Col. 3. 1. Nor that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ And the reason of that blindness the Apostle speaketh of and of this our Saviour chargeth this Angel and Church with and reproveth them for may be one to wit the forgetting that they were purged from their old sins letting slip what they heard from the beginning to wit that Christ died for the sins of Jews and Gentiles and so of all men according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures Whereby Christ purged our old sins our first sin and sinfulness and through the knowledge whereof he washed our hearts from an evil conscience and spake peace to us and made us free Had they kept this in an hearty believing remembrance they had been saved and preserved from this blindness and they should have continued in the Son and in the Father But receiving and entertaining a forgetfulness of this purgation and of the means whereby it was effected this contracted blindness to them 2 Pet. 1. 3 4-8 9. 1 Cor. 1â— 1-4 1 Joh. 2. 24-27 2 Joh. 6. And this blindness of theirs appeared and was evident in two things and wherever these things are found doubtless they are in some measure blind and so in the condition of this Angel and Church That is to say 1. They were grown lukewarm as hath been said and did not so perceive the preciousness of Christ as to be zealous and servent in seeking after him that they might win him and be found in him In letting slip the word of the beginning of Christ the vision of all the God of this world had blinded their minds that they did not so discern the beauty and comeliness of Christ as to cry after the knowledge and injoyment of him and those spiritual and eternal blessing in him but they were grown remiss and indifferent Those that in seeing see and keep in their view the excellency of Christ are far from this distemper To them that believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2. 6. As new born babes desire the breast so they earnestly desire after more acquaintance with injoyment of and conformity unto him 1 Pet 2. 2-4 And they are even sick of love and restless in their spirits after him As the hart panteth after the water brooks so their souls pant after him they are even consumed with desire and nothing will satisfy them but him Whom have they in Heaven but he and there is none on earth they desire besides him Psal 42. 1 2. 84. 1 2. 63. 1 2. 73. 25. Cant. 2. 3-5 Their soul followeth hard after him and their zeal even consumeth them and leadeth them to long and inwardly breath after and earnestly lust for him who is the chiefest among Ten thousands Psal 63. 3-8 With their soul they desire him in the night yea with their spirits within them they seek him early Isa 26. 7-9 But contrarily it is a certain evidence of blindness when persons are grown so heartless and indifferent that they content themselves without him and deny or delay to give entertainment to him when he standeth at the door and knocketh for admission as it was with these Rev. 3. 20. When men by observing lying vanities forsake him and will none of him when they prefer their works riches righteousness lusts and vanities before him and those excellent treasures in him which only will truly inrich clothe satisfy and adorn them it appeareth evidently to him who knoweth all things and to those who have their understandings opened that ignorance and darkness hath blinded their eyes Isa 52. 13 14 15. So much the Apostle saith concerning the Galatians O foolish Galations saith he who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth c. Gal. 3. 1. It was evident that they were become foolish and blind and that some person or persons had cast a mist before their eyes in that they were removed from Christ and that grace in him and did seek righteousness and sanctification elsewhere and indeavoured to perfect by the flesh that which was begun by the spirit When Christ was first displayed before them he was then so excellent in their eyes that they turned unto him from their sins and idols they did run well for they did run unto him for all wisdom righteousness and strength because of the Lord his God and for the Holy one of Israel who had glorified him Oh then what blessedness did they meet with and speak of in Christ But afterwards letting slip the preaching of the Cross they turned again to weak and beggerly elements And on this account the Apostle calleth them foolish ones blind ones and bewitched persons it appeared evidently their eyes were blinded or otherwise they would have kept their first esteem and high prizing of Christ Gal. 3. 1-5 4. 8 9 13-15 5. 7. with Isa 55. 1-5 So also it was too much with this Angel and Church they were blind and it appeared that they were so in that they shut out Christ when he knocked for entrance and undervalued him And we may safely conclude as with respect to our selves and others that blindness hath happened to us in a great measure when our love to and zeal for Christ is gone and we are grown luke-warm 2. It appeared also and was evident that they were blind because together with their low esteem of Christ they had high thoughts and conceits of themselves and of the goodness of their condition without him and of their knowledge parts gifts righteousness and integrity They said they were rich and increased with goods and had need of nothing when as in truth it was far otherwise with them for they were wretched and miserable c. They conceited they knew and were ready to say they were wise and the Law of the Lord was with them when as indeed they were brutish and foolish Jer. 8. 7 8. This was an undoubted evidence of their blindness and is so of any man's when he beginneth to be so well thoughted and highly conceited of himself Truly those that walk in the light as God is in the light they are helped to see and bewail their shortness in every thing and while they hear songs even glory to the righteous they are ready to cry out our leanness our leanness woe unto us the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously with us yea the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously Isa 24. 16. They are ready with shame to complain that they are more brutish then man and that they have not the understanding of a man that they have neither learned wisdome nor have the knowledge of the holy Prov. 32 2 3. Job 26. 14. 1 Cor. 13. 19-12 They are ready to consess and acknowledge that they have not yet attained neither are already perfect as to attainment but they
also in him we are compleat because he is the head of all principality and power Heb. 1. 4 14. Ephes 1. 20 22. Col. 2. 10. This man was counted worthy of more honour then Moses who was the Mediator of the first Testament inasmuch as he who buildeth the house hath more honour then the house Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a Servant But Christ not as a servant but as a Son not in only but over his own house He is the Lord of it and hath dominion over it and he only Ephes 4. 5 1 Cor. 8. 5 6. Heb. 3. 2 6. 10. 21. And he hath obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also he is the Mediatour of a better Testament established upon better promises Heb. 8. 6. He is a more excellent High Priest then was Aaron or any of the high Priests under the Law A more excellent person they the Sons of men he is Jesus the Son of God Heb. 4. 14. they had infirmity but he is holy harmless undefiled separate from Sinners and made higher then the Heavens Heb. 7. 26 28. they were made after the law of a carnal commandment but he after the power of an endless life Heb. 7. 16 17. they were made Priests without an oath but he with an oath Heb. 7. 20 21. They were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death But this man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood which passeth not from him to any other to no Vicar on earth wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him c. Heb. 7. 24 25. They ministred about a worldly sanctuary but he is the Minister of the sanctuary and true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man Heb. 9. 1. 8. 2. They offered up sacrifices which could never take away sin for it was not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats could take away sin But this man when he had offered up one sacrifice for sins for ever even himself his own body once for all sate down on the right hand of God from ever offering any more a propitiatory sacrifice he needeth not daily as the former High Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the peoples for this he did once when he offered up himself Heb. 10. 1 12. 7. 27. They entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but he into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us he is set on the right hand of the throne of majesty in the Heavens Heb. 8. 1. 9. 24. He is more excellent then all Kings and Prophets in former times he is anointed with the oyl of gladness above his fellows Heb. 1. 9. God hath set this King upon his holy hill of Zion and raised up him a Prophet whom all are to hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto them and whosoever will not hear this Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people Acts 3. 22 23. He is excellent in wisdom above all men for God hath not given the spirit by measure unto him yea he is greater therein then Solomon who was wiser then all men 1 King 4. 29 31. with Matt. 12. 42. He is more excellent then the mountains of Prey Psal 76. 4. This man is more precious then fine gold even this man then the golden wedge of Ophir Isa 13. 12. Man knoweth not the price of this excellent one this wisdom that is from above neither is it found in the land of the living it cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir with the precious onyx or the Saphire the gold and the crystal cannot equal it no mention shall be made of coral or of pearls for the price of wisdom is above rubies The Topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it neither shall it be valued with pure Gold Job 28. 13 19. He that came down and cometh down from above is above all above all other persons and things Wisdom is better then rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to him Job 3. 31. Prov. 8. 10 11. He is more excellent then all the priviledges of the flesh and then all our works of righteousness zeal devotions frames and qualifications and therefore the Apostle counted those things that were formerly gain to him and in which was his life confidence and consolation loss for Christ yea he went on to count all things as loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ that he might win him c. Phil. 3. 4. 9. Oh! happy is the man that findeth Wisdom For she is more precious then Rubies yea all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her Prov. 3. 13 15. There is none so excellent none so inriching as is this Spiritual and Heavenly Gold He doth more yea inexpressibly more exceed all other persons and things then natural Gold doth excell all other Metals whatsoever 3. He is called and compared to Gold because as Money answereth all things in having Gold tried Gold a man may have any thing here below Eccles 10. 19. So it is most fully and compleatly true here now by faith and in some spiritual first fruits and shall be hereafter in the Harvest and in a compleatly satisfying and glorious injoyment He that hath Christ hath all things in such a maner as he hath and enjoyeâ— him The father hath so loved the Son because he fell into the ground and died and rose again in that his own personal body that he hath given and delivered all things unto him and filled him with all fulness he is become a Fountain of Grace and Truth a Treasury of all forgiveness Wisdom Spirit and Life and in having and being made partakers of him those Treasures in him are also by faith received In him we have Redemption through his Blood even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of Gods Grace Eph. 1. 7. Col. 1. 14. To him give all the Prophets witness That through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive the forgiveness of sins Acts 10. 43. 13. 39. In this beloved one and in having him they are made accepted Ephes 1. 6. And have righteousness without works imputed to them they are made the righteousness of God in him So the Apostle signifieth that in winning Christ and being found in him He should have the righteousness which is through the saith of Christ Rom. 3. 22. 4 5 6. 10. 9 10. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Phil. 3. 8 9. To as many as receive him to them he giveth power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name John 1. 12. They are the Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus Gal. 3. 26. And because in having him they are Sons God hath given unto them and sent forth into
iniquities of us all Isa 53. 6. and he confesseth these as his own when he saith Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up Psal 40. 12. and saith to his father my guiltiness is not hid from thee Psal 69. 5. he becoming our surety and undertaking for us all our debts were charged upon him and our trespasses were imputed to him and he bare our sins in his own body and so by the imputation of the father and by his own gracious acceptation our sins became his own sins Heb. 7. 27. he is that Lamb of God that did bear the sin of the world John 1. 29. But he was tried in the fire therein and thereby was he purified from our sins from the guilt of them and so he is pure 1 Joh. 3. 3. He was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin 1 Joh. 3. 5. He appeared once in the end of the World to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself and is without sin and shall so appear the second time unto salvation to all them that look for him Heb. 9. 26. 28. To this purpose the Apostle saith Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit to wit He was justified acquitted and discharged from the guilt of our sins in the spirit 's raising him from the dead who died for our sins and was buried 1 Tim. 3. 16. and He through the eternal spirit hath offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9. 14. he having fully paid our debt and compleatly satisfied for our sins in his bearing the judgment of the world and being tormented for our transgressions he is released by the father and taken from Prison and from judgment and hath by himself made purgation of our sins and purged them from before the presence of God made peace and attonement for them and redeemed us in himself from the curse of the law and through that redemption that is in him all that have sinned and come short of the glory of God are justified freely inasmuch as he as our surety and as the publick man and last Adam is justified and is through his personal abasement and sufferings become a lamb without blemish and without spot Heb. 1. 3. 7. 27. Col. 1. 20. Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 3. 23 24. and chap. 5. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Yea and also he partook of our infirmities he partook with us of flesh and blood of weakness and mortality Heb. 2. 14. he himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses Matt. 8. 17. It behoved him in all things to be made like to his brethren the sons of men such an one as they were become as the fruit of sin as distinguished from sin it self Heb. 2. 17. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and was deformed as it were with that reproch shame and dishonour which appertained to us Psal 69. 19 20. and was in that body subject to corruption though he did not abide so long in death as to see it as is implied in that the Apostle saith God raised him from the dead now no more to return to corruption Acts 13. 34. he partook of our infirmities sorrows griefs and had a mortal body in which he was crucified and put to death and died and was buried his visage was marred more then any man's and his form more then the sons of men Isa 52 14. 53. 2. He was covered over with the wrath of God for our sins and by his permission and ordering he was covered over with shame from men so as he had no form nor comeliness no appearing beauty outwardly to make him desirable When his God forsook him then he was a reproch of men and despised of the people all they that saw him laughed him to scorne they did shoot out the lip they did shake the head saying He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him let him deliver him if he delight in him Psal 22. 6 8. as intimating that though he made his boast of God and said he was his Father yet he would not own him as his Son and therefore said they God hath forsaken him persecute and take him for there is none to deliver him Psal 71. 10 11. and how he was covered with reproches as if he had been a gluttonous person and a wine-bibber a friend of Publicans and Sinners as if he had cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils as if he was a deceiver of the people as if he was guilty of blasphemy against God and of stirring up sedition amongst the people the Scriptures of the Evangelists abundantly shew to us But in this respect also he is tried in and came purified out of the fire and hath in himself overcome and abolished that death he died 2 Tim. 1. 10. and put off all mortaliry and weakness in his resurection that mortal body of his hath put on immortality his body that was so marred and without sorme is now become a glorious body and he therein and he only is a spiritual man death in him is swallowed up into victory and he is become the first-fruits of them that sleep and his triumphing Song is Oh death where is thy sting Oh grave or hell where is thy victory The sting of death is sin this he hath purged away and the strength of sin is the law this he hath answered and satisfied and hath gotten himself the victory and thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 42-47-55-57 he hath put off all weakness grief sorrow pain mortality and restored our nature in himself into the image of God in a more glorious manner then ever it was in the first creation even into perfect righteousness integrity immortality and eternal life and he is in our nature glorified with the father 's own self with the glory he had with him before the world was Therein he is become eternal life for us who was delivered for our offences and such glory and lustre is upon that body that it is above the brightness of the sun at mid-day such as we are not capable to behold unless wonderfully and miraculously strengthned It was so glorious as that the sight of it struck Saul blind three days Acts 26. 13. 22. 11. 9. 17. and this seen in a vision by John caused him to fall down at his feet as dead Rev. 1. 17. and when Daniel also saw him in vision there remained no strength in him but his comliness was turned into corruption and he retained no strength Dan. 10. 5-8 and he was tried in and came purified out of the fire from all the wrath of God and from all the reproches and shame and dishonour cast upon him by his enemies God hath actually testified of him that he is the Son of his love and that he is well
