you may have boldness to stand before him and not be ashamed and confounded at his coming Therefore I say now come to him as a Saviour before whom at last you must come as a Judge Use 3. Seeing all things are given into Christ's hand let not Believers fear these black storms of Persecution that may come upon them in this world The same Jesus that shed his Blood for his People he hath the ordering over-ruling and disposing of all things Know that nothing can come upon you but it must pass through the hand of Christ therefore fear not Not only men but Devils also are subject to his Power yea he hath Power over our Lusts and Corruptions therefore they shall not have dominion over us And in the worst times fear not that the People of God will be rooted out no Christ sitteth upon the floud he sitteth King for ever Object But if the ordering of all things is given into Christ's hand it seems strange that he suffers many times his Enemies to be the chief in Power and his People to be low and persecuted Answer Christ suffers it yea orders it so that he may have the greater Glory in carrying on his work against so much opposition The Gospel never prevailed more in the world than when the Rulers were Heathens and Persecutors and Christ hath Glory too in punishing his Enemies here and hereafter And as for the People of God they are the more Spiritual and Heavenly and Courageous in times of Persecution Use 4. Seeing all things are given into Christ's hand this may assure us of the perseverance of Believers What should hinder it Christ is above Satan above the corruption of their hearts and seeing the Father hath given them to him he will keep them unto the end Joh. 17.12 Those whom thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost save the Son of Perdition And as for Judas called here the Son of Perdition he never was a Believer in the sense that the rest were Joh. 6.64 but a Devil vers 70. Though Judas was given to Christ to be an Apostle for a time and given into Christs hand as the very Devils are so as that he shall punish them for ever yet Judas was never so given to Christ to redeem to save to bring to Glory to be a Member of his Mystical Body For those that are so given to Christ not one of them can be lost seeing Christ hath taken the charge of their Salvation and wants neither Wisdom nor Faithfulness nor Love nor Power to bring them safe to Heaven Now I come to vers 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life And he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him Here you have the Conclusion of this Heavenly Sermon or Speech of John the Baptist He had set forth Christ's Glory and Excellency as the Churches Bridegroom vers 29. He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroom but the friend of the Bridegroom which standeth and heareth him rejoyceth greatly because of the Bridegrooms voice This my joy therefore is fulfilled He had shewn how he must increase and be glorious in the eyes of all that he came from above from Heaven and is above all that the Father sent him and gave him the Spirit above measure that the Father loved him and hath given all things into hand And now he comes to make the Use and Application of this That men would believe on the Name of the Son of God This Duty of Believing on Christ is pressed by two strong Arguments or Motives The first Argument is taken from the great benefit that comes by believing on Christ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life This is a great benefit indeed Life is very desirable especialy everlasting Life yea for further encouragement to believe in Christ he saith That he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life Not only that he shall have it but he hath it already he hath everlasting Life The second Argument is taken from the contrary namely The great Danger the great Evil and Misery that will be the portion of all those that do not believe the Son And this is set out not only Privatively he shall not see Life but Positively as an addition to that misery The wrath of God abideth on them Doct. 1. That he that believes on Christ the Son of God hath everlasting Life Doct. 2. That he that believeth not the Son that believeth not in the Lord Jesus shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him Doct. 1. That whosoever believeth on Christ the Son of God hath everlasting Life This is much spoken of That he that believeth on the Son is delivered from the wrath to come Joh. 3.14 15 16. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting Life Joh. 6.40 This is the will of him that sent me that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him should have everlasting Life And vers 47. Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hath everlasting Life He speaks it with an Asseveration Verily verily he that believeth on me hath everlasting Life Joh. 20.31 But these things are written that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have Life through his Name 1. Let us enquire what is meant by this everlasting Life that is the Portion of every one that believeth in Christ 2. What is this believing this Faith upon which a Man or Woman comes to have everlasting Life 3. To give you some Demonstrations or Arguments to prove that he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life Because possibly some may Question it 4. Shew you in what Sense he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life already for the Text saith such an one hath everlasting Life 1. Let us enquire what is meant by this everlasting Life which is the Portion of every believing Soul By everlasting Life here we are not to understand that Life that consists in the Union of Body and Soul No Brethren though our Bodies and Souls should be everlastingly united and never be seperated by Death yet that is not the everlasting Life here spoken of yea and the Damned at the Resurrection shall have their Bodies and Souls united together and shall so continue to Eternity and yet they never see this everlasting Life This everlasting Life in the Text is the greatest hapiness that we are capable of It consists in Two things 1. Freedom from all sin and from all evils whatsoever called 1 Thess 5.9 The obtaining of Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ 2. The enjoyment of all that is Perfectly Good Grace and Glory Psal 84.11 this state is called the better Country even an Heavenly Heb. 11.16 God is the Believers God and he hath prepared for
people righteous before God Christ was sent to fulfill the Law for his people by his Active and Passive obedience He came to do and procure all that is required to the compleat and perfect salvation of his people In a word Jesus Christ was sent into the World not meerly as a Prophet to teach the Mind and Will of God or to be an example of holiness but he was sent to be a Priest in a proper sense to make atonement and satisfaction for the sins of his people and to obtain eternal redemption for them Application Use 1. We may see here that the work of Redemption was a great work Not the highest Angel of Heaven nor all of them put together were able to perform this but God sent his Son about this work Use 2. We may see here that the heart of God the Father was in this great work of redeeming and saving the elect The Father himself loved them for he sent his Son he gave his only begotten Son that they might live through him Use 3. We may see here the love of Christ unto those that the Father had given him That he was willing to be their Mediator for as he is often said to be sent of the Father so he is said to come Heb. 10.7 Lo I come to do thy will O God Christ was so sent as that he came freely came with alacrity and chearfulness for his delight was with the Sons of men his heart was in this work Lastly Let this encourage sinners to come to Christ to venture their souls upon him Do not question whether God will accept of you by anothers righteousness discharge you by a payment made by a Surety deliver you from going down to the Pit upon a ransom given by another for all this was the contrivement of the Lord himself to glorifie both his Justice and his Mercy for ever Therefore let sinners cast themselves upon Christ and fear not this Rock will never fail that Soul that is built upon it I come now to the next words where it is said that Christ speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him Doct. 2. That Jesus Christ our Mediator hath the spirit given him by the Father without measure This is a great and glorious truth and very sweet and comfortable to the Saints that the Lord Jesus their