diseases c. 2. But chiefly in Deed you are more obliged to live to God than other Men whâ—n passing by thousands who in outward â—espects were better than you and you as deep in Sin as they Not only without but against all merit of yours by his singular Grace set you apart for himself Shall I sin against God and grieve his Spirit No Let me glorifie him as long as I have a Day to live SERMON XII 2 Thess. 2.14 Whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Iesus Christ. AFter the Doctrine of Antichrist and God's dreadful Spiritual Jâ—dgments on his Abetters and Followers the Apostle interposeth some matter of Consolation to the Thessalonians As before he comforted them from their Election so now from their Vocation Therefore as we saw the Doctrine of Election set forth in the former Verse with all its appendant Branches and Circumstances So now the Doctrine of Vocation with what belongeth to it Here Calling is set forth 1. By the Author of it he called you that is God who from the beginning hath chosen you to Salvation 2. The outward Means by our Gospel 3. The End which is double 1. Subordinate in the word Whereunto to Faith and Holiness 2. Ultimate to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Iesus Christ. Whereunto he called you c. Doct. All that are Elected by God are in time effectually called by Faith and Holiness to obtain Eternal Life 1. I shall open effectual Calling by what is said of it in the Text. 2. That all chosen by God are called in this Way 1. Let me explain Effectual Calling 1. The Author of it he called you Namely God spoken of in the former Verse I prove it by these two Reasons 1. None else hath Authority to call 2. None else hath Power to call 1. Authority to call either to Duties or Priviledges for Calling is an earnest invitation to Duties upon the offer of several Priviledges 1. Duties 1. God is our proper Lord and rightful Soveraign He may justly challenge our Obedience being our Creator he is our Owner and being our Owner he is our Soveraign and Law-giver and may enact what Laws he pleaseth Certainly Creation giveth him an interest in us For every Man taketh himself to have anâ— Authority over what he hath made to dispose of it as he pleaseth Now he that properly made all things is God Man is said to make a thing as he bestoweth Arâ— upon it but God bestoweth Being upon it A Potter may form his Clay into what Vessel he pleaseth to make one Vessel unto Honour and another unto dishonour Rom. 9.21 that is either a Dish for Food or a Vessel to serve the vilest uses of Nature for Meat or Excrements But we speak of Rational Creatures that are capable of proper Government Surely God made us and hath a right to govern us Our Parents are but Instruments of his Providence they know not how the Child is framed in the Womb c. Now he calleth upon us to do our Duty with Original Supreme Authority we may refuse others if they speak not to us in his Name they have no right over our Consciences to impose new Duties upon us James 4.12 There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy Now his Calling being a powerful Excitation to do our Duty it originally belongeth to God 2. As to Priviledges The Blessings God offereth are so great and glorious
it be so when he saith Come ye blessed of my Father inherit a Kingdom prepared for you before the foundations of the World were laid Reconciliation with God is comfortable but what will fruition be 3. Look upon a Christians Priviledges Believers then find the fruit of their interest in him and have their reward adjudged to them Rev. 22.12 Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me Christ doth not come empty handed it is but maintenance we have from him now but then Wages earnest now but then the full sum It is our Pay-day yea rather it is our Crowning day 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the righteous Iudge will give me in that day 1 Pet. 5.4 When the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of glory which fadeth not away those that have been faithful and diligent in their duty shall not need to seek another Pay-Master thaâ— which Christ giveth us in hand is worth all the pains that we lay out in his Service Grace and inward Peace but then we shall have Glory and Honour he will honour us in the sight of those that have opposed contradicted and despised us Our comfort is hidden but our Glory is sensible and visible and publick before all the World Objection But how can true Christians earnestly desire it when so many tremble at the thought of it for want of assurance of Gods Love Ans. We suppose a Christian in a right frame and one that doth prepare for his coming But 1. The meanest Saint hath some inclination this way it was one of the points of the Apostolical Catechism Heb. 6.2 The Doctrine of Resurrection from the dead and of eternal Iudgment and the Apostolical Catechism was for the initiating or enâ—ring of Christians into the Faith and Profession of the Gospel when they laid the foundation this was one truth which was never omitted the coming of Christ to Judgment now Faith is a believing not with the mind only but the heart they were to be affected with what they did believe Sapida scientia was the qualification and not with trembling only for that would deter them from Christianity but with rejoicing of hope which did invite them to the practice of it Heb. 3.6 Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of hope firm unto the end and indeed what other affection can become the thought of Christs rewards which he will bring with him 2. Sometimes there may be a drowsiness and indisposition in the Children of God when their Lamps are not kept burning Luke 12. 37. Blessed are those Servants whom when the Lord cometh he shall find watching but the wise Virgins slumbered as well as the foolish and so for a Season they may be unprepared for his coming by carelessness or remission of their watchfulness and neglect of preparation yet the Spirit and inclination this way beginneth with the new birth A Wife desireth her Husbands coming home after a long Journey but it may be all things are not ready and in so good order Sometimes all good Christians desire the coming of Christ but sometimes they are not so exact and accurate in their walkings and therefore their affections are not so lively security breedeth deadness and God is fain to rouze us up by sharp afflictions 3. The Church doth really and heartily desire Christs coming though they tremble at some circumstances of his coming there is a degree of bondage that hindereth much of our confidence and boldness 1 John 2.17 18. Herein is our love made perfect thâ—t we may have boldness in the day of Iudgmenâ— because as he is so are we in this World There is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he hath feareth is not made perfect in love while we are imperfect there may be some fears how it shall go with us in the Judgment The day of Judgment may be considered in esse rei or in esse cogniâ—o the success of the day it self that we may stand before Christ in the Judgment or in our apprehension of it that we may think of it with boldness confidence and desire all sincere persons shall speed well in the Judgment but while we are thus weak and imperfect we have little confidence of our sincerity Certainly the more holy we are the more we are emboldened against Judgment to come therefore we must every day get a Conscience soundly established against the fears of Hell and Damnation 4. To be of such a temper as not at all to value and prize and delight in it quencheth all sense of Godliness and Religion surely they are not touched with any fear of God who wish it would never come who would be glad in their heart to hear such news they have the Spirit of the Devil in them who count his coming their burden and torment they cannot say the Lords Prayer without a fear to be heard and pray thy Kingdom come when they desire it may never be the thoughts of it casts a damp on their carnal rejoicing and he that is afraid left his Prayers prove true can never pray heartily no not with a moral sincerity Vse To press us to keep up a firm belief and an earnest desire of Christs coming this will make you Heavenly minded Phil. 3.20 21. For our Conversation is in Heaven where we look for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ. It will ingage you to Fidelity in your duty for every one of us must give an account of himself to God John 2.28 And now little Children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming To watchfulness as well as faithfulness Luke 21.36 Watch ye therefore and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man Yea to diligence that you may clear up your title and interest Heb. 9.28 And to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation 2 Pet. 3.12 Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for these things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless Oh therefore let this be a precious truth to you which you would not forgo for all the World if others tremble at the mention of it still carry it so that it may be your comfort and solace In short believe it strongly think of it frequently prepare for it diligently improve it fruitfully to all holy Conversation and Godliness yea to get Oyl not into your Lamps only but Vessels Grace in your hearts as well as profess your selves to be Christians II. Doct. That when Christ shall come all the Saints shall be gathered together unto him For evidencing this let me clear to you that at the day of Judgment there shall be 1. A Congregation 2. A Segregation
