His belly is as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires His tender Bowels and boundless affections to his people are wonderfully lovely and delighting they are pure firm and fixed in their nature and they are chearing and enriching in their effects O Christs love is not fleeting 't is firm as Ivory set with gold overlaid with Saphires O how rich are his affections what a Treasure to those that have him His legs are as Pillars of Marble set upon sockets of fine gold The gracious motions and efficacious workings of his Spirit are exceeding mighty and glorious full of strength He hath power to bear up all those that follow him His legs are strong he can carry his Lambs that are committed to his arms there 's no burden too heavy for Christ his loins are strong he can bear what is laid upon him the weight of all the Saints on Earth is nothing to him He can carry on all his intendments and interest in the World his legs are as Marble able to bear his Body quick in motion O what a lovely Christ is this display'd in the Gospel His countenance is as Labanon excellent as the Cedars Those discoveries the Lord Jesus Christ makes of himself in his word and works are wonderful taking exceeding enriching Christ's word is fruit fullizing O when he speaks to the hearts of his Children what a deal of vertue goes through his lips Grace is poured out of his lips Milk and hony is under his tongue His appearances carries excellency riches and glory with them His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely His discourses the openings of his mind is wonderful pleasing The word of Christ never cloys the spiritual part Thus you see what a Person Jesus Christ is O Sinners consider his beauty O how lovely an object is he what can you object against his Person why you will not espouse him Thirdly Consider his lovely dispositions O Sinners will you accept of him He is of an excellent Spirit of a very sweet nature full of grace and goodness His sweet dispositions have been largely opened already he is full of mercy and compassions meekness gentleness patience long-suffering slow to anger ready to forgive great in kindness free and bountiful of a generous Spirit true and faithful Sinners you may trust him with your secrets you may venture your Souls upon him He is harmless and inoffensive he doth wrong to no man his company is lovely and desirable His converses are pleasant and profitable O what a person is Christ O Sinners never was such a one offer'd you as Christ is why will you not come unto him Fourthly Consider his quality and high dignity he is no mean Person but a mighty Potentate 1 Tim. 6. 15. The sole and only superintendent of the whole World the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords He is not only a King but the King the only true Potentate from whom all ohters derive their glory a King not only of Men but of Saints not only of Saints but of Angels of Thrones Principalities and Powers Math. 26. 53. And can command them down now he is in Heaven for the service of his elect Heb 1. 14. Are they not all Ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation O Sinners shall this prevail with you to accept of him Fifthly Take notice of his potency He hath power as well as honour Math. 28. 18. All things are put under his feet Heb. 2. 8. All the Armies of Heaven and Earth are deliver'd over to him He is Lord of Hosts He hath the Keys of Heaven Death and Hell Rev. 1. 18. Who then can lock out Christ or exclude him from doing what he pleaseth seeing all things are at his beck He doth whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven and in Earth in the Seas and in all deep places Psa 135. 6. He sitteth in the Heavens and laughs the Counsels of the Potentates to scorn he makes no reckoning of their combinations but derides their ambitious attempts against him Psa 2. 4. He shall pass thorow and over-flow and break all their consederacies in pieces Isa 8. 8 9 10. Let all the subtleties of Hell be woven together to make a web to catch the interest of Christ in it shall all be as a spiders web that can soon be swept away O admire the Kingdom of Christ the glorious power of Christ nothing is too hard for him He hath an absolute unlimited and uncontroulable power He is the supream over all persons and all things in all places Lands and Countries O what power hath he not only Authority but likewise Might 2 Chro. 20. 6. In his hand there is power and might and none is able to withstand him O Sinners come away to Christ he can protect you and defend you from dangers Sixthly Observe his wisdom too this is taking with some to have a head that hath intellectuals in him and marry one that hath exquisite parts and eminency of knowledge Now all Treasures of wisdom are in him Col. 3. 3. His judgments are unsearchable and past finding out Rom. 11. 33. His judgments his acts in the World his Righteous deeds and the way he takes to accomplish his designs O how wonderful deep are they The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of wisdom and understanding the Spirit of Counsel and might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord Isa 11. 2. He is of quick understanding full of judgment called The wonderful Counsellour Isa 9. 6. The only wise God from whom all wisdom is fetch'd that fills Men and Angels all the World do light their Candles at his Torch He is the Sun that fills the whole Creation with beams There 's no searching of his understanding he can bring to light the hidden things of darkness 1 Cor. 4. 5. He hath eyes can reach where men cannot he can reveal the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. O Sinners what an excellent one is Christ O how worthy of your choice Seventhly Weigh the glorious and blessed effects of your closing with the Lord Jesus Christ Sinners the very day you marry Christ he will pay all your debts and they are many he will pardon all your sins blot out all your iniquities remember them no more He will free you from all your Bondages deliver you from all your fears secure you from all your dangers if you will but espouse him O the very day you marry Christ he will wipe off all your shame and remove your reproach He will heal all your wounds and sicknesses he will begin to heal them immediately and never leave till he hath perfectly cured your Souls He will strip off all your filthy garments and cloath you with broidered rayment he will advance you to highest dignity he will lift up your heads above
