shining forth of Gods most free and infinite grace unto men and Angels here and hereafter which as our Saviours expression is to all single-eyed beholders is obvious to be discerned yea there is no part of the foundation or fabrick of the whole work wherein it doth not wonderfully shine out to such soules in their better temper at least which if it do not unto any at least when they are themselves it is because they are not as in the Text transformed into the same Image if the glory shining in the work of the Creation when that was finished was the reason then wherefore the Lord blessed the seaventh Day Sabbath and hallowed it that his people might have a weekly opportunity to worship and celebrate his praise for the innumerable benefits conferred on them by Creation then how much more may the glory shining much more brightly when Christ Jesus our Lord having finished the whole work of redemption by his resurrection gloriously triumphed over all adverse powers of darkness occasion him the Lord of the Sabbath to put it over to the first day and is justly therefore by his holy spirit intitled to himself the Lords day our Christian Sabbath Rev. 1. 10. even when in the highest raptures he communicated so divinely to that beloved Disciple the great things to be accomplished in reference to the Church and her enemies to the end of the world now as the perfected glory of the Saints hereafter shall swallow up the inchoate glory here or as the glory of the Lord our redeemer seems to ecclypse the lustre of the glory of the Lord our Creator as the shining light of the sun doth the brightness of the Moon when they appear both together in our hemisphere even so is the glorious forme and beauty of this work transcendently above the other Fifthly The largeness of the time or continuance allotted for this work above all the other excellent illustrations of it First Creatio fit in instanti so the Learned Creation is done in an instant the whole work was finished and celebrated in a weeks space at first sustentation is the continuance of that for a limited time and Gubernation here is but while this course of nature or Creatures or rather supportation in their rankes from God is so variously disposed of in such wonderful manner after the good pleasure of his will but the time allotted for the contriving effecting applying confirming carrying on and perfecting this most glorious work of Gospel grace is not only a long time but all time and not only time but eternity too yea all eternity in reference to the eternal and coequal Trinity of persons in the unity of the divine nature Now this illustration of the length of time for raysing a work may more clearly appear from a threefold evidence First of nature the baser sort of creatures soon come to their height of stature as is observable in varieties of sorts of plants and beasts and fowls Secondly in Reason the more excellent the nature of a work and the more accurately it is to be wrought the longer time is required to provide for it to accomplish it Thirdly in experience both of Nature Art by all which the long continuance for the raysing of this work may be manifest above all the rest which is an other of its excellencies unto which let us now adde the Sixt Namely in regard of the way and manner of the raysing of this work by the constant shining out of the wonderful glory of the Father Son and Holy ghost all the time it is in raysing Oh the unspeakeable splendor of the wisdome and power of the grace and goodness of the mercy and truth in reference to all the holy persons in that undivided Trinity made evident therein from the beginning of the world and shall be to the end thereof in such glorious mnnifestations continually breaking forth through all successions of Ages as can never be sufficiently admired nor much less celebrated with praises both from men and Angels in all things that concern the way and manner of the revealing exhibiting as will be of the perfecting of that most precious grace from and by those sacred persons derived Whether we respect the sufficiency the sureness the efficacy the happiness in such way and manner continually held out and communicated unto the world First sufficient to make up all the Creatures wants to answer all their doubts Secondly Sure to remove all their fears settle all desirable security to them Thirdly Effectually to carry on against all obstacles and to accomplish all and more then they could hope for or desire Fourthly To administer what ever good they are capable of receiving to make them perfectly blessed let your thoughts be inlarged upon these particulars I must leave them as the dry bones in Ezekiels Prophesie till the Spirit causeth flesh to come upon them to cover them for I feare to be tedious even in a subject so precious and pleasant to such as have interest in it but therefore not pleasant unto others because they find not any to themselves yea they know it not and therefore they desire it not yea they are not willing to know it least they must loose those Idols wherein they take more pleasure But thus much at presenâ— of Gods own undertaking in the most sutable manner to all his own most blessed purposes respecting both himself and his creatures according to his own good pleasure as we shall indeavour afterwards to shew and is evident from all passages to this purpose in holy writ unspeakeably above what is to be found in any other his great and glorious works here being a way for the magnifying of the riches of his free grace only revealed in his word which is therefore magnifyed above all his name as the Psalmist saith remarkably Ps 138. in such a concurrence of all Divine excellencies as is no where else to be found since there and there only we have the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. Seaventhly In regard of the subordinate meanes of raising up this work not here to speak of the chief the holy Spirit as proceeding from the Father and the Son for we shall have occasion to speak of him afterwards as the Lord the Spirit the prime efficient cause of the efficaciousness of all other meanes but only of his inferior means such as Angels men extraordinarily inspired ordinarily qualified ordinances sanctified and providences and many other means oâ— Creatures sometime at his pleasure blessed to be in some sort instrumental in this work For sometimes to use Angels in it was an honour to it but to have used them alwayes would have been terrible to weak and fraile Creatures besides otherwise incommodious to them when as to use mans ministry is natural familiar affecting as being of the same nature and lyable to the same miserie capable of the same happiness