Mediator hath a fulness of the spirit Psal 45.7 Anointed with the oyl of gladness above his fellows Christ hath the spirit above what any of the Saints have and see Isa 61.1 Isa 2.11 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of council and might the spirit of knowledg and of the fear of the Lord. And you have a visible fulfilling of those Prophecies John 1.32 And John bare record saying I saw the spirit descending from Heaven like a Dove and it abode upon him And so Acts 10.3 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed with the Devil for God was with him And in another place It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell All fullness of the Spirit all fullness of Grace dwells in Christ Three Things for the opening of this point 1. What is here meant by the Spirit 2. How the Spirit is said to be given to Jesus Christ seeing he is God How can any gift be said to be conferred upon him seeing he is God and infinite in himself 3. How it may be said that the spirit is given unto him without measure 1. What is here meant by the spirit 1. The Gifts and Graces of the Spirit these are given to Christ not by measure but without measure 2. The Spirit it self Luke 4.14 And Jesus returned in the power of the spirit full of the Holy Ghost Believers have not only the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit but the Spirit it self Rom. 8.9 If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his and the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you v. 11. And if the Spirit be in Believers and dwells in them much more in Christ himself 2dly How can Christ who is God and so infinite and uncapable of addition be said to have the spirit given unto him I answer briefly in a word or two It is true that Jesus Christ as God is infinite and as God he is not capable of having the spirit given unto him but the spirit was given unto Jesus Christ as man the spirit was given to his humane nature which he took upon him 3dly If the spirit was given to the humane nature of Christ how can the humane nature hold the fullness of the spirit the humane nature is finite how can it receive an infinite how then is it said that God hath not given the spirit by measure unto him I answer The expression in the Text is not to be understood without any limitation as if the Spirit were given to the humane nature of Christ in an infinite manner and as if the humane nature were of an infinite capacity the Divine nature of Christ is infinite but though the Divine and humane nature in Christ are eternally united yet they are not confounded This then I say that the spirit was given to the humane nature of Christ beyond all comparison beyond all the Saints on Earth or in Heaven and above all the Angels put them all together The spirit is given to Christ as man incomparatively and transcendently beyond what ever men or Angels have had or shall have It pleased the Father that in him all fullness should dwell which cannot be said of any other Object It is said that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man Luk. 2.52 How had he such a fullness of the Spirit and yet is said to increase in Wisdom I Answer The Word being made Flesh he was full of Grace full of the Spirit from his very birth but he is said to increase in Wisdom in respect of the effects and opperations expressions and declarations of his Wisdom One Question more How comes it to be so that the Lord Jesus is so filled with the spirit in his humane nature Answer 1. One reason is taken from the nearness of his humane nature to the Divine Brethren Jesus Christ is the Son of God the natural Son of God he hath the very essence of God the nature of God and the humane nature of Christ is brought very near to the God-head It is brought as near as our Bodies to our Souls and therefore it is said that in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily that is personally The Sun is the Fountain of light and the nearer we come to the Sun the more we partake of light so the humane nature of Christ being brought so near to the God-head as to be taken into
personal union with the God-head the humane nature partakes of Grace and Gifts to its utmost capacity 2. It was necessary that Christ should be filled with the spirit in our nature that so he might be able to manage his work and office to perform his active and passive obedience and to be a Store-house and treasury of grace and consolation to his people that they may be supplied from him and of his fullness receive and grace for grace Application Use 1. Learn whence it is that a person may be enabled to speak holily and graciously It is said here that Christ spake the words of God and he brings in this for a reason for he received not the spirit by measure The more we have of the Spirit of God the more we shall speak the Words of God and though we can never have so much of the spirit as Jesus Christ had â—or spake the Words of God as he did yet set us â—ray that we may have the spirit and more and more of the spirit that we may in our measure â—peak the Words of God What is the reason â—hat our words are no more savory and spiritual â—ut unprofitable and vain too often 'T is beâ—use we have but a little of the spirit if we have the spirit at all in a sanctifying way And for those whose words are altogether carnal and vain nothing but prophane scurrilous unclean speeches come from them such may well think that they have not the Spirit of God He that hath the Spirit of God will endeavour in some measure to speak the Wordâ— of God for where the Spirit of God is given in a saving manner he sanctifies the heart and sanctifies the tongue and so causes their words to be gracious and spiritual in some measure Therefore as we desire that our speech may be with grace holy and edifying pray for the spirit to be given unto us It is said of Christ that they wondered at the gracious words that proceeded from him he was full of the spirit and he spake the words of God O let us be much in prayer for the spirit to give us a mouth and wisdom upon all occasions pray that we may have the spirit to fill our hearts with holy thoughts and to fill our mouths with holy discourse Use 2. Learn from hâ—nce that when God calls to any work or service he is wont to give abilitiâ—â— and strength for that work Our Lord Jesuâ— was called to a great work to be performed iâ— our humane nature and you see here how hâ— was filled with the spirit and fitted for thaâ— work When God calls us to any work or service let us not look at the greatness of thâ— work to discourage us no but look principall at Gods calling you to it and if it be so thaâ— God calls us to the work he will give us of hâ— Spirit in some measure to strengthen us and help us When Moses died and Joshuah succeeded him he had great difficulties to go through in the work he was called to But saith the Lord fear not be not discouraged I will not fail thee nor forsake thee Therefore if you be assured that the Lord calls you to the work and service you are employed in fear not trust in the Lord keep in his way and he will give you strength he will stand by you and will not fail you nor forsake you Follow the Lord in your places and if sufferings come towards you the Lord will either put them by or he will support you and strengthen you with might by his spirit in the inward man Use 3. Learn from hence the excellency of Jesus Christ in that he is filled with the spirit Besides his infinite Glory as God you may see here what excellency is in him even as to his humane nature in that the Spirit is not given by measure unto him but beyond what is given to any other men or Angels Take a Saint and the Spirit and Grace of God in him adorns him in the eyes of others you will say there is such a one how full of love of wisdom of humility is he this makes him beautiful indeed But then how glorious should Christ be in our eyes both as to his God-head and as to the wisdom purity holiness and fullness of the spiâ—it in his humane nature In which respect even â—s the Son of man he is fairer then all the Chilâ—ren of men and then all the Angels in Heaven Suppose all the grace that is in all the Saints and Angels were abstracted and put all into one yet this is nothing to the fullness and grace that is in Christ There is wisdom love meekness and every grace in Christ that is compatible to his pure and holy nature without measure Use 4. Learn from hence to go to Christ for the spirit and grace in all our times of need He is filled with the spirit in our nature and as the Egyptians when they were ready to starve in the Famine and came