were not ashamed Gen. 2. 25. But Adam in listening to the temptation and lye of the Serpent was by him deceived first in the female and then in the male and eating of the forbidden fruit and therein seeking out many inventions to better his condition and to be as Gods to attain to an higher state and to have a self-sufficiency in himself sinned against God And by this one man sin entred into the World and death by sin and so death pâ—ssed upon all men in whom all have sinned Rom 5 12. So he brought shame upon himself and all his posterity and now he was ashamed and afraid because naked Gen. 3. 10 11. There is now a nakedness upon mankind naturally they are without and destitute of that original clothing that was upon them that righteousness and uprightness All have sinned and come short of the glory of God in which and unto which they were Created Rom. 3. 23. They are destitute of the understanding of a man as at first Created by God Every man is bruitish by his Knowledge and void of sound Wisdom Job 11. 12. Prov. 8 4 5. 30. 2 3. There is none that understandeth Jer. 10. 14. They are destitute of the righteousness in which they were Created of that love to God and one another They have lost the Image of God in which they were Created Rom 3. 9 10 11 12. Yea and they have sinned and are sinners and as they come into the World they are polluted and defiled They are conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity Psal 51. 5. Who can being a clean thing out of an unclean not one Job 14 4. 15. 14 25. 4. And so they are naturally inclined to all that is evil Every imagination of the thought of mans heart being only evil and that continually Out of the heart of man proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries blasphemies an evil eye covetousness pride foolishness and these things desile the man Yea he is very abominable drinking in iniquity like water even as a thirsty man drinketh in water to cool his thirst and refresh him so man drinketh in iniquity or as a Fish continually drinketh in water Job 15. 16. Gen. 6. 5. 8. 21. Mat. 15. 19 20. Mark 7. 20-23 And when they come to act they do abominable works such as are shameful and of which they are ashamed when the eyes of their understandings are opened and they see things in their right and proper colours Psal 14. 1 2. Rom. 6. 21. Aswell as also there is the guilt of sin upon them and they are by nature obnoxious to the wrath of God and lyable to his judgment Rom. 3. 19. Ephes 2. 3 And the fruits of sin in weakness shame death c. A shameful nakedness is upon them in Soul and body from the Crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is nothing upon them but filthiness and uncleanness sinfulness and misery And this might hide pride from us and take us off from boasting in our birth and parentage or in any work of ours or in any thing natural to us and help us to cease from man for whereof is he to be accounted for we are all as an unclean thing sinful shameful Creatures And it may also cause us to admire at the riches of Gods Grace towards us who prepared for us such excellent raiment for the covering us when we were in our blood and so polluted a 〈…〉 defiled at so dear a rate and cost as by the abasement of his onely begotten Son who therefore was cut off that he might obtain justification and forgiveness and bring in everlasting righteousness Yea and they remain and continue naked and destiture of all that is good and lye open to the storms of God's anger and their nakedness is more shameful who after means is vouchsased and light extended love darknessrather then light and believe not on the name of the only begotten Son of God on such the wrath of God abideth be they never to wise rich and honourable in this world and they shall 〈◊〉 see life Joh. 3. 18 36. The Lord after he had affo 〈…〉 means to lead men to repentance looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God They are all gone aside they are together become filthy stinking and shameful there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14. 2 3. Rom. 3. 1 2 9-11 Their iniquity is greater then formerly it was and their shame more shameful in that there is lewdness found with such in their filthiness and they refuse to be washed and cleansed when God is purging them and causing the scum to swim aloft Ezek. 24. 13. Rom. 2. 4 5. Hos 11. 3-5 And this exposeth men to the wrath of God upon a new account though yet while it is called to day Jesus Christ the righteous is the propitiation and covering for such like shameful evils even for the sins of the whole world so taking away the sin of the world that judgment may not be speedily executed but that he may procure and exercise further patience and extend further means to open their eyes and to turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God 1 Joh. 2. 2. Joh. â— 29. Act. 26. 18. Yea those Angels and Churches who after the tastes of the graciousness 〈◊〉 the Lord depart from him have a shameful nakedness upon them for in departing from him they depart from their raiment which will only cover the shame of their nakedness and cloth them as afterwards Hence the Apostle severely reproveth the Galatians and sheweth the greatness of their iniquity in that after they had known God or rather were known of God and were by him called into the grace of Christ for all forgiveness and righteousness That yet they should listen to those witches that came amongst them and by them be perverted to seek to be justified by the law and to perfect by the flesh what was begun in the spirit Gal. 1. 6-8 3. 1-4 4. 8. 5. 1-8 Thus also his Church in former times did shamefully herein and laid themselves naked and open to God's displeasure on this account Hence the Lord by way of complaint thus expostulateth with them O Generation see ye the word of the Lord have I been a wilderness unto Israel A land of darkness Wherefore say my people we are Lords we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing We will come no more unto thee Can a Maid forget her ornaments or a bride her attire Yet my people have forgotten me who was their clothing and ornament days without number Jer. 2. 31 32. with Isa 6â— 10. Hos 2. 2-7 Jer. 3. 20-25 Thus it was with this Angel and Church of Laodicea who treacherously departed from the Lord as a Wife from her Husband and entertained other lovers besides him and though he had stood
and everlasting Covenant Matt. 26. 28. Heb. 10. 29. 13. 20. 9. 15 16. Those great and precious promises appertaining to Life and godliness yea to this life and that to come are not only assured by the word of God and confirmed by his Oath which yet are two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye and therefore might quicken and encourage lukewarm ones to flee for refuge to lay hold on that hope set before them but actually made firme by the blood of the Testatour who is also in the virtue thereof raised and as the forerunner entred into Heaven and is the Mediatour of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament they which are called may receive the promise of the eternal Inheritance He Mediateth and maketh Intercession for the taking away the iniquities of those that come to God by him and that the contents of that Covenant may be dispensed to them according to their needs and capacities God hath promised and Christ hath actually said and is the Amen to them Rev. 1. 18. Heb. 8. 6. and 9. 15. It may seem in that Jesus Christ doth first describe himself by this title of the Amen that these likewarme ones did not keep in believing remembrance the promises and the firmeness and immutability of them and certainty of their performance according to the tenour of them being ratified by such precious blood and ascertained by such a faithful and true witness and therefore they grew sluggish remiss and indifferent and there was a great abatement of their former fervency either fearing they should be left in sufferings or not provided for or dispensed unto according to their wants and therefore to recover them he telleth them his name is the Amen The consideration hereof is powerful to stirr up to diligence and to recover us from our decays to cause us that we shall not be slothful but followers diligent followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises Heb. 6. 10 20. To strengthen us to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering and to consider one another to provoke to love and good works not forsaking the assembling of our selves together Heb. 10. 22 25. To ingage us to come out from amongst men and to be separate and not touch the unclean thing but to cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. 7. 1. if these exceeding great and precious promises given to the Apostles to minister and ministred by them in and with the glorious Gospel be in us received and entertained by us and abound if they be suffered to dwell richly in us and to have their perfect work so as we limit them not nor hold them in unrighteousness they make us that we shall not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ They will provoke us to flee from and escape the corruption that is in the world thorow lust and besides giving all diligence thereto they will inable and stir us up to add to our faith virtue courage zeal resolution of spirit magnanimity to be as bold as lions and to virtue knowledg that we may use our fervour and zeal aright and that not about meat and drink and days and places and gestures in which the kingdome of God consisteth not but in contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints and to knowledg temperance to have sober thoughts of our selves of our knowledg vertue parts gifts attainments and to be temperate in our use of and exercise about the things of this world in which there may be excess and in our joys and griefs thereabout and to temperance patience patiently continuing in well doing in faith in virtue in knowledg in temperance c. Patiently induring whatever reproches and persecutions we may meet with in walking in Christ and in the exercise of those efficacies of his grace and resting in the Lord and waiting patiently for him and to patience godliness worshipping him in the spirit and rejoycing in Christ Jesus and having no confidence in the flesh and imitating and following him as dear children according to the light and instructions of his grace and to godliness brotherly kindness loving the brethren with delightful and peculiar manner of love not pretending we are right worshippers of God while we are without brotherly kindness to those borne of him For every one that loveth him that begat loveth them also that are begotten of him For if a man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a liar for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen and to brotherly kindness charity that free manner of love which is exercised towards others not because of somewhat lovely and amiable in them but from an higher reason and motive even from the constraining operation of the love of God in Christ and thence to have fervent charity among our selves and to love all men To these things will these precious promises confirmed by such precious blood enliven and quicken us if they be suffered to dwell richly in us for hereby we shall be made partakers of the Divine nature in union and fellowship with it interest in it usefulness of it and conformity to it 2 Pet. 1. 4 9. Oh exercise we our selves to godliness to Christ who is the root and fundation of godliness for it is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. with chapt 3. 16. Oh! how effectual were the promises with the Patriarchs in former times when they were not so confirmed as now to make them forsake their Countrey Kindred and Fathers house To confess themselves strangers and pilgrims on the earth c. These believed caused Abraham the Father of the faithful not to consider his own body now dead neither yet the deadness of Sarah's Womb but was strong in faith giving glory to God and being fully perswaded that what God had promised he was able also to performe and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him who hath performed the promise made to the fathers in raising Christ from the dead who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Gen. 12. 1 3. Heb. 11. 13 16. Rom. 4. 16 25. with Act. 13. 32 33. Heb. 11. 17 19. The Apostle Paul to recover the Galatians from their wandrings setteth before them that Christ is the Amen to him the promises are made and in him confirmed and with him assured to those that receive him so as in being Christ's they are Abraham's seed and Heits according
