separate souls Glory and Happiness 1. From the Condition of the Soul as the immediate subject of Grace wrought in it 2. From Gods Ordination of the Work wrought To raise the soul up to life whilst Sin should bring Dissolution upon the body 3. From the Scope of the Worker God himself who as an Efficient will accomplish the end when his work for that end is finish'd And all these as comprehended in what the very first view and front of the words of my Text hold out God hath wrought us for the self same thing §. But lo a greater matter is here It is not simply said God hath wrought us for this but HE that hath wrought us for this thing is GOD Thereby calling upon us to consider How great an Hand or Efficient is here Even God who hath discovered in a transcendent manner his Glory in the Ordaining and Contriving of this Work unto this great End Take it Not therefore as a bare Demonstration given from Gods working US to this end such as is common to other Agents as hath been said But further a Celebration of the Greatness and Glory of God in his having contrived this with so high an Hand like unto the great God And is as if he had said There is a design in this worthy of God HE hath shewn himself in this to be the great God indeed He that wrought us for this is God When Gods ordinary Works are spoken of it sufficeth himself to say God did Thus or This But when Gods Works of Wonder then often you finde such an illustrious note of Reflection upon and pointing at Him to have done as God And it is ordinary among men when you would commend the known worth of the Artist to say He that wrought this is such a Man so to commend the Workmanship And thus both when the holy Ghost speaks of this Glory it self which is the End for which here His style is Whose Maker and Builder is God Heb. 11. 10. And in like equipage here of preparation to that End he saith He that hath wrought us for this thing is God In this very Chapter 2 Cor. 5. to go no further when the great Work of Salvation in the whole of it is spoken of he prefaceth thus to it All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself c. that is in this transaction he hath appeared like that God of whom all things else are and so more eminently in this than in all or at least any other work What there is said of Salvation in the whole is here of that particular Salvation of a separate Soul You have the like Emphasis put Heb. 2. 10. of bringing many sons to glory it became him says the Text Now put all together and the result is The SECOND POINT That to have provided a Glory for separate Souls of just men wrought upon in this life is a dispensation becoming the great God yea and that there is an artifice and contrivement therein worthy of God and like unto himself such as he hath shewed in other his works of Wonder There are two Branches of this Doctrine which I set otherwise out thus 1. That it is a thing becoming the great God thus to deal with such a separate Soul having been wrought upon 2. That God hath designed and brings forth therein a glorious artifice and contrivement such as argueth him a God Wise in Counsel and Wonderful in Working I. First BRANCH of this second Doctrine That it becomes God The account of this becomingness is best made forth by comparing and bringing together into an enterview both the inward and outward condition of such a Soul and then the relations which God bears to it such as should thereupon move him through his good pleasure thus to deal with it You know I at first undertook chiefly Reasons of Congruity or Becomingness and such always consist of two parts and when the one answereth and suiteth to the other then the Harmony of such a Reason is made up Let US therefore consider 1. What is on the Souls 2. What on Gods part §. I. On the Souls part Therein two things First the species the kinde and intrinsecal rank of being which this creature we call the Soul thus wrought upon stands in afore God 2. The outward condition or case this Soul is left in upon its parting with the body unless God takes it up into glory First for its rank or kinde of being Therein two things 1. This Soul was by its first creation a Spirit and that in the substance or native kinde thereof and in that respect considered apart for its union with the body is in a more special manner allied unto God than all other creatures but Angels are You have the Pedegree of man both in respect of Body and Soul set out Acts 17. the extract of our bodies in ver. 26. He hath made of one blood all nations of men So then on that side as we say in respect of our bodies there is a Consanguinity of all men being made of one blood between one another But then in respect of our Souls we are Gods off-spring ver. 28. and so on that side there is an alliance not of Consanguinity unto God upon the account of having been created immediately by him and IN the very substance of our souls made like him and in his Image and yet we are not begotten of his Essence or Substance which is onely proper to His Great Son And in a correspondency unto this God is styled Heb. 12. 9. The Father of our Spirits in distinction from the fathers of our flesh or bodies see the words which alliance or fatherhood take it as in common with all mens spirits lieth in this That he not onely created our Souls immediately out of nothing but in his own Image as to the substance of them which image or likeness other creatures did not bear which yet were made out of nothing as the Chaos was both which appear by putting two places together Zech. 12. 1. He frameth their Spirits speaking of the Souls of men and that altogether saith the Psalmist Psal. 33. 15. so Ainsworth and others reade it that is both each of those Spirits and also wholly and totally every whit of the substance of them Creatio est productio totius entis for creation differs from generation in this that it is a raising up or producing the whole of a being out of meer nothing that is to say altogether whereas generation presupposeth pre-existent matter as in the generation of our bodies which are not wholly and every whit of God immediately but he parents afford the stuff the matter and the formative vertue besides by which our bodies are framed So then in respect of our first creation our souls apart considered are thus allied to God which our bodies are not being Spirits in the very being of them that altogether do owe that their being to him But there is