to Pharoah he sent them to Joseph go to Joseph So go to Jesus there you may be supplied go to Jesus for the spirit to mortify our corruptions to quicken our graces to help us in all our duties and sufferings As Jacob said to his Sons Why stand ye looking one upon another there is Corn in Egypt go and fetch from thence that we may not perish So let believers go to Jesus Christ and fetch supplies of grace from him go to him as one that is able and willing to help his people in all their times of need Lastly We may learn from hence the ignorance and blasphemy of those that make a mock of the spirit and deride others as prizing the spirit whereas the excellency of Christ is set forth amongst other things by this that he was filled with the spirit 'T is true many may pretend to the spirit that have him not but therefore to make a mock of having the spirit is no less than blasphemy The Spirit is given to all Believers and he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his not yet of his called ones The Believer is called the Spiritual man 1 Cor. 2.15 Some may pretend to be made partakers of Christ and yet be mistaken but he that shall mock people and use it as a Reproach to them that they believe in Christ and are Christians is a Blasphemer And so is he that shall use it as a Reproach to any That this is one that hath the Spirit Now I come to vers 35. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand These words seem to hold forth the Reason of the former he had said before that God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him that is Christ And why so For the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand The Father loves the Elect Angels and loves Elect men but the Father loves the Son above all others
There is an Emphasis in the words The Father loveth the Son that is He loves him most eminently transcendently And hath given all things into his hand He hath made him the great Commander and Governour of the World By the Son here we are not to understand Christ as God as the Second Person in the Trinity but as God-man Mediator Indeed the Father loved the Son as he was God equal with him of the same Substance and Eternity But when it is said that the Father hath given all things into his hand we must understand it of Christ as God-man Mediator For consider Christ as God he had all things in his hand as the Father had but it is as he is God-man Mediator that the Father hath put all things into his hand Doct. 1. That Jesus Christ is beloved of the Father above all Creatures above Men or Angels It may be some may think there is no great matter in this point but truly it is of great concernment to us that we may more confidently look to Christ for our acceptance with God through him Mat. 3.17 This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Paul speaking of him Ephes 1.6 saith that God hath made us accepted in the Beloved Others are beloved but Christ is the Beloved And again Colos 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the Power of Darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Christ himself often makes mention of the Fathers love to him Joh. 10.17 Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life Joh. 15.9 As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world 'T is said indeed vers 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one that the world may know that thou hast sent me and that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me It is true the Father loves the Elect people as really and truely as he loveth Christ but he doth not love them so abundantly not in the same degree neither can they be loved with that kind of Love every way that the Father loveth the Son as will appear in the opening of the Point First Let us enquire wherein the Love of the Father towards Christ doth transcend and exceed his Love to all other Creatures Men or Angels 1. The Father loveth Christ as he is the only begotten Son of the same Divine Essence with himself Believers are the Sons of God by Adoption but Christ is the Son of God by an Eternal and Unutterable Generation Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son Therefore must the Father needs love Christ above Men or Angels because he is the only begotten Son and though they be two distinct Persons and so they are spoken of in the Text the Father and the Son yet they are one Essence And though the Son hath now taken upon him our Nature yet he is God still and so continues for ever and is an adequate and every way fit object of the Fathers Love in the highest degree to Eternity 2. The Father loveth Christ above all other creatures Men or Angels upon the account of his being the Redeemer and Saviour of the Elect people whom he hath given him to bring to Glory The glory of God's Grace Wisdom and Justice is made known in such a wonderful manner by the Lord Jesus as Mediator that the Father loves him upon that account Joh. 10.17 Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my Life Vers 18. This Commandment have I received of my Father That the Son consented to be Mediator and to take upon him the Nature of man and to dye and suffer to satisfie Justice for Sin this is highly pleasing to the Father Heb. 10.5 6 7. Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and Offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me in Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices for Sin thou hast had no pleasure Then said Lo I come in the Volume of thy Book it is written of me to do thy Will O God The Father loveth Christ not only as his Eternal Son but as he condescended to be Mediator for his People Phil. 2.6 7 8 9. Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross Wherefore God hath also highly exalted him The Father delights in Christ not only as he is the Eternal Son but as he is his Elected one Elected to be the Head and Saviour of his Body the Church Isai 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles That the Son took upon him the form of a Servant that the Glory of God might be made manifest in him and that he should bring back and lead the Elect people to God makes the Father to love him and delight in him as Mediator He freely undertook the work and has faithfully discharged it Joh. 17.4 5. I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do And now Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the world was Secondly Let us enquire wherein the Father hath shewn and expressed such a great and transcendent Love to Jesus Christ 1. The Father had an unspeakable complacency and delight in Christ from Eternity and that not only as his Eternal Son and God equal with him but as he had consented agreed to be Mediator for them whom he had appointed to be Heirs of Salvation Prov. 8.23 24 25 26 28 29. I was set up from everlasting from the beginning before ever the Earth was Then was I by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing always before him 2. There is the most intimate Fellowship and Communion between the Father and him in all that the Father doth As to the works of Creation All things were created by him and for him Col. 1.16 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Joh. 1.3 And as to the work of Redemption he was the great Instrument of the Father t is said God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself 2 Cor. 5.19 That in the dipensation of the fulness of times he might gather together all things in Christ both which are in Heaven and which are on Earth even in him Ephes
