have thoughts of fulnesse in themselves Their vertues and good actions are all they boast of and therefore these men prove barren under the Gospell With these full Pharisees wee have another sort of people in as great danger upon a contrary ground faith is their glory and they seare not to â—ee found with the best in Gods favour Aske thâ—se 〈◊〉 in good earnest 〈◊〉 they were convinced of sinne and they will bee briefe with you that they scorne but to bee lesse holy than the best and to reprove them is audacious slander Why but are you not sinners yes for fashion sake they will not deny that Are we not all sinners But what say you to want of faith in Christ to this they have a vulgar and grosse answer marry God forbid I should be so bad as not to beleeve in Christ I thanke God I love him with my very heart and so have done ever since I was borne But were you never soundly convinced by the Gospell and Gods Spirit of this great want What would you make us infidels wee abhorre to thinke of such questions goe and aske them the Turkes for we by the grace of God will never turne Turkes and take part against Christ But when came this perswasion into your hearts and by what meanes was it wrought I finde Iohn 16.8 9. a Spirit of conviction what say you Have you heard of this Spirit since you were baptized how and in what manner hath this Spirit wrought in you Truly we beleeve there is such a person in the Trinity for so we were baptized but for such a gift it is all one to us as if there were no Spirit at all Now poore soules you have put them besides all their divinity and convinced them of that for which they give God thankes blessing God they never wanted faith which assures them they never had it for to want it is the way to have it and to beleeve the contrary an undoubted testimony of their dangerous presumption God open their eyes and bring them to a better triall by the truth of his word I will therefore descend into a more strickt examination of the sinne and the judgement in my text and deale right downe in the whole worke of the conviction Iohn 16.8 and then againe repeate the judgements and summon up as many particulars as my memory and Gods mercy shall suggest unto mee I will reade this text alleadged and deale by faire and capitall titles for the more firme and faithfull remembrance of my Reader in all that followeth A glorious Kingdome Iohn 16.8 And when he is come c. There bee two great Doctors come from the Father into the world by whom he will convince the world before he judge it and these two succeed the one the other the first absents himselfe and the other comes in his roome To finde Christ a successor in man is the crime of the Church of Rome of which they are now ashamed and by correction mend their Authors and bid them say the Pope is the Vicar of Christ and Successor of S. Peter But by their leave they yet want an Index expurgatorius to expunge and wipe out the Pope and put in a more equall for Christ left by himselfe when he left this earth fitter to bee both Christs Vicar and Successous These two excellent Teachers undertake the conviction of the world before the condemnation of it So dealt Iesus Christ with the Iewes We will enlarge our selves in the worke of the Trinity and bee ample in the view of their Kingdome The excellent and admirable administration of Gods Kingdome There bee three persons in the Divine nature that worketh all things yet are all things wrought in a wonderfull and most distinct and unconfused manner The Father of himselfe and to himselfe worketh all things and so is the beginning and end of every action 1 Cor. 8.6 The progression from this beginning and regression to this end is the rarest and sweetest mysteries in the Bible In the progression the Father goes on by the Sonne and both Father and Sonne by the blessed Spirit and here beginnes the immediate administration of the Kingdome within the Spirit alwayes taking the possession of it I will open clearely this Divine and ravishing secret and set men on work with no new notion but an old truth for I abhorre to deflect from the wayes of Antiquity Of the progression and regression of the Kingdome from and to the Father St. Paul setling true religion upon the surest pillars pluckes downe the rotten and ragged pillars of Pagans and Papists 1 Cor. 8.6 To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and wee to him c. Many gods confound themselves in their beginning and end and therefore if creatures were from them they should bee confounded in their originall this confusion would breed a greater they should not know whom to serve But wee saith the Apostle have this errour corrected in one God neither neede wee be confounded with many persons for they are our best helpe in religion Take the first person make him the beginning of all creatures and our end in speciall and we shall know both to whom wee are beholding and to whom we owe our thankes The Heathen have no such knowledge they neither know Author nor end of their actions praise In this wee agree with them that to goe to God without a mediator is presumption in both and therefore they have their many lords to goe by to their many gods and are here againe confounded in their praiers not knowing to what Saint to turne Fryer Teitis made a sermon that Saints might bee served with the Lords prayer for that it was a common question with the Romane Chanters to demand to whom do you say your Pater noster This is a straine of the old religion and many lords of the Heathen and therefore Christ being put out or shuffled in with the multitude it was no marvaile such a question should bee raised for to God must we goe by a mediator but Paul in the progression of our religion hath given us better direction that as the Father by one Lord Iesus Christ hath made all things so we if we will proceede aright must by the same Lord Iesus Christ and no other goe to the same Father and so in conclusion after a long and glorious perigrination upon earth we shal be brought to the Father that hee in us as Paul witnesseth 1 Cor. 15.28 may be all in all Of the Sonnes mediation in this Kingdome It was expedient for us that the Father should send his Sonne for wee which are the best of his creatures being lapsed cannot without Christ serve our end He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 8.6 Ephs 4.5 1 Tim 2.5 and 6â—15 c. the alone mediator and powerfull potentate with God for us For this end he is incarnate and to this purpose he lives and dies riseth from