known The Psalmist alludes to that Providence of God in leading Israel through the red Sea when Deaths were on every hand God walked on those Waters and made a way through them for his People So Nah. 1. 3. The Lord hath his way in the Whirlwind and in the Storm and the Clouds are the dust of his Feet Those ways that men cannot stand up in are Gods usual walks in which he leads on his Work and Interest His wayes are above our wayes and In the Mount will the Lord be seen Gen. 22. 14. His Providences Ezek. 1. 16. are like a Wheel in the middle of a wheel and a skain of Silk strangely entangled When Israel was come near the Borders of the promised Land they must be turned back again into the Wilderness and wander up and down forty years in the Desarts When Sion's Mercies were come to the Birth they prov'd Abortive Strange indeed is the Womb of Divine Providence and seemingly contradictory to Humane Reason Thirdly No cross Providences can hinder Christ's Work in the World He hath purposed and will perform it Combinations of men Psal 2. 1 2. the Gates of Hell Matth. 16. 18. and the Powers of this World can no more impede the Success of Christ's Work than the Barking of Dogs can hinder the Moon 's passage to its Journey end Isa 43. 13. I will work and who shall let it Who art thou O great Mountain before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain Zach. 4. 7. He taketh up the Isles as a very slender thing Isa 40. 15. The Lord brings in his mightiness here to comfort Israel under Discouragements by reason of Difficulties in the way of their Mercy Comfort ye my People saith the Lord ver 1. Tell her her warfare is accomplished ver 2. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed ver 5. O Jerusalem that bringest good tidings lift up thy voice with strength Be not afraid of Dangers preach my Word be undaunted in my Service Behold your God ver 9. He will come and his Reward with him ver 10. He will feed his Flock like a Shepherd v. 11. He will keep up his Word and Ordinances in spight of all opposition Obj. But our Enemiâ—s are many Ans Why he hath measured all the waters of opposition in the hollow of his hand vers 12. Obj. But all our wisdom cannot see how these great things should be brought about Ans Why who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord ver 13. He wants not wisdom to accomplish his Work Obj. But Nations and Islands combine against God's Israel Answ What if they do they are no more to God than the drop of a bucket and the dust of the Balance ver 15. Therefore fear not he will perform his Promises and fulfil his Designs Quest Why what hath he promised Answ He hath promised that the stone cut out of the Mountain without hands shall become a great Mountain and break in pieces the Image of the Beast Dan. 2. 35 45. and that he will set up the Kingdom of his Son in the World ver 44. Isa 2. 2. He hath promised Peaceful times to the Church of God when the Sword shall be turned into Plow-shares Isa 2. 4. Isa 55. 13. Great shall be the peace of thy Children None shall hurt or destroy in all God's holy Mountain Isa 65. 25. Ezek. 28. 24 Isa 16. 18. Psal 72. 9. He hath promised times of Light and Knowledge Isa 11. 9. chap. 52. 8. ch 54. 13. ch 60. 19 20. He hath promised times of Holiness Isa 60. 21. ch 4. 3. ch 35. 8. Zech. 14. 20 21. He hath promised times of Union Zech. 14. 9. Zeph. 3. 9. Ezek. 37. 19. He hath promised times of Joy and Comfort to his Interest Isa 65. 13 14. ch 35. 10. ch 25. 8. He hath promised Enlargement to the Church Isa 2. 2. ch 60. 8 9 13. He hath promised Stability and Settlement Isa 54. 14. ch 60. 20. He hath promised Activity and Liveliness Isa 26. 19. Fourthly As those great and glorious things are spoken of Sion so they shall certainly be accomplished in due time Isa 60. 22. Deut. 32. 35. The Vision is but for an appointed time Hab. 2. 3. As the Things are appointed so is the Time beyond which God will not go one moment Exod. 12. 41 42. The self-same day the Jewish Doctors say it was mid-day as soon as one hundred and thirty years was out to an hour God fulfill'd his Promise Lastly God takes usually the most unlikely time to fulfill his Promises As in Abraham when his Body was dead Gen. 18. 10 11. Abraham and Sarah were sensible of an utter inability and unfitness in themselves for such a Mercy yet then was the Promise fulfilled Gen. 22. 14. So Israel were brought out of Egypt when all things made against it their Oppressions increased Exod. 2. 23. chap. 5. 7 8 19. Pharaoh resolv'd not to let them go Exod. 10. 27. and Moses charg'd to see his face no more on pain of Death chap. 10. 28. When Gods time was come to bring Israel out of Babylon they were as dry Bones and said Our hope is lost we are cut off for our parts Ezek. 37. 11 12. Psal 126. 1. Deut. 32. 36. Mic. 4. 10. Thou shalt go into Babylon and there shalt thou be delivered Before that glorious Salvation of the Jews in Shushan under Ahasuerus they were brought under a Sentence of Death the Decree was seal'd and posted away the time appointed for their destruction and no possible hopes left of reversing it Esth 3. 12. to the end compar'd with Chap. 8. So much for the Use of Consolation CHAP. VIII Containing an Vse of Exhortation to Sinners and Saints IF the Lord Jesus Christ be such a Glorious Mediator then First Let perishing Sinners be perswaded to get an Interest in him And for Motive herein consider these four or five things First The Lord Jesus will Mediate for and save none but those that are his Many common Mercies Favours and Boons he bestows on his Enemies but Salvation-blessings are the priviledges only of his People Matth. 1. 21. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Luke 1. 68. Secondly Many will lay claim to Christ who have no Interest in him Luke 13. 25. High Pretenders may be shaken off Math. 7. 22. chap. 25. 12. Some that shall think themselves something may be found nothing some that shall be thought Saints by others may yet be cast away 1 Joh. 2. 19. As Hymenaeus and Alexander 1. Tim. 1. 20. The Galathians and scattered Saints Gal. 1. 6. chap. 3. 3. 2 Pet. 1. 20. Rev. 8. 12. Nay the very Elect shall find it hard to stand Matth. 24. 24. Thirdly There is but a time in which Christ may be found Isa 55. 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found intimating there is a time in which he will not when the door will be shut and Christ will speak knock and call no more There is but a day of Grace
approves of as his Creatures his Providences and Evils of Punishment which are just and righteous But sinful Evils have no dependance on his Fore-knowledge or Influence from his Essence Indeed Actions as they are natural have their Being from God but the pravity and sinfulness of those Acts Sin being but the privation of that good which was and should be in them is derived from the Subject whose Acts they are As the Motion of the Clock is from the Art of the Artificer but the obliquity of the Motion is from some defect in the Clock it self Gods fore-knowledge of Sin confers no Physical Vertue and necessity to the Being and succession of Sin and yet his knowledge of it is certain all things being naked and manifest in his sight who is Truth it self and cannot deceive or be deceived He determining to permit the Being of Sin must needs fore-know it else his Knowledge would not be perfect and if his Knowledge should be imperfect his Essence would be so too they being both the same but this cannot consist with the Fountain of all Perfection He is the Holy One and can do no Iniquity Zeph. 3. 5. His Fore-knowledge of Sin doth not offer Violence to the Nature of man or destroy the natural Freedom of his Will but foreseeing what man would be determined to leave him to the natural Motion of his own Will Judas betraying Christ as it was sinful was the Consequent of Gods Foreknowledge but the effect of his own Covetousness Acts 2. 23. All Contingencies are perfectly foreseen of God also both in himself as the first Cause and so they are necessary to succeed in due time he sees them also in the second Causes in respect of which they are said to be contingent for to God nothing is accidental although it seems so to men through an Unacquaintedness with their Dependance on the first Cause Rebeccah's meeting Abraham's Servant at the Well and her Discourse with him Gen. 24. 