man to appease thereby his Fathers wrath against him and restore him into a State of grace And that such his goodness might not be cast away as that before conferred by Creation upon him was God the Father and the Son will send the holy Spirit who proceeds from both by whose all-powerful efficacious grace that most glorious manifestation of God the Fathers incomprehensible goodness towards lost man and that most gracious manifestation of God the sons most tender love and compassion towards lost man this work of salvation should be irresistably and most effectually carried on by informing the mind reforming the will conforming his heart and soul to the will of God and confirming the whole man in his reformed condition and all this by bringing home this gospel discovery of the Glory of the Lord spoken of in the Text and by that his peculiar work and undertaking as we shall endeavour by the assistance of the said Lord the spirit in due time to shew from the last words of the Text. Now according to this three-fold manifestation of the glory of the Lord from the beginning have all the most glorious dispensations of the grace of God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost ever since been derived revealed communicated applyed preserved conserved rewarded in the souls and persons of all Gods faithfull servants in all Ages and so will be to the end of the world and was but mens Religion setled upon this foundation of Gods own laying and steered in a right course to his own end that as all grace is from himselfe so the glory thereof might be given to him alone how might the Church of God be setled in truth and peace But let us a little view the most radiant beames of this incomprehensible love this supernatural grace this divine Glory of God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost as from time to time they are darted out of Heaven and powerfully sent home into the souls of poore sinners upon earth together with the reflexions of those radiant beames in and upon those poor sinners souls for I speak not here of those close stopped bottles that will suffer no good liquor to fall into them though much fall upon them yea though cast into a sea of water yet none can enter because they are close stopt up or such dark Lanthorns that receive no light though they be set in the bright Sun-shine at noon-day but of such as like burning or looking glasies in the beholding of this glory as in the Text receive from the Sunne of Righteousnesse that shines most gloriously in their Hemisphere only as the light of old did in Goshen when thick darknesse was in Egypt receive I say from him both light and heate and brightnesse and are transformed into the same Image Where should I begin to speak of the glory of their transfiguration or when should I make an end Look upon their birth it is celestiall it is divine it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is from above it is from God so they are not only a truly noble or Royall which the vaine world is apt too much to prize alone but they are also a reall divine Race 2 Pet. 1. 4. But this glory of theirs being that of the Queens Daughter is mainly within this spirituall life of theirs is hid with Christ in God Col. With this new birth and life is conveyed a divine and spiritual illumination into their souls with this is inseparably conjoyned a particular spiritual application of every sacred truth by that illumination discovered out of the word of God by any means whereby God sets it before them from this application proceedeth love which labours to manifest it selfe in an affectionate constant endeavour of all due thankfulnesse and obedience to his divine Majestie in the improvement of all grace received and all gracious dispositions and affections and in the performance of all duties toward God and man and so when the holy Spirit hath taken possession Christ sits regent in all their souls where he hath a spiritual and invincible Kingdome of which there shall be no end whose Subjects shall never be traytors nor revolters from his Divine Majestie bribes shall not allure them terrours shall not fray them they are sworne feodaries to him and will approve themselves his liedg Subjects their Rule and Law is Gods word their Strength is his grace and joy their Teacher and counseller and comforter is his sacred Spirit their Tower of defence and rock is the rock of Ages their Guard the holy Angells their Annuitie or portion the good of the earth the ayre the Seas here in their non-age their present inheritance the grace of God the favour of God the peculiar providence of God the promises of God the Covenant of God with all the benefits of redemption purchased for them by that infinite ransome of the blood of Christ needfull for them in their pilgrimage here on earth till they enter the possession of the heavenly and eternal Kingdome of Glory And this constant course of glorious Gospel grace God the Father Sonne and holy Spirit have manifested and magnified themselves by to the true and invisible Church throughout all generations to this very day though in different manners and degrees and still will doe so to the end of the world and this glory of the Lord is so great in the eyes of true believers that if all the excellency of temporal glory not only of the Kings and Kingdoms of the world but the Glory of the Sunne Moone and Starres were united into one it would seeme to them obscure and contemptible in comparison of this and so full of sound comfort is their interest in this glorious grace that were they offered the wealth the pleasure the honour the favour of men the confluence of all the seeming worth of the world without this they would in their right temper refuse and reject them all as an incompetent offer yea faithfull Moses and all the Martyrs in their times would rather chuse to suffer affliction with the people of God to injoy this than to have the pleasures of sin for a season for oh the pearless worth of their secret but certain injoyment of the favour of God their secured interest in Christ the guidance the teaching the comfort of the holy Ghost his life-giving grace his grace-working Ordinances the spiritual pleasures of his house their communion with himselfe the satisfaction the securitie the soul-ravishments of his love with the reflections thereof their love againe to his Divine Majestie that twofold righteousnesse of Christs imputed and theirs endeavoured that peace of conscience that passeth understanding that joy in the holy Ghost unspeakeable and glorious in which the Kingdome of Heaven doth consist as the Apostle witnesseth Rom 14. 17. The Glory indeed of this Kingdome is not discerned but by the spiritual eye of faith the happinesle thereof is not injoyed but in the particular application of a truly believing soul herein
and to my present more soundly intelligent or tractable hearers at my Lecture at Baldock grace truth and glory from God the Father through his Beloved Sonne and by the Lord the Spirit now and for ever CHristian Reader who ever thou art I wish thee a no less affecting discovery of Gospel glorie unto thy Soul in the reading of these Sermans then I have found in the preaching and transcribing of them for these are the times foretold Isa 11. 9. When the earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea though men are such High-landers they care not for comming near the bankes of such waters nor the margins of such books which as Conduite pipes would convey those waters to them As unthankefull Israel of old they loath Gods heavenly Manna though Angels foode falling neer their tents be it never so strengthning wholsome or pleasant their pallats being distempered they are not pleased with it but they will have quailes though they have a plague to boote with them for while the meate was in their mouthes the wrath of God came upon them and slew the fattest of them Psal 78. 