holiness and reconciliation with a God the Terminus à quo men are carnal ungodly 1. Carnal when man fell from God he fell to himself self interposed as the next Heir and that self was not the Soul but the Flesh many wrong their Souls but no man ever yet hated his own Flesh and therefore men would rule themselves and please themselves according to their fleshly appetite and fancy John 3.6 That which is born of the flesh is â—lesh and therefore love the Pleasures Honours and Profits of the World as the necessary provision to satisfy the desires of the Flesh And whosoever live thus they live in a carnal state as all do till grace renew them Rom. 8.5 but this carnal estate doth breâ—k forth and bewray it self in various ways of sinning Titus 3.3 For we our selves also were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another All are not Fornicators Drunkards Persecutors nor live in the same way of sinnng but all are turned from God to the World and have a carnal mind which is emnity to God Rom. 8. 7. 2. The next word is ungodly men thus constituted live either in a denial of God Psalm 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart there is no God or a neglect of God Ephes. 2.12 Without God in the world without any acknowledgment or worship of him Psalm 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God or if not deprived of all sense of a Deity they worship false Gods as those Acts 14.12 13. the men of Lycaonia that called Barnabas Iupiter and Paul Mercurius because he was the chief Speaker and would have sacrificed to them and the Apostle saith to the Galatians Gal. 4. 8. When ye knew not God ye did service to them which by nature are no Gods they worshipped plurality of false Gods And though the wise men of the Gentiles had some confused knowledge of the true God Rom. 1.19 20 21. yet they glorified him not as God but committed Idolatry by setting up a false medium of worship an Idol which begot a bruitish Conception of God in their mind so that a false Religion is so far from shewing a remedy of corrupt nature that it is a great part of the Disease it self 2. The Terminus ad quem into a state of Holiness and Reconciliation with God in whom alone man can be happy 1. For Holiness and Obedience to God the great design of the Christian Religion is to bring us back to God again 1. As we are carnal by the denial of fleshly and worldly lusts Tit. 2.12 The Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts c. 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul and Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts 2. As we are Ungodly to bring us to the Knowledge Love Worship and Obedience of the true God Acts 14.15 We pray you that ye should turn from these vanities to the living God that hath made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and all things therein and to seek after the Lord from whom we have life breath and all things Acts 17.25 26 28.1 Thess. 1.9 How ye turned from Idols to serve the living and true God 2. Reconciliation with God that we might have commerce with him for the present and live for ever with him hereafter 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation 1 Pet. 1.18 Ye are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversations c. Heb. 7.25 He is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God through him That whereas before they were alienated from the life of God they might live in his love and in the expectation of being admitted into his blessed presence that they may see him as he is and be like him 1 Iohn 3.2 2. The way it took to obtain these ends how God may be satisfied man renewed and changed God pacified by the Sacrifice Merit and Intercession of Christ Jesus who came in our flesh and nature not only to acquaint us with the Will of God and the unseen things of another World but to suffer an accursed death for our sins therefore the mystery of Godliness is chiefly seen in God manifested in our flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 and man must be renewed and changed for our misery sheweth what is needful to our remedy and recovery that we be not only pardoned but sanctified if ever we will be saved and glorified for till men have new and holy hearts they can never see God Hob. 12.14 Without holiness it is impossible to see God Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God c. nor for the present love him and delight in him nor take him for their chief happiness As none but Christ can satisfie Justice and reconcile such a Rebel to God so none but Christs Spirit can sanctifie and renew our Souls that we may live in obedience to him 1 Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God This is the Mystery of Godliness 2. Now for the mystery of ungodliness or iniquity that is a quite opposite state but carried on plausibly and with seeming respect to the mystery which it opposeth To know it take these considerations 1. Where the â—â—rnal life is had in request and honour there certainly is the mystery of Iniquity to be found whatever pretences be put upon it Now the carnal life is there had in request and honour 1. Where all is referred to Worldly gain and profit and the whole frame of the Religion tendeth that way for certainly they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ whose God is their belly and who mind earthly things Phil. 3.19 Now Pardons Indulgences Purgatory Shrines of Saints what do they all tend unto but to make a merchandize of Religion It was an old by-word Omnia Romae venalia all things may be bought at Rome even Heaven and God himself c. And these things are used not only to open the peoples mouths in Prayer but their hands in Oblations and Offerings The Complexion of their Religion is but a gainful Trade But the Papal exactions and traffickings have been so much and so loudly insisted upon and the evil runneth out into so many branches that I shall forbear 2. Where temporal greatness is looked upon as the main prop of their Religion The Kings Daughter is glorious within rich in Gifts and Graces Psal. 45.13 and Psalm 93.5 Holiness becometh thy house O Lord for ever
have an unction from the holy one and ye know all things A Child of God hath something in his bosom that will not permit him to hearken to Popery the very life in us is opposite to this dead shew and mummery of trashy Devotions Now I come to the Author with the means of Consuming The Lord shall consume him with the Spirit of his mouth The Lord that is the Lord Christ. But what is meant by the Spirit of his mouth or the breath of his mouth as some render it Two things may be meant hereby either his Providential Word or his Gospel accompanied by his Spirit 1. His Providential Word that is when Christ faith Let it be done it shall be done Isa. 11.4 He shall smite the Earth with the Rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked those that are called wicked they are also called the Earth because they are earthly minded and have their portion here and possess much on earth and have great power by the advantage of which they oppress his People Now to execute Judgment upon them Christ needeth no more than the Rod of his mouth that powerful Word whereby he created all things Ps. 33.6 By the words of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth Upholdeth all things Heb. 1.3 Upholding all things by the word of his Power And brings all things to nothing again John 18.6 As soon as he had said to them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground one word of his powerful Providence is enough Or secondly 2. It is meant of the Efficacy of his Gospel as it is accompanied by his Spirit called the Sword of the Spirit Eph. 6.17 and it is said to be quick and powerful Heb. â— 12 and Rev. 2.16 Repent or I will come against thee quickly and smite thee with the Sword of my mouth by this word he shall confound the falshood and cunning practices which are carried on under this myâ—â—â—â—y of Iniquity and give it such a deadly and incurable wound that it shall languish before it be utterly destroyed Doct. That Antichrists Destruction is by the preaching of the Gospel and the victorious evidence of Truth It must needs be so For his Kingdom and Tyranny is upheld by Darkness which is dispelled by the Light of the Truth And therefore the Papists as all other Hereticks are lucifugae Scripturarum Dei cannot endure the Scriptures deny them to the people and seek to make them contemptible by all the means they can Again his Kingdom is carryed on by Falshood and his Cheats and Impostures and Wickedness and Usurpation and false Interpretations and Delusions are discovered by the truth and simplicity of the Gospel and so is consumed yet more and more Lastly Popery is a dead form of Religion and there is not only Truth in the word of God but Life we are not only enlightened but quickened by it and converted to God and made partakers of his Spirit And these will go against their own experience and inclination if they should sit down with such empty beggarly Rudiments But here ariseth a Question shall Antichrist be consumed no other way â— but by the Spirit of his mouth We read in the Prophecy of Wars by which the Antichristian State is brought to nought I answer The pure and powerful preaching of the Gospel is the principal means whereby the Spirit of the Lord consumeth Antichrist in the hearts of men but this is not exclusive of other means which God in the ways of his Providence may use to weaken his Worldly Interest But we must distinguish between the means God may use and we must use Simply to put down a Religion by force of arms is not our way it is not lawful certainly to invade other Nations upon the pure and sole title of Relâ—gion But if they invade us on that account no doubt a Prince and People so invaded may defend themselves But when a War is commenced on other occasions it is the most chearful cause to ingage in when we War against the Abettors of Antichrist we War against an Enemy whom God will consume Constamine warred against Licinius his Collegueâ— not because an Infidel but because he persecuted the Christians contrary to their Capitulations Lewis the XII caused it to be disputed in a Synod at Tours Num liceret Papae absque causa Principi bellum inferre when it was answered Non licet a second Question Num tali Principi sua defensione fas sit euâ— invadere Their Answers were Licet which he undertook and caused money to be stamped with this Inscription Perdam Babylonem 1. Vse We learn hence not to be discouraged in our greatest extremities when all temporal hopes seem to fail and we have nothing left us but the word of our Testimony let us not distrust our spiritual weapons for they are mighty through God to bring down all the strongs holds of sin and Antichrist 2 Cor. 10.4 5. Oh incourage your selves in the Lord you have the merit of his Humiliation and the power of his Exaltation Merit what cannot the blood of Christ do to fetch off men from their inveterate prejudices and superstitions 1 Pet. 1.18 We are redeemed by the blood of Christ from our vain Conversations so for the power of his Exaltation there is his Spirit the success of his Spirit on the pouring out of the first Sermon Acts 2.41 fetched in 3000. Souls that had embrued their hands in the blood of their Saviour and were in no very devout posture at that time his Word that is the Rod of his strength Psal. 110.2 which hath a mighty power to convince transform and convert Souls Rom 1.16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto Salvation Then there is the power of Providence all Judgment is put into Christs hands for the advancement of his own Kingdom Iohn 5.22 if all be in Christs hands why should you distrust your cause or the success of it 2. If you would defend your selves and wound the Enemy be much acquainted with the word of God which is the Sword of the Spirit Eph. 6.17 thereby you may ward off every blow of a Temptation Surely then we should be much acquainted with this woâ—d that it may dwell in us richly that we mâ—y have it ready this is enough to make wise the simple for all necessary duties and defence 3. Pray heartily that the word of God may have a free course 2 Thess. 3.1 and tâ—at God would send forth labourers into his Harvest Matth. 9.38 2. The final destruction of Antichrist and destroy him by the brightness of his coming This coming is most likely to be the coming of Christ so often mentioned 2 Thess. 1.7 8. When the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on those that know