one of the eminent titles he takes into his coat The framer of the spirit of man within him Zach. 12. ch. 1. as in many other places This is argued also in that he speaketh of that in man which is the subject sensible of his immediate wrath I will not contend for ever nor will I be alwayes wroth This I have observed in what is publick of mine Now what moves him to remove his wrath from such an one The spirit would faile says he Now doth God thus professe to have a regard to them in this life and that upon this account that they are Spirits lest they should FAILE or faint and shall we not think that when indeed otherwise they do faile as after death you have heard even now Christ himself expresseth they would and would upon all these considerations before-mentioned sink into utter desolation unlesse they were received into everlasting habitations as Christ there also speaks Do we think that God will not now entertain them The time is now come the full time to have pity on them 2. God at this season forgets not but full well remembers his Relation of being THEIR CREATOUR both by the new also first creation the new reviving ingratiating the remembrance of the first The SOULS which I HAVE MADE said he in Esay But in our Peter this is more expresse and mentioned as that which indeed moves God and should be accordingly a support to our Faith to take care of our Souls when we come to die even upon this account that he is the faithfull creatour of them 1 Pet. 4. last Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the KEEPING OF THEIR SOULS to him in well-doing as unto a FAITHFUL CREATOR He speaks this specially unto such as were continually exposed unto persecution unto death for Christ in those Primitive times which therefore v. 12. he termes the fiery triall and ver. 17. forewarns them of a time of judgement was begun and going on upon the house of God such as they had not yet felt who yet Heb. 10. 32 33 34. had suffered reproch and spoyling of their goods as Peter writes to the same Jews hereupon Peter pertinently instructs them to commit the keeping of their souls unto God At death you know it is that when mens bodies are destroyed and so the season when their souls to be separated therefrom should be committed to Gods care as our Darling as our Translation or lovely soul when separate as others as Christ in David speaks Ps. 22. And Peter had in his eye Christ example and pointed them thereunto who at his death committed his separate Soul or Spirit into the hands of God Luke 23. 46. and the word commit is one and the same in both these places onely there is this difference that whereas Christ sayes Father I commit Peter substitutes another title of Gods there being more than one Relation moving God and strengthening our Faith to this even of faithfull creatour And I understand not the first creation onely or chiefly here meant by Peter but the second creation chiefly which brings into repute and acceptation with God the first again together with its own and so God is thereupon engaged to be faithfull in his care and provision for such souls according to his promises And faithfulnesse doth alwayes respect and refer unto Promises and my reason why thus I understand it is because I find Gods faithfulnesse still annexed unto his calling of us that is converting us which is al one with this new creation Faithfull is he that hath called you that is made you new creatures 1 Cor. 1. 9. 1 Thes. 5. 24. And I find that David also urges it upon God as a motive as in other Psalms So Ps. 138. 8. Forsake not the works of thine own hands that is this double workmanship of thine of the first and then superadded unto that of the second creation which he urgeth thereby to move him to perfect the work begun and to be mercifull unto him for ever in the former part of that verse 3. God professeth himself the FATHER of SPIRITS which relation though it speaks his being the Creatour of them at the first yet hath something more of bowels in it it sayes withall something further when it falls out that such Spirits as he is a Father unto by the first creation are also the subjects of His eternall love by Grace and Election unto the Adoption of children as Eph. 1. 3 4 5. see the words Which love having accordingly taken hold of their souls by a work of Grace wrought upon them in this life thereby owning them as his in this case that God that is a father of their Spirits by the law of the first creation is in a more transcendent manner become the father of the same spirits by Grace and the second Creation superadded Hence it falls out in a parallel way that as it was said such souls were become Spirit upon a double account that is spirits for the substance of their being and again spirit by being born again of the spirit so answerably it is that God stands in relation unto them as a father of their spirits upon the like double respect And this is equitable upon a very great account for his relation of Father is more eminent to his Grace by Election and then again by the grace of his second Creation then it could be any way supposed to be by the first creation And therefore is set and pitcht in like singularity and eminency upon the same object that is their spirits And hence it may well yea