Common-wealth It was that the woman travailed for Rev. 12. She lives in the Pagan Empire and is pained as much to make it a Christian as she is pinched by it The strong argument of perswasion is that Christ by his death and resurrection hath judged the prince of the world and defeated him of all judgement He held a right in the world till Christ removed it Hee is a Father of all that hee murthered by his lie in Paradise and therefore challengeth a right in his children Christ to bee partaker with these children takes their flesh and by death subdues the murtherer and delivers them from bondage Hebr. 2.14 15. It is therefore good reason that the children should be subject unto him leave the lyer and live in conformity to the new Law of the Gospell The Spirits application of judgement It is just Satan should bee expulsed and cast out by Christ and hee confesseth against blasphemers that his command over Divels was executed and effected by the Spirit Matth. 12.28.29 He enters into the strong mans house and being stronger than hee bindes him and spoyles him of his possession Hee casts downe in us the strong holds of this adversary and brings us into subjection and obedience to Christ and his rule and regiment and for this end also must the Spirit descend and dwell with us Thus have we the sinne of disobeying the Gospell in want of faith righteousnesse and holinesse the use followeth The worlds insufficiency and danger First I looke upon the world and wonder at pride and arrogancie Men neither know their debt nor danger They see not the charge of the Law nor discharge of the Gospel They live as men set at liberty by their owne lusts They looke up and feare no account Faith they minde not neither doe they feele or finde any want of it to get them a discharge Insufficient to beleeve and yet confident all is paid Trusting they are righteous and yet scorne to be beholding to any for justification They will barter with God and by commutative justice give him as much as they receive They pleade innocencie and yet impleade holinesse They will be honest and yet hate sincerity But seeing the guilt is most where the Gospel is preached let vs see our professours and pry into their sufficiency Many we have lesse morrall than Turkes and more ignorant than Heathens of their owne Religion They heare the Gospel and understand nothing Better these men had lived Turkes than Christians in name to incurre all the guilt of the Gospel Others presume they have faith and never knew they wanted it They were never acquainted with the conviction of Gods Spirit whose office is first to perswade men they want faith in Christ before he worke it in them They would loath be such Infidels as once to know or acknowledge the time when they beleeved not Ever since they were borne they have had a good faith and they hope they shall dye so God helpe them by his Spirit to search their deceitful hearts and to change the time of their untimely beliefe and learne to know that the first of convictions is to finde faith wanting in the heart Either conviction of the wat must precede or the gift will never follow but this was touched before though never too much The Spirits sufficiency Second Vse is to see how well Christ hath left us not to an insufficient and deficient Teacher but to a compleate and perfect Doctour armed with all arguments of conviction to bring us from infidelitie to faith from condemnation to justification and absolution from all our sinnes from uncleannesse to holinesse and from the thraldome of Satan to the liberty of sonnes God bee blessed for his Spirit hasten his kingdome that we may bee prepared for Christ to reigne and rule in us when hee destroyeth the world and triumphantly having ended all his victories hee may bring us bodies and soules to his Fathers house Amen The Christians triall Third Vse Disobedience to the Gospel is a fearefull sinne and brings a fearefull end we may by degrees make sure our safety if wee search and seeke to climbe to heaven by these staires or staves in Iacobs Ladder Matth. 5.3 First gaine poverty of Spirit labour to bee an indigent begger Know thou hast nothing but what must come from Christ Secondly be sensible of thy povertie be no sturdie begger that will not stoupe and stirre from his flashes and flourishes in a bold and impudent seeking as if the giver were as much in his debt for the receit as hee will be in the givers for the gift Verse 4. learne thou to mourne and to grieve that ever it was thy hard hap to fall into such misery as to incurre Gods displeasure of all plagues the greatest greater than Hell it selfe Mourne to have that taken off more than any judgement Say not with Pharaoh take away the plague of my Land but the hardnesse of my heart Say with David take away the trespasse and for the rest say no more but this here I am Lord doe and deale with me as thou pleaseth Thirdly ascend yet higher and be possessed of a meeke spirit even to the Lord as well as to men A man may mourn and remaine stubborne and unbroken but verse 5. bee thou blessed with a meeke and milde heart Mourne till thou be meeked and tamed for the Lords use Fourthly raise up thy selfe to hunger and thirst verse 6. even for that righteousnesse that will satisfie thy meeke and mournefull spirit Empty thy selfe first with sorrow and subjection to Gods will and then bee assured thou shalt be filled Fiftly blesse thy selfe with a mercifull heart to others Say unto God if thou hadst mercy in store thou wouldst bestow it liberally say thou art so eager for it that it would doe thee good to see God in denying it thee to give it to others It is that above all thy hunger and thirst is bent upon and by the want of it thou knowest the worth value and price of so rich a commoditie Certainely it cannot be long before the Lord will reach mercy to thy heart that art so mercifull to others and even fill all thy desires verse 7. Sixtly having obtained mercy to pardon all thy sinnes and to justifie thy person forget not the third conviction in studying for holinesse gaine a pure heart for that will bring thee still nearer unto God to see him in his Ordinances in this world and in his glory in the world to come verse 8. Seventhly being at peace with God thy selfe become a peace-maker for others Study that all may be partakers of thy peace both with God and man verse 9. Eightly and lastly take in the last beatitude and thinke thou hast made no ill bargaine to suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake Thou thy selfe art at peace with heaven and earth and desirest warre with no man If they make warre with thee and falsely smite thee with their tongues be patient and
upon the haters of it and gives the true distinction of the beginning and end thereof That judgement that begins with Gods people fals heavily in the end upon their enemies J may seeme in the middle of this Treatise to forsake my Text to seeke out the Commentary but J shall intreat my Reader for a favourable exposition of my minde and meaning The Text toucheth the sinne that ought to bee taught with all exactnesse and therefore J to helpe my Reader the better have bent my strength the more to deale thorowly with it in all the branches J shall easily render my account and by that other Text cleare my selfe of all unnecessary digressions and unprofitable searches of such secrets as that place J now mention will allow me Ioh. 16.7 8. It is a truth that Christ insists upon that his departure is as expedient and necessary as his comming into the world He came into the world to redeeme it and hee leaves the world that his Redemption may be preached and applyed This application is the worke of the Spirit and by conviction is to be wrought upon the world The things of which the world is convinced are all Evangelicall and essentially differ from things legall First in commands the Law commands us to doe and live the Gospel to beleeve and live The Law bids us looke to our owne righteousnesse The Gospel to the righteousnesse of Christ The Law does charge us with holinesse according to our own righteousnesse The Gospel with holines according to the Spirit Which being more exact is the cause that it is so much spurned at and contemned by the world Legall purity is not persecuted like Evangelicall purity A man may bee a Pharisee and favoured by the world but a strict Christian is out of hope to farewell even by the best worldlings