Sometimes the way of internal Government by terrors of Conscience or punishing sin committed with sin permitted both these parts are seen in punishing both the godly and the wicked as for instance in the godly in the way of external Government 1 Cor. 11.32 But when we are judged we are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the World In the way of internal Government the lesser penal withdrawings of the Spirit which Gods people find themselves after some sins and neglects of grace are grievous But the Judgments upon the Souls of the ungodly are most dreadful when the sinner is either terrified or stupiâ—ied terrified by horrors of Conscience 1 Cor. 15.56 The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law or stupified by being given up to their own hearts Counsels Psal. 81.12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts lusts and they walked in their own Counsels So that the Sinner is left dull and senseless and past feeling Eph. 4.18 Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart by the first by horrors of Conscience they are made to feel Gods displeasure at the courses they walk in but when that is long depised and men sin on still then the other and more terrible Judgment cometh For the giving up a Sinner to his own lusts and his losing all remorse is the last and sorest Judgment on this side Hell 3. As to Gods internal Judgments the Scripture chiefly insists upon two parts of this internal dispensation blindness of mind and hardness of heart they usually go together Blindness of mind is spoken of Iohn 12.39 40. Therefore they could not believe because that Esaias said again he hath blinded their eyes and hardned their hearts that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them All passages are obstructed whereby the word might enter and work Conversion unto God It was God laid this punishment of blindness upon them Hardness of heart in that famous instance Exod. 4.21 I will harden Pharaohs heart God doth not make them that see blind nor them that are soft hard but leaveth them to their own prejudice obstinacy and unperswadeableness and that when highly provoked The former is under our consideration 4. To understand Gods concurrence as a Judge we must not say too much of it nor too little We must not say too much of it lest we leave a stain â—nd blemish upon the divine Glory God infuseth no sin no blindness nor hardness into the hearts of men all influences from Heaven are good he conveyeth no deceit into the minds of men immediately nor doth he command or perswade men to oppose the truth Nor doth he impeâ— or excite their inward propensions so to do All this belongeth not to God but either to man or Sathan Nor must we say too little as for instance God is not said to blind or harden by bare prescience or foresight that they will be blinded or hardned because God foreseeth other things and yet they are not ascribed unto God as that men will kill or steal or do wrong and yet God is not said to kill or steal as he is said to blind and harden and therefore there is a difference between Gods concurrence to this effect and other sins Nor only by way of manifestation as if this were all the sense that in the course of his Providence God doth in the issue declare how blind and hard they are That some other thing is meant by it is seen in the Prayers by which we deprecate this heavy Judgment As when the Saints pray Isa. 63.17 Lord harden not our hearts from thy fear or David Psal. 119.19 Lord hide not thy Commandments from me They mean not thus Lord shew not to the World how hard and blind I am but cure my blindness and hardness of heart keep back this Judgment from me Again we must not say that all that God doth is a bare naked and idle permission as if it happened besides his will and intention and God had no more to do in it than a man that standeth on the shore and seeth a Ship ready to be drowned he might have heâ—ped it but permitted it No besides all this there is not a bare permission only but a permissive intention and a judicial sentence which is seconded by an active Providence Many things concur to the blinding of the mind and hardning of the heart all which God willeth but justly The wicked take occasions of their own accord to blind and harden themselves Sathan tempteth of his own maâ—ice but all this could not be done with effect and success without the will of God There is a supreme power over-ruling and ordering all that is done in the World 5. Gods concurrence may be stated by these things 1. His withdrawing or taking away the light and direction of his Holy Spirit Deut. 29.4 The Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive nor eyes to see nor ears to hear unto this day Now when God lets them loose to their own hearts Counsels then they fall into damnable errors A Greyhound held in by a slip or Collar runneth violently after the Hare when it is in sight as soon as the slip and Collar is taken away the restraint is gone and his inbred disposition carryeth him So men that are greedy of Worldly things are powerfully drawn into errors countenanced by the World when God taketh off the restraint of his Grace and giveth them up to their own lusts Now herein God is not to be blamed for he is Debtor to none and the grace of his Spirit is forfeited by their not receiving the love of the truth He is so far from being bound to give grace that he seemeth to be bound in Justice to withdraw what is given already by mens wickedness and ingratitude Voluntary blindness bringeth penal blindness And because men will not see they shall not see And when they wink hard and shut their eyes against the light of the Gospel it is just with God in this manner to smite them with blindness And since they had no love to the truth they are given up to errors and deceits And because they despise the Holy Scriptures they doat on vain Fables And would not take up a course of sound Godliness and Holiness he suffereth them to weary themselves with sundry superstitions 2. Not only by desertion but by tradition delivering them up to the power of Sathan 2 Cor 4.4 The God of this world hath blinded their eyes Sathan as the Executioner of Gods Curse worketh upon the corrupt nature of man and deceiveth them It is said 1 Chron. 21.1 Sathan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel But it is said 2 Sam. 24.1 And the Anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel and he
Negatively they believed not the truth That is received not the Gospel in the simplicity of it as revealed by Christ and his Apostles and recorded in the Scriptures but wilfully and for their interests sake gave up themselves to these corruptions 2. Positively had pleasure in unrighteousness in the 10 th verse it was They received not the love of the truth Now when the meritorious cause is repeated there is something more added They had a love to and delight in other things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here two things must be explained 1. What is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unrighteousness 2. What is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taking pleasure in unrighteousness 1. What is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unrighteousness Righteousness is giving every one his due and denying them their due is unrighteousness There is a giving man his due and a giving God his due Matth. 22.21 Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods Righteousness is often put for giving man his due Titus 2.12 That we should live soberly righteously c. and giving God his due which is worship and reverence Psal. 29.2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name And again Ps. 96.8 Give unto the Lord the glory due to his name bring an offering and come into his Courts Now this unrighteousness here spoken of is principally meant in the latter sense False ways of worship are the greatest unrighteousness that can be practised For the duty that we owe to God is the most righteous thing in the World Now by false worship you withdraw the Glory of God from him and communicate it to another Worship is his own proper due both by the light of nature and Scripture and therefore the Gentiles which had the light of nature are said to detain the truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 1.18 why the reason is rendred in the after Verses 23. They changed the glory of God into an Image made like a corruptible man Ver. 25. They changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator This was their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their unrighteousness or injurious dealing with God So the Antichristians that had the light of Scripture though under palliated pretences changed the truth of God into a lie loved their own errors more than simple and plain Christianity or the true knowledge of God and diverted the worship from himself unto an Idol 2. They had pleasure in unrighteousness in these things they please themselves not lapse into it out of simple ignorance and error of mind And so the Apostle parallels the two great Apostasies That from the light of nature and that from the light of the Gospel Light of nature Rom. 1.32 Not only do these things but have pleasure in them that do them Light of Scripture Have pleasure in unrighteousness they are mad upon their Idols and Images not only are Idolaters but delight in Idolatry and Image-worship Psal. 97.7 That boast themselves of Idols Now to observe some things 1. Errors of Judgment as well as sins of practice may bring damnation upon the Souls of men All sins do in their own nature tend to damnation Rom. 6.23 For the wages of sin is death And Errors of Judgment are sins for they are contrary to the rule or law of God 1 Joh. 3.4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is the transgression of the Law Any swerving from the Law is sin And they are inductive of other sins for if the eye be blind the whole body is full of darkness Matth. 