30 31. If men loath Gods delicates and begin to surfeit of their own superfluities it may be expected that he come to them as a skilfull Physitian and give them a strong purge and make the chosen or young men of Israel to bowe as the words signifie and well will it be with them on whom it workes a cure to rectifie their taste and affect their soules with the bread of life I offer thee here but a small demensum or cantling of this bread thou art not like to surfeit by it and if thy taste agree with mine I think thou wilt not loath it it was cordiall to my own soule as made of the kidneys of Gods own wheate his glorious grace being the subject of it And for you my well beloved and worthy friends who formerly had by my weak hand the substance of these delighting and inlightening truths pointed out in some sort unto you happilie they were not by meanes of the craft of Satan then so much regarded or since considered by you and I am conscious to my self that they were neither then so largely or perspicuously set before you as here you may have them if God give them enterance into your soules I hope you may say with me you discearne them better then you did before And you my more late and more soundly intelligent hearers supposing you to be such as thirst after true grace and upon that account desire your share in the discovery of gospel Glory I must acknowledge there hath been a threesold obstacle thereof in my Late preaching of this and other subjects to you namely a dark pulpet a dim sight and a weake memory though all graciously supplied both then and now by the assistance of a good God to which I may add a fourth perhaps the ground too of all the former to wit the great imbeeilitie and weakness of my animal spirits and declining state of body by years and labours with much variety of afflictions troubles and vanities of this present world much decayed and wasted were not my defects frequently supplyed in my service by my almighty and heavenly father so that I might say with our Apostle 2 Cor. 12. 10. That when I am weake then am I strong namely through my God for otherwise I have unspeakeably more cause with him to say though I be nothing vers 11. sutable to an observation of an old disciple declared in my hearing in the presence of many grave learned and religious persons as found most remarkeable from all his long experience namely that God was all and he was nothing which excellent lesson who so rightly learn though they be nothing yet they both are and shall be the better in Gods account because they so know this and acknowledge it for if God be no loser at their hands they may be sure they shall be no loser at his hands who delights to put his most precious treasure in empty vessels filling the hungry with good things Luke I. whilest many wise in their own eyes are meer fools in Gods whilst many rich in their own conceit are found by Christ as the Church of Laodicea Rev. 3. to be poore naked and miserable But to you my more weak but teachable hearers let me say a word to prevent your prejudice perhaps you may stumble at some passages exprest in unknown tongues to you first let me tell you sometimes such expressions by such as understand them I doubt not but will be acknowledged as observable or of special force again some are more pertinent and occasionally delivered the Apostle Paul disdained not to quote Heathen Authors recorded in the sacred Scripture in their own language but more especially let me informe you if you be indeed teachable that I have indeavoured to prevent your disadvantage thereby by explaning usually after them the words or sence in your native language so that you need but pass by those unknown expressions and still you have the sence and then they will be in effect to you as if they had not been at all and so with my prayers for you and all other right Christian readers of this my weak outward indeavour to promote the discovery of gospel Glory unto you unto him who undertakes this work effectually by blessing his own meanes even the Lord the Spirit as in the Text that you and all they may have all the good thereby which is intended unto those upon whose souls God is pleased to set home such truths for their spiritual advantag and godly edifying by reducing them from error convincing them of truth inciting them to good reclaiming them from sin for the better information of their understandings inflaming their affections with what is spiritually good conforming their wills to his revealed will reforming their whole conversations according to his appointment and with and above all such a transformation of their souls into the same Image as in the Text that in the end that real transformation in the state of Grace in such soules may in Gods good time be perfected in the consummation of glory with him in his everlasting kingdome there to be rendring to him that glory which is his due to all eternity which will be the perfection of their happiness there so prayes Your soules weake yet desirous to be their faithful Servant in the things of the Lord. W. Sherwin COurteous Reader be pleased to take notice that this small Treatise being about to come forth divers moneths agoe was stopped by the sudden death of the first undertaker of the publishing thereof by which meanes those into whose hands the Copy thereof did fall not having the directions left by the Author with the deceased party and another reverend and judicious friend that had promised the oversight of the press who upon either the omission or mistake of some
now imployed about the printing had no notice thereof hence it comes to pass that many errors both in the words sentences and manner of Printing have thus unwarily passed some of the most remarkeable upon a brief and short review are here corrected to thy hand in the rest thy candour and prudence is requested either for the passing by or making up what thus falls out to be deficient ERRATA PAg. 6. r. of main concernment p. 26. r. walking p. 36. r. efficacie p. 31. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 32. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 37. r. likewise p. 4. Jer Cyp. should have been in the margent with diverse quotations in other places p. 68. r. corruptions p. 79. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 118. r. when p. 122. adde truly graceful p. 129. r. differre p. 135. r. their A GLIMPS of Gospel Glory 2 COR 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. ALthough the holy Apostle Paul in modesty and humility seemes to conceale his rapture up into the third heaven Chap 12. 2 3. yet the excellency of his divine and heavenly doctrine set forth in this text and in all this Chapter doth plainly shew no lesse for had he not seene such Glory he could not have been so affected with it had he not been so eminently affected with it he could not in such an excellent manner have discovered unto others the illustrious nature and efficacy of it as in the Text. Our Apostle from the 14th verse of the former Chapter celebrates the songs of his triumph in Christ for the Great efficacy of his Gospel Ministry in every place towards all sorts of persons since he was the sweet savour of God in Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish ver 15 16. Which occasions him to touch upon the bad practice of many Teachers in his dayes that corrupted or dealt deceitfully with the word of God as is the usuall practice of such as fight for the Dragon and his Angells against Michael and his Angells in opposition whereof he expresseth the sinceritie of his own preaching as of God in the sight of God in Christ ver the last Now in the beginning of the Chapter he prevents an objection as if he might seeme to be vain-glorious or sought his own praise or needed testimony from any man ver 1. He declares against both from what was wrought by his Ministry upon the Corinthians own souls and what all men read and knew thereby ver 2. And shews that to be an Epistle of Christ in his behalfe written with the Spirit of the living God in the fleshly Tables of their hearts and that this was his great encouragement