and courage and bewty is gone Psal 125 5.8 Ezek. 19.10.13 Iud. 12. As heere Vers 6. V. That when they are withered men gather them while they retained his word and till the light sweetnesse and savour of it was dried up they could not be so easily drawne by Satan or lusts or men to other doctrine or to idolatrie or oppression persecution or the like but being withered they are driven with every wind and men gather them to any superstition oppression c. they turne into Egypt or the world againe and their sin growes ripe and they become of the seed of the Serpent the worst of men Iam. 1.14.15 Inâ— 4.5.12 Mat. 5.13 As heere Vers 6. VI. Men thus throw them into the fire and they fall under the wrath of God and his angels shall bind them in bundles and they shall be throwne into everlasting fire Pro. 7.7.27 Mat. 13.30.41.42 As heer Vers 6. A faire and whole some warning with might terrify any that receive gospell from remaining as high-way or stonie or thorny ground or harbouring such a secret evill disposition as ludas and Simon Magus did or from dispising the word and quenching the spirit and it is a wholesome admonition to al believers to shun all degrees of withdrawing and backssliding from faith love or any opperationes of the grace and spirit of Christ and now farther our saviour with this admonition joynes and gives to his disciples for quickening up their spirits a sweet and foreceible exhortation and encouragement to abide in him and that hee and his word may abide in them and this from manifold sure grounds and strong motives that will meete in one Viz. I. The experience they had already found of the goodnesse of him in and by the word he had spoken to them Vers 3. He had spoken and given to them the word gospel or glad tidings of peace remission of sinns and everlasting life which the father hath prepared in him which word of gospel the father gave him to spake Mar. 1.14.15 Ioh. 12.49.50 and 17.6.7 In which word or gospell is declared The peace or atonement Christ by death resurrection and sacrifice hath wrought and the fulnesse of grace and truth iâ— him and the greatnesse of Gods love in giving him and hâ—â— readinesse to accept all that believe on him Luk. 24 46.4â— Ioh. 1.4.9.12.14.16 and 3.16.17 And the father sending forth spirit in this declaration did so enlighten their harts anâ— prevaile with them that he therein brought them to beleeve Mat. 16.16 In which repentance was wrought in them anâ— they received remission of sins and life and so were turned from darknesse to light begotten to Christ made cleane and righteous in him and so sanctified to God and had interest iâ— the things of Christ Act. 11.18 and 10.43 Rom. 5.1.5.8.10.11 Tit. 3.4.5.6 Ioh. 3.5 In which they expetimented his word to be the words of eternall life Ioh. 6.68.69 So that as in him through that he hath done in himselfe life was prepared for men even so through him by his word and spirit bringing the word to their hart they had received of the life in him and so experimented the goodnesse of him in his word and to them and such as they this must needs be a strong and forceible motive to abide in the faith and love of him and to have his word abiding and opperating in them Psal 119.93.1 Pet. 1.21.22.23 and 2.2.3 Whence that 2. Pet. 1.9 II. The powre effecacy and fruitfulnesse of the same grace that will operate and shew forth it selfe in fruitfulnesse in those that abide in him and have his word abiding in them Vers 5. So that such as abide in mindfulnesse of his word and so in their beliefe estimate love of and submission to him and his teachings and so suffer his word to abide in them in its opperationes it will be profitable and fruitfull in them and make them fruitfull also Heb. 4.12 Isa 55.3.10.12 I. It will free them not only from that casting of withering and burning foremencioned Ioh. 11.25.26 But also from those out-goings falls snares hart condemnationes and sore correctiones that others by inconstancie and forgetfulnesse of him fal into Rom. 8.1.2 Isa 4.2 Psal 119.9.92 1. Cor. 15.1.4 II. It will bring forth plenty of fruites in them of love joy peace patience meeknesse heavenly desires and motiones that will spring forth to spirituall prayers confession conversation c. Coll. 3.16 Ioh. 7.38.39 III. It will leade too and bring forth blessed fruites in their word and conversation for convincing unbelievers aluring the convinced to Christ and edifying believers Isa 61.3.7 2. Pet. 1.7.8 2. Cor. 13.18 And this also is a strong and forceible motive to abide in Christ and that his word may abide in us III. The abundant love of the Father to Christ his Son soe that al that are brought to and abides in this his Son and have him in his Word and Spirit abiding in them he loveth them as he loveth his Son with the same delightful love Ioh. 12.26 14.23 17.23 And giveth them eternall life Ioh. 3.35.36 And whatsoever they aske of him they abiding in Christ and his words in them it shall be done to them vers 7. Ch. 16.23.24.27 Which also is a strong motive to abide in him and that his words may abide in us Pfall 66.18.19.20 IV. The assured comfortable issue of all namely That in his word abiding in them and they abiding in him and so bringing forth fruites their mayn desighne and buysinesse even that in which they are one with God and Christ shall be accomplised to the satisfying and joying of their harts that is God shall be glorified and so they shall be disciples and followers of Christ like him endeed vers 8. Phill. 1.20 Which is a sweet prevayling motive And how much more all these in one the fore-experiments and present operation of his grace the Fathers love and answer of prayers and glorifying himself in their fruitfulnesse is it a strong motive to exort and encourage to abide in Christ and to have his word abiding in us And our saviour having thus already instructed admonished and encouraged his disciples proceedeth in the 9. and 10. Verses To a father encouragement direction and instruction of them to this Abiding that their joy might be full From which practise of our saviour might be observed I. That the work of the ministration of the Gospell is a continual worke to be followed not only for bringing in men still to Christ but even also for building up and encouraging those that are in Christ while they are in these clay tabernacles so was the ministration of the Gospel by Iesus Christ from the beginning of it from the baptisme of Iohn till the day that he left the world Act. 1.21.22 Ioh. 16.28 and 17.4.12.13 And so was the ministration of his servant till the time of their departure 2. Tim. 4.6.7.8 2. Pet. 1.13.14 And such is the ministration
and in respect of us in suffering for all it can charge us with that so through his death for us we might be dead to it 2 Cor. 5.14 Rom. 6.10 11. and 7.4 And by his death and resurrection spiritually evidenced and aplieil to us bee in bolieving freed from the bondage of it Gall. 4.4 5. and 3.25.26 5.1 So that such commands in respect of such a bond is not heere ment II. Such commands as are beyond all the reach anâ— powre that is or ever was in any creatures and these are To make satisfaction for sins entred and to take them out of the waye and to abollish death and to procure favour and life againe with God for mankind And allso by Spirit to make knowne this saluation wrought and to communicate the same to such as embracing this knowledge doe there through believe and so to enlive and sanctifie them therewith and therein working salvation in them and communicating eternall life to them which commandments are before shewne what they are and how they belong only to Jesus Christ our Lord the mediator betweene God and men who is found faithfull and perfect in performance thereof and by fullfilling the one hath wrought salvation with God for men and in full filling the other offereth salvation to men and communicateth eternall Salvation to those that believe in him as is before declared nor is there any creature in and by whom the fulfilling these commands can be found that beeing peculiar to Iesus Christ our Lord Ioh. 28.1 23. Psal 40.6 10. and 49.7.8 Isa 49.6 9. and 50.2 9. Heb. 10.1 10. So that these commands are not heere ment III. Such commandements as are given by Jesus Christ the fulfiller of these former commandements unto those who by his Spirit through the Gospell are drawne to believe on him into whose hart by the same Spirit he putteth those commandments Heb. 8.2 6 10. Ier. 31.33 Which commandements are not such or so given as to bind us to worke our righteousnesse in and by our owne observances and performances by our owne strength or such as we had once in Adam or by his devine providence have in our naturall powres as the former law did under which by nature we were and under which he was made for us such commandements so given are to us-ward beeing fallen heavy and burthensome neither can wee have life in our observance of that law but his commandments bee not grievous but easie sweete and affording-light and life in the observance Rom. 8.2.3.4 Phill. 3.3 9. Gall. 2.21 and 3.5 10 25. and 4. and 5.18 Ioh. 1.14.16.17 Rom. 3.27 Matt. 11.27.28 1 Ioh. 5.3 Gall. 6.8 Nor are these commandements of Jesus Christ to his disciples such or so given as those which have already beene shewne to be put upon Jesus Christ himself and poculiar to him Psal 40.6 Jsa 50. to the end 1 Cor. 1.12.2 Cor. 3.3 17 18. But they are such commandements and so given as that they come from Jesus Christ our saviour in the declaration of the saluation wrought in and by his owne person with God for men in fulfilling the first commandement he received of his Father and the saluation which by Spirit applying the former he worketh in men to God in fulfilling the other commandement he received of the Father when he helpeth any to believe in which believing he putteth these commandements into their hart Ioh. 6.38 40 and 17 6 8. 2 Cor. 3.3.17 18. Ier. 31.33 Heb. 8.6.10 Which commandements are to believe on him and to love one another which by this first consideration appeares to bee the commandements of Christ to his disciples and those heere-ment 1 Pet. 1.2.8.18.19 20 21 22. Consider II. That the commandements of Christ to his disciples are such commands as are I. Contained and expressed in the Gospell II. Put with the Gospell by the Spirit of Christ into the hart of believers III. And do naturally and aptly spring up in the beliefe of the Gospell I. The commands of Christ to his disciples are contained and exprest in the Gospell the Gospell fully declaring the mind of Christ not only in declaration of that good he hath wrought for us and that which hee is able and ready to worke in us and to confer on us but that also which hee requireth of us that wee may receive him and be followers of him Mar. 1.14.15 Act. 13.38 40 and 20 27 35 and 26 18. 2 Cor. 5.19.20 Whence the Gospel also is called the commandement 2 Ioh. 4.5 1 Ioh. 2.7 2 Pet. 2.21 Rom. 16.26 And the law of Christ the law of faith the law of righteousnesse the law of the Spirit of life and the law of libertie Gall. 6.2 Rom. 3.27 and 9 31 32 and 8.2 Iam. 1.12 And the so receiving the Gospell as thore through to believe on Jesus Christ and love our brother and yeeld to and walk in that faith and love is called obedience of the doctrine of faith of Christ Rom. 6.17 and 16 19 26. Heb. 2.5.9 And all not so receiving the Gospell where it comes are said not to obey the Gospell the word the truth 2 Thess 1.8 1 Pet. 4.17 and 3 1. Gall. 3.1 The Gospell of Christ is a full and perfect doctrine and stands need of no other law for precepts to direct and leade such as come into Christ having in it self not only generall but particular precepts even for every branch of al that which the grace of God requireth of believers as to give some instances precepts for repentance Mat. 3.2 Mar. 1.15 Act. 17.30 For submission to Christ and receiving his reproofe and forsaking all wee have for his sake Iam. 4.6.7 Pro. 1.23 Mat. 16.24 25 26. For believing whatever his Gospell reporteth Ioh. 12.36 Mar. 1.15 For approbation of and resting on him Pro. 4.8 Isa 30.7.15 For hearing and attending to the sayings of Christ Pro. 8.10 Mat. 17.5 For looking to Jesus Christ for beginning and finishing in us all that belongs to life and godlinesse Isa 45.22 Heb. 12 2. For loving the Lord Psal 31.23 And therein and so for child like affectiones to God Mall 1.6 For brotherly affectiones to believers 1 Pet. 4.8 For compassion and meeknesse to such as are ignorant and out of the way Mat. 5.44 As likewise for being feare-lesse and strong in the way Isa 8.12.13 and 41.14 1 Cor. 16.13 For being patient Iam. 5.7 For being sinceere Tit. 2.7 For being fervent in Spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12.11 And so alwayes and in all to have God and Jesus Christ only for our God and Lord 1 Cor. 8.6 1 Ioh. 5.20.21 To worship him in Spirit and truth Ioh. 4.24 To seeke to glorify his name in all things 1 Cor. 10.31 To delight in keeping sabboth with him Isa 58.13.14 Heb 4.10.11 And with his Heb. 10.25 To veeld our neighbour that preheminence and respect God hath given him in our love care and service and so to honour our parents and not to hurt but preserve the
