the Godhead in him not onely of some God-like dispositions and of the Image of God which may be in Saints Thirdly All the fulness of the Godhead the whole Divine Nature Fourthly All this fulness of the Godhead dwells in Christ he is there not as a Guest not as a Friend but as an Inhabitant to fix his constant abode there Fifthly And all this bodily personally most mysteriously and not transciently vertually and by participation onely as in a good degree it may be in the Saints And for this happy purpose hath Jesus Christ such a Spring of good in himself who is the Head of all Principalities and Powers in that ninth verse which is added because they should see they need not go to the Angels as their head verse 18. He hath this fountain of strengthning Grace in himself by the Grace of Vnction the unction of the holy Spirit which God giveth to him not by measure Joh. 3.34 not by drops and measure of the gift of Christ as to us Eph. 4.7 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand ver 35. of Joh. 3. And amongst other good things the Holy Spirit the great New Testament Promise was the Promise of the Spirit as the Messiah was the grand Promise in the Old Testament And this he pours not drops out and that much more generally then before as Acts 2.17 And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh And by vertue of this Unction of the Spirit you may see what glorious things Jesus Christ communicated unto poor sinners if you please to compare Isa. 61.1 with Luke 4.18 He hath it in him by the Grace of Office you will allow the expression being designed by the Father as a publike person for the advantage of all those whose Names are written in the Book of life and for those whom the Father had given to the Son He was appointed by Commission under the Broad Seal of Heaven to be The grand Lord Treasurer for his Church the common Storehouse of their strengthning provision This he doth signanter declare and that most fully Joh. 6.27 when he bids them Labor not for the meat that perisheth but for that which endureth to everlasting life Here is the ground which the Son of man shall give unto you never doubt it for him hath God the Father sealed This is the Doctrine that John the Baptist published concerning Christ Joh. 1.16 And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace It seems there is an overflowing fountain of grace in him which was fully opened when he came into the world Joh. 7.38 39. else how could all Believers with John receive of his fulness had there not been a full fountain it would not have been drawn dry though communicated to so many and grace for grace 1. Whether it be by way of accumulation as some interpret it or 2. Whether by way of additional supplement we receiving the grace of the New Testament instead of the grace of the Old Testament or 3. Whether by way of correspondency there being such proportionable impressions of that grace that is in Christ so far as we are capable for there was that in Christ as Mediator wherein we cannot resemble him made upon us that as the print upon the wax answers to the Seal as the characters upon the Son answer to the Father so there are such visible stamps of the grace of Christ upon the Saints that in the language of Peter they are expresly said to be partakers of the Divine Nature having such Divine dispositions so incorporated so naturalized into them that what good they do springs not from external motives onely as in Hypocrites but from an inward principle of new Nature And therefore acting from this new Divine Nature they do good with more constancy and delight then others And upon the same account doth John tell you 1 Joh. 17. v. The Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ In Moses Law there were shadowing Types in the Gospel of Christ there is the substantial Truth of them there were Predictions and Prophesies here fulfilling grace Hence Christ saith in the 10. Chapter of the Evangelist John ver 10. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly that he might be a perfect Savior to answer the greatest exigencies of all his poor sheep maintaining their lives in despight of all their Wolvish enemies The third particular follows to wit The various sweetness and sweet variety of that strengthning grace that is in Christ This may be made appear to the great comfort and strong encouragement of the Saints and that in a fivefold Stream flowing from this living Spring of grace in Christ. First Here is strength from the electing grace of God in Christ where there is a great deal of strength and indeed the fundamental Stone which is the strength and support of the house The foundation of all the Spiritual and Eternal building lies there Ephes. 1.45 He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will Grace and his good pleasure is the Spring of all Secondly Here is strength from the transacting grace of Christ when there was an agreement betwixt God the Father and God the Son God had given so many to him he would undertake for those many God did accept his undertaking then Christ went on there was a great deal of strength in this transaction as 2 Tim. 1.9 According to his purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began how possibly given us before the world began why it was given us in Christ Jesus in his negotiating with God for us Thirdly Here is a great deal of strength also in the converting grace of Christ He hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace What purpose and grace That which was in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1.9 He did graciously purpose it therefore it should be infallibly effected A place that in the Synod of Palestina 1200 years ago and above the learned Divines made excellent use of to cut asunder the sinews of Pelagianism as indeed it doth and so still of Arminianism which is but that weed revived as learned Dr. Featly makes it most clearly appear in his Pelagius Redivivus Fourthly There is a great deal of strength likewise in the assisting grace of Christ when there shall be new supplies communicated from his Spirit to enable us to perform every duty and to order our sharpest sufferings to the best good of our souls as Paul assures himself Phil. 1.19 For I