ver 3 4. And then beating downe all self-confidence and acknowledging all his sufficiency from God ver 5. From thence to my text he falls upon a large comparison of the New Testament Ministry with the Old in many particulars which we shall only mention briefly and so passe to the Text As that the first was of the letter the second of the Spirit ver 6. The first was that that killeth the second that that giveth life ver 6. The first was written in Tables of stone the second in the fleshie Tables of the heart ver 3. The first of the Old Testament ver 14. the second of the New Testament ver 6. The first of that which was to be done away the second of that which remaineth ver 11. The first of condemnation the second of righteousnesse ver 9. The first lesse glorious and to be done away the second excelling in glory and to remaine ver 9 10 11. The first dark and obscure ver 13 14 15. the second open and evident as in the Text. So that these words are an assertion of the clearness of the Gospel ministration grace in opposition to the obscure vaile that was in the ministration of Moses in the old Testament as appears by the Adversative particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But we all with open face c. Where we have the Introduction to this Gospel discovery and the discovery it selfe in the latter we have the description of that discovery and to whom it is made in these words We all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord. Secondly the efficaciousnesle of that discovery upon them are changed into the same image c. the efficient cause both of the discovery and the said change by the Spirit of the Lord or by the Lord the Spirit In the first branch observe first the persons secondly their exercise thirdly the object about which they are exercised concerning the persons note who they are and how many they are we and we all generally In the exercise note the excellent way of discovery not seeking or conjecturing but Beholding where againe note a twofold modification first of illustration with open face the other of diminution or restriction as in a glasse as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies thirdly in the object againe observe first the excellency of the nature of it glory secondly of the Author owner and dispencer of it the Lord the glory of the Lord. In the efficaciousnesse of the discovery observe first the nature thereof it is a change where note the restriction not into the substance into the same thing but into the transfiguration of it into the same image as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denotes Secondly the manner of the proceeding in this change not at once but by degrees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from glory to glory Concerning the efficient consider his dignitie power and dominion the Lord Secondly his distinction from all other by any participation or substitution of his made to be Lords by him or for him as all others are but temporall partiall and substituted Lords under him who is not only spituall but in the abstract and by an emphasis here stiled the Spirit who is originally essentially incomprehensibly so and the father of spirits and here by an excellency and incommunicably here called the Lord the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall now briefly by Gods assistance adde something for the explication of the words and so endeavour to proceed to the most pregnant observations from thence and some pertinent improvement thereof But we all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some Divines as Beza and Tremelius and others understand it restrictively unto the Ministers that as Moses's face shined in the sight of the Israelites after he had been with God in the Mount for the faithfull Ministers of the Gospel that are acquainted with God and are the light of the world should shine out in the glorious light of the Gospel into the souls of their people but on the other part Calvin and some others understand we all largely
for all both Ministers and people that have this discovery made unto them which I conceive more consonant to the Text for these reasons for it is of many concernments in the Text. First all those that are said to behold the glory of the Lord are said to be changed into the same image which is a benefit ad omnes fideles Christianos pertinens licet non for san aequaliter ac ad Ministros Evangelii equally belonging to all faithfull Christians as well as Ministers of the Gospel though not alwayes in the like way manner or degree equally Secondly because it is in both respects said to be the work of the Lord the Spirit Thirdly because the Apostle in the beginning of this Chapter speaks of the Corinthians as having such a work of the Spirit wrought upon them concerning which he said ver 4 he had such trust through Christ to God-ward as Divines understand those words and that being granted it is then proprium quarto modo essentially belonging to all faithfull regenerate Christians as such being both illuminated and sanctified by the efficacious grace of the Lord the Spirit and therefore the note of Universalitie in the word all was necessary to be annexed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with open face 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a face uncovered Whereas in Moses Ministery his face was covered ver 13 14. so that the Children of Israel could not look unto the end of those things which are abolished Now in Gospel times the vaile is so taken away in Christ that the wonderfull grace of God is manifest and evident unto his people c. yet in reference to the metaphor something might be observable in reference to the severall Opticall uses of severall forts of Glasses as a Prospective to see the things of God a farre off and small things great or great things small as a Multiplying Glasse shewing the manifold wisdome of God as a Burning Glasse to kindle holy fire in the soule as a Spectacle or Reading Glasse to help our weak fight in discerning spirituall things as a Cylinder Glasse gathering and uniting the scattered beames of glory in the Creatures into Christ their proper Center But yet with some restraint for though with open face yet they behold it but as in a glasse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the originall word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemes to denote with some obscuritie with some mistinesse or as the Apostle 1 Cor 13. 12. But now we see as through a glasse darkly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a ridle not perfectly and fully now as we shall hereafter as follows in the same verse For then we shall know eve◠as we are knowne 1 Cor 13. 12. The glory of the Lord not the essentiall glory of God as Exod 33. 18. which no mortall man can see and live ver 20. Not the glorious excellency of Christs person only revealed or discovered in mans nature though that fundamentally of which the Evangelist John speaks so gloriously Chap 1. The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth Whence he is called Heb 1. