experience which made him groan so sadly Psal. 51.8 Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce When he had broke his conscience by sinning God would break his bones for sin And again ver 12. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and ver 10. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me It s true the Lord had so far deserted him in regard of sensible comforts that he may desire their restoring and which may be observed by the way let the proud Arminian say what he can David was not become silius irae but onely silius sub ira still a beloved son he begs indeed the cleansing of his heart but onely the renewing of a right spirit within him 2. The Lord whips his children to an improvement of the grace of Christ by suffering them in his holy and wise providence to fall into some great and it may be some scandalous sin which shall draw on a sharp affliction This is to a Saint a most sharp cure yet God makes it often effectual to that happy end for though we be the onely proper authors of sin yet Gods permission is not otiosa but effâ—cax permissio He knows how to govern its subserviency to the Covenant of Grace and to bring good out of evil otherwise he would neither suffer evil of sin or punishment to be David too clear an instance of this Rule Hereby the Lord whipped him out of himself to seek mercy from his Savior Psal. 51.1 Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindeness according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions FINIS Acts 24 25 The Apostle useth four Arguments to Vnity Endeavoring to keep the Vnity of the spirit in the bond of 〈◊〉 Verse 7. Vers. 11 12. Vers. 13 14. Verse 15. Doctr. 1. Doctr. 2. Doctr. 3. Doctr. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Headship it self oâ— Christ. 1. Respectu Dignitatis 2. Respectu Regiminis 3. Respectu Influxui 4. Respectu Vnionis The appropriation of Christs Headship Note Note Christs Title to this Headship of his Church Luke 19.10 Vse 1. Pope no vicarious Head of the Church v. Polau Sputag p. 3351. v. Bâ—dâ—l Vse 2. Caution It s dangerous to be injurious to any of Christs members Dan. 2.45 Verse 4 5. Strong encouragement for all Christs members Rom. 16.28 Vse 3. Contrary to Pauâ—s Doctrine Phil. 2.13 Note To believe is mans act but faith is Gods gift Vse 4. Caution Rom. 9.15 2. Tim. 2.20 2. Doctr. Christs intention and expectation in giving gifts 1. That there should be a growth Eph. 1. last 2. A growing up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Growing up to Christ in all things Note The grounds Reason 1. Reason 2. Reason 3. Note The end The stability in Christ. Stability in judgement Stability of affection Psal. 73.25 Psal. 11. Stability of conversation Note Improvement of Christ. In all conditions and relations In all duties Vse 1. That is to preach the Gospel for the working faith in Gods elect Note Vse 2. For Citizens chiefly who enjoy such rich Gospel-advantage Mat. 11.22 Growth must be proportionable to the means you enjoy Growth must be of all parts Vse 3. For information concerning the Ministery Consider the Original of the Ministery Gal. 1.1 Note Doubtles it is a great and provoking evil to cry down the whole Ministery because some seek themselvs or others of the Ministers affect too much power hereby the devil carries on his design Behold the Ministery in Christs intention in the giving of it That Ordinances and Ministery now cease and we are under another new Administration A most dangerous and most unsound opinion See Mr. Saltmarsh his Book called Beams of the bright morning Star p. 134 c. What another Administration then that of the Father through the Son by the Spirit Reasons against this Interpretation of Mat. 28 20 for his third Administration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thess. 8.9 Iude ver 3. 1 Cor. 15.9 24 28. Eph. 4.11 1. What is Truth 2. What is this love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. What is it to speak or follow the Truth in the Text. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers. 14. Scripturae plenitudinem adoro Truthing it in Love a good motto for Saints Doctr. 3. 2 Ioh. 2.4 5. Verse 2 3. Reasons why Truthing it in love so useful What Truth and Love do to prevent evils singly considered â— Tim. 4.3 4 1 Cor. 10.28 29 30. 1 Cor. 8.13 What Truth Love do to promote the best good of Saints being joyntly considered 2 Tim. 2.25 What Truth and Love being joyntly considered 1 Cor. 8.1 Note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the Passover not after Easter if truly translated Acts 12.4 vid. Minshulâ—s Dict. Note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 1.20 Acts 2.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There was both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet sometime the former included in the latter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Helps Deacons Governments Elders Noâ—e this grand Imposture 1. Vse of Instruction 2. Vse of Caution Two dangerous Regiments Captare impacata inquieta tempora A little book in quarto called Look about you Note 3 Vse of Exhortation Note Some Errors are 1. Contrafidem 2. Infide 3. Praeterfidem In Elephante melancholia transit in nutrimentum corporis Though the Elephants be maximae virtutis maximi intellectus yet gregatim semper in cedunt and so not uociva as solivaga are Homini erranti viam ostendit Rules concerning Truth and the pursuance of it 1. Rule about Truth Ezek. 13.2 Eph 4.17 Cassianus his Collat. 