6.23 It perverâ—s our zeal There is nothing so mischievous wicked and cruel that a man blinded with error will not attempt against those that differ from him Ioh. 16.2 They shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service A blind Horse is full of metal but ever and anon stumbleth Therefore if a man be not guided by sound Judgment his zealous affections will precipitate him into mischief As the Jews that persecuted Christ and his Apostles had a zeal of God but not according to knowledge Rom. 10.2 So the Popish Zealots with what fury have they persecuted the innocent and sincere servants of Christ The Papists would be angry if we should not reckon St. Dominick a zealous man and the poor Albigenses felt the bitter effects of that zeal in the destruction of many thousands by inhumane Butcheries and Villanies about Tholouse c. The Lord deliver us from the furies of transported brain-sick Zealots 2. Though all errors may bring damnation upon the Souls of men yet some more especially than others may be said to be camning As 2 Pet. 2.1 Some shall bring in damnable Heresies Now this may be either from the matter or manner of holding them 1. From the matter if destructive of the way of Salvation by Christ. Some are utterly inconsistent with Salvation and eternal life as errors in the fundamentals in Religion As suppose that a man should reject or refuse Christ after a sufficient proposal of the Gospel to him there is no question but this is damning unbelief Joh. 3.19 And this is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil But yet we are not to say that alone damneth There are other things necessary to Salvation contained under that general truth The Scripture saith Joh. 17.3 And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent There is the sum of what is necessary to Salvation That God is to be known loved obeyed worshipped and injoyed and the Lord Jesus to be owned as our Redeemer and Saviour to bring us home to God and to procure for us the gifts of pardon and life and this life to be begun here and perfected in Heaven Other things are of moment to clear these necessary truths but they may be all reduced thereunto The truth is the question about the matter to be believed is not what divine Revelations are necessary to be believed or rejected when sufficiently proposed for all points without exception are so but what are simply and absolutely necessary to eternal life and these are points of faith and practice and obedience The points of Faith are a knowledge of God in Christ and practice that we be regenerated Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And live an holy life Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. 2. For the manner 1. When men profess what they believe not and voluntarily chuse error for Worldly ends though it be a less error against the Scripture and consistent with the main tenour of Salvation yet it taken up against Conscience for by-ends
of God and hath counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sancâ—ified an unholy Thing and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace That is were in external Covenant with God and visibly dedicated But there is an other Sanctification which is the Fruit of the Spirit 〈◊〉 a real Change in them 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God Find this and you find a sufficient Evidence Namely if you become new Creatures and be enabled to forsake Sin and follow after that which is pleasing in the sight of God Sancâ—ification of the Spirit is not so much known by Dedication and Profession but by â—he real and fixed inclination of your Souls to God and Heaven and living accordingly you are turned to God and live to God 2. Your belief of the Truth that is of the Gospel Now this is meant not of a dead Faith or such a cold Assent as only begets an Opinion in us of the truth of Christian Religion but such a lively Faith as bringeth us under the power of it For it is opposed to them that do not receive the Truth in the love of it Ver. 10. To them that believed not the Truth because they had pleasure in Vnrighteousness Ver. 12. That lived under the power of fleshly and worldly Lusts. And it is spoken of them who had received the Truth so as to obey it and suffer for it as the Thessalonians are described all along And in short such a belief of the Truth as caused them to enter into Covenant with Christ and make conscience of their Fidelity to him And here in this Verse we learn That a bare belief of the Truth doth not save unless accompanied with the Sanctification of the Spirit And therefore both must be taken together when the Word cometh to us not in Word only but in Power and much assurance and joy in the Holy Ghost it is an infallible evidence of our Election of God 1 Thess. 1.5 Alas many have a general cold belief of the Gospel that never felt the effect of it upon their Hearts 4. Observe the necessary Connection that is between both these Means The Sanctification of the Spirit and the Belief of the Truth 1. There is a necessary Connection between them as between the Cause and the Effect For none are powerfully drawn to believe in Christ but such as are Sanctified by his Spirit It is not in the power of any Creature to incline us to God or bring us to come to him by Christ. But this Work is wholly reserved to the Spirit And so the Lord himself doth powerfully bring to pass his own Decrees as by Christ Redeeming so by the Spirit Sanctifying The Spirit is the Author both of Faith and Holiness Saving Grace is called a New Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature Ephes. 2.10 For we are his Workmanship created in Christ Iesus unto good Works which God hath before ordaineâ— that we should walk in them And to Create is the Work of a Divine Power Creatâ—re and Creator are Relatives And certainly the noblest Creature such as the New Creature is cannot be framed by any but God It is called a New Birth and the New Birth is only from the Spirit Iohn 3.5 6. Well then these are fitly coupled the Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth That God's Work may make way for ours 2. There is the Connection of Concomitancy between the Gospel and the Spirit The Spirit only goeth along with the Gospel and no other Doctrine and so both external and internal Grace are of God John 17.17 Sanctifie them by thy Truth thy Word is Truth It was fit that a Super-natural Doctrine should be accompanied with a Supernatural Operation and Power How else should it be known to be of God The Truth and the Spirit are inseparable Companions Where there is little of God known there is little of his Spirit As in the Natural Truth revealed to the Heathens Somewhat God shewed unto them Rom. 1.19 In the darker Revelation to the Iews there is but a fainter degree of the Spirit but Grace and Truth come by Iesus Christ. There goeth along with the Doctrine of the Gospel a mighty Spirit of Holiness for thereby God would prove the Verity and Truth of this Religion and suitably to the rich Mercy prepared for us in Christ. 3. There is a subordination of Faith to this Work of the Spirit by the Truth For the greatest Things work not till they be considered and beliâ—ved 1 Thess. 2.12 Ye received it not as the Word of Men but as it is in Truth the Word of God which worketh effectually also in you that believe A sound Belief produceth strong Affections and strong Affections govern our Practice and Conversation So that fitly are these things united as the fruits of our Election and means of Salvation 2. Why this is the great matter of our thansgiving to God That I shall evidence in the following considerations 1. That Thanksgiving to God is a great and necessary duty expresly injoin'd by him and expected from us 1 Thess. 5.18 In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you in Christ Iesus When God hath interposed his Will all debates are silenced If there were nothing else in the case this is motive enough to a gracious Heart for the fundamental reason of all obedience is the Will of God Our thankfulness is no benefit to God yet he is pleased with it as it sheweth our Honesty and Ingenuity And to us Christians the very Life and Soul of our Religion is Thankfulness therefore God will have us continually exercised in it Heb. 13.15 Let us offer the Sacrifice of Praise continually that is the fruit of our Lips giving thanks unto his Name As our understanding was given us to think of God and know him So our speech was given us to speak of God and praise him We praise God for all his works we give him thanks for such as are beneficial to us In Praise we ascribe all Honour Excellency and Perfection unto him In giving thanks we express what he hath done for our selves or others Now this must be done continually for God is continually beneficial unto us by daily Mercies giving us new matter of Praise and Thanksgiving Besides there are some Mercies so great that they should never be forgotten 2. That we are to give thanks chiefly for Spiritual and Eternal Mercies Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. For we cannot give thanks rightly without a just esteem of the Mercy we give thanks for But spiritual and eternal Mercies do much excel those that are temporal and transitory We are bound to bless the Lord for
are the Temple of the Holy Ghost Well then this is the Glory put upon us 2. Why is it called the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 1. It is purchased by Christ we were Redeemed or bought by the prâ—ce of his Blood that we might attain to his Glory Ephes. 1.14 In whom we have Redemption through his Blood even the forgiveness of Sins according to the riches of his Grace 2. It is promised by Christ. John 10.28 I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish All that obey this Call have Eternal Life already begun nay compleated 1 John 2.25 And this is the Promise that he hath promised us even Eternal Life 3. It is Prayed for by Christ which is a Copy of his Intercession John 17.14 Father I will that they also whom thâ—u hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me 4. It is actually bestowed by Christ on his Followers and called People He receiveth our departing Souls as soon as they fleet out of the Body Acts. 7.59 Lord Iesus receive my Spirit They are with him Pâ—il 1.23 and 2 Cor. 5.8 when absent from the Body they are present with the Lord which is a mighty comfort to us At the last day he will solemnly introduce us into Heaven Joh. 14.3 I will come again and receive â—ou to my self that where I am there ye may be also The great Shepherd of the Sheep will lead the Flock into their everlasting fold 5. We have not only Glory by Christ but with Christ we shall have the same Glory Christ now hath but in our measure The same Glory in kind whereunto Christ's humanity is advanced referring to him only his priviledg in the degree So Rom. 8.17 And if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joint-Heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Trone even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne We share with him in his own Blessedness so far as we are capable 2. That all those who are elected and chosen by God are thus called Election and Vocation have a great respect one to another and though we cannot say that none are called that are not elected for the Lord calleth others not only by the voice of Nature but the Gospel Matth. 