10.4.5 Believing Jesus to bee the Christ and the truth of Gods report concerning Christ and his love in giving him and his promises to him and all believing in him Ioh. 4.10 12. and 8 24. and 20.31 Inward a probation of Jesus Christ and that discovered in him and done and to bee done by him with rest and quietnesse of hart therein as in that which is enough Phill. 3.3.8 and Psal 16.6.7 Harkening to Christ in attending to his sayings and waiting for and yeilding to his teachings Psal 85 8. and 119.33 Looking to him for the beginning and finishing of all that belongs to life and Godlinesse Isa 8.16.17 Mich. 7.7 Inward and harty love to the Lord Jesus Christ and to God in him Isa 6.4 With 1 Cor. 2.9 1 Pet. 1.8 Which love springing from the love of God shead abroad in the hart doth encline the hart with childlike affectiones to God 1 Ioh. 4.14 Ier. 3.19 Psal 116. 1. And with unfeined delight in and love of brethren 1 Pet. 1.22 And love of compassion and mercy to men 2 Cor. 5.14 And soe hath Christ put in the hart of the believer the love of our brother 1 Ioh. 4.21 Which is his second commandment and like the first in that as the first receiveth soe this worketh forth all righteousnesse So as I. This faith and love doth quallify the hart faith working by love Gall. 5.6 And so make the hart of the believer sit for all inclinationes labours and services of love in that it makes it strong to endure and go through all the sufferings of it Cant. 8.6.7 Patient to endure that which is to be undergone and for gone for it 1 Cor. 13.4.8 Sinceere in seeking none of a mans owne ends but only the beloved and so preserves from stumbling Phill. 1.9.10.11 Fervent to accomplish that wherein it may testify love to the beloved Psal 116.12 Constant in all things that love leadeth too orthrough 1 Ioh. 2.10 Yea and likewise II. This love through or by which faith worketh doth move and spring up freely in the hart inclinationes and motiones to as much as the law of works of it were in its force could compell or enjoyne too as to have God for our God for ever Zach. 13.9 To worship him in Spirit and truth Psal 95.6 To glorify his great name Phill. 1.20 To delight in keeping sabboth with him and his Psal 27.1.4 To give our neighbour that preheminence God hath given him in our service and care and so to seeke to preserve his life dignity chastity estate and name and to fly the lust of having any thing from him that is his Rom. 12.10 and 13 8 9 10. Yea farther III. This love flowing in this faith doth move and leade to things higher and more excellent then the law could have led too as namely To long after and delight and have all our well-pleasednesse in Iesus Christ in whom God hath his and so to be beholding his glory and drinking in of the fulnesse that is in him Psal 73.25 26 and 84 1 2 and 27 1 4. Cant. 1 2 3 and 2 3 5. To love our bretheren as Christ hath loved us 1 Ioh. 3.16 and 5.1 And in this faith and love to glorify Christ and the word of his grace Phill. 1.17 20 21 27. To edify our brethren in faith and love 1 Cor. 8.1 and 13 to the end To hold forth the word of life Eph. 6.19 And all in faithfulnesse without loving our lives unto death Rev. 12.11.17 Yea and to say farther IIII. This love by which faith worketh stirreth and worketh effectually in these motions for fulfilling the same in yeelding up ones self to the Lord as his and al the members as his servants to walk in and according to this love Psal 119.125 and 106 9 10 19. And this also in love of longing and waiting for the appearing and comming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Tim. 4.8 Rev. 22.17.20 And thus in scripture it appeares that all particular precepts are found and performed in believing in Christ and loving one another and so how Christ hath put with the Gospell his commands in the hart of believers and though the degree or measure heerof be different and in some very small yet in some degree or other may every believer that hath attained to walk in faith and love seale this truth by experience Ioh. 7.37 38 39 and 3.33 Rom. 8.1 2. 1 Ioh. 2.8 And yet that there be no mistake the next expression is to be added III. That the commandements of Christ to his disciples are such as do naturally and aptly spring up in the beliefe of the Gospell Ioh. 6.28 29 40 47 and 5 37 38. Eph. 1.19 1 Thess 2.13 The Gospell declares Iesus Christ to be the son of God and saviour of the world the head husband high-priest Prophet and King of his church Act 2. 37. and 8 37 and 9 22. Ioh. 4.42 Eph. 5.25 Heb. 5. and 7. Rom. 1.3.4 And that he hath come in the flesh and died for our sins and rose for our justification and so wrought reconciliation and saluation for mankind with God Rom. 4.25 1 Cor. 15.3.4 2 Cor. 5.19 1. Tim. 2.4.6 And that he is exalted at Gods right hand and filled with grace powre authority and Spirit to offer salvation to men Act. 5.31 32. 2 Cor. 5.20 And to work it in such as believe Ioh. 1.12.16 And to condemne such as refuse and rebell against him Rom. 14.9.11 And in this declaration the Gospell also declareth the intence love of God to mankind in the gift of his son to be the saviour of the world that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life 1 Ioh. 4.14 Ioh. 3.16.17 The well-pleasednesse God hath taken in and with his son and that he hath done is and doth Mat. 3.17 and 17.5 The propitiation hee is for the sins of the world and the advocation he maketh for believers Ioh. 1.29 1 Ioh. 2.1.2 Heb. 9.24 The peculiar love of God to Christ and to all those that believe in Christ Ioh. 5.20 Psal 33.13.19 And what Christ is to and for them and what he will work in them and bestow on them 1 Cor. 1.30 Ioh. 1.12 16 and 6 27. And all this is in the Gospell and by the ministers thereof and by the Spirit set forth as the foundation and ground of the heavenly call enviting to Christ Isa 55.1.6 And whosoever is by the Holy Spirit enlightened to understand and enabled to believe al this with his hart being convinced and drawne thereby to Christ Joh. 3.37 42 and 6 44 45. Pro. 1.23 Isa 61.1.2.3 The Spirit doth farther enter the hart sheading abroad this so great and rich love of God therein so as there doth from this grace naturally and aptly spring up in the thus believing hart from this grace believed A beliefe and dependance on Jesus Christ for eternall life and all that appertaines thereto Rom. 5.1 5 6 10 11. 1 Ioh. 2.24.25 And
him and unfeyned faith and love so measuring themselves by themselves and trusting to their own harts for their testimony which is folly 2 Cor. 10.7.12.18 and 11.3.4 13. Luk. 18.11.12 Ier. 17.5 10. Pro. 28.26 Whereas Those that in the beliefe of the Gospel are emptyed of themselves and all relyance on any righteousnesse wisedome or strength of their owne or that is humane and through the beliefe of the grace reported in the Gospell brought to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for beeing saved by his life and through that believing to love the Brethren shall in abiding in his faith and love and walking therein find the motiones to all that is contained in particular precepts in fit seasons stirring in them Ioh. 7.37.38 Hose 14.8 Gall. 5.22.23 Rom. 8.2 14. 2 Cor. 5.14 As is before shewne in the second consideration and so yeilding up theretoo and walking therein I. They serve God acceptably and in newnesse of Spirit Rom. 12 1 2 3 and 7.6 II. They are ceasing from their own works and so accepting and entring into his rest Heb. 4 3 11. 2 Pet. 1 5 11. III. They yeild forth a justification and testimony of the truth and livelynesse of their faith in Christ and love of brethren Iam. 2 to the end In which believers are not under the law but under grace and so walke after the Spirit and keepe the ommandements of Christ in Faith and love which are the commandements heere ment Gall. 5.6 16 18 23. Proofe IV. Walking in this faith and love put in the hart is before shewne in all the former considerationes to leade to the right fulfilling of all righteous affectiones and services required both in the law and the Gospell so as whosoever hath these commandements in his hart and keepeth and walketh in them both receiveth all good from God and yeeldeth forth all exceptable service to him and to brethren Ioh. 14.21.23 Rom. 5.1.5 and 12 1 3 and 13 8 9 10. So at this also evidenceth these to be the commandements heere ment Proofe V. Those that through beliefe of the grace reported in the Gospell do believe in the name of Christ and in that beliefe love their brethren and so walke in this faith and love have their faith imputed to them for righteousnesse and their love accepted as that which shall be visited with more loves and through both experiments of grace met with Rom. 4.22 25 and 5 1 5 and 8 1 2. 2 Cor. 3 3.18 Ioh. 14.21.23 And by the testimonie of God and Christ himself they do righteousnesse and fulfill the law and al righteousnesse 1 Ioh. 2.29 and 3 7 9. Rom. 13.8 9 10. I. They fullfill the end of the law in accepting Christ for righteousnesse and loving their brother Rom. 10.3 4. Mat. 22.39 40. II. They obey the Gospell and word and doctrine of God and Iesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6.17.18 2 Thess 1.8.10 III. They honour obey and follow God Eph. 5.1.2 Even the Father and the son Ioh. 5.23 37 46 and 14 23 and 16 27. And the Holy Ghost that commeth from the Father and the son and witnesseth of Christ and teacheth Ioh. 14.26 and 15 26. 1 Ioh. 5.6 12. Rom. 8.14 IV. They have eternall life 1 Ioh. 5.11 12. Gall. 6.8 And so keepe the commandements that they find them not grievous but delightfull 1 Ioh. 2.3 10. So that it every way appeareth that faith and love put in the hart are the commands ment II. For the second thing in this point what it is to keepe his commandements it may be answered briefly in two words namelie first to keepe or retaine them in the very hart in the mind will and affectiones Pro. 3.1 and 4.21 And Secondly to observe them in the life in giving up all the members as servants to walke according thereunto Pro. 4.25 26 27. Rom. 12.1 2. 1 Cor. 6.20 But to give a more full and ample answer it might be said the keeping his commandements is I. To retaine and hold fast the Gospell or word of grace that hee hath enlightened our harts with and so put in our harts that he hath begotten faith and love in our harts thereby let this word dwell in our harts in the beliefe and apprehention of the goodnesse of the report and of all the reproofes requirings and promises of it let it be kept in the love desire estimate wherein it was first received and there through Christ in it exalt it and tye it about thy hart and bow the neck too it and this will watch for us teach lead and counsell and be a light to us Rev. 3.3 Coll. 3.16 Pro. 4.8 9 and 6 20 21 22 23. Joh. 15 5.7 II. To hold fast and nourish in our harts that confidence in Christ for life sanctification preservation and guidance and protextion through all sufferings and services of love to the enheritance Gall. 5 5 6. Heb. 3.6 14 and 10 35. And that love member like to brethren and compassionate to the sons of men which in putting in his gracious word hee by his Spirit discovering his grace begot in our hart Heb. 13 1 Ioh. 3 18 and 4 10 12. III. To suffer the word of grace and the faith and love begot thereby to have its perfect worke in us to putt no stoppage by carnall reasonnings too it but yeild up all our members theretoo and to all the motiones of the Spirit that spring there-from and there-through and according theretoo Rom. 12.1 2 3. Phill. 2.1 2. Iam. 1 4. To the denying of all fleshly affectiones and lusts and the obeying all the fruites of the Spirit Gall. 5.16 17 18 22 25. 1 Thess 5.19 IV. To doe all wee have to doe in all the sufferings and services of love in the remembrance of and according to the word of grace and in and with the exercise of the faith and love begot thereby Psal 1 2. Heb. 11 and 12. 1 2. 1 Ioh. 4. to the end And so as is before amplyfied in opening what it is to continue in his love that and this meeting in one V. Seeing it was peculiar to Christ that in all his walking in this world hee never sinned yea if wee consider his humane nature he had no sin if we consider his life he did no sin if wee looke on the law of nature or works under which wee were borne and under which hee became for us hee kept and fulfilled it all to the ful if wee look on those commands and that worke the Father gave him to doe in respect of us he fully finished it yea one may say if wee looke on the commands of faith and love hee left for us to walke in hee also hath given us example and gone before us and walked without failing in both and if besides his nature personall conversation and example and besides his propitiation wee looke on his ministration of the Gospell and care for the continuance thereof after his departure lo he was perfectly faithful