15. seem to Standers by to be things contingent but look back to the former Verse and you will see them to be the answer of Prayer and so before appointed The like was the Midianites drawing Joseph out of the Pit Gen. 37. and the Wind blowing down the House on Job's Children Job 1. though they look like Accidents yet were the Effects of Gods Permission and fore-appointment Again God fore-knows all Contingencies not only as they are in their first and second Causes but as they are in themselves for all things being present to him he perfectly knows what every Cause will produce in time and so must necessarily come to pass according to that Axiome Every thing that is when once it is it appears necessary that it should be Acts 15. 18. Known unto God are all his Works from the beginning of the World Heb. 4. 13. Neither is there any Creature which is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open to the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Psal 56. 8. Thou tellest my wandrings put thou my tears into thy Bottle are not they in thy Book Psal 139. 2. Thou understandest my Thoughts afar off that is before they are in Being Prov. 15. 3. The Eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good This Wisdom of Christ as God is part of his Unsearchable Treasure and so great a Deep that 't is past finding out by his most intelligent Creatures in Heaven and Earth Rom. 11. 33. O the depths of the Riches both of the Wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgments and his wayes past finding out Again as God is infinitely wise in himself so is he the Author of all Wisdom to his Creatures He enlightneth every one that cometh into the World Jo. 1. 9. This is laid down to prove the Divine Nature of Christ he is the Word which is God this appears both in his making all things verse 3. and in his incomprehensible Essence He is the Light shining in Darkness and the Darkness comprehends it not Also he is the Fountain of all that Light and Life his Creatures enjoy and therefore must needs be God The Evangelist doth not speak here of Christ as Mediator and so of that saving Light which he gives to his Elect by his Spirit but of his divine Essence which the Jews would not own and as a proof of it doth instance in his creatorly Power he is the Fountain of that natural Light which all men have all Wisdom comes from him who is the Father of Lights he is the Fountain of Light able to fill the Children of men with all that Knowledge that is necessary to their highest Happiness to guide them with his Eye and lead them into all Truth First This yields wonderful Comfort to Believers that they have chosen such a Saviour as is able to make them wise to Salvation who not only knows what is best for them but can also reveal and make out the Knowledge thereof to them that they might know and chuse what makes for their best Good here and for ever He is the Son of Righteousness Mal. 4. 2. The bright Morning Star Rev. 22. 16. The Light of Israel Isa 10. 7. The Pillar of Fire by Night Neh. 9. 12. To shew them their way in their greatest Difficulties and Obscurity Secondly This assures gracious Souls that he who hath undertaken their Conduct Supply and Preservation to Glory knows how to make it good and finish the work he is intrusted with he can keep that good thing committed to him he can help them in the worst of Straits and lead them through the greatest Improbabilities Weaknesses Dangers yea Impossibilities to their desired Rest Thirdly This also relieves them that they have a Friend in Heaven who knows their Soul in Adversity and is acquainted with all their Troubles Wants Weaknesses Wrongs Fears Dangers yea with all their Labours Duties Desires and Designs for him and knows how to succour comfort support and deliver them when all Refuge fails them and there is none to help and how to requite and crown all their Duties and Sufferings for his Name He knows their Corruptions the Strength and Prevalency of them and how to subdue and destroy them he sees their Ways and Infirmities and how to heal them he knows the Power and Malice of their Enemies to restrain them and discovers the most secret Plots against his innocent ones to disappoint them that in vain is the Snare laid in his Sight against them He observes thy Tears Believer thy corner Duties thy Bed-side Breathings after him though hid from others he takes notice of thy Innocency when men revile thee and knows how to plead thy Cause and bring thee to the Light Fourthly This will serve to humble the proud Heart of men that God is acquainted with all their Vileness he sees their high their fretful their vain their unclean their unsound their rebellious Hearts Souls men see
the best of you your fair and specious Duties but he sees your inside and all your secret Rottenness when you sit before him as his People sit and seem devout in your Services he at the same time knows where your Thoughts are wandring and espies every vain Motion and sinful glance of your deceitful Eye when thou prayest with greatest Zeal his Eye is upon thy close Hypocrisie thy spiritual Pride thy base ends and those conceived Lusts which will break out when thy Duties are over O how should this abase thy proud Heart and prevent thy swelling Thoughts upon conceited Excellencies in thy self or supposed Worth in thy Duties seeing he knows what is in thee and how vain man would be wise This also should advise thy Soul to Sincerity in thy Profession Purposes Promises Duties because he beholds thee and weighs thy Paths searcheth thy Heart tries thy Reins and will shortly bring thy secret things to Judgment Lastly This counsels such as want Wisdom to be looking to Jesus and waiting at the Fountain and Spring-head for their Instruction Sixthly the Omnipotency of Christ is another of those glorious Properties of the divine nature which renders him so vast and unconceivable a Treasure to all that receive him He is the mighty God the everlasting Father Isa 9. 6. who hath infinite Strength to order and establish his Kingdom and to exert his Government in Sion and over Nations his Strength must needs be infinite because his Kingdom is eternal no created humane arm can sway the Scepter of the World and maintain an everlasting Rule over the Hearts and Conversations of all his People in all Ages and therefore he must be God and the mighty God to transact the whole Work that concerns him as Mediator and to answer the Appellations given him in Scripture Things are ascribed to Christ which cannot be performed by less than an infinite Power First His creating all things in Heaven and Earth Col. 1. 16. By him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him He is the eternal Word the Exemplar and efficient Cause of all created Beings The Heavens and Earth Angels and men the Inhabitants of the upper and nether World were all form'd by Jehovah Christ who gave Being to all his Creatures as pleased him and therefore his Power must needs be Almighty who is the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the Earth that fainteth not be that giveth Breath unto the People upon it and Spirit to them that walk therein Isa 40. 28. chap. 42. 