experience which made him groan so sadly Psal. 51.8 Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce When he had broke his conscience by sinning God would break his bones for sin And again ver 12. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and ver 10. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me It s true the Lord had so far deserted him in regard of sensible comforts that he may desire their restoring and which may be observed by the way let the proud Arminian say what he can David was not become silius irae but onely silius sub ira still a beloved son he begs indeed the cleansing of his heart but onely the renewing of a right spirit within him 2. The Lord whips his children to an improvement of the grace of Christ by suffering them in his holy and wise providence to fall into some great and it may be some scandalous sin which shall draw on a sharp affliction This is to a Saint a most sharp cure yet God makes it often effectual to that happy end for though we be the onely proper authors of sin yet Gods permission is not otiosa but effâ—cax permissio He knows how to govern its subserviency to the Covenant of Grace and to bring good out of evil otherwise he would neither suffer evil of sin or punishment to be David too clear an instance of this Rule Hereby the Lord whipped him out of himself to seek mercy from his Savior Psal. 51.1 Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindeness according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions FINIS Acts 24 25 The Apostle useth four Arguments to Vnity Endeavoring to keep the Vnity of the spirit in the bond of 〈◊〉 Verse 7. Vers. 11 12. Vers. 13 14. Verse 15. Doctr. 1. Doctr. 2. Doctr. 3. Doctr. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Headship it self oâ— Christ. 1. Respectu Dignitatis 2. Respectu Regiminis 3. Respectu Influxui 4. Respectu Vnionis The appropriation of Christs Headship Note Note Christs Title to this Headship of his Church Luke 19.10 Vse 1. Pope no vicarious Head of the Church v. Polau Sputag p. 3351. v. Bâ—dâ—l Vse 2. Caution It s dangerous to be injurious to any of Christs members Dan. 2.45 Verse 4 5. Strong encouragement for all Christs members Rom. 16.28 Vse 3. Contrary to Pauâ—s Doctrine Phil. 2.13 Note To believe is mans act but faith is Gods gift Vse 4. Caution Rom. 9.15 2. Tim. 2.20 2. Doctr. Christs intention and expectation in giving gifts 1. That there should be a growth Eph. 1. last 2. A growing up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Growing up to Christ in all things Note The grounds Reason 1. Reason 2. Reason 3. Note The end The stability in Christ. Stability in judgement Stability of affection Psal. 73.25 Psal. 11. Stability of conversation Note Improvement of Christ. In all conditions and relations In all duties Vse 1. That is to preach the Gospel for the working faith in Gods elect Note Vse 2. For Citizens chiefly who enjoy such rich Gospel-advantage Mat. 11.22 Growth must be proportionable to the means you enjoy Growth must be of all parts Vse 3. For information concerning the Ministery Consider the Original of the Ministery Gal. 1.1 Note Doubtles it is a great and provoking evil to cry down the whole Ministery because some seek themselvs or others of the Ministers affect too much power hereby the devil carries on his design Behold the Ministery in Christs intention in the giving of it That Ordinances and Ministery now cease and we are under another new Administration A most dangerous and most unsound opinion See Mr. Saltmarsh his Book called Beams of the bright morning Star p. 134 c. What another Administration then that of the Father through the Son by the Spirit Reasons against this Interpretation of Mat. 28 20 for his third Administration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thess. 8.9 Iude ver 3. 1 Cor. 15.9 24 28. Eph. 4.11 1. What is Truth 2. What is this love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. What is it to speak or follow the Truth in the Text. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers. 14. Scripturae plenitudinem adoro Truthing it in Love a good motto for Saints Doctr. 3. 2 Ioh. 2.4 5. Verse 2 3. Reasons why Truthing it in love so useful What Truth and Love do to prevent evils singly considered â— Tim. 4.3 4 1 Cor. 10.28 29 30. 1 Cor. 8.13 What Truth Love do to promote the best good of Saints being joyntly considered 2 Tim. 2.25 What Truth and Love being joyntly considered 1 Cor. 8.1 Note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the Passover not after Easter if truly translated Acts 12.4 vid. Minshulâ—s Dict. Note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 1.20 Acts 2.