of the flesh to be honoured of God or will of this or that man hath any thing to do in or makes any difference in All that are in Christ being born thereto and therein of God and reckoned after Christ in whom they are as Gal. 3.28 29. with John 1 13. signifies and then from and as a consequent to this 4. God so loves them as to give them the Spirit of the Son both his Spirit to open the knowledge of Christ his Son to them and the disposition liberty boldness towards and affection to and affiance in him in some measure The same Spirit that dwelt in and yet dwells in Christ and led him as man in the dayes of his flesh to have confidence in and boldness towards his Father and so to go to him upon all occasions as to his Father he gives also to the believer in him to let him know Gods Fatherly love to and care of him upon the account of Christ and to lead him in hope and confidence to depend on and call upon him as also to guide instruct comfort strengthen and help him on all occasions To this purpose is that in Gal. 4.5 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father and so many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God and the Spirit it self helps our infirmities c. Rom. 8.15 16 26 27. and this he gives both as a pledge of his love and acceptance and as an earnest of the Inheritance Ephes 1.13 14. 2 Cor. 1.22 5. Yea and as he gives them the priviledge of Sons and the Spirit of his Son so also the respect of Sons so as that as he heard and helped Christ his only begotten Son in the dayes of his flesh in all that he called upon him for and took care of him to provide for and protect him so doth he also to those that believe in his Son The eyes of the Lord are open upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cryes and his face is set against the wicked that hate and oppress them 1 Peter 3.12 13. He is nigh unto his people in all that they call upon him for as our Saviour also promises John 15.7 Abide in me and let my words abide in you and ask what ye will it shall be given you and that as a testimony of his great love to them in which he imbraceth them in Christ his beloved one in whom they are accepted Ephes 1.16 See also John 14.13 14. Psal 145.17 18 19. as our Saviour testifies John 16.27 saying In that day ye shall ask the Father in my Name namely when they had received the promise of the holy Spirit to be a Spirit of grace and supplication in them and I do not say that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God Yea 6. In his love he teacheth them by his holy Spirit and leads them into all truth as is good and needful for them John 14.17 26. Prov. 1.23 teacheth them how to walk and how to pray guides and leads them in the way that they should go makes known his words shews them his mind the Mysteries of his Kingdom c. So Psal 25 8 9 12 14. Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners the way the meek will he guide in judgment the meek will he teach his way i. e. those that being convinced of their own poverty and emptiness do meekly receive his words The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant And Matth. 13.11 To you sayes Christ to his Disciples it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God and I have called you not Servants but Friends for all things that I have heard of my Father have I made known to you He takes care of them that they may not wander out of the way of life and righteousness yea he shews them those delights and pleasures of his wayes and gives them a glimpse too of the glory of the end of it even of the glory of his Kingdom so as that they are thereby made to love his way and walk in it comfortably and with great delight Prov. 3.17 Psal 119 32 165. 7. In love also he nurtures them as his Children giving them chastisement as he sees needful and good for them not leaving them to their own counsels wayes and wills as he doth those that coutemn his counsels and submit not to him He is faithfully reproving and warning them and timely châ—stening them with his afflictions that he might teach them his Law and they might keep his Statutes Psal 94 12. and 119 67 71. as a Father that loves his Child and therefore spares not his Rod Prov. 13.24 for he knows that a Child left to himself comes to misery and shame nor yet doth he in afflicting smite them as he smites these that smite them and are his and their enemies but as a Father chastens the Son in whom he delighteth Prov. 3.11 12 Isai 27.7 8. that is he doth it in measure and judgment not in fury so as he sees they may bear and as may be for their profit Isai 27.8 9. Heb. 12.10 He is faithful and will not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able but with the temptation or tryal will give an issue that they may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10 12. For he pities them as a Father pities his Child knowing their mold and temper and that they are but dust and therefore doth not deal with them after their sins nor reward them according to their iniquities but punisheth them less than they deserve is slow to wrath toward them and abundant in goodness and truth and doth not chide them alwayes nor retain his anger for ever Psal 103.9 10 11 12 13. yea and with his chastisements affords his supports and consolations to refresh their hearts Psal 94.18 19 yea and turns again and hath compassion according to the multitude of his tender mercies Lam. 3.32 Yea 8. He takes pleasure in them in them that fear him and in them that hope in his mercy Psal â—47 11 The Lord takes pleasure in his people Psal 49.4 It 's his design and delight to make them happy and to beautifie them with his Salvation to make them as a Crown of Glory and as a royal Diadem in his hand therefore he calls them Hepâ—zibah that is my delight or pleasure is in her owning them together in Christ as his royal Spouse and Consort as Isai 54 5. with 62 2 3 4. it rejoyceth his heart to see them thrive and prosper for he hath pleasure in the prosperity of his Servants Psal 35.27 Yea and though they have their failings weaknesses and spots that might render them unlovely yet having given Christ to
Spirit instructs and moves them they do surely receive it of God as Christ hath promised saying Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name I will do it that the Father may be glorified in the Son If ye shall ask any thing in my name I will do it John 14.13 14. and again If ye abide in me and my words abide in you ask what ye will it shall be done to you John 15.7 and again Verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name he will give it you Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full John 16.23 24. And thus the Apostle Paul implies of the prayers of the faithful put forth in the Spirit of God when he speaking of the Spirit it self making Intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered adds And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth which may signifie also approveth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh Intercession for us according to the will of God Rom. 8.26 27. Now this is one main thing that the Holy Spirit instructs and leads such as be led by him in their prayers to desire and pray for That they may be more confirmed rooted and built up on their most holy Faith and â—o be preserved in the Grace of Christ and love of God and that such Spiritual mercies and blessings may be extended to them as may further them therein So that the praying in the Holy Ghost as it springs from the being on the most holy Faith or rather from that faith abiding iâ— us and exercising the heart thereto wherein the love of God is certainly enjoyed So it also obtains of God through Christ a further rootedness therein and growing up thereon and so by consequence an abiding in yea an encrease of this grace and favour of God upon them 3. Thereby also is obtained of God through Christ power and grace to withstand the assaults of Satan and deceits of all his Instruments and Engines imployed by him to draw men out of the most holy Faith and so out from the grace and love of God toward them and therefore as we see before this praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit is mentioned as the last piece of the whole Armour commended to us by the Apostle as of main use or force to preserve us in the evil day or time of temptation from being overcome of Satan and turned aside from the truth of Christ and love of God Ephes 6.18 according to that of David in Psal 18.3 I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I be saved from mine enemies and the practices and experiences of the servants of God often mentioned in the Scriptures as Psal 22.4 5 24. 34.3 4 5. for the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much with God the God that hath stiled himself a God hearing prayers both for himself and others Let no man therefore as also Bernard saith despise prayer for if it be in faith and in the Holy Ghost it is heard and recorded in heaven as soon as if not before it proceed out of thy mouth here And one of these two things saith he we may assuredly expect namely either â—â—at God will give us what we we ask or what he knows to be better for us and more profitable than what we ask Vse What we have considered about these means of keeping our selves in the love of God viz. The building up our selves on the most holy faith and praying in the Holy Ghost might be diversly useful I shall onely hint at some uses of it 1. It may reprove and tax the too great sloathfulness and negligence found with us and many Believers in every place in not minding to build up our selves on our most holy faith and to that purpose to exercise our selves to the mindfulness of that faith and oft speaking one to another and thinking on the Name and Doctrine of God exhorting and furthering the faith of one another therein and conformity thereto There is too much minding other things mean time in us the present world our own names honors ease lusts wills c. and too great aptness to let those things as noxious roots spring up and â—hoak the good seed in us so as that it brings not forth in us fruit to perfection Thence a too great aptness to forsake the assembly of our selves unto such purposes as to exhort and edifie our selves a fault reproved Heb. 10.25 as also the abuse of such liberties to assemble together to edifie our selves which is too general or common when Believers coming together come not for the better and for edification or do not so improve their assemblings but rather for hearing and telling news if not which is worse for contention and strife and what tends to destruction A fault reproved 1 Cor. 11.17 18. 2. In not stirring up our selves to call upon Godâ— and be much in prayer to him both in private for our selves and others and publickly or altogether as was practised by the Apostles and Believers Acts 1.13 14. 2.41 6.4 12.5 12. 13.2 There is too great an hanging down of the hands every where among Believers instead of a diligent lifting up pure hands in the name of the Lord without wrath and doubting as we are exhorted 1 Tim. 2 8. a fault reproved Isa 64.7 There is none that calleth upon thy name or that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee and bewailed by Daniel Chap 9.13 All this evil is come upon us as we may see and say much evil is come upon us yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God that we might turn from our iniquities and understand the truth Too great a fault in restraining prayer are we guilty of and that also much hinders our edification and profiting in the most holy faith and deprives of much experience of the love of God and lays us open to vanity and many assaults and snares of sin and Satan to the procuring wrath and displeasure from God upon us 3. It may also reprove and fault the formality and faultiness of our prayings and exercises of our selves in our assemblings together as praying here may be put for all exercises of seeking the Lord as praying and seeking him be put together Zech. 8.21 22. that we pray so much in our own spirits and so little in the Holy Spirit so much with an unholy frame and temper of spirit as holding fast iniquity corruption and deceit and refusing to return from it taking the name of God in vain or seeking perishing meat to our selves in our pretensions to follow after Christ as seeking therein a name and honor or followers to our selves or the colouring over our love of vanity with an appearance of piety or thinking to bribe Gods justice and our own consciences for our lusts and iniquities by multiplying prayers and professions or praying out of strife vain-glory
the Soul stands in its having his love and favour towards it and its injoyment of his blessing therefore without that the Soul is without life and happiness and if that be lost the Soul is lost and what is that in the world whereabout men busie themselves so as therefore to neglect God and Christ and excuse themselves from their coming to and closing with or living up to Christ and his Doctrine that can give them any valuable compensation for the loss of the Soul Matth. 16.26 what a folly is it for a man to feed on husks or ashes when he might have good and wholesome bread and other chear to feed on or what a madness for a man to take a deal of pains and cost to hew out a Cistern to keep him some water in for his use which when it is hewed too will hold none because it is broken when as he might take as much as he will and that exceeding good for any use for which he needs it and at all times freely without cost or expence at a spring or fountain that is so hard at hand to him and yet such or rather far worse is our folly and madness when neglecting Christ and turning our back upon him and his Doctrine and refusing to walk in the faith and direction thereof we yet multiply either works and services of our own or other mens invention or prescription for attaining righteousness and peace otherwise or desire and endeavour after the riches honours and pleasures of the world or whatever we conceive may satisfie our lusts seeking peace and rest and content in them To such the Holy Ghost directs his Councel with reproof after this wise in Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth that lacketh desireth peace content and happines Come ye to the waters the Son of God and his Heavenly Doctrine John 7.37 38. yea he that hath no mony come and buy yea buy wine and milk without money and without price God requires nothing of gain profit or worth to be given to him by us as in exchange but only let go and part with what we have that harms us our evil thoughts and ways as ver 7. Why will ye lay out your money for that that is not bread and your labour for that that satisfieth not hearken unto me and eat that that is good that which Christ sets before us in his word and Doctrine even himself his flesh and blood his abasement sufferings for us as therein commended to our faith and as the great evidences of God's gratiousness to us procurers of our happiness and ingagements to obedience and let your Souls delight themselves in fatness See also reproofs of this nature in Psal 4.2 Jer. 2.13 John 5.40 c. Yea also 3. Hence we might note the equitableness of Gods wrath against judgments upon men that neglect to know and believe in Christ that it is a just thing with God to separate them from his presence and blessing unto everlasting curse and misery because they both slight and reject the good he hath done for them and Grace shewed them in Christ trample him the great gift and evidence of good will under their feet and do set at naught his love and favour toward them even himself in Christ who would be their portion protection matter not his promise nor the sweetness safety satisfaction that they might have his presence and in the light of his countenance preferring lying vanities before so great mercies as God tenders to them and despite that gracious Spirit that invites and allures them after him He that values not his favour how can he think himself injured if he feel his wrath and he that regards not his presence and blessing but rather chuses to listen to and walk after Sathan how can he complain of injustice if he therefore bid him depart from him and his presence to be tormented and destroyed with Sathan so that God will be justified in his sayings and be found just in his judging them that despise and set light by him and rebel against him But 4. It is also of great use to such as are in Christ that have fled for refuge to him embraced his Doctrine and yeilded up themselves to be Governed by him it affords singular matter of use to them and that 1. By way of comfort and incouragement against all that doth exercise afflict them for what are all things that stand against them or are grievous to them in comparison of the love and favour of God towards them If God be for us if he love and favour us if he accept and own us if he be our friend and Father and set himself to help us have who or what are they that are against us Is it the sins we have committed in times past which we are turned to God from and have repented of why they are pardoned and forgiven through Jesus Christ believed in by us For to him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whoever believe in him shall receive remission of their sins and by him all that believe are justified from which we could not be justified by the Law of Moses Act. 10.43 and 13.38 39. Is it sin yet remaining in us and warring against us and hindring us that we cannot serve God and live to him so as we would Why There is now no condemnation to them are in Christ Jesus no not from the fleshes or sins being in them to them that do not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit If wee walk in the light as he God is in the light is in his truth affording his presence and strength unto us then have we fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Rom. 8.1 1 John 1.7 And if God justifie as he doth them that are his Elect that is those that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Who then is he that condemneth or who shall lay any thing to their charge Doth the Law of God find us in many things faulty and failing so that according to its righteousness or rule for justifying which is to justifie all those that continue in it in all things to do it but otherwise upon any failing or sin to curse them Gal. 3.10 we are not able to stand in judgment but it condemns us Why but It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again and is on the right hand of God also maketh intercession for us and if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnes Rom. 8.33.34 1 John 1.9 Doth the Devil rage against us and roar upon us tempting us and assaying by his fiery darts to destroy us Why he is a conquered enemy and though he be for strength eagernes to harm us as a roaring Lion going about daily seeking whom to