Persecution hath waited more upon the Gospel than the Law The light of the one is farre too cleare for worldly eyes to behold it Jt is strange with the world to deny it selfe and beleeve in another Jt is hard to forsake a morall righteousnesse and seek to be justified by another Who can indure to have Satan so judged in him as quite to forsake all Lawes as to live by the new Commandement This is a large difference of legall and Evangelicall commands yet let them be accursed that so farre set at oddes Law and Gospel as either like Iewes doe reject the Gospel to defend the Law or like Familists renounce the Law to maintaine the Gospel Love and no Law is the lewd learning of our new Gospellers Duty say they is not worth the name of a Christian that must doe all of meere love Loose love that likes of nothing but free will offerings Such licences are not granted by Law or Gospel They both agree in the command of our lives and yeeld us liberty to obey no licence to live as wee list The Law will send us to Christ and the Christian being justied will be sent backe againe by the Gospel to walke unblameably by the Law Legall comminations follow our workes and curse us for our deedes but legall comminations follow our saith and where that is wanting tell us wee are condemned and as sure to goe to hell as if wee were there already Legall promises of life depend upon our merits and tell us we shall bee rewarded for our well-doing But Evangelicall promises depend upon our faith and Christs merit and tels us it shall be onely well with us in him Sinnes wee have against the Law and every booke intreats of them Sinnes wee have against the Gospel and it were well every Writer would in these dayes insist upon them J have ventured farre into their discourse and wish all Christians by the example of the Iewes in my Text to take heed of them There is one thing will bee admired at both for the Method and matter how J come to speake so much and in such a manner of the glorious kingdome of the blessed Trinitie My answer will be speedy having granted me the Commentary for my Text. The holy Ghost comes in the absence of Christ and by applying his redemption administers first in the kingdome of God taking possession of those subjects that God the Father hath chosen and whom JESVS Christ hath redeemed by his precious blood The Spirit workes for the Sonne and therefore returnes the Kingdome to him againe at his second comming The Son works for the Father and therefore so takes the Kingdome from the Spirit that in the end he gives it up to the Father for the full perfection of glory This mutuall working sends me in my discourse from one person to another and to all the world to let them see what may be gained or lost by obeying or disobeying the Gospell I have wondred in reading the most ancient Fathers what they meant by urging so frequently men to Martyrdome that they might not lose the honour of rising and reigning with Christ at his second appearing Surely they saw and beleeved that the Spirit of grace did not in vaine perswade them They shall have honour according to their hope and as above others they gave their lives for Christ so before others they seeme to live againe Rev 20.4 Let the meaning in that place be what it will for J will not determine thereof yet the age of the ten persecutions so conceived of it as by plentifull testimonies might appeare Jt is agreeable with Christs proceedings to honour them that honour him and as they are before others in their zeale and service so to be above others in their dignity and desert though not of merite and for their workes yet according to his mercy and their workes J could not well leave untouched with the comming of the holy Ghost upon Christs departure the returne of him againe and delivery up of all to the Father that the Family and Houshold in my Text might see their patience perfected in power and their power consummated in glory The Kingdome of God in the divers administrations of it will bee worthy the contemplation and Gods House shall bee most happy in their thoughts of it All their enemies most miserable in the losse and deprivation thereof Their ends shall be augmented in misery as many degrees as that Kingdome shall bee advanced in glory But J will stay my Reader no longer in the Preface but wish him good successe in the substance of that which followeth THE SAINTS Sufferings 1 PET. 4.17 For the time is come that judgement must beginne at the house of God and if it first beginne at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God WHen Samuel had finished his speech to Israel God himselfe secondeth the Prophet with a voyce from heaven and then the people tremble 1 Sam. 12.18 wee never have our hearers at an advantage till God make their eares to tingle with some judgement then they stoup with Samuel and say Speake Lord for
time for thou knowest not when thy appearance shall be he deliver thee to the Iudge the Iudge to the laylor the laylor to the prison where thou must lye for ever But in the close of this verse and that which followeth mention is made of the true cause of all this misery that is especially the disobedience of the Gospel The Law is added as a light of former sinnes consisting of impiety against God and cruelty against man The Iewes crucified Christ a legall sinne but they crucified themselves in rejecting his bloud and the Gospell that offered them pardon for that sinne and all others The fault was foule enough to murther Christ but to murther their soules in denying salvation by his blood was of all sinnes the greatest They are branded for ungodly persons by the testimony of the Law and their owne wicked actions of Idolatrie and obstinacy They are sinners deepe seyzed in singular bloodshed and butchery of Christ and his Saints but the transcendent sinne is here fairely characterized by a speciall act and by a speciall object The act is Evangelicall disobedience and the object the Gospell it selfe The Gospell In giving the Gospell to a Nation it is more than he does to all Nations where the Gospell is given faith and obedience are but given to some in that Nation The Gospell distinguisheth Nations faith and the gift thereof the men that professe it Grace is given where it is not received Given to a Nation of which it may more easily bee rejected than embraced Psal 147.19 20. here the Word is not revealed alike to all Psal 81.11 here rejected by them to whom it was given Psal 119.70 Davids heart being pined with want takes pleasure in the Word others having their hearts fat and greasie despise it Isai 6.9 10. Men have hearts too fatte to beleeve eares too heavy to heare and eyes closed up from seeing The Gospell is as strange to some that heare it as those that never heard it Hos 8.12 Christ came to his owne and yet was not owned by them Iohn 1.11 Some received him vers 12. when the nation rejected him These 1. had power to beleeve 2. to receive 3. to be sonnes In the mysteries of the Gospell prudent men come short of Infants Luke 10.12 and receive in parrables what others receive in power Luke 8.10 yea finde that savour death unto death which to others is life unto life 2 Cor. 2.15 16. Gods free Grace Shall wee say this is the worke of our owne wils and the good use of our owne freedome This were to render more than wee receive and to glory in our owne power and praise Thus to differ were to disgrace the Gospell that grants unto us deliverance from enemies and