2. de discretione cap 5. 2. Rule about Truth 3. Rule about Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jus Divinum nititur verbo Divino Ames Note 4. Rule about Truth Note 5. Rule about Truth 2 Cor. 11.3 6. Rule about Truth Note Inclinus ad neutram partem sit Dominis â—â—riusâ— 1. Rule about Love 1 Cor. 16.14 Eph 5.2 Col. 3.12 13. 2. Rule about Love 3. Rule about Love 4. Rule about Love Rom. 5.1 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil. Eph 5 2 5. Rule about Love 6. Rule about Love Phil. 1.27 3.15 16. Concordiâ— communa periculum â—ollâ—tâ—r Livy l. 28. Note 3 Epist. ver 1. Verse 2. Verse 3. Non vis errare ego sum via non vis falli ego sum veritas non vis mori ego sum vita non habes quaÌ„ eas nisi per Christum non habes quò eas nisi ad Christum Ezek. 28.3 Sermo Dei est sicut hamus non capit nisi capiatur Aug. 1 Cor. 9.19 to 22. four times together Isa. 8.18 Division 1. part 1. persons Exhorting Exhorted 2. part substance of ExhortatioÌ„ Be strong 3. part The rock of thy strength 3. The grace that is in Christ Jesus Explic. Note Note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non satis babuit humeroruÌ„ was said of one who wanted strength proportionable to his work Some copies read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both will come to one purpose though the last more full and indeed more probable In Christ Fulness Redundancy of grace 1. A Prophetical fulnes of grace in Christ. 1. Strength in his word 1 Ioh. 2.14 2. Strength of his Spirit 2. A priestly fulness of grace in Christ. 1. Christs gracious satisfaction 2. Christs gracious intercession 3. Christs Kingly fulness of grace 1. Christs powerful suppressing his enemies Chap 18. last verse 2. Christs powerful advancing his people Col. 2.13 Psal 103. Mat 16 18. Rev. 3.21 2. The redundancy of grace that is in Christ Jesus 1 Redundancy of his grace into all their faculties Rom. 5.12 15. 2. Redundancy of the grace in Christ into all the graces of the Saints 3. Redundancy of the grace that is in Christ Iesus into all their duties 4. Redundancy of the grace in Christ Jesus into the various estates of his Saints Psa. 62.10 1. part Christs title unto possession of this strengthening grace which is threefold 1. By the grace of Vnion 2. By the grace of Vnction Note 3. By the grace of Office 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Camer 2 Pet. 1.4 Note 3 part The various sweetnes sweet variety of the strengthning grace in Christ Iesus Note Applic. A serious invitation for al strangers to seek acquaintance with and interest in Iesus Christ. Ioh. 3.19 Vid L. Verulans Apothegmes 26. Note 1 Vse Note See in Arminius his Works a notable Discourse about Gods Providence in mens sins Deus non permittit peccatum tanquam otiosus spectator sed effâ—â—aci quadam permissione quamvis nullo modo sit Author peccati
the Godhead in him not onely of some God-like dispositions and of the Image of God which may be in Saints Thirdly All the fulness of the Godhead the whole Divine Nature Fourthly All this fulness of the Godhead dwells in Christ he is there not as a Guest not as a Friend but as an Inhabitant to fix his constant abode there Fifthly And all this bodily personally most mysteriously and not transciently vertually and by participation onely as in a good degree it may be in the Saints And for this happy purpose hath Jesus Christ such a Spring of good in himself who is the Head of all Principalities and Powers in that ninth verse which is added because they should see they need not go to the Angels as their head verse 18. He hath this fountain of strengthning Grace in himself by the Grace of Vnction the unction of the holy Spirit which God giveth to him not by measure Joh. 3.34 not by drops and measure of the gift of Christ as to us Eph. 4.7 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand ver 35. of Joh. 3. And amongst other good things the Holy Spirit the great New Testament Promise was the Promise of the Spirit as the Messiah was the grand Promise in the Old Testament And this he pours not drops out and that much more generally then before as Acts 2.17 And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh And by vertue of this Unction of the Spirit you may see what glorious things Jesus Christ communicated unto poor sinners if you please to compare Isa. 61.1 with Luke 4.18 He hath it in him by the Grace of Office you will allow the expression being designed by the Father as a publike person for the advantage of all those whose Names are written in the Book of life and for those whom the Father had given to the Son He was appointed by Commission under the Broad Seal of Heaven to be The grand Lord Treasurer for his Church the common Storehouse of their strengthning provision This he doth signanter declare and that most fully Joh. 6.27 when he bids them Labor not for the meat that perisheth but for that which endureth to everlasting life Here is the ground which the Son of man shall give unto you never doubt it for him hath God the Father sealed This is the Doctrine that John the Baptist published concerning Christ Joh. 1.16 And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace It seems there is an overflowing fountain of grace in him which was fully opened when he came into the world Joh. 7.38 39. else how could all Believers with John receive of his fulness had there not been a full fountain it would not have been drawn dry though communicated to so many