22.14 Many are called but few are chosen Yet we may say that none are chosen but they are in time called so that Vocation is as it were actual Election they are often put one for another as Joh. 15.19 I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you That is called them or pursued his choice So 1 Cor. 1.26 Ye see your Calling Brethren that not many wise Men after the Flesh not many noble not many mighty are called for God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the World to confâ—und the things which are mighty vers 27. as if choosing calling were all one So Rom. 11.28 29 As concerning the Gospel they are Enemies for your sake but as touching the Election they are beloved for the Fathers sake for the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance So that Calling is an infallible consequent of Election And Rom. 8.30 Whom he did Predestinate them he also Called Reason sheweth it 1. Effectual Calling is that powerful operation of God wherein he beginneth to execute the purposes of his Grace Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the Called according to his purpose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The first discovery of it to the Creature 〈◊〉 by drawing us to himself 2. This act proceedeth immediately from his Choice as anteceding all that we can do all worthiness of ours or supposed worthiness 2. Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy Câ—lling not according to our Works but according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Iesus before the World began Nothing induced God to do it on our part for what good thing could we do before wâ— were made good by calling 3. The effect doth infallibly follow John 6.37 All that the Father hath given me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out In due time they are Called and are obedient to the Call Rom. 8.28 Vses 1. If it be so then here is Advice to all 1. Let us apply our selves to the Means with reverence and seriousness because God's Power is shewn in them in converting Souls to himself Psal. 65.4 Blessed is the Man whom thou choosest and causest to draw nigh unto thee that he may dwell in thy Courts It is a good thing to be in Graces way The Means have a ministerial efficacy Acts. 14.1 They so spake that a great multitude of the Jews and Greeks believed With such clearness and force so far God is with the Minister A Dart flung by a skilful Hand will pierce deeper than by its own weight But yet if you can but tarry the Hand of the Lord may be with you also you do not know the seasons of the Lord's Grace all are not called at the first hour some lie long at the Pool but yet wait still Ere ever you are aware the Holy Ghost may fall upon you and open your Hearts that Heavenly Doctrine may have its effect upon you 2. Let us mind not only Privileges but Duties We have great Priviledges we are called to enjoy sweet fellowship with Christ here 1 Cor. 1.9 Faithful is he who hath called you to the Communion of Christ Iesus our Lord and to a glorious Estate hereafter But we are also called to the Sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the Truth and we cannot obtain the one without â—he other Do not so mind Comfort as to slight Holiness and divide one part of your Calling from the other Comfort is consequent to Holiness and followeth it as heat doth Fire The Spirit is more necessarily a Sancâ—â—fier than a Comforter For our duty and obedience to God is a greater thing than our own Peace Holiness is the Image of God upon the Soul and the blessed perfection wherein we were created Gen. 1.27 So God â—reated Man in his own Image And when it was lost by Sin Christ came and payed our Ransom that he might renew us by his Spirit Tit. 3.5 According to his Merâ—y he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Yea much of our everlasting Blessedness lieth in it For Heaven is to be looked upon not only as a state of compleat Felicity but exact Holiness 1 John 3.2 We know that when he dâ—th appear we shâ—ll be like him for we shall see him as
Title to govern us but yet it was not comfortable to us it was but such a Right as a Prince hath to chastise his Rebellious Subjects We forfeited our Interest in his gracious Protection therefore was this new Interest set afoot to save and recover Fallen Man therefore this Lordship is spoken of as Medicinal and Restorative to reduce Man to the Obedience of God that made him Acts 10.38 God anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with Power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed with the Devil It is a Lordship that conduceth to make Peace between God and Man that we may again enjoy his Favour and live in his Obedience Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance unto Israel and remission of sins This new Lord hath made a new Law of Grace which is Lex Remedians a Remedy propounded for the recovering the lapsed World of Mankind the great benefit is Remission of Sins the great Duty Repentance Use 1. To perswade us to submit our selves to this Blessed Lord by our voluntary consent Psalm 45.11 He is thy Lord worship thou him There is a passive Subjection and a voluntary Submission By a passive Subjection all Creatures are under the Power of the Son of God and our Redeemer And amongst the rest the Devils themselves though grievous Revolters and Rebels are not exempted Every Knee is forced to bow to Christ. By voluntary submission those are Christ's Subjects and admitted into his Kingdom who willingly give up themselves to the Redeemer to be saved upon his own terms 2 Cor. 8.5 They first gave their own selves to the Lord. The Devils and wicked Men are his against their wills buâ— all Christ's People are his by their own consent Vse 2. Let us perform the Duties which this Title calleth for Our Obedience is the best Testimony of our subjection to him Many seem to like Christ as a Saviour but refuse him as a Lord whereas Christ is not only a Saviour to Bless but a Lord to Rule and Command Therefore if we catch at Comforts and neglect Duty we â—o not own Christ's Authority The Libertine yokeless Spirit is natural to all Luke 19.14 We will not have this Man to raign over us Psal. 12.4 With our Tongues we will prevail our Lips are our own who is Lord over us Psal. 2.3 Let us break their Bands assâ—nder and cast away their Cords from us Some are so in Opinion but most in Practice We would not be uner Command we love Privileges but decline Duties But he is the Head of the Church who is the Saviour of the Body Ephes. 5.23 If we would have Privileges by him we must set our selves to obey his Laws If thou hast no care to obey him as a Lord thy esteem of Christ is but imaginary thy knowledg but partial thy application of him unsound But we wilâ— own him as Lord How is that understood Will you give him an empty Title or some superficial Complements and Observances Luke 6â— 46 And why call you me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say It is a Mockage Or will you please your selves with strict Opinions Matth. 6.21 22. For where your Treasure is there will your Heart be also The light of the Body is the Eye if therefore thine Eye be single thy whole Body shall be full of Light if therefore the Light that is in thee be Darkness how great is that Darkness No nothing less than a through subjection to his holy Laws forsaking all other Lords Isa. 26.13 O Lord our God other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us but by thee only will we make mention of thy Name And then a strict Observance Col. 1.11 strengthened with all might according to his glorious Power unto all Patience and Long-suffering with joyfulness Vse 3. Depend upon Christ for the effects of his Love to you which are the Privileges of his Kingdom which are Pardon of Sins Col 1.13 14. In whom we have redemption through his Blood the forgiveness of our Sins the santification of the Spirit Heb. 8.10 This is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those Days saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their Minds and write them in their Hearts Assistance in carrying on the Spirâ—tual Life that here surely our Lord will not desert us but help us in our Oâ—â—â—ience to him Finally everlasting Life Heb. 5.9 And being made Perfect he became the Author of eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him When the Devil and his Instruments are cast into Hell Christ's faithful Subjects and Servants are advanced into eternal Glory and Blessedness 2. God is represented under the Title of a Father and God even our Father God is a word of Power Father expresseth his good Will and Love God standeth in both Relations to us as he did also to Christ. John 20.17 I go to my God and your God my Father and your Father Both joyned together signifie his Power and readiness to do Good He that is our Father is true God also and he that is true God is also our Father and therefore we may depend on him That which we are to open is the term Father which speaketh both Comforth and Duty to us 1. Comfort For God's dealing with us will be very Fatherly as a Father loveth his Children so will God love his People 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father to â—ou and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord. 1. He will pardon our Sins and Frailties and spare us and pity us notwithstanding our ill deservings Psal. 103.13 Like as a Father pitieth his Children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him Mal. 3.17 They shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that Day when I make up my Iewels and I will spare them as a Man spareth his won Son that serveth him Surely this is a Grace we stand in need of because of our manifold Infirmities and daily Failings 2. He will give Grace that we may â—â—rve him better Luke 11.13 If ye then bâ—â—â—g evil know how to give good gifts to your Children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Do but cry to him as an hungry Child to his Father for Bread and God will not deny this great Gift to you 3. God will provide for us and give such an allowance of Temporal Mercies as are convenient Mark 6.25 Take no thought 〈◊〉 your Life what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink nor yet for your Body what ye shall put on And Ver. 32. For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things The belief of Adoption and particular Providence kills all distrustful fears and cares at the very Root 4. He will protect you and preserve you against