obedience unto friends Luke 1.74 Our good friends in heaven mutually conspired our victory and obedience God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost bound not up the hands of our enemies but gave us also hearts to obey for this gift 1 Cor. 4.7 presseth upon the pride of us all Physically Politically Theologically Who made man or man to differ from a beast He were a beast that would not acknowledge God for the Author of both Who raiseth man to honour or distinction of civill order Surely the same God that made him preferres him But above all grace is least in our command and most in the power of God nay wholly from him as appeares by the gift of faith a new principle nature never acknowledged by righteousnesse a purchase that never came out of our vertues by holynesse a worke not of our wils but the sanctifying Spirit Faith is a firme principle of the Gospell and keepes us by the power of God and not our owne unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 I know what advantage is taken Ier. 32.40 by turning the text from They shall not depart into They may not depart Loath the words should be more peremptory than possible Possible they would have it runne and then raise their answer against Gods grace that faith or feare is not so certainely placed in the heart but as it may stay so depart if wee will forward either God puts in our hearts a new principle and that for this end that we might bee assured of the new Covenant and of our cleaving to God and therefore fuller assurance than of a possibilitie and power in our selves The Legall and Evangelicall principles of well living as we shall afterwards declare differ much in nature office and end God by originall righteousnesse left man to the tryall of his owne power But by Faith or the new principle hath cast man upon himselfe and a holy and happy dependencie upon his power for salvation The Gospel is his best law for life and surest power of God Rom. 1.16 to save him yet with this caution that wee beleeve Promises are generall and must bee received as they are propounded Faith makes them particular to us and in our deeds and determinations wee may presume no further than the generall evidence applied we must silence all search of further secrets and Gods will revealed must bee our rule and to reach higher by his decrees is to outreach our selves and rove about the truth If any say why have some the Gospel and not Faith I silence his presumption with Gods freedome and say why hath hee either His Gospell is a pledge of his love and thy faith of his favour thou hast no wrong whē he counts thee worthy of neither If he have a list to leave thee an Infidel thou art but thy selfe His Law containes wonders and workes them daily in preaching All heare the same word yet have not the same affection Hee speakes too boldly of Gods counsels that will reason by our dispositions O the depth of the riches both of the wisedome and wayes of God! His judgements must bee past our finding and fadoming Wee must feare to search too much and take heed of an evill eye because his is good Hee cals and commands by his word and of them he chooseth as few or many as hee pleaseth Hee makes some last in Vocation first in Election some he cals first that hee never chooseth The Iewes by Peter in my text are divided and the nation differenced in receiving and rejecting the Gospell 70. Famous yeeres Foure things would further bee unfolded 1. the time of this end 2. the persons 3. the judgement 4. the cause The time is the last yeere or at least the last weeke of the 70. weekes of Daniel Dan. 9.24 The Gentiles Luke 21.24 have times to fulfill and from former times they come to latter times 1 Tim. 4.1 which divide themselves Dan. 7.25 12.7 Rev. 12.14 into a time times and halfe a time So the Iewes have the like account and computation and falling upon their last times have them by Daniel determined in the number of 70. weekes These make seaven points or periods of their time every period containing 70. yeares and six of
the dead conferreth forty dayes of this Kingdome Act. 1.3 and so departeth into heaven and makes further way for progresse in this kingdome and to perfect this sends his Spirit telling us of a truth how expedient this is for them that are now to bee left to preach his kingdome to have him depart that the second Doctor may come Expedient and necessary for all that are to be saved for Christ being risen againe had all power and iudgement from his Father Mat. 28. c. The present execution of this power had beene a woefull thing with the world being both unrighteous and unholy Christ redeemed it and therefore will not presently destroy it but commands in the same place that proclamation of his power bee made and being with his Heraulds unto the end will in the end call the world to an account and shew both his power their iudgement This great Embassage into all the world had need of some noble Agent to leade the way and bee present with the holy Apostles and their successours and this honourable person is the third person in the blessed Trinity in whose hands and administration Gods Kingdome is for this present age and of which wee are now to speake The Kingdome of Grace In the Lords prayer wee petition Thy kingdome come our understandings at this day abbreviate this petition and are defective in the expression of it and so consequently our prayers come short of their dutie deale with God for no more than they know We wil God assisting inlarge our thoughts in the regression of the Kingdome from the Spirit to the Father againe and shew First the administration of the Spirit Secondly of the Sonne Thirdly of the Father and so teach you plainely to pray for the Kingdome of grace Kingdome of power and Kingdome of glory when all is returned to the Father The Kingdome within and seated in mens hearts Luke 17.20 21. The Pharisees would have a Kingdome by observation but Christ knowing the Kingdomes administration first to rest in the Spirit and grace thereof takes away that error and according to the nature of the Kingdome sets and seates it within for such as is the government such must bee the Kingdome The government spirituall therefore the kingdome spirituall Grace and the Spirit of grace carry no outward pompe and externall state but are all glorious within And this is that kingdome that suffereth violence without and is oppressed by rebels and traitours to the Lord Iesus and their owne soules The Kingdome of violence The Kingdome of Gods Spirit is the most pious and peaceable Kingdome in the world yet suffereth more than all kingdomes as shall now appeare Math. 11.12 Luke 16.16 Gods kingdome under the Law and the Prophets suffered violence and so shall it under Iohn Christ his holy Apostles and Ministers doe for the time of the Gospell I know these texts are strained to another sense and so my selfe have beene a follower of this violence till that man of God M. Ioseph Meade cleared my sight by his industrious and judicious observation of the text It may bee we are both deceived it becomes humble men not to bee peremptory in crossing and controlling others We all agree of the violence offered to the Kingdome of grace and disagree in the proofe of it by these texts Heare then mine arguments and reasons which I subject to the spirit of the Prophets 1. Christs answer by the Law the Prophets sheweth the conformity betweene the old and the new Testament the ancient and surrogate Israel of