with this luke-warmness and let us come unto and follow him whithersoever he goeth induring hardness as good Souldiers of Jesus Christ who profess him to be our Captain the Captain of our Salvation he hath set us an example that we should follow his steps 2 Tim. 2. 1 3 8. The Apostle setteth before us his being a faithful Witness in both respects viz. as a Peace maker and Peace-preacher to provoke us to fervency of Spirit and demeanour Let us saith he not faintly or fearfully go but run and that not for a season only but with Patience the race set before us as for our lives and for a Crown an incorruptible Crown looking unto Jesus Who for the joy set before him indured the Cross despising the shame and is now set down on the right hand of the Throne of God For consider him that indured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds Heb 12. 1 3. And the true Witness in his Testimony in which he hath declared what he hath done and the fathers love in him and that he is the Amen he is the truth it self and his word is the word of truth Prov. 8. 6 8. Psal 119. 160. 1 John 5. 20. The true light now shineth 1 John 2. 8. His word was always true but the truth of it is now made more apparent in the preaching of the Gospel according to the revelation of the Mystery his record is true concerning all things there is no lye of it but he is a true witness in what he speaketh of God the Fatheir himself the work of the Spirit Mankind sin righteousness judgement life death and of what he is become and hath for us Gold tryed in the fire white raiment and of the lothsomness of this luke-warmness to him these things he saith Who is holy he who is true Rev. 3. 7. He is true and worthy to be listened unto and believed by us in all his declarations promises discoveries requirings instructions reproofs threats c. a faithful and true witness who will not lye one who is faithful to the interest of our Souls Prov. 14. 5. a true Witness who delivereth Souls from their transgressions wanderings luke-warmnesses who hath power to deliver from sin Satan fears evils dangers yea from the wrath to come and is able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him Prov. 14. 25. 1 Thes 1. 10. Heb. 7. 25. Oh! hear the instruction and hearken to the Counsel of this true Witness that you may be delivered he that hearkeneth to Counsel is wise that you may be zealous and repent The beginning of the Creation of God He is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1. 17 18. the beginning both of the first and old Creation and that both 1. In giving a being to it when it fore-had none it was Gods Creation but made by him God Created all things by Jesus Christ Eph. 3. 9. By him were all things created visible and invisible All things were created by him and for him Col. 1. 16. he is the creator of the ends of the Earth that sainteth not neither is weary there is no searching of his understanding he knoweth how and hath understanding to help us when we are faint dead dry decaying He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he incrâ—aseth strength Isa 40. 27 29. Oh Lord God saith the Prophet Behold thou hast made the Heaven and the Earth by thy great power and stretched out Arm and there is nothing too hard for thee Jer. 32. 17. What cannot he do that created all things and All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made John 1. 1. 3. he can restore heat and health and heal us of our wounds and cure our loathsom distempers when our bruise is incurable and wound grievous and we have no healing Medicines nor is there any to plead our cause that we may be bound up Jer. 30. 12 17. 2. And He is the maker of the Creation of God when it was marred by mans seeking out foolish inventions The Earth and all the inhabitants thereof were dissolved he beareth up the Pillars thereof Psal 75. 3. He upholdeth all things by the word of his power Heb. 1. 3. the world was made by him preserved from perishing and upheld when it was marred spoiled and dissolved by the iniquity of Mankind John 1. 10. and therefore though you have destroyed your selves and deserved to be rejected and cast off and out from his presence and favour for ever yet in him is your help neither is there Salvation in any other Acts 4. 12. Oh turn again unto him from whom you have revolted He hath made peace by the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things to himself Col. 1. 20. And he is the beginning of the new Creation through and by means of his personal abasement and sufferings the Captain of our Salvation was made perfect through sufferings Heb. 2. 10. In him there is a compleat Creation he is the beginning the first born from the dead that in all things he might have the Preeminence for it pleased the father that in him all the fulness should dwell Col. 1. 18 19. In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in him we are compleat compleatly prepared for and furnished with all furniture who is the head of all Principality and Power Col. 2. 9 10. In him our Nature is restored again into the Image of God after a more glorious manner then ever it was made in the first publick man and so there is in him a compleat and perfect provision of all things that may tend to our being brought back to God in our own persons and so made new Creatures as every one is that is in him because he died for all and rose again Jam. 3. 9 Ephes 2. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 14 17. there is in him justification and acquittance from the guilt of our first sin and sinfulness So as all that have sinned and are come short of the Glory of God are justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 4 25. 3. 23 24. and he hath obtained forgiveness of our personal sins gifts for men yea for the rebellious also healing of our diseases decays deadnesses Gold to inrich poor wretched miserable ones White Raiment to cover our shameful nakedness eye-salve to cure our blindness and dimsightedness Spirit to quicken and inliven us and to put heat into and recover luke-warm ones The last Adam was made a quickening Spirit to quicken those that are dead in trespasses and sins 1 Cor. 15. 45. there is in him perfection for every man Col. 1. 28. he hath by his Blood obtained eternal redemption forgiveness of our sins for ever by that one offering of his body offered once for all and the recovery of our loss
their Hearts the Spirit of his Son Gal 4. 6. He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said saith Christ out of his belly shall flow Rivers of living Waters But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive Hence Christ's being in the believers and the Spirit 's being in them are used indifferently to signifie in having him we may and shall have the Spirit also for it is given to him without measure and put upon him and resteth on him to fit and furnish him for the work the father hath appointed him to do and to dispense to us according to our needs conditions and capacities John 7. 37 39. Rom. 8. 9 11. John 3. 34. Isa 42. 1. 61. 1. 11 1 3. And in being made Sons they have by virtue of their union with and relation to Christ right and title to and interest in that inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away If Sons then Heirs Heirs of God and Co heirs with Christ and if Christ's then are they Abraham's seed and Heirs according to Promise Rom. 8. 17. Gal. 3. 17. He that hath the Son hath life hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation 1 John 5. 11. John 3. 36. He that hath him is a Subject of God's peculiar Love and Grace loved with other manner of love then any of those without him are loved withall God will love him and Christ will love him and manifest himself unto him He that findeth him findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Prov. 8. 35. In having him we have the promises to Abraham and his Seed they were made not to seeds as of many but to one even Christ they were originally made to him and confirmed in him and established by his Blood for he is the Amen and secondarily in coming unto and believing in him to all believers In being Christ's they are Abraham's seed and so the Promises are theirs Gal. 3. 16 17 26 29 Those that are born of him are the Children of the Promise .. Rom 9. 7 8. Yea in receiving him in the Testimony they receive him also who sent him Mat. 10. 40. They have fellowship with Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1. 9. And so his father is their father his Spirit is their Spirit his Gospel their Gospel his promises their promises his inheritance their inheritance his servants their servants his Glory their Glory his Brethren and Companions their Brethren and Companions his receivers their receivers and his Enemies their Enemies Yea as all things are delivered to him of the father so by faith all things are theirs whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas whether those that had the Gospel of the Circumcision committed to them or the Gospel of the Uncircumcision or whether such who as wise Master-builders laid the foundation or such as built thereupon or the world the men and things of the world or life to be maintained and continued as and while it may be good for them or death all afflictions trials temptations necessities straits poverty persecutions yea death it self is gain to them or things present those things now acted done and enjoyed or things to come at the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ all is theirs and they are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 21 23. Even as in Earthly and natural Gold all the things of this world are summarily included and infolded as it were and are had in having it a man may have such Food Raiment Physick Habitation Honour Friendship as he desireth so and much more truly and compleatly may it be said of and applied to Jesus Christ as with respect to durable and Heavenly things In him God hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in Heavenly things yea he himself is said to be the things themselves which are in him because they are infolded in him and may be and shall be certainly had and partaken of in receiving and enjoying him As to instance a little particularly as in him is redemption so he is made of God to the believer redemption Eph. 1. 7. with 1 Cor 1. 30. As in him is life God hath given us Eternal life and this life is in his Son So he is our life he is the true God and Eternal life 1 John 5. 11. with Col. 3. 3 4. 1 John 5. 20. As in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom so he is made of God to them that are in him Wisdom Christ is the Wisdom of God Col. 2. 3. with 1 Cor. 1. 24. 30. As in him is righteousness so he is the righteousness of God And his name is Jehovah our righteousness Isa 45. 24. with Rom. 3. 21. Jer. 23. 6. As in him is Salvation Neither is there Salvation in any other so he is the Salvation of God which he hath prepared before the face of all people Acts 4. 12. with Luke 2. 30 31. As in him is Peace so he is our Peace This man shall be the Peace c. John 26. 33. with Ephes 2 14. Mica 5. 5. As in him there is Consolation so he is Consolation fit and proper to comfort any one in any tribulations and the Consolation of Israel Phil. 2. 1. with Luke 2. 25. Yea as in him is all fulness so he is all Col. 1. 19. with Chap. 3. 11. And hence the Spouse rejoyceth in this and declareth this to be the sum and compleatment of her blessedness and happiness My beloved is mine I am his Cant. 2. 16. 6. 3. And the Psalmist crieth out Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73 25. And the Prophet The Lord is my portion saith my soul therefore I will hope in him Lam. 3. 24. Yea this word of the Lord who in the last Ages was made flesh setteth this as compleat and satisfying consolation and incouragement before Abraham Fear not Abraham I am thy Shield and thy exceeding great reward Gen. 15. 1. And indeed this is the sum of all blessedness now and hereafter to have him to be ours Oh Blessed is every such an one who hath the Lord for his God For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield he will give Grace and Glory c. Psal 33. 12. 146. 5. 84. 10 11. Gen. 17. 7. 2 Cor. 6. 16 17. Rev. 21. 3 7. Yea in having him we shall not only have in and with him all things that are Spiritual and Heavenly but in seeking first his Kingdom and the righteousness thereof all other things shall be added to us which are good and needful thereto such meat drink and apparel such food and raiment and all accomodations as may conduce unto our seeking more to know him win him and be found in him Mat. 6. 33. Godliness even God who was manifested in the flesh justified in the Spirit who is the root and foundation of Godliness and
smiters for the smiters and gave himself to prayer for his persecuters though he was oppressed unjustly proceeded against and unworthily and despightfully intreated and used by them whose good he aimed at and pursued and afflicted Yet he opened not his mouth but was led as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep dumb before the Shearers so he opened not his moâ—th against them Isa 53. 7. Yea he prayed and dyed for them who with wicked hands did crucify and slay him And being raised again was sent and did come to bless them in turning every one of them from their iniquities Isa 53. 12. Acts 3. 13 14 15-26 Yea at that time when he was numbered with transgressors and hanged between two Thieves and most unmercifully and inhumanely intreated mocked at and reproached then said Jesus Father forgive them Luk 23. 34. Oh wonderful trial Oh matchless love He was greatly tried also in the greatness and depth of the abasement whereto he was abased for us a small condiscension in such an excellent and glorious person for such unworthy ones would have been admirable But as that would not have sufficed for our recovery so such was the cordialness of his love and servency of his affection to us that he did not avoid or shrink from that great abasement whereto it was absolutely necessary he should humble himself that we might be redeemed from the curse of the Law and our loss might be again recovered for us he laid not hold on the Nature of Angels when many of them had sinned to keep them from falling or to recover them though that had been wonderfully beneath him but he was made a little lower then the Angels his own Creatures in a Nature inferiour to theirs yea he did not partake of our Nature as it was when first Created by God but as it was become through our seeking out foolish inventions and was in all things like unto us sin only excepted he partook with us of flesh and blood of weakness and mortality and was subject to all our infirmities to hunger thirst weariness painfulness and was poor and needy and took upon him the form of a Servant who was Lord of all and was made in the likeness of men yea of sinful flesh and being found in fashion as a man he still and further humbled himself and became obedidient to death even the death of the Cross that cruel shameful and accursed death Phil. 2. 6-8 He came down from Heaven and descended into the lower parts of the Earth not only into the Womb of the Virgin but into greatest and deepest afflictions Sorrows and troubles yea his Soul was in Hell and his Flesh in the Grave Acts 2. 27-31 He was tried and found faithful in that such was his power in himself and with the father that he could have acquitted himself from those sufferings which he indured from his enemies He was not at first necessitated to undertake for us but his Grace and free love moved him thereto and he could afterwards have confounded his foes and that way or otherwise have delivered himself out of their hands as he did do many times in the days of his personal ministration and some proof and demonstration he gave of his power to have destroyed them had he pleased when they came to apprehend him for when he told the band of Men and Officers who were sent to take him that he was the person they sought for as soon as he had said unto them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground John 18. 3-6 So when Peter drew out his Sword out of its place and smote off the ear of the High-Priest's Servant after our Saviour had bid him put it up again c. He addeth Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my father and he shall presently give me more then twelve Legions of Angles as intimating that such was his interest with his father that had he prayed he might have been rescued from their destruction with a great and Heavenly Host of those Glorious Angels and needed not Peter's Sword to avenge his quarrel but how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled in his breaking the head of the Serpent and healing that first breach between God and Manking and doing and becoming that whereby we might be brought back to God Mat. 26. 52-54 He was not forced to suffer what he did but he might have avoided all had he so pleased and this is a great trial of love and patience We may pretend to patience in sufferings when we cannot help our selves but if the power were in our hands we should be apt presently to get rid of the trouble but though Christ was such a mighty one yet he readily and chearfully undertook for us at first and patiently indured to the last such an hot fire He was not a Passive simply but Active and forward also in all his abasement not only was he sent into the World but he came and came rejoycingly Lo I come I delight to do thy Will Psal 40. 6-8 Not only was he made flesh but he laid hold on the Seed of Abraham in that body the father prepared for him Heb. 2. 16. Not only was he put to death but he died yea to shew his forwardness he breathed forth and commended his Spirit into the hand of his father before they died who were crucified with him and he so soon died that the Governour admired at it Mark 15. 44. He emptied himself and made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and he further humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross Phil. 1. 7 8. Oh that that mind that was in Christ Jesus where more in us Ver. 6. Here was a trial indeed and herein was love inexpressible love incomparable He was tried in his obedience to his father and in his love to us and in his power in grapling with such and so many and great enemies in his so great abasement and in the day of his calamity when the fathers wrath lay heavy upon him They prevented him in the day of his fog when his God forsook him and hid his face from him Psal 18. 18. They persecuted him whom God had smitâ—en Psal 69. 26. When he was weakest and his Soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death then was their hour and the power of darkness then his and our enemies appeared in their strength against him He had all our sins even all the trespass 〈…〉 f the World upon him He bare our sins in his own body to the Tree and this was so great a burden that his heart even failed and these were such a multitude that they were more then the hairs of his head Psal 40. 12. 1 Pet 2. 24. And these must be born and taken away there must be an abolishing of them or else there could have been no deliverance for us Heb. 9. 26. He had our death to die and