a sense the Doctrine or faith of him as setting him forth to and for men is most holy in all these respects more holy than any other vessel utensil or instrument made use of by God or at his appointment under the Law and legal dispensation though there were divers and some more holy than others yet the Gospel is above them all The most choise medium of God's power both spotless and pure in it self as being his word and most chosen and set apart to be his arm for salvation to all that believe and therefore fuller of divine efficacie for making holy and more choisely cared for and defended of God being the Everlasting Gospel and the neglects and contempt of it most severely punished Matth. 10.15 Some things under the Law conferred an holiness unto other things that touched them or that they were applied to as the Altar or the holy Oyntment c. but nothing 〈◊〉 so confer holiness as the Gospel doth them that attend to it and receive it It s the Vnction the holy Oyntment the Name of Christ therein held forth is as an Oyntment poured out Cant. 1.3 which sanctifies consecrates and makes holy to God all that receive it as Act. 26.18 Sanctified by the faith that is in me and 1 Cor. 6.11 Ye are sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God The Law was holy and the Commandment holy and just and good but not able to sanctifie and make the Conscience perfect because of the flesh that it could nor subdue but the Gospel faith is so holy and set apart for Gods use and service as the medium for his sanctifying and saving men that his presence and Spirit even the Holy Spirit is in or with it and his influence or operation ministred by it to the sanctifyng and devoting the hearts and Spirits of all that receive it unto God Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is the truth John 17.17 Yea and as it is now plainly and fully opened and preached since the coming of Christ it is more full of Spirit and divine power for sanctifying and making holy and therefore also requires and calls for more holiness in the hearers and professors of it than any former dispensations For now in these last ages God who in former times spake to the Fathers by the Prophets and to them by Angels Dreams and Visions hath spoken his mind most fully to us by his onely begotten Son whom he appointed heir of all things and by whom he also made the Worlds Heb. 1.1 2. and therefore now requires more strict obedience and more exact conformity to his minde and more severely punishes the neglectors and abusers of his Gospel and the Grace thereof than he did in former times exact or expect from men under the Mosaical dispensation and then he punished the neglectors and abusers thereof or of any holy things then in use Heb. 2.1 2 3. and 10.26 29. and 12.18 19 24 25. If the word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression there against â— received a just recompence of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord and afterward was confirmed to us by them that heard him So the Faith of the Saints is the most holy faith and so called here as also because of 2. It s most absolute compleatness and perfection It is so holy that nothing can be added to it to make it more holy perfect pure or apt and fit for the purpose to which it is ordained as to be the foundation of Faith hope love obedience c. and the mean or medium for effecting them and so of making holy to God those that receive it Christ is the most full and compleat foundation of Gods Building who is so perfected through sufferings as to become the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Yea so as all the fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily and in him we are compleat who is the Head of all Principallity and power Col. 2.9 10. made unto us of God wisdome righteousness holiness and redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 a most sure foundation and precious corner stone so as that he that believes on him shall not be confounded or make haste from him for any thing that threatens to shake or ruine him The Soul that believes in him findes so much holiness and preciousness in him Isa 28.16 1 Pet. 2.6 7. there can nothing be added to the excellencie of his person being the onely begotten Son of God nor to the vertue and preciousness of this Sacrifice having offered up himself a spotless Sacrifice through the eternal Spirit by which he hath at once perfected or perfectly prepared all things for the sanctified for ever Heb. 9.14 Heb. 10.14 Nor to the dignity and perfection of his Priesthood being consecrated of God by the word of his Oath an High-Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedech even according to the power of an endless life Heb. 7. nor to the fulness of his Prophesie or prophetical Power and Office being acquainted with the whole minde of God and filled with the fulness of the Holy Spirit to declare it and to make the declaration of it powerful and effectual and all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge being hid or treasured up in him and his Mystery Col. 2.3 4. Isa 42.1 2 3 4. and 61.1 2 3. nor to his Power and Authority as Lord and King the fulness of Gods Power and Authority being given to him even all power in Heaven and Earth a Name above every Name that at his Name every knee should â—ow both of things in Heaven and things in Earth and things under Earth c. Angels and Principallities and Powers are made subject to him Philip. 2.10 11. 1 Pet. 3.21 And so the Doctrine of faith that sets him forth is the most holy Faith to signifie that its the most compleat pure and perfect Doctrine nothing to be added to it nor taken from it The Doctrine of the Law that was very good holy and useful in its kind but it was a ministration of Death and in respect of the shadowness and typicalness of it it was to pass away as in 2 Cor. 3. is shewed and so the Testimony or Covenant made therein Heb. 8.8 9 13. but this ministration of the Gospel as it came forth first in Paradise so it is to continue abide to the end it is the everlasting Gospel that shall not pass till all be fulfilled accomplished indeed before the coming of Christ in the flesh it was not fully revealed as now it is in these last days by Jesus Christ and his Apostles and therefore till then the Vision was not sealed Dan. 9.24 nor the Law and testimony fully bound up Isa 8.16 but now it is fully revealed so as no more is to be added till the personal appearance of the Lord
render them acceptable to him making intercession for those that come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 and 10.19 20 21 22 and 1â— 15. whence our prayers are to be in Christs Name as in John 14 13 14. and 16.23 26. though this may be more properly referred to the manner of praying here required the praying in the Holy Ghost Lastly I added the needs of or its desires for others to signifie that this praying required is not to be limited or confined to our selves and our own needs and wants and desires for our selves but extended to the praying for others also here being no limitation of the subject to our selves in the Text but it is only said praying in the Holy Ghost and it is praying as well when we pray for others as when we pray for our selves whether it be for all men as 1 Tim. 2.1 or for some sorts of men onely as for Kings and all in Authority ver 2. or for some particular Cities and people as Abraham prayed for the Sodomites or as Samuel prayed for Israel as Moses also and David and Solomon and others did Gen. 18.23 Exod. 32.11 12 13 14. 1 Sam. 12.23 2 Sam. 24.10 17. or for some particular persons as Moses prayed for Pharaoh Exod. 8.8 9 12 29 30. Elias for the widow of Sarephath and her child 1 King 17.20 21. the Church for Peter Act. 12.5 and the Churches for Paul Rom. 15.30 Eph. 6.19 Col. 4.3 or for enemies as Moses for Pharaoh and as Christ commands us in Mat. 5.44 or for brethren the Saints and Churches as Ephes 6.17 supplication for all Saints Such is prayer as more strictly taken for Petition and request unto God and so as it is distinguished from thanksgiving as oft they are distinctly mentiond as pray without ceasing in every thing give thanks 1 Thes 5.17 18. So by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God Philip. 4.6 And so distinctly taken it includes supplications prayers or petitions and intercessions in 1 Tim. 2.1 Supplications humble confessions of our sins and earnest deprecations of wrath and judgments prayers or petitions requests for favours blessings and good things intercessions interposings of our prayers for others standing between them and judgement and pleading humbly with God for them as Moses for Israel Abraham for the Sodomites c. but when thanksgiving is not distinctly mentioned the word prayer may include thanksgiving too and so sure the word praying here may include thanksgiving also and in such a large sense of the word to pray may take in somewhat more than in the description above given namely an exercise of the heart or of the man speaking unto God by way of request and supplication and by way of confession or thanksgiving in behalf of himself or others but this consideration of thanksgiving in prayer may also be taken in under the manner of praying here expressed viz. praying in the Holy Ghost of which next And so 2. To pray in the Holy Ghost or in the Holy Spirit the Spirit of God and Christ which is a Spirit of Holiness dwelling and resting fully on Christ and from him and God in him breathed forth in and with the most holy faith unto the heart of the believer or breathing forth witnessing and speaking of and glorifying Christ to the Soul taking the things of him and shewing them thereto and therewith guiding it into Christ and the truth of Christ sanctifying it to God and framing it to his minde in all things doth signifie 1. To pray or utter our desires and needs or the needs of others in the light direction or guidance of the Holy Spirit Not as our own natural hearts imaginations or affections would lead or as men by their wisdom and will might suggest unto us but as he the Holy Ghost instructs us and that both 1. As to the things to be prayed for not such as the flesh and the wisdom and affections of it affâ—ct and move after or the Spirit of this world such as be riches honours pleasures of the flesh fewel for our corruptions evil to our enemies c. as the Gentiles seek after and the carnal uncircumcised hearts of men delight in such as Solomon requested not 1 King 3. But 1. Such things as Gods Name and Glory are concerned in or that conduce to are necessary for the manifesting and magnifying thereof that the Gospel may have a free passage the word of God run and be glorified 2 Thes 3.1 that his way may be known upon the earth and his saving health amongst the Nations Psal 67.1 2 3. and to that purpose that God would send forth labourers into his harvest Matth. 9.38 and bless and prosper those he sends giving them utterance so to speak the word and mystery of Christ as they ought and deliverance from the hands of unreasonable and wicked men a Col. 4.3 4. Eph. 6.18 2 Thess 3.1 2. that he would bless and help his people and make them blessings in the world Joh. 17. Psa 67. and 28.10 and 132.8 9. giving them boldness and courage c. Act. 4.29 2. Such as the coming and Kingdom of Christ is and includes as Come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22.20 Thy Kingdom come Matth. 6.10 Oh that the salvation of Israel was come out of Sion Psal 14.8 Remember the Children of Edom O Lord c. Psal 137.7 and so for Babylons fall and ruine c. the hastening of the day of God performance of his promises that the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord and his will be done in earth as it is in Heaven Matth 6.10 11. 3. Such as the Kingdom of God and his righteousness â— now consists in to be granted to us or others as wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of God and Christ Prov. 2 1 2 3 4. If thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding Jam. 1.3 If any man want wisdom let him ask it of God c. So the forgiveness of sins Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us Matth. 6.12 Cleanse me from my secret sins Psal 19.12 Deliver me from all my transgressions and make me not a reproaâ—h to the foolish Psal 39.8 9. The Spirit of God as a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ the guide into all truth the Comforter strengthner and sanctifier of the Soul as Luc. 11.13 Ephes 1.17 18. John 14 15 16 17. Ephes 3.16 c. Mercy Grace and peace from God and our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 1.2 1 Tim. 1.2 and 2 Tim. 1.2 Psal 85 7 victory over and deliverance from corruption and from Sathan and his temptations Psal 19.13 Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins c. order my footsteps in thy word and let no iniquity have dominion over me Psal 119.133 Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Matth. 6.13 4. Such supplies for the necessities of