must be supposed and acknowledged That if God did make such a darling of the Soul such an account of it by creation as to entitle himself so specially the father thereof then certainly this love of grace much more hath in like equipage taken up the same gracious special relation in its kind of Father thereunto not onely because Natura shall never be found to exceed Grace in its favours but that indeed the motives are far greater that God should extend the like and greater priviledges where he meant to love by election and choice then he did where he loved onely by a due and meet law of creation So that when God shall professe himself a father to their spirits speaking to such as are his Elect he strongly insinuateth thereby That he is by Grace likewise the father of their spirits in a peculiar manner And truly that speech of our Saviour at his death confirmes it Father into thy hands I commit my spirit It was not barely as a father of his spirit by creation as our all know but by everlasting love and so in that respect also in a peculiar manner the Father of his spirit and therefore as to a Father he commends his separate Spirit unto him And this he did although he was to rise again in lesse than three whole dayes
space Now we read Heb. 12. 12. the Apostle to hold forth this very relation of Gods being a father of spirits with this promise thereunto annexed That they should live which relation of Father c. although it be there explicitely spoken in respect of their first Creation which is common unto the Saints with others yet being uttered of and unto men in the state of Grace as those were supposed whom he there exhorteth and that to move them to be subject unto him as such with promise that they should live it evidently respecteth not meerely the relation of Father in respect of what was past the act of creating them but it looketh to the future That they depended upon him as children do upon Fathers for their future livelihood so these for to live in him and with him as a father to their Spirits by Grace For I take hold of that word and live this life is well interpreted by ver. 14. They shall see God that is be glorified and so I conclude all thus that if he would have them be subject unto God in holinesse as upon that relation as unto the father of spirits with this promise That they should live then surely one speciall aim of the promise is answerable and hath this eye That God as a Father of their spirits will therefore take care of their spirits singly and so when separate that they shall live And that accordingly he will give demonstration of this special relation born to their spirits when the occasion shall be considered apart in bestowing this life on them and truly when its more proper for him to shew himself a Father then when their souls after their subjection to him in holinesse here accomplished and when that as naked spirits they come to stand in need and stand afore him in his presence being now turned out of house and home and quite cashired out of this world and come stript and naked of all but holinesse unto their Father for it is said They return to God that gave them who proves to be their Father by Grace And doubt not of it but he will certainly then own them and give them a Fathers blessing and not reject them as if they were but Bastards and no children as that Chapter to the Hebrews speaks but as spirits who as sons that have served him and been subject to him Add to this Fourthly God his being our God which is more home to the demonstration of this point then all the former The Text sayes He that wrought us for this is God I adde he is your God And this alone if we will take the Scriptures verdict will carry it and loe as he is styled The Father of spirits in common and yet withall a father of their spirits out of special love So in like manner he is styled both The God of the spirits of all flesh that is of man Job 12. 20. thus in common and also to his Elect I am your God by grace And these two relations God and Father are commensurate and exactly parallel whether they be applied unto all men in common or to the Elect in special he is termed The God of the Spirits and likewise The Father of the Spirits of all men So in common answerably he is Your God and Your Father by special grace to his Elect both which in this latter respect you finde yoked hand in hand Joh. 20. 17. Look how farre he is a God of the one so farre a Father also extendeth in the other And look how farre that he is our God so farre reacheth also that he is Our Father If therefore the God of our Spirits to provide for them because he is our God then answerably the Father of our Spirits in the like peculiarness because our Father And so the proof of this fourth Particular will adde further strength and confirmation to that we presented in the former Now that his being our God which is the substance of the Covenant of Grace doth engage him to provide glory for separate Souls That one instance of Abraham The Father of the faithful and we all his sons personated in him is a sufficient evidence God did profess himself The God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and unto Abraham Gen. 15. 1. personally I am thy abundant reward which respected the life to come and his Friend 2 Chron. 20. 7. Now the Scriptures of the New Testament do improve this relation of Gods unto us unto two inferences drawn from Abrahams instance whereof the one is the point afore us The first is Christs inference from thence That therefore Abrahams soul lives and Abraham both soul and body shall rise again for God is not the God of the dead but of the living Matth. 22. 31. Thus Christ 2. Paul's collection from the same Promise is that God had provided in the mean time for Abrahams soul afore the Resurrection a City and an House therein for him Thus Heb. 11. 