THE GLORY OF CHRIST Set forth in several SERMONS FROM JOHN III. 34 35 36. and V. 25. AND The necessity of Faith in order to pleasing GOD. FROM HEBREWS XI 6. By that able and faithful Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. Thomas Allen late Pastor of a Church in the City of Norwich LONDON Printed by A. M. and R. R. for Edward Giles Bookseller in Norwich near the Market-place 1683 TO THE READER IT being desired that more might be published of the Works of this Reverend Author Mr. Thomas Allen you have here some more Sermons taken from him in short-hand which have been transcribed with care and diligence The main points of the Gospel are handled in these Sermons so that those that Read them may understand the Authors knowledg in the mystery of Christ And they are delivered with plainness of speech with words easie to be understood so that it will easily appear that his aim was to set â—orth Christ and not to set forth himself in â—is Preaching His speech and his preachâ—ng was plain grave solid weighty and â—owerful like an Ambassador of Christ These Sermons arise naturally from the Texts of Scripture they are upon for it was not the manner of this Author to name a Text only for fashion sake One great cause of ignorance in the people is because there is no more direct opening and applying the Scripture The more Scripture is solidly opened and practically applied in a Sermon the better the Sermon is whatsoever the injudicious and ignorant do think to the contrary Indeed as I never heard any man Pray too long at a time so I never heard any man Preach too long upon a Text. But as many that seem to pray long do oftentimes rather Discourse than Pray and keep so little to the business of Prayer that while they seem to Pray long they Pray very little So it is with some in Preaching that though they name the same Text a great while as if they Preached many Sermons from it yet it may be Preach not one according to the direct scope and tendency of the words they are upon I take notice of this to commend the Author of these Sermons as a pattern to young Preachers not to think it any part of the excellency of their Sermons to take but a few words for their Text or to be long upon the same words but to open and apply as much Scripture as they can at 〈◊〉 time which will not only prevent many impertinences in Preaching But when what is said ariseth immediately and naturally from the portion of Scripture handled the people may take notice that it is not so much the Minister as God himself that speaks these things to them in his word These Sermons also are Orthodox sound according to the truth which is after godliness We have lived in a time of an inundation of errors and heresies and yet the Lord hath continued the truth of the Gospel in the Churches of the Saints And although the Churches of the Congregational way have been looked upon by some as Seminaries of error yet through the presence of Christ in the midst of them the truth of the Gospel hath continued in them as well as in other Churches of Christ that differ from them in some points of order and discipline Blessed be the Father of lights that hath kept the guides and members both of Congregational Churches and other reforming Churches stable and steady in the main truths of the Gospel which have been publickly owned and professed in the Land since the reformation whereas many others have been carried away with diverse and strange Doctrines There seems to be a great conspiracy in these days against the Lord Jesus as the Mediator between God and sinners Men are studying how they may ascribe as little to Christ as may be to whom we are to ascribe all concerning the making atonement for our sins and the bringing in an everlasting righteousness to justifie us before God Indeed Christ hath been so abundantly Preached amongst us and many have such outward advantage by a profession of his name that they cannot well openly renounce him yet they are secretly undermining the very fundamental points of our Religion Many amongst us slight what hath been generally taught concerning our fall in Adam original sin Christs satisfaction for sin and the imputation of his righteousness to them that believe on his name and make a mock of being weary and heavy laden with the sense of the wrath of God due to us for sin and looking to Jesus as the Mediator and resting our weary Souls and perplexed Consciences upon him as our only Saviour Now if these foundations be destroyed if these main Doctrines be denied we are really putting away the Lord Jesus from us though we use never so many external Rites to make shew of honour to his name Yea it is considerable That this opposition to the main points of our Religion is fiercey maintained by persons greatly differing in other things yet in this they agree and are very earnest upon the matter to deny the Gospel I speak of these things to this end to shew what great need there is of Preaching much of our fall in Adam of the corruption of our nature of the sentence of death and condemnation that we are under for sin of the person and offices of Christ the Mediator of the necessity of knowing him and fleeing for refuge unto him as this Author hath excellently shewed in these Sermons and so he did in all his Preaching Indeed this Author was a son of thunder and a son of consolation he took all occasions from the Texts he Preached upon to thunder out the wrath of God against sinners to set them before Mount Sinai and shew them the fiery Law that they might be convinced of their lost and undone condition in themselves and then endeavoured to bring them unto Mount Sion and shew them Jesus the Mediator and the blood of sprinkling that taketh away sin In his Preaching he shewed the people the flaming Sword the curse of the Law shewed them that the avenger of blood was coming and then told them of Christ as the City of refuge and cryed to them to flee unto him And indeed he is a right Preacher of the Gospel that can thus change his voice and readily turn his discourse upon all occasions The blessing of Heaven go along with these Sermons that they may be for the profit of many that they may be saved Martin Finch The Glory of Christ set forth John III. 34 35 36. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him The father loveth the son and hath given all things into his hand He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not on the son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him IN these Words our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is described
by a threefold adjunct 1. From his Authority and mission from the Father in those words He whom God hath sent 2. From his Fidelity in the discharge of that work he is employed in in those words He speaketh the words of God As a faithful Messenger from a King will act according to his commission so our Lord Jesus who was faithful to him that appointed him he speaks the Word of God and nothing else but the Word of God 3. Our Lord Jesus is described and set forth by his Ability and qualification for that work he was employed in this you have in those words For God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him The Spirit is given to Christ as Mediator without measure or above measure He whom God hath sent The word here translated sent comes of the same word that the Apostle doth Christ is the great Apostle the great Messenger of the Covenant whom all the Elect delight in Mal. 3.1 The Apostle and high Priest of our profession Heb. 3.1 John the Baptist and the other Prophets and so likewise the Apostles they were Gods Ministers and Ambassadors but our Lord Jesus he is Ambassadour extraordinary Men and Angels too Luke 1.18.19 â—ave been sent and employed by God but none of them were ever sent as Christ was to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in an everlasting righteousness This was he who was the brightness of the Fathers Glory and the express Image of God he only was able by himself to purge away sin neither was ever any other set about this work but he God never laid the help and salvation of his people upon any but that mighty one Doctrine 1. That Jesus Christ our Mediator was sent of the Father There is frequent mention made by our Saviour of his being sent of God To mention a few places John 17.3 And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Vers 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from thee and they have believed that thou didst send me And again vers 21 That they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me Vers 25 O righteous Father the world hath not known thee but I have known thee and these have known that thou hast sent me 1. How shall we understand this Phrase That Christ was sent of the Father Sent of God! This is a great mystery which we shall not fully understand till we come to Heaven when Christ is said to be sent of God 't is to be understood principally and primarily of him as he is the Son of God and so he is said to come down from heaven John 3.13 To descend Eph. 4.9 But he being in that respect equal with God the Father Eternal Infinite Immense Omnipresent as the Father is it may be asked How the Lord Jesus is said to be sent of the Father Answ 1. The Lord Jesus may be said to be sent of the Father as Mediator in respect of the Covenant of Redemption between the Father and him for the salvation of the Elect for though Christ as God is equal with the Father yet with reference to the work of Redemption he is said to be his Elected one and Servant Isa 41.1 Behold my servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth 2. The Lord Jesus may be said to be sent of the Father in regard of his