so long as I live 8. The experience of Gods goodness and mercy to other in former or present ages the cloud of witnesses that have gone before us and found God gracious to them in their crying to him as in Psal 22.4 5. Our father 's trusted in thee they trusted in thee and thou didst deliver them They cryed unto thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not confounded To that puâ—â—se also the examples of Gods goodness to others are propounded by him to move men to taste and see by their trusting in and calling upon God how gracious God is Psal 34.4 5 6. I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears they looked unto him and were inlightned and their faces were not ashamed This poor man cried and the Lord heard him c. Whatsoever things were written before-hand being written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 God being one and so the same for us in through his Son as he was for and to any others before us and there is no respect of persons with him He is rich to all that call upon him Rom. 10.12.13 Such the incouragements which the holy Ghost gives for praying he that prays in the holy Ghost prays not in the incouragement of his own parts wisdom works or the like but in such incouragements as these above-mentioned as to such purpose that fore-quoted from Dan. 9.18 is pertinent We doe not present our Supplications before for our righteousness but for thy great mercies So that in Psal 5.7 and 143.1 2. 4. To pray in the holy Ghost is to pray in the operation of the holy Ghost and so in such a frame and temper of Spirit as the holy Ghost being minded and yielded up to in his testimony frames the heart unto And so 1. Not in pride as the Pharisee despising his neighbour and lifâ—ing up himself in Gods presence 2. Nor in self-confidence and reliance on a mans own righteousness as he also did Luk. 18.10 11. 3. Nor in wrath and anger as the Disciples that would have called for fire from Heaven upon the Samaritanâ— that would not receive Christ pretending Elias for a warrant to them therein Luk. 9 54. for that was not in the holy Spirit of Christ for all that pretence for our Saviour tellâ— them They knew not what manner of Spirit they were of ver 55. 4. Nor in vain-glory as the Pharisees that prayed to be seen of men that they might have glory of them Matth 6.5 6. 5. Nor in ambition seeking great things to themselves and to be lifted up above their Brethren as the two Sons of Zebedee and their Mother did not knowing what they asked when they requested that they might sit the one at Christs right hand and the other at his left in his Kingdom Matth. 20 20 21 22. 6. Nor in strife and contention as those in Isa 58 2 3. who fasted and prayed for strife and debate ver 4. 7. Nor to establish to themselves a righteousness in their praying and so not submitting to the righteousness of God in Christ as the Jews that had a zeal of God and instantly served God day and night hoping by their works of that nature to attain the righteousness of the Law Act. 26 7. with Rom. 9.30 31. and 10.2 3. 8. Nor in Covetousness as they that howled upon their beds for corn and wine Hos 7.14 9. Nor in a doubtful distrustful frame of Spirit that is not fixed in Gods goodness and perswaded of his truth for such a man is like the wave of the Sea tossed to and fro double-minded and inconstant in all his ways and let not such an one think to receive any thing at Gods hands Jam. 1.6 7. 1 Tim. 2.8 10. Nor in an impatient unsubmmitted frame of Spirit to Gods Government frowardly hasting out of affliction such as Jonah was in when he having prophesied the destruction of Niniveh and God seeing their repentance spared it he was exceedingly displeased and very angry and prayed God to take away his life from him Jonas 4.1 2 3. 11. Nor in a flat cold formal temper of Spirit as they that draw nigh to God with their mouth and honor him with the lips but the heart is far away Isa 29 17. or the like but 1. In a believing frame of heart minding and giving credit to Gods word and testimony the Gospel of Christ and from the belief of that calling upon God and in that sense prayer in the Holy Ghost is the prayer of Faith Jam. 5.15 and prayer proceeding out of the belief of Gods sayings believing and not doubting about them as Jam. 1.6 But let him ask in faith nothing doubting speaking to God because they believe his word as in Psal 116.10 I believed therefore have I spoken which may have reference to speaking by prayer aswel as to speaking by preaching or confession thus David from a belief of Gods word to him by Nathan found it in his heart to pray unto him that prayer in 2 Sam. 7.18 27. for the holy Ghost is a Spirit of Faith as 2 Cor. 4.13 and therefore breaths faith into the heart where he hath the rule and makes it breath in faith yea in a full assurance of faith as believing verily the truth of God concerning Christ yea and Gods hearing and granting its petitions that he helps the Soul to breath forth Heb. 10.22 Mark 11.24 1 John 5. â—4 15. and a cleaving adhering frame of Spirit cleaving to and trusting in God for his hearing and helping it according to his will and the Souls needs as resolved and fixed to depend upon trust in and wait for God as Mic. 7.7 I will look to the Lord I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will hear me as Jacob of old wrestling with God and resolved not to leave him till he had blessed him Gen. 32.26 So our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted in thee and were delivered they cried to thee and were delivered they trusted in thee and were not confounded Psal 22.4 5. such a frame of Spirit the holy Ghost leads to pray in a believing trusting frame And 2. With a fervent desire and frame of heart the Holy Ghost is compared to fire He sat on the Apostles like cloven tongues of fire Thence Quench not the Spirit and therefore when men pray in it it puts heat and life into them an earnest desire after those things which it directs absolutely to seek of God Thence it is said The effectual or operative fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Jam. 5.16 They that onely say over prayers or pray luke-warmly coldly and formally pray not in the Holy Ghost though this fervour of Spirit in prayer stands not in the loud speaking and straining the voice or in much repetitions but in the earnestness of the Souls desires and ardencie of affection to the
and not those things that tend to the glory of Christ and furtherance of his Name praise and Kingdom in the world and in such an evil selfish peevish uncharitable proud passionate distemper of spirit as the wisdom or will of the flesh begets or produces in men and not in such a frame and efficacie as is of Gods spirit which kinde of praying is displeasing to God who being a Spirit will be worshipped by men in spirit and truth and cannot accept or like of that that is not of his holy spirit and therefore also is unprofitable to men and tends not to build them up in the most holy faith whence need for exhorting believers and for believers to accept the exhortation both to pray and to see that they doe it aright not in any spiritless formal way or in any carnal and unholy Spirit but in the holy Ghost 8. That this praying in the holy Ghost is a good means to edifie the believers in their most most holy Faith and so for keeping them in the love of God for therefore this clause is joyned with them and joyned with them in such a manner of speaking as clearly denotes and implies it to be a means to them For in saying Building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost he shews that the building up themselves on their most holy faith would not goe well on if trusting to their own power and skill therein they should neglect Gods help or neglect to pray and call upon God for it in such a way as he might accept them and send them help Therefore they were to doe that with the former action as a means to it and then in coupling the counsel to both those and that absolutely by a Verb or word of command or counsel Keep your selves in the love of God and mentioning both of those by a Participle as having reference to some further end namely that expressed in that following counsel he implies that they be both of them means to that great end or that such a building themselves on their most holy Faith as is exercised with praying in the Holy Ghost will much conduce to or is the means to preserve and keep themselves in the love of God Which leads us to the next enquiry namely 4. How the praying in the Holy Ghost conduces to the keeping our selves in the love of God To which it is to be minded as was noted above that the love or peculiar favour of God and his blessing is fixed upon the foundation or most holy faith in the first place It firstly fastens upon and imbraces Christ his beloved delightful one who is the great subject of the Gospel Doctrine and for his sake it is upon or with that Doctrine also as it sets forth and contains his name and is the means to glorifie him to men and to draw in men to him so as his eye and heart is thereupon as a most holy thing to him the slighters of which he will slight and punish with more intolerable judgements than those upon Sodom and Gomorrah as in Matth. 10.15 and those that receive and embrace that are imbraced and beloved of him so as to be rewarded with life everlasting John 5.24 He that heareth my words which he gave to his Apostles and they preached in his name and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life c. and Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized namely into Christ shall be saved c. Thence it follows that that which furthers mens being edified and built up on that most holy faith doth also further their being and abiding in that love and favour of God which he bears toward those that are thereupon for the sake thereof And so praying in the Holy Ghost conduces to the keeping men in the love of God as it is a means to keep them on their most holy Faith And a means thereto it is both 1. As there is no praying in the Holy Ghost but by and from the most holy Faith Jesus Christ and the Doctrineâ— of him taken heed unto and minded by men Praying in the H. Gh. then argues a being on the most holy Faith and exercises men to it even to the holding to and minding of it because the Holy Spirit is not otherwise to be met with to breath in us and frame our hearts to spiritual and right desires and prayers but on that most holy Faith for the Holy Spirit is onely that way ministred namely By the hearing of Faith and not by the works of the Law much less by any inventions and works in obedience to other Laws or in any lawless courses Gal 33.3 The Holy Spirit dwells and rests upon Christ and is sent forth in his name unto men Isa 42.1 6â— 1 11.12 John 14.26 and that to witness to Christ lead them to and unite them with him John 15.26 16.13 14. 1 Cor. 6. â—7 for he is so dwelling in Christ as not to be separated from him and therefore all that he dwells in must be one with Christ also for it is by vertue of Christ and in union with him that he that dwells and rests on Christ the head dwells in them as his members also And it is in the Name and Doctrine of Christ as Christ is therein named and set forth that the Holy Spirit breathes unto and in men therein and makes it a Ministration of Spirit or a means of conveying the light power presence and influence of the Spirit which is therefore no further abiding in men and leading and framing them than that Word and Doctrine of Christ in which he is ministred and Christ as held forth therein is received by and abides in men and they in them Whence that in 2 John 9. Whoso transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God to wit by his Holy Spirit in and with them for so God dwells in Believers namely by his Spirit as in Ephes 2.21 Whoso abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son namely in and by the influence and presence of the Spirit of both in and with them as well as in other considerations for them So then he that prayeth in the Holy Ghost being on the most holy Faith and so in Christ in whom and for whose sake God so loveth and favoureth men as we have shewed must needs be in the love of God and the praying in the Holy Ghost a means to keep men in the love of God because it is a way to keep men in Christ and a fruit of their keeping in him 2. Again it must needs be a means to preserve Believers in the love of God as it is a means to obtain further grace from God for more building up themselves on their most holy Faith where the love of God runs and is certainly enjoyed for what men ask of God believing in Christ and in the name of Christ as the Holy
by whom they come the Lord preserve and keep us that we be not of them in any thing but that in all our carriages and conversations we may be blameless and harmless the children of God in the midst of those amongst whom he sets us building to our selves on our most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost Vse 2. It may exhort and provoke us to take this course to keep our selves in the love and Grace of God where we are in it to build up our selves as hath been before shewed on our most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost to which what hath been noted affords both motive and incouragement 1 Motive From the consideration of the end of so building up our selves and the fruit and consequents of it 1. The end is that we may be habitations for God by his Spirit for that 's the end as hath been noted of Gods building and therefore the end both of his having laid such a foundation as the most holy Faith to be built upon and of his calling drawing and as it were laying the Souls of men to and upon it and of his bidding us to builâ— up one another and giving gifts and advantages to those purposes It is that we being built up he might dwell in us by his holy Spirit Ephes 2.21 22. and so fill us with his presence blessing and Glory as he did the Temple of old a Type hereof and the more we grow up into and are built up upon Christ the more he will inhabit and dwell in and with us by his Spirit and afford us his presence 2. A second and further end is our being kept in the love of God under his special care and protection for as God said of old of the Temple built up and dedicated to him the like will he say of and perform toward this his spiritual building yea and so much the more and the rather by how much he being a Spirit is more delighted in spiritual things than in bodily and carnal as that old Temple was whereas his people built upon Christ are a spiritual house 1 Pet. 2.5 with John 4.24 and by how much the truth and substance is beyond the type and figure or shadow Now he said of that material Temple in 2 Chron. 7.16 Now have I chosen and sanctified this house that my Name may be there for ever and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually and then 3. The fruits and consequents hereof must needs be excellent and glorious such as may move us to minde this work and business of self edification with cheerfulness and diligence as 1. Gods dwelling and delighting in a people will be their safety and defence so as no harm or mischief shall befal them from all that are enemies to them and seek to harm them for he is mighty to save and will surely be as good or better an inhabitant of his house than other men are or can be of theirs He will put forth his power and greatness for the defence of it thence that in Isai 12.6 Cry out and shout thou inhabitant of Sion for great is the Holy One in the midst of thee and that in Zeph. 3.14 15 16 17. Sing O Daughter of Sion shout O Israel be glad and rejoyce with all thy heart O Daughter of Jerusalem the Lord hath taken away thy Judgement he hath cast out thine enemy The King of Israel even the Lord is in the midst of thee thou shalt not see evil any more In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem fear thou not and to Zion let not thine hand be sâ—ack The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy c. It is true that those things are spoken of the Church and people of God when they shall be fully built up and gloriously inhabited of God in the last times or in the Kingdom of his Glory but yet there is a measure of it a first fruits now to be met within Gods dwelling by his Spirit in his people built up in a measure for him whence the like rejoycings or gloryings in his presence with his people now in the days of trial or rejoycings neare of him at least thereto in Psal 46.1.6 God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Seas though the waves thereof roar c. and then in vers 4 5. shewing the ground of this fearlesness he adds There is a River the streams whereof make glad the City of God the holy place of the Tabernacles of the most High God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and that right early and as a proof of his helpfulness he adds The Heathen raged the Kingdoms were moved he uttered his voice the earth melted The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Selah And Psal 48.3 God is known in her Palaces for a refuge speaking of Gods Church as his City as Gods people are called in the Scripture both his House and City as Ephes 2.19 20 21 22. His presence in his House and City is their safety nothing can harm them unless their defilements of his House or of their Hearts and Societies causing him to abhor and loath them as in the Type Psal 78.58 59 60 61 c. 2. Gods dwelling with and in his people as his house and delighting in them will afford them all fulness of supply and satisfaction his House and houshold for they are both Ephes 2.19 20. shall want nothing good and needful for them for their maintenance upholding and abundant rejoycing Whence David preferred the being in any the lowest place in Gods house though but at the threshold before the most settled dwelling he might have in the most sumptuous Palaces of the wicked called by him to signifie the flittingness of them the Tents of the ungodly because the Lord God is a Sun and shield and will give Grace and Glory and withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly with him Thence also partly it is that his City or dwelling place is called upon so much to rejoyce for his presence with it in the places above cited He makes a feast in his house and satisfactions to their desires 9.1 2 3. Psal 36.8 9 10. He will fill his house with all all materials and provisions good for it and 3. He will adorn and beautifiâ— his habitation that he loves as well as fill and satisfie those particular Souls that are therein He will beautifie the place of his Sanctuary and make the place of his feet glorious Isa 60.13 He will beautifie the meek with his Salvation because he takes pleasure in them Psal 149.4 He will have his House and habitation glorious answerable in some sort to his own glory and greatness that