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The brightnesse of his glory and the expresse image of his person But secondly more especially in respect of the glorious grace of God manifest through Christ of which our Apostle in the following Chapter shews ver 6. that by the Gospel God gives the light of his own glory in the face of Jesus Christ shewing by him his infinite wisdome power mercy truth justice holinesse goodnesse c. But this beholding of the glory of the Lord doth not only containe Gratiam gratis datam but also thirdly gratiam gratos facientem as the Schooles distinguish not only grace freely given but which makes effectually the receivers of it acceptable unto God And not only all these but in the fourth place there must be likewise added to make up this true and right Gospel discovery of this Divine glory spoken of in the Text The certaine knowledge and sence of our particular interest and participation of that wonderfull Gospel grace which God one time or other in one good measure or other usually vouchsafes to all true believers in this life So that we are to understand this object of the discovery complexive and extensive to the largest and utmost dimensions as it containes First the free and rich grace of God in himselfe towards his Church Secondly his wonderfull most glorious grace through Christ Jesus his only begotten Son revealed in the Gospel as Chap 4. 4. But also thirdly his most efficacious grace where by the Holy Spirit the Lord as followes in the Text both First illuminateth Secondly sanctifieth and Thirdly comforteth according to his owne free and gracious dispensation to every faithfull soul it s own measure and proportion to make up the fullnesse of the body of Christ as the Apostle excellently sets forth the resemblance Col 2. 19. Eph 4. 16. Are changed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are metamorphosed or transformed as men and women of old feigned to be into beasts so contrarily by this men and women from worse to better from Wolves and Tygars to Lambs and Doves yea from a depraved polluted devilish nature into an holy gracious Divine nature after the same image of the glorious Gospel and of Christ Jesus as the next words import From glory to glory glory put for grace as we shall shew afterward being the effect or necessary consequent or fruit of true Gospel grace and so though some seeme to understand it from the glory of Moses to the glory of Christ or as others from glory inchoate to glory consummate or from grace to glory yet modern Divines more soundly of the successive growth of the knowledge and conformity of the image of God in such as are truly sanctified from one degree and measure of grace to another not as celestiall glory all at once but by degrees even as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non similitudinem significat sed congruentiam saith Beza Identitatem saith another that is this even as here is to note the same thing namely that it is the Spirit of God that works all this in the like manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh 1. 14. As the glory of the only begotten of the father that is being indeed the glory of the only begotten of the father Lastly By the Spirit of the Lord or as Learned Beza more emphatically 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Lord the Spirit which Tremelius excellently renders a Spiritu Dominatore denoting remarkably God the holy Ghost the third person of the blessed Trinitie in the Unitie of essence who only wholly efficaciously inwardly and spiritually changeth all his Saints truly sanctified by himselfe into that same image fore-mentioned in the Text. And thus briefly for Explication Now for Observation not to involve our selves too much with those many foldings
time after was it in any suitable manner taken notice of or displayed in publique till the Spirit of God in a four-fold witnesse gave testimony of all these things when after that by doctrine by holinesse by miracles by sufferings by death and a powerfull raising of himselfe to life having slaine all enmitie thereby he was powerfully declared to be the Sonne of God yea so was the light of his appearing eclypsed in the worlds eye that after Ages could not finde out the time or season when that his birthglory did first shine out and therefore the Fathers vid Jerome Cyprian upon severall grounds have anciently argued for different seasons as likewise later times have differed therein divine Oracles being particularly silent as if of old God by the buriall of Moses body by him would prevent the Israelites adoring of his sepulchre so as some conceive he would conceale the season of his nativity neither doe we reade in Scripture any like celebration but that of Herod de porcorum grege Epicurus Nor is the day of a Conquerors taking up Armes celebrated as glorious but the day of his victory and conquest nor was the first day of the Creation appointed by God to be observed at first for his Sabbath but the day when his work was finished and by the same Law upon Greater enforcement is the day of the Lord his Resurrection day as the day of his victory conquest and triumph over sin death and hell with all the powers of darknesse by himselfe substituted as his own for a continuall Christian Sabbath to be observed and celebrated in his Universall Church for the honour and glory of such their wonderfull deliverance then accomplished by him throughout all Ages from Sabbath to Sabbath so long as the Sunne and Moone shall endure and herein is the glorious mysterie of God so accomplished to be admired that the bleer-eyed world is not able to behold the divine brightnesse of it and so it hath been since in the Apostles and after Ages as the mysterie of God hath been in fulfilling the great things of Christ have been hid from their eyes Christ crusified hath been to the Jewes a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishnesse while to them that believe it is the power of God to salvation The Apostles were mean in the eyes of the Great ones of the world when they went on Christs Embassie into the world yet they went conquering and to conquer by preaching praying improvement of all spirituall grace even in suffering and dying after the example of their great Soveraigne they greatly prevailed over the powers of the world over the strength and subtiltie of sin and Satan And have not the two Witnesses the contemporaries of Antichristian tyranny done so too and shall they not more prevaile still and maugre all vaine imaginations of any men or counsells taken by them against Christ Yet will not God set his King upon his holy hill of Sion Yea will it not be both the honour and happinesse of the Greatest Potentates upon earth to kisse the Sonne and give the glory of their Scepters unto him that as they reigne by him so they may reigne for him and in his good time may likewise reigne with him in endlesse glory But what is this Historical hint as it may be called of this mystical manner of gradual fulfilling of gospel Glory somewhat observable indeed in the eyes of the Saints but little in the eyes of Men of the world But if we come to speak of the inward glory of true gospel Grace spiritually glorious in the soules of Gods faithful people for the Kings daughter is all glorious within We may say of this as the Queen of Sheba after she had heard in her own Country the same of King Solomons wisdome and magnificence when she came to his Court to heare and see the truth of both that she confessed the half thereof was not formerly shewed unto her So much more may it be said of inward Divine glorious Grace shining from Christ into the souls of his servants in his spiritual manifestations of himself unto them the injoyment of which soule-chearing solace is incomparably beyond what any Historical narration thereof can represent it to be and not to go about to speak of that consummate glory belonging to them reserved for another world here not to be conceived much less competently decyphered but only to touch upon that incoate glory here transmitted by the holy Spirit into the souls of the faithful as that which is more particularly intended in our Text the subject now in hand which is so great that it may well appear to be the design of God to Glorifie himself eminently by this in his Church in this life For should I speak but of those resemblances in Scripture which the Spirit of God sheweth but to shaddow out unto our weak sight the radiant beams of spiritual Gospel glory the expressions will appear much below the matter though in themselves they be very high as namely the hidden Manna The water of life for food yea the fat things and pleasures of Gods house the marrow and fatness there and wines on the lees well refined Isa 25. 