Incarnation so Gal. 4.4 5 But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law Now brethren upon this account because the Father prepared him a body Heb. 10.5 He is said to send him to redeem us 3. The Lord Jesus may be said to be sent of the Father in regard of his commission him hath God the Father sealed John 6.37 Christ and no other is ordained of God an high Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck 2. How doth it appear that Jesus of Nazareth was the true Messiah he that was sent of God to be the Saviour according to the Promise made unto the Fathers Answ 1. By the miracles he wrought Nicodemus could say so much John 3.2 says he We know that thou art a teacher come from God for no man can do these miracles but he who is sent of God John 5.36 37 I have a greater witness then that of John for the works that my father hath given me to finish the same works bear witness of me And so when John Baptist sent unto Christ to know whether he was the Messiah saith our Saviour Go and shew him the things which you do hear and see the Blind receive their sight and the Lame walk the Leapers are cleansed 'T is true the Prophets and the Apostles wrought miracles but not by their own power and holiness but Christ wrought them by his own power 2. By his raising of himself from the dead As he is said to be raised by the Father so he is said to be raised from his own power John 2.20 21 Destroy saith he this temple speaking of his Body and I will raise it up in three days To these might be added many other demonstrations as that all the Notes and Characters of the Messiah mentioned in the Old Testament were fulfilled and accomplished in him Moreover every believer hath the witness in himself that Jesus is the Son of God 1 John 5.20 Their faith is not a meer historical faith or grounded upon what is commonly owned and professed where they live but the Spirit beareth witness to their hearts that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God the true Messiah that was to come into the World 3. The next thing is to shew you wherefore God sent his Son into the world The great business that Christ was sent into the world for was to save his people from their sins to save them that were given to him of the Father There were some particular persons given to Christ by name to be his people to be his sheep that he should take care of to bring to eternal life John 17.2 Thou hast given me power over all flesh that I should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given me 1 John 4.14 And we have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world that is his Elect of the world of mankind And so it was Prophesied of Christ Dan. 9.24 that he should make an end of sin and make reconciliation for iniquity and bring in an everlasting righteousness There was not one man in the world that was able to make reconciliation for his iniquity Christ was sent to do that There was none righteous no not one Christ was sent to bring in an everlasting righteousness to make his
1.10 3. The Father hath shewn all the Benevolence or Beneficence to Christ as Mediator as possibly could be He hath filled him with the Spirit in our Nature as full as the Humane Nature can hold and as he is God manifest in the Flesh hath given all into his hand and hath put such honour upon him as Mediator that whatsoever his People ask in his Name it shall be given them and when he comes at the last Day to judge the World in our humane Nature he shall come in all the Glory of the Father with all his holy Angels Objection How did the Father love Chriâ—â— with such an unspeakable transcendent Love seeinâ— it is said He spared not his own Son but delivered him up to Death for us all Rom. 8 3â— And it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hatâ— put him to grief Isai 53.10 It should seem 〈◊〉 this that he loved the Elect people more than Chrisâ— seeing he laid their Iniquities upon Christ and aâ—pointed him to suffer for Sins the Just for the uâ— just that he might bring them to God Answer first In general Take notice Thaâ— the Gospel our Redemption by Christ is such a Mâ—stery that except we be taught of God we shâ—â— stumble and cavil at it without end More particularly 1. Consider that all thâ— Christ suffered it was only in his humane Naturâ— His Godhead could not suffer the least thing 2. His Godhead backed and supported his Hâ—mane Nature to endure the Cross and despise tâ—â— Shame 3. It was but for a short time that the Humane Nature of Christ suffered 4. It was with his own Consent Lo I come to do thy Will O God Heb. 10.7 5. The Father had no Controversie with Christ he had done no evil neither was any guile found in his mouth all that Christ suffered was as a Surety 6. The Designe of God in not sparing his Son was not merely the Salvation of his People but to make known the Riches of the glory of his Wisdom Justice and Grace and so all this would well consist with his Love to the person of Christ 7. As a consequent of his Sufferings the humane Nature of Christ in which Nature only he Suffered is highly exalted and he in our Nature shall â—udge the world and be adored for ever Application Use 1. Seeing that Christ was so beloved of the Father and yet he suffered so much it may teach â—s that great Sufferings and Afflictions may conâ—st with the Love of God so long as there was no â—n inherently in Christ and that it was for the â—lory of God and was but for a time a short time â—ll this might consist with the Love of God Thereâ—ore let this comfort Believers under all their Afflictions and Sorrows in this Life Object May some poor Believer say If the Lord â—â—ved me would he suffer me to be scandalized and â—â—proached as I am I am evil-spoken of by many â—nd am the Song of the Drunkard I scarce know â—w to bear it Answ I pray consider how Christ endured â—e contradiction of Sinners They said He was a Deceiver and was mad they said he was a Glutton and a Winebibber they said he had a Devil yet still he was infinitely beloved of the Father Object Ay If I was afflicted but now and then I might hope that God might love me notwithstanding but I am seldom free of one Affliction or another Answer So it was with Christ while he was here in this world He was a man Sorrows Isa 53.3 yet beloved of the Father and so may you Object Ay But it is not only outward Afflictions that I bear but inward bitterness inward Sorrow Answ Christ went through that too Mat. 26.38 My Soul saith Christ is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Object Ay But this is that which makes me fear that I am none of the Lords because he hides his face from me at times that I have not sensible communion with him but in that respect he doth as it were forsake me Answ So it was with Christ for a time He cried out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27.46 Object Ay But I am followed with hideous temptations of the Devil such as I am afraid and ashamed to utter as to take away mine own Life and the like Answ Jesus Christ who was beloved of the Father above all He was tempted in all points as we are yet without Sin Heb. 4.15 Then the Devil taketh him up and setteth him upon a Pinacle of the Temple and saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down Mat. 4.5 6. Now as Christ was a Conqueror over all his Sufferings of every kind and lifted up his Head after all so shall Believers through him Christ after a short time sorrowed no more was tempted no more suffer'd no more in any kind and so it shall be with his people after a little time For the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living Fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 1.17 Use 2. Seeing God the Father loveth Jesus Christ with such a transcendent Love This may teach us what manner of Love the Father hath shewn in giving of his Son to be a Redeemer of his people 1 Joh. 4.9 In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him Therefore you that are partakers of this Grace why should you fear the want of any thing whatsoever that the Lord seeth convenient for you He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up to Death for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 Therefore trust in the Lord for the supply of all your inward and spiritual wants and trust in the Lord for outward Mercies too Do not put forth your hands to any unrighteous ways for your subsistence but trust in the Lord that he will perform all things for you seeing he hath not spared his own Son but given him to dye for you All other Gifts are small in comparison of his giving his Son to be made a Curse for us Use 3. Seeing the Father loveth the Son in such a wonderful manner Then wo be to those that hate him 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha If any man love him not as he is the Son of God if any man love him not as Mediator if any man hearing this Jesus preached unto him doth not approve of this way of Salvation by Christ and doth deliberately reject him and put him away let him be cursed till the Lord come let him still remain under the curse of the Law and let him be cursed when the Lord cometh let him be put amongst those to whom Christ will say Depart from me ye cursed I