that he is able in calling us to him to inliven and quicken us from the dead make us hear his voice perceive the truth goodness of his instructions and close with him and his grace able and authorized as the great High Priest over the House of God and furnished with the Spirit of power and might all the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily to subdue all our enemies and save us confer upon us the blessings he obtains for us yea to keep off dangers and mischiefs from us support us under tryals and sufferings raise us out of troubles and death both bodily and spiritually and advance us to glory and happiness None of these things have we to do or prepare for our selves The foundation a sure and firm foundation is laid for â— to our hands no nor yet have we it put upon â— to bring our selves to and lay our selves upon that foundation that also is Gods work to make us in Christ Jesus and thaâ— he hath done inasmuch as he hath brought us to know and believe in him through his Gospel preached to us and by his Spirit effectually in some measure woâ—king in and upon us but onely to build up our selves on that foundation on which he hath in some measure laid us Yea and also 4. This we have to encourage us therein that he hath not onely in and through the most holy saith given us some furniture of gifts understanding c. for the edifying our selves and one another thereon but also stands ready in and through his blessed Son further to assist direct and help us and to carry on the building in and for us by his own grace and power supplied to us Which we may also have and receive from him according to our needs upon seeking it of him and calling upon him by prayer and supplication for it according as our Lord hath said Ask and ye shall receive seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened to you for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Matth. 7.7 8. And if ye that are evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11.13 5. Yea and whereas we are foolish and bruitish in and of our selves and not onely want ability to build up our selves of our selves but also skill to pray unto God for his help and holy Spirit as we ought he to help us there also in and through the foundation we are upon even the most holy faith gives us the Holy Ghost to help our infirmities and teach us how â—o pray yea and to make Intercessions in and for us according to the will of God with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered Rom. 8.26 27. So that as we have him in his gifts and operations and vertues in us to inable us to build up our selves on our most holy faith so we have him also to help us to look unto and call upon God for further Dispensations of him and his assistance and help by him for building up our selves thereon and for blessing strengthning and confirming what we build So that what remains but that we up and be doing building up our selves on our most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost and to keep our selves in the love of God To which the Apostle adds in the next place The manner how we are to do all this or the posture we are therein to stand in and that is waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life In a waiting posture for further mercy even the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life Where we have 1. The Posture it self Waiting 2. The Object to be waited for Mercy Which is further declared what it is by 1. The Author of it or Fountain of it whose and whence it is viz. The mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. The Tendency issue and end of it Vnto Eternal life 1. In that it is said Waiting it is implied and signified 1. That Believers so edifying themselves on their most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost may and should hope and look for the further grace mercy and helpfulness of Christ and God in Christ for waiting for a thing implies hoping for it as Rom. 8.24 25. If we hope for what we see not then do we with patience wait for it Believers are under the hope of good for Good is always the object of hope and waiting something that the soul looks upon as good for it and it is real good that the soul is instructed of God to look after and wait for Now hoping also implies 1. That what the soul waits for is not yet accomplished The soul hath not an enjoyment of all that is good for it though it be in the love of God the fountain of all good and mercy yet it hath not an actual enjoyment or possession of all the good that flows forth from that fountain Hope is of things future not yet seen or enjoyed for that that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for Rom. 8 15. The Believer though in the love of God and his favour yet is not fully built up as we see before and therefore is not possessed all that he is building up for or that is intended to him when built up We are saved now by hope not by actual sight and enjoyment The hope of further good is that that bears up the soul against and under the sight feeling of present evils The condition of the Believer here is not to be above or beyond hope but to be in hope a lively or living hope by or through the Resurrection of Christ as 1 Pet. 1.3 not a dead empty hope that puts no activity into the soul Hope is the anchor of the soul that enters into the Mercy-seat and Glory within the vail that stays the soul now up from sinking under any discouragements in the building time from enemies within or without that oppose and threaten it or from any tryals or pressures that may lie upon it 2. It implies an apprehension of some good ground of the expectation of the good that it yet hath not but waits for and so it believes that good will come to it that it yet hath not And indeed the most holy faith affords it good ground for such an expectation of good for faith is the evidence of things not seen and the ground of things hoped for Hebr. 11.1 Therefore being on that ground it must needs see reason and cause to hope For therein is discovered and declared 1. That God so loved and pitied them while in and of the world as that he sent his onely begotten Son and delivered him up to death for us all even while ungodly sinners and enemies against him to the end that believing in
and guidance of the Holy Spirit given as a pledge or earnest of the full injoyment of the eternal inheritance and as the Guide Governour Leader Conductor and Keeper of his Servants that listen to him and harden not their hearts obstinately against him to the possession of it So Eph. 1.13 14. and 4.30 Believing in Christ saith the Apostle to those Believers ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance to the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his Glory and the like in 2 Cor. 1.21 22. He that establisheth us with you in Christ and anointeth us â—â— God who also hath sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts c. And he is a good holy powerful Spirit and will guide the Believer into all truth as he sees it good for him and will lead him into the land of uprightness Iohn 16.13 Psal 143.10 So that as the Believer in Christ hath great incouragement to wait for the Mercy of the Lord Iesus his Lord and Saviour as is fore-noted so also hath he good ground to expect and shall assuredly in waiting receive his mercy to everlasting life so as to the possession and actual injoyments thereof Unto which it is necessary and that also is here implied that he be raised up again from Death and all the consequents of it seeing those things also are allotted to believers and they die as certainly and oft more grievously in respect of their outward sufferings than other men and this Resurection of them Christ often asserts saying I will â—ise him up again at the last day Iohn 6.40 44 c. yea they shall be raised first and unto life 1 Thes 4.15 16. Iohn 5.29 even unto life eternal Matth. 25.46 In which they shall injoy 1. A total full and everlasting release of and discharge from all their sins both as to the guilt of them they shall be fully and for ever then blotted out of Gods remembrance Acts 3.19 so as they shall be remembred no more Hebr. 8.12 10.17 and therefore also as to all punishments chastisements or sufferings for them The inhabitant of Zion shall not then say I am sick for their sins shall be forgiven them Isa 33.24 2. A full and perfect deliverance from the inherency and defilement of sin in a full perfect and everlasting conformity unto Christ When we see him we shall be like him saith 1 John 3.2 for we shall see him as he is Then shall it be given to the Bride the Lambs wife to be cloathed in fine linnen white and clean Rev. 19.8 and to be presented by Christ to himself altogether glorious and holy not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing Ephes 5.26 27. 3. A full perfect and everlasting peace and freedom from all trouble sorrow crying pain temptations death either natural or violent For the bodies of the just being raised shall be raised incorruptible and immortal made like unto the glorious body of the Lord Jesus Death and Grave and all things pertaining or tending thereto being swallowed up into an everlasting victory 1 Cor. 15 53 54 55 56. Phil. 3.20 and all Enemies and Oppressors whether men or Devils being wholly subdued and thrust out so as they never more have power to molest or trouble There shall be no more any Canaanite in the house of the Lord of Hosts nor any wicked ones to pass through their land nor any to waste or destroy in all Gods mountain Zech. 14.21 Nah. 1.13 Isa 11.9 65.25 The Devil shall be shut up for ever in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone and all his Angels and followers the Instruments of his malice and mischief with him and shall be there in everlasting torments utterly and everlastingly deprived of all power to hurt or injury any of those that here have followed the Lamb. So that all inward causes as sin mortality and diseases and all outward causes of trouble as Satan and his Angels and all evil men and all curse and wrath from God being for ever removed there must of necessity be a perfect freedom therefrom No more death nor sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things shall be then wholly passed away Rev. 21.4.5 22.3 4. A full perfect and everlasting enjoyment of Christ and God in Christ evermore present with them as 1 Thess 4 16. We shall be all caught up together to meet the Lord in the ayr and then we shall be ever with the Lord Rev. 21.3 then shall the Tabernacle of God be with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them their God yea the throne of God and the Lamb shall be amongst them and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads openly and manifestly upon them and held forth by them Rev. 22 3 4. 5. Full perfect and everlasting sight and knowledge of God and of the whole mysterie of God They shall see as they are seen and know as they are known 1 Cor. 13.12 no night of ignorance and alienation from God no candle light no dim imperfect fading knowledge there no nor any mediate light or knowledge but an immediate clear and constant light and knowledge shall they have of and from God Rev. 22.5 6. Full perfect and everlasting joy and gladness in the presence knowledge and enjoyment of God and Christ for in his presence is fulness of joy and pleasures at his right hand for evermore Psal 16.11 then they shall enter into their Lords or Masters joy and that shall be perfectly fulfilled spoken of in Isa 35.10 51 11. They shall have everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away for they shall be then everlastingly and abundantly satisfied with the presence of God and Christ so as there shall be no want defect or mixture in their joys and rejoycings nor any thing to be added to them the want whereof should at any time abate them for ever 7. Full perfect and everlasting glory being Kings and Priests unto God and filled full with the glory of Christ and of God and reigning with him for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 their bodies all glorious like the glorious body of Christ and their spirits all glorious like the Soul or Spirit of Christ for they shall be like him enjoying even that eternal glory to which they are now called in and by the Gospel glory unutterable and beyond all conception 2 Thess 2.13 14. 1 Pet. 5.10 This is the portion and inheritance of those that are built up on the most holy faith and praying in the Holy Ghost keep themselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ thereunto a portion not merited by them as a due reward of their
turners of it into wantonness who were crept in amongst the Churches unawares and become Teachers that impugned the Truth denied the only Lord God and the Lord Jesus v. 4. either in their Conversation in denying their subjection service to him giving themselves up to lasciviousness wantonness or in their Doctrines concerning him as by comparing it with 2 Pet. 2.1 it appears or indeed by both To arm them against these corrupt persons that they might neither by their corrupt Doctrines or practises be seduced or perverted from the faith but might earnestly contend for it both for the profession and honour of it against them He I. Mindes them of the danger of sinning and backsliding from the truth after they had received and acknowledged it by the dreadfulness and impartiallity of Gods judgments upon those that in former ages so by consequence in these ages too in which God having more clearly discovered his Grace to men and in a more glorious way doth more expect a worthy receit of an answeâ—rable return for it have rebelled against him and lived vitiously and wickedly before him To this purpose he instances first in the people of Israel who though they were God's people he had done wonderfully for them in saving them out of the land of Egypt yet they afterward not answering his so great goodness with answerable fruit in some measure but after so great ingagements to believe yet not believing were therefore afterward destroyed by him ver 5. Secondly In the Angels who being glorious Spirits or set in a first Principallity or seat left their own or proper habitation and so kept not their first estate abode not in the truth but departed therefrom as Peter hath it Cast down to Hell and reserved by God in everlasting chains under darkness unto the Judgment of the Great Day ver 6. To admonish and warn all other Angels as the Messengers and Ministers of God's Word are sometimes stiled to take heed to themselves and to their Doctrine to continue in the Truth and not apostatize from it as these had done And thirdly In Sodom and Gomorrha and the Cities about them who though great and populous Cities yet giving up themselves to fornication and going after strange flesh are set forth as an example suffering the vengeance of eternal fire ver 7. Secondly After these instances of God's Vengeance upon men for abuses of his goodness and apostatizing from or failing of his grace he compares those deceivers ungodly persons whom he would have these Saints contend against with those forementioned Sodomites fallen Angels and unbelieving Israelites ver 8. To the Sodomites in in that they had defiled the flesh To the fallen Angels in that departing from the truth of God they were become filthy Dreamers inventors of Lies and Falshoods and spreaders of them to draw away men from the name and faith of Christ like the false Prophets Jer. 23.27 32. so from subjection to his Lordship and Government whose Lordship and Dominion they despised as the Angels probably did through their pride as the occasion and spring of their fall and to the Israelites as in not believing so in speaking evil of the Dignities God had set in his Church as also in the world as they did against Moses and Aaron ver 8. Thirdly He convinceth their evil herein by the contrary carriage and demeanour of Michael the Archangel who though a glorious and powerful Angel yet contending with the Devil about the Body of Moses durst not bring against him being also a power though a wicked one a rayling accusation but said the Lord rebuke thee in which instance whether the Apostle allude to that of Joshua the High Priest in Zach. 3.2 where such a like passage is read that the Devil standing at his right hand to resist him the Lord said the Lord rebuke thee Sathan even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee c. or rather to some other passage which the Apostle