6. for their feasting eye salve for medicine to make them see Rev. 3. 18. App'es and Flaggons to keep them from sounding Balme and Physitians from Gilead Gold tried in the fire to make them rich garments of needlework and wrought gold with jewels to adorn them white rayment to make them pure the white stone with the new name written in it that none can read but they that have it to secure their interest Rev. 2. 17. with others of the like nature which are spoken to the capacity of other men but what the inward efficacy and glory of these things is is only rightly and really known to such as have them by this inward work of God upon mens Souls a truly glorious change is wrought in them of Bond-slaves under Sin and children of Satan they are made free indeed and the children of Abraham yea the Image of God is restored in them and they are partakers of the Divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. Their Souls are made Temples of the holy One where God the Father vouchsafes his presence Christ holds his Soveraignty and the Holy Ghost his Residence and hereby they have Communion with the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost by which means great discoveries great consolations and great security unto such poor Souls upon all good occasions from time to time are happily administred untill from strength to strength in grace here they be by the Almighty power and grace of God their heavenly Father brought into possession of the fulness of glory with himself in the highest heavens there with all the Celestial Angels and perfected Saints sing forth their Halelujahs to the eternall praise of his infinitely great and glorious name But Secondly we have seen it hath been the design of God by Gospel grace
sawest there was none to deliver that there was no Intercessour therefore thine own arme brought salvation and thy righteousnesse it sustained thee Isa 59. 16. Here here was an object fit only for the wisdome power and goodnesse of an infinite God to shew it selfe and in a way and means suitable to the otherwise helplesse condition of such a wretched creature who shall therefore have a wonderfull deliverer but yet his misery at present shall not altogether be taken away but he shall yet continue in that world wherein he first had sinned that shall be to him the place of his prison where he committed his first his late most hainous offence and that the more remarkably in that his former happy Palace is now by his sin become a stinking Dungeon to him his Paradise of pleasure formerly is now become a very Bridewell for his correction his painlesse exercise before is now exchanged for painfull toyle manifest by the sweat of his browes instead of his successfull labour without wearinesse he shall be vexed with much lost labour and wearinesse therewith Aethiopem lavabit magno conatu magnas nugas aget he shall often endeavour to no purpose and greatly endeavour to no purpose and greatly endeavour to small purpose but yet worse than this in his prison he shall have a Jaylour too but the worst of creatures by defection and his own worst enemy his hatefull and first murtherer at least in his hopes and purposes had not God then in such a case speedily graciously and unexpectedly stept in for his rescue or reprieve But before such deliverance particularly can come home by reason this cursed Jaylour having man in some sort in his custody endeavours to make him his perpetual vassal and when in this he finds he doth prevaile sometime such shall have the priviledge of his prison-house but only for this most wretched end to make them the more sworne slaves to himselfe to others he will not vouchsafe the like libertie of their prison but holds them fast in hard bondage and because he would the more harden them for hell-torments hereafter he begins to plague them with an hell upon earth but not as men sometimes put in Bedlam by their friends to regaine their wits but to make them spiritually the more mad and eternally the more miserable any way to engage them the most temporally to his vassallage and eternally to his torments and the rather because that enviously and spitefully he yet surely knowes there is a yeare of Jubile proclaimed from the most Soveraigne and Almightie King and that there is a Deliverer Come by whose appointment Heralds at Armes or rather Embassadours of peace are sent abroad to publish the same with the conditions thereof upon abundant testimony under his hand and seales with sufficient authoritie and most certain evidence for mans securitie therein but yet I say upon his own tearmes alone But how doth the Devil their Jaylour now play his pranks to disappoint the purpose of such published grace and to keep his prisoners either from hearing if possible the sound of this good newes by stopping it from their eares or if he cannot doe that to stop their eares against it by many diversions of hopes or ease or pleasure or profit or else by prejudice or danger or reproach or feare or persecution or any thing or all if it may be to hinder the same that they may not come neare to hearken to those commissionated Heralds at Armes or Embassadours of peace but if they must needs be within the hearing of them he will disparage their termes as too hard impossible not sure not warrantable or too damnifying or the like he will tell them false tales of golden apples and sweet and pleasant grapes which are growing for them in his Garden when they are indeed but apples of Sodome and grapes of Gomorrha ashie apples and bitter grapes he will tell them much of great treasures and pleasures with him to be had when they are but as men say of Witches feasts in the caves of the earth only phantasticall but nothing reall he will tell them of golden mountaines they shall have by his service when there is nothing but fire and flames of brimstone in the bowells thereof belching forth continually before-hand their noysome stench with flames and smoake and ashes of Gods wrathfull displeasure against them Yet all the Devills prisoners will hearken more to his lyes than unto Gods Embassadours or his truth all the while they are in his bondage and knowing nothing better than what they at present conceive they find they will not be perswaded that there is any thing better than what they think they know Neither will they believe that they shall finde any thing worse hereafter than what they at present feele and so what with his charmes and baits on the one hand and what with his gyves manacles and chaines on the other hand their eares are either stopped like the deafe Adders that refuse to heare or else bored through at his doore like voluntary slaves readily agreeing with him for their own perpetuall bondage But here the wonder-working God againe appeares who having sealed some to the day of Redemption and having given those unto the