5. What a potent Lord have Believers chosen who can supersede all their Difficulties by his Creation-help if his whole Store-house of Heaven and Earth be not full enough to supply their Wants he can soon set forth a new Edition of Mercies by his own immediate arm if their way to Glory lye through a waste howling Wilderness where no Foot-steps can be seen to guide them he can create a Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire by Night to conduct them If their Provisions fail to relieve them in their Journey he can rain a Shower of Manna from his secret Granary and open the Caverns of the Flinty Rock and put new Springs into the barren Wilderness to refresh them when they are invironed with Troops of Death he can in a Moment interpose his fiery Chariots and Horse-men and when all their Deliverers fail send from Heaven and save them when the Visibility of Religion ceases and the Heavens pass away as a Scrole when the Glory of the Lords House is dissolv'd into a Chaos when the Gold of the Sanctuary is become Dross and the Gospel-Church metamorphoz'd into the old World he can even then create a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness Is thy Heart Believer full of filthiness Thy Redeemer can create a clean Heart and if thy Tempest-tossed Soul can find no rest thy Lord can create the Fruit of the Lips Peace for thee What is too hard for a creating Arm to do Or what can undoe that People who have a faithful Creator to commit themselves and all their Concerns unto Secondly Another Proof of the Omnipotency of Christ is the upholding all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 1. 4. Who being the Brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power Here 's another Royalty of the divine Nature of Christ a new beaming out of his Glory as God even in the bearing up maintaining and Dispose of the whole Creation in the former ver the forming of the Universe and whole World was ascribed to Christ and here the Preservation of it also is laid upon him as a further Evidence of his oneness with the Father having begun his Work in the Creation he carries it on in his providential Sustentation thereof He is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. He is the Foundation that underprops the whole Fabrick of Heaven and Earth which would soon sink down into its first nothing if everlasting Arms were withdrawn from beneath it he that first gives Being to his Creatures must continue it Conservation is but a Continuation of the first act of Creation to preserve the World from Destruction to continue the Creatures in their peculiar Nature and Properties and to govern those Diversities in an united Subserviency to his Will and Glory and the Well-being of the whole is a work of infinite Power and needs the same Strength that first produced them And this is the work Christians of your Messiah that person who is God-Man who by his divine power and efficacious Providence animates actuates cherishes quickens and sweetly disposes of all Creatures Actions and Affairs in the World He is the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth that changes Times and Seasons whose hands are under his Wings and hath a wheel within the Wheels that turns about things as pleaseth him brings Light out of Darkness Order out of Confusion Good out of Evil who hath the Government on his Shoulders and absolute Power in his hand to dispose of all persons and things as may most further the Pleasure of his own Will the Advance of his Glory and the Good of them that fear him And is not this Security enough to those who have intrusted themselves and all their Concerns with this glorious Potentate and King of Kings who hath the Management of all things in Heaven and Earth that it shall be well at last with the righteous the momentous Affairs of the world and of Sion shall issue in the best Good of those that love his Name How should this calm the tumultuous Fears of the godly into a sweet Serenity of Spirit and still their tempestuous Thoughts in a quiet Relyance on the Arm Care and
he is able to perform hence 't is said Joh. 1. 16. Of his Fulness we have all received and Grace for Grace Of that Fulness which the Divine Nature is alwayes issuing out to the Humane Nature of Christ do Believers receive Grace for Grace Grace sutable to Grace in Christ so that the Humane Nature of Christ must needs be alwayes full of Grace by reason of its Union with the Divine As the Sun that gives out Light is alwayes full of Light and the Sea that sends forth Waters to the Rivers is never vacant This is a glorious Mystery of wonderful Encouragement to Believers to consider what a full Jesus they are related to Thirdly By vertue of this Union the Lord Jesus Christ hath right to all Glory and Adoration of Men and Angels as Mediatour He is the most Illustrious Person all Honour Blessing Praise Glory Adoration is due to him Heb. 1. 6. When he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him Surely he must be a glorious Person when all the Angels must bow at his Feet Seraphims Cherubims and all the Host of Heaven stoop and give Homage to him this the Lord Jesus Christ hath a proper Right to as he is God-Man Phil. 2. 9. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name Every Tongue shall confess at last that he is Lord ver 11. Rev. 1. 17. And when I saw him I fell at his Feet as dead O the very Vision of Christ is enough to strike a poor Creature to the Earth Rev. 4. 9 10 11. The four and twenty Elders fell down and worshipped this glorious Person that sate upon the Throne which is Jesus Christ Joh. 5. 23. That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father So that God the Son the Second Person the Mediatour of his People deserves all that Divine and Religious Worship which is due to God as God Thrones and Principalities are made by him and put under him Col. 1. 16. 17. Fourthly By vertue of this Union the Lord Jesus Christ hath absolute Authority Kingship and Headship in his Church and over all things to the Church Matt. 28. 18. All Power is given to me in Heaven and Earth O what vast Power is this All Power on Earth to do what he will there All Power in Heaven to do what he will there Eph. 1. 22. And hath put all things under his Feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church Jesus Christ as God-Man is invested with all Power and Authority to transact the Work of a Mediator to perform the Offices of Prophet Priest and King The Godhead of Christ working as God and the Manhood of Christ working as Man yet both these Natures concurr towards the management of Redemption-work As a Prophet he is able to reveal the Will of God for he knoweth the mind of the Spirit being God he is infinite in Wisdom Job 36. 4. Rom. 11. 33. All Knowledge comes from him as Mediator In him are hid the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. He maketh Wise to Salvation He giveth Wisdom Prov. 2. 6. He openeth the Eyes of the blind and giveth Light to them that sit in Darkness and in the Region and shadow of Death Matth. 4. 16. Luke 2. 32. Ministers can but preach to the Ear but Christ can preach to the Heart Ministers can but open the Scriptures Christ can open the Heart He is a full and effectual Head to his Body the Church to guide influence and adorn it Col. 1. 