might read as the following Prophecie of Enoch in some other Records which till that time were preserved amongst them but are now lost as to our knowledg may be a Question It may seem the later rather because it is said that the dispute was about the Body of Moses of which there is no mention in that of Zachary Now to that demeanor and carriage of Michael he opposeth the carriage of the false Teachers that he herewarns of Michael would not rail upon or bring railing accusations against the Devil ver 9. But these blaspheme or speak evil of those things or so many things as they know not even of such Dignities or Glories 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they should reverence the Powers over them or else the Glorious things of Christ which they have not acquaintance with what they know naturally as bruit or unreasonable Beasts what they know by their bruitish senses or carnal mind in those they corrupt themselves or are corrupted ver 10. Fourthly He denounces a woe against them and shews the reason thereof from the wickedness and wretchedness of their wayes Woe unto them for they have gone in the way of Cain envying and persecuting their better Brethren more sound in the Faith and acceptable to God in their services than themselves and ran greedily after the errour of Balaam for reward or as others render it as a reward namely of their forementioned wickedness in hating their Brethren and the way of truth they have gone astray in or been powred out in the errour of Balaam which was the teaching Balak to lay stumbling blocks before the children of Israel and so to tempt them to eat things sacrificed to Idols and to commit fornication Rev. 2.14 so these for reward as Balaam did laid stumbling blocks before the right believers and worshippers of God leading them by their corrupt Doctrines or also as a recompence thereof being given up thereto as Rom. 1.26 27. by their licentious and wanton practises to communicate with the Idolaters of the world in their Idolatrous worships and to indulge the flesh in lusts of uncleanness and perished in the gain-sayings of Korah in such rebellious oppositions of the power and Lordship of Christ and the Dignities authorized by him as Korah practised against God in Moses and Aaron ver 11. Yea he yet further describes Fifthly Their evil Case and Way These are spots says he in your feasts of Charity when they feast with you feeding themselves without fear Clouds they are without water that is such as boast themselves and make shew of being some greatly gifted persons but they give no profit or refreshing to them they drop their words upon carried with winds that is with sundry and diverse Spirits and Doctrines not guided by the one Spirit and truth of God Trees whose fruit withereth or such as are in the end of the harvest towards winter corrupting and rotting their fruit such as yield no savoury fruit yea
Trees without fruit without any good fruit in Doctrine and Conversation they bring in none to God nor do any real good in their Generation twice dead and pluckt up by the roots as unfit for fruit or profit to the Church of God as such trees be being also not only dead in Adam and in themselves as from him or in him as all men naturally are or were but then after some life given them in and received of also by Christ they have died again lost that life sap they received from him and being given up to Sathan for their neglects or contempts of Christ they are pluckt out of him have no root or standing in him or in the Grace in him as ver 12. Raging waves of the Seas foaming out their own shame troubled and troublous boysterous persons acted and made unquiet by their lusts and evil spirits that have influence upon them and therefore they in their boysterousness and unquietness of Spirit foam out speak and vent forth their own shame their evill principles guilt of conscience or vain-gloryings in things that discover their destituteness of the fear and Grace of God within wandring Stars that seem to have light and profess that they know God and can discover him and his truth to others but are not fixed in Christ and therefore wander into evil and erroneous principles and perhaps go about too from place to place to corrupt others with their delusions For whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever for whom the greatest rejection from God saddest distress and misery in the depths of Hell for ever are reserved as their due deserved portion as being sinners of the highest degree of wickedness because they deny the Lord that bought them and corrupt others from the faith of him ver 13. Sixthly He confirms the Truth of what he had said about the sadness and wretchedness of their estate by the Prophecie of Enoch the seventh from Adam which though we have it not recorded elsewhere in our Bibles yet was by some other Writings in those dayes handed to them And Enoch also the seventh from Adam prophesied of these saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all and to convince all the ungodly of them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodlily committed and of all the hard speeches which ungodly godly Sinners have spoken against him ver 14 15. and then Seventhly Gives a further Character or Description of them to whom he applies that Prophesie and it may seem first with reference to the last clause of it These are murmurers namely against God and his Servants like the Israelites of old in their unbelief against the Lord and against Moses and Aaron complainers the word signifies faulters of their destiny lot or condition not submitted to or content with the Providences of God to about them and then with reference to the middle clause of the said Prophesie Walking after their own ungodly lusts not keeping them to the word and will of God set before them in the Gospel but as complaining of the purity severity or simplicity of that they break those bonds and transgress those bounds that they might walk after their own imaginations both as to faith and manners v 1.6 And their mouths speak great swelling words as of their parts worth attainments or as in 2 Pet. 2.18 19. the parallel place to this Epistle They promise others liberty they talk of being free from and above those rules of faith and worship that Christ hath prescribed and promise others freedom and liberty from such tryalls persecutions or temptations as they see the faithful cleavers to Christ exercised under will they but listen to them yea they speak as if they had their heaven and happiness Kingdom and glory here while yet themselves as he saith are servants of corruptions Having mens persons in admiration for advantage or profit-sake flattering and commending mens persons their greatness parts or places for some gain to themselves Eighthly Having thus at large described them and the evil and wretchedness of their way and condition he fortifies them against them by putting them in mind that this was no strange matter nothing but what the Apostles of Christ had forewarned them of But ye Beloved call to minde the words which were before spoken of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ how that they told you that there should be mockers Deceivers in the last time walking after their own ungodly lusts ver 17 18. and then Ninthly Gives yet a further Character and description of them and shews the fulfilling of those words in these persons that they might not mistake them as to the persons he warns them of and that we in after-ages might know them saying These be they that separate themselves divide themselves from the company and fellowship of the true worshippers and Confessors of the Doctrine of Christ as not one in faith with them or as seeking to avoid those sufferings and persecutions that they were then exposed to probably pretending more holiness but really casting off Christs government yoke and discipline in his Church sensual or led by their carnal understanding and imagination having no higher principle to guid them and so savouring of such animal or sensual things only not having the Spirit The Spirit of faith to make them live by faith in the hope and expectation of the coming and Kingdom of Christ which these deceivers denied and made a mock of and so of the eternal life that God hath promised to those that worship him and trust in him by Jesus Christ ver 19. Now after all these things having so variously and abundantly both described these Deceivers admonished the right Believers of them he comes in these 20 and 21 verses to exhort and counsel them to what might be of greatest concernment to themselves and one another in opposition to the way and practise of those ungodly persons and that they might be kept from their infection and the dangerous fruits thereof But ye Beloved building up your selves on your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life ver 21 22 wherein we have A serious and heavenly counsel given to faithful and unfeigned believers for their preservation in the Grace of God and attainment of eternal life and happiness and wherein is 1. The compellation term or title wherewith he addresses himself to these to whom he wrote Ye Beloved 2. The Distinction of them from and opposition of them to those ungodly Deceivers before described Those ungodly ones were such as separated themselves forsook the Assemblings of themselves together being sensual and not having the Spirit But ye Beloved Ye are not of them 3. The main thing counselled to to be aimed at by them and that is in verse 21. Keep your selves in the love of God
who stood in need of his Sons coming and saving of them In that love as we noted in one sense all men are till any of them slighting it and rebelling against God as exercising his love to them are therefore blotted out of the Book of Life and reprobated and reckoned after Satan as incorporated into him that is all men as fallen were and are till then the objects of that love God would not that any man should perish but that all might come to repentance and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9 He would that all men be saved and come to the knowledge or acknowledgment of the truth for there is one God and one Mediator of God and men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all a testimony in due time 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Such Grace or Good will was in the heart of God toward the whole World or every one that there through Christ was sent forth for them and tasted death for every one Heb. 2.9 by which bearing upon himself the sin of the World therein he took it away John 1.29 obtained such a release of that judgment that was upon all for one offence to condemnation that there is justification to life and righteousness in him for all Rom. 3.22 and 5.18 He being risen again a Conquerour over sin and death for our justification and being as a reward and recompence of his services and sufferings taken up to the right hand of God He is by him made Lord and Christ Phil. 2.10 11. Acts 2.36 Lord of all both of the dead and living Acts 10.36 Rom. 14 9. And anointed and filled with the Holy Ghost and power that he might be the light to lighten the Gentiles and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth Isai 61.1 and 42.1 7 8. and 49.8 9. The great Prophet and Teacher of the Truth of God to men the Great High Priest who having offered up himself an acceptable Sacrifice to God is in the vertues thereof the Mediator of God and men the propitiation for the sins of the whole World 1 John 2.1 2. 1 Tim. 2.5 So as that mercy and goodness patience and forbearance is by him extended from God to the whole World in the day of his grace and patience to lead them to repentance Rom. 2.4 5. Psal 145.8 9 10. and there is in and through him a way of access for any of them to God and of acceptance with God in their repenting and coming to God by him Heb. 7.25 and 10.19 20. John 14.6 and 3.16 17. Who is also the Great King over all the Earth who are given him for his inheritance and possession Psal 47.7 Jer. 10.7 Psal 2.8 And in the exercise of these his glorious Offices He is the Saviour of all men and especially of them that believe and through him God his Father is so also 1 Tim. 4.10 All things are ready in him for men even a feast of fat things for all people Mat. 22 4. Isai 25.6 And both he and the Father in him is ready to entertain thereto all that come to him in the strength and vertue of his grace and gracious call preventing them which is therefore also extended to them generally by God and Christ in his works about them or words to them with his Spirit there through working to convince reprove and move them to seek after and turn to him Isai 55.1 2 3 6 7 8. and 45.22 Prov. 1.20 21 22 23 24. Psal 50.1 2. Prov. 8.1 5. and 9.1 6. John 6.37 Such love hath God to all generally and to those that believe he testified the same to draw them to believe and come to him they also being before their believing Children that is fit for and worthy of wrath even as others Ephes 2.3 Tit. 3.3 4 5. Yea and now that they believe having nor wholly put off the fruits of the sin of the first Adam but being as men still defiled with sin dwelling in them and mortallity and death upon them as such they are objects still of that love of pitty to mankind and stand in need of the exercise of it to their salvation they are not by believing passed out of that love much less blotted out but are yet continued in it though also advanced higher and so not only as all other men the objects of that love but also 2. As brought unto Christ they are in a further sense in that love too so as other men are not that is to say they are in the understanding belief and knowledge of that love of God to man that is they in some measure understand believe know it yea have it in their hearts so as they are also begotten to God and Christ thereby are born of it and have the foundation ground or beginning of their faith and hope in God in it for it is in the discovery and perception of that love of God to man that the heart is overcome and framed to trust in God and brought out of it self and out of its former false confidences into Christ not the sight of special love to it self above others but the sight and knowledge of Gods love to the World Therefore when our Saviour had preached to Nicodemus the necessity of regeneration to the entring into the Kingdom of God or seeing and injoying it he did not afterward for effecting that regeneration in him tell him of some peculiar electing love of God towards him in particular but of Gods love to the World in general John 3.3 5 15 16. Even as it was not the lifting up the Brazen-Serpent in some special fashion for this or that particular person of the Israelites stung with the fiery Serpents and their beholding it as in some such special fashion lifted up for them by vertue whereof this or that person of them was healed but by its being lifted up for all of them in general this or that man beholding it as so lifted up as a common Medicine for their healing received healing by it and perished not And as Moses lifted up that Serpent in the wilderness the only common Medicine for all that were stung so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life So the Apostle Paul saith Tit. 3.3 4. that it was the effect and product of the love and pity of God our Saviour towards man and not as towards themselves only or in some special manner that they were pull'd out of the state of the world saved While any man knows or takes heed to and minds the Name fame or Doctrine of God that sets him forth in his greatness power love mercy faithfulness c he will trust in him That Name known and minded though it be but one and the same in it self for and to all men as considered alike will beget and frame the hearts of such as know it to trust in him It is the sight understanding or perception of the General