pleased in him of this he hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead He was declared to be the Son of God with power by the spirit of holiness in the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 4. though they gathered together against him and unjustly condemned him and said and intimated that he was not the Son of God yet God did stand at his right 〈…〉 and to save him from the judges of his soul Psal 109. 30 31. he wiped off as it were all that dirt reproch and ignomy wherewith they covered him and testified he delighted in him in sending from above and taking him out of great waters Psal 18. 16 17. And in setting him on his own right hand and glorifying him in the Gospel He is purified in and through this fire from all the guilt of our sins and from all the weakness and mortality of our Nature and from all the hidings of Gods face and from all the calumnies slanders and dishonours of his enemies yea from all trouble and grievance and is now an inconceivably glorious one full of lustre and splendour And this will be furher shewed in what followeth 4. This Gold is said to be tried to denote and signifie that this work this trying work is over and past though the virtue and glorious fruit of it remaineth and abideth for ever It is not said Gold trying but tried in or out of the fire for as before is said he is acquitted of all our sins that were imputed to him and hath overcome abolished and got rid of all our weakness and mortality and all occasions of grief and trouble and is not as some ungodly and Antichristian Spirits affirm blasphemously dying in some or in any in every Age of the World Those that so say make his sufferings and Sacrifice like those directed to under the Law they even count the blood of the Covenant a common thing like the blood of Bulls and Goats take away sin and therefore was daily offered but herein his Blood and Sacrifice is distinguished from and infinitely preferred before all legal Blood and Offerings in that his is not to be itterated or repeated and so by consequence he can suffer no more as the Apostle intimateth in the dissimilitudes he maketh between the former Priests and their Offerings which they offered according to the Law and our High-Priest and his Offering when he saith Nor yet that he should offer himself often as the High-Priest entreth into the Holy place every year with blood of others for then must he often have suffered since the Foundation of the World which to imagine and affirm is the greatest and first-born of absurdities as the Apostle doth intimate but now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 9. 25 26. Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more Dominion over him For in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God Rom. 6. 9 10. And this Christ proposeth unto John to strengthen him against his fears He saith John laid his right hand upon me saying Fear not I am he that liveth and was dead and behold consider and set thine heart unto this give attention hereto I am alive for evermore Amen This is a true and faithful saying Rev. 1. 17 18. Were he always trying always suffering and offering there could be no perfection by his Blood if he were always dying in some in every Age or always to be offered up a propitiatory Sacrifice then would his Blood and Sacrifice be like that Blood and those Sacrifices under the Law which could not make the comers thereunto perfect for the Law made nothing perfect But Christ hath once and but once suffered for sins the just for the unjust 1 Pet 3. 18. And by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy place having obtained Eternal Redemption Heb. 9. 12. And offered up one Offering that of his one body once for all and this man when he had offered up one Sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God from ever suffering any more or offering any more Sacrifice or Offering for sins Heb. 7. 27. 10. 10-12 And hath by his one Offering once offered perfected for ever them that are sanctified whereof the Holy-Ghost also is a Witness to us Heb. 10. 14 15. And this Holy-Spirit convinceth the World of righteousness evidenceth that Christ hath compleated righteousness a perfect righteousness in and by himself for us and therein sheweth and demonstrateth the unprofitableness of ours in that he is gone to the father and we see him no more no more coming down to suffer or offer any new Offering or to repeat that Offering of his own body for us nor hath he given or left behind him instruction to any one who may pretend himself to be his Vicar to offer him up a propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of quick or dead John 16. 10. Heb. 10. 10-14 In this Phrase then or manner of speaking is implied and intimated to us the preciousness of his personal abasement and sufferings and herein is evidenced that his Flesh is meat indeed and his Blood is drink indeed that we might eat his Flesh and drink his Blood and rejoyce and glory in nothing save in the Cross of Christ in that he is tried not trying but come out of and delivered from the fire taken from prison and judgment and is ascended up where he was before John 6. 54-62 And it is also a powerful admonition to us not to count it a common thing not to despise or set light by it for there remaineth no more Sacrifice for sins he can dye no more so that If this Blood and Sacrifice be rejected and trodden under foot till the day of Grace and patience be at an end there remaineth nothing but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignation Heb. 10. 26-29 It was witnessed of him who was dead that he liveth and he was made a Priest after the power of an endless life and that by his Oath who sware and will not repent Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech and so ever liveth to make intercession for them that come to God by him And is therefore able to save them to the uttermost Heb. 7 8. 16-25 Rev. 2. 8. This is Gold not trying but tried in or out of the fire 1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. Rom. 6. 3 4. 5. In this Phrase and expression in saying Gold tried in the fire is also signified that he is become Gold for us who was tried even that same person in that same body the same that was tried the same is become Gold for us precious and inriching even as it is with natural and earthly Gold that precious Metal of the Earth The same substance that is cast in the same
cometh out again and is Gold tried only the Dross and mixture is taken out so it is here this Spiritual and Heavenly Gold which was in the fire and was then Gold the most precious one even he the same Jesus who dyed for our sins and was buried he in that very personal body is raised again discharged from the guilt of our sins and free from the fruits thereof God did not leave his Soul which was made an Offering for our sins Isa 53. 10 in Hell nor suffer his Flesh in which he was put to death 1 Pet. 3. 18 to see corruption Acts 2. 27-31 So the Apostle Peter saith Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. He that descended is the same also that assended far above all Heavens even into the presence of God that he might fill all things Ephes 4. 8-10 The Stone which the builders set at nought and disallowed the same is made the head of the Corner 1 Pet. 2. 7. It is even he the same person who was delivered for us that is raised again and taken from prison and judgment And in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily even in the body of his flesh Col. 2. 9 10. And this same Jesus shall so come in like manner As those men of Galilee saw him go into Heaven Acts 1. 9. 11. And herein is he preferred before David He fell on sleep and was laid unto his fathers and saw corruption and his Sepulchre is with us saith Peter unto this day but Christ whom God raised again saw no corruption Acts 13. 36 37. 2. 29-32 And Christ in those fourty days after his resurrection in which he was seen of his Apostles Shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs Acts 1. 2 3. And shewed them his hands and his feet that were nailed to the Tree and his side that was pierced with a Spear of a Souldier and his Disciples did see and look upon and handle his raised body by which it appeared he was not a Spirit simply but hath a body that hath flesh and bones And these infallible proofs are given us that we may know and be assured That Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing in him we may have life through his name Luke 24. 36-40-48 John 20. 19-31 And of this the Apostles are Witnesses and have testified That he is the first born from the dead brought forth out of the heart or Womb of the Earth as Jonas was out of the Belly of the Whale Mat. 12. 40. Col. 1. 18. Rev. 1. 5. And it is he that person that same Jesus that is very Christ Acts 9. 22. Anointed with the Holy-Ghost And in him this first-born from the dead it hath pleased all the fulness to dwell even all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and so he is become Gold for us and hath the pre-eminence in all things Col. 1. 18 19. 2. 9 10. And hath all Dominion given unto him Because he humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross therefore hath God highly exalted him and given him who so humbled himself a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bowe c. Philip. 2. 8 9. And it is needful and good for us to be rooted and grounded in the hearty perswasion and belief hereof that we may be saved and preserved from those evil and Antichristian Spirits that say There is no resurrection of the dead and so by consequence that Christ is not raised again and then we are yet in our sins and the Apostles are found false Witnesses of God and faith is vain and those who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished But Christ is risen from the dead and is become Gold for us even the same that was tried in the fire 1 Cor. 15. 3 4-12-20 And herein he answereth to nay infinitely exceedeth and goeth beyond Gold that is the most incorruptible Metal Yet it will perish though tried with fire 1 Pet. 1. 7. It may canker and rust Jam. 5. 3. And is called a corruptible thing 1 Pet. 1. 18. But his Blood is said to be and is precious as opposed to corruptible of infinite value and worth and highly to be esteemed by us because it is incorruptible 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. And he himself in his own body in which he died for us is in the virtue of his precious and incorruptible Blood raised again no more to return to corruption Acts 13. 34. And is become incorruptible Seed even the Word of God which by the Gospel is preached unto us he liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1. 23-25 Isa 40. 8. And whosoever is born of this Seed shall live for ever this man continueth ever and therefore hath an unchangeable Priesthood He was dead and is alive and liveth for evermore and whosoever believeth on him though he were dead yet shall he live and he that liveth and believeth shall never dye 1 John 2. 17. John 11. 25 26. In such like respects he is said to be Gold tried in the fire 3. In the next place let us consider what is imported to us in the end why he counselleth this Angel to buy which is also a powerful Motive and Argument used to move us to have such an high estimate of this Gold as to buy it at any rate That thou mayst be rich To which I shall speak more briefly because what is intimated herein hath been noted formerly In this end then is signified unto us 1. That those that have not this Gold tried in the fire they cannot indeed be rich or inriched with the true riches but are poor miserable Creatures in the eyes of him that judgeth righteously though they have large possessions much Gold and a multitude of Rubies We may apply that saying of the Prophet to them Surely these are poor For they know not the way of the Lord nor the judgment of their God Jer. 5. 4. Alass all the substance here below will not procure the love and favour of God in which is life Cant 8. 7. These riches will not deliver from the stroke of Gods hand or from the Testimonies of his displeasure Will he esteem thy riches No not Gold c. Job 36. 18 19. They profit not in the day of wrath or death Zeph. 1. 18. Prov. 11. 4. They are deceitful riches they promise somewhat or rather we promise to our selves much contentment and blessedness in the enjoyment and possession of them but they are not there is no substantial and durable good in them That rich man in the Parable whose ground brought forth plentifully so as he was careful and thoughtful how to dispose of his fruits not having room where to bestow them and therefore resolved to pull down his Barns and build greater and there to dispose all his fruits
and sorrow they meet withall by reason of their poverty Strairs and necessities in this World blessed are such poor ones for theirs is the Kingdom of God Luk. 6. 0. and to incourage them to rejoyce in their King to whom all things are delivered of the Father though they are as the filth and off-scouring of all things and are like unto him in their outward condition who had not whereon to lay his head yet in being called unto the felloship of Christ and made partakers of him and united unto him all things are theirs and in due time they shall inherit the earth yea they shall inherit all things and reign for ever and ever This consideration the first and the last who was dead and is alive proposeth to and setteth before the Angel of the Church in Smyrna to comfort him I know thy tribulation and thy poverty but thou art rich Rev. 2. 9. And the mindfulness hereof is powerful to preserve us from immoderate sorrow and they who do consider it in the greatest necessity are kept from fainting While they look not at the things that are seen but at the things not seen for the things that are seen both the good and the evil are temporal but the things that are not seen are Eternal 2 Cor. 4. 16-18 3. In that he saith That thou mayst be rich it declareth and sheweth unto us the great Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the father in him it was not nor is his own good and profit this faithful and true witness aimethat but the profit and benefit of others that they may be saved to whom the Apostle also was in some measure like-minded and signifieth that he was herein a follower of Christ 1 Cor. 10. 33. 11. 1. This was his end in all he hath done for us and is become even our advantage and benefit such was his Grace to us that to this end he became poor that through his poverty we mâ—ght be made rich 2 Cor. 8 9. He was made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law even all Mankind for they were under it Gal. 4. 4 5. with Rom. 3. 19. He who knew no sin was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. He bare our sins in his own body on the Tree that we being dead to sin might live to righteousness 1 Pet. 2. 24. He died for all that they which live might not henceforth live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 15. He was raised again for our justification even for the justification of all those for whose offences he was delivered viz. of all Mankind Rom. 4. 25. 3. 23 24. And God haâ—h given him Glory that our faith and hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1. 21. Christ once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit 1 Pet. 3. 18. And that feast he hath prepared in himself 't is for all people Isa 25. 6. And so he is the same in what he is now doing as he was in what he hath done Heb. 13. 8. He seeketh not his own things he proposeth not nor aimeth at any personal advantage to himself but it is our good profit and benefit which is in his eye He is the Mediator between God and Men who appeareth in the presence of God for us making intercession for us even for transgressors and ever liveth to make intercession for them that come unto God by him to take away their fins and procure Grace and Mercy for them John 1. 