them a City and in enjoying God they enjoy all And then observe that the Happiness of Believers is for ever they are not freed from all evil for a time only and enjoy all good for a time only but for ever And so they have everlasting Life 2. Let us enquire what is this believing what this Faith is upon which a man or woman comes to have everlasting Life I answer 'T is not a bare assent to the Truth of the Gospel 'T is not a meer Historical Faith Yea though you should be somewhat affected with it and hear the Word with Joy and do many things as Herod did But this believing is a Receiving of Christ himself in some word of Grace wherby the humbled Sinner doth wholy rely upon Jesus Christ for Life and Salvation Although we are to believe all that is Written in the Law and the Prophets and the whole Word of God yet Christ as a Saviour and Mediator is the object of justifying Faith Gal. 3.2 Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Faith is wrought in us by the hearing of the Gospel by some word of Grace wherein Christ is held forth as a Saviour either Explicitly or Implicitly The Text saith He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life And Paul bids the Jaylor believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved So that whatsoever word the Lord hints to us to work and beget Faith in our Hearts yet the Soul doth not stay there but Ventures and Casts it self wholy upon Jesus Christ as the Saviour and Mediator Thirdly To give you some Demonstrations or Arguments to prove that whosoever believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life 1. God the Father promised this to Christ the Mediator in the behalf of his Ransomed ones Tit. 1.2 In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lie promised before the world began God promised to Christ no less than Eternal Life for his Seed Rom. 6. last The Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Joh. 2.25 This is the Promise which he hath promised us even eternal Life This was promised to Christ that by his Obedience all his People should be made Righteous and have Eternal Life 2. Christ as Mediator prayed for no less than Eternal Life for his people and the Father always heareth him Joh. 17.24 Father I will that those whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me 3. Jesus Christ hath purchased Eternal Life for his People Hebr. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of Death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the Promise of Eternal Inheritance Christ having made Satisfaction for the Sins of his People and brought in an everlasting Righteousness for them What should now hinder them of Everlasting Life who believe on his Name 4. One thing more to shew you in what sense it is said in the Text That he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life not only shall have it but hath Everlasting Life Seeing that Believers have Sin dwelling and remaining in them and are liable to Temptations and Buffetings of Satan and liable to all kind of outward Sorrows and Afflictions and have this Earthly Tabernacle yet to put off How can it be said that a Believer now hath everlasting Life I answer 1. In regard of the certainty of it As when it is said Babylon is fallen 'T is as certain that Babylon shall fall as if it were fallen already So it is as certain that Believers shall have everlasting Life as if they had it already And so it is said 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us We are saved already 2. In regard that everlasting Life is begun to a Believer Every Believer is in a justified estate his Sins pardoned and the Righteousness of Christ imputed to him and Holiness and Communion with God is begun already in this Life his Fellowship is now with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ 3. In regard of Christ our head Ephes 2.6 He hath raised us up and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ. The members of the mystical Body are now in Heaven though not in their own Persons yet in Christ their Head Heb. 6.20 Whither the fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus He hath taken up Heaven for them and appears in the presence of God for them Application Use 1. From what is said here That he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life and he that beleiveth not on the Son shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him Learn that there is an everlasting estate appointed for every one either everlasting Life or everlasting Death An eternity there is for every one of us and we are near it we are upon the brink of it we are near Heaven or Hell The Lord knows that we mind these present things too much and eternity very little But O! That when we come to dye to go into eternity that we may be in Christ that so when the Earthly house of this Tabernacle shall be dissolved we may have a Building of God an House not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens O! that we may remember our eternal condition more that the thoughts of Eternity may be with us in our Callings and Business all the day long and that we may make sure of our interest of Christ that we may have everlasting Life Use 2. Wonder at the Lord's Grace in Christ that he should give everlasting Life to any of us fallen sinful men God doth not give everlasting Life to any of the Angels that sinned but cast them all down to Hell And you that live under the Preaching of the Gospel bless God that you hear of these glad tidings of everlasting Life through Christ and hearing this way of Life Preached and Declared to you O! that you may receive Christ That you may believe on him that you may have everlasting Life Use 3. Heere is matter of strong consolation to those that have believed on the Son O! Let such rejoyce in the Grace of God the Lord hath abounded towards them in his kindness through Christ Jesus It is true you may meet with many sorrows here in this world but rejoyce in this that there is no Condemnation to you because you are in Christ Jesus And not only no Condemnation but you have everlasting Life You may lose Estate Name Liberty and Life in this World but you can never lose everlasting Life for he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life Use 4. Here is Direction to those that are convinced of their sins that are weary and heavy laden whose consciences are pressed with the burden of their sins as if they had a heavy mountain lay upon them
wrath of God Can you endure to have the wrath of God to abide upon you Let me beseech one thing of you even for the Lord's sake and for your own Souls sake that when you come home that you would retire a little get alone and seriously ponder these words He that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him Ask your own hearts whether you believe what is spoken here and that it shall be fulfilled upon all those that reject Christ And when you are alone put it upon your hearts to consider seriously what it is to have the wrath of God abide upon you what a miserable condition that will be If you had but a Sentence of Death passed upon you by a Judge of Assize how terrible is it to most men But then how dreadful will this be to you when the Lord shall say Depart from me ye Cursed when the Lord shall say that you shall never see Life but the wrath of God shall abide on you for ever Did you never see one under a deep sense and apprehension of Gods wrath O how such an one will cry out And yet it is but some drop or so that falls upon the Conscience here in this Life in comparison of Hell If you have not seen any under the sense of God's wrath consider what the Scripture saith of Cain and Judas what Terrours they were under and read the Story of Francis Spira there you may see what amazing astonishing Expressions and Wishes came from him under a sense of God's wrath lying upon him he was so tormented that but he was watched by his Friends and could not get opportunity he would have killed himself Yea and consider our Lord