devour yet God who loves us is stronger than he and none can pluck the sheep or followers of Christ out of his hand Yea Christ our Shepherd is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah and he hath spoiled Principallities and Powers and triumphed over them openly in his Cross He is stronger to defend us than Sathan to devour us and he was manifested on purpose to destroy his cursed works 1 Pet. 5.8 John 10.29 30. Col. 2.14.15 1 John 3.8 hold we fast by him and Sathan cannot harm us however much he malice us Christ both can and will surely defend and save us from his rage and malice Doth the world frown upon us hate reproach threaten and abuse us Be of good courage saith our Lord I have overcome the world and stronger is he that is in or amongst us than he that is in the world John 16.33.1 John 4.4 5. Nor can any hardship that may here befal us tribulation or distres persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword cause God and Christ to cease to love us Rom. 8.35 He is a sheild and sure defence against all these enemies His truth abides that in us shall be shield and Buckler to us so that what is therein Earth or Hell that may discourage or affright us Psal 91.3 He is such a place of defence to every one that uprightly cleaveth to him that nothing can pierce through him to annoy or harm him as in Isa 33 6â— He shall dwel on high so high as none can overtop him to storm him his place of defence shall be the munition of Rocks so that no undermining him or blowing him up oh but perhaps we may be starved or famished out for wants No not so for it follows bread shall be given him his waters shall not fail Ah but perhaps such a strong Castle and well victualled may be so close and scant of air or other delightful accommodations as to force a man to yeild to get breath or air No it follows that there is both pleasant sight fair prospects to delight for v. 17. thine eyes shall behold the King in his beauty and thou shalt see the Land that is very far off So then neither need we fear evil will befal us to harm us oâ— that good will be wanting to us to supply and satisfie us For if the Lord be our Shepheard how can we want any good thing He is a Sun sheild and will give Grace glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly with him Psal 84.11 and 23.1 He will supply our inward wants Give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him Luk 11.13 to lead them into his truth fill them with hope and peace and comfort them in all their troubles and afflictions teach them also to pray and therein and otherwise help their infirmities subdue their corruptions and sanctifie them throughout in Body Soul and Spirit c. John 16.13 Rom. 8.26 27. and 15.13 1 Thess 5.23 24. And he will supply all our outward wants so far as is good and needful for us Seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness all those things shall be added to us The Lyons shall lack and suffer hunger but they that fear the Lord are sure to want no good thing Matth. 6.33 Psal 34.9 10. He giveth food to them that fear him he will ever be mindful of his Covenant Psal 111.5 And he will every way do what is good for us till he have fitted us for and bring us to the eternal inheritance So that here we have everlasting consolation and good hope through Grace 2 Thes 2.16 2. It 's useful also by way of instruction and exhortation to diverse duties that this great grace and love of God towards us doth challenge of us and afford good ground for as 1. To love him again that hath so loved us and yet so loves us as Psal 31.23 Oh Love the Lord ye his Saintsâ— for he preserveth the faithful those that believe in him and are constant in cleaving to and serving him It is but a meet return to him love for love that we love him because he loved us first 1 John 4.19 to delight our selves in him whose delight is in his people and accepts us in his Beloved One and will give unto us in so doing the desire or satisfaction of our Souls Psal 37.4 we cannot set our loves and affections upon either a more deserving or a more lovely object None there is to whom we are so much ingaged or hath so much in it to content satisfie and save us we may be sure not to loose our loves by loving him for he is not only infinitely before hand with us but also keeps mercy and Covenant for ever to them that love him and keep his Commandments we may loose our loves in loving any thing else besides him but not in loving him 2. To hope and trust in him for seeing he loves us so who is so strong and mighty to save us a Great King above all Gods in whose hands are all the corners of the Earth and the strength of the hills is his also The Sea is his and so all troubles and afflictions and he hath made it and his hands have prepared the dry land a stable port and safe haven of refuge we may be confident that he will not suffer any harm to befal us if we stay upon him and his Grace to save us yea though he may correct and nurture us yet he will take care of us to support and save us Oh trust in him then at all times ye people especially ye his people and inheritance pour out your hearts to him he is a refuge for us Psal 62.8 Yea trust in him at all times for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Isa 26.4 especially too seeing in his great love he hath made great and precious promises to us both for this life the life that is to come hath confirmed them in the blood of the Lord Jesus his only begotten Son and appointed him to be the Mediator of them for us to take away the sin and unworthiness that might hinder us of them and to obtain a dispensation of them to us Surely we have in Christ great ground and cause of hopeing and trusting in God seeing God did therefore raise him from the dead and give him glory that our faith and hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1.21 and seeing through him his favour doth compass about the righteous as a shield from what might harm them Psalm 5.12 as it is also a Sun to give light and all refreshing influences to us even Grace and Glory and all good things to those that walk uprightly with him Psal 84.11 whence also that Counsel Philip. 4.6 7. In nothing be careful but in all things make known your requests to God by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving and the peace of God that passeth all understanding shall guard
be easily abused circumvented and overthrown by our spiritual enemies in their attempts upon us to that purpose indeed as it is with Children â—hat have wise and able Parents or Guardians however weak they are of themselves yet if they will not listen to their subtle enemies in their â—rafty suggestions but first advise with their said Parents and Guardians that are wiser then they â—r if they will not venture to come near them but in their hands they are and may be safe enough notwithstanding the strength or subtlety of those that would either cheat or hurt them so it is here the weakest Believer calling upon God and cleaving to the instruction and counsel of Christ and his Spirit is safe enough and shall be preserved from falling but as the Child neglecting the Fathers hand and counsel may be undone so is it here whence Wisdom so frequently advises Hear O ye Children the instruction of a Father â—d attend to know understanding and keep my Commandement and live and my Law as the apple of thine eye and depart not from the words of my mouth and many the like Prov. 4.1 4 5.6 and 5.1 2 6. and 7.21 Whence we may further note that the Believers danger lyes not simply or so much in his own weakness as in his being liable to think himself wise or strong and so to be puffed up with pride and so to trust to and in himself and his own righteousness as in Ezek. 33.13 or beauty as Ezek. 16.17 or that he is Christs as in 2 Cor. 10.7 that he is rich and increased with goods and needs nothing and so grow luke-warm and carelesly indifferent whether he look to Christ or not yea neglect to buy of him what is necessary for him as Revel 3.14 18. or say he is now become a Lord himself an owner of much in himself to live upon and so matter not to come to Christ like them in Jeremiah 2.3 that said They were Lords they would come no more at God This this is that which mostly indangers those especially that are more abundantly gifted inlarged and exalted above others even as the Child that conceits its self strong while it is not so vâ—â—â—ring to go alone gets a fall and many presuming on their own sufficiency of wit and parts to neglect their Fathers and Friends advice are over reached by subtler heads Thence Solomon observes that there is more hope of a fool than of one that 's wise in his own conceit Prov. 26.12 Peter conceiting himself strong enough to follow Christ whithersoever he was to go and thereupon following him unwarrantably into the High Priests Hall got a sore fall in his denying him thrice Yea is most probably if not assuredly believed that â—â—e fallen Angels fell through reflecting upon their own created excellencies and lifting up themselves thereby above their places and from that subjection to God and dependance on him in which he set them but certain it is that the Church of Jerusalem this way fâ—ll to play the harlot from him that had espoused her to himself and provoked upon her self such judgments from him as the Law and usage of the Countries allot to Harlots Ezek. 16. so true it is that Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty mind before a fall Prov. 16.18 Whence the Wiseman adds that it is better to be of an humble spirit with the lowly with those that stand below that are mean in parts gifts esteem and are content with their low conditions then to divide the spoils do great exploits atchieve great victories and successes and get the honour and respect of men for their gifts graces actings c. with the proud verse 19. Now that Believers also may possibly be puffed up with pride not only the cautions given by Moses to Israel Deut. 6. and 8. and his fore-prophecy of him Deut. 32.15 and the Apostles warning Beleivers to take heed of it and not be high-minded but fear Rom. 11.22 and the Lords giving to Paul a thorn in the flesh a messenger of Satan to buffet him to prevent it in him 2 Cor. 12.8 9. but also the Instances above hinted in Jerem. 2. Ezek. 16. Revel 3. do plainly evince it Therefore blessed is he that fears alwayes with a fear opposed to high-mindedness Prov. 28.13 and good to say with good Jehosaphat We know not what to do O Lord but our eyes are up to thee for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us 2 Chron. 20.12 3. And then the holiness and severity of the Lord who resists the proud against those who neglect and withdraw from Christ compleats the danger for were our enemies never so many and mighty and we never so weak or through conceit and pride liable to fall yet if God would alwayes forgive and continue to own us there were yet no danger but the case is not so but as in the Son of God is life and as in abiding in him there is abiding and continuing favour from God unto everlasting happiness to be met with out of that infinite respect that God shews to him namely to Christ and the delight he hath in him so on the other side out of the same respect to and delight in him he will be provoked to wrath though slow to it and give up men to their own lusts and delusions for slighting and turning from him and there is no respect of persons with God The just now shall live by faith but if any man or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is in the Greek if he the just man draw back my soul sayâ—s God shall have no pleasure in him Heb. 10.39 If ye walk after the flesh says Paul Rom. 8.13 â—e dye but if by the Spirit ye mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Thence the Apostle couples in himself of whose right believing there can be no doubt and sayes How can we escape if we neglect so great salvation Heb. 2.3 And if we sin wilfully after the knowledge of the truth received there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation c. Heb. 10.26 27. And so generally the Gospel tells us as well of indignation and wrath towards men upon their departures from God as of his special favour and grace in their cleaving to him And as the Grace and Mercy of God is more abundant towards us under this clearest dispensation of the Gospel by the personal appearance and ministration of Christ than it was under the Law so also the terrors of God and his wrath is answerable to the Rejectors of it or Apostates from it to that purpose is that in Heb. 10.29 If they that despised Moses Law dyed without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy who hath trod under foot the Son of God and counted the blood wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done
people to keep them and bless them yea he hath confirm'd his promise too with his oath as we might have added I have sworn by my self saith God Surely in blessing I will thee Heb. 6.14.15 with Gen. 22.16 17. as also in Psal 89.3 4 35 36. And he is faithful that hath promised cannot will not lye nor alter the word that is gone out of his mouth He is the faithful God that keepeth Covenant and Mercy Deut. 7.9 His Word and Oath are two things in which it is impossible for him to lye Heb. 6.17 18. faithful is he that hath called you who also will do it namely will sanctifie the believer throughout and see that his whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ says 1 Thess 5.23 24. To which purpose also 6. He hath appointed his only begotten Son the Lord Jesus Christ in the vertues of his most precious blood and sacrifice and invested with the Authority Power and Glory of God to be as the Saviour of all men so especially and after a special sort of them that believe his Church his Body his Sheep to be their Shepheard husband and head to take care of them feed them guide protect and lead them and to keep them in the fat and fruitful pastures of Israel unto everlasting life This is the will saith he of him that sent me that he that seeth beholdeth the Son and believeth on him should have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day John 6.40 And again I am the good Shepheard and know that is take care of my sheep and am known approved of mine My Sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me c. John 10.14 27. the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls 1 Pet. 2.25 To which purpose that he might preserve those that follow him he is both furnished 1. As a Prophet with Authority power and Spirit to teach them and lead them safely in the way that they should go to make known to them his mind and the will of his Father and so to Guide the meek in judgment and to teach the meek his way yea and to reveal by his Spirit the mysteries of his Kingdom the secrets of the Lord and feed them with the choice comforts and consolations the fresh and fat pastures of Israel to make them like love and delight in the way he leads them in and to shew them their wandrings reprove them for them and recover them from them 2. As a Priest to mediate with God for them by way of intercession in the vertues of his perfect propitiatory Sacrifice thereby to obtain of God mercy to pass by and pardon their defects weaknesses and wandrings or in mercy and measure to judge and correct them for them and so pass over them and still bestow his grace and favour upon them and continue it to them in blessing them and giving such further dispensations to them of his Spirit and spiritual blessings as may be good for them and further their salvation And in respect of the perfection of his Sacrifice to God and Priesthood before God he is able to prevail with God for whatsoever he maketh request for to him and being an everlasting and ever-living Priest after the order of Melchisedeck he is able to save to the utmost from wrath and judgment and in the grace and favour of God them that come to God by him because He He so high and holy and undefiled an one ever liveth to make intercession for them Rom. 8.26 27 34. Heb. 7 24 25 26 27. And then also 3. As King and Lord over all he is able to protect and hide them and safely keep them from the power and malice of their enemies controuling their enterprises defeating their plots and overthrowing their power and confederacies and turning them about as he pleases sustaining and upholding all his Servants and followers under all their tryals and sufferings and giving issues and deliverances to them out of them as he sees good for them so as that no man can pluck them or take them by force out of his hands nor any sin of weakness and infirmity cause him to disown them And also as Christ who is thus appointed and furnished to save them So 7. He is faithful and merciful can pity and sympathize with them in their ignorances tryals sufferings and temptations and knows how to succour them having himself had experience of sufferings and temptations and will faithfully discharge the trust committed to him of his Father and the oversight he hath taken of them He is faithful in all things as Moses was yea and more because Moses was but faithful as a Servant but Christ as a Son over his own house or houshold Heb. 2.17 18. and 3.1 2 5 6. He will not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment truth and righteousness in the earth till he have accomplished the whole will of God committed to him He is the Author and Finisher of the Faith his hands have laid the foundation and his hands too shall finish the building Isai 42.1 3 4. and Zech. 4 7 9. So that all these put together make it appear that the love and grace of God or God and Christ in his favour and love to his people is a strong and sure refuge for them and defence to them so that they may in betaking themselves to him and abiding in their faith in him be surely kept in his love there is not only a possibility of it but an assured certainty also they may trust boldly in him at all times and contentedly sit down and solace themselves in his shadow and rejoyce in his love and sing with chearfulness The Lord is our refuge and defence a present help in time of trouble therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed and though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Seas The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Psal 46.1 2 6. Whence they be blessed that trust in him at all times or exercise faith in and relyance on him their dwelling is on high so as no enemy can overtop or storm them so as to get to them to harm or pull them out except they were greater then God and could overtop him and be above him in strength and power their defence is the munition of rocks so that no undermining them or digging through their defence by policy or industry unless they could outvye God in wisdom and strength and pluck away his everlasting armes from about them and strike through his sides as it were to pierce them bread shall be given them and their waters shall not fail so as there can be no starving of them out Other strong Holds may be either storm'd or undermined or batterd down or else they that be in them may for want of provision of bread and drink be forced to yield themselves to