29. Heb. 9. 15. 24. 7. 25. 1 John 2. 2. He preacheth the Gospel by his Spirit to our Spirits and therein giveth us good counsel as here for our good that we poor and miserable ones might hear his Word and listen to and receive his counsel and so be wise for our selves Prov 9. 12. Hence also he saith Hear Counsel and receive instruction that thou mayst be wise in thy latter end even profitable to thy self that thou mayst be rich Prov. 19. 20. with Job 22. 2. Here he counselleth poor wretched ones to buy Gold that they may be rich and White raiment that they may be cloathed and that the shame of their nakedness appear not and to annoint their eyes with Eye-salve that they may see It is our happiness he aimeth at and not his own for though we receive his counsel it is no profit or advantage to him Can a man be profitable to God as he that is wise may be profitable to himself Is it any gain to him that thou makest thy way perfect Job 22. 2 3. 35. 7 8. Yea and when he rebuketh and chasteneth it is for our profit that we might be zealous and repent and so be partakers of his holiness Rev. 3. 19. Heb. 12. 6-10 And the consideration hereof that he is gracious a free and cordial lover of us that seeketh not his own things nor aimeth at his own commodity but ours as is brightly and abundantly manifested in his great abasement and humbling of himself to death even the death of the Cross may be useful to us to incourage and move us to come with boldness to his Throne for it is a Throne of Grace erected not for his own advantage or advancement but for the good and benefit of poor unworthy undeserving ill-requiting and ill-deserving ones Heb. 4 15 16. And to take and drink of the Water of life of which he is the Fountain for we may take of it freely without money and without price Rev. 22. 17. Isa 55 1 2. And this might also move and strengthen us to be followers of him as dear Children as far as we have ability and opportunity and to that end to put on Charity that we may not seek our own things but the good of others To this the Apostle solemnly exhorteth the believers setting Christ before them as the motive and example Phillip 2. 1-6 7. In lowliness of mind saith he let each esteem other better then himself namely let him think and judge that another is rather to be eased and spared then himself If there be a burden to be born or some reproach or persecution to be indured let him rather bear indure and undergo it then his brother should let him not seek to deliver himself and be content that he is free though it fall upon his Brother but rather choose to bear and indure it himself that his brother may be eased and freed and that this is the meaning of the exhortation appeareth by what followeth Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Let that mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no
bring in and become righteousness for us God laid on him the iniqâ—ities of us all and he was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him he was made under the Law for us that were under it and God went to Law with him and executed the judgement of the World upon him Joh. 12. 31. And put him to death in the flesh for us and he by the Grace of God tasted death for every man that is to say he died the death of all and tasted death for every man in the room and stead of every man he died that death which was the due desert of every man which they should have died and which was the Wages of their sinning against God and this he did for every man even for the good and behoof of every man So that we thus judge saith the Apostle that if one died for all then were all dead all have died that first death not in their own persons but in the last Adam who undertook for and was the representative of all Mankind 2. Cor. 5. 14. And his death is as acceptable with the father and as virtuous and satisfactory as if all had died in their own persons and infinitely more comfortable to us for had that death been died by us we had perished in it for ever But now by his stripes we are healed in whom mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other Isa 53. 5. Psal 85. 10. He hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree that the blessing of Abraham viz. righteousness and life might be in Christ Jesus for the Nations Gal. 3. 13 14. And there was a necessity for Christ's so humbling himself and becoming obedient to death even the death of the Cross that righteousness might come by him both because God is a God of truth and his word cannot be broken and he is infinite in holiness and purity a God of such pure eyes that he cannot behold iniquity nor clear the guilty unless he take vengeance on our sins and until his justice be satisfied and truth fulfilled which is all now done in Christ in whose flesh God condemned our sin Rom. 8. 3. As well as also Christ must needs have suffered because there is no other person or thing that could redeem us No man could redeem his Brother nor give to God a ransom for his Soul the redemption of the Soul is so precious No Offering appointed by the Law could purge away our sin God took no pleasure in them to any such end thousands of Rammes and ten thousand Rivers of Oyl would not have made our peace Lebanon was not sufficient to burn nor the Beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt Offering All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him less then nothing and vanity Yea the Heavens were not clean in his sight to this purpose nor any of the Heavenly Spirits but Christ must be abased and dye or us or else there could be no righteousness for us Acts. 17. 3. Heb. 10. 4-12 Psal 40. 6. 8. Isa 40. 15-17 And that it was needful Christ should suffer is signified to us in that when he was in his great agony and distress and cried out Father if it be possible let this Cup pass c. Yet still it was continued to him and not removed from him doubtless to instruct us that it was impossible the Cup should pass from him and yet righteousness be prepared for us and mercy shewn to us Mat. 26. 39. This way then he hath prepared righteousness for us and herein God appeareth to be just and his righteousness is herein declared and shewn forth Rom. 3. 25. Aswell as also we may hereinsee the vanity and unprofitableness of all our works of righteousness and of all we could do to prepare a clothing and covering for our selves and the solly and ignorance of those that think to make a garment for the clothing themselves or to make their peace with God by any of their works sacrifices gifts sufferings Alass they are insufficient to this purpose In the cross o Christ pride is hidden from us and from all that no flesh might glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1. 29 â—0 31. And yet here also is a lifting up for all in that in which they are cast down and good cause and reason though not to glory in our selves yet to rejoyce and glory in the Lord who died for us that righteousness might come by him and in the Father who raised up righteousness from the east Isa 41. 2. And herein we may see the infinite grace of God in the abasing his Son and of Christ in so greatly humoling himself for us and be moved with thankfulnesS to lay aside our pride and stouâ—-heartedness and submit and humble our selves to receive and accept of this righteousness of God without the law prepared and compleated by Jesus who died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and who also rose again the third day according to the Scriptures And this leadeth us to a further consideration 2. He who died for our sins is also raised again as the publick man and is in our nature and for us justified in the Spirit even in the Spirits raising him from the dead acquitted from all our sins imputed to him and so he is raised for our justification acquittance and discharge Rom. 4. 25. 1 Tim 3. 16. And in this God hath evidenced and declared his righteousness in releasing him and taking him from prison and judgment who had died our death and paid our debt it was not possible he should be holden of death because he had fully satisfied his justice and fulfilled his truth and God hath therefore in raising him evidenced and manifested his righteousness and testified to all men that he is welpleased in and satisfied with his personal abasement and sufferings in that he hath raised him from the dead He hath declared him to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1 4. And Christ not by the blood of bulls and goats but by his own blood in the virtue whereof he is raised and hath offered himself his raised body a spotless sacrifice through the eternal spirit unto God which is an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto him entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption Heb. 9. 12-14 Ephes 1. 2. That is to say He hath finished the transgression to wit the transgression of the first publick man in which we all sinned and from whence we are necessarily polluted and made an end of sins of the necessary branches thereof he hath purged away the guilt of this sin and sinfulness from before the presence of God so as now the wrath
of God from him abideth not on any man on that account nor is any man held out from God because of his natural and necessary pollution simply The father henceforth judgeth no man otherwise then by Christ but hath committed all judgement to his Son Heb. 1. 3. Dan. 9. 24. Joh. 5. 22. And all that have sinned are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 3. 23 24. He once appeared in the end of the World to put away and abolish sin by the sacrifice of himself He was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin he hath not failed therein Heb. 9. 26. 1 Joh. 3. 5. Ezek. 18 2 3 4. He hath obtain'd also the forgiveness of our personal sins in which we sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression he hath obtained power to make reconciliation for the people Heb. 2. 17. Dan. 9. 24. he hath received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also Psal 68. 18. in him there is forgiveness and in his name it is preached unto all nations beginning at Jerusalem which was even the slaughter house of the Prophets and where our Lord was Crucified Luk. 24. 47. with chap. 13. 34. in him the Apostles had in their ministration to declare redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God's grace Ephes 1. 7. Col. 1. 14. This man when he had offered up one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God from ever offering up any new sacrifice or repeating or reiterating the former Heb. 10 10-12 7. 27. He hath also obtained a recovery of our loss all have sinned and come short of the glory of God in which and unto which they were created God made man in his image in a righteous and happy condition but man in seeking out many inventions thereby lost that image of God and Adam begat children in his own image Gen. 1. 26 27. Eccles 7. 29. Gen. 5. 3. But now Jesus Christ the second man hath restored that which he took not away he is the last Adam in whom mankind is again created in the image of God after a more glorious manner then in the first Adam He hath restored our nature in his person into the image of God into perfect innocency 1 Joh. 3. 5. 1 Pet. 1. 19. integrity righteousness immortality and eternal life Jam. 3. 9. 2 Tim. 1. 10. 1 Job 5. 10 11. Isa 45. 24. in him it hath pleased the father that all fulness should dwell and there is in him perfection for every man Col. 1. 18 19-28 2. 9 10. And he is become a quickening spirit and herein preferred before the first man Adam who was made a living Soul and abiding in that condition in which he was created might have conveighed life to his posterity but being fallen could not quicken dead ones neither himself nor any of his posterity But Christ is a quickening Spirit to quicken those that are dead in sins and trespasses 1 Cor. 15. 45. The living quickening bread that giveth life unto the dead world and they that eat him even they shall live by him John 6. 33-35-51-57 All things are here ready and prepared for all men in him he is made of God wisdom and righteousness c. And this righteousness he hath now openly shewed in the sight of the Heathen and hence all the Earth is called upon and exhorted to make a joyful noise unto the Lord to make a loud noise and rejoyce and sing Praise Psal 98. 1-5 Jesus Christ hath recovered all our loss into himself and is glorified in our nature with the Glory he had with the father before the World was John 17. 5. And he hath obtained the Inheritance of new Heavens and a new Earth of a better and more glorious Inheritance then the first man had in the first Creation and an excellent Dominion over the works of God's hand and so as with respect to these two last branches the Apostle sheweth to us that Christ who by the Grace of God tasted death for every man hath obtained that which the first Adam had and lost Compare Psal 8. 4-8 with Heb. 2. 6-9 And there shall be in due time a restitution of all things when God shall send us Jesus who now is preached to us Acts 3. 20 21. The whole Creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption iâ—to the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom 8. 19-21 And all this is that righteousness which Christ hath prepared for us and which they shall partake of that believe on him as the Scripture hath said In him there is the forgiveness of all our sins yea he is made of God to the believer redemption which non imputation or forgiveness of sins is righteousness without works whereby our sins are covered Rom. 4. 5 6 7. with Psal 32. 1 2. And a robe of righteousness in being cloathed upon wherewith they are made accepted in the beloâ—ed Ephes 1. 6. Those that buy this are righteous even as he is righteous 1 John 3. 7. And Christ doth present them in the body of his flesh in which he was raised again from the dead Holy and unblameable and unrebukeable in his sight Col. 1. 22. And as found in him they are all faiâ— and there is no spot in them Cant. 4. 7. Christ is become theirs and they are cloathed upon with him and reckoned after him being buried with him in baptism wherein also thâ—y are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised Christ from the dead Col 2. 12. Ephess 2. 5 6. And they are begotten to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undesiled and that fadeth not aâ—ay reserved in the Heavens 1 Pet. 1. 3. Christ is made of God to them righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30. And this the righteousness they have to appear before God in the best and first robe even Christ himself and the righteousness he hath wrought and obtained this the VVedding Garment Luke 15. 22. Mat. 22. 11. 2. By this VVhite raiment or those VVhite Garments are meant the fruits of this righteousness believed and believed in Jam. 3. 18. For this the Apostle prayeth for the Phllippians That their love might abound yet more and more in all knowledg That they might be sincere and without offence being filled with the fruits of righteousness which fruits are by Jesus Christ received and believed in unto the Glory and praise of God Philip. 1. 9-11 And of these fruits there are some more inward and some more outward 1. Those more inward and wrought in the Spirit of the mind by the Spirit in the Testimony in glorifying Christ and taking of his things and shewing unto us are Humility This is compared to a Garment Be ye all clothed with Humility 1 Pet. 5. 4. And this Garment these needed to buy of