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There was both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet sometime the former included in the latter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Helps Deacons Governments Elders Noâ—e this grand Imposture 1. Vse of Instruction 2. Vse of Caution Two dangerous Regiments Captare impacata inquieta tempora A little book in quarto called Look about you Note 3 Vse of Exhortation Note Some Errors are 1. Contrafidem 2. Infide 3. Praeterfidem In Elephante melancholia transit in nutrimentum corporis Though the Elephants be maximae virtutis maximi intellectus yet gregatim semper in cedunt and so not uociva as solivaga are Homini erranti viam ostendit Rules concerning Truth and the pursuance of it 1. Rule about Truth Ezek. 13.2 Eph 4.17 Cassianus his Collat. 2. de discretione cap 5. 2. Rule about Truth 3. Rule about Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jus Divinum nititur verbo Divino Ames Note 4. Rule about Truth Note 5. Rule about Truth 2 Cor. 11.3 6. Rule about Truth Note Inclinus ad neutram partem sit Dominis â—â—riusâ— 1. Rule about Love 1 Cor. 16.14 Eph 5.2 Col. 3.12 13. 2. Rule about Love 3. Rule about Love 4. Rule about Love Rom. 5.1 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil. Eph 5 2 5. Rule about Love 6. Rule about Love Phil. 1.27 3.15 16. Concordiâ— communa periculum â—ollâ—tâ—r Livy l. 28. Note 3 Epist. ver 1. Verse 2. Verse 3. Non vis errare ego sum via non vis falli ego sum veritas non vis mori ego sum vita non habes quaÌ„ eas nisi per Christum non habes quò eas nisi ad Christum Ezek. 28.3 Sermo Dei est sicut hamus non capit nisi capiatur Aug. 1 Cor. 9.19 to 22. four times together Isa. 8.18 Division 1. part 1. persons Exhorting Exhorted 2. part substance of ExhortatioÌ„ Be strong 3. part The rock of thy strength 3. The grace that is in Christ Jesus Explic. Note Note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non satis babuit humeroruÌ„ was said of one who wanted strength proportionable to his work Some copies read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both will come to one purpose though the last more full and indeed more probable In Christ Fulness Redundancy of grace 1. A Prophetical fulnes of grace in Christ. 1. Strength in his word 1 Ioh. 2.14 2. Strength of his Spirit 2. A priestly fulness of grace in Christ. 1. Christs gracious satisfaction 2. Christs gracious intercession 3. Christs Kingly fulness of grace 1. Christs powerful suppressing his enemies Chap 18. last verse 2. Christs powerful advancing his people Col. 2.13 Psal 103. Mat 16 18. Rev. 3.21 2. The redundancy of grace that is in Christ Jesus 1 Redundancy of his grace into all their faculties Rom. 5.12 15. 2. Redundancy of the grace in Christ into all the graces of the Saints 3. Redundancy of the grace that is in Christ Iesus into all their duties 4. Redundancy of the grace in Christ Jesus into the various estates of his Saints Psa. 62.10 1. part Christs title unto possession of this strengthening grace which is threefold 1. By the grace of Vnion 2. By the grace of Vnction Note 3. By the grace of Office 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Camer 2 Pet. 1.4 Note 3 part The various sweetnes sweet variety of the strengthning grace in Christ Iesus Note Applic. A serious invitation for al strangers to seek acquaintance with and interest in Iesus Christ. Ioh. 3.19 Vid L. Verulans Apothegmes 26. Note 1 Vse Note See in Arminius his Works a notable Discourse about Gods Providence in mens sins Deus non permittit peccatum tanquam otiosus spectator sed effâ—â—aci quadam permissione quamvis nullo modo sit Author peccati
heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels Authorities and Powers being made subject to him he hath a universal and absolute regiment over all things in heaven and earth over men and Devils but then 3. In regard of that Influence that he doth convey to the bodies Sence and Motion is derived from Christ as the spring it is true that in the natural body there the heart is primum vivens but in the mystical body the head is primum vivens and he gives life to us and we derive our life from Jesus Christ the head he hath life and he hath it abundantly in himself and he lives that we may live as I remember there is such an expression in John 10.10 4. In regard of Vnion he doth tie altogether the nerves and sinews would not unite the members of the mystical body unless Jesus Christ were the Head As he is the Foundation stone and so supports the building so he is the Corner stone both the beauty and strength and union of the building Fundatio fundatissima as Junius renders it in Isa 28.16 a most sure foundation and the Corner stone as Peter hath it in 1 Pet. 2.7 8. with reference to that place and so in these four particulars Jesus Christ hath a Headship the next thing is now The appropriation of this Headship to whom is he a head He is an external Head to all the members of the visible Church to all professors as he is a vine and doth communicate some sap to those that are in him no way but by an external profession as you have it intimated in John 15.2 Every branch in me that bears not fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire and therefore there are some branches in him externally as he is an external Head to the Church as he is a vine but indeed he is properly the Head of his body the Saviour of his body he is a Head to those to whom he is a Saviour in Ephesians 5.23 As the King hath a common relation to all his Subjects but a more pecular relation to the Queen who is a Subject and a Spouse and so hath Jesus Christ to his Church and the reason is this because there is a full commensuration betwixt all the three glorious persons in the Trinitie they are grossly mistaken that will