Temptations 1 Pet. 1.3 5. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his abundant Mercy he hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead c. Who are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation 5. He will give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 Fear not little Flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom 2. On the other side this Relation bespeakâ—th Duty For if God be a Father we must carry our selves as Children by our subjection to him that is by submission to his Disposing-Will and obedience to his Governing Will. 1. By an absolute submission to his Disposing-Will For if you would enjoy the Privileges of God's Family you must submit to the Discipline of his Family Heb. 12.6 7 8 9. For whom God loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth If you endure chastening God dealeth witâ— you as with Sons for what Son is he whom the Father chasteneth not But if you are without chastisement whereof all are partakers then are ye Bastards and not Sons Furtâ—ermore we have had Fathers of our Flesh which chastened us and we gave them Reverence Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live In Heaven where there is no danger of Sin there is no use of the the Rod but while we are in the Flesh we need Correction and if God should not give it us we are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not Legitimate but Degenerate Sons But in the 10th Verse the Apostle argueth from God's Paternal Authority For they verily for a few days chastened â—s after their own pleasure bâ—t he for our profit fit that we might be partakerâ— of his Holiness Children though they take â—t ill to be beaten by others yet not by their Parents who under God are the cause of their Being and love them and in correction of them seek their Good Much more do we owe this respect to our Heavenly Father who hath a more absolute right over us Parents may err through want of Wisdom their Chastisements may be arbitrary and irregular do much in Passion rather than Compassion but all God's Chastisements come from purest Love and are reguâ—ated by perfect Wisdom and tend to and end in Holiness and Happiness 2. Obedience to his Governing Will. The great duty of Children is to love please obey and honour their Father Mal. 1.6 A Son honoureth his Father and a Servant his Master If I be a Father where is mine Honour If I be a Master where is my Fear 1 Pet. 1.14 15. As obedient Children not fasâ—ioning your selves according to the former lusts in your Ignorance But as he which hath câ—lled you is Holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation John 15.8 Herein is my Father Glorified that ye bear much Fruit so shall ye be my Disciples There should be a great tenderness upon us to do any thing that may be a breach of God's Law or tend to God's Dishonour What diligent Observers were the Rechabites of the Institutions of their Family Jer. 35.6 But they said We will drink no Wine for Jonadab the Son of Rechab our Father commanded us saying Ye shall drink no Wine neither ye nor your Sons for ever VI. Observ. They to whom Christ is a Lord to them God is a Father his special Fatherly Love floweth in the Chanel of Redemption and is brought about by the Gospel The Lord from all Eternity predeterminated some to the Adoption of Sons Eph. 1.5 Having predestinated us to the Adoption of Children by Iesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his Will But how doth he bring to pass this Decree By the Redemption of Christ. It is no mean Privilege Christians that needeth so much ado to establish it Gal. 4.4 5. Buâ— when the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law To redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons Christ came to be the Foundation of a New Covenant before we could have this Privilege Well but whence ariseth our actual Interest I answer By accepting the offer of the Gospel or receiving and owning Christ to the ends for which he came into the World or God sent him into the World John 1.12 But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name That is by depending on his Merits for our Reconciliation with God and submitting to his Laws that he might reduce us to our Primitive Obedience and Love to them Vse Therefore if you would have a share in this blessed Privilege 1. You must be Regenerated by his Spirit for the Relative Change dependeth on the Real our State is not changed till our Natures be changed Iohn 1.12 13. Being born again of the Will of God If you would enter into God's Family and enjoy the Privileges thereof you must be changed by the Spirit 2. There is required on your part an entrance into the Kingdom of the Mediator by Faith and Repentance Matth. 18.3 Except ye be Converted and become as little Children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of God As little Children are newly entred into the World and beginning their Life all things are become new to them So those that have the priveleges of God's Children must become as little Children enter into a new State carry on a new Life and Trade with which they were not acquainted before Our first admission is by a consent to the New Covenant Gal. 3.26 Ye are all made Children of God by Faiâ—h in Christ depending on the merit of Christ's Sacrifice and binding our selves by a solemn Word to perform the Duties required of us which we renew again in the Lord's Supper VII That we most comfortably come to God by Christ for Grace when we consider our Interest in him and Relation to him Their Relation is here intimated for Jesus Christ is our Lord and God is our Father and surely our Lord will not refuse his own Subjects nor our Father be strange to his own Children 1. It is certain that among Men Relation to any Person or thing indeareth them to us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men love their own Children though not so fair and good as others yet they are their own And is it not so as to God See Iohn 13.1 Having loved his own that were in the World he loved them unto the end And Iohn 17.6 I have manifested thy Name to the Men which thou gavest me out of the World thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy Word 2. Interest giveth us more incouragement Isa. 63.19 We are thine thou never bearest rule over them they were never called by thy Name That is we are thy People thy Subjects so called so accounted
that we shall be welcome if we do so and because we cannot find any thing in our selves that he will admit us we are troubled But all this while we are but seeking the Sun with a Candle What greater evidence of God's willingness to receive you than the Death of Christ than the Institutions of the Gospel This is above all Evidences that he sent his Son to die for us This is like the Iews who when they had seen many Wonders wrought by Christ would still have a new Sign the greatest Sign is given already Christ dying for a sinful World Men and Angels cannot find out a Sign Pledg and Confirmation of the Love of God above that Yet if that be not enough we have another Sign the Promises and Invitations of the Gospel which show his willingness to welcome Sinners Salvation is offered but not to named but described Persons Therefore if we are willing to come under these hopes upon God's Terms this may satisfy our scrupulous Minds there is no Bar put to us but what we put to our selves by our refusing the Grace as God offereth it Certainly God's Love and Mercy to lost Mankind is our first motive and his willingness to impart good things to them upon his own Terms and surely he is well pleased with our acceptance of them 2. There is Special Love where this Grace is applied to us Ephes. 2.4 5. But God who is rich in mercy for his great Love wherewith he loved us hath quickned us when we were dead in Trespasses and Sins He did not begin to love us when we were converted that is of a more ancient and eternal Rise but when he did begin to apply his Love to us and this is no ordinary but great Love when God was angry with us and pronounced Wrath on us in the Sentence of the Law and appeared as an Enemy in the course of his Providence and the apprehensions of our guilty Fears then to be Reconciled and surely this is a great advantage to draw nigh to God as a Reconciled Father This is the Object of our everlasting Love and Joy Rom. 5.11 And not only so but we also joy in God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom we have now received the Atonement And this is a prop of confidence in Prayer Could we once believe that he dearly loves us and is reconciled to us and taketh us for his Children that he delighteth in our Prosperity Oh how chearfully could we come into his Presence John 16.27 The Father himself loveth you because you have loved me and believe that I came out from God They have not only his Intercession but the Father 's especial Love which is the ground and hope of Audience Now this particular Interest dependeth on something wrought in our Souls by the holy Spirit our Lord mentioneth two things their Faith in Christ and Love to God 1. Faith in Christ or a thankful acceptance of him as our Lord and Saviour therefore called receiving Christ and entitleth us to the Privileges of Christ's Children John 2.12 To as many as received him to them gave he liberty to become the Children of God even to as many as believe in his Name 2. Love to God John 14.21 He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and be that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self to him And Vers. 23. If any Man love me he will keep my Words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him We cannot perceive our Interest in the special Love of God but by our Sincerity Faith in Christ and Love to God When we see God's Love taken in our Hearts we may know that he loveth us especially the latter for by the latter the former is manifested also Gal. 5.6 Faith worketh by Love Now the evidences of sincere Love to God are seeking after God and delighting in him if you cannot find the latter the former will evidence it to you Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me The desiderium unionis the desiring seeking Love if it be serious and earnest it is sincere though you find not such delightful apprehensions of his Grace to you Clear that once and when you come to Prayer you may know God loveth you and the dearest Friend we have in the World hath not the thousandth part so much as he yea the highest Angel doth not love God so much as he loveth the lowest Saint God loveth like himself becoming the Greatness and Infiniteness of his own Beeing and with this persuasion pray to him Secondly The second ground of Audience is from the fruit of his Love as demonstrated in the New Covenant wherein we have the matter of everlasting Consolation Surely this Clause respects not the effect and sense in our own Hearts but respects the Matter and Object of our Comfort for he prayeth for the Application of it afterwards Comfort your Hearts c. And besides nothing is more fleeting and oftner interrupted than our Comfort in this Life It would contradict plain sense to call that Comfort which Christians feel and actually enjoy everlasting Comfort Therefore I understand it of the Matter and observe this Doctrine That God hath given all true Believers solid ground of perpetual and endless Comfort I will prove it by three Arguments 1. The Comforts propounded are of an everlasting Tendency and Benefit Pardon and Life to free us from everlasting Death and to bring us into the possession of everlasting Happiness when our Souls and Bodies shall be for ever glorified in Heaven Now the Consolation grounded on the promise of Eternal Life whatever it be in our feeling is in its causes and foundation Eternal The Scripture often insists upon this 1 John 2. 