them fully ripe as follows in that Parable ver 29. when the fruit yeelds forth it self or is brought forth straitways puts in his sickle because the harvest is come that is till Christ take us away by death we are to abide and grow That 's one thing implied and then 2. That this building up or edifying on the most holy faith is a thing to which the believer is to be active not passive only It 's a work in some sense put upon and required of the believer not so to be wrought in upon them as the building of a temple of wood and stones is a work wrought upon it so as it contributes nothing therto by way of action only is built up but builds not it self both phrases are used of believers they are built up says Eph. 2.21 22. Col. 2.7 and yet also are said to edifie willed to build up themselves as here and in 1 Thess 5.11 The former because believers have not power and sufficiencie of themselves as of themselves to build up themselves for God more than to bring themselves to God but their sufficiencie is of God 2 Cor. 3.5 and it is he that worketh in them to will to do of his good pleasure they are in that sense also Gods Building not onely built for God but built of God too The Sanctuary that God hath pitched and not man and yet the latter phrase of edifying and building up themselves and each other is also used because they are not dead stones like the stones in Solomons Temple of old that had neither life nor motion in them but by vertue of Christ the living stone to whom they in believing are come they are made living stones that have life and motion in them not only natural as men but also spiritual and divine as Believers in and partakers of the life and Spirit of Christ and therefore are capable of receiving and obeying exhortation and of acting spiritual things yea are inabled by the Grace of God to what he requires of them 1 Pet. 2 3 4 5. And God who gives them his Spirit to inliven and impower them to holy and good actions gives them it not to be idle in them or that they should be idle in or with it but living in the Spirit he would have them walk in the Spirit too do the works that his Spirit requires of them and leads them to the working out their own salvation and not being therefore secure and slothful because it is God that is working in them to will and to do It is the Believers work then in the help and strength motive and motion of the Grace of God to edifie and build up themselves And it is the work of God and his Spirit power and strength in the obeying him to build them up too And in their doing in his power and strength what he requires of them and moves and inclines them too he also will not all to do all his good work in them so as they shall be built up and prepared for an habitation for him by his Holy Spirit Now that which they are to doe in the helpfulness and operation of Gods Grace in them for edifying themselves and each other is 1. Diligently to heed and minde the most Holy faith on which they are built and have their standing exercising themselves and provoking one another to consider it and all that is in it as it is discovered to and set before them taking heed to those things which they heard and learned therein and to draw waters out of those wells of salvation even to suck and receive that nourishment in faith and incouragement to hope and love and live upon and unto God that it presents to them feeding upon the words of life and Christ crucified as set forth therein and receiving in the sweetness strength vertue thence afforded Considering Jesus Christ the Great high Priest and Apostle of our Profession both in his Person and that dignity and greatness of it that he is the Son the only begotten Son of God who was in the form of God and thought it no robbery to be equal with God and as to his undertakings and performances in what he hath already done for us as that he accepted and undertook to doe the will of God for ransoming us from that wretched state of sin and death and therein of slavery to Sathan that we by our sin had plunged our selves into and to that purpose abased himself to be made flesh for us partaker with us in flesh and blood made of a woman and made under the Law for us that the curse of the Law might fall upon him for us as also it did to the death of the Cross wherein he bare our sins on the tree and died for us the just for us unjust that he might bring us to God so making peace for us by the blood of his Cross and ransoming us from under the Law and Curse to be under his own gracious Government and dispose who also in the vertues of his sufferings and Sacrifice is able and ready to save to the utmost from all our following sins even against his Grace and goodness all that see and confess them and turn from them and so doe come unto God by him and so from all dangers and inflictions of wrath and judgement and be the Author of eternal salvation to them that obey him who being now raised from the dead and ascended and sit down on the right hand of Majesty in the highest is made Lord and Christ the Lord of Lords and King of Kings Thrones Dominions Principallities and Powers being put under him and all the fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in him And he is made unto us wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption one in whom all these things are for us so as in believing in him to becom ours and to be injoyed by us the Great Prophet anointed of God and filled with his quickning Spirit to give forth light and bring forth judgement to the Gentiles able so to speak as to cause the dead to hear and in hearing to live able to open the eyes of the blind and cause the simple to understand knowledge and guide the Believer into all truth as he is also appointed of God and hath promised to do The great High-Priest that hath offered up the acceptable Sacrifice by which he hath made an atonement for our sins and in the virtue of which he is become the propitiation for our sins even for the whole world and now ever lives to make intercession for be the Advocate of al those that come unto God by him The great ruler disposer of all things and the protector and Defence of all those that believe in and obey him the Judge of quick and dead who shall raise all men out of their Graves and bring them before him to receive of him according to their works everlastingly rewarding with eternal life
and Glory all those that submit to and serve him and everlastingly destroying all their enemies so as they never be able more to oppose or trouble theâ— A merciful High-Priest that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities and temptations while yet we are under the vexations of Enemies and one that will most faithfully see to us and accomplish all things for and about us that may conduce to our preservation and safety here while under tryals and to our eternal happiness when fully freed from them The considering and minding him and the testimony of God concerning him as also what it it says and testifies of us ouâ— vileness sinfulness helplesness and misery in our-selves and of our welfare and happiness in him as founded in him and what it testifies of the world of sin of righteousness life death c. with all the Heavenly instructions reproofs and consolations of it is one yea the chief way of edifying our selves on our most holy faith while we therein and therethrough draw vertue from Christ as the poor woman by touching his garments to the nourishing and strengthning our Soules to trust in him love him cleave to him and obey him and so to oppose and stand against the assaults of Sathan evils of the world lusts of the flesh or whatsoever might endeavour to allure or affright us from him yea and derive all Heavenly Grace and vertue from him to the inlarging our Souls towards him and fitting them for and filling them with every good thing Therefore the Holy Ghost in the Scripture is so frequent in commending to us and provoking us to the study mindfulness and meditation of the Law and Doctrine of the Lord the Gospel of our salvaâ—â—n pronouncing that man happy and blessed that delights himself therein and gives up himself thereto As also the minding others of it and of the instructions reproofs and consolations of it is the way to edifie them also both by removing the rubbish that hinders their close cleaving to Christ the foundation and more firmly cementing them to and uniting them with Christ through his love and goodness discovered to them and put to their mindes and more firmely joyning them through the same love one to another and furthering their hope in and conformity to God and Christ in which they are edified and built up for him And as furtherance also hereto a further means and way is 2. A diligent and faithful exercise of their spiritual gifts for the helpfulness of each other for the manifestation of the Spirit some useful gift or other in which the Holy Spirit manifests his presence and influence and whereby he fits each member of Christ for the good of the whole Body is given to every one namely of the Members of Christ to profit with 1 Cor. 12.7 that is to do good too and edifie the Church or body of Christ with as to one is given by the Spirit a word of wisdome for directing and counselling what is best in doubtful matters to another a word of knowledge to inform mens minds of the things of God and nature of his Creatures works Providences c. To another faith a gift of believing and trusting in God more eminently or of incouraging to faith and confidence or also of faithfulness in keeping secret things committed to them not divulging the temptations failings and miscarriages of others imparted to them To another the gifts of healings either of the inward wounds and distempers of the Spirit or of bodily diseases by a miraculous way To another the working of Miracles or operations and efficacies of powers or powerful things such as the inflicting diseases deaths or such sad punishments upon men as when the Apostle Peter inflicted death upon Ananias and Saphirah at his word Act. 5 and Paul blindness on Barâ—Jesus the Sorcerer in Act. 13.10 11. as also the casting out Devils or the like To another prophecie either the fore-telling things to come as Agabus did Acts 11.28 or the opening and unfolding Doctrine and speaking out of the Scriptures to exhortation edification and comfort 1 Cor. 14.3 To another the discerning of Spirits the discerning the Doctrines of men though never so craftily counterfaiting the truth or discerning mens tempers and dispositions whereby they are fit to admonish and warn their Brethren of what may harm them or of persons not safe for them to trust To another diversity of Tongues To another a gift of Interpreting Languages Divers gifts from one and the same spirit of Christ distributing to every one according as he pleases but all given for the helpfulness and profit of the Church and therefore also to be to that purpose exercised as the Apostles also instruct and teach as in 1 Pet. 4.10 every one as he hath received the gift so let him minister one towards another as good stewards of the manifold or various Graces of God So in Rom. 12.6 7. Having gifts differing according to the Grace that is given unto us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of saith or ministry let us wait on our ministry as Joshuah on his ministring to Moses Exod. 24.13 and John to Paul and Barnabas Act. 13.5 or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation c. surely in such exercising their spiritual gifts and imploying and improving their Talents they may be useful and helpful for edifying themselves and one another for while they are faithful in doing good with what they have received and are betrusted with God gives his blessing with them and increases them themselves the liberal Soul here shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself and he shall profit and edifie others also as the Apostle exhorting Timothy to take heed to himself and his ministry and to continue in them tells him so should be save himself and them that heard him adde 3. A walking in Charity for knowledge without that puffs up but Charity edifies 1 Cor 8.2 3. that's the most profitable way the Grace or vertue that will lead us to be most useful and edifying to others for that will lead us to be ready at all times to exercise our gifts and improve our Talents for the good of others and to mind their concernments and what may further their happiness and not to look on our own things onely Charity suffers long from others before it will be tired out or suffer him in whom it is to turn away from seeking their good and is kind in the mean time free to do good to others while it suffers great indignities and abuses long from them It envies not others good nor the imparting our gifts to others for their good Doth not vaunt it self nor is puffed up to the grieving and discouraging the neighbour or dispising his meaner condition and worth Doth not behave it self unseemly to offend and stumble the weak Brother and to turn him out from God Seeketh not her own but