make Jesus Christ to dye for all and yet will not in their sence so as to make them Salvabiles if they will and yet cannot say That either God hath given Christ to all or given all to Christ or that the Spirit of God will apply that Redemption to all for there is a commensuration there is an adaequation betwixt the three glorious Persons in the Trinity and their workings for the Salvation of the Saints Jesus Christ dyes for those whom God hath given to him with purposes of Salvation I do not deny but all the wicked in the world may have some benefit by the death of Christ as all have some common pledges of the bounty of God and all may have some common operations of the Spirit of God but if you 'l speak of any thing as to Salvation there is a commensuration betwixt the three persons in the Trinity and their workings Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father Sanctification of the Spirit and the sprinkling of the blood of Christ in 1 Pet. 1.2 indeed in 1 John 2.2 He is a propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but for the sins of the whole world to whom did John write that Epâ—stle to the Jews and therefore to shew that they had not all Religion now engross'd amongst them and that the Election of God did not still run amongst them only he speaks in that dialect he did not intend every particular man in the world for then he must intend men that sin against the Holy Ghost which is impossible that they should be saved No man will say that understands any thing even in Catechistical Divinity that Jesus Christ dyed to save them which he must do if he dyed for every man in the world with such purposes to save them and so in 1 Tim. 1.4 5 6. He is given a ransom for all why all There is one God and one Mediator now Jews and Gentiles as Jesus Christ did take our nature upon him both Jews and Gentiles all estates shall have the common priviledge and benefit and advantage of being in a capacity to receive blessings from him spiritual saving blessings that is all conditions whether Kings and all in Authority or Servants or others not every particular person but as in one place Jews or Gentiles so in another place not this or that condition but all estates and all relations and all conditions but still the Appropriation is to the Church as here he saith from whom the whole body is joyned together in the 16. Vers. from whom from Christ the whole body is joyned together so it is the body that hath this influence from him but then 3. What is his Title to his Headship it is threefold First The designation of God and the Father God the Father hath sealed him he gave him to be a Head to the Church over all things in Ephe. 1.22 23. and then Secondly His personal fitness Of his fulness we all receive grace for grace In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and then Thirdly His own propitious readiness We were not in any degree so willing to be saved as he is to save us He came down to seek and to save that which is lost the Spirit of the Lord was upon him and anointed him to preach the Gospel it was his business and as he had a Commission from his Father and came under the Broad-Seal of Heaven so he had a strong inclination â—â—â—m his own bowels to engage him to it there is his Title the use of this 1. To trie the title of the Popes Headship to the Church how comes he by it for a Church to have two Heads one body to have two heads it is a Monster you 'l make it Monstrous we do allow in a good sence That the Supreme Magistrate is Caput politicum in the Church to command good things according to the Word of God and to restrain evil according to that Word we hold forth confidently that Jesus Christ he is the onely proper Head of the Church that doth convey all saving spiritual blessings life nourishment direction and all those admirable advantages to the body we cannot allow a Caput Vicarium a Ministerial Head there is no need of that Jesus Christ is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Head here is an Article that gives an Emphasis what needs it any other Jesus Christ is present always in his Church when he withdrew his Corporal presence he would then requite his Church with his Spiritual presence and that presence of his Spirit it should
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 get something within that may strengthen and enable thee to do thy work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be strong be strengthned passively expect it from another Strength is that which men glory in and therefore very desireable But what strength In the grace He doth not onely say Be thou strong in the Lord and in the power of his might as Ephes. 6.10 But in grace indeed he ultimately intends a participation of strength but withal intimates the original of that strength to be Grace as if he should say Thou standest in need of strengthning vertue in thee all that strength must be derived from Grace expect it from no external motive without God himself we have no arguments to move him to bestow strength upon us it is his Prerogative Royal peculiar to himself to act independently to have mercy on whom he will have mercy and Because he will have mercy Rom. 9.15 Ephes. 