and grace for grace 1. Whether it be by way of accumulation as some interpret it or 2. Whether by way of additional supplement we receiving the grace of the New Testament instead of the grace of the Old Testament or 3. Whether by way of correspondency there being such proportionable impressions of that grace that is in Christ so far as we are capable for there was that in Christ as Mediator wherein we cannot resemble him made upon us that as the print upon the wax answers to the Seal as the characters upon the Son answer to the Father so there are such visible stamps of the grace of Christ upon the Saints that in the language of Peter they are expresly said to be partakers of the Divine Nature having such Divine dispositions so incorporated so naturalized into them that what good they do springs not from external motives onely as in Hypocrites but from an inward principle of new Nature And therefore acting from this new Divine Nature they do good with more constancy and delight then others And upon the same account doth John tell you 1 Joh. 17. v. The Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ In Moses Law there were shadowing Types in the Gospel of Christ there is the substantial Truth of them there were Predictions and Prophesies here fulfilling grace Hence Christ saith in the 10. Chapter of the Evangelist John ver 10. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly that he might be a perfect Savior to answer the greatest exigencies of all his poor sheep maintaining their lives in despight of all their Wolvish enemies The third particular follows to wit The various sweetness and sweet variety of that strengthning grace that is in Christ This may be made appear to the great comfort and strong encouragement of the Saints and that in a fivefold Stream flowing from this living Spring of grace in Christ. First Here is strength from the electing grace of God in Christ where there is a great deal of strength and indeed the fundamental Stone which is the strength and support of the house The foundation of all the Spiritual and Eternal building lies there Ephes. 1.45 He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will Grace and his good pleasure is the Spring of all Secondly Here is strength from the transacting grace of Christ when there was an agreement betwixt God the Father and God the Son God had given so many to him he would undertake for those many God did accept his undertaking then Christ went on there was a great deal of strength in this transaction as 2 Tim. 1.9 According to his purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began how possibly given us before the world began why it was given us in Christ Jesus in his negotiating with God for us Thirdly Here is a great deal of strength also in the converting grace of Christ He hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace What purpose and grace That which was in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1.9 He did graciously purpose it therefore it should be infallibly effected A place that in the Synod of Palestina 1200 years ago and above the learned Divines made excellent use of to cut asunder the sinews of Pelagianism as indeed it doth and so still of Arminianism which is but that weed revived as learned Dr. Featly makes it most clearly appear in his Pelagius Redivivus Fourthly There is a great deal of strength likewise in the assisting grace of Christ when there shall be new supplies communicated from his Spirit to enable us to perform every duty and to order our sharpest sufferings to the best good of our souls as Paul assures himself Phil. 1.19 For I
heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels Authorities and Powers being made subject to him he hath a universal and absolute regiment over all things in heaven and earth over men and Devils but then 3. In regard of that Influence that he doth convey to the bodies Sence and Motion is derived from Christ as the spring it is true that in the natural body there the heart is primum vivens but in the mystical body the head is primum vivens and he gives life to us and we derive our life from Jesus Christ the head he hath life and he hath it abundantly in himself and he lives that we may live as I remember there is such an expression in John 10.10 4. In regard of Vnion he doth tie altogether the nerves and sinews would not unite the members of the mystical body unless Jesus Christ were the Head As he is the Foundation stone and so supports the building so he is the Corner stone both the beauty and strength and union of the building Fundatio fundatissima as Junius renders it in Isa 28.16 a most sure foundation and the Corner stone as Peter hath it in 1 Pet. 2.7 8. with reference to that place and so in these four particulars Jesus Christ hath a Headship the next thing is now The appropriation of this Headship to whom is he a head He is an external Head to all the members of the visible Church to all professors as he is a vine and doth communicate some sap to those that are in him no way but by an external profession as you have it intimated in John 15.2 Every branch in me that bears not fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire and therefore there are some branches in him externally as he is an external Head to the Church as he is a vine but indeed he is properly the Head of his body the Saviour of his body he is a Head to those to whom he is a Saviour in Ephesians 5.23 As the King hath a common