16. But now they desire a better country that is an heavenly wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City To give light to this Paul had represented the story and case of Abraham and the rest of the Patriarchs in the verses afore to have been this That God had indeed promised the Land of Canaan to him and them ver. 8 9. whereupon ver. 13. it is said That these all died in faith not having received the promises being strangers in the land yea not having a foot of land in the Land of Promise as Stephen speaks Acts 7. 5 6 7. And also Paul in the 9th verse of this Heb. 11. Now then when they died what was it their faith expected in stead thereof The 10th verse tells us He looked for a City whose maker and builder is God From which compared observe That when he died his faith was thus pitch'd to look for this City in stead of that Land of Canaan promised This was the expectation of their faith on their part Well but how doth it appear that this flow'd from Gods having professed himself to be the God of Abraham c. his reward and his friend You have this clear in the 16th verse where you have the whole summ'd up as the Conclusion of the story and as the proof and ground hereof but now they desire a better Country that is an heavenly there is their faith and expectation when they should come to die Then it follows Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City which is spoken in full answer to that their expectation at their deaths to shew that God in professing himself to be their God he had thereby engaged himself according to his own intent in that promise to make this provision for them at their deaths The words are express Wherefore God is not ashamed what should this mean in this Coherence but that his declaring himself to be their
fathers Gen. 15. 15. There was then a City built and already replenish'd with Inhabitants and amongst others an house provided for him that is his Soul built of God and ready furnished against this removal Verse 2. For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven In this Verse he utters the working of the affections of Christians towards their being clothed upon with this house and so in order to this enjoyment of it their DESIRING even to be dissolved which Paul also utters of himself Phil. 1. Now if the first Verse speaks of the glory of a separate Soul when he calls it an house this second Verse must intend the same Verse 3. If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked In this Verse he gives an wholesome Caution by the way and withall insinuates why he used the word clothed upon in the fore-going Verse thus speaking of the glory of such a separate Soul even because it is absolutely necessary that all our Souls be found clothed first and renewed with Grace and Holiness and not be found naked at our deaths that is nor devoid of Grace and so exposed to shame and wrath as Rev. 16. 15. Verse 4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan being burthened not for that we would be unclothed but clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life The fourth Verse gives a genuine and sincere account why a Christian doth thus groan and that after dissolution it self in order to this glory which he sets out with an accurate distinction of their desires of dissolutions in difference from like desires in all other men First Negatively not for that being burthened we desire to be unclothed or dissolved that is simply for ease of those burthens nor out of a despising of our bodies we now wear as their Heathen Wise-men and Philosophers did and others do No But secondly Positively For this as the top-ground of that desire That we would be clothed upon with that house spoken of Ver. 1. and that still taken in the sense spoken of in the 2. Ver. to the end that this mortal animal life which the Soul though Immortal in it self now leads in the body full of sins clogg'd with a body of death and miseries each of which hath a Death in it and so it lives but a dying life that this life may be exchanged yea swalloed up by that which is life indeed The onely true Life the knowing God as we are known and enjoying him All which as to our Souls is truly performed at our Dissolution although the final swallowing up the mortality of our bodies also doth yet remain to be accomplish'd which will be done at the latter day at that Change both of Body and Soul though in respect of the Body it will be completed as then more fully This Interpretation and the suiting of all the phrases used in this 4th Verse to hold good of this Exchange at death I cannot through straitness of time give an account of now I have lately and very largely done it elswhere This for the Coherence I hasten to my Text TEXT Ver. 5. Now He that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is GOD who hath also given us the earnest of the Spirit THe current of the four former Verses running thus steadily along in this chanell the streame in this verse continues still the same There is one word in this verse {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} For this self-same thing God hath wrought us which serves as a clue of thred drawn through the windings of the former verses to shew us that one and the same Individuall Glory hath been carried on all along and still is in this verse also So then we see where we are What this self-same thing should be ask the first verse and it will tell you it is That house eternall in the Heavens a building of God prepared by him against the time that this earthly house is dissolved Ask the second verse it is the same house we grone to be clothed upon with when the other is pulled down Ask the fourth verse and more plainly It is that life which succeeds this mortall life the soul now lives in this body and swallows up all the infirmities thereof And then here it followes Even for this self-same thing c. So then if the glory of the separate soul be the subject of any of these verses then of all and so of this verse also And to be sure it cannot be that extraordinary way of entrance into Glory by such a sudden change both of soul and body into glory at once without dissolution should be the self-same thing here aimed at For it was not the lot of any of those Primitive Christians of whom the Holy Ghost here speaks this He hath wrought us for this thing that they should be in that manner changed and so enter into glory but the contrary For they all and all Saints since for these 1600 years have put off their Tebernacles by death as Peter did and speaks of himself 2. Pet. 1. 