Christ for they were lifted up with high thoughts and conceits of themselves They said They were rich and increased with goods and had need of nothing they needed therefore to buy and to be clothed with this Garment that their shame might not appear namely to put on and be clothed especially and firstly with all humility of mind Acts. 20. 19. To put on humbleness of mind Col. 3. 12. And needful it is for us all to be inwardly apparalled herewith to have a low esteem of our selves of our knowledge parts gifts attainments or otherwise we shall sit loose from Christ as they We are Lords we will come no more unto thee Jer. 2. 31. Those that are puft up with their fleshly mind notwithstanding their voluntary humility do not hold the head Jesus Christ but treacherously depart from him Col. 2. 18 19. Good therefore it is for us all and especially for the Angels 1 Pet. 5. 1-5 To put on this to judge our selves unworthy Creatures less then the least of God's mercies and favours Gen. 32 10. The chief of sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. The least of Saints Ephes 3. 8. To count that we have not yet attained neither are already perfect Philip. 3. 12 13. To say when we have done all that is commanded us we are unprofitable servants Luke 17. 9 10. To be nothing 2 Cor. 12. 11. And therefore to come to Christ as the only foundation of our faith as he died for sinners ungodly ones and enemies yea as by the Grace of God he tasted death for every man and is raised again as the reason of our hope as the beginning of our confidence To come unto and abide in him as the fountain of our light and teaching as our only Rabbi and to learn the truth as it is taught in Jesus To put on him as our righteousness to appear before God in whose righteousness is prepared for all that have sinned To feed upon him as our bread even on his flesh as given for the life of the world To have our approch to God by and through him as our only way and to come in through that low door opened for every poor sinful Creature of Mankind to be comforted in all our tribulations and sadnesses with Gods consolations even with the consolations of and in Christ and not to have some secret thing with us to comfort us Job 15. 11. with 2 Cor 1. 3-5 To have our rejoycing in Christ where all may rejoyce with us and to have no confidence in the flesh in any priviledges thereof or in any works of righteousness of our own Philip. 3. 3-8 And to think soberly of our selves yea and this humility is also to be exercised in all our words and demeanour Ephes 4. 2. And this humility is the Spirit effecting and bringing unto us that it might be put on by us in glorifying Christ and commending unto us the freeness of Gods love in him shewing that he hath prepared righteousness for us and imputeth it to every one that believeth freely without any works of ours Where is boasting then It is excluded By what Law Of works Nay but by the Law of faith Rom 3. 21-28 And that he saved us from our ignorance of him and enmity unto him according to the rule of his mercy and so not by any works of righteousness of ours By Grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast It is by Grace as the motive whereby he was moved to bring salvation to us as opposed to debt he was not indebted to us for any goodness of ours or by any purpose or promise on his part necessitating him thereto but it was freely by his Grace he saved us and by Grace as the Argument and motive wherewith he prevailed with us even through the discovery of the freeness and greatness of his love as commended to us continually in this that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Ephes 2. 1-8 with Rom. 4. 4. Tit. 3. 3-5 And so what ever the believers have received it is by Grace for who maketh thee to differ and what hast thou that thou didst not receive Now if thou didst receive it why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it 1 Cor. 4. 7. And so his forgiving the sins of those that come to God by him and cleansing them from their filthiness and giving unto them a new heart and new Spirit it is not for their sakes but for his own name sake and were this known and taken notice of by them it would cause them to be ashamed and confounded and powerfully hide pride from them and cloth them with humility Ezek. 36. 21-32 And indeed nothing doth so powerfully work and tend to the humbling of us as his Grace and to this end he giveth more Grace Grace abounding our natural pollution and corruption wherefore he saith God resisteth the proud but giveth Grace to the humble Jam. 4. 5 6. yea and to the effecting this humility in us he proposeth to us and setteth before us the humility of Christ That we might learn of him who was lowly not in his outward carriage only but also in heart and in so doing we shall find rest to our Souls Mat. 11. 29. Philip. 2. 4-6 7. Zeal for God to be clad therewith as with a Cloak Isa 49. 7. This was that which this Angel and Church were much wanting in and destitute of they were Luke-warm and neither Cold nor Hot as we have seen before This was needful therefore to be bought by them in and with humility and unless that be put on this cannot be had by us for while men have high thoughts of themselves and their attainments this disposeth them to lukewarmness and hindreth them from being zealous Now that zeal that is to be bought of Christ it is principally Fervency of Spirit in selling all that we have for Christ that we may win him and be found in him as before is shewn And fervency of Spirit in seeking after the knowledg of him and promoting the things of his Kingdom contending earnestly and fervently for the faith of the common salvation and not giving place by subjection no not for an hour that the truth of the Gospel may continue with us and so highly valuing and prizing Christ and his Gospel and fervently loving him and it as not to love our lives unto the death for his sake and his Gospels but willingly to lay them down and lose them when called thereunto The zeal of Gods house did even eat up Christ and such zeal is to be bought of him as whereby we may not please our selves but deny our own wisdoms wills designs affections enterprizes yea and forsake all that we have that we may be his Disciples and follow him in the regeneration Rom. 12. 11. Luke 14. 26 27-33 And this zeal he is effecting in us especially and principally by
of the Law Heb. 7. 12. We have an High priest after a more excellent order then was Aaron's even after the order of Melchisedech and he is King of righteousness who hath brought in an everlasting righteousness and who is clothed therewith as with a robe Isa 61. 10. And hath it to confer upon and cloth with all that are born of him Heb. 7. 1 2. 1 John 2. 29. 3. 7. This was he whom Daniel in vision saw That certain or one man clohed in linen in White raiment whose Loyns were girded with fine Gold of Uphaz Dan. 10. 5. with Rev. 1. 13. And the same he speaketh off again Clothed in linen which was upon the Waters of the River c. Dan. 12. 6 7. with Rev. 10. 6 7. And he is girt about the Paps with a Golden girdle Righteousness is the Girdle of his Loyns and Faithfulness the Girdle of his Reins Rev. 1. 13. with Isa 11. 5. He is a more excellent High-priest then any of the former and answerably his raiment is more excellent then theirs Aaron had on when he ministred the Linen Coat Linen Breeches Linen Girdle and Linen Mitre outward Material white Raiment but he hath put on righteousness as his Garment Girdle Breast-Plate c. And all those that are born of and come unto him are made Priests be they Jew or Gentile wise or unwise male or female bond or free They are a Spiritual Priest-hood to minister unto him as all the males that were born of Aaron in former times were Priests so now Christ is actually in our nature glorified and become the father and begetter of Priests by a birth from above and no difference here between male and female for they are all one in Christ Gal. 3. 27. This priviledge of being Priests is not confined or limited to a mid-order of outward Officers between and distinct from Bishops or Elders and Deacons for there is no such order mentioned in the writings of the Apostles nor is it limited to any outward Church-chosen Officers whatsoever Nay men are so far from being the only Priests because chosen by the professed Church that they are not therefore Priests at all But all those that are born of Christ the Everlasting father and begetter of Priests whether in 〈◊〉 or out of outward Office in the Church are an Holy Nation and Gods Heritage or Clergy 1 Pet. 5. 3. Yea though those that were in former times born of Aaron and were of the Tribe of Levi were outward and bodily Priests to offer bodily Sacrifices in which they were Types of Christ and their Sacrifices of his Yet all Israel might then in obeying his voice have been Spiritual Priests according to that Exod. 19. 3-6 The Lord said to Moses Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob and tell the Children of Israel and not of Levi and Aaron only You have seen what I did to the Egyptians c. Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my Covenant then ye shall be a peculiar Treasure unto me above all people for all the Earth is mine And ye shall be unto me a Kingdom of Priests and an Holy Nation These are the Words which thou shalt speak unto unto the Children of Israel And now all that come unto Christ the living Stone disallowed indeed of men yea of the builders also but chosen of God and precious they also as lively Stones are built up a Spiritual house an Holy Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. And there are none else that are Priests of Gods owning and approbation though there are many others that are called so but all these whether male or female in the flesh that so hear and learn of the father as to come unto Christ are joyned unto the Lord and so are Spiritual Levites and made one Spirit with him and partake of his Spiritual Blessings by faith and in a first-fruits of the Spirit according to their needs and capacities and they are Priests And that they may minister unto him and before men he washeth them in his own Blood Thus in our Types that the Priests might minister unto the Lord they were to be washed Exod. 29. 4. And when they came into the Tabernable or unto the Altar they were always to wash Exod 30. 17-22 And therefore the Laver was set between the Tent of the Congregation and the Altar that they might wash before they came to the Altar Exod. 40. 6 7. 29-32 So Christ who is the Laver and Fountain of living Waters through his Blood washeth those that come to and believe on him continually even the weakest as well as the strongest He forgiveth their iniquities even of the little Children also and they receive the remission of them through the opening of his name 1 Joh. 2. 12. Acts 10. 43. He sprinkleth their Hearts from an evil Conscience and their Consciences from dead works and their Bodies with pure Water He gave himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word Ephes 5. 25 26. Heb. 10. 22. And as in our Types of old the Priests had peculiar Vestments white Garments prepapared for them and put on to minister in Exod. 29. 5 6. 40. 13 14. So Christ clotheth his Priests also with more excellent Raiment He clotheth them with a robe of righteousness Isa 61. 10. Psal 132. 9. He is made of God to them righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30. And with the fruits of his righteousness as before Ephes 4. 23 24. Col. 3. 10-14 And he anointeth them not with Materal Oyntment as the Priests in former times were Exod. 29. 6. 30. 23-30 40. 9-13-15 But with the Spirit and with some useful gifts 2 Cor. 1. 21. And so they are prepared to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Christ as their High-Priest and Altar 1 Pet. 2. 5. Rev 1. 5 6. And the Sacrifices they offer are broken and contrite hearts broken off from all rejoycing in themselves or confidence in the flesh and filled with abhorrency of and sorrow for their sins Isa 66. 1-3 Psal 51. 17. And Prayers unto God in the name of Christ Psal 62. 8. 50. 14 15. 141. 2. And the Sacrifices of Praise continually that is the fruit of their lips confessing to his name and holding forth the Word of life Heb. 13. 15. Also to offer up their bodies a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable as moved and strengthened by the mercies of God Rom. 12. 1. And to do good and communicate For with all such Sacrifices God is well pleased being offered by Christ as the Altar Heb. 13. 15 16. Or as this counsel is given directly and expresly to the Angel that he should buy White raiment so there may be reference had to the Raiment the Angels those glorious Spirits were wont to appear in as it is said of that Angel that rolled back the stone from the door of the Sepulchre wherein
though they wash them with Nitre and take to them much Sope yet their iniquity is marked before the Lord. Jer. 2. 20-22 Isa 66. 17. Though they should wash themselves with Snow water and make themselves never so clean yet God will plunge them into the ditch again their own clothes will make them to be abhorred Their coverings will but make them more shameful Job 9. 30 31. He hath declared that our works and our righteousness shall not profit us our Webs shall not become Garments nor shall we be able to cover our selves with our own works Isa 57. 12. 59. 6. By the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God Rom. 3. 19 20. This covering will appear too narrow to wrap our selves in when the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim Isa 28. 13-15 20 21. We cannot make our Peace with God by any Sacrifices or works of our own nor establish to our selves such a righteousness as will render us acceptable before God but those that sought after righteousness as it were by the works of the Law they attained not righteousness they obtained not what they sought after Rom. 9. 31-33 10. 2 3. 11. 7. Hence saith the Apostle We who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles not so notoriously wicked as they knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Jesus Christ the word of faith heartily believed even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and noâ— by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified Gal. 2. 15 16. If righteousness could have come by the Law then Christ died in vain Gal. 2. 21. Nor can any hide their sin and shame by any outward professions and practices by their being hearers only of the word of truth and making a trade of hearing by their prophecyings in Christs name oâ— casting out Devils or doing many wonderful works in his name or by their eating and drinking in his presence and using and observing his ordinances Those that would cover themselves with those things will appear to be workers of iniquity notwithstanding such like clothings of themselves for they cover themselves with a covering but not of Gods Spirit and so even add sin to sin Mat. 7. 22-24 Luke 13. 24-27 Isa 30. 1. Oh! that we may all so consider the unprofitableness and insufficiency of all our own works of righteousness and of our coverings of our selves that we may cease from confiding and trusting in them and may seek the Lord and in him seek righteousness in whom God hath prepared it for us and for all And this leadeth us to the next thing viz. 3. This white raiment that is to be bought of this gracious and faithful Counsellor is that wherewith we may be clothed so as the shame of our nakedness may not appear We cannot cloth our selves nor cover the shame of our own nakedness as is before said But there is excellent raiment prepared for all men by him who gave himself an Offering and a Sacrifice for a sweet smelling Savour to God And so much might be typically signified by Gods covering and clothing our first parents when they had sinned and thought to have hid their shame with fig-leaves like whereto are all our coverings and hidings of our shameful nakedness Gen. 3. 7. The Lord God after he in denouncing the curse on the Serpent had promised That the seed of the woman should break the head of the Serpent And after Adam in closing therewith and belief thereof called his wives name Evah clothed the man and the woman with Coats of Skins probably with the Skins of the beasts that were offered by faith in Sacrifice to type out and point forth that our clothing and covering must be prepared and made by the Lamb of God which he prepared himself for a Burnt-Offering and by his Sacrifice who is sacrificed for us and thereby indeed is white raiment prepared for us and for all as is before shewn Gen. 3. 15-21 22. Now then in this instruction contained in the end proposed to move us to buy this White raiment viz. that thou mayst be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear is further signified unto us 1. That this raiment is proper and sufficient to cover the shame of our nakedness so as it appear not namely the righteousness which Christ hath brought in and compleated through his personal abasement and sufferings who in the virtue thereof is raised again and which he himself is become and it doth cover their shame that have it and put it on even from the face of the Lord viz. there is contained herein the forgiveness of our sins and blotting them out so as they shall no longer be remembred or retained in Heaven and giving unto and making them partakers of forgiveness by faith that believe on Christ for this is the blessedness the believers on his name do receive To Christ give all the Prophets witness as the sum and end of their Testimony that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive the forgiveness of their sins Acts. 10. 43. And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Acts 13. 39. If we in belief of his goodness and of the truth of his Testimony in reproving and discovering our vileness and sinfulness confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1. 7-9 And this forgiveness of sins as it is an imputing righteousness without works so it is expressed by covering sin even as David describeth the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousness without works saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered Rom. 4. 6 7 8. with Psal 32. 1 2-5 To the same purpose also the Psalmist speaketh when he acknowledgeth to the praise of Gods Grace and as a ground of incouragement to desire his further mercy Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people thou hast covered all their sins Psal 25. 2. And indeed the righteousness of Christ which he hath brought in and is become is to this end a compleat clothing and covering for all our shame inasmuch as there is contained therein both an acquittance and justification from the guilt of our first sin and sinfulness aswell as also plenteous redemption even the forgiveness of mens following and personal sins in which they sin after the likeness and similitude of Adams transgression yea and in him there is perfect innocency integrity immortality and eternal life which the believer is now receiving by faith and in some first-fruits of the Spirit but the adoption the redemption of the body and the Harvest of the Spirit is to