18. As a Priest And so there 's an infinite Sufficiency in his Satisfaction and Intercession seeing he is God-Man In his Satisfaction enough to silence all Pleas against his People He can arrest all the Sentences and Executions of the Law against them As an High-priest he is a sufficient Sacrifice for the Sins of the People He was made Sin for us that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. By the Obedience of Christ all Believers are made Righteous Rom. 5. 19. The Obedience of the Saints is represented compleat in Christ though imperfect in themselves Hence Believers that are wounded with the shortness of their Services in themselves may lift up their Heads when they look upon the perfect Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ Hence 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. If any man Sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous And he is the propitiation for our Sins Though the Saints do sin Christ becomes a Sacrifice for them This one Offering of Christ ever appears before God when new Provocations appear in his People By one Offering he perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. By vertue of this Union his Blood becomes infinite Blood equally as large as the Offence Nay it is more able to save than the Sins of Believers to damn It is the Blood of Christ that cleanseth from all Sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. Therefore his Obedience is a perfect Obedience and his Sufferings perfect Sufferings of more satisfaction to Divine Justice than if all the Sinners in the World had lain in Hell to all Eternity This Blood is so wonderfully precious that it is accounted by the Father as the Blood of God Acts 20. 28. If Infinite can satisfie Infinite then the Father is satisfied by the Blood of Christ because whatever the Justice of God can expect the Obedience of Christ can fully satisfie This Righteousness to Justification the perfect Obedience and Sufferings of Christ receives no Addition or Diminution by the Obedience or Disobedience of his People Eph. 1. 6. He hath made us accepted in the Beloved Ah! little do Souls know the Bottom they stand upon It is not poor Believer the shortness of thy Obedience the multitude and greatness of thy Sins can out-match this matchless Righteousness of Christ All the Injuriâ—s and Wrongs thou hast done is but the Injury of a Creature but the Satisfaction of Jesus Christ is the Satisfaction of God it is the Satisfaction of God the Soh presented to God the Father O what a blessed state are Believers in where there is such a price paid for their Sins Again By vertue of this Union There 's Sufficiency in the Intercession of Jesus Christ He must needs be able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him seeing he ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 24 25. How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Consciences from dead works Heb. 9. 14. The Blood of Christ meritoriously purges the Soul from all filthiness being offered through the Eternal Spirit God will not deny himself whatever God the Son intercedes for God the Father will grant so that Christ's Intercession must needs be effectual O what potency hath Christ in Heaven what Prevalency in all his Addresses
was undone because a man of unclean Lips Isa 6. 4 5. And the Church Isaiah 64. 6. profess they were as an unclean thing Paul an elect Vessel a man of singular Revelations yet laments that in him dwelt no good thing Rom. 7. 18. That he was carnal and sold under Sin ver 14. and when he would do good evil was present with him ver 21. Secondly Here 's Comfort that their Corruptions in them shall not break their Covenant Relation to God Psal 89. 30. to 35. There can be no Forfeiture of this Promise I will be their God and they shall be my People Thy Lye cannot make God untrue Rom. 3. 3. 4. Thy evil Eye cannot make his Eye evil too Matth. 20. 15. Thy wicked Thoughts cannot alter his gracious Thoughts Isa 55. 8. 9. Thy invincible Corruptions cannot overcome his Mercies nor the Enmity of thy Nature make God thy Enemy Thirdly Christ is employed in Heaven about this very Work of subduing thine Iniquities he intercedes ever and why That this People might be sanctified by the Truth Joh. 17. 17. That they might have more Grace and the Spirit given out to mortifie their Corruptions he reigns in Heaven on purpose to bring down his and their Enemies 1 Cor. 15. 25. He carries on the work of Redemption in Heaven and what is that but to set his People free indeed he hath an assured care now in Glory to fulfil his Promises one of which is that Iniquity shall be subdued Mic. 7. 18. Romans 6. 14. Fourthly Christ's promise to the Father is security for the Destruction of thy Sin he is engaged to present his people compleat to the Father Eph. 5. 27. and to keep them unblameable to his heavenly Kingdom 1 Thes 5. 23. Fifthly His Glory and Pleasure is concerned in the Death of thy Corruptions Isa 53. 10. The Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand What is this Pleasure of the Lord It is the Redemption of his People from the Tyranny of Sin and the Slavery of Satan into the glorious Liberty of the first born of Glory 2 Thes 1. 11 12. Lastly Grace is of a prevailing Nature and must destroy thy Lusts at last and the Spirit of Grace is in his people Mat. 12. 20. the Interest of Sin and Sinners cannot always stand before the Interest of God and his people Esther 6. 13. Fourthly Here 's Comfort to tempted Believers such as are always dogged with filthy and frighâ—ing Temptations restlessly haunted with vile and blasphemous Thoughts and miserably buffeted with dreadful and dangerous Suggestions if Christ be interceding in Heaven then surely he will one day or other put an end to all the Temptations and in the mean time over-rule them that they shall not prevail over thee 1 Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 2. 19. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour those that are tempted Christ is a merciful High-priest and wants neither Knowledge Bowels or Abiliiy which might render him capable to relieve the tempted he hath the tempting Serpent the roaring Lion in Chains and will mercifully say to that proud one come so far and no farther Fifthly Here 's Comfort to Gods people under their Afflictions and Sufferings in the World or by the World if Christ be interceding in Heaven for them then surely he will not leave them comfortless in their Sufferings for him Joh. 14. 8. chap. 16. 32. 33. Then Tribulation nor Persecution nor any thing else can separate them from the Love of God in Christ Rom. 8. 35. He that is for them is stronger than all that are against them â—ers 31. He will be with them in the Fire and in the Water Isa 43. 2. Christ is never sweeter than when the World is most bitter to a Child of God Afflictions can but file away the Rust and scoure away the Filth it cannot diminish the Grace nor injure the State of those that are interested in Christ's Mediation Christ's Cordials are never better than when his people are most faint and languishing Christ in Heaven laughs at the vain hopes of his Enemies and will dash all their Attempts against himself and Interest in pieces Psal 2. 4 9. He will strengthen his tyred distressed Servants under Sufferings Isa 42. 10. 2 Cor. 12. 9. His Arm is made bare his Power display'd and his Strength made perfect in their Weaknesses Psal 27. 