and so without sin and this the scripture sets forth as his peculiar hee knew no sin he did no sin c. Ioh. 8 46. Heb. 7 26. Ioh. 17.4 Isa 50 and 53. Heb. 2 13. Ioh 13 1. Mat. 4 and 10. Ioh. 17 2 Cor. 5.21 1 Pet. 2 22 3 18. And that every one of us yea the best of all his servants while heere on earth offend in many things Iam. 3.2 Having sin still in nature Iob. 14 4 and 15 14. And also in his life Rom. 7 15. Gall 5 17. Against the law of works Rom. 3.19 20. Yea and the Gospell and so even against the law of grace In strists about the worke peculiar to Christ seeking in endavours to make peace and give satisfaction by performances or to doe in ones owne strength to make up duty and conscience good Rom. 9 32 and 10 3 and 7 15 24 25. and 8 7 8. Gall. 2 and 3. Or else in short-comming of that which through grace given wee might in the faith and love mencioned or walking therein to the denyall of the flesh and yeelding up to the Spirit in all things Rom. 7 15 25. Gall. 5 17. Yea it may bee in failing in particular service or ministration yea so certaine it is that all of us do in some things offend that who ever saith either that hee hath no sin or that he hath not sinned there is no truth in him and he casteth the lye on God Ioh. 1.8 10. Neither can any regenerate man avoid this by saying personally in themselves they have no sin or of themselves they do no sin but onely as they are one with their brethren and reckon themselves after them so they are sinners and do sin while any of their brethren have sin and are found to sin for in such a sence even so might Jesus Christ himself have said Isa 53 2. Cor. 5 21. 1 Pet. 2 24. And so may he still be said to suffer affliction Act. 9 4. Coll. 1 24. Isa 61 9. And to want of his fulnesse and perfection Eph. 1 23 and 4 13. And yet is this his peculiar that he knew no sin nor did sin being Holy harmelesse undefiled separate from sinners which could not bee if any could be said to be without sin in this life in such a sence besides himself Therefore there is yet one thing more to be put in in our keeping his commandements namely that as any sin is yet found either in our nature or life either against law of works or law of grace in failing either in faith or love or walking therein and yeelding to the Spirit there through according to grace received So wee in the acknowledgement of this his grace do speedily confesse our sins and seeke remission and healing of him and so in confidence of his goodnesse and love of brethren go one still in his way before him 1 Sam. 12 20 22. Pro. 28 13 14. 1 Ioh. 1 7 9. And in these five particulars is comprehended the keeping of his commands that appertaines to us III. For the third thing in this point the manner of keeping his commandements even as hee kept his Fathers commandements what this also is Viz. I. That all be done in an one-nesse and a greement of mind and will with the mind and will of Christ and God in Christ and so from the motion of the Spirit and law writ in the hart 1 Cor. 2 16 2. Cor. 3 3 17 18. II. Faithfully in the midst of his house and among the sons of men even a perverse people and in the midst of temptationes from the world the flesh and the devill Psal 101. Phill. 1 27 30 and 2 15 16 17. III. Constantly at all times and in all things with patience through all labours and sufferings till the season of entring his rest be fully given Act. 14 22. 2 Tim. 2 3 and 3 11 12. Mat. 10. Which will be but a first fruites heere Heb. 4 3 11. And perfectly at their departure hence Rev. 14 13. And gloriously at his comming againe for which they looke and long Phill. 3 20 21. 2 Cor. 5 1 6. 2 Tim. 4 8. Rev. 22 17 20. IV. Holding and excercising faith and love through all these 2 Cor. 5 1 14 19 c. For thus it is in all these respects before shewne that Christ kept his Fathers commandements And thus it is shewne what the commandments and the keeping of them with the manner thereof is Which may be Vse I. A discovery of the mistake or scant conceiptiones of the truth of such as in this place by commandements understand noe farther thing but the precepts of ten-words engraven in tables of stone and delivered by Moses to the people to be first kept by Christ by his Fathers command and to be now kept by believers by Christs command which beeing a law without us and enjoinning to doe and live will leave us all under sinne and death it beeing impossible for us to have life and enjoy the righteousnesse of the law that way because wee cannot perform the righteousnesse that apertayneth to us according to that law Rom. 3 10 20. Gall. 3 10. Rom. 8 3 4 Phill. 3 3 9. And though it were perfectly performed by Iesus Christ yet if there had not beene greater commandments that he received of the Father and performed for us our faith were but vayne and wee had beene in our sinnes and soe in danger of wrath still Ioh. 10 18 and 12.31 Heb. 9 22 26. 1 Cor. 15 14 17 18 Rom. 3 25. The ignorance whereof causeth many to establish a righteousnesse of their owne by setting upon the law and so submit not to Christ who is the end of the law for righteousnesse Rom. 10.3 4 In whom nothing avayleth but faith which worketh by love Gall. 5 6 All which may be clearly and fully seen in that which is all-ready said about this buy sinesse Vse II. And this also may bee an information of the cause of soe much darknesse and so many great and smarting afflictiones that many believers in this life do fall into namely because they keepe not the commandements which Christ hath put in their harts which are the same the Father by his Spirit through Christ hath given unto them which had they attended too their peace had beene as a river and their righteousnesse as the waves of the Sea Psal 89 30 31 32. Isa 48 18. Soe that the cause of such smarting afflictiones on them is not because they were unable to keepe the law of works or came short thereof through a necessity by that weaknesse Psal 103 10 and 143 2 Nor yet because they were unable to walke suitable and answerable to the Gospell or law of grace or fell short thereof through a necessity by that weaknesse Psal 130 3 4. For God requires in this no more then hee hath sowne Luk. 19.21.22 But in and according to the Gospell accepts of believers the will for the deed and requires
noe more but according to what they have and accepteth that even soe of them Mat. 10.40 42 2 Cor. 8 11 12. But the cause of such affliction is I. Because they have not abiden and walked in faith and love Soe as by the grace made knowne and received they in remembring his gracious word and exercising faith and love and yerlding to the Spirit therein in denying fleshly affectiones and lusts and soweing to the fruites and motiones of the Spirit might have done Psal 78 5 11 41 42 and 81 6 12 and 106 12 15. Gall. 5 and 6 8. II. And because moreover when through forgetfulnesse and temptationes they are found so to have sinned and turned aside they do not speedily owne the same and in acknowledgement of the grace of Christ and their owne ill-requiteals turne to him confessing their sins and judging themselves and seeking remission and healing from God through Christ and so not judging themselves they are even therefore judged of the Lord in this world that they may not be condemned with the world 1 Ioh. 1 7 9 and 2 1. Ier. 6 15. 2 Cor. 12 20 21. 1 Cor. 11 31 32. And these two causes meeting in one are the very cause of all smarting correctiones which are not usually laid on any til both these meete unlesse in the first there be wil fulnesse and presumption and then it containes both in one as in Davids case 2 Sam. 12. Psal 19 12 13 and 32 3 4 and 33. And yet on harty confession and turning much release then also and yet in all this I limmit not the Holy one but shew what he hath declared to bee his usuall way as for Iobs tryall it was an unusual thing and so such a probation as God never excerciseth his with but when he minds to give a double blessing in the issue see Iob first and last all which agree well with the promise heere and al that is said before as the ground of this Vse III. And this also may be a hint of helpfulnesse for discerning and differenting the motiones of the Spirit of bondage from the motiones of the Spirit of grace and adoption I. The Spirit of bondage hath its law and force in and from the law of works and soe affords no hope but according to a mans conformity too and observance of the law of works under which a man was first borne and so dictates to a man and moves with this I ought and that I ought to do according to that law and leaves a man to his owne understanding and strength to strive after it without any inward living principle from any devine powre springing up the motion and free and living motion streaming with inclination thereto but only a humane motion leaving in all that is done to the trial censure and accusation of the law Rom. 2 14 15 and 3 20 and 7 1 6 23 24 25 and 8 1 2 15. Gall. 3.10 and 5 18. II. The Spirit of grace and adoption hath the Gospel or royal law of grace and liberty for its law where-through it excerciseth its force Gall. 4.21 31. Iam. 1 25. Rom. 8 2 15. And so though the believers looking about them may say this wee ought and that wee ought to beliefe and do according to the Gospel 1 Ioh. 4 10 11. Yet the Spirit of grace dictates and moves with a certaine devine powre in the new man and so springs up the motion from a living principle with in through the beliefe of the grace in Christ and the love of Christ and brethren streaming with a living and stirring motion and inclination to that is good and well-pleasing in the sight of God Eph. 4 21 24. Coll. 3 10 12. Gall. 2 20. 2 Cor. 5 6 11 14 20. Rom. 12 1 2. So preserving and guiding the believer that it leaves him not under law Gall. 5 16 18 22. As may be scene in al that is so largely said about this businesse before Vse IV. And this may also be an instruction how to keepe the commandements of Jesus Christ namely to tye them about the hart and the neck to delight in and observe them by remembrance and keeping in hart the word of grace believed and received and by holding fast confidence in Christ and continuing in brotherly love and walking in faith and love and doing al there-through and yeelding up theretoo in one mindednesse with Christ from the law within constantly and acknowledging all failings found with confession and seeking remission and healing and so giving up all the powres to walk with God as is more fully opened before twise in this discourse Pro. 6 20. Coll. 3 16. Heb. 10 35 and 13. 1 Coll. 2 6. Phill. 2 1 2 3 6. Rom. 12. to the end Vse V. And this may be an exhortation and motive to stir us up to give up our selves as those that are alive to God with all readinesse diligence and resolutenesse through the beliefe of the grace of Christ to keepe these his commandements alwayes seeing as hath beene shewne and the words beare forth I. It is the mind and will of Christ that hath so loved us and performed such commandements for us in which hee hath bought us and is become ours and wee his 1 Cor. 6.20 Gall. 2.20 II. Hee hath gone before us and calleth us after him and given us to know his voice and is present with us by his word and Spirit Joh. 10 3 4. Mat. 28 20. III. Hee hath opened this pathe and given us these commandements for our owne benefit that wee may abide in his love and have our joy full Pro. 9 12. Ioh. 16.11 IV. His commandements are not grievous but joyous and all the pathes thereof are pathes of pleasantnesse and peace and life to such as find them 1 Ioh. 5.3 Pro. 3.16 17 and 4 20.22 I. The law being a law of liberty and grace and of the Spirit of life seated in the hart and so teaching and leading the believer with peace and freedome 2 Cor. 3 3 17. Rom. 8.2 II. The walking being in an excercise of faith that receives and drinks in all good from God and an excercise of love that is strong opperative and delightfull Ioh. 7 37 38 39. Cant. 8.6 7 8. Well may they be said to be wayes of pleasantnesse and peace and an high-way and a way of Holinesse which though no unclean person nor unbeliever can passe over yet it is for these way farring ones believers and they though fooles shall not err therein Isa 35 8. Oh who would not gladly walk in it V. The gracious promise of so great happinesse heertoo might be added but that is a thing that comes next to be opened by it self Psal 19 10 11. Secondly for the next point in this last branch and so the last thing to be viewed in this affirmation of our saviour it is his comfortable promise to his disciples that so keeping his commandements they shall abide in his love