had nothing to give or part with that might in the least be compared unto or valued with this Gold tried in the fire and white raiment and yet they are counselled to buy and it is intimated in the counsel that such may have it and therefore it is supposed and signified that they may have it freely This provision was freely prepared as with respect to us all was of grace and not of or from any merit of ours we had deserved nothing of good from the hand of God nay we had deserved to have been utterly expelled from the favour and merciful presence of God 2 Sam. 14. 14. We were dead at Law condemned to dye and dead in sins and trespasses filthy and polluted ones and altogether unable to help our selves as water spilt upon the ground that cannot be gathered up again 2 Cor. 5. 14. But the God of all grace without any goodness of ours to move him thereto and contrary to our deservings so loved us as to give his Son by his grace his free love to tast death for every man Heb. 2. 9. And in him who is raised again from the dead for our justification all that have sinned and come short of the glory of God are justified freely by his grace through that redemption in Christ Jesus They are redeemed without money Isa 52. 3. Rom. 3. 23 24. And in Christ before we know it there is freely prepared the forgiveness of our personal sins in which we sin after the likeness of Adam's transgression The free gift is of many offences unto justification Rom. 5. 15 16. And a full fountain of grace and truth yea there God hath freely given to us all things Joh. 1. 14-16 1 Cor. 2. 12. Psal 68. 10. And proclamation is made and invitation given to men of this preparation freely and men are invited to come that have no money nor price no goodness nor worthiness of their own yea he that is a Thirst and whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely Isa 55. 1. Rev. 22. 18. 21. 6. Our Lord Jesus in the last day the great day of the feast of Tabernacles stood and cried even with a loud voice that all might hear If any man thirst whether out of necessity or from a former tast of his graciousness let him come unto me and drink There was that in him prepared for any Thirster that might cool his thirst refresh and comfort him And it might be freely had by any Thirster by such an one as had no gracious frames or qualifications Joh. 7. 37. And to those that receive Christ Jesus he giveth with him all things freely Rom. 8. 32. Yea he is ready to forgive and accept and love freely such as he hath been provoked with for their treacherous departing from him upon their returning again to him from whom they have revolted As he saith I will heal their backslidings I will love them freely Hos 14. 1-4 He frankly forgiveth them whose sins are many Luk. 7. 42-48 And this doth evidence that this provision may be had and is a great consolation to the poor not only to such as are naturally so but to such as are so in a spiritual consideration to such as have no goodness greeness graces who have nothing in themselves to incourage them yet such are invited and may partake of this inriching satisfying covering and adorning preparation proposed to and set before them and may therefore incourage such to come to the waters How many are there that are so poring upon their own unworthiness and nothingness as that thereby they discourage and hinder themselves and at last conclude there is no hope for them This consideration might incourage them and cause them to lift up the hands that hang down and to come to this fountain of the grace of God Joh. 4. 10. And this Instruction as thus demonstrated to wit That Christ and this provision in him may be had by such as are wretched and miserable and poor c. Yea by any sinful worthless creature of mankind while God is exercising longsuffering and vouchsafing means and striving with and calling to them may be of usefulness to us 1. To take us off from listening unto or entertaining those false witnesses of God in Christ who shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men and even in their Doctrines say Christ died not for all men nor by the grace of God tasted death for every man but only for the fewest of mankind and so by necessary consequence there is nothing prepared in Christ for the greatest part of mankind No gold no forgiveness no righteousness c. When our Saviour inveigheth against the scribes and Pharisees the first woe he denounceth upon them in the hearing of the multitudes and his disciples was because they shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men which was indeed their great evil and cause of the following evils for which they are so sharply and severely rebuked Matt. 23. 1-13 And at another time when there were gathered together an innumerable company of people insomuch that they trode one upon another He said first of all to his disciples in their hearing Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees their evil doctrine which is hypocrisie Luk. 12. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Oh! Let us also beware of such doctrines as deny the grace of God in Christ to mankind as declared in the Scriptures and hold we fast those wholesome words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the doctrine which is according to godliness As well as also it may take us off from others who though they plainly deny not that Christ died for all and is raised again or that any man may in coming to him be inriched by him yet they confess not this they speak it not out nor make it the subject matter of what they say so to exalt Christ that men might run to him but press men first to do such and such duties and then direct them to Christ when they are thus and thus qualified like those teachers to whom God said This is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest even Christ as witnessed in the law and by the Prophets and this is the refreshing but they would not hear but the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept c. And hereby they caused God's people to go astray and to forget their resting place Isa 28. 12 13-16 Jer. 50. 6. Instead of directing men to Christ and calling and moving them to come to this fountain they press men to establish a righteousness to themselves and to be justified by the Law or to perfect by the flesh what was begun by the spirit like those evil workers who came amongst the Galatians chap. 3. 1-4 5. 1-4 1 Joh. 4. 3. 2. Seeing this provision may be had and had freely by such it sheweth unto us the great and admirable grace of Christ and of the Father in him
and those that deny and contend against it they have a soul and a soul two souls one inclined toward them that preach the Gospel of Christ and another towards those that bring another doctrine and preach another Gospel though these doctrines are as farr different from one another as Heaven and Earth as some that are enemies to the grace of God in Christ to every man have said and acknowledged yet these can love both and commend both and receive good from both as they pretend Their heart is divided now shall they be found faulty Hos 10. 2. Yea this is that they call charity to have a good opinion and esteem of all that make a fair face in the flesh though many of them preach another Jesus or Spirit or Gospel besides him whom the Apostles have preached or that the believers have received and accepted when as indeed it is not charity For charity rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth but it is the fruit of their instability and want of fervent love to Christ and his Gospel which were it in them would cause them not to indure evil doctrines nor those that bring them Rev. 2. 2-6 These persons are like the waves of the sea driven with the winds and tossed and unstable in all their ways and walkings ever learning and never able to come to the knowledg of the truth Let not such persons think they shall receive any thing of the Lord though he giveth liberally to all men and upbraideth not for former or present unworthiness yet this will deprive the soul of good and hinder such manner of men from receiving what God is giving liberally unto them Jam. 1. 6-8 O that we may all cleanse our hearts herefrom in that fountain prepared and opened in and through the blood of Christ Christ being ascended up on high hath in these last days especially given such excellent gifts to men that thereby we might know which are sound and wholesom words and which are evil and pernicious that we might abhor the evil and cleave to the good with full purpose of heart and might not henceforth be Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive that our hearts might not be so simple as to be beguiled and deceived by the good words and fair speeches of them that cause divisions and offences contrary to the Apostles doctrine but might be established with grace and receive and abide in the doctrine of Christ in which whosoever abideth he hath both the Father and the Son And that if any man how appearingly holy or learned soever he be bring not this doctrine whatever doctrine else he bring if this be not the sum of his message we should not receive him into our house give no entertainment to him as a bringer of another doctrine nor bid him God speed say not the blessing of the Lord be upon you the Lord prosper you for he that biddeth such an one God speed is partaker of his evil deeds He is a sharer with him in all the mischif he doth to others Be not therefore carried about with divers and strange doctrines for it is a good thing the heart be established with grace Ephes 4 8-11 14. Rom â—6 17 18. Heb. 13. 7 8 9. 2 Joh. 9 10 11. 1 Joh. 2. 24-26 Gal. 1. 6-9 2 Cor. 11. 1-3 4. The wisdom of this world also our own and others must be ceased from and parted with otherwise this will pervert us and hinder us from coming unto and following after Jesus Christ Isa 47. 10. 1 Cor. 3. 19 20. Hence that instruction and admonition Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding be not wise in thâ—â—e own eyes fear the Lord and depart from evil As intimating to us that our own wisdom and understanding will hinder us from trusting in him heartily and fearing and worshipping him Prov. 3. 5-7 The preaching of Christ and him crucified the commending and proclaiming the excellency and excellent ends and vertues of his personal abasement and sufferings and of what he hath done and obtained into himself and is become This is a sapless unsavoury thing to our wisdom and to them that seek it and follow after it and our wisdom causeth such to depart from or wander out of the way of understanding Hence whereas the Apostle in one verse saith The preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness he saith in another The preaching of Christ crucified is to the Greeks who seek after wisdom foolishness to signify to us That those that seek after the wisdom of this world they are such as perish as their sin go astray from the right way and while they are so doing the Cross of Christ and the preaching thereof is a foolish thing to them they perceive no form or comeliness no beauty or excellency no desirableness in his sufferings or in him who by means thereof is become the habitation of the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in our nature Compare 1 Cor. 1 17 18. with vers 22. 23. Col. 2. 9 10. It is an unsavouâ—â— thing to our wisdom to be directed always unto Christ and to come unto him continually as the only foundation of faith reason of hope fountain of light and teaching answer of the conscience towards God matter of seeding robe of righteousness Our wisdom leadeth us rather to do somewhat that we may have our life in and acceptation by and dependence upon And therefore that we may be wise in eâ—â—â—n the flesh of the Son of Man which was given for the 〈…〉 e of the world and drinking his blood in the discoveries consolations operations teachings requirings and admonitions thereof needful it is for us to become fools and to cease from our own wisdom that we may thus be made wise 1 Cor. 3. 18. with Prov. 9. 4-6 12. Matt. 11. 25 28. Rom. 1. 20-22 or our wisdom will lead us to have our fear toward God taught by the precepts of men or to have our faith standing in their wisdom Isa 29. 13 14. 1 Cor. 2. 1-5 This is a great Idol in the World and too much set up in the Temple of God to the polluting and defiling it and that which God is staining the pride of and famishing now in glorifying and exalting Christ Jesus as the Wisdom of God and that which he will make lean and wholly famish in due season Oh! that it may now be so considered by us that we may cease there-from and so flee from idolatry 1 Cor. 1. 19-30 31. 3. 17 18. Zeph. 2. 11. Prov. 23. 4. We must also cease from and sell our own righteousness that of our own working in our own wisdom and strength even all confidence in and dependance upon that for life and acceptation otherwise this will hinder us from heartily imbracing and putting on