Redeemer whom likewise the Redeemer hath particularly and fully ransomed even those he will rescue out of that bondage yea out of that death of sin and Satan unto them are his Embassadours specially sent but they likewise will not heare and therefore while he sends many times and often for a long continuance it may be and importunately by them in his own name beseecheth them to be reconciled to him for their own good though happily they may be roused a little sometimes yet they are not raised from that sleep and death till God the Father and God the Redeemer by the Allmightie power of the Lord the Spirit speaks home to their souls what outwardly and only outwardly they had heard before with their eares many times perhaps only but not regarded to retaine till he himselfe comes in and sets on the impression of his grace-revealing truth upon their hearts with a secret quickening spirituall life Upon discovery or feare whereof in any of Satans prisoners their former Jaylour attempts with speed to hinder if he can if not to consent yet to divert or reâ—ard but if he cannot doe that he will still endeavour to make them drive on as heavily as may be that if at all they will receive the offers of peace yet they may doe it as late as may be that they may have the lesse comfort others the lesse benefit and their spirituall blessed Lord and Soveraigne the lesse honour or advantage thereby But if they will when once marked for Christs sheep be departing from his Wolves and Goats range and walk he will help them to as much bread and water of affliction if he can while they are passing on in their journey to their new Master as may last them
all the way thither And what mischiefe he is kept any way from doing against them he will send Heards of his gracelesse Wolves and of his filthy Goats and Swine to doe for him and against Christs sheep to destroy or defile them or rend them for their pearles or like his wild Boares out of the Woods to destroy them But whilst they are passing a painfull pilgrimage and often fall into a Wildered condition in this world the great Shepheard of his sheep that will loose none of them that are of his fould he readily seeks them out not so much for the place where for his eye is alwayes toward them and upon them as for the condition wherein and the fit season of grace to be used for their advantage they shall not then want needfull comfort or needfull support or necessary supply oft they have all these largely allowed them and if they have not at present they have a store-house a full treasure of all good to goe unto at need and in their worst times they have two good friends at hand that will not fail them then to wit a good Conscience and the holy Ghost who hath taken possession of their soules and these are strong helpers against the fierce and fiery assaults of Men and Devils yea they have hereby more help with them and for them than they many times themselves discerne Their God is a God at hand and not a farre off Christ Jesus stands by them being the grand Captain of their salvation the Author and Finisher of their faith and patience the holy Angells oft have a charge to keep them in all their wayes Psal 91. 11. The Saints on earth assist them by their prayers direct them by their counsells excite them by their examples and encourage them by their confidence And though sometime they must needs forgoe much endure hard onsets and combate long yet this encouragement is inwardly given them they shall have the victory infallibly in the issue and so they come by degrees to know there are more with them than with their enemies and that therefore they shall have more strength to overcome because their God is the Lord of Hosts and commands when he pleaseth the Armies of their Adversaries yea when they least think of it he then no lesse doth it and when it seemes the most unlikely he makes them know it the most infallibly But if from the Worlds wildernesse Christ at any time calls any of his servants particularly for the exercise of any eminent grace he hath sent as a love-token into their soules with Peter to walk towards Christ when he calls them upon a Sea of troubles where there is no sooting but what faith finds if at any time their foote of faith should slip or strength of grace begin to stagger Christ is alwayes neere at hand to stay them to hold them up if they be weak he will give them strength if sick he will be their Physitian if they mistake their way or know it not well he will shew it he will teach them if they labour of any want he will supply it if they are liable to any danger fall or hurt he will support them he will deliver them if they be any wayes hardly bestead in their woâ—â— estate he will rescue them and never forsake them even all the while he is bringing them through a red Sea of adversitie unto their everlasting celestiall Canaan but sometime likewise he dryes up those waters and when their implacable enemies pursue them most furiously and confidently he makes those appearing raging Seas of troubles to become water-walls for their defence whilst they speedily and safely passe through them unto a place of rest and makes them inevitable executioners of their enemies ruine In such tryed tracts of Grace Christ walks on secretly but securely with the Lot of his own inheritance with the Camp of all his true Israel that fight under his Banner as with a pillar of a cloud to guide them by day and a pillar of fire to enlighten their Camp in the might all the time they are passing from Egypt to Canaan from Babylonian bondage to be made free Denizens of the New Jerusalem Now for such an object in such a condition so to receive such mercy from such an holy and glorious Creator so dishonoured so disobeyed so provoked in such a manner by such a deliverer so applyed so made effectuall and that against such opposition otherwise invincible and otherwise inevitably sinking into desperate misery never to be ended eased or remedied and this in a setled certain course continued and made effectuall through all successions of Ages may well be the wonder of mercy to all the world and matter of admirable thanksgiving and praise to all glorified Saints and Angels through all eternitie to render unto his great name no object therefore of goodnesse like this to be found in all Gods other works as man so wretchedly miserable so gloriously delivered Ninthly For the ends wherefore it is contrived carried on raised and to be perfected in reference both to God and man First The chiefe end is glory to the God of all glory the originall fountaine of it the end and intendment of it the dispencer and bestower of it the primary and perpetuall owner of it which whatsoever Creature assumes without his allowance is therein an highly sacrilegious robber of God for no man hath any thing but what he hath received from him 1 Cor 4. 