1.14 Rom. 8.3 And in that nature hath dyed and risen and is glorified and filled with life and Spirit for men Rom. 5.24 Eph. 4.8 Psal 68.18 But this nature of Adam or man Christ tooke of man Heb. 2.14 Gall. 4.4 Not wee of him this frayle nature but hee of us tooke this whence hee is called the son of man of Adam Ioh. 5.14 Luk. 9.56 and 3.38 And though in himself he hath restored and glorified this nature for us yet our comming in to him to partake with him is by the Spirit or powre of the devine nature that is in him 2. Cor. 5.17 1. Cor. 1.30 And so al men by nature and first birth be Adams sons and as the Gentils in oposition to the Iewes were of the wild Olive tree soe al men comming from Adam and remaining in their natural state oposed to Christ and those born of him be of the corrupt and pohited vine dead in trespasses and sius Eph. 2.1.2.3 Yea even the Jewes themselves though branches of the true-olive and tipicall vine yet in respect of spiritual one nesse in and with Christ they by first birth are not branches in him but children of the flesh dead in sinnes Rom. 8.9 And need a new birth to bring them into Christ that they may be branches in him Ioh. 3.3.5 Soe that noe man by his first birth is a branch in this vine nor any but such as are in some sort born againe soe that though Christ hath for all men taken their nature and restored it yet al men are not in him and so receive not that restoration Secondly we have to note that these spoken too now were but alwayes had not beene branches in this True Vine They were by nature dead in sins and trespastes once Eph. 2.1.2.3.4.5 Sometime of the world Ioh. 7.5 out of which they were since chosen Ioh. 15 16 19. Soe that in this that they were now branches in this vine wee have fowre things considerable I. How they came to bee branches in Christ the true-vine II. In what sence they are said to be in him III. What degrees are considerable about beeing in Christ as branches in the vine IV. What is intimated by their beeing in Christ as branches in the vine and all this as Scripture sheweth speakeing of such things apeares to bee That I. Their becomming to be branches in this vine was not by and according to nature and naturall meanes for Jesus Christ is a spiritual man the Lord from heaven heavenly and soe in that not like the first Adam who was a natural man and had his posterity in his loynes to come forth of him by a natural generation 1 Cor. 15 45 47. Gen. 5 2 3 4. But as the Lord Christ is a spiritual man so his seed is a spirituall seed not naturally springing forth from him but supernaturally and spiritually by a new birth from above brought in to him Ioh. 3 3 5. and 6 44 45. Soe as none are branches in Christ but such as were branches of the first and fallen Adam first Pro. 8 31 32. Ioh. 1 4. Whence that thinks for some Rom. 6 17. Soe as for comming to bee branches in Christ there must be a setting forth of Christ to the naturall branches of Adam to bee believed in Rom. 3.24 25 26. And therein a takeing out of the old Adam and ingrasting into Christ the new like that Rom. 11 17. And this is essected as the new birth beeing the same with it by water and Spirit Ioh. 3 5. Isa 44 3 4 5. Ezek. 36 24 27. 1 Ioh. 5 6. I. By water which spiritually understood is the free love of God in the gift of his son commended through his son as set forth and declared in the Gospell or word of grace with such presence of spirit as makes it discernable Deut. 32 1.2.3.4 Ioh. 3.5.14.15.16 1. Ioh. 5.6.7.8 Which shewes how Christ was broken and opened for us Isa 53 What God hath done and prepared for us in him 2. Cor. 5.19 And so evidenceth the love of God to call and draw us to him Rom. 5.8.10 Tit. 3.4.5 Ioh. 4.10 And so are they begot to him by the word Vers 4. Iam. 1.18 II. By the holy spirit of Christ or power of the devine nature entering the word into the hart so giving light and glorifying Christ to the hart and Gods love through him 2. Cor. 3.3 Psal 119.130 Ioh. 15.26 16.14.15 2. Cor. 4.6 So as he therby breakes of all old Adam like confidences and in some measure enables to believe in Christ and so brings into him enableing them to receive the testimonie Phil. 3.3.7.8.9 Act 11.20.21 1. Thess 1.5.2 Thess 1.10 So as they begin to rely on God in Christ Rom. 4.22 25. And to love Christ his 1. Pet. 1.8.21.22.23 And so come in to him to attend on him for teaching and life Ioh. 6.67.68.69 In which teaching of his by his spirit they ar united in hart or spirit to him and renewed Tit. 3.5.6.7 2. Cor. 3.17.18 And so were these borne againe and brought into Christ and made branches in him Mat. 16 16. Ioh. 14.14.17 15.14.16.19 II. The sence in which they are sayde to be branches in him is likewise spiritual suitable to the spiritual man and so not to be understood of a carnal union or in beeing but of a spiritual union and in being in Christ the joyneing is by spirit and union spiritual one spirit 1 Cor. 6 17 And so as hee is in the believers spiritually and by spirit and spiritual opperationes viz. I. By his gracious word by spirit put into their hart Psal 119.130 Isa 59.21 Ioh. 17.6.8 2. Cor. 3.3 and 5.19 II By that spiritual evidence and testimony of himselfe and his and his fathers love given into their hart which hee hath enabled them to receive and hold 1. Ioh. 5.10 2. Tim. 1 12. Rom. 8 15.16 III By his spirit or spiritual disposition and mind infused to them and created in them as indweller and liveing principle with its motiones Ezek. 36.26 Rom. 8.9 1. Cor. 2.16 2. Cor 3.3 1. Ioh. 3.24 Gall. 5.18.22.23 And thus is Christ in them spiritually and so and in the same sence are they in him that is spiritually And so I. By faith or the spirit of faith in receite of the testimonye comming in to him closeing with him and relyeing on him by believeing in him 2. Cor. 4.10.13 Gall. 3.26 29. Ioh. 1.12.13 And so in him by faith II. By love springing from his love shead abroad in their hart by the holy spirit by which they love him and God in him and him at the right hand of God and him in his spiritual presence in his people Rom. 5.5 1. Ioh. 4 19 20.21 and 5 1. 1. Pet. 1.8 22 And so they cleave to him and are in him By love desires delight and well-pleasednesse in him Call 3.1.2.11 1 Cor. 16.22 Ioh. 14.21.23 and 16.27 Psal 73.25 III. By a sweet and harty submission to
peculiar the wine wherof himselfe wil drink and with the same refresh his choise freinds Cant 5.1 Psal 36.8.9 He found the ransome Ioh. 33.24 Hee gave his son Ioh. 3.16.1 Ioh. 4.14 Hee made him flesh Ioh. 1.14 Hee made him to be sin and curse for us 2. Cor. 5 21. Gall 3.13 Hee raised him from the dead and made him wisdome and righteousnesse for us Rom. 4.25.1 Cor. 1.30 Hee hath accepted his sacrifice and taken well-pleasednesse in him Heb. 10.1.10 Mat. 3.17 and 17.5 Hee hath filled him with spirit and eternal life for men so hath made him a quickning spirit Psal 68.18 Isa 61.1.1 Ioh. 5.10.11 1. Cor. 15.45 And so hath set him forth for a propitiation Rom. 3.25 A witnesse leader and commander Isa 55 4. The medium of dispensing spirit Isai 42 1.2 And comming into him and of fruitfulnesse Ioh. 10 9. Soe is hee the vine the True Vine which God hath made and prepared II. That from the beginning he by spirit in such meanes as he used hath beene drawing in some to his son and these are his chosen his vineyard in whom his word is put and soe hee in them that from them he may be declared to others Pro. 9.1 Isa 5. and 28.16 III. Hee stil useth meanes through Christ to make him knowne and soe to open him and call and draw into him and ingraft in him this being peculiarly in some sence the fathers worke Ioh. 1.13 Mat. 16.16 Ioh. 17 6.7.8 and 6.44.45 and 3.14.15 Rom. 5.8 10.2 Tim. 1.9 And this he doth by his gospel Rom. 1.16 And that both in his servants ministration therof Ioh. 17.20 23. Rom. 10.14 15.17.1 Cor. 3.5 And also by his spirit opperating therein and therwith Act. 11.21.2 Cor. 13.3 Whence that Act. 26.18 IV. That when God hath made knowne his son by the Gospel and vouchsafed the ministration of it by his servants with some motiones of his spirit calling to Christ and soe into his vineyard he According to his nighdrawing in the meanes and drawing them nigh to Christ and his lookes that they should bring forth fruites Isa 5.4 Luk. 13.6 Even fruites of repontance Mat. 3. Faith love joy peace c. Gall 5.22.23 And glorifying him that others therby might come to praise him Mat. 5.16 V. When he hath used such meanes and striven with them and waited for them his time and some bring forth noe fruite that is suitable to the meanes and for him Hee taketh them away either by taking gospel and church state from them Mat. 21.42.43 and 23.37.38.2 Chron. 36 16 17. Isa 5.5.6 Or by taking away his spiritual opperationes from them and so reprobating them Ier. 6.16.31 Ezek. 24 13. Mat. 3.1 Ioh. 2.19 Heb. 2.1.4 and 10.29.30 V I. Those which by the meanes and spirit therin doe bring forth fruite hee purgeth that they may bring forth more fruite I. He purgeth and cleanseth by the grace the promiseâ— the spirit given all opperating to reprove sin Ioh. 16.8.9.10 To deny ungodlinesse c. Tit. 2.11.12 To cleanse from al 〈◊〉 thinesse of flesh and spirit 2. Cor. 7.1 And soe is withering aâ—â— crucifying the flesh with the affectiones and lusts thereof Isa 40.6.7 Gall. 5.24 II. Hee purgeth by afflictiones and correctiones as often as need is to take downe pride breake them of their enterprises returne them from their strayings and hasten them to himself that they may being judged in the world not be condemned with the world but partake of his righteousnesse 1. Pet. 1.6 Ioh. 33.16.24 Heb. 12.6.11.1 Cor. 11.32 Isa 27.8.9 III. He purgeth them in nurturing with the crosse oâ— Christ enabling them to suffer shame losse hard-ship c. foâ— the name of Christ by whom the world is made as a crucified thing to them and they become as crucified to it which freed from many snares Gall. 6.14.2 Tim. 3.11.12 And al this purging is that they may partake of the vertue of 〈◊〉 resurrection of Christ bring forth more fruit Rom. 6.4.5.6 VII Hee accepteth and treasureth up those fruites that are brought forth by the opperationes of his spirit in and through those that abide in Christ and make them usefull 1. Pet. 2.3.4.5.9 Cant. 5.1 VIII Hee owneth knoweth keepeth and approveth this vine and vineyard and branches with the fruites thereof Mat. 3.17 Psal 16.2 Tim. 2.19 Cant. 6.2.3 and 7.12 He hath not only a right over them to dispose of them for so all are his Psal 119.91 The earth is the lords and the fulnesse therof the world and they that dwel therin Psal 24.1 Yea the whole field is his Mat. 13.24 But these are his garden Isa 51.3 His vineyard Psal 80.15 His pleasant portion Ier. 12.10 His peculiar above al the field his treasure Deut. 7.6 Psal 135.4 His enheritance Deut. 9.26.29 And his jewels Matt. 3.17 Soe that they are owned as his choise portion with speciall love care and portection And thus hath he instructed his disciples and us in them about his father himselfe and themselves which as it might be a motive to deter all from harmeing them and to alure men to come and suffer themselves by the doctrine of Christ to be drawne forth of the field into this vineyard and so into Christ and a strong motive to those that are in Christ have of his word and spirit in them to abide and walke in him in the faith and love of him and submission to his teachings and to have his word spirit with al its opperationes abiding in them seeing they are in such a vine and have such a Husband man Againe As our Saviour had beene instructing his disciples so hee had been admonishing them in warning them of the danger of unfruitfulnesse and not abiding in him namely I. That while they abide in the beleife of him and his word enlightened to their hart and in fellowship with his and his word abideth in their hart there is a possibillity of bringing forth fruite to God Psal 78.5.6.7.8 Act. 28.27 Heb. 4.12 And in suffering its opperationes and yeelding up thertoo assurance of bringing forth fruit Rom. 12.1 2. Goll 3.16 Isa 48.18 As heere Vers 2.4.5.6 II. That not abiding in him and his word but suffering it either to be stollen away or not to have its opperation and rooting in the hart it is unpossible to bring forth fruit that will abide or be accepted Mat. 13.19.20.21 As heere Vers 5.6 III. That those to whom hee is made knowne and his word come and they brought to the vineyard and bring forth noe fruite God taketh away in withdrawing his light and spirit from them and soe closeth their eyes and giveth them up to hardnesse Ioh. 12.38.39.40.2 Thess 2.10 And casteth them forth even from the hart and spiritual fellowship of his living people Ier. 14.11 1. Ioh. 5.11 and 2.19 and manifesteth them 2. Tim. 3.9 Psal 12.5 IV. That when they are taken away and cast forth they wither and ar soone withered their moisture light zeale