God Violence waited upon the Church before Christ and so will it now and after him It is your error O foolish Iewes to looke now for a kingdome by observation and to see your selves more redeemed from the Romines and men than from devils your sleves more deadly enemies You have more neede to have Sathan displaced than your selves placed in a temporall Monarchy I am come to save your soules from sinnes and not your bodies from bondage Secondly Iohn that now preacheth the new Kingdome is in prison Math. 11.2 and must lose his head I looke for no greater favour my Apostles will succeede mee and by succession it will last till I come and take the Eagles off the carkeise Luk. 17.37 3. The Kingdome is preached a thing that the world hateth and therefore will every man have a blow at it and violent men will prey upon it this reading the texts will render without all renting and tearing the phrases 4. The word signifying violence or violent men was never taken by any Author for inward violence or motions free and voluntary but for outward force and externall power putting others to be patients of their persecutions and punishments The Spirits conquest God is not wanting to his poore servants but gives courage and consolation in all their oppressions The Spirit sets up such a Kingdome in the heart and soules of Gods people that no paine or perill can prevaile to conquer their faith and confidence They are resolved to carry their lives in their hands rather dye than deny that truth that the holy Ghost hath taught them This spiritual I Kingdome subdues all Kingdomes yea more than all Kingdomes for it gaines that victory over our selves which is more than any earthly conquest Conquest by convict on The greatest opposition to the Spirit of grace is in our selves It were easie to ruine all the world and in such conquests and conversions men have shewed their might and manhood but to enter the house held by the strong man both of corruption in our selves and suggestion of Sathan out of our selves is a potent and powerfull worke of grace Gods Spirit alone is able to beate downe these holds helpe in the conquest of our selves and subjection to the Kingdome preached and offered vs in the Gospell He it is that brings in faith to beleeve and excludes infidelity That raiseth up in us the comfort of Christs righteousnesse and rejecteth our owne That teacheth us holynesse and how to deny all ungodlinesse and every worldly lust and to live soberly in our selves righteously to others and godly to our King and Commander of the severall branches of conviction we shall intreate afterwards and shew what sinnes are convicted and controuled in us and how wee ought to see them and sorrow for them c. Conviction by supportation The Spirit in this Kingdome of grace worketh effecteth another strange worke and operation upon the world in giving his subjects power of conquest in trials and to triumph over the world and all its workings and mischiefes Rom. 8.37 In all these things we are more than conquerours What things even the worst that the world can doe unto us and that is to make us Martyres and themselves murtherers yea even to murther themselves to see us so little affected with their torments We stand still and do nothing and see our salvation of God To conquer by passion is cleane
contrary to the world for so the world is conquered and hee that suffers becomes subject to another but we are slaine saith the Apostle and our slaughter is our victory nay more than victory in so doing we conquer the conquerours and command our oppressors More than conquerours is more than any Caesar achieved unto or ever Monarch effected in his greatest victories Who can say so but Christians Emperours have conquered with difficultie and lost with greater facility all their kingdomes They have beene lesse than conquerours and never gotten victory but left it to others to gaine it from them O the honour of this spirituall kingdome and excellency of grace that even thriveth best vnder oppressions and worldly violence The regression of the Kingdome All the honour of this Kingdome redoundeth unto Christ and shall then appeare when he appeares to take his Kingdome great dominion He should have had no subjects but for the Spirit and none so victorious but for Martyres who as they have first honoured Christ by death shall of him againe bee first graced with life Those that are alive and converted shall bee a glory to Christ as hee will bee a glory to them It is for the persons in the sacred Trinity mutually to raise glory one to another Wee are therefore ordine retrogrado come from the kingdome of grace to the Kingdome of power from the administration of the Spirit to the administration of the Son and seeke after three things as glorious as the former and yet more outward but not lesse spirituall for perfection in the Trinity is both wayes obserued and effected in progression the Father perfects his worke in the Sonne and the Sonne in the Spirit so in regression the holy Ghost perfects grace in power and the Son perfects power in glory We will speake of the Sons taking ruling and delivering up of this kingdome of power Christs taking of the Kingdome of power Heb. 2.5 mention is made of a world to come and the subjectioÌ„ thereof to Christ This wee see not saith the Apostle as yet accomplished but wee see Iesus Christ crowned and made a King in heaven His presence on earth as yet wee have not save in the holy Ghost But hee will appeare in his body and take this Kingdome and whole world to himselfe and turne out of it all the ungodly in the earth His enemies that would not suffer him to reigne over them by his Gospell are then to bee brought before him and slaine in his presence The taking of his great power Revel 11.17 At the last trumpet and the last woe all Kingdomes fall to Christ But how I pray you marke the text He shall take to himselfe his great power and reigne To himselfe immediately to himselfe for forme and manner of government He left it in the hands of the Spirit and now takes it againe to himselfe no more depriving the Spirit of the honour of it in the re-assumption than hee did himselfe when he deposed it into the hands of his Spirit Now the question will bee how this is done The answer is with great power greater than ever before for it destroyes them all that now destroy the earth How is it taken Daniel assoiâ—es this doubt and makes it glorious and wonderfull in his extraordinary description of it Dan. 7.9 10. c. First the Lord Iesus takes it from his enemies and casts downe their thrones and makes them seates for his Saints Rev. 20.7 he takes it from the last beast even because of the little horne and his blasphemous and bloody words Secondly hee takes it from the Ancient of daies who in a glorious and most illustrious manner installes the Lord Iesus into his kingdome Thirdly he is attended and waited upon by the innumerable company of Angels by whom hee is brought to the Ancient of dayes Reade the rest and admite at this inauguration and solemnization of the day of Christs coronation upon earth who now in heaven is crowned with glory and immortality When it is taken 2 Tim. 4.1 At the Epiphanie of his kingdome Marke 13.26 Luke 21.27 when the powers of heaven are shaken and the starres that shine in them are humbled to the ground Earthly potentates that are advanced above others shall bee made low The fall of such starres will not hinder the sight of Christ but honour