25. And this is the Promise that he hath promised us even Eternal Life Heb. 5.9 And being made Perfect he became the Author of eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him We have by Christ deliverance from Sin and and all the Consequents of it not only for a time but for ever Eternal Peace and Felicity is our Portion So it is said Psal. 119.111 Thy Testimonies have I taken for an Heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my Heart It is not an Heritage to lean upon for a while as all our Worldly Comforts are but for ever So Psal. 73.26 God is my Portion for ever That is when all other things fail have spent their allowance can afford us no more relief then we begin to enjoy our true and proper Portion It were endless to heap up places Man for his Sin was cast out of Paradise but surely in the other World there is no change of Estate for Men are past their Trial and must be what they are for ever If you could imagin as some have had the large charity to conceit it
the World to come though these things be set before him in the Promises of the Gospel they leave no impression upon his heart There needeth a very quick sight to be able to look from Earth to Heaven therefore till we are enlightned by the Spirit we can have no saving knowledg of those things which pertain to the Kingdom of God or eternal Life 2. By way of Inclination the Spirit doth not only open the Eyes of our Mind but he doth also incline our hearts to mind and seek after these things as our Portion and Happiness Acts 16.14 God opened the Heart of Lydia There is an opening of our Mind and an opening of our Hearts necessary for the Wisdom of the Flesh is kneaded into our Natures and we are prepossessed and entangled with divers foolish and hurtful Lusts. Though we know these things we regard them not and therefore the Work of the Spirit is necessary to incline us earnestly to look and long and patiently to wait for Blessedness to come Gal. 5.5 For we through the Spirit wait for the Hope of Righteousness by Faith Alas otherwise we should never regard these things certainly we would not wait for them with so much patience and self-denial and solace our hearts with these Hopes in the midst of all our Labours Adversities and Troubles when all is in Expectation and so little in Possession 3. By way of Excitation he doth quicken us and comfort us by raising our Thoughts Desires and Endeavours after the promised Glory and Blessedness Rom. 15.13 Now the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in Hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost It is by his lively Impressions that this Grace is acted in us with any profit our Hope is acted and increased by his Power blessing the Promises of the Gospel to this end 2. That it is his free Gift That which moveth God to give us this Hope is his meer Love and Grace 1. The Matter of Hope is God's free undeserved Mercy The Mercy of God is every where made the great invitation of Hope to the fallen Creature Psal. 130.7 Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord is Mercy and plenteous Redemption Without this there were no Hope for us and therefore the Saints make this their Anchor-hold Psal. 13.5 I have trusted in thy Mercy therefore my Soul shall rejoice in thy Salvation Let others trust in what they will Lord I will trust in thy Mercy This is that which maketh Hope lift up the Head Iude 21. Looking for the Mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ unto eternal Life There is our best and strongest Plea But 2. For the Grace of Hope it is the mere Fruit of the Lord's Mercy such are our undeservings and ill-deservings that nothing else could incline him to give us this Hope He was not induced by any Merits of ours which are none nor hindred by any demerits or sins of ours which were many and great only his Grace moved him to bring us under the hopes of the Gospel that we might set our selves with longing and certain expectation in the way of Holiness to seek after the eternal enjoyment of himself 1 Pet. 1.3 Of his abundant Mercy he hath begotten us to a lively Hope There were so many Provocations on our part such great privileges to be injoyed that nothing but abundant Mercy could give us this Hope II. What incouragement is this in Prayer if God hath given us good Hope through Grace 1. God would not invite and raise an Hope to disappoint it For surely the Lord will not deceive his Creature that dependeth upon his Word and therefore we are allowed to challenge him Psalm 119.49 Remember thy Word unto thy Servant on which thou hast caused me to hope The words contain a double Argument the Promise was of God's making and the Hope of his operation it is thy Word and thou hast caused me to hope his Grant in the New Covenant and his Influence by the Spirit we have a strong Tie upon him as he giveth us the Promise which is a ground of Hope surely we may put his Bonds in suit Chirographa tua tibi injiciebat Domine but when his Spirit hath caused us to hope it is not with a purpose to defeat it and therefore we may expect necessary Blessings such as are support and establishment in Holiness Sometimes God promiseth that we may believe and then promiseth again because we do believe and trust in him Isa. 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee Actual Hope and Trust giveth a fresh Claim or new Interest for God will not fail a trusting Soul as a generous Man will not fail his Friend if he rely on him We count this to be the strongest Bond we can lay upon another to be mindful of us and faithful to us I wholy trust upon you Now much more will God do so when he hath sent his Work before him he will bring this Reward with him when he hath invited Hope by his Promise and caused Hope by his Spirit he will give the Mercy you hope for for he hath prepared you for it by his preventing Grace I remember the Prophet telleth God Jer. 20.7 O Lord thou hast deceived me and I was deceived words that seem to intrench upon the Honour of God Some interpret them as if they were spoken by the Prophet in a Passion others soften them by another rendring Thou hast persuaded me and I was persuaded that is to undertake the Prophetical Office to which I was nothing forward of my self and have found it more troublesome than I expected But why may not the words be spoken as a supposition If I be deceived thou hast deceived me God had told him that he would make him as a Brazen Wall and had raised a Faith and Hope in him that he would bear him out in his Work and so it signifies no more but I cannot be deceived When you have God's Word and a well-grounded Hope it is not a foolish Imagination or vain Expectation God will not deceive a poor Creature that trusts in him for necessary things such as Perseverance and Establishment in Holiness 2. He that giveth us Hope will give us all things necessary to the thing hoped for therefore when God hath called us to the Hope of Eternal Glory by Jesus Christ we may with the more confidence pray for necessary support and establishmeâ—t in the way This Argument seemeth to be urged by the Apostle 1 Pet. 5.10 The God of all Grace who called you to his Heavenly Glory by Iesus Christ afâ—er ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you God that called us to Eternal Glory foresaw the Difficulties and Troubles we should meet with by the way and therefore provideth Grace answerable which we are to sue out by Prayer Surely he that called them to
the possession of Everlasting Blessedness by the Mediator did not flatter them into a vain Hope as it will prove if he help us not Therefore he will assist us in these Difficulties and though he will not exempt us from the Conflict yet he will not deny strength When we consent to his Calling it is a sure ground to our Faith that he that hath called will give us all things necessary to our Perseverance for his Calling when it is effectual will not be in vain and to no purpose 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful by whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Iesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no Temptation taken you but what is common to Men but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye aâ—e able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it The intent of his Calling is to bring them to the possession of what he hath called them to If he would at first take us with all our Faults and put us under the Hopes of the Gospel when we were Sinners he will follow the first Grace with continual aids and supports until he hath perfected his Work and therefore when a People are sincere and willing to run all hazards for Christ God will not only give them Glory at the end of their Journey but bear their Expences by the way and therefore we need not be discouraged and say How shall we hold out God that hath given such hope as to venture upon the Difficulties will support you under them he will add more Grace to that Grace that we have received 3. They that have received good Hope through Grace have God's Nature and Promise to rest upon His Nature as he is a gracious God and his Promise as he is a faithful God 1. His Nature as he is a God merciful and gracious That former Experience doth fully manifest he is sufficiently inclined to do us good and therefore will not fail us in our Necessities He hath ever born us good Will never discovered any backwardness to help us thought of us before the World was sent his Son to die for us before we were born or had a being in the World called us when we were unworthy warned us of our Danger when we did