on him and love him that so they might come to partake of this peculiar love Ioh. 11.42 and 17.21.22.23 and 20.31 As Iesus Christ set forth the privilledges of his disciples in the hearing of the multitude Mat. 5.3.8 That the multitude hearing the same might bee alured to become his disciples that so they might also come to partake of such priviledges II. More speciall and peculiar for such as by the spirit of grace are enabled through the Gospell in the knowledge of the propitiation made by Christ and the eternall life that is in him and the love of God in the gift of his son to believe the truth and goodnesse of the report of the Gospell so as there through they are convinced and emptied of their former delight and considences and alured and overcome to submit and come into Christ Rom. 6.17 Isa 55.4.5 Ioh. 6.44.45 And in believing receive from God through Christ remission of sins peace in conscience and accesse to God Act. 10.43 Rom. 5.1.2 Eph. 2.17.18 So as heerby they are enabled to believe both the redemption and reconciliation wrought in and by Christ with God which is in him and hee is and that reconciliation that by his spirit he worketh in men to God and the eternall life that is in him to bestow and in this believing to depend on him for the same and in that dependance to love both him and their brethren Rom. 5.6.7.8.11 and 4.22.25 1. Pet. 1.8.21.22.23 These though yet accumbred with such like infirmities as these disciples were are yet true believers in end lovers of Christ and built upon him and in the same condition and so loved even as they were as is evident by comparing our saviours profession to Peter and Peters aplication of the same to all unfeyned believers and lovers of Christ Mat. 16.16.17.18 With 1. Pet. 2.3.4.5.9 And our saviours promise to all so believing in and loving of him Ioh. 14.21.23 And this affirmation charge and direction is recorded for their learning that through patience and comfort of the scriptures they may have hope Rom. 15.4 And so not only know they are beloved but even so beloved of Iesus Christ even as the Apostle writ to those that believed and knew they had life that they might farther know this eternall life and their having of it and so believe more and more and have their joy full 1. Ioh. 5.10.11.12.13 and 1.4 with Ioh. 15.11 Object It seemes as if believers now could not have like assurance of such peculiar love and so such consolation in it as the e had to whom Christ spake it because they had it from Christ his owne mouth which none now can have because he is in heaven Ans This is a great mistake and wrong conception confuted by our saviour himself who before he lift the world did testifie that he would send another advocate and comforter even the Holy Spirit of truth in his stead and place to be with the believers for ever and that his Spirit should bring his words to their remembrance and teach them al things Ioh. 14.16.17.18.21.23.26 Yea soe as it should be noe dammage to them that he left the world and went to his Father but more gainfull to them then if he had not gone in bodily presence from them Joh. 16.7.8.15 And this Holy Spirit gives to believers a twofold knowledge of this peculiar love though not both alwayes at once and this he doth I. By making a man a believer glorifying Christ so in his hart as hee not only brings him to believe the propitiation made by him but in believing that love and goodnesse to depend on God in Christ for farther saving and for that eternall life that is in him 1. Pet. 1.21 Rom. 3.24 25. and 4.23 25. and 5.8 9 11. And therein effects love and a Christ-like disposition 2 Cor. 3.3 In which believing he gives them interest in Christ and in al that is Christ 1 Cor. 1.30 and 3.22 23. And such in their believing veiw of this affimation and invitation may know themselves so beloved and envited of Christ and have the same assurance and consolation thereof that these had to whom Christ spake If not somthing more then they had till after his assencion that they received the promise of the more abundant portion of the Holy Ghost compare Rom. 15.4.5 1 Joh. 5.10.13 with Joh. 16.7 15. and 30.31 II. By a more peculiar witnessing such love as this into their believing hart Rom. 8.15 16 17. By a supernaturall illumination and inspiration of his gracious word and promise into the hart in which hee cleares up and sheads abroad even this peculiar love more abundantly therein Ioh. 14.26 Rom. 5.5 Tit. 3.5 6. By which Spirit Christ doth manifest his presence with them acquaint them with the things of the Father and himselfe which gives more abundant consolation to the beleevers as it did to these when they received the same Joh. 14.21 23. and 16 13 14 15.7 Act. 2. Cant. 1.2 And to this end was this recorded that believers might know certainly their interest in this peculiar love and have the consolation of it waite therein for the more full peculiar testimony therof so great their consolation thereby From these three things thus observed Viz. That it is Jesus Christ that hath affirmed so great love c. And that it was affirmed to believers and that it is recorded for believers that they may know how they are beloved I. Al that reade and heare the same should be stirred up to obey and embrace the Gospell of Christ in which not only deliverance from sin and death is declared and tendered but also for such as doe believe such peculiar love and eternall life to be farther found in Christ and the greater grace it tenders the greater the sin and the more woful the condition of al that doe slight and disobey the cal thereof Act. 8.38.39.41 Hose 11 7. Heb. 2.3 and 12.25 2 Thes 1 8. Oh that men would believe and turne II. Believers have good cause to praise and glorify God for recording the affirmationes of and invitationes to such grace in the Gospell Rev. 22.16 17. And also to give the more ernest heed to this great love and to the invitation and direction for continuance therein seeing it is from Christ to them Heb. 2.1 4. And according to this threefold consideration vew the words themselves now in the words themselves are three things considerable I. Our Saviour serious affirmation of his love and the manner of it to his disciples As the Father hath loved me soe have I loved you II. His gracious exortation invitation or charge Continue yee in my love III. His sweet and safe direction how to continue in his love including a promise in it If yee keepe my commandments yee shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commands and abide in his love I. The first thing to be vewed in our Saviour serious
preferreth his son in honour that he honoureth all those that in the day of grace do honour him Ioh. 14 21 23 and 16 27. And will repay those that persist in hating him Psal 68. V. It is an eternall and everlasting love hee loved him from all eternity and to eternity hee is the prime elect Isa 42 1. Hee loved him before he tooke flesh and when he tooke flesh yea alwayes while he was heere on earth in all his temptationes poverties sufferings ministration death and resm rection and now at his right hand and so for ever Pro. 8 22 30. Luk. 1.30 32. Ioh. 5 20 27. Psal 2.6 and 16 6 7 c. And with such devine Fatherly love so free righteous delightfull satisfying abundant flowing hononrable and honouring and everlasting love hath the Father ever loved the son though it was not in all times so visible when he was heere on earth and ever doth and will thus love him and thus wee have some small discovery of that which in the excellency and perfection thereof is beyond all our conception much more beyond our expression his love being infeint and in comprehensible passing knowledge III. For the third thing viz. the affirmation it self as the Father hath loved mee so have I loved you this is the profession and explanation of his great love with the peculiar manner of his loving as the Father hath loved him viz. I. Not with a humane and worldly love to be testified after the manner of the world in advancing them and freeing them from sufferings in such glory fame good report honour riches authority friend-ship liberty among men as is in and of this world wherein they shall be falsely accused hated persecuted and have many tribulationes as hee had but in him they shall have peace and comfort as he had in his Father Mat. 10 17 25. Ioh. 14 27 and 15 18 21 and 16 32 33. II. Nor only with a love of compassion and extention of some fruites thereof for so he hath loved all men Psal 136 26 and 145 8 9. And so he loved them when they were his enemies Rom. 5 7 10. Nor yet only with such a peculiarity in this loving as to make them to know and enjoy the comfort of this his compassionate love in the giving himself a ransome for them and the peace the patience the bownty the supports and supplies there through vouchsafed them in all their needs and trials so as they may experiment his love and tender mercy in the same Psal 116 1.2.8 Rom. 5 2 4 1 Cor. 3 10 Wherein he tenders them in some sort because of their weaknesse more then himself on earth was Psal 22 6 7. And though this love of compassion made knowne and enjoyed be sweete gracious and opperative love yet this love is higher and more peculiar Tit. 3 4 5 6 7. Yet III. Not such a love or so loving as admits no cloud darkenings or eclipses from the knowledge or perception of the beloved after the first appearance till the harvest or fulnesse of enjoyment but such as betweene the first appearance and the full comming in of the harvest may admit some clouds hidings and eclipses for a season 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Heb. 12 6 7. Isa 8.17 18. Cant. 3.1 4 and 5 8 21. But with such a devine spirituall and peculiar love as in which his Father loveth him his son he loveth those that believe on him and love him I. With a most free and righteous love hee hath loved and doth love them most freely not for any worth or desert or any excellency found in them or those from whom they received their first birth for they were so far from having any thing deserving love that they were full of such filth as deserved hatred yea such as could not bee taken of without his dieing for them which he did even while they were his enemies Ezek. 16 1 9. Rom. 5 8 10. And notwithstanding he still found them sinfull and rebellious to the day of his call 1 Tim. 1 12 13 14 15. Coll. 1.13 21 22. Yea even when he set his eye on them to take them to himself and for his owne he found them in their filth and bloud and in onenesse and fellowship with the world and yet did hee freely set his love on them and by his Spirit washed them from their sins in his owne bloud and graciously chose them out of the world Ezek. 16 6. Rec. 1 5. Ioh. 15 16 19. Tit. 3.3 4 5 6. So that his love is altogether free and as it is free so it is righteous hee having offered the sacrifice and presented his bloud to his Father so as mercy and truth are met and by vew of his bloud purged their consciences and presenting them in himself to the Father who counts them righteous it him hee loving them with a righteous love Psal 85.10.11 Heb. 9.12 14. And also Hee in this freenesse of his love having given his promise hee is righteous to perform hee is also so righteous in loveing that he will treasure up and not forget but both make prosperous and also recompense every fruite and worke of his own Spirit in them and that according as his grace prevailes in them and leads them to yeild up themselves and their members therein and thereto in the services and sufferings of love for him and their brethren and this also hee doth freely and for his own sake Cant. 5.1 Heb. 6.10 2 Cor. 9.6 Gall. 6.8 Mat. 10 41 42. Psal 19.11 1 Cor. 2.9 II. With a most delightfull and well-pleased love he hath set his delight and taketh pleasure in them Psal 16.3 33 18. and 149.4 And is well-pleased with them as they are in him and have him living in them Ioh. 15.1.9 Gall. 2 20. And soe with all that which by his Spirit hee worketh in them and which through that Spirit hee causeth them to doe in prayers prayses and services of love Jer. 9 24. Prov. 15.8 Yea so delightful is he in this his love and so well-pleased that he hath set his desire and placed his rest for an habitation in and with them Cant. 4.9 10. Psal 132 13 14. Yea so as hee affords them satisfying and well-pleasednesse in this his well-pleasednesse with them Psal 23. and 30 3 4 5. and 116.1.2 10. III. With a most abundant and flowing love his love so flowing on them that he hath them ever before him and his gracious eye upon them Psal 34 15. So that hee sets them as the seale upon his hart and as the seale on his arm Cant. 8.6 And hath graven them upon the palmes of his hands Isa 49 16 So that hee worketh al their works in them and doth all his works for them and causeth all to work together for good to them Isa 26 12. Psal 138 8 Rom. 8 28 Yea so as in due season he imparteth all his counsells and maketh them to know his mind and all his works Ioh. 15