14. This may be the Trouble and dejecting Fears of some how they shall hold out-in times of Tryal I am afraid says one I shall never bare Reproaches Hatred Bonds Loss of Goods and death for Christ with a magnanimous and Gospel Spirit Why Soul It shall be given thee in that hour not only to believe but to suffer for Christ Phil. 1. 29. The Fury of the Adversary shall not terrifie you nor their rampent Rage deject your Courage Isa 35. 4. Sixthly Here 's Comfort to such as are Mourners for Sion and grieve at the Afflictions of God's People That lament to see Christ's Interest on foot and the Wicked on horse-back Transgressors to prosper and the Godly afflicted that weep to behold Divine Providences thwarting his Promises The Lord hath promised that to Christ shall every Knee bow and every Tongue confess Men read of glorious things spoken of Sion but when they look to the Interest of God they see nothing but matter of trouble and grief They look to the Earth and behold Darkness and Confusions they look to the Church of Christ and lo Decayes and Dyings Now this breeds trouble to the Friends of Christ to see things run counter and cross to expectation and promise yet here is Comfort from the Intercession of Christ on this account For First The Lord Jesus sits at Helm he is upon the Throne and reigns as King for ever and this hath been the Faithful s Refuge and Support in the worst of Times Psal 10. 2. 4. 16. Psa 29. 10. The Lord Jesus hath the Government of Nations as well as of Sion on his shoulders Isa 9. 6. Eph. 1. 22. He rules over all Psal 103. 19. His Kingdom ruleth over all Men and Devils cannot wrest the Scepter out of his hands In spight of all he is King of Sion Psal 2. 6. and his Government is maintained in all the Confusions that are on the Earth and if so there is no cause for the People of Christ to be dejected Fear not said Caesar to his Mariners in a Storm Caesar is here Why are ye so fearful said Christ to his Disciples when trembling at their Dangers in a boysterous Storm O ye of little Faith Matth. 8. 26. That Vessel cannot miscarry that hath Christ at Helm and if it could said Luther mallem ruere cum Christo quam regnare cum Caesare I had rather perish with Christ than reign with Caesar Secondly His Paths are in the deep waters Psal 77. 19. Thy way is in the Sea thy paths are in the deep waters and thy foot-steps are not
vanquish all their Enemies for them Joh. 16. 33. Rev. 12. 11. To heal all their backslidings Hos 14. 4. To work all their works in them and for them Isa 26. 12. To give them Faith and to finish it Heb. 12. 2. To keep them faithful to the death 2 Thes 2. 3. And to secure the promised Fruit of all for them Rev. 22. 12. and therefore sufficiently able to make good Covenant-Promises to them and to fulfill Covenant-duties in them Sixthly Christs engagement to and for his people and his interest in them is another ground for the fulfilling of the Covenant Christ hath promised the Father that he will bring them all to Glory and hath undertaken all their work for them Heb. 10. 7. And he hath promised to them to make good his Covenant when he perswaded their hearts to him Heb. 8. 9 to 13. Isa 55. 11. Again his own interest in them is security enough All the fruit of his death and purchase lies in the fulfilling of the Covenant if that be broken he loseth all his hopes and Obedience he hath dyed in vain his blood and Intercession are to no purpose for herein lies all the travel of his Soul Isa 53. 10 11. In this is the enjoyment of all his delights if this Covenant be not sure then no Soul can be saved and Christ should lose those delights he had in the habitable parts of the Earth before the World was made Pro. 8. 31. Saved Souls are Christs Crown and Glory and how mangled and defective would Christs Crown be should any one Perish who are interested in this Covenant Upon this depends all Christs Mediatory Glory Joh. 17. 4 5. And should there be a failure here he would lose his expected Glory as Mediatour So that you see the fruit of his Purchase the delight of his Soul and his Eternal Glory with the Father are all wrapt up in the accomplishment of this Covenant Seventhly The Immutability of Gods Counsel and the certainty of his engagement confirmed by an Oath renders the new Covenant sure Heb. 6. 17 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew to the heirs of promise the immutability of his Counsel confirm'd it by an Oath These are two immutable things Gods purpose and his engagement and because these could admit of no variation therefore the things Promised must be fulfill'd indue time Heaven and Earth shall pass away but the Counsel of God that must stand 'T is laid upon Infinite Wisdom and all things in order to the fullfiling of it are made so sure that it cannot possibly be frustrated He wants not sufficient Power and faithfulness to reach his own designs and therefore what he hath determined must come to pass and upon this purpose of God is laid his promise He having first resolved upon it is engaged to it Lastly Another reason to prove the certainty of the new Covenant is taken from the nature of the promises they are absolute 't is true there are some conditional promises as the effects of the other but the fundamental promises and those which compleat the Covenant of grace are altogether absolute 't is true also faith is a necessary qualification to interest a Person in these promises but when the Soul comes to have a propriety in them the tenure of them then is absolute Jer. 31. 33 34. Heb. 8. 9. He will put his Spirit within them and will cause them to walk in his Statutes Ezek. 36. 25 to 28. I will be a God to them and they shall be my People Jer. 32. 40. And I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good But I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me In which you see the condition is undertaken and secured as well as the promise and things promised had it indeed depended upon conditional promises alone which doubting Souls have most in their eye then the failure of the condition would have forfeited the promises and then they had been null'd But you see the promises of the new Covenant are absolute and therefore sure to all the seed even to every one that believeth in Jesus Christ These are the grounds of hopes the believers have that the Covenant and every tittle of it shall be made good to them but that which doth meritoriously confirm it is the blood of Christ His death and suffering on which account it may be lookt on as the sealing and confirming of it and so believers may see to whom they are beholding and oblig'd for all their new-Covenant stability VSE From this grand and glorious truth The fulfilling and assurance of the new Covenant flows 1. Wonderful Comfort to all true Believers 2. Great Obligations on them to thankfulness and Obedience First This yeilds abundant Consolation to Believers on a double account 1. From the certainty 2. From the Excellency of this Covenant First From the certainty of this Covenant flows these streams of comfort First In that all occasions of Jealousie about the love of God are cut off for if the Covenant be sure then Gobs love is sure and secured from all mutability and cessation this being one great thing contained in it Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an Everlasting love Gods love to his People is Eternal therefore sure He doth rest in his love to them Zeph. 3. 