Jesus Christ who never had any sin inherent in him yet standing in the room of his People and having their sins imputed to him that by his Suffering in their stead Justice might be satisfied for Sin How he was filled with Astonishment and Grief under the wrath of God due to our sins Mat. 26.38 Then saith he unto them My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Luk. 22.44 And being in an Agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground And he cried out upon the Cross My God my God why hast thou forsaken me We must not think that the Captain of our Salvation was thus sorrowful and sweat drops of Blood and cried out so vehemently for the fear and pain of bodily death which many Martyrs and other men have endured without any great disturbance but Christ bare that in his Sufferings that was ten Thousand times more dreadful he had the Iniquities of all his people at once laid upon him and so bare the wrath of God due unto them Our Lord Jesus Christ the Mighty One being God-man soon made Satisfaction for the sins of his people and so was acquitted and discharged and is now in the same Nature wherein he Suffered at the right hand of God But I pray consider If we bear the wrath of God our selves what shall we do You see it is no light matter it will be a burden too heavy for us to bear it will make us wish again and again that we had never been born And truely if we do not believe on the Son who hath born wrath for Sinners and who alone delivers from the wrath to come it must abide upon us Think of these things between the Lord and your own Souls and let us call to one another and awaken one another and tell one another of the danger that we are in If this house where we are were set on fire and one were asleep here it were time to awaken them O! If you have Children Servants Acquaintance that are in an ignorant and prophane way call to them and endeavour to convince them of their sins and draw them to believe in Christ Quest But it may be some will say you press this believing in Christ very much and what is there in believing that those that believe should have Everlasting Life Answ There is nothing of Merit of Efficiency or Causality in our believing to free us from the wrath of God and to bring us to everlasting Life For everlasting Life is the Gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord so that we do not set up Faith to have any part with Christ in the Glory of our Salvation But I pray consider it that Faith is that Grace whereby we lost Sinners being convinced of our Sins and having no hope of any help and relief in our selves do wholy betake our selves to Jesus the Mediator for our Salvation So that Christ is all and doth all and by Faith we receive and embrace Christ our Justifier And so hath the Lord ordained that by going out of our selves and receiving Christ the Mediator we have the Gift of Righteousness even the Righteousness of Christ imputed to us to the Justification of Life So that it is not Faith as a Work but Faith as a Hand or Instrument whereby we receive Christ the Saviour that justifies us in the sight of God Quest But how shall I come to believe on the Lord Jesus Answ 1. You must be convinced of Sin You must see that you are guilty before God that you cannot stand before the Holy Lord God But alas Mens hearts are so taken up with the Cares and Pleasures of the world and think so little of Eternity and the Judgment to come that it is in the thoughts of few how they shall be discharged from the guilt of their Sins and have everlasting Life 2. You must see that there is no help for you in your own personal Righteousness How can there when you have sinned already And all the Righteousness that you can perform in this Life is defective and full of Imperfections You must know that there must be a perfect Righteousness to justifie you 3. You must know that Christ is he that is Ordained of God to be the Saviour That you can be saved only by his Blood and Righteousness and so cast your self wholly upon him This Faith is the Gift of God No man can come to Christ except the Father which hath sent him draw him And though some may think this believing in Christ a notion a fancy or however a common or easy thing yet as it is a real thing wrought in the hearts of the Elect by the Spirit of God so it is no easy thing to believe truly on Christ when a sinner is convinced of the Greatness of God the Holiness of his Law the revenging Justice of God and his own guilt and filth it is a great work of God to fix and stay the heart upon the Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one from going down to the pit and bring the soul to everlasting Life Object I dare not come to Christ because I do not know I am Elected Answer You cannot
Therefore trust in the Lord in all difficulties Say as David Psal 62.1 Truly my Soul waiteth upon God from him cometh my Salvation Vers 2. My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him You can speak it by experience that Power belongeth unto God and that also unto the Lord belongeth Mercy You have had experience of both in his calling you out of darkness into his marvellous light therefore wait upon him and trust in him to perfect all that doth concern you both for Soul and Body Lastly Be willing to do or suffer any thing for Christ 1. Be willing to live to him The Apostle shews that it is but reasonable that we should live unto the Lord not only as we are Creatures but also upon the account of Grace 2 Cor. 14.15 Because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him that died for them and rose again Those that live by Christ it is but reasonable that they should live to him We must not of all others live to our selves besides our old obligation to obedience which we owe to God as our Creator and Soveraign Lord Grace lays a further obligation upon us to live to him 2. Be willing to dye for him if he call us to it Paul had heard the voice of Christ speaking from Heaven to him as all that are called do though not in such a manner as Christ spake to him and so he was made alive and now how precious was Christ to him he was willing to suffer any thing for his Name and Glory Act. 21.13 I am ready not only to be bound but to dye at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus He was sensible that Christ had given him spiritual Life and therfore thought it a small matter to lay down his bodily Life in a way of bearing witness to his Name SERMON III. John III. 33. He that hath Received his Testimony hath set to his Seal that God is True THe words before going John says No Man received his Testimony though he testifie nothing but what he had seen and heard in Heaven and no man received his Testimony and yet here immediately it follows that He that hath received his Testimony says that God is True He that hath implying there was some that did receive it that is none few or none None in comparison of those that did not receive it some few there were that did receive it And here in this Verse John doth declare the Commendation of those that did receive Christ and what matter of encouragement to those that do receive Christs Testimony Why he says they do exceedingly Honour and Glorifie God they do subscribe as it were with their Hand and set their Seal to the Truth of God that what the Lord speaks and Christ speaks and what God the Father speaks is Truth and in doing this they Honour and Glorifie God by subscribing and setting to their Seal that God is True As he says he that set to his Seal that God is true doth Testify of what is Truth But how doth it appear that the Spirit is given unto those that Testify of him You may see it cleared in the opening of the Proposition So that the proposition is this taking up the words of the Text. Propos Whosoever he be that doth receive the Testimony of Christ doth set to his Seal that God it True You heard before in the opening of the former clause what we are to understand by the Testimony of Christ and then what we are to understand of the receiving the Testimony of Christ By the Testimony of Christ we are to understand the Gospel of Life and Salvation held forth to poor Sinners that you heard cleared from Scripture and for the receiving of it what is it to receive it it is not only a receiving it into the understandings and also into the affections and receiving it with some kind of Joy and Gladness but also a receiving it into the Heart and Soul in a way of Faith and Believing Believing is receiving the Testimony of Christ I shall not stand to speak of these things but shall now shew you that that Testimony that every