not fear it offered Happiness to us when we had no thought of it And lest we should turn our backs upon it followed us with an earnest and uncessant importunity till we came to anxious Thoughts about Christ and began to make it our Business to seek after it by the secret drawings of his Spirit inclined us to chuse him for our Portion and to rejoice in the Hope 's offered How many Contradictions and struglings of Heart were we conscious to e're we were brought to this Ever since he hath bin tender of us in the whole conduct of his Providence afflicted us when we needed it delivered us when we were ready to sink hath pardoned our Failings visited us in Ordinances supported us in Doubts helped us in Temptations and is still mindful of us at every turn as if he would not lose us and shall not we hope in him to the last We may reason as they Iudges 13.23 If the Lord had a mind to destroy us he would not have received a Sacrifice at our hands And so if God had no mind to save us he would not use such Methods of Grace about us 2. His promise so that we must trust his faithfulness after we come under the Hopes of the Gospel There are two great Promises to support us His Presence with us in the midst of our Afflictions and our being ever present with the Lord in Eternal Glory This is that we have hope of all the difficulty is How far God hath promised his Presence with us Certainly he hath promised it Psal. 91.15 I will be with them in troubles And again I will be with them in Fire and Water And again certain it is That God is most with his afflicted People as the Mother keepeth most with the sick Child or the blood runneth to comfort the wounded part And again that he will never leave us to unsupportable Difficulties Heb. 13.5 I will never leave you nor forsake you a negative Gradation And besides there is a general Promise though the Particulars be 〈◊〉 absolutely made certain to us namely that all shall work together for good Rom. 8.28 That giveth us but a probability of Health and outward Protection and Deliverance of a ready support in every Temptation because we are uncertain how far they are for our good but for necessary Grace to our Preservation there is express provision in the Covenant Ier. 32.40 I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good c. 4. It giveth us incouragement in Prayer beacuse they that have this Hope are so much expos'd to the scorn of the World because they trust in an Invisible God and look for all their Recompence in a World to come They think Christians are a company of credulous Fools that please themselves with Dreams and Fancies Psal. 22.7 8. They laugh me to scorn because they say he trusted in the Lord. 1 Tim. 4.10 We therefore labour and suffer Reproach because we trust in the living God Christians thought their Reward sure and therefore endured all things but Atheists and Infidels scoff at them and at all their Comforts as Fanatical Illusions and persecute them Therefore God is in point of Honour engaged to stand by them and to justify their Hope and Trust not always by Temporal Deliverance but by Spiritual Suppoâ—â— and Establishment That it may be seen tâ—â—â—e is a Spirit of God and Glory resteth upon them that is glorified by him however he be evil spoken of in the World 1 Pet. 4.14 God will do so in condescention to his People Nothing goeth so near their Hearts as a disappointment of their Hope in God It is a mighty damp to their Spirits when God doth as it were spit in their Faces and reject their Prayers Psal. 25.2 Oh my God! I trust in thee let me not â—e ashamed At such times the Lord seemeth to countenance the slanders of their Enemies and to cover their faces with shame Vse 1. To persuade you to get this Hope of Eternal Life wrought in your hearts 1. This is the Characteristic and Note of Difference betwixt God's People and others By this we are distinguished from Pagans who are described to be such as have no hope and without God in the World Ephes. 2.12 And 1 Thess. 4.13 Sorrow not as them without hope But Christians are such as have good Hope through Grace and by this we are distinguished from temporary and slight Believers Heb. 3.6 His House we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of Hope firm unto the end So also Ver. 14. If
we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end Their Hope is slight and fluid the Temporary loseth his Joy and Comfort which he conceived in the offers of the Gospel and so either casts off the profession of Godliness or neglecteth the Power and Practice of it But the true Christian is Serious Patient Heavenly and Holy because he is alway looking to his End and sweetneth his Work by his great Hope keepeth up his Taste or lively expectation of the Mercy of Christ to everlasting Life Nay this differenceth the Children of God those that are in their Conflict from those that are in their Triumph the Sanctified and Glorified those that are in their Way and those that are at Home They that are at Home are enjoying what we expect and in posseâ—â—ion of that Supreme Good that we yet hope for they have neither Miseries to fear nor Blessings to desire beyond what they do enjoy they see what they love and possess what they see But the time of our Advancement is not yet come and therefore we can only look and long for it this is our Work and present Happiness 2. Now the Covenant of God is contrived to raise Hope in us The Iachin and Boaz the two Pillars that support it are Mercy and Truth Micah 7.20 Thou wilt perform the Truth to Jacob and tâ—e Mercy to Abraham Psal. 25.10 All the Paths of the Lord â—re Mercy and Truth unto such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies And Psal. 138.2 I will praise the Name for thy loving Kindness and Truth For thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name And in many other Scriptures 1. The Mercy and Grace of the Covenant 1. In the frame of it where excellent Benefits are dispensed upon free Terms that our Faith and Hope may be in God the Lord would not leave the sinful Creature under Despair but hath provided a way how we may be Râ—conciled and Glorified Psal. 130.4 There is forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feared Mercy opens the Door for us the very offer speaks much Mercy the terms are Mercy So much Duty is required as is necessary and doth arise from the nature of the thing Violence would be offered to the Reason of a serious Creature if such things were not required 2. In the dispensations of thâ— Blessings of the Covenant Now Gal. 6.16 To as many as walk according to this Rule Peace be on them and Mercy and on the Israel of God There are many Infirmities and Fraâ—lties but God passeth them by when there is Sincerity Our Faith is weak and mingled with Doubtings our Love to God clogged with much inordinate Self-love our Obedience often interrupted Too much deadness and coldness in holy Things yet these do not cast us out of the favour of God nor make void our Interest in the Covenant where the Heart for the main is set to serve him and please him Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a Man spareth his own Son that â—erveth him 3. At the very close of all it is Grace Hope unto the end for the Grace that is brought unto you at the Revelation of Christ 1 Pet. 1.13 Then there will be the fullest and largest Manifestation of God's Love and free Grace There is Grace brought to us now by the Revelation of Jesus Christ in the Gospel but when his Person shall be revealed Grace shall be seen in all its Graciousness We see his Grace in the pardon of Sins and that measure of Sanctification which now we attain unto that he is pleased to pass by our Offences and take us into his Family and give us right to his Heavenly Kingdom and some taste of his Love and remote Service But when Pardon shall be pronounced by the Judge's Mouth when he shall take us not only into his Family but into his Palace and Father's House and give us not Right only but Possession and we shall be admitted to the immediate Vision and Fruition of God and be everlastingly imployed in Heavenly Praising and delighting in him then Grace will be Grace indeed 2. His Truth and Mercy openeth the Door for us Truth keepeth it open Mercy is the Pipe Truth is the conveyance Now God bindeth himself by Promise and hath ever been tender of his Word We may see for the present that a Covenant-Interest is no fruitless thing he hath confirmed this Hope to the World by Miracles to us within the Church by the Seal and earnest of his Spirit or the impression of his Image preparing the Hearts of the Faithful for this blessed Estate Ephes. 4.30 Grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the Day of Redemption 2 Cor. 5.5 Who hath given us the earnest of his Spirit He hath appointed Ordinances to revive our Hopes 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lord's Death till he come By daily experience we see many of God's Children have gone out of the World chearfully professing this Hope we have the same Father of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named Ephes. 3.15 are reconciled to him by the same Christ. Col. 1.20 Having made peace through the Blood of the Cross by him to reconcile all things to himself by him I say whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven If he be so good to that part of the Family that is now in Heaven he will be good to them also that are working out their Salvation with fear and trembling 3. What an advantage is it to the Spiritual Life to have good Hope wrought in us through Grace 1. It maketh us diligent and Serious Christianity implieth a serious application of our Heart and Mind to do what Christ requireth that we may obtain what he hath offered to do it as our first work and chief business Phil. 2.12 Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling Heb. 4.1 Let us labour to enter into that rest That is imply our utmost care and diligence Now all the Executive Powers are fortified and strengthened in their Operation by Hope 2. To be Patient and Mortified that we subdue our Lusts and bear the loss of our Interests with an humble and quiet Mind Rom. 12.12 Patient in Tribulation rejoycing in Hope And for Lusts 1 John 3.3 He that hath this Hope purifieth himself even as he is Pure 3. To be Heavenly and Holy the one respects our End the other our Race For it is not a few dead lifeless Thoughts now and then but the continual and delightful fore-sight of Eternal Bliss What is the way to Heaven but Hope And who more pure and holy than they that look for such things 2 Pet. 3.14 Wherefore Belâ—ved seeing ye look for such things be diligent that ye be found of him in peace without spot and blameless Vse 2. Well then get this Hope But what must we do You will say It is God's Gift Yet