to see and behold as declared to us in his testimonies and especially in the testimony of his mouth The Father calleth upon us to behold his Servant and Son Behold saith he my Servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul is well pleased I have put my spirit upon him Isa 42. 1. Matt. 12. 18. And Behold the man whose name is the Branch Zech. 6. 12. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people c. Isa 55. 1-4 5. Jesus Christ calleth upon us also to behold himself Look unto me saith he all the ends of the Earth and be ye saved Isa 45. 22 23. with Rom. 14. 9-11 12. And saith Behold me Behold me unto a nation that was not called by his name Isa 65. 1. 55. 5. It is also the work of the holy Spirit to lift up the Son of Man as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness as a compleat object in whom is prepared all helpfulness and healing for every stung creature that men might look unto and believe in him Joh. 3. 5 9-9-14-16 It is his work and office to bear witness of his blood and the love of God as therein commended everlastingly and to glorify Christ and take of his things and shew unto us of his sufferings and the glory which there-through he hath received 1 Joh. 5. 6. Joh. 16. 13 14. 1 Pet. 1. 11. Yea as the father word and holy Ghost are one one in essence and being so one also in their testimony and this is the record that God hath given unto us mankind eternal life and this life is in his Son 1 Joh. 5. 7 11. Yea he is the sum and subject matter of the testimony of all those holy men by whom God hath spoken unto us from the beginning of the world to the end we might see and behold him To him give all the Prophets witness Act. 10. 43. Of this horn of salvation God spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets that have been since the world began Luk. 1. 69 70. 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. Acts 3. 22-25 26. 23. Joh. 5. 39. The Baptist was a man sent from God to bear witness of him as the light the fountain in whom is all the fulness of grace and truth and he saith Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World Joh. 1. 6 7-15 16. 29 33-36 The Apostles also were witnesses of him Joh. 15. 27. Yea the fullest and clearest witnesses of him they saw and did testify that the Father sent the Son the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4. 14. They preached not themselves but Jesus Christ and him crucified and therewith Jesus the Lord. 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. 2 Cor. 4. 5. To them was this grace given and Apostleship fo obedience to the faith among all nations Rom. 1. 5. 16. 25 26. To them was this grace given to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see c. Ephes 3. 8 9. It evidently appeareth therefore that it was needful they should anoint their eyes with this eye-salve that they might see this blessed object that hath been and is so constantly and unanimonsly witnessed of and directed unto by God and all those that have been taught and led of him All agree in one concerning him to the end we might see and believe in him who hath so testified his love towards us as to lay down his life for us that he might become our Saviour and who is through and by means of his blood exalted and glorified and become the habitation of all the fulness of the God head the fountain of life the fountain of living waters the Sun of righteousness the treasury of wisdom and knowledge Yea all that the Father hath is his Col. 2. 3. 9. Psal 36. 8 9. Mal 4. 2. Joh. 16. 14 15. And that this is the object which they are called upon and counselled to see and behold and to that end to anoint their eyes with this eye-salve appeareth from the scope of the place we are speaking unto For here the faithful counsellor had been commending unto them and counselling them to buy gold tried in the fire that they might be rich and white raiment that they might be clothed and that the shame of their nakedness might not appear And now he addeth anoint that thou maist see to wit this gold and how it hath been tried and the excellency of it and this white raiment c. And this is a glass which discovereth all things to us Here we may look upon those things which cannot be seen with the bodily eye 2 Cor. 4. 18. As Moses by faith saw him that is invisible Heb. 11. 27. And in some sense as Abraham saw the day of Christ and was glad Joh. 8. 56. So may we behold and see in this word of faith which is the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. the preciousness of the blood of Jesus Christ and his excellency and fitness for us and for our helpfulness by means thereof 2. To the end we may buy this gold and white raiment and thereto sell all that we have needful it is to anoint our eyes with this eye-salve that we may see namely that we may see the vileness and odiousness of our sins which are to be abhorred by us And the emptiness and unprofitableness of our idols which we are to abstain from that we may have these excellent and durable commodities here commended to us for while we are ignorant hereof we shall be ready to think that we part with is better then that which is commended to and set before us While we remain in our blindness we are ready and apt to mistake and to call evil good and good evil and to set our hearts upon that which will not profit yea to cleave unto that which will destroy us in conclusion if it be not parted with and fled from While persons are in darkness they are under the power of Satan and led captive by him at his pleasure Acts 26. 18. Ephes 5. 5-8 So much the Apostle signifieth concerning the Gentiles that remained in darkness when he saith they have their understandings darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness as if nothing were pleasurable unto them but what is abominable Ephes 4. 17-19 So the Apostle speaking of the believing Gentiles saith that in times past namely when they were darkness they walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the Air the spirit that now worketh rulingly and prevailingly in the children of disobedience Ephes 2. 1 2. with chap. 5. 8. But to this we may add more afterwards Now therefore it is needful that we see our sins and vanities that we may be willing to part
with and relinquish them and with this eye-salve in the testimony of Christ we may see Therein all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light the light doth faithfully discover them in their right and proper colours to the end we might stand up from them and might flee from our iniquities and idols Ephes 5. 11-14 And indeed the holy Spirit that breatheth in this testimony doth in and with glorifying Christ and discovering the transcendent excellency of him shew unto us also the sinfulness of sin and the emptiness of all those objects in which naturally we are seeking rest and on which we are placing our affections that we might turn from our vanities unto him who is worthy to be cleaved unto by us So when the Lord by the Prophet saith Behold they are all vanity their works are nothing their molten images are wind and confusion He then addeth Behold my Servant whom I uphold c. Isa 41. 27-29 42. 1. The holy Spirit in glorifying Christ and taking of his things and shewing unto us doth therein and therewith convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment and teacheth the believers all things and leadeth them into all truth Joh. 16. 8-14 In bearing witness of Christ and in his testimony the holy Spirit sheweth unto us the odiousness of our sins that we might see and behold it that we might abhort and abominate them in that God hath taken such vengeance on them in the person of his son who knew no sin Though God testified of him that he was his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased yet when but the guilt of our sin was imputed to him he spared him not but condemned our sin in his flesh It pleased the Lord to bruife him He did put him to grief Isa 61. 2. Rom. 8. 3-32 Isa 53. 10. This seen and beheld by us would help us to abhorr it and say How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein Rom. 6. 1-3 And here may we also see the necessity of our being washed here-from in that he is become such a fountain through his blood for cleansing us Zech. 3. 1. And it was his very end in being manifest that he might take away our sins 1 Joh. 3. 5. He bare our sins in his own body on the tree not that we might live any longer thereto but that we being dead to sin might live to righteousness 1 Pet. 4. 1 2. and chap. 2. 24. And in his cross and testimony we may also see the vanity of our idols and our vileness in serving them that we might turn there-from to God to serve the living and true God 1 Thes 1. 9 10. Here we may see the brutishness of our wisdome Now is the Judgment of this world saith our Saviour Here you may take a view and have a discovery of it in that those that were Princes of the World for wisdom crucified the Lord of glory and were also before his hour was come the greatest enemies to him and thought that their taking him out of the way and killing him would much have tended to their security when as on the contrary it brought and hastened destruction upon them Joh. 12. 31. 1 Cor. 2. 8. Joh. 11. 47 48. With Matt. 21. 39-41 Joh. 7. 45-49 Here may we see the unprofitableness of our works of righteousness in that he only could and hath brought in by his death and resurrection everlasting righteousness and there was no other way for the compleating it for us for if righteousness could have come by the law or by any other way whatsoever then Christ hath died in vain Gal. 2. 21. The Holy Ghost saith our Saviour shall convince the world of righteousness namely he shall shew and evidence the unprofitableness of all our works of righteousness and of all righteousness according to the law and that righteousness could not come by the works or sacrifices thereof in that he is gone to the Father and we see him no more He cometh no more down to suffer or offer sacrifice but his sacrifice is accepted of God so as he hath set him down on his own right hand Iohn 16. 10. with Hebr. 10. 1. 2. 11. 12. and he hath prepared righteousness for all men without the law as hath been said Rom. 3. 20-22 here we may also see the vanity and helplesness of the riches of this world in that we were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold They that trust in their riches and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth none of them can by any means redeem his Brother nor give to God a ransome for his own soul 1 Pet. 1. 19. Psal 49. 6 7. Here also we may see the emptiness and worthlesness of all the glory and honour of this world in that our Lord Jesus neither had nor would accept of it But he was rejected and despised of men a worm and no man a reproch of men and despised of the people All they that saw him laught him to scorn they did shoot out the lip they did shake the head Joh. 6. 15. Isa 53. 2-4 Psal 22. 6 7 8. Nor had he nor did he seek for the favour and friendship of this world but the world hated him because he testified of it that the works thereof were evil Joh. 7. 7. 15. 18-20 Yea in and by this one thing by this unction we may know all things that are needful to be known by us and see them in their right colours Hence the Apostle determined to know nothing in and unto all things but Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. And it is needful we should know the vileness of our sins and the vanity and unprofitableness of all those objects on which naturally we are placeing our affections and in which we have been seeking rest and satisfaction to our spirits 3. It was needful for them to see themselves and to see what manner of condition they were in and what manner of persons they were And to this end that they might see this needful it was they should anoint their eyes with this Eye-salve that they might behold themselves and know what state they were in They were at present very much mistaken they thought their condition was very good and that they were so happy that they needed nothing but this was the fruit of their blindness and ignorance for had they viewed themselves in the Testimony of Jesus they might have perceived it was far otherwise with them And indeed this is generally the fruit of mens blindness they are many times pure in their own eyes who are not washed from their filthiness Prov. 30. 12 13. Such fools are men that all their own ways are clean in their own eyes Prov. 16. 2. And they who have not the love of God in them yet think that eternal life appertaineth to them Joh. 5. 39-42 It is therefore a very ignorant and false saying
be waited for till the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven but even now those that with the heart believe in him They are made by faith the righteousness of God in Christ Christ is made of God to them righteousness their sins are forgiven them for his name sake he loveth them and washeth them therefrom in his own Blood and they are made accepted in the beloved And he in the body of his flesh through death doth and will present them holy unblameable and unrebukeable in his sight they continuing in the faith grounded and setled and not being moved from the hope of the Gospel Col. 1. 22 23. Oh infinite Grace of God in Christ to sinners Oh blessed and everlasting righteousness How might this move his Angels and Churches to buy this White raiment this blessed covering here commended to us and set before us Isa 61. 10. And the fruits of this righteousness believed do cover the shame of our nakedness from men Hence that Behold I come as a Thief blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his Garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame Rev. 16. 15. 2. This White raiment is that also wherewith we may be clothed that is to say covered from the Rain and Storm of Gods wrath and from the evil of all adversities and afflictions This is one use of raiment as to cover our nakedness so also to be a covering from the Storms and Cold that otherwise would annoy and hurt us so it is here Jesus Christ who of God is made to the believers righteousness and who is become White raiment doth hide and secure them from the evil of all judgments wrath and afflictions c. So when the Psalmist had been saying Thou hast covered all the sins of thy people he addeth Thou hast taken away all thy wrath Psal 85. 2 3. Riches profit not in a day of wrath but righteousness delivereth from death The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness Prov. 10. 2. 11. 4-6-8 The Branch of the Lord and the fruit of the Earth is a place of refuge and a Covert from Storm and from Rain Isa 4. 2-5 This man is an hiding place from the wind and a Covert from the Storm a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is as a Storm against the Wall and shall appear gloriously so to be when he shall reign in righteousness Isa 25. 1-4 32. 1 2. Being justified by Faith we have by faith Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ even deliverance from his wrath and from the fears and terrours thereof Rom. 5. 2. 15. 13. Oh blessed priviledge the wrath of God abideth not on him who with the heart believeth unto righteousness so as to harm or hurt him but this White raiment covereth and clotheth him so that when Gods judgments are poured forth and they occasion trembling to the outward man Yet he can by Faith and in Spirit rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of his Salvation Habak 3. 16-18 And whatever fatherly chastisements God be ordering to such an one yet it is in love and faithfulness and to a gracious end even for his profit that he may be made more a partaker of his holiness Heb. 12. 6-11 And such also shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of all evil Prov. 1. 33. Psal 91. So as when in the World they have tribulation yet in Christ who hath overcome the World they shall have peace Joh. 16. 33. Philip. 4. 7. On this account Salvation and Righteousness may be so often put together as Psal 98. 2. Isa 45. 8. 46. 13. 51. 5-8 56. 1. 62. 1 c. Yea and Salvation and righteousness are put one for another as whereas in 2 Chron. 6. 41. It is thus voted and desired Let thy Priests be clothed with Salvation it is thus rendred Psal 132. 8 9. Let thy Priests be clothed with righteousness And again in answer to that Prayer and desire it is said I will cloth her Priests with Salvation Ver. 16. I say on this account Righteousness and Salvation may be so oft put together and one put for another to signifie that this Raiment will save and secure us as from our sins so from all storms tempests rain judgments afflictions c. I mean from the evil of them now and hereafter fully and gloriously from them all Upon the wicked God shall rain snares fire and brimstane and an horrible tempest this the portion of their Cup but it shall not be the portion of them that are clothed with this Raiment of righteousness For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness Psal 11. 6 7. This is armour on the right hand and on the left to defend them from evil that put it on 2 Cor. 6. 7. And such are instructed and strengthened not to fear the reproch of men nor be afraid of their revilings because they shall perish But this righteousness shall be for ever and this Salvation from generation to generation And the work of this righteousess â—â—all be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever Isa â—1 6 7 8. 32 17. Yea and this White raiment is not only proper and effectual to save and secure from Storms and Cold but also to warm and make not lukewarm ones to make them fervent in Spirit in seeking and serving the Lord and to cause them forgetting the things that are behind and reaching forth to the things that are before to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ Philip. 3. 6-9 14 15. 3. With this White raiment also his Angels and Churches may be clothed that is to say Adorned So Garments are used amongst men for Ornament and it is fully true of this White raiment it is an excellent Ornament and it doth greatly adorn and beautify those that put it on those Garments are wonderfully beautiful in themselves and give an Ornament of Grace to the head of those that buy them Prov. 1. 9. 4. 9. Isa 52. 1. This is that which doth beautify them in the eyes of God so as they are accepted of him and delighted in by him So the Church acknowledgeth That the Lord God had covered her with righteousness as a Bridegroom deâ—â—â—eth himself with Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with her Jewels Isa 61. 10. As intimating this is an excellent Ornament and Jewel So the Prophet saith The Lord himself shall be to them that come to Christ as the rest and foundation a Diadem of beauty and as a comely Ornament and adorning attire Isa 28. 5-12-16 Jer. 2. 31 32. This is that which maketh his Church all glorious within Psal 45. 13. This inward adorning is in the sight of God of great price 1 Pet. 3. 3. Yea this is a Kingly and Priestly Ornament and therefore it is called a Robe 't