14. and therefore the Scripture or Holy Ghost foreseeing as the phrase is Gal. 3. 8. this change would be their fate would not have uttered this of them God hath wrought us for this whom he knew God had not designed thereunto Neither is it that those groaning desires spoken of in the foregoing verses 2 3 4. is that self-same thing here as some would for indeed as Musculus well If the Apostle had said He that hath wrought this thing in us c. That expression might have carried it to such a sense But he saith He that wrought us for the self-same thing And so 't is not that desire of glory in us is spoken of But us our selves and souls as wrought for that glory If it be asked what is the special proper scope of these words as touching this glory of the Soul The answer in generall It is to give the Rationall part of this point or demonstrative Reasons to evidence to believers That indeed God hath thus ordained and prepared such a glory afore the Resurrection And it is as if the Apostle had said Look into your own souls and consider Gods dealings with you hitherto viz. First the operation of his hands For what other is the meaning or mysterie sayes he of all that God is daily so at work at with you in this life What else is the end of all the workings of Grace in you and of God that is the worker This is his very design He that hath wrought us that is our souls for this very thing is God Besides the evidence that work gives there is also over and above the earnest of the Spirit given to your souls now whilest in your bodies in joy full of glories of the same kind as earnest are of what fulnesse of glory they are both capable of then and shall be
unto them that they should rest yet for a little season till they heard that vengeance also was executed on that Roman Empire for their blood shed And thus to deal is a righteous thing with God Thus you have seen the Point confirmed from all sorts of relations that God bears unto us by congruous Reasons that so it becometh God the great God to do He that hath wrought us for this thing is God And so much for this first Branch of this second Doctrine §. The II. BRANCH of the second Doctrine That there is a glorious Contrivement and Workmanship carried on in this Dispensation of his like unto the great God indeed This carries on this Point yet higher For it is not onely an Ordination becoming God upon the respects mentioned but there is an Artifice a Workmanship in it such as he useth to shew in his Works of Wonder even in this That he should work upon mens Souls in this life and then bring them into a glory he had in the mean space been a working also for those their souls This is the great God indeed When God secretly bestows Cost and Curiosity in preparing matters for such or such an end and then again as hiddenly hath laid out a greater Art Skill and Workmanship upon that End it self and then hath exactly suited and matched the one to the other when All comes to be finish'd and both wrought and brought together then will an infinite surpassing Glory arise unto God out of all which deserveth to have this Notoriety that is here put upon it He that hath wrought this for that Is GOD and lo this is found here which is demonstrated if we view 1. Each of these Workmanships singly and apart 2. Joyntly as designed and fitted each to the other §. 1. Each singly If there were no such ordination of the one for the other yet so considered they deserve to have each an He that hath wrought this is God to be written under it 1. For his Artifice in working us in this life Learned Cameron hath but one Note upon this whole fifth Chapter and it falls to be upon this very word who hath wrought and it is this This word says he as used by the Septuagint signifies Rem expolire rudem informem To polish a thing that is rude and without fashion for which he gives instance out of Exod. 35. 33. in Bezaleels work whom as the 31 32 verses speak of him God had filled with his Spirit in all Wisdome in all Workmanship to devise cunning work And again the same word is used of the Temple-work that other was for Moses Tabernacle 1 King 6. 36. by Solomon which how transcendent a structure it was you have all read or heard An infinitely surpassing Art then hath the Spirit himself who is the immediate worker in this shewn in the framing and hewing and curiously carving and engraving those living Stones that grow up into a Temple unto God 1 Pet. 2. 5. especially considering the utter remoteness indisposedness yea crookedness and perverseness in the matter wrought upon our Souls fill'd with the contrary form and workmanship of Satan Ye are his workmanship says the Apostle Eph. 2. 