it Other starres being bigger than the earth would overlay it and men and suffer no man to stand upon earth to see the Lord Iesus come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory Hee must bee seene of all eyes and therefore it is most safe to give the sense of the Scriptures by the Scriptures and to say of this day as of the former shadowes of it in Babylon and Aegypt Isa 13.10 and 14.12 13. Ezek. 32.7 8. The starres of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light The Sunne shall bee darkned in his going forth and the Moone shall not cause her light to shine the bright lights of heaven are put out when Pharaoh falleth by the Babilonians and Lucifer sonne of the morning ascended into heaven above the heights of the clouds and starres themselves to bee like the most High comes downe to the ground when by the Medes and Persians Belshazzar is pulled from the orbe of his height and honour Christ the bright shining starre of Iacob and the advanced Scepter of Israe is risen and shall rise to smite all corners and subdue all Nations Let us therefore advance him from the taking of the kingdome to the ruling of it Christs ruling and reigning in his kingdome Dan. 7.14 On this day dominion is given to Christ Zech. 14.9 One Lord one name and that over all the earth In this day will hee reigne in and over all mankinde Rev. 11 15. Now the world does not acknowledge him for one Lord as being ruled by many neither does it worship him by one name as being distracted into many religions but this will Christ remove at his day and rule by a more equall power and uniforme worship Paul is our witnesse 1 Cor. 15.24 25 26. c. that the end and delivery up of this kingdome to God even the Father cannot be till rule authority and power of devils in hell men upon earth and even death the last of enemies be fully vanquished and subdued and for this purpose I might produce all the Prophets and holy Apostles speaking glorious things of Christs reigning and ruling at the sound of the last trumpet and comming of the last woe Rev. 10.7 All the Prophets are witnesses and St. Peter speaking of the same thing adds to them all the Apostles 2 Pet. 3 2. They have ill done that have muzled up the mouthes of the Prophets with a Consummation and conclusion in Christs incarnation The Iewes dispute Dan. 2.35 and 7.11 That Messiah must come when the Monarchies are as chaffe before the winde and quite blowne out of the world When the
of them in the I ather O ravishing Societie and blessed Communion wee shall enjoy in our Fathers house when all is given up unto him and yet in him all to be enjoyed In him we enjoy Christ and the blessed Spirit we are no losers but gainers by these wayes of Divine and deepe wisedome The regression of the Kingdome to the Father 1 Cor. 15.28 That God may be all in all v. 24. God even the Father God essentially shall blesse us but the Father in speciall shall be glorified in us This was Christs prayer upon earth Iohn 17.21 That we might be one in the blessed Trinitie as they are one in themselves and have all conspired to make us happy Christ prayeth they may be perfect in one that they may be where he is now c. The holy Ghost and the Sonne conclude in the Father and so must wee for our full happinesse Zech. 14.16 Why not the Passeover to be kept in the great day spoken of before this was the greatest feast in Israel but the feast of Tabernacles hath a more apt allusion to those times Our Mansions are in heaven as long as we stay upon earth though under assured safety and freedome from danger yet we are not at the best In the Kingdome of Grace we are well and happy In the Kingdome of power we are better and more happy but in the Kingdome of Glory we are best of all We have thus farre digressed and I hope transgressed no rule in Religion Wee can easily recall our selves to our first intention concerning the comming of the holy Ghost And when he is come he shall convince the world of sinne and of righteousnesse and of judgement Of Sinne. That is want of faith in Christ the signe of all sinne for we can expect no discharge without it All sinne in one sinne is convinced of the Law we are guilty in Adam and of this sinne wee are guilty in the Gospel The sinnes of the Law are strong enough to condemne us but this firme brings in our great condemnation Ioh. 3.19 the Law is not that light that containes life in it that light is Christ Ioh. 1.14 He came into the world both as the light and life of it and yet men loved darkenesse more than light not onely because their deeds were morrally evill but because they esteemed not to have them mended by this new principle of faith in Christ Infidels come not to the light of the Gospel because that does most convince them of sinne The Law is more sparing than the Gospel for it chargeth man no further than of originall and actuall sinne But the Gospel extends to his wants of such faith righteousnesse and holinesse as the Law leaves at liberty It commands us faith in God and is silent of faith in Christ It bids us bee righteous but not in another It bids us be holy but that is from our owne vertues and not spirituall graces The Spirits light is too strong for weake eyes to looke upon it It blunts and blindes him to thinke his deeds so ill as God does not approve the best of them It is strange to him to beleeve that without faith in Christ nothing that is done by him is accepted of God He conceives better of himselfe and trusts that his good meanings and vertuous actions are not so out of request with GOD but he shall gaine some favour and friendship at Gods hands to be esteemed of better then of the worst and most wicked man Hee must therefore know that if the Gospel prove him guiltie of the want of faith no sinne is spared or pardoned any more to him than the lewdest liver in the world Hee must therefore learne to love the truth of the Gospel and come to the light thereof that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God and the power of his Spirit and not in or by any of his good dispositions Let us in the holy feare of God looke to our lives and never applaud our selves by our owne vertues The whole world is guilty of a sinne it hath no sense or feeling of and even the best are in worst case let thē come to triall and by a conviction more than legall see what the Gospel reproveth let them thus reason with themselves It is too grosse and sottish to say I am a sinner I am worse I am an Infidell and wrapped up in the worlds condemnation It is high time for my soule to bee dealt withall and that by a more powerfull cause than the morrall Law or mine owne conscience I must to the Gospel and conviction of Gods Spirit and never rest till I finde the Spirit present and come home to my heart I shall afterwards intreat of all the heads of this first conviction I will first open the sinne secondly who are guilty of it Thirdly how they must be dealt withall Fourthly by whom Fiftly in what manner The same methode shall be observed in both the other convictions that by the instance in my Text of the Iewes disobedience and judgement we may learne to tremble and feare to live either without Evangelicall faith Evangelicall righteousnesse or Evangelicall judgement Three things in the Gospel inseparably lincked together He that beleeves in Christ hath righteousnesse imputed and hee that hath righteousnesse imputed hath holinesse infused to reject Satan and his service and receive the true