relation to all his Subjects but a more pecular relation to the Queen who is a Subject and a Spouse and so hath Jesus Christ to his Church and the reason is this because there is a full commensuration betwixt all the three glorious persons in the Trinitie they are grossly mistaken that will make Jesus Christ to dye for all and yet will not in their sence so as to make them Salvabiles if they will and yet cannot say That either God hath given Christ to all or given all to Christ or that the Spirit of God will apply that Redemption to all for there is a commensuration there is an adaequation betwixt the three glorious Persons in the Trinity and their workings for the Salvation of the Saints Jesus Christ dyes for those whom God hath given to him with purposes of Salvation I do not deny but all the wicked in the world may have some benefit by the death of Christ as all have some common pledges of the bounty of God and all may have some common operations of the Spirit of God but if you 'l speak of any thing as to Salvation there is a commensuration betwixt the three persons in the Trinity and their workings Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father Sanctification of the Spirit and the sprinkling of the blood of Christ in 1 Pet. 1.2 indeed in 1 John 2.2 He is a propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but for the sins of the whole world to whom did John write that Epâ—stle to the Jews and therefore to shew that they had not all Religion now engross'd amongst them and that the Election of God did not still run amongst them only he speaks in that dialect he did not intend every particular man in the world for then he must intend men that sin against the Holy Ghost which is impossible that they should be saved No man will say that understands any thing even in Catechistical Divinity that Jesus Christ dyed to save them which he must do if he dyed for every man in the world with such purposes to save them and so in 1 Tim. 1.4 5 6. He is given a ransom for all why all There is one God and one Mediator now Jews and Gentiles as Jesus Christ did take our nature upon him both Jews and Gentiles all estates shall have the common priviledge and benefit and advantage of being in a capacity to receive blessings from him spiritual saving blessings that is all conditions whether Kings and all in Authority or Servants or others not every particular person but as in one place Jews or Gentiles so in another place not this or that condition but all estates and all relations and all conditions but still the Appropriation is to the Church as here he saith from whom the whole body is joyned together in the 16. Vers. from whom from Christ the whole body is joyned together so it is the body that hath this influence from him but then 3. What is his Title to his Headship it is threefold First The designation of God and the Father God the Father hath sealed him he gave him to be a Head to the Church over all things in Ephe. 1.22 23. and then Secondly His personal fitness Of his fulness we all receive grace for grace In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and then Thirdly His own propitious readiness We were not in any degree so willing to be saved as he is to save us He came down to seek and to save that which is lost the Spirit of the Lord was upon him and anointed him to preach the Gospel it was his business and as he had a Commission from his Father and came under the Broad-Seal of Heaven so he had a strong inclination â—â—â—m his own bowels to engage him to it there is his Title the use of this 1. To trie the title of the Popes Headship to the Church how comes he by it for a Church to have two Heads one body to have two heads it is a Monster you 'l make it Monstrous we do allow in a good sence That the Supreme Magistrate is Caput politicum in the Church to command good things according to the Word of God and to restrain evil according to that Word we hold forth confidently that Jesus Christ he is the onely proper Head of the Church that doth convey all saving spiritual blessings life nourishment direction and all those admirable advantages to the body we cannot allow a Caput Vicarium a Ministerial Head there is no need of that Jesus Christ is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Head here is an Article that gives an Emphasis what needs it any other Jesus Christ is present always in his Church when he withdrew his Corporal presence he would then requite his Church with his Spiritual presence and that presence of his Spirit it should
when he is in any straights overpower him with a Divine instinct though he hath not an express revealed will to walk with as we have not in every particular circumstance of an action O that then Jesus Christ should particularize some general Scripture to you or bring something to your minde that you have heard in a Sermon it may be a dozen years ago give him the glory of this and improve him to this blessed purpose The Lord Jesus Christ did intend and doth expect that upon his ascension and giving gifts there should be such an entertainment of the Gospel that we might grow up into him in all things who is the Head It is the perfection of a Christian to improve all the three Persons in the Trinity when you look upon God and his attributes to finde proportionable impressions upon your souls by his greatness to learn to fear him by his godness to love him when you look upon the Spirit of God and his working then likewise to feel