in thee to encline thee to repentance of thy sins and to believe in Christ how sayest thou didst thou never meete with his Spirit thus moving to have drawne thee to Christ yea doth he not now stir when these things are put to thy remembrance sure in these seasons hee is calling thee and striving with thee to draw thee hee is taking the yoke from of thy jawes and laying meate before thee wherefore though thou be blind and deafe and lame yet now looke and heare and rise and do not refuse or withdraw from his Spirits opperationes for he hath powre to bring thee in and if thou do turne in at his reproofes and turnings he will powre forth Spirit on thee and make known his gracious words unto thee Ier. 2 5 6 30. Mich. 2 7. Rev. 3.20 Gen. 6.3 Hos 11.3.4 Mat. 23.37 Isa 42.18 Pro. 1.23 2 Cor. 6.1.2 It is thy refusall and withdrawing in these seasons that endangers thee to the great condemnation Oh therefore turne not from him that first speakes from heaven deprive not thy self of such precious mercy and life Ioh. 3.19 1 Cor. 2.3 and 12.25 But if others will by following lying vanities forsake their owne mercies and in such seasons for worldly causes hang back and loose their owne soules Iona. 2.8 Mat. 16.24.25 Yet thou that art pinched with and troubled for thy sins and afraid of wrath and death and hast assayed many wayes in workings of thy owne to find peace and life and not attamed but art weary and heavy laden Oh let the tidings of this grace and love of Christ and all these motives therefrom prevaile with thee to let go all thy other hopes and desires and repent and believe the Gospell acknowledge the grace of Christ and submit and harken to him and yeild to his gracious call and opperationes who calleth thee by name and he will give the rest and life Mat. 11 27 28. Isa 55.1 3 and 61 1 2 3. Psal 34.8 Tast and see hee is gracious Vse III. This also may be an admonition to all men believers and others to beware of udging of Gods hatred or love towards any man or of the miserablenesse or happinesse of any mans Spirituall and eternall condition by a mans having or wanting being rich or pore in the honour riches friendship powre or good report among men seeing this love of God that makes happy is not like that of the world nor so testified and knowne all things of that nature comming alike to all good and bad Eccless 9.1 2 3. Such as are very dear to God may in all these outward things be very pore Iam. 2.5 As Iob and such may be very rich as David Salomon c. And such as live in ignorance unbeliefe and impenitencie may be very pore and such may bee very rich Iam. 5.1.6 Ier. 5.4.5 And so may men given up of God be also very pore Iud. 1.6.7 And such also may be very rich in these outward things Ier. 12.1.2 Iob. 21.22 So that by these things love or hatred cannot be knowne only correctiones by afflictiones meeting with a man to prevent his sinning or humbling and turning from sin are found most often on those God most loves Heb. 12.7 Hose 4.14 Wherefore to judge a mans self or others simply by such outward povertie or riches fulnesse or want prosperity or adversity is very unsafe and the way to justify the wicked and condemne the generation of the just Psal 73.1.15 And therefore to be shunned of us Ioh. 7.24 Yet doth not this hinder but that the receite of such outward favours as they are fruites of Gods tender compassiones and his love and faith-fulnesse to his redeemed one 's procured and sanctified through the bloud and grace of Christ and the receiver in beholding that grace made more humble in himself and enlarged thereby to give thanks to God and shew forth his love to brethren and compassiones to men more abundantly are testimonies of favour from God and of grace in the receivers Psal 145.8 9 and 136.24 25 and 111.5 and 75 3. 1 Tim. 4.4 5. 2 Sam. 7 18 19. 2 Cor. 9.8.15 And also correctiones for offences received as from the hand of a gracious God and as sanctified through the bloud of Christ in which the receiver is humbled to the acknowledgement of his owne sinfulnesse and Gods righteousnesse and so more submitted to the teachings of grace corruption more mortified and he more conformed to Christ are arguments of favour to the receiver Pro. 3.11 12. Heb. 12.5.11 Iam. 1.12 Whereas when a man prospers in outward things growing proud and persisting in evil more abundantly thereby It is an argument of displeasure from God and wickednesse in man Psal 73.5 6 7 8 9 18. and 92.6 7. And so likewise is it for men to be followed with judgements therein to grow hard and desperate in persisting in evil wayes Exod. 7. c. Isa 26.10 11. Though still outward prosperity or adversity bee of themselves neither prooses of love nor of hatred in God Vse IV. This likewise may bee both an admonition and motive to such as are babes and yet but weake in the saith of Christ who through some spiritual discoveries of the grace of Christ in the Gospell have been helped in some measure to deny and goe out of themselves and to receive the Gospell so as in some measure they believe in Christ and love him and yet are but weake and lyable to many insirmities as the disciples at the time of this love affirmed were To you I say seeing this is recorded and spoken for your sakes that you may know what portion you have in Christ Jesus and with what love you are beloved of him as is before shewne Oh be warned and moved to looke for this love Oh do not sit downe and rest in this that you have seene his love to man-ward and experimented his compassiones to you and found some peace in your consciences in receipt of remission of sins and some accesse to the throne of grace though this be sweet and precious but waite through the Spirit in dependance on him and in this considence seeke ernestly in supplication and use of his appointed meanes in attending to the Gospell to have your faith established in his peculiar love of delight and well-pleasednesse Rom. 5.1 5. Heb. 6. 1. Gall. 5.5 Psal 105.1 8 and 106 4 5. Eph. 1.17.20 And give all diligence by excercising and walking in faith and love and yeelding too and bringing forth the fruites of the Spirit and waiting at his posts that you may have this speciall love of Christ more cleared and assured to you 2 Pet. 1.5 11. Heb. 6.11 Isa 55.1.5 Pro. 8.34.35 And to that end suffer not your hart by any meanes to fall back to the love of the world and the things thereof 1 Ioh. 2.15.16 Neither desire to be loved of Iesus Christ as the world loveth her friends Ioh. 14.27 and 15 19 20. Nor to
Fathers commands Secondly For the things expressed they are fully and plainly affirmed which should bee to us proofe sufficient yet for better usefulnesse wee may veiw them that wee may the more profitably believe them I. The first of them is that Jesus Christ hath kept his Fathers commands not only those that apertained to his own person as hee had taken our nature and had a soule and body like us and was made under the law for us which law hee also perfectly kept and fulfilled and so in that respect was altogether without sin and perfectly righteous Which is greatly for our benefit 2 Cor. 5.21 1 Pet. 2.22 and 3.18 Heb. 7.26.27 But also as that heere specially ment and which wee are heere especially to heed he hath kept those commands which the Father gave him in respect of his office and mediatorship for which hee so fitted him and which were so peculiar to him and needfull for us that hee should performe 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Heb. 10.7.19 In respect whereof hee is also the just one and faithfull and perfectly righteous in fulfilling them 1 Ioh. 2.1.2 and 1.9 And that hee hath kept these commands is evident I. By the plain affirmation of Scripture In respect of the first command that he gave himself a ransome for all men by the grace of God tasted death for every man 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 Hee humbled himself and became obedient to the death even the death of the crosse Phill. 2.8 Died for our sins and was buried and rose againe the third day according to the scriptures 1 Cor. 15 3.4 In respect of the other command a testimony in due time 1 Tim. 2.6 Hee is the true light which lighteth every man that commeth into the world Ioh. 1.9 He taught in their sinagogues c. Luk. 4.14 15 22. He taught and advocated for his disciples and gave his Fathers words to them and sent and sendeth forth Spirit from his Fathers right hand Act. 2.33 Eph. 4.7 8 12. And was and is faithful to him that appointed him as a son over his owne house to edify preserve consolate and glorify them Heb. 3.1 6. Isa 61.1.4 II. By his own testimonie both by words and deedes by word he said I will give my flesh for the life of the world I lay downe my life that I might take it againe this commandment have I received c. The Father gave mee a commandment what I should fay and what I should speake therefore even as the Father said unto mee so I speake I have saith hee to his Father sinished the work which thou gavest mee to doe I have manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest mee Ioh. 6.51 and 10.17 and 12 49.50 and 17 4 6. By deed lie went out of the house and over the brooke and into the garden and offered himself to those that came to apprehended him and died and rose and ascended and sent forth of the Holy Ghost c. Ioh. 14.31 and 18 1 4 c. Act. 1 and 2. III. By the testimony of his Father that Jesus is his son in and with whom hee is well-pleased bidding all to looke to him and heare him and assureth that hee is full of Spirit and will not faile in whatever appertaineth to him to doe Mat. 3.17 and 17 5. Isa 42.1.8 IV. By the evidence and witnesse of the Holy Ghost of whom it is said the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father hee shall testifie of mee Ioh. 15.26 And so is the Holy Ghost a witnesse of these things whom God hath given to them that obey him Act. 5.32 God also bearing witnesse with signes and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his owne will Heb. 2.4 Yea the Holy Ghost will so evidence the righteousnesse of Christ in his perfect keeping of these commands that he will reprove the world of sin because they believed not on Christ that had ransomed them and received Spirit and sent forth light to bring them to believe And he will enable such as are turned in his reproofes to believe on Christ 1 Pet. 1.21.22 And will farther glorify Christ in the harts of believers and guide them into all truth Ioh. 16.13.15 That they may know him in respect of his faithfulnesse in these commands to be all wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption for and to them an all life and good in them 1 Cor. 1.30 Coll. 1.27 and 2 3 9 10 and 3.11 V. By the experiments of those that are taught of God who in the knowledge and beliefe of this grace met with in Christ his keeping these commands for us have seene and experimented that through his obedience and faithfulnesse in the first command having offered himselfe in sacrifice for the sin of the world It is that the earth is preferved that life is reprived that Gods patience and long-suffering is extended and that mercies and bownty are dayly renewed and the foundation of repentance laid and the doore of hope and life opened to them Psal 75.3 Act. 17.28 Rom. 1.16 With. 2.4 Lam. 3.22.23 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Tim. 4.10 And that through his faithfulnesse in the other command making known and aplying by his Spirit the vertue of his bloud to them and working by his Spirit in them it is that they believe in him and love him that they enjoy remission of sins peace with God joye in the Holy Ghost knowledge of their sonship support in tryalls refreshing in ordinances fellowship with God and brethren hope of glory c. Rom. 4.24 25. and 5.1 11. Phill. 1.29 1 Pet. 1.21.22 Rom. 14.17 18. 1 Ioh. 1.1 2.3 4 7. Psal 36.8 65.4 So that from their experments they can set too their seale that hee is true Ioh. 3 32.33 Rom. 8.1 2 3 4. VI. By the witnesse of all those faithfull ministers of the word that have this gracious testimony inspired to their hart who beare record of this Gospel that declareth this which Christ hath done and is at his Fathers right hand ready to do knowing they declare no fable and that where this is faithfully declared they are witnesses and in such witnesse bearing Christ sends forth the Holy Ghost to enlighten and beare witnesse to others that they may believe 2 Cor. 5.18.19 Act. 5.31 32 and 10 44. 1 Pet. 1.12 Mat. 28.20 1 Ioh. 1.4.6 So that it clearly and many wayes appeares that Iesus Christ hath kept his Fathers commandments this being encluded in that great misterie 1 Tim. 3.16 II. The second thing expressed is that Iesus Christ in keeping his Fathers commandments did abide in his Fathers love So that I. In keeping these commandments even while he was made low and under law for our sakes and did humble himself to be made pore and to die for us yea in all his sufferings he went through whose love soever he lost and of whatsoever he was deprived and whosoever hated and persecuted him yet in all his Fathers love and