1.4 6 9. All derived from grace and resolved into grace And where lies this strengthning grace In the grace that is in Christ Jesus very significantly in the Original by the Article indigitating Christ to be the Spring of thy strengthning grace God will not trust thee with grace in thy own keeping lest thou prove a Bankrupt as Adam did and thou wouldst soon grow intolerable proud if thou wast able to act by thy own strength independently upon God very hard to keep down that weed even now in thy most depending condition therefore thy strength shall lie in Christs hands and thou be at his disposal for the communication of it so that thou shalt always have occasion to say Lord I cannot mortifie pride by the strength of my own humility that often fails me Lord I cannot confute my unbelief by the strongest arguments my Faith can produce I shall never be able to trample upon Satan or keep up under his Temptations from sinking without the strength and sufficiency of that grace which is in my Head Christ Iesus Lord make me strong by that Almighty grace which is in him That there is such a Spring of quickning grace in our Rock Christ Jesus is evident Isa. 9.6 The Government is upon his shoulders for the perfection of his Church and many other good purposes which require strength which is hinted in the expression On his shoulders Paul had a Commission to Preach the unsearchable riches of Christ Ephes. 3.8 to display his grace which is like a Sea you can finde no bounds like a Spring you cannot reach the bottom The Sea of Christs grace as in nature flows from the Spring and the Spring from the Sea so there is no reason of grace but grace it self This is to be acknowledged by all to be the deep mystery of God and of the Father and of the Son in whom are hid all the tresures of wisdom and knowledge The same blessed Apostle Col. 2.2 3. treasures therefore 1. Abundance 2. of things of price of wisdom and knowledge which being directive as well as operative impart strength Hid sometimes we hide things for secrecy and so the life of a Saint may be hid from carnal from godly spectators yea from himself and they droop under doubts So other things we hide for safety so chiefly though secrecy not excluded Col. 3.2 3. the life is hid with Christ in God and here is security of the Saints when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Shall let Beelzebub and all his Angels do their worst appear with him in glory Upon the same account doth this man of God so intimately acquainted with Christ Iesus in his Epistle to Philemon ver 6. pray for him That the communication of his Faith might become effectual there is his Faith with the strength and the efficacy of it by the acknowledgement of every good thing which is in you in Christ Iesus there 's grace in Christ and therefore derivatively in you because originally in him I might hence gather several Observations the first whereof might be this 1. Doct. The Spring of a Christians strength is in the Rock Iesus Christ. Expâ—ic Here you have three particulars conducing to Explication of this Gospel-Truth 1. The nature and proportion of this strengthning grace in Christ Jesus 2. His title to it and possession of it 3. The sweet variety and various sweetness of this strengthning grace in Christ. First for the nature and proportion of it two things will clear it 1. There is in Jesus Christ the fulness of grace 2. The redundancy of this fulness of grace He is a full fountain and likewise an overflowing fountain The more you contemplate Christ in the glorious glass of the Gospel the sooner you will discover in him a Prophetical fulness of strengthning grace and that both in regard of the strength of his Word and in regard of the power of his Spirit both which are of great strength If you cast your eye upon the second Epistle of Paul to Timothy Chap. 3. ver 15 17. you shall finde that the holy Scripture is able to make a man wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Iesus there must be still an improvement of that strengthning grace which is in him and likewise it is profitable that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works There is that in the word of Jesus Christ which is able to compleat men as Saints and as Ministers and therefore doubtless full of glorious strength And so likewise in regard of the Spirit hear what the Prophet Micah saith Chap. 3. ver 8. But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of judgement and of might to declare unto Iacob his transgression and to Israel his sin And when Jesus Christ did appear to Paul Acts 26.13 to make him a Minister and a Witness both of these things which he had seen and in those things in the which he would appear to him ver 16. doubtless there was a powerful presence of the Spirit of Jesus Christ abundance of strengthning grace to be conveyed by him otherwise how could he possibly open their eyes to whom he was sent ver 18. to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me still they are led to the Spring of grace in Christ now all these speak no less then an Almighty power You may perceive a fulness of strengthning grace in Christ as he is the Churches Priest otherwise he could never make full satisfaction to his Fathers Justice He could never so prevailingly intercede for the Saints in Heaven which are the two Branches of his Priestly Office when all the sins of his people met upon him so it is in the Original Isa. â—3 6 they would have