judgement of the Spirit to bee at his command and Kingly government I shall wish every head propounded may have it's use and application Vse 1. Let the want of faith in Christ and righteousnesse from him and an holy subjection to Gods Spirit more perplex us than all earthly wants Let such especially as are profane thinke of it who beside the burden of the Law grosly abused have the Gospel to beat home their condemnation and beare them downe headlong to hell for contempt of great salvation tendred them in their sinnes But especially let the more morall men marke themselves if they were as forward as Paul to know none or little evill by themselves yet to thinke they are not so justified but the Gospel can bring upon them a greater condemnation than the Law and challenge them for more than ever was dreamed of by their owne account and reckoning by the Law Lastly let carnall Gospellers descend and see their presumption that will bee sure of faith without conviction They suppose it is soone gotten and lost and that to play at fast and loose with God is no danger They will have faith when they list and easie convictions leade them any wayes It is time for them to learne a better lesson and to bee soundly lashed from our Text that the convictions of Gods Spirit are no easie and morall perswasions fitted to our inclination but sound convictions taking from us all excuses be they never so witty and laying us low before God to be dealt withall at his pleasure Vse 2. These wants are
common as well as dangerous thousands dye and are never sensible of any hurt this way The world is to be dealt withall to take notice that these wants are the greatest poverty of it Vse 3. It is pitty the danger being so great and so common but that Ministers should faithfully preach and convince these sinnes before all others Sinnes of the Law light more clearely upon mens consciences but these sinnes finde conscience not onely asleepe but livelesse as never stirring in any thoughts that such evils lie at the doore more to watch vs with damnation than any other Vse 4. There is no preaching or meanes effectuall but that is accompanied by the Spirit There is a difference between Preachers as there is betweene an Infant and Gyant drawing the same Bow Yet the Arrow of a Gyant shot against the stone wall pierceth not but reboundeth backe againe with the greater violence So the most happy and dextrous Preacher flocked after for his gifts may shoot as unprofitably as a weaker Teacher his arrowes and errands to the soule speed no better for the hardnesse of it than if hee had never lost his labour or spent his strength in vaine upon so stubborne spirits Christ and all his Apostles were resisted by the unbeleeving Iewes their stiffe neckes would never bend to the yoake of the Gospel or uncircumcised hearts beleeve it Vse 5. Must bee for true triall and examination of our selves whether the Spirit be come and hath convinced us to give over all opposition and yeeld to live by a new principle rest upon a new righteousnesse and be ruled by a new Law I shall give the tryall in my further search unto this Conviction Luthers three Schoole masters have helped me in these thoughts Afflictions and accusations have set prayer on worke and both have put forth Meditations Humble repentance said that worthy Chancellour of Paris is the first staire of the Ladder of Contemplation I will not complaine of my wrongs yet if they had never beene thou mightst never have had my thoughts so legible I thanke God I never found the hands of Authority so ready to smite as evill tongues to accuse 1 Pet. 4.17.18 What shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God Where shall the ungodly and sinner appeare The great sinne and endlesse sorrow of Gods houshold Enemies HAving discharged my selfe of the first part concerning the sharpe and strict government of Gods Familie I come to the sharpest and severest of his judgements upon their enemies Peter instanceth in the Iewes for to them he writes both his Epistles and in both hee aimes at three things 1 the consolation of beleevers 2 the destruction and just punishment of their enemies 3 the future promises made to the Nation of the Iewes at the comming of Christ Beleevers had strong trials when S. Peter writ his Epistles and even their owne Nation was worst to their profession This Nation Christ threatens with an end and Saint Peter now applies it and by the accomplishment of signes gives assurance that it is now at hand Iudgements are begun at his owne house and familie and therefore will end suddenly upon their enemies This was the yeare when Nero made Bone-fires of the bodies of Christians and to extinguish the ignominie of his owne setting Rome on fire fireth Christians as Faggots and makes their flames to give light the whole night This is the fiery tryall beleevers are told of verse 12. and deserves to begin the first persecution It shall not be long before it bring an end upon the Iewes and their Nation for obstinacy and cruelty to their brethren It is supposed Saint Peter and Saint Paul suffered in this first fiery tryall Their sinne and disobedience They are taxed in this Text for the violation both of Law and Gospel neither Iustice nor Mercy affect them They disobey the Gospell and against the Law they are found guilty both of impiety and uncharitablenesse They are cast in both Courts In the Court of Iustice they are here arraigned for ungodly persons under the charge of the first Table and sinners and unrighteous under the charge of the second Table In the Court of Mercy they are branded with the Gospel as a rule disobeyed and a remedy despised Iustice might be pacified by Mercy and the Law taken off by the Gospel but these faithlesse and fearelesse wretches care neither for rule nor remedie They neither are mindfull of that which is against them in the Law or might doe them good in the Gospel Of the Gospel sinnes To disobey the Gospell is by Saint Iohn Chap. 16.8 summoned up in three particulars First in the want of faith Secondly in the want of righteousnesse Thirdly in the want of holinesse The disobedient Iewes found no want of faith in Christ They supposed they were full of righteousnesse in themselves and that they wanted no spirit of grace to displace Satan in his government and set up the government of Christ in their hearts I will from the instance and example in large my selfe in laying to the charge of the whole world this Gospell-sinne here applyed to the Iewes and by way of warrantable explication follow St. Iohn as a Commentary upon Saint Peter Three Gospel Controversies Iohn 16.8 And when he is come Hee will convince the world of sinne and of righteousnesse and of judgement Here lie three great Controversies betweene God and the whole world First what that sinne is which the world counts no sin Secondly what that righteousnesse is which in the esteem of the world is no righteousnesse Thirdly what that judgment is that the world reputes for no judgement There is a Law from God and conscience in man that tels the world of many sinnes that it yeelds unto that gives information of righteousnesse applauded in the vertues and actions of men and it takes from both a forme of judgement and government that for it owne safety it allowes and likes well of but alas in these three there is neither Law nor conscience to informe us nay to both they are ridiculous conceiving nothing reasonable in all these but that which is morall and naturall to our condition in the state of innocency and remainders therof in our corrupted natures Adam in Paradise was not apprehensive of these disputes neither were such doctrines agreeable to his insight These are for new creatures conquered and convinced by Gods Spirit The unknowne Sinne. All the world is ignorant of faith and would so perish but for the Gospel It was not the Law the Iewes so much insisted upon that could reach or resolve their reason in discovery of this secret and because they would know no more than Moses Law they perished in this sinne This finne is expounded to be want of faith in Christ verse 9. It is either the root or signe of all other sinnes He that wants faith in Christ is discharged of no sinne Convince him of this and convince him of all How