well-pleasednesse was with him his delight was in him his presence with him and his purpose of glorifying him firme unmoveable and inseparable yea even when the shines and appearances of his love and delightfull fellowship were withdrawne and hidden from him and he for our sakes so far left as to feele the punishment of our sins which he suffered yet even then did the Father love him yea and also therefore love him Heb. 29. Phill. 2.6 7 9 10. Ioh. 16.32 end 10.17 And in his ministration of the Gospell and communication of Spirit and all the opperationes thereof in the harts of his people the Father is well-pleased with him and as he hath accepted his sacrifice and ransome for the sons of men so he accepteth all his Spirituall offerings and opperationes in the harts of believers acquainting them with and drawing and presenting them before his Father Isa 42.1.2.8 Psal 20.3 Ioh. 17.1 8 and 5 19 37. In all loving him II. In keeping these his Fathers commandments hee himself tooke delight in and was well-pleased in and with his Fathers love not desiring other loves favour riches pomp or Kingdome nor being troubled for being deprived of them or any of them having all his satisfying and content in the love and well-pleasednesse of his Father alwayes being well-pleased with him Ioh. 4.32 34 and 5 43 44 and 10.30 Psal 40.8 Ioh. 14.31 and 16 32. III. In all trials that befell him on earth in keeping these commandments this his Fathers love and well-pleasednesse with him and his delight and satisfying therein found had its perfect working with him carrying him through all labours and sufferings so as he neither drew back from any part of the first command Heb. 12.2 Isa 50.5.6.7 Nor did nor will faile in the other command to fulfill all righteousnesse Isa 42.1.2.8 IV. In all this his so keeping these commands through all he met on earth he retained the beliefe and held fast the confidence he had in his Fathers love with assurance of being upheld and in due season to see the travell of his soul and to be glorified with the glory he had with his Father before the world was Isa 50.5 6 7 and 53 8 11. Ioh. 17.1.2.3 And now being glorified at his Fathers right hand remaineth there Advocating for and sending forth Spirit to his people waiting till all his enemies be made his footstoole when he will take his great powre and raigne being the well-beloved of his Father Psal 110. 1 Ioh. 2.1.2 Eph. 4.7.12 Rev. 11.17 Thus hath Iesus Christ kept these his Fathers great commandments and abode in his love which might be of much use to us I. To informe us of the great love of Christ to us that hath undertaken and performed these so great needfull and fit commands to be done by him for us and of the great love of God in the gift of his son to fulfill such commandments for us and so loving and accepting him in the keeping of them Gall. 2.20 1 Ioh. 4.9 10 and 3 16. Rom. 8.32 and 5 6 11. 2 Cor. 3.18 and 4.6 And of the full and perfect saluation that is to be found in Jesus Christ that great saluation hee hath wrought in his owne body for men and that healthfull and eternall saluation which by his Spirit applying the former hee worketh in those that believe on him and love him 1 Ioh. 4.14 1 Pet. 2.24 Heb. 5.8 9 and 7 24 25. II. To exort us to looke to him and to that hee hath done and that which apertaines to him to doe to believe both and to accept and receive the one and to depend one and submit to him for and in the other Isa 42.1.8 and 45.22.23 and 55.1.6 Rom. 4.24 25. and 5.1.6 11. and 6. to the end And soc to love him and it love to receive and highly prize this his direction and promise to follow and walke in the one and to depend one and wayte for the other And so wee come to the third thing in this point which is that heer also affirmed by our Saviour that As he hath kept his Fathers commands and abode in his love so if wee keepe his commandements wee shal abide in his love In which are contained two things clearly set forth Viz. FIrst A sweet and healthfull direction how to continue in his love namely I. In keeping his commandments II. In keeping them as hee kept his Fathers commandements Secondly A comfortable promise that so keeping his commands they shall abide in his love First the healthfull direction hath three things in it to be opened and understood for our better use-fulnesse I. The commands of Jesus Christ to believers heere-ment what they are II. The keeping of them of which hee heere speaketh what that is III. The manner of keeping as he kept his Fathers commands what that is I. For the first of these to know rightly what the commandements of Jesus Christ to believers heere-ment are livers things may be considered Consider I. That there bee commandements of divorts sorts mencioned in the Scripture as to instance the chiefe of them There are I. Such commands as by the grace of creation by Christ and by the grace of redemption wrought in and by Christ in his own body and the common frultes thereof all men are bound with all their powers and in and by that strength that at any time hath beene given into their naturall powres by God to perform to the utmost in performance of which if noe fayling bee found they shall have life but the least fayling therein if but once in any part of any one command doth alwayes leave a man in and of himself under sinne and death the wages thereof and by these commandements are all men found under the guilt of sinne and under the powre of curse and death even al those that sight against and run crosse to these commands al those also who doe their utmost to make themselves righteous in and by the keeping of them Rom. 2.12.14 and 3.10 20. and 6.23 and 10.5 Gall. 3.10 Ieb 9.22 30 33. And the trespasses which these commandments doe charge mankind withall and which through the fall they were necessitated to commit and left without devine powre to help themselves were all laid on Jesus Christ who mas manifested to take them away and to make propitiation for the sins of the world Isa 53.2 6. 2 Cor. 5.19.21 1 Ioh. 3 4 5. and 2.2 Ioh. 1.29 And under this law of commandments was Jesus Christ made for those that were under it Gall. 4.4 And hee himselfe and hee only did altogether and alwayes fulfille it so as it could charge him with no sinne of his own commission but only with our sins against it in that hee was made under that law for us so as al his whole suffering and sacrifice was for us 1 Pet. 2.22.24 and 3 18. 2 Cor. 5.21 And to this law hath he perfectly satisfied in respect of himselfe in fulfiling it
life chestity wealth and good name of any one in desire word and deed 1 Tim. 1.6 Eph. 5.20 30 and 6. Coll. 3.5.10 1. Thess 5.15 And many such like precepts and more over precepts for to delight ones self in God and rejoyce in Christ Iesus Psal 37.4 Phill. 4.4 To pray and give thanks in the name of Christ Iesus Joh. 16.24.26 1 Thes 5.17.19 To love one another even as Christ Iesus hath loved us and to walk in that love Eph. 5.1.2 1 Joh. 4.11 And so to beare each others infirmities and burthens seeking each others good and preferring them in love before our selves Rim. 15.1.3 Gall. 6.2 Phill. 2.4.5 Rom. 12.10 To hold forth the word of life by an Holy confession and unblameable conversation before all men Mat. 10.28 Phill. 2.16 To edefy one another in our Holy faith and to preserve in and stir up each other to love and good works 1 Thes 5.11.14 Ind. 20.21 Heb. 10.24 To yeeld up all our members to God to fulfill all these sayings and motiones of his Spirit Rom. 12.1.2 Phill. 2.1.2.6 Gall. 5.24 1 Thes 5.19 To beare the reproach of Christ with patience and faithfulnesse to the death Heb. 13.13 Rev. 2.10 And to waite for the comming of Christ c. 2 Pet. 3.12 All these and such like precepts leading us to yeeld up our selves as servants to Christ and in and for him to his people doing all things to Christ that are contained and expressed in the Gospell Coll. 3.17.23 And yet also so expressed as in the Gospell appeares I. That these particular precepts are not in respect of the obligation such or so given as the law of works enjoyneth that is to fulfill them by our wisedome and in our owne strength Rom. 8.3 and 10.5 Or to make our selves righteous before God in and by the keeping of them Gall. 2.21 Rom. 10.3 Or to get Christ and his righteousnesse or life or the enheritance by our keeping of them Rom. 9.16.31.32 Gall. 3.18.21 Rom. 11.6 and 4.1.2 But in the declaration of the saluation so wrought by Christ and the righteousnesse and life to be found in him to shew what is suitable walking therein and thertoo and what his mind is concerning such as believe for working in them and leading of them that so believing him our righteousnesse wee might looke to him and depend on him to work all this in us and for us so leading us in his strength to performe them all Tit. 2.11.14 1 Thes 4.1.2.3 1 Ioh. 3.16 and 4 9 10 11 12. 1 Thes 5.23.24 Isa 26.12 Psal 138.8 II. That the way to performe these particular precepts is not by a first setting our eyes on them and so striving to doe them because we ought to do them and that wee may so do that wee ought to do 1 Sam. 2.9 Iosh 24.19 Den. 5.29 Zach. 4.6.7 Pro. 3.6.7 But first to looke to that which Jesus Christ hath done and suffered for us and that he hath promised to us that there-through believing in him wee may love him and one another and so walke in that faith and love wherein all contained in those particular precepts will be effected in us his Spirit leading us to the same 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4. Joh. 7.38.39 2 Cor. 3.17.18 Rom. 8.2.14 Gall. 5.16.18 So that faith and love appeare by this to be the commandements heere-ment being so contained and expressed in the Gospell yea as the summe of all the patterne of whole some words therein 2 Tim. 1.13 Yet is not this expression enough unlesse wee take in the next namely that the commandements of Christ to his disciples as they are contained and expressed in the Gospell Soe II. They are put with the Gospell by the Spirit into the harts of believers Ier. 31.33 Heb. 8.10 First it is to be noted that when God calleth men to Christ by the Gospell and doth by his Spirit enlighten their harts in the knowledge of his insinit grace in Christ so as hee in glorifying Christ and the word of his grace to them causeth them to admire and glorifie Christ and the word of grace and so draweth them to Christ that they run to him and hee meeteth and receiveth them then doth Jesus Christ not only manifest by Spirit with supper naturall light and Spirituall evidence and demonstration his love and his Fathers love and gracious mind and so the truth and goodnesse oâ— his Gospell or word of grace but also by a Spirituall it spiration enfusion and devine powre doth enter his grace and gracious word into their hart so as he causeth them to understand believe and love it and so to receive it that it takes place and seates it self in their hart Act. 2.3 Isa 55.5.6 Joh. 6.37.45 Mat. 16.16 17. Heb. 10.32 Act. 13.48 Joh. 1.11 12 13 and 17 2 â— 1 Cor. 2.4.5 14 15 16. 2 Cor. 3.3 18 and 4 6. Psa 36.9 and 119 130. Whence this word is called also the ingrafted word able to save Iam. 1.21 And said to bee pâ—â—â— in them 2 Cor. 5.19 And received of them 1 Thes 2.13 And to bee in them Joh. 15. Now when Jesus Christ doâ—â— thus put his word into a believing hart he doth also thereby effect and give a new hart and in that new hart doth Jesus Christ put or write his commandements 2 Cor. 3.3 Heb. 8.6.10 Causing and enabling them in and through their beliefe and receite of the word of grace and so of that which Christ hath done for them when they were his enemies and hath in the heavenly call done in them and is now able and ready to do for them being called to believe and depend on him for saving them by his life and communicating eternall life to them Rom. 5.1.10 1 Ioh. 2.24.25 1 Pet. 1.21 And so to worke in them and for them all that which in the precepts of the Gospell is required of them Jsa 26.12 Psal 138.8 1 Cor. 1.8.9 1 Thess 5.24 And to conferre on them all that which in the promises of the Gospell is set before them Rom. 4.20 24. 1 Tim. 1.12 And this faith or believing and dependance on him for all this is the first and great commandement put by Christ into the hart of the believer Phill. 1.29 1 Pet. 1.21 And in this beliefe in Iesus is contained and by his Spirit given and effected and in the believing hart in some measure experimented the springing up of all before-said Viz. Repentance in change of the mind estimate and thoughts of God an himselfe of sinne and of righteousnesse with griefe for his misconceiptiones and miscarriages and a turning the hart to Christ and to God in Christ beeing the first steppe in believing in Christ Luk. 24.47 Act. 5.31 With 10.43 and 26.18 20. Mat. 21.32 and 9.3 Submission to Christ in receiving his reproofe and letting all goe that hee reproveth and discovereth vile and vaine and yeilding to him for life and guidance Rom. 10.3 10. Phill. 3.3 7 8. Eph. 5.24 2 Cor.