10. And truly if we could enlarge upon all the varieties of dealings God useth to each Soul to work it the several sorts of gracious dispositions he impresseth and carveth upon it the manifold actings of every soul drawn forth by him you may take a view of some in the very next chapter to that of my Text 2 Cor. 6. from the 4. v. In much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses v. 5. In stripes in imprisonments in tumults in labours in watchings in fastings v. 6. By purenesse by knowledge by long-suffering by kindnesse by the holy Ghost by love unfeigned v. 7. By the word of truth by the power of God by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left v. 8. By honour and dishonour by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true v. 9. As unknown and yet well known as dying and behold we live as chastened and not killed v. 10. As sorrowfull yet alway rejoycing as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things v. 11. O ye Corinthians our mouth is open unto you our heart is enlarged What a glorious Embroydery upon the soul of a poor believer will in all these things appear when finished Psal. 45. 13 14. The Kings daughter is all glorious within her cloathing is of wrought gold she shall be brought unto the King in rayment of needle-work 2. For his Art and Workmanship bestowed in the glory of the Soul in the other world if any work but Christ God-man be his Master-piece it is the framing of that House and building spoken of v. 1. of this ch. We have a building of God a house not made with hands And the 11. of the Hebrews 10. expresly useth two artificiall words {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the Artificer in it and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the Artificer in it and the Builder of it that is who hath shewn his art and skill in building of it So then in each his Workmanship appears I do but adde this towards the confirmation of the main point in hand Hath the Great God perfected both works upon the soul as much as he means to work in Heaven Also prepared a Building for it And will he then think we let both lie empty of the one sayes Heb. 11. 16. He hath prepared for them a city of the Soul in like manner He hath wrought us for this self-same thing Will God think we leave this his House stand desolate when he hath been at such cost in both Doth any man or Landlord build or repaire an house and then let it lie empty when he hath a Tenant fit for it God is said not to be a foolish Builder in respect to perfecting and he is much lesse a carelesse builder to neglect to take his tenants into it when both are ready and fitted each for other This for the first viz. the consideration of each singly §. Let us consider them next joyntly that is as they are in such a manner wrought apart so as to suit and match one the other when brought together in that manner as it must be said of them For this thing hath God wrought us Yea and therein it is he hath appeared to be the Great God For therein even to wonderment doth the Glory of God in his works appeare and that he is wise in counsel and wonderfull in working when he hath hiddenly contrived one thing for another when as each are in themselves and apart glorious It is said by David of himself and it is true of all men in their measure Psal. 139. 15. I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth that is in my mothers womb
as the context shews which are termed the Lower parts of the earth as when Christ is said Eph. 4. to have descended into the lower part of the earth that is to be conceived in the womb of a Virgin when a child is born a lump of flesh animated with a soul comes forth curiously wrought c. but wrought for what in Davids person in which this was spoken it was for a Kingdome the supremest condition of enjoyments in this World But in every other man that is born it is that he was curiously wrought in a fitnesse and capacity to all things that are in this world made and prepared exactly for it long afore it came into the world you may see it in Adam our first pattern more lively God was busie for six dayes in making this world the Angels all that while stood wondring with themselves to what end or for whom all this was prepared At the end of the sixth day they saw God to set down into the world this little thing called Man and then they ceased their wonderment for they saw all this world prepared aforehand set in mans heart and all in man curiously wrought and fitted for all things made in this world richly to enjoy as 1 Tim. 6. 17. We may apply that in the Text to this it appeared That he that hath man for this self-same thing is God both works of wonder apart and yet as fitted to each other All wonderment exceeding I might much more enlarge upon the suiting of Christ the Head and Husband and the Church His Body and Wife wrought and growing up to him in all ages both apart secretly and hiddenly prepared and each so glorious in themselves and yet put together Let us refer our Admiration hereat untill the latter day Just thus it is in fitting the soul for that glory and again that glory in Heaven for that soul God works the one for the other apart The very similitude in the former verses do import so much He styleth Glory in Heaven a being clothed upon and Holinesse here he compares to an under-garment which that of Glory is to be put over or upon There was never a curious Artist in making Garments that ever took measure of the proportions of an upper and under Garment to fit the one to the other as God hath in proportioning his work upon us here and his preparation of Glory for each of us in the world to come He hath took exact measure and his law is that designed his own workings on both hands afore-hand that every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour 1 Cor. 3. 