propagates Evangelicall faith or the want of it to his posterity It is personall both in the habite and privation No man is saved but by his owne faith or condemned but by his owne infidelity The want of faith in Christ is every mans proper sinne and can be imputed to none without the Gospel Wee make it the Churches sinne and not of all the world Gods preparation and donation of faith Leaving the power of Mans innocency and vniversall freedome to beleeve legally or Evangellically wee fall into the safe way and say that wheresoeâ—â—â— the Gospel is preached God gives or is prepared to give faith in Christ Hee mockes no man but is serious in the salvation of every soule to which the Gospel is sent Every hearer in the Church is zealously perswaded to repent The Ministers minde and Gods meet in his holy ordinances and the Word is earnestly spoken to every eare God himselfe goes with his message from seate to seate and from man to man with true and hearty desire of his conversion yet notwithstanding he gives not equall grace to all as shall appeare in our distribution thereof The donation of faith Act. 13.48 As many as were ordained to eternal life beloved To the Elect hee gives faith He is not onely prepared to preach unto them his Gospell but hee prepares their hearts to receive it He gives unto his chosen ones the blessed Gospel of peace and reconciliation and hee gives them faith to beleeve it We have all the same capacity but not the same conformitie Our powers are alike in understanding and will but that obedientiall and filiall subjection to God and his Gospel is peculiar to some God is prepared to give faith to all that heare his Gospel Matth. 23.37 I would yee would not It is the will of God by the Gospel that all should be gathered unto him Mans will resisteth Gods will and makes that Gospel of none effect that should be effectuall unto all God may adde further grace and give men hearts to receive as freely as his Gospell is offered unto them but such grace is a royall prerogative and reserved for some of many All are beholding to God but some finde and feele the very riches of his grace and are never able to be thankefull enough that they above others should receive so much Of the righteousnesse of God To require performance and give no power is as unequall in the command to al as it is in the gift to some To seeke where hee sowes not and to reape without labour is unreasonable if not unrighteous Man never had power to obey and therefore a heavy and harsh command is imposed upon him Mans power to obey the Gospel There is never a man but is guilty of that power that God hath given him and does lesse than he is inabled by his owne freedome There is no man but he may frequent the meanes and come to the place of Gods worship Secondly being come hee hath eares to heare Thirdly he hath an understanding to know the logicke and language of the holy Ghost Fourthly by that knowledge to come to an historicall faith Fiftly to affect reverence and regard both Ministers and message Sixtly to bring forth some fruits Seventhly to attend and wait daily for the regenerating Spirit that may convert and turne him truely unto God This power man useth not and is justly condemned for the abuse of it Want of faith in Christ simply no sinne If condemnation were absolutely and originally from faith a power were necessary to beleeve but in divers cases faith is found to be no sinne in the want of it Adam in the estate of innocency had no faith in Christ as a Mediatour and was blamelesse because no Law injoyned it Secondly men that need this faith and yet want the Gospell to convince them are guiltlesse of the sinne though in some sense they may bee said to bee guilty of the punishment Every curse and want of favour being due to every sonne of Adam It therefore remaineth that they onely are to be taxed that have the Gospell Sinnes of the Gospell are aggravations of the Law It must bee presupposed that a man is guilty of sinne and death before the Gospell charge him with a greater measure of evill and make him worse both in sinnes and sorrowes It is not the want of faith barely that turnes a man into hell for finde payment in thy selfe and satisfaction to the Law and God will challenge thee no further but that is impossible and therefore the Law casts the first stone at thee and beares thee over with the blow of death then comes the Gospel and buries thee under that stone without all hope of mercy A man is blind and rejects a cure his wilfulnesse hath made him the worse and more worthy of greater woes so the Gospell tenders thee a pardon thou contemnes it and for contempt deserves the sorer punishment It is not therefore necessary for God to give every man power to beâ—eeve but it is necessary for every man to be carefull he abuse not the power he hath and so double his terments and punishments in â—eâ—l Conviction is the worke of the Spirit The Father gives over the administration to his Sonne the Sonne to the Spirit and he is the first that argueth and disputeth with men of mercy and salvation In his hands is now the kingdome of the Father and the sonne and this kingdome is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reggum violentiae the Kingdome that suffereth violence Mat. 11.12 13. Luke 16.16 In this kingdome the Saints in suffering are more than conquerors Rom. 8.37 This is more than ever any Emperour could utter who have gained and kept their conquests with hardnesse and hazzard Matth. 28.18 19. the power of Christ is to preach and proclaim that he will take his power and reigne in and over all men He is mercifull in giving warning before the execution and leaving his Spirit to make preparation for his kingdome which shall bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a kingdome of power Rev. 11.17 ruling and over-ruling all the world Christ having ended the subjection of the world shall give over his kingdome to his Father which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 15.24 O the divine administration of the Trinity The Father the first person passeth all to the Sonne the Sonne makes it descend againe to the holy Ghost The same is the order of regression that was in the progression as formerly we have declared The holy Ghost the first possessour of the kingdome returnes it into the possession of the Sonne and the Sonne leaves it in the hands of his Father where he first had it that he may be all in all From him was the proceeding and by good reason it must be to him againe The comming of the Holy Ghost The Gospel convinceth no man in the absence of the Spirit Wee must pray in hearing of the Word Come holy Spirit and visit our hearts