disharmony being wrought in them accordingly Jesus Christ by the infusion of gracious habits will reduce them to an holy complexion and constitution as 1 Thess. 5.23 The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ You see he takes care for the restitution of the whole man Let the Arminians as falsly as confidently suggest that for our Conversion there needs onely a wakening of the Vnderstanding and a rectifying of the Affections the Will according to them being left as Illibato virgo for freedom to good being never ravished by Adams fall Jesus Christ teacheth other Doctrine who knowing the corruption of the Will tells you what the tenour of The Covenant of Grace is Ezek. 36.26 27. The Lord saith He will take away the stony heart of Flesh and put a new Spirit within them and cause them to walk in his statutes There is the redundancy of Christs fulness for the supplying of the Will as well as other faculties with holy dispositions Christs fulness is redundant into all the graces of the Saints increasing them where they are little strengthning them where they are feeble and languishing acting and animating them where they are dull and dead Hence it is that some of the Servants of Christ who though they have but a little stock of grace yet keeping in with him and holding communion with him do thrive much more in the Spiritual trading both for the magnifying of Christ and for the good of their own souls then divers others who make a greater shew and it may be have a larger portion of habitual grace Hence it is that Paul hath recourse to this fountain by prayer Phil. 1.9 And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all sense that you may approve things that are excellent that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God Unto this purpose the Spouse invites her beloved to send forth his influence Cant. 4.16 Awake O North wind and come thou South blow upon my Garden that the spices thereof may flow out It is the presence of Jesus Christ who makes the spices that is the graces of his Spirit which grow in the Garden of his Church to cast a sweet perfume whereas he being absent the Saints will seem to wither at least comparatively even as the Trees they will have an Autumn yea a Winter not onely send forth no pleesant fruit but even the leaves fall off and the sap retire into the root there will be a winter of their graces till the Sun of Righteousness return with healing and quickening in his wings that is by the gracious beams of his Word and Spirit Then and never till then shall they go forth and grow up as Calves of the stall Mal. 4.2 be fat and flourishing Christs fulness is redundant into all their Duties wherein they exercise those several Graces that they may with Spiritual vigor and powerful activity perform those services to which the Lord calls them as Paul saith With my minde I my self serve the Law of God Rom. 7. ult and Rom. 8.26 Likewise the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not how to pray as we ought O what heartless and sapless Performances do we multiply when Jesus Christ withdraws then and then onely we pray with life when the Spirit of Jesus Christ doth help our infirmities A word in the Original is very Emphatical when the Spirit takes us into his arms and carries us on powerfully against those infirmities that would clog and cloud and depress our Spirits in duty then they do duties not onely materially good but formally well in a Spiritual maner from Evangelical principles upon Evangelical motives and for Evangelical ends when there is a redundancy of the grace of Christ into them upon whom all our fruit is found Hos. 14.8 There is a redundancy of the fulness of Christ into all their various estates As when they are called to suffer that they may do it with cheerfulness not sinking under carnal discouragements but rather chide their souls out of it as the Psalmist on the 42. Psal. ver ult Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God When they are advanced to a prosperous condition that they may have a victorious Faith triumphing over not onely the frowns but the favors of the world 1 Joh. 5.4 For want of this Solomon and Hezekiah did so miserably lose themselves in a Spring-tide of prosperity It was Pauls great advantage that he had learned how to walk unchangeably with God in great changes Phil. 4.11 12 13. Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content I know both how to be abased and how to abound Every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and suffer need I can do all things through Christ that strengthneth me Phil. 4.13 the same Original word with that in the Text. We are apt to overgrieve or undergrieve at crosses therefore Solomon gives that wise counsel Prov. 3.11 My son despise not the chastening of the Lord it should not be slighted neither be weary of his correction we should not faint under it And his father David before him spake as seasonably If riches increase set not your hearts upon them There is a danger as our Estates are greatned so our Affections should swell to an inordinate cleaving to them None of these evils can be prevented but by the strengthning grace of Jesus Christ. In the next place I shall endeavor to discover as God inables Christs Title to and possession of this strengthning grace which he hath by a threefold Claim He hath a grace of Vnion so learned Divines call it by vertue of the Hypostatical Vnion our nature being so highly advanced into such a near fellowship with the Divine Nature all his Saints though never so unworthy are brought into a capacity of receiving strengthning grace from him as Joh. 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth where you see clearly when the Word was made flesh there follows in him a fulness of grace and truth And as express to this purpose is that of Paul Col. 2.9 10. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily First There is fulness in him that he might be able to empty and communicate himself according to the various necessities of his Saints Secondly There is fulness of