7. Now there is no way wherein God hath manifested himselfe unto the world or in any kinde in the world comparably glorious unto this and therefore this most excellent supreame end of his must necessarily in the same proportion be advanced therein to wit in an higher degree by that work than by any or all others besides Secondly That the revealing and exhibiting the excellency and goodnesse of this work unto intelligible creatures in this way might afford them alway matter and occasion and the greatest inforcement to set forth his praise suitably to what is discovered to them or received by them and because the discoveries here are sometimes so great and wonderfull unto the Saints they are therefore strangely carried on with divine and spirituall ravishment of soul to magnifie the soul-quickening sanctifying and saving grace of their most good God and mercifull Father and that many times upon renewed returnes of his favours after not only their troubles and afflictions but after their manifold failings and sins yea sometimes after their hainous offences to others in the increase of spirituall indowments experiences gracious incomes of Spirit heavenly communion and manifestations of Gospel glory to their souls to the great dimming and obscuring of the lustre of all worldly glory in their eyes and the beautifying of a very afflicted outward condition in any way of the faithfull service of their great and good God and even in their very sufferings for their most blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ which they by a gracious inward operation upon their souls are not only inabled to think well of and to observe favourable aspects of Divine grace in such seeming dark times but much to rejoyce many times and triumph in assurance of victory afore-hand yea to esteeme it their great honour that they are counted by him worthy so to doe him service and suffer for his name yea to esteeme it a peculiar favour and sometime to finde such strange support and sometime to have such inlargement of comfort to the stupifying as it were the sence of paine as some of the Martyrs in their sufferings acknowledged and sometime by the strong piercing sight of the eye of faith through the greatest and heaviest Crosse of Christ to discover the Crowne and strangely to beholders to seeme to neglect their contempt and with their Saviour Heb. 12. 2. to despise their shame and even to forget their sorrows yea and sometime with Stephen Acts 7. to behold high and heavenly visions of glory in the lowest ebbe of their temporal sufferings and all this many times not only to the astonishment but even to the confusion of the face of persecuting enemies according to that promise of our Saviour Luk. 21. 15. I will give you a mouth and wisdome which all our adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist which is many times fulfilled by mean and contemptible instruments which being the foolish of the world God chuseth to confound the wise and the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty and base things of the world and things that are not to bring to nought things that are 1 Cor. 1. 27 28. And thus in the manifold varieties of the dispensations of God towards his people as they receive both good and evill at his hand here which they willingly with holy Job alwayes acknowledge to be from him who or whatsoever be the instruments there are continual springs and fountains flowing forth with new matter of prayse and glory from the poor despised flock of Christ in this their uncertain pilgrimage from the manifold strong discoveries of the Gospel glory of God in and towards them in all his wayes and from some comfortable apprehensions from what a foundation of Free grace all such dispensations toward them are derived and unto what ends they tend with frequent observations of Gods glorious appearances therein so that they are sometime at a stand whether they should more wonder at such Gods appearances and glorious operations or praise him for his grace therein Oh who is able to set forth the fathomless depth of Gods misterious mercy in such sort to his faithful servants in all ages that men are ordinarily capable of knowing in this kind in regard of the innumerable varieties of godly mens experiences in all times which have been matter of such glory to God in their own persons or before others through all generations in all places of all conditions upon all occasions is but the least part as we say of all knowledge of that which in this kind might be known but as the Evangelist John chap. the last v. the last speaks in those high expressions of Christs works upon earth so may we say of these the weake understandings and memories of all men upon earth are not able to reach or remember them but when those manifold foldings of Divine wisdome held out in so many great Folioes of undecyphered Characters in such his dispensations of his grace and goodness shall be and before the glorified Saints and Angels fully explained and opened and the injoyments of everlasting fulness of glory in clear vision shall not only reveale the originall spring of all such currents of flowing mercy to all sorts of men but shall hold out in clear manifestations how in all these or what ever the like or other or greater actings which have been towards themselves in the wonder of the mistery of that glorious grace revealed and exhibited in their temporal and spiritual being in the world and afterward in their eternal happiness in the Kingdome of heaven was from God the Father through God the Son and by God the holy Spirit according to the eternal Gospel given to the Saints throughout all Ages the wonderfull goodness whereof and the glorious excellencies of God therein and thereby shining out unto them in their full glory in that most blessed vision and fruition of him which all glorified creatures then shall obtain will make them break forth with continual and unexpressible praises and glory to the great God and to the lambe and to the Lord the Spirit to all eternity And herein according as they have been appointed and exercised by those soveraign dispensations in the work in the greater service they shall be glorified accordingly with the greater measure of happiness in the world to come and so much the more largely shall they discern the excellency of the glorious and gracious workings of the Father Son and Holy Ghost for the true Church through all generations and accordingly be inlarged with rejoycing therein to the everlasting praise of his incomprehensibly glorious grace displayed thereby So that Gods ends in respect of man is to have his part in this great service and to have his portion in the other great happiness and both according to the measure and proportion dispensed and conveyed in the way of Gospel glory and both and all to the eternal glory of the author thereof we will not attempt to trace out here any of the more remarkable pathes of such mercy of God least even in them we loose our selves so far as to forget that we have here much other work to do and eternal vision will better yea perfectly discover it and is allotted for it but no such excellent end of any other works saving in reference unto this and so the drift of Gods bounty is advanced higher to man hereby then otherwise it could have been for in stead of an earthly Paradise he shall now be brought to the possession of an heavenly instead of knowing God as a Creator only he shall now both know and injoy him as his Creator and Redeemer instead of an uncertain and temporal happiness he shall have a most certain and eternal happiness instead of lower matter of praise he shal have unspeakeably higher matter of praise and consequently through this free Gospel grace the more inlargement of glory therewith And hence let us pass to the 〈◊〉 Tenth Respective consideration that is in respect of the many excellent uses to be made here of by all men here but especially by Gods servants here and hereafter above all the consideration of any other of Gods glorious works in the world First For all men that heare of such a glorious Gospel discovery in the world above the rest First to admonish them to learn in the method of young Children directed by their experienced Teachers First to know the letters and sillables