17. The word is Jacharish he will be silent in his love Bucer renders it Silebit cum dilecta sua He shall be silent in his Beloved that is saith he He shall cease from contending with her being wholly delighted in her But Montanus renders it in the abstract he shall be silent by reason of his love Propter dilectionem suam But Cocceius and other Interpreters render the letter Beth In He shall be silent in his love or rest in his love alluding to the wonderful excess of affection in a Person that through exceeding amorousness cannot speak or express it for a time Cocceius takes it for the pardoning of their sin and ceasing from those former stroaks of his displeasure And this I suppose may be chiefly intended here to wit The greatness of his love noâ—ed by silence and exuberant Joy with a remove of all tokens of his anger and this to be fixt and perpetual so the Apostle assures Believers that the love of God in Christ is irremoveable Rom. 8. 35. All the World cannot withdraw Christs heart from his People where he once loves he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. This a believer may be assured of in the New Covenant that Gods love changeth not his heart is still towards his people however his dealings may be with them Secondly Then all the grounds of tormenting fear are now removed If the Covenant of grace be confirmed to believers then there 's no Just ground for them to entertain slavish fear Rom. 8. 15. For ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear
There 's no cause for such to fear 1. That God is their Enemy being once reconciled to them in his Son he can hate them no more 2. Their sins shall never Condemn them Rom. 8. 1. 3. God will never totally leave them Heb. 13. 5. 4. They shall not wholly fall from God Jer. 32. 40. 5. They have no cause to fear the wrath to come Rom. 5. 9. Much more being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Thus you see all the grounds of tormenting fears are gone 'T is true a Cautelous fear and circumspection may be maintained but the workings of a bondage-Bondage-Spirit are removed Thirdly Then dejecting Conclusions from self-impotency to fulfil this Covenant and all seeming difficulties in the way are wholly Insignificant if this Covenant be confirmed by Christ to and for Believers then no insufficiency in them to make good these Covenant-Duties can render it void Because First the Certainty of this Covenant depends not on the Creatures ability but on Gods Faithfulness 't is true if this new Covenant as the first did wholly depend upon the Integrity and Faithfulness of the Soul in Covenant then indeed the enjoyment of those mercies and promises comprehended in it would be very dubious but 't is not so for God himself hath undertaken the accomplishment of it 1 Cor. 1. 8 9. Who shall also confirm you to the end that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ God is faithful by whom ye are called to the fellowship of his Son Christ Jesus our Lord. So 1 Thes 5. 23 24. So that the Saints Confirmation in holiness and preservation to glory depends on the faithfulness of God in Christ who having perswaded their hearts to embrace his call will finish Salvation-work in and for them Secondly Strength sufficient to finish their work and to obtain Salvation is ensured to them 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee my strength is made perfect in weakness Grace in thee may fail but grace in God cannot Christ hath a stock sufficient for thee to carry thee through Temptations and to lift thee above thy Corruptions So Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes The Spirit is a Fountain that will fill up your empty vessels supply all your wants and engage your hearts to keep the way of his Commandements Fourthly Then none of the well-grounded hopes of believers shall be lost Psal 119. 49. Remember thy word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope God will never forget to fulfil those promises which he causeth us to confide in for he is faithful who hath promised Heb. 10. 23. Rom. 5. 6. And hopâ— maketh not ashamed That is by reason of a disappointment shame usually ariseth from some frustrations of expectation but this cannot befall well-grounded hopes because they have their dependence upon the firm word of God which cannot be disappointed Fifthly Then your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord if the Covenant be confirmed then you cannot run in vain or lose any part of that work you do for God 1 Cor. 15. 58. Gal. 6. 7 8. What a man soweth that shall he reap He that soweth to the Spirit shall reap life Everlasting O Souls all your sincere duties will appear again and bring their reward with them All your pains in serving God hardships in following him dangers in owning him and industrious labours to please him shall be fully and certainly recompenc'd with a far more and exceeding Massy Crown of Glory Sixthly Then all your warrantable desires shall be satisfied in due time For this is part of the Covenant-promise Psa 37. 4. Delight thy self also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart Psalm 145. 16 19. All the breathings of your Souls after God and unfeigned longings for more spotless holiness more perfect victory over sin for humble submission to divine pleasure more sincerity of heart and raised capacities for service shall certainly be satisfied first or last Seventhly If the Covenant of grace be sure then nothing can make the believers state miserable indeed he may seem to be in a bad condition when under the power of temptation and corruption and pressed grievously with severe and bitter Providences and stroaks of seeming vengeance but yet his state is good who could have past a favourable interpretation on the afflictions of Job when on a dunghil and on the tryals of David when pursued by Absalom yet we find there was hony in these Rods and David could notwithstanding lye down and sleep in peace Psa 3. 5. So Josiah in an evil day when wars and frowning providences did surround him all about yet dyed in peace 2 Kings 22. 20. Lastly Then a gracious Soul is a blessed Soul both here and to all Eternity because this Covenant takes care for the good things of this â—ife and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness hath the promise of this life and that which is to come Hence the Scripture doth so often pronounce the Godly Man to be a blessed Man Psa 119. 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way Psa 112. 2. Psa 141. 2. Thus we have now briefly toucht on some grounds of Comfort that Believers may derive from the certainty of this new Covenant we now come to consider Secondly The excellency of this Covenant which the blood of Christ so confirms to Believers this new Covenant is a choice and precious Covenant what David said of Goliah's Sword may be affirmed of this That there is none like it 1 Sam. 21. 9. This would abundantly apear could I with consistency to my design here run out at large in the demonstration of this great truth but to touch a little on some evidences of its excellency under these two general considerations 1. The things that are promised in this Covenant 2. The way appointed of God to attain them First The things stipulated in this Covenant are First Great and glorious things the products of infinite Grace and discoveries of unconceivable greatness such Promises as were never offered in any other Covenant In this Covenant God makes over himself to Believers to be their God their Sun and Shield their exceeding great reward all that he is and all that he hath to be theirs so far as they are capable to receive I will be to them a God that 's in the Covenant He whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain whom the Angels cannot define far above the searches of the most refined Spirits far beyond the knowledge of those that always dwell in his sight this invisible unknown God in this Covenant makes himself over to Believers He will be theirs for ever Heb. 8. 10. A God in the nearest Relations that Creatures are capable to approach to him in He will be a Father Husband Head to them and to every one of them in the Lord