some stamps answerable thereunto that you may have an inclination to comply with him in all things so likewise when ye behold Jesus Christ in the passages of his redemption to make use of all that there may be some proportionable correspondency betwixt his dispensations towards you and your improvement of them And here I shall briefly desire you to consider under this point these three particulars First The intention it self and the expectation of Jesus Christ. Secondly The grounds of it and Thirdly The ends of it 1. For the intention and expectation of Jesus Christ himself when he did ascend and gave gifts it is this in three particulars That there should be a growth That there should be a growing up into Christ. That there should be a growing up into Christ in all things I beseech you mark these three particulars First That there should be a growth how a growth so as to compleat the number of all the Saints that not one of them be lost Jesus Christ hath undertaken that he will not lose one that God the Father hath given him and therefore all those must be called in and it is conceived by learned Expositors that that is the meaning of this place Christ hath given gifts for the perfecting of the Saints that is for the compleating the number To fill up the number of persons that so many as were elected from eternity so many might be called in and then For the compleating of the graces of those Saints both in the degrees and in the activity of them for Jesus Christ it is an admirable condescending expression reckoneth not himself compleat till all his members be compleat I beseech you take notice of that first Chap. and the last verse of the Ephesians Which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Jesus Christ fills all in all and yet he saith his body is the fulness of him he is pleased not to account himself compleat as head of the Church till his members be compleated as to the number of them and till their graces likewise be compleat to such a degree as he intended but then Secondly There must be a growing up there must be the maner grow up into Christ not onely a concorporating with Jews as the Gentile Churches did in the 3. of the Ephesians not onely an incorporating into Jesus Christ though that is very much into the body of Christ but a transforming into Christ that you may be moulded in Christ I would not be too bold with those expressions of Nazianzen because I see they are abused 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is an admirable one that Athanasius hath That Jesus Christ took the nature of man upon him that so we might have the nature of God conveyed to us the divine nature there is a ground for that expression in 2 Pet. 1.4 and a delivering up into Christ into his word in Rom. 6.17 the form of doctrine into which you were delivered here is an admirable improvement of Christ when a Sermon is delivered to you the minde of Jesus Christ discovered for you to be delivered up to it that you may go out of the assembly under the power of that truth and moulded in it and then withal that Christ might be in you and you might be in Christ that there might be a mutual in-dwelling as in that place in John yea that we may come to live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit in Gal. 5.25 yea and that the very life of Faith the life that we live may be by faith in the Son of God in Gal. 2.20 not onely now and then to pray in faith but to live by faith to act all in faith here is a growing up into Christ not onely a growing to some knowledge of Christ or to some profession of Christ or to make towards Christ but to be moulded to be transformed into Christ here is the entertainment and improvement of the Gospel that Christ expects but then Thirdly Growing up in all things unto Christ There is the proportion or the dimension as a Head Our growth must be as large as his Headship now as he is a Prophet so we must grow up into him that we may have wisdom and all those supplies from him as he is a Priest grow up in him that we may have Righteousness from him for the covering of all our sins as he is a King grow up in him that we may have a Redemption from all our snares bondages and enthralments for our being and well being having our subsistence in him in God the Father and in Christ Jesus as in 1 Thess. 1.1 when we are converted we come to have a new subsistence in Christ for Truth and for Degrees of Grace grow up into him for habits and acts for the velle as well as for the posse for converting and renewing grace for it is he that works in you the will and the deed of his own good pleasure as in Phil. 2.13 for comforts and for hopes in 1 Pet. 1.8 That you may have joy through believing and the God of peace fill you with hope in Rom. 15.13 all our strength and comfort lies in union with Christ and influence from him It is an easie matter to sprout in hypocrisie and in self-love and in earthliness and so in a formal external profession and to have a bulk of outward performances but it s an hard matter to grow into an inward communion and intimacy with Jesus Christ to be transformed into him So I have done now with the first thing the sum of the expectation the next is The ground why Jesus Christ expects this for very good reasons 1. This is the grand purpose and effect of Christs ascension he did ascend to give gifts he did ascend to give his Spirit and that is the great promise of the New Testament he promised to give his Spirit and shall he give his