8. Now the Artifice of God in both these lies in this That each are hiddenly contrived apart and yet so gloriously matcht as wrought one for the other which is an argument as of two Artificers the one in the East Indies the other in the West should the one make the Case the other make the Watch unbeknown each to other and both workmanships of the highest curiosity in their kind and when both brought together they exquisitely fit the one the other §. And what Have I been telling you all this while an artificiall pleasant Story Doth not this Scripture tell the very same For a close Do but now at last take a view and prospect of our Apostles whole discourse The Round and Cicle whereof begun at v. 16. of ch. 4. and endeth with my Text and do you not find it speak to use the Texts language the very self-same thing 1. He tells us there of an inward man renewed whilest the outward is a perishing to the end it may live and subsist alone when the body is wholly dissolved there he layes his Foundation And is not this all one with what the Text sayes God works Us these souls day by day Even as the child is curiously wrought in the womb to subsist of it self alone in this world so this inward man in that other 2. He then immediately subjoyns ver. 17. that All Afflictions which are nothing else but the Perishings of this outward man as also All things and dispensations else that do befall us they are secretly at work too all that while so set to work by God who works the inner man daily unto such a measure of Grace and these to work and by his ordination procure a proportionable weight for God works all these things in weight and measure our light affliction works for us a far more exceeding and eternall WEIGHT of glory as shall in a comely and in the exactest manner answer and suit that curious workmanship on the inward man and it is observable that the same word for working is used in that verse that is used in my Text but yet these are but outwardly a work as inferiour Artificers or Instruments Therefore 3. He further declares 1. verse of this chapter That God himself is at work about this glory who as the Master-workman that hath the draught and platform of all afore him drawn by his own designing he viewing the inward work on us the outward work of meanes and dispensations and knows afore-hand what degree of holinesse to bring us ultimately unto he according unto these as patterns is a framing a building for us in Heaven exactly suited to the working of all the other which building he prepares and makes ready for this inner man to entertain it when the body is dissolved If our earthly house were dissolved we have a building of GOD an house not made with hands of either Men or Means or of our own Graces but OF GOD But every soul hath a state of Glory proportioned to all these ready built for it against this time even as Statues in stone are framed and carved to be set up in such a curious Arch framed for them by the Builder Now then 4. Adde but the words of my Text which is the close of this his discourse And it opens all the Scene He that wrought us for this self-same thing is GOD The Apostles conclusion answers his beginning he began in v. 16. ch. 4. and the circle ends in my Text And This is GOD who is wise in working and wonderfull in counsel §. But there is a third point yet remains Doctrine III. That it is the interest and engagement of all Three persons to see to it that a righteous separate soul be brought to glory at dissolution And this carries it yet higher even to the highest and gives the most superabundant security and assurance of this thing that can be given and superadds above all the former But you will ask me How I fetch this out of my Text Thus 1. You see here are Two Persons expresly named God the Father namely and the Spirit This is a Rule that where the name God and then some besides other of the Two Persons Christ or the Spirit are mentioned therewith as distinct There God is put personally not essentially onely to expresse The Father
Now here the Spirit or holy Ghost is mentioned distinct from God For it is said that This God hath given the Spirit which also Christ so often speaketh of the Father as I need not to insist on it 2. It is an other Rule That in any Scripture where Two Persons are mentioned as concurring in any thing or matter There the other Third Person also must be understood to have his speciall share therein also as when he wisheth grace and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ 'T is certain the holy Ghost is as specially understood as indeed we find him in that Apostolicall blessing as distinctly spoken of as the Father or Christ Thus it must be here Christ must be taken in who also in John is so often said to give the Spirit when the Father gives him as it is said here he hath For this same thing But 3. You have even Christ also not farre off interested in this self-same thing in the next verse and v. 8. Absence from the Lord whilest in the body v. 6. and presence with the Lord when separate from the body v. 8. This Lord is Christ the phrase of the New Testament concerning Christ runs in this style To be with Christ This day with me To be where I am and see my Glory So Christ To be with Christ is best of all and we shall be ever with the Lord So Paul Use 1. Doth God work Us for this thing ere he brings us to it What hath God wrought hitherto upon Thee or Thee in order to this end 'T is a blunt question but the Text puts it in my mouth How many souls are there living in the profession of Christianity that know not what this means to have a work wrought on them a-new upon them over and above what morall Honesty which was Natures portion and the common profession of Christianity addes thereunto by custome and meer education An honest Turk professing also and observing the Principles of his Religion upon the ground of his education onely and a Religion every man must have will as soon go to Heaven as Thou for all thy Religion is founded but upon the like foundation that his is I tell thee that Christian Religion is not a thing so cheap nor Salvation by Christ at so low a rate Thou must have a work upon thy soul suited unto all the truths thus professed in the power and efficacy of them They must enter thy soul by a spirituall faith and frame and mold it anew to a likeness to them Carry home therefore the Caveat our Apostle hath put in ver. 3. If so be that being clothed we be not found naked of Grace and Holiness wrought and Christs Righteousness by spiritual efficacious faith applied Faith in earnest bowing the Soul to be obedient unto Christ as heartily and as honestly as it expects salvation by Christ as without which thou wilt never be saved This is our Religion and when at death thy Soul thy poor lonesome Soul being stript of all things in this world even the Body and all shall come afore the great God and Jesus Christ what will the enquiry be as Matth. 