these several duties 1 Duty First Be exhorted to Thankfulness to the rich Grace of God for giving such a Treasure and Treasury as Christ is be continually offering up Praises and Thansgivings to God Flames of holy Affection be admiring the Grace of God as the Fountain and Spring of these waters of Life as the deep Mine of those glorious Treasures now to scrue up your Affections and wind up your Hearts to make way for holy Melody admiring triumphing and blessing God for giving Christ consider these following Particulars as motives to this choice duty First Consider what you were without Christ O! Christians look back and see what once you were Eph. 2. 11. Remembring that in times past you were Gentiles in the Flesh The worst of men an idolatrous sort of men Worshippers of Devils you were wild Olives Enemies to God in your minds Col. 1. 21. hateful and hateing one another Tit. 3. 3. Lying in your blood to the loathing of your persons Ezek. 16. 4 5 6. dead in Trespasses and Sins wretched miserable poor blind naked Rev. 3 17. Children of Wrath heirs of Hell born to Wrath Eph. 2. 1 2 3. under the Curse and Condemnation of the whole Law Gal. 3. 10. O lamentable state Obnoxious to Death liable to everlasting Destruction every moment no guard about you open to Devils liable to the pourings out of divine Fury and the openings of the deep Treasures of infinite Vengeance to have no security from the greatest Evils nor capacity ever to be deliver'd out of them obnoxious every minute to a fearful looking of a fiery Wrath and Indignation which shall devour the Adversary Heb. 10. 27. This was once your state Believers you were stubble ready for everlasting Burnings Fuel for that Fire that can never be quenched and Food for the Worm that never dyeth O! sad case indeed and was not freedom and deliverance from such a state a Mercy worth your highest Thanks Had you but lookt into the place of Torment and dipt your Finger into that lake of Fire and Brimstone you would have wonder'd at Redemption-mercy and adored that Grace of God that pluckt you out of it and is not your acknowledgment of preventing Grace as due now as it would have been to an actual deliverance out of these Miseries Secondly Consider what you are by Grace if you are related to Christ you are brands pluckt out of the Fire Zach. 3. 2. Bond-slaves redeemed from the Pit Zach. 9. 11. Condemned Wretches sav'd from Wrath to come 1 Thes 1. 10. Translated from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan into the Kindgdom of God Acts 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. Made Sons and Daughters to God called to his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thes 2. 12. Gal. 4. 6. Crown'd and invested with a Right to his Presence and most glorious Priviledges Eph. 2. 18. 19. Under the Eye of God under divine Care infinite Grace is an Undertaker for you 1 Pet. 5. 7. O glorious State Consider further how you lye upon the Heart of God as a Seal and Signet there Cant. 8. 6. Reckoned amongst his Jewels accounted his peculiar Treasure Exod. 19. 5. Mal. 3. 17. Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1. 12. Sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus made Vessels â—itted for Mercy fill'd with Mercy devoted to Mercy Rom. 9. 23. And Heirs of Glory Jam. 2. 5. O wonderful wonderful Grace this is matter of Praises to God to all Eternity Time would fail to read over your Inventory and to look through your Treasury 't is Work for an Eternity to do O believe what you cannot see and admire what you cannot know and study out what you yet understand not of your blessed state both privatively and positively consider'd and when you have found out a little of your Happiness then look on those beneath you put your Mercies into the scale with the World's Miseries rate your Redemption-interest with the lot of Christless Souls matter of the same Lump with you think on your Acquaintance Friends Relations Neighbours that have enjoyed the same Gospel-Priviledges with you and yet these are left to their Blindness to perish in the Error of their ways and must down into the deep for ever but you are exalted and lifted up to Glory O! What cause is here for Praises blessings Thansgivings and Hallejuahs to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for evermore Thirdly Consider the greatness of that Grace which hath made you to differ Ah! Believers Redemption-grace saw nothing more in you than in Judas Demas and those that perish you were of the same Lump cut out of the same piece there was not a Jot of Difference between you and the damned but only the good pleasure of Grace only divine Mercy laid it's hand upon you O that astonishing word because it pleased him to make you his people 1 Sam. 12. 22. It was only the free grace of God that chose Jacob and left Esau Rom. 9. 13. It was not for your sakes Christians that the Lot was cast so well for you No Be it known to you O house of Israel be ashamed and confounded for ever in your own Eyes Ezek. 36. 32. The moving Cause the Wheel within the Wheel that made you adopted and others rejected was only the good Pleasure of his Will Eph. 1. 5. 7. It was from hence God so loved the World out of this Womb sprung all your Mercies it was Height of Grace Length Breadth Depth Love passing Knowledge Eph. 3. 18. 19. O ye heirs of Glory be affected astonished ravished with the sense of this rich grace of God towards you in giving Christ not only for you but to you and revealing him in you and uniting him to you by the Spirit from the same Mass of fallen man to single out some for pardon and leave others for Punishment O wonderful The Sense of this made the Apostle break out in such a holy Extasie Rom. 11. 33. O the Depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God O the depth A note of Exclamation and silencing wonder O consider this Love of God to your Souls 't is free Love without any Influences from the Creature full Love without Circumference or Bounds eternal Love without Beginning and without end Fruitful Love abounding in the rich Gifts and Procurements of it O the Gifts and Tokens God sends to you now and O the large store he lays up for ever for you 't is sympathyzing Love full of Bowels delighting Love full of pleasure in you 't is resting Love He will rest over them in his Love 't is immutable Love without Changes giving Love forgiving Love caring Love securing Love returning Love overcoming Love O! where shall I make an end How can you come to the bottom of this Deep wade a little further till you have lost your selves in holy wonder Can you see your brave houses fine Cloaths comfortable Relations and have such high