also an unfeyned love of our brother 2 Cor. 5.14 1 Ioh. 4.21 1 Pet. 1.22 From both which commands writ in the hart aptly springs up all contained in the particular precepts of the Gospell as is before shewne Ioh. 4.13 and 7 38 39. And walking in this faith and love in minding the precepts and veiw of the opportunities the motiones to go according to the mind of Christ will aptly spring up so as one may go one serving in newnesse of Spirit and not in oldnesse of letter Pro. 6.20 21 22 23. Ioh. 3.16 17. Rom. 12.2 and 7 6 25 and 8 1 2. So that from this whole consideration that the commands of Christ to his disciples are such commands as are contained and expressed in the Gospell and put with the Gospell by Christ into the hart of the believer and do naturally and aptly spring up in the believe of the Gospell it appeares that believing in Iesus Christ and loving our brother are the commands of Christ heere ment Consider III. The commandments of Ghrist to his disciples are such as are suitable to the commendements himselfe hath performed for them Pro. 3.1.13 Heb. 3.8.9 1 Cor. 6.20 Now hee in fulfilling the commandements hee received of the Father for us having taken away our sinnes and dyed our death and soe purchased us and wrought salvation for us and by his Gospell and Spirit sent forth having made knowne this salvation to us and in aplying it evidenced himselfe to bee our righteousnesse and life and ready and able eternally to save us 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Ioh. 3.5 Heb. 5.9 Suitable heerto it is that wee abhoring our sinnes and denying our selves our wisedome righteousnesse strength with all that is ours and all fleshly delights and considences to accept of him for all and so to believe in trust too and depend on him for all grace righteousnesse life and safety 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Phil. 3.3.4.7 8 9.10 1 Pet. 1.13.14 Gall 1.20 And hee having so loved us suitable it is that wee should so love one another 1 Ioh. 3.16 Eph. 5.2 So that in this consideration it also apeares That believing in Iesus Christ and loving our Brother are the commandments of Christ heere ment Consider IV. The commandements of Christ to his disciples are such commandements as he hath given into their harts and cannot nor are otherwise required to bee kept then as they are in the hart whence believers confesse that they have received the command from him 1 Ioh. 4.21 And hee is said to write them in their harts Heb. 8.10 And the commandement is true in him and in them 1 Ioh. 2.8 The law without was engraven in tables of stone and writ in leaves but the Epistle of Christ is writ by his Spirit in the hart 2 Cor. 3.3.7 The law without leaves under sinno and death but Christs law within affords life 2 Cor. 3.6.7.8 9 10. Whence Christ saith hee that hath my command ments and keepeth them hee it is that loveth mee Ioh. 14.21 In which consideration it apeareth that faith and love Which all Christs disciples have Coll. 1 4. and are to keepe and walke in Heb. 3.14 Are the commandments heere ment And yet that this may bee moore evident some proofes heerof may be considered Proofe I. These two commandements of faith and love as they are contained in the Gospell and spring from the Gospel believed so they contayne the whole summe of the patterne or forme of healthfull and sound words which the Gospel requireth of us 2 Tim. 1.14 And of all that which the Gospell believed springeth up in the hart 1 Ioh. 5.13 Ioh. 20.31 1 Ioh. 3.1.3 and 4 19 21. Whence the commandment is called the word of the Gospell it selfe believed 1 Ioh. 2 7. And the Gospell is called the commandment which in hart believed that which is said before of Christ his keeping his Fathers commandements is by believers found true in him and that which is said in consideration the second of faith and love springing up in the hart the believers find true in them because the darknesse is past and the true light now shineth 1 Ioh. 2.8 And so in respect of the Gospell put in the hart it is called the old command and that which was at first heard and received from Christ and which quickeneth and in respect of its Spirituall entrance receipte and abiding and the faith and love springing up therefrom it is called the new commandement being allwayes greene and flourishing so that the believer may thereby bring out of the good treasurie of his hart things new and old Mat. 13.52 Which according to all the considerationes proveth faith and love to bee the commandements heere ment Proofe II. These two commandements of faith and love are the commendements which God giveth unto and putteth in the hart of his children Ier. 31.33 Phill. 2.29 Eph. 2.8.10 They are the commandements of God the Father when he calleth and uniteth men to his son Jesus Christ causing them to beliefe on the name of his son Jesus Christ and to love one another as his son hath given commandement 1 Ioh. 3.23 and 4 21. And they are the commandements expresly given by Iesus Christ to all his disciples when he makes knowne his Father to them to believe on him for eternall life Ioh. 12.36 and 14 1. And to love one an other as hee hath loved us Ioh. 13.34 and 15 12. And these are also the very commandements which the Holy Ghost putteth into the harts of believers 1 Pet. 1.21.22 1 Ioh. 3.21.24 So that these two commandements of faïth and love are evident to be the commandements heere ment Proofe III. All labouring to attaine and fulfill in performance any or all other particular preceipts of law or Gospell which flowes not from and is not acted through this believing in the name of Iesus and love of the brethren whatsoever endeavours and services they bee and how and to what end soever otherwise done whether To please God and get boldnesse with him or to get therethrough the righteousnesse of God and so Christ and faith in him and love to brethren or to assure themselves by such attainments and observances of a peculiar interest in Christ even all whatsoever so done to comfort themselves therewith all of it I say as the scripture shewes I. It is but a serving of God according to the oldnesse of the letter and so leaves the doores thereof under sin and curse and the feare of both Rom. 7.6 25 and 8 2 7. Gall. 3.10 Tit. 1.9.10.15 Ioh. 3.5.6 II. The doers thereof do therein and thereby deprive themselves of and hold themselves out from enjoyment of Christ and unfeyned faith in him and love of brethren Rom. 9 32. and 10.3.4.1 Sam. 2 9. Zach. 4.6 Psal 107.11.12 Ecclez 15.16 and 16.15 III. They deceive themselves and are deceived in all that which by such observances and ataynments they judge themselves by to bee in Christ and to have peculiar interest in
c. A gracious comfortable and large promise which that wee may the better understand it there are fowre things to be heeded about it I. What that is to which the promise is made to believers II. On what or whome the performance of the promise depends III. Who and what a one hee is that hath so promised IV. What the promise it self is and what it containes I. For the first that to and according to which the promise is made is the keeping of Christ his commandements in truth and uprightnesse according to the grace given and which wee have received of him for so are his words If yea keepe my commandements yea shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commandements and abide in his love These words even as appeare to point out the assurance and the example and the similitude to which our keeping must be comformed but not tying our keeping to that degree of perfection that was in his keeping there is a perfection of truth and parts which as it was in his keeping so it is required in ours and that is set downe before and this is the similitude and likenesse pointed out in the words Even as But as for persection of degree that was peculiar to him and his keeping the commandements as is a little before shewne and this not so imposed heere Besides Hee hath appointed meanes for those to whom this promise is made both to grow one to more fruitfulnesse and toward perfection Ioh. 15 1 8. And helps to get recovery in failings to rise againe and proceed to the enjoyment of this promise which he would not have done if the promise had beene only to perfection of degree in the keeping of his commandements 1 Ioh. 1 3 4 7 9 and 2 1 2. More-over he spakes not this to feare them or put them to a maze as it would have beene if he had tyed his promise to the perfection of degree in the keeping his commands but he expresly saith he spake this that his joy might bee in them and that their joy might be full Ioh. 15.11 And else where it is said if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to what a man hath and this both in the endeavours and fruites 2 Cor. 9 12. Mat. 10 40 41 42. So that it is the truth and manner of keeping according to grace received too and according to which the promise is made so that the weakest believer so giving himself to walk in faith and love as a foresaid may have this consolation and looke for this promise Gall. 5.5 II. For the second upon whom the performance of this consolation and promise dependeth and that is on himself and the faithfulnesse and powre of him that hath promised yea shall abide in my love 1 Thess 5.24 Who hath engaged himself to preserve them and worke all their works for them and give life to them Ioh. 6 40 and 14 19. Isa 26.12 Psal 138.8 So as they may depend on him both to enable them to keepe his commandements and also to make good this promise to them and be disappointed in neither 1 Pet. 2.6 And this is very comfortable to the weakost believers walking in faith and love III. For the third thing who and what a one hee is that hath so promised that is Jesus Christ the Son of God Chap. 14.9 and 15 1. I have loved you and yea shall abide in my love This is hee who is the mighty God and the truth it selfe that is one in the Father and the Father in him who so loved us that he came down from Heaven and tooke our nature and bare our sins and curse and offered himself in sacrifice to God to worke redemption and salvation for us Tit. 2.13 14. Ioh. 14 6 10. 1 Pet. 2.24 and 3 18. 1 Tim. 2.6 And ascended to heaven and received Spirit to apeare in Heaven for us and sent forth Spirit to us to worke salvation in us Heb. 9 24. Psal 68.18 21. Eph. 4 7 16. Unto whom the Father hath given all powre and authority Heb. 8 1. Who is full of love to us and faithfulnesse for us Heb. 3.1.6 So as we may sasely depend on him for this promise IV. For the fourth thing What the promise it selfe is and what it containes the promise it selfe is Yea shall abide in my love if yea keepe my commandements yea shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commands and abide in his love So that the causing us to abide in his love is the promise And it contaynes three things clearly I. The having us in his peculiar love not only to love us but to love us with peculiar and choyse love surely forbearing to smite us and to cease from all his wrath towards such unworthy ones as wee were Great favour and our demeanour well considerd reason might say as much as were meete for us to aske of him Psal 85 3 4 5. But to shew forth his compassionate love in the redemption wrought for mankind and there-through to bring in to receive romission of sins what abundant grace and favour is this Act. 10.43 Rom. 3.25 Tit. 3 4 5. But to love us with such peculiar and delightfull love as the Father loveth him this is more abundant but to have us so in that choyse love of his as to compasse us with it that we should be in his bosome and as the seale in his hart in all his choyse delight will and purposes and as the seale on his arme in all his choyse workings and all for good to us Oh what hart can desire more or be able to desire so much Can. 8.6 7 9. It exeedes the desires of the hart And yet is this contained in this promise II. The abiding in this love surely one dayes enjoyment of this love were better then a thousand dayes enjoyment of all the loves and contentments this world can afford yea the deprivation of all these loves and contents a thousand dayes might befully satisfied for with one dayes enjoyment of this his peculiar love Psal 84 6 10. Yea surely a sight and tast heerof will take and ravish with sweetnesse the soule that seeth and tasteth this peculiar love 2 Sam. 7.18 19 20. Cant. 1 2 3. But to dwell and abide and have ones habitation in it who can expresse it Psal 91 1 2 c. Or be able with the eye of his hart unlesse much streng-thened by the Holy Ghost to veiw it yea even then also it will be veiwed incomprehensible Eph. 1 17 20 and 3 14 19. And yet is this the love contained in this promise III. The flowing and encreasing of this love upon us and the encreasing of strength in us to veiw and enjoy it more and more till wee come to the harvest and fulnesse of it Psal 84 7 11 12. If the first fruites be so sweere what is the harvest if a glimpse overcame Peter that it made him forget wife