22. 11. When THE KING came in to see the guests he saw a man had not the Wedding-garment he spied him out And the man was speechless v. 12. Take him and hinde him says he and cast him into utter darkness v. 13. The other that were clothed were admitted unto the Marriage and as the Psalmist the words of which are here alluded unto She was brought unto the KING the very Title which in both these places is given to Christ see ver. 11. in rayment of Needle-work and this clothing is of Gods working and so my Text falls in with both There is no admission unto Christ without it This the first Use Use 2. Hath God begun to work this good work in thee he will perfect it whereof the Text gives this assurance that he hath wrought it for this thing that is for this end and God will not lose his end Besides he says he hath given earnest Use 3. Thou Saint be content TO LIVE for whilst thou livest thou art under Gods working in order unto Glory Value life 't is a season of being wrought upon And to be sure thou shalt live no longer than whilst God is some way or other a working this What an advantage is it that all thy sins occasioned by living long shall surely be forgiven and nothing of thy score be uncut off for thee but all the righteousness that is wrought upon thee and wrought by thee and therefore wrought by thee because upon thee for being wrought upon we work and all is rather God hath wrought us than that we have wrought All thy righteousness I say shall remain for ever All the time thou remainest in this life thy Soul is ripening or maturing for Glory How great a comfort is that in explicating the Doctrinal part I gave instance of a Childe in the Womb curiously wrought all that time in order to its living and subsisting afterwards in this world 'T is a dark place the Womb which the Childe is wrought in and it lives there in a stifled condition it cannot breathe it takes nourishment but at the Navel a way invented and prepared of God meerly for that season it lies boiling tossing and tumbling and sleeping away the most of its time and gives now and then a faint stirring to shew it is still alive and it is a life scarce worth the name of life Well but all this is a being wrought and fitted to live another freer and braver life in this world And this is your present case your life is hid it is to come all that you finde in this world is but that God hath wrought you for the self-like thing And if this Childe we spake of should be forced out of the womb afore the due time it would have the more imperfect life in this world So here if you could suppose a Saint should die afore the full birth of his Souls being wrought on Therefore be content to wait Gods leisure until your change shall come Use 4. No matter what befals thee so it works towards this end let whatever be so thou findest God to go on with this design that he works upon thy soul be it upward in communion with himself or downward in disowning thy self thy vileness and corruptions so it works Thou hast afflictions that break thy heart as reproch broke Christs heart says the Psalmist in his name no matter so they work upon thy Soul Know then that they are set awork by the hand that sent them to work a far exceeding weight of glory for thee If by any means says Paul no matter what so the work go on A Carver comes with his Chissels and cuts off this piece and cuts in to that part of the Stone No matter a stately Statue bearing the Image of some Person of Honour is to be set up for perpetuity and is accordingly a framing So though God carves his Image out of thy flesh no matter Comfort thy self and think not much at any condition whilst as Paul says it turns to thy salvation Election sent thee not into this world to have a great Name perhaps God will load it nor to be Rich or to have Power but to work thee for this self-same thing and if thou seest that Plough a going though it makes deep furrows on thy back yea heart yet so that this seed be sown therein rejoyce for thou shalt bring thy sheafs with thee For my self so that I finde Election pursuing its design of making me holy and blessing me with spiritual blessings in heavenly places as Ephes. 1. 4. I care not I would not care what befalls me in this World FINIS Observa quòd non in futuro dicit Parabir nos Non demum parabitur ubi jam induendum est c. Musc. in lucum Eccle. c. 9. v. 10 Psal. 6. v. 5. 1 Cor. 13 8. 2 Cor. 9. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 23. Ver. 25. Magis conveniens videtur ut animae in quibus per prius fuit culpa meritum prius etiam vel puniantur vel praemientur Aquinas cont. Gent. Lib. 4. cap. 91. sect. 3. 2 Cor. 12. Acts 10. 47. (a) 2 Cor. 13. 8 13. (b) 1 Thes. 1. 11 John 6. 28. John 9. 51. Chap. 11. 26. Heb. 10. v. last Jam. 5. v. last {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Joh. 3. Rom. 7. 22 25. Luke 26. 22. Heb. 1. ult. Child of Light walking in Darknesse Psal. 22. See Ainsw. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Numb. 16. 22. Heb. 11. 6. Gen. 15. 1. See Burgensis Maldonat c. Lev. 19 13. Deut. 24. 15. Eccles. 12. 5. In his Myrothecium {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Job 36. 7. 1 Pet. 1. Acti agimus 2 Cor. 9. 9. Psal. 139. 15. Phil. 3.