his being power goodness c. 5. To incite us to a more love and thankfulness to him as we have more acquaintance and familiarity with him and experience of his kindness to us and so also to forgive and doe good to one another as knowing that we do often need and receive forgiveness from him and manifold benefits and favours upon our asking yea oft-times above what we either ask or think 6. To provoke us to more humble and lowly demeanour of our selves before him and towards one another while we are always as beggars acknowledging our own wants and weaknesses and insufficiencie of our selves and our dependance for all good things upon him and have often experience of the distempers of our own hearts occasion of confessing and bewailing them that we might not bear up our selves as Lords that need to be beholding to God in nothing 7. That we might have more proof and experience of the vertuousness of Christs Sacrifice and Mediation for us in making our prayers acceptable and procuring Grace and blessing for us and gracious answers to us for these and the like reasons God will be sought unto by us which was the third thing implied in that phrase 4. Here is also further implied and signified to us that of and by our selves though we have need to pray to God continually yet we know not how to pray as we ought but are apt to offend and goe wrong therein to vent forth our passions or our corrupt and carnal desires and affections ambition pride revenge covetousness distrustfulness murmurings or the like and therefore need the directions and helpfulness of another wiser and holier than our selves even the Holy Ghost the breath and Spirit of God to infuse light and truth into us and direct and guide us thereby and frame our hearts aright therein that we may pray acceptably to God by Jesus Christ our Lord and noâ— loose our labour in praying or procure a curse to our selves in stead of a blessing 5. That God hath not left us nor doth leave us unto our own wisdom parts and abilities to guide us in our prayers and frame our prayers and desires for us nor yet leave us to prescribed formes and external directions and impositions of others to supply our weaknesses and inabilities to pray but gives his holy Spirit to those that believe in him and obey him to help them in their prayers to him that they may offer up spiritual Sacrifices in him acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Act. 5.31 32. Joh. 7.37 38. Rom. 8.26 27. 1 Pet. 2.5 which Holy Spirit being in and with God in Christ and proceeding thence is acquainted with the minde of God Rom. 8 26 27. 1 Cor. 2.10 and discovers to the believer what the minde and will of God is in those things that concern him to pray for so far at least as to direct to pray acceptably thereabout to him he being a Spirit of wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Christ Ephes 1.17 18. and frames the heart according to the minde and will of God in praying and begets longing desires and groans that cannot be uttered in them So that he that hath blessings to bestow on us and hath revealed it to be his mind that we should seek them of him and hath opened a way for us in and by his Son for approaching to him and pouring out our hearts before him pitying our ignorances and inabilities hath provided promised and faithfully affords his own holy Spirit in the teachings operations and efficacie of it to inable us to pray to him in that way and for those things that he hath prepared for us and set before us and for such spiritual Sacrifices or prayers Christ is appointed also the High-Priest to take away the iniquities that cleave to them as there is in them any thing of our ignorance error and mistake and to make them acceptable to him 1 Pet. 2.5 6. That God having done all this for us and affording such help to us as is suitable to his holiness and our needs requires of us not to neglect this his Grace not to worship in the oldness of the Letter in form and fashion and outside onely or in our own wit parts and wills c. but in Spirit and truth in all things watching unto and in prayer that we pray in and according to the light and direction that he gives us in the Gospel asking onely such things and in such way and manner as the Gospel instructs us and in such a frame of Spirit as the Holy Ghost therein begets and nourishes in us in attending to the Grace of Christ as therein set before us and keeping that which is the ministration of the holy Spirit the very air as it were in which it breaths in our hearts and mindes to direct and lead us They therefore do evilly that neglect the Gospel and the holy Ghost as breathing therethrough in us and take up other ways and helps in stead thereof and especially such as would tie up men to other helps as forms and impositions of words frames as if God gave not his holy Spirit now to help his servants And it may be observed that since the giving of the holy Spirit to those that believe in Christ we finde no formes of prayer invented proposed or imposed by Christ or his Apostles upon men as there were before he was given so to them and received by them Though in case of the ignorance and insufficiencie of the Ministry which yet the Bishops ought not to suffer but provide and put in such as are sufficient and well qualified according to those rules in 1 Tim. 3. and Tit. 1 or to prevent mens disorderly prayings that some good and unexceptionable forms may be prescribed for publike Assemblies I do not utterly deny that in Matth. 6. â— upon some such accounts it may seem that Christ prescribed 7. That possibly men may yea believers also and too often doe neglect the help of the Holy Spirit yea and may too often neglect prayer it self restraining prayer before God and not pouring out their hearts therein to him but seek by other means to defend and keep themselves against the assaults of enemies and that if they do pray yet they may not pray in the holy Ghost in what light and instruction he gives them in and by the Doctrine of Christ and in his operations therethrough in their hearts and so in such faith love charity humility resignation of themselves to the will of God earnestness and for vencie as becomes them and as the Grace of God and his Gospel instructs to and his holy Spirit therethrough believed and minded uses to work in men and frame their hearts to but may possibly as too often they doe rest in some forms or if not so yet pray in their own selfish ignorant carnal spirit asking those things that suite their wills and humours and lusts their own advancement glory ease c
it may be said of it as in Jer. 17.12 A glorious high Throne from the beginning is the place of our Sanctuary Glorious from the beginning or foundation of it from Christ who is the the beginning of the Creation especially of the new Creation of God Rev. 3.14 It hath all its glory and beauty in and from his beauty and comliness put upon it as it is said in Ezek. 16.14.15 and both these last mentioned fruits and consequents of Gods dwelling in and loving his people are spoken of Psal 132.13 14. c. where under the name of Sion it is thus spoken of the Church of God The Lord hath chosen Sion He hath desired it for his habitation This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it wherein is implied both his love of it and dwelling in it and then follow the benefits thereof I will abundantly bless her provision I will satisfie her poor with bread There 's his bounty and liberality as the great house keeper in or amongst them I will also clothe her Priests with Salvation with Christ the Salvation of God and his virtue and efficacie in and with them for saving others and her Saints shall shout aloud for joy there 's his adorning her as also that which is the result of them all her exceeding joy and gladness yea 4. Honour and Dignity hence also accrews to them as his house and habitation beloved by him ver 17. There will he make the horn of David to bud that is the Kingdom and power of David or the Son of David Christ as to his power and Kingdom shall there spring forth and there shall be a lamp or light for his Anointed It is an honor for an house to be the Palace of the Prince and to a City to be the City of some great King this honor have the Saints by being Gods house City built up for him and inhabited by him whence also it is called the City of God the new Jerusalem as well as the house and Temple of God holy and honourable by its relation to him and his presence in it such the motives to this building up our selves on our most holy faith and to that purpose praying to God to help us therein 2. The incouragements to and in it are divers But I shall take notice especially of these in the Text viz. 1. That it is the holy yea the most holy faith that we are called to and built upon It s a right and good foundation so strong and steady that nothing can remove it therefore what is thereon built cannot be overthrown by any force or violence that may come against it that 's one incouragement in building to build on and go on in it with courage and cheerfulness when we know the foundation is so well laid so strong and steady that it cannot be moved and that it will keep up the building from falling if well laid upon it and cemented to it as it is a great discouragement and may weaken the hands to suspect the foundation not good and firm but here 's no cause to doubt of that The foundation of God stands firm having this Seal the Lord knows them that are his c. 2 Tim. 2.19 we may go on boldly to believe on him and to exercise faith and incourage our hearts in hope from the consideration of him For he that believeth and hopeth in him shall not be ashamed because he is a precious corner-stone a sure foundation Isa 28.16 His person is so great and honourable none may compare with him we cannot doubt his power and ability to save us his graciousness with his Father in all his addresses to him on our behalf to him because he is his only begotten Son yea and because he being such an one hath perfectly obeyed him and offered up himself in Sacrifice to him through the eternal Spirit wherein he hath so pleased God his Father made such an atonement for our sins obtained such a Redemption such forgiveness of sins is so powerful an High-Priest in the vertues of it with God for us and is so faithful and so merciful to us and what he hath in obeying his Father for us and minding our interest to the Death the Death of the Cross is so full of vertue and he 's so full of blessing upon the account thereof and so able and alsufficient to confer it upon us to the saving us from all evil and satisfying us with all good that there is great yea most perfect reason and ground for us to look too and close with him believe in him come to and rest upon him and so to go on listening to and obeying him and holding fast the profession of our Faith concerning him There cannot be a better surer and fuller foundation for us to build on no Rock like him our God none so able to save us none beside him provided for us and given to us 2. Yea He is not only the most sure foundation so perfect as nothing can be added to him to make him more sure and firm and so to add firmness to us from him but also the most holy most consecrated divine acceptable to God known and approved and beloved of God so holy as that he by and through the knowledge of himself in this Doctrine that sets him forth is most meet and fit to infuse holiness into us and devote us to God and make us to be owned and approved of also by him and to be delighted in and inhabited of him We have all the incouragement therefore here to build that a foundation can possibly give us we cannot have a surer stronger more blessed ground than this is therefore build we up our selves here on your most holy faith 3. Yea this also is a great incouragement to us that we have nothing to doe but to build up our selves on it we have not the foundation to lay a ransome for our Souls and Sacrifice to make atonement for our sins to get or seek for for our selves a Saviour to provide or procure it for us noâ— all things of that nature are done to our hands The dinner is prepared the oxen and fatlings are slain and all things are ready for our entertainment and nourishment the ransome is found out and given and accepted the Lamb for a burnt offering provided and offered up in sacrifice and accepted peace is made righteousness is wrought and Redemption even eternal Redemption is obtained for us yea all things pertaining to life and Godliness made ready and provided for us ready to be given us we have a Saviour and that a mighty and merciful one appointed and anointed for us perfectly furnished with all things that may render him every way able and sufficient to save us to the utmost able and furnished with the fulness of the Spirit of wisdom and understanding to teach us shew us the way to life Yea he is so become a quickning Spirit as
of God and Christ and of his unspeakable glory and glorious joys and satisfactions that shall be injoyed by all that are counted worthy thereof in the world to come according to that distinction or distribution of rewards promised by Christ to those that forsake all to follow him Mark 10.30 he shall receive an hundred fold in this time houses Brethren and Sisters Mothers and Children and fields with persecution and in the world to come everlasting life that is the full and perfect injoyment of God and Christ and all happiness without persecution for ever till when they are to wait for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ therein This is the great hope of the Believers as in Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie hath promised and Chap. 3.7 That being justified by his Grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life and therefore the great things hoped for are included therein because therein is contained all the fulness of the injoyment of God and Christ and their favour and blessing and so all happiness yea it is the great thing promised in Christ as 1 Iohn 2.25 and therefore it is to be waited for by the Believer all his time till he attain the injoyment of it yea even the Souls of those that have suffered death for the testimony of Christ and that be under the Altar though they rest quiet from all further sufferings and persecutions from men or temptations and oppressions from Sathan or whatever here annoyed theâ— yet they also still wait for the full accomplishment of that great promise the full injoyment of life everlasting yea and the mercy of the Lord Iesus Christ is that that is exercised toward and over them even his free Grace goodness and compassion until that be attained by them Rev. 6.11 3. And as all his Mercy tends unto the Believer so this also being waited for shall be the certain and sure issue of his Mercy they shall not fail of it but shall have and injoy eternal life when fully built up and fiâ—ted for it As they have his love and favour toward them here in which is life so their patienâ— expectation of the utmost Salvation and full recompence of reward shall in it's time also namely in the World to come without fail be given them for 1. It was the end and design of God in giving his only begotten Son into the World that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life as also it was of his exalting and lifting him up both to the Cross in his Death and out of the Grave being dead for us unto his own right hand and in the Doctrine of the Gospel by his Holy Spirit commending and glorifying him unto the hearts and consciences of men that so he might be and be represented as a fit and compleat Object of faith and hope for them and that so many as should believe and hope in him might live for ever John 3.14 15 16. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that so whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the World through him might be saved c. 2. It is the will and pleasure of God that Jesus Christ came down from Heaven to doe and is gone up to Heaven again to prosecute the thing to which he hath anointed and appointed him the work or pleasure of the Lord that lyes upon his hand to see done that whoso seeth and believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life John 6 40. And he is both alsufficient for accomplishing it having offered up himself a perfect and infinitely virtuous and precious Sacrifice and being filled with all the fulness of God and so able to doe all things and to subdue all things to himself and he is also faithful in all things to God who appointed him and therefore will not fail nor be discouraged till he bring forth judgment into victory and accomplish what he is ingaged in and hath undertaken to doe and accomplish Col. 2.9 10. Heb. 7.25 and 9.15 and 10.14 and 3.1 2. Isa 42.3 4. 3. It is the promise of God and his Covevenant made and ratified with mankinde in Jesus Christ that he will give eternal life to as many as do believe in and are subject to him 1 John 2.24 25 Tit. 1.2 and God that hath promised is true and faithful and cannot lye or break Covenant yea he hath also confirmed his promise and Covenant by an Oath that by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye they might have strong consolation who flee for refuge to Christ the hope set before them Heb. 6.18 19. 4. Yea whereas we are too prone to sin and break ouâ— Covenant with God or fail in what he requires of us to the injoyment of eternal life Christ hath undertaken as the surety and Mediator of it to see it performed to us and to that purpose to fit us for the performance of it to us taking away our sins imperfections and forfeitures by the vertue of his blood and Sacrifice pleaded with his Father for us so as with reference thereto God keeps Covenant and mercy with them that fear him and Christ effects in us by his Grace and Spirit what is required of us and necessary for us Writing the Law in our heart and putting his fear in our inward parts Heb. 2.17 18. and 7.22 25 and 8.2 3 9 10 11. and 9.15 and 10.15 16 17 18. 5. Yea Christ as the great King of Saints and Nations Shepheard and Bishop of the soul hath undertaken it to lead guide protect and keep his sheep or his Disciples that hear his voice and follow him to the injoyment of everlasting life and he hath the Presence and Oneness of the Father with him therein and so power wisdom and love to guide and keep them so as none can pluck them away from him as he saith John 10.27.28 29 30. My sheep hear my voice and I know or own them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand My Father that gave me them is greater than all and none can pull them ouâ— of my Fathers hand I and my Father are one So that the Believer hath the greatest certainty of eternal life that may be in believing and cleaving unto Christ and so in building up himself and being built up on that most holy faith and foundation and praying in the Holy Ghost and so keeping himself in the love of God and waiting for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ having God and Christ so ingaged for his having it given to him and conferred upon himâ— to which we may also yet add 6. The earnest helpfulness