believing Soul doth give of Jesus Christ doth set to his Seal that God is true First To shew that God is Truth Secondly what we are to understand by this setting to the Seal that God is true Thirdly To shew by what and wherein and how it doth appear that every believing soul that doth receive the Testimony of Christ doth believe that God is True First To shew you that God is Tru◠〈◊〉 that God is true and faithful in his Word in whatsoever he speaks in his Gospel as that which the Evangelists in the Gospel speaks of in the Testimony of Christ is true When God proclaimed his name by Moses he says of him He is abundant in goodness and in truth he is as abundant in his truth every way as in his goodness And in another place its said God is not as Man that he should lye hath he spoken it and shall he not do it And so I might multiply Scriptures to that purpose the Truth of God is from everlasting to everlasting whatsoever he speaks it shall be what he hath spoken with his mouth he will fulfil Every man says the Apostle are Lyars Let God be true and every man a Lyar in respect of God it is even so And so in the New-Testament God is a God that cannot Lye It cannot stand with his infinite Nature He cannot Lye yet it is impossible for God to Lye He must cease to be God were it ever so But it must needs be so Brethren that God is a God of Truth for God is the Author of all truth He is the Fountain of Truth and you know a Fountain cannot contain sweet waters and bitter He is Light and in him is no darkness at all He is Truth it self and no Lye there can be no falshood at all in him He is the Author of Truth the Devil is the Author of Lyes and the founder of them the Devil is the Father of Lyes and therefore God cannot be the Father of them but he is the Author of 〈◊〉 But â—gain it cannot be that God should speak that which is not truth which he doth not intend for God is an unalterable God an unchangeable God He don't speak and unspeak again but he is Immutable and unchangeable the same to day and forever without any shaddow of turning In our speaking there 's change and shaddow of turning but there is no shaddow of change or turnings in God He says not one thing and intends another If God should promise Life and Salvation unto all those that lay hold of Righteousness and Life and then they fall short of it here were change and shaddow of turning but there 's no shaddow
exercised there hath been Self-emptyings The Apostle Paul was a man that did live much in the excercise of Faith and he professes it Gal. 2.20 That he Lived by the Faith of the Son of God and you may observe how the Apostle emptied himself of Self-sufficiency and Self-worthiness for Self-sufficiency says he in Rom. 8.26 We know not how to pray nor what to pray for as we ought The Apostle Paul that was such a great proficient in the School of Christ such an eminent person yet saies he We know not how to pray he was empty of Self-sufficiency and saies he in 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Saies he I am so insufficient that I cannot so much as think a good thought What was he sufficient for then And saies he in another place I cannot so much as will or desire any thing that is good It is God saies he that worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure And saies he in 2 Cor. 12.11 though I be nothing What a word is this The Apostle Paul that was one of the eminentest Saints that lived upon the face of the earth in his days yet says he I am nothing Paul living by Faith was emptied of the sense of his own sufficiency and truly so also he was emptied of Self-worthiness of receiving any Mercy from God For all his Duties and Services saies he I am less than the least of all Saints and Ephes 3.8 To me who am less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given c. And in 1 Cor. 15.9 saies he I am the least of the Apostles that am not worthy to be called an Apostle So if you observe it you may find it in all those that lived in the exercise of Faith how they have been emptied of the sense of their own worthiness Abraham the Father of the Faithful see how he lay low and even crept in the dust before the Lord and acknowledged himself not worthy to speak to the Lord in Prayer for Sodom that he was fain to Apologize for himself at every turn Let not the Lord be angry that I who am but dust and ashes have undertaken to speak unto the Lord Gen. 18.27 30 32. I am unworthy saies he to speak unto the Lord for any Mercy either for my self or Sodom And so Jacob Lord saies he I am less than the least of all thy Mercies Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of the least Mercy from thee Thus Faith does empty the Soul both of self-sufficiency and also of self-worthiness Now then to shew you how you should make use of this Rule It will serve for every Duty that we perform when we come to pray we should draw near to God with this sense of our insufficiency to lift up a Prayer unto God we should come to God with a sense upon our hearts of our inability to perform the work and also with a sence of our own unworthiness that God should hear our Prayers when we have prayed never so well as others may judge yet we must come with self-abasing and self-emptying So if we go to hear the Word if we would hear in Faith we should make use of this Rule Lord I am unworthy to be admitted to hear thy Word I am unworthy that thou shouldst speak to me and I am insufficient to hear thy Word as I ought to hear it Thus come with self-emptying and self-abasement So when we come to the Lords-Supper Lord I have no strength now to partake of this Ordinance as I ought to do I cannot prepare my self for it I have no strength to partake of it I have no sufficiency at all to partake of this or any other Ordinance as I ought to do and I am unworthy that the Lord should draw near to me to let me have any Fellowship or Communion with himself This is the Third general Rule Fourthly If we would perform all Duties and partake in all Ordinances in Faith so as we may please God in what we do Then let us do all that we do in the Name of Christ for there is all our worthiness and all our acceptance You know the Apostle gives us this Rule iâ— Col. 3.17 Whatever ye do in word or in dâ—ed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ For if we do not what we do in his Name it is not accepted Look as it was under the Law if a man under the Law were to bring a sacrifice he was to bring it to the Priest or else it was not accepted but it was to be an Abomination in Levit. 17.3 4. Whatsoever man of the house of Israel there be that killeth an Oâ— or Liamb c. And bringeth it not unto the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation unto the Priest that soul hath shed blood and shall be out off from among his People Though he brought never so good a sacrifice in it self yet it must be brought unto the Priest And so they were to bring their sacrifices and have them laid upon the Altar or else they were an Abomination and not acceptable to God Now Brethren Jesus Christ is our great High-Priest and Jesus Christ is our Altar too by whom and upon â—â—â—m all our services and sacrifices must be â—â—â—ered or else they are not accepted of God therefore whatever you do whatever Prayer you make whatever Ordinance you partake 〈◊〉 do all in the Name of Jesus Christ or else you do not do it in Faith and it will not be pleasing unto God Quest You will say What is it to perform a Duty in the Name of Jesus Christ so as it may be acceptable and pleasing to God Answ For answer Brethren It is not enough for us to make mention of the Name of Christ in our Prayers and to say Through Jesus Christ our Lord as you commonly conclude your Prayers I do not blame you for this But it is not the naming of the Name of Christ that is this doing of it in the Name of Christ What is it then you will say for me to pray or hear the Word or partake of any Ordinance in the Name of Christ Briefly for I would not inlarge there are these Three things implied in it First That we do look for our access into the presence of God through Christ and for his sake says the Apostle in Ephes 2.18 For through him we both have an access by one Spirit unto the Father Through him we both that is both Jews and Gentiles have access by one Spirit unto the Father we have access into the presence of the Father through Christ You know Brethren after Adam fell and transgressed he was driven out from the presence of God Before indeed he had communion with God and access into the presence of God but after he had broken the Covenant that God had made with him he was