out of the Book of the living as Psal 69. 27 28. whence that Eccles 9. 4. with 2 Cor. 5. 15. Even for all those sins and offences found in and upon men or done by them before the day of Gods grace and patience be quite out with them or their sin be so finished as to have brought forth death in an utter separation from God sin when so finished is not to be prayed for because he is not the propitiation for it as appeares by comparing 1 Tim. 21 1-6 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. with ch 5. 16. But to him that is joyned to all the living there is hope and help in Christ there is yet pardon for all his sins and healing for all his diseases For he was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Now our sins and offences even the sins and trespasses of the World which the Lamb of God was sent to take away for which he was delivered and gave himselfe they are of two sorts and so distinctly spoken off in the Scripture And accordingly the termes on which he was delivered for them are distinct and different 1 The sins are of two sorts 1. That offence of one man called Adams transgression in which all have sinned and by which sin and so death by sin entred into the World and overspread the whole nature And so all that sin and sinfullnesse that is the naturall and necessary fruit thereof 2 Sins that are now committed by men after the similitude of Adam's transgression such as in which men sin voluntarily by a willfull complyance with Satan against light and power to withstand for though men since the fall of the whole nature in the first man Adam have not that light knowledge and power by which they may withstand Satan in them as a naturall habbit or as Adam in his first constitution yet God by Jesus Christ giveth more grace more abundant light or discoveries of more abundant grace and glory with supernaturall power answerably in and with those discoveries of his goodnesse leading to repentance and teaching and strengthening to resist sin and Satan And thus Christ is a testimony to men and the grace of God in and through him bringing salvation to them all in due time So that if when light thus comes to them they then love and choose darknesse wickedly resisting and departing from him that calleth them into the grace of Christ hardening their hearts against his melting and softening opperations refusing to be healed and so as children of disobedience to the grace of God walking after the course of this World after the Prince of the power of the ayre They then and therein sin of themselves after the similitude of Adam's transgression like men or like Adam Hose 6. 5 6 7. yea their sins being against more grace even against the light and power of the grace in Christ faithfully and seasonably given are greater and of a higher nature though resembled by his See both these sorts of sins distinctly mentioned Rom. 5. 14. Neverthelesse death raigned from Adam to Moses as well as since even over those that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression where he clearly implyes that some there were before as well as since that sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression And also that there were some that had not so sinned and yet that death reigned over them also which shewes that they had sinned and were uncleane and polluted by sin though they had not so sinned For death came in by sin as vers 12. By one man sin entred into the World and death by sin for as much as all have sinned so that sin was in the World before the Law given by Moses and was upon them as an overspreading Leprosie even upon them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression which also shewes that there was a Law and a Law broken and man fallen under the penalty of it before that more full and declarative giving of it by Moses for where there is no Law there is no transgression And after this distinct mention of sins he shewes in the next verses how the gift and grace in and through it by that one man Jesus Christ goes beyond the offence in that it is of many offences There is in it provision of pardon and healing for many other offences besides the first and the necessary branches of that even for such sins as are after the similitude of Adams transgression All sins of the first sort are mentioned as already entred into and overspreading the whole nature even from the first receite and consenting to the temptation of Satan by Adam And so found in the World before Christs undertaking to dye for them And alwayes considered as having being in men in order of nature before that gift and grace in and by it as Rom. 3. 23. All have sinned namely in that offence of one as Rom. 5. 12. And are come short of the glory of God deprived and bereft of that Image and glory of God in which they were created in the first man so that they come forth naturally unclean and altogether filthy the Imaginations of his heart evill from his youth and that enmity of the mind leading to all evill works Gen. 8. 21. Psal 14. 3. with Rom. 3. 9-19 Coll. 1. 21. All sins of the second sort that is hateing when they see rejecting when they hear sinning wilfully against the light and power of the grace of God in Christ bringing salvation are expresly mentioned as sins that could have had no being in the World nor had the World known them or been capable of committing them If there had not been such a gift at least vertually for so it was from the first of our need prepared and accepted and the grace of God through it bringing salvation If he had not made peace for them by his bloud and also preached peace to them even to their spirits by his spirit They had not known or been capable of committing sin as it is now charged upon them that is of seeing and hateing willfull sinning against light Joh. 15. 22-24 with ch 3. 19. 12. 46-48 2. The termes on which he was delivered for them are different The sins of the World of the first sort which are all that had or have beeing in the World in order of nature before the gift and the grace that is in and through it bringing salvation even that offence of one and the naturall uncleannesse from thence entring into and overspreading the whole nature and so remaining in us as a naturall heritage while we are in this body as a Law of sin in the members even in those in whom the spirit is made alive for righteousnesse sake yea in such as walk not after the flesh but after the spirit All these were imputed to Him He was so made under the Law that concluded us guilty And for us that they were legally charged on him
respect of us or unto us by Christ which he hath already granted and done for us in the person of Christ as Joh. 6. 37. 39. The Father is said to be daily giveing that which he hath already given to Christ Because the things already granted and given as the fruit of his purchase which are all things and all persons as 1 Cor. 15. 27. doe in their particular Beeings come forth to him in their severall times by the order and appointment of the Father And so in the streamings forth of that justification wherewith we are already justified in the person of Christ unto us and so its coming upon us in our perticular persons by Christ in the name of the Father God justifieth the ungodly As likewise because in all this execution of his judgment by Christ in this day of his grace there is repentance and remission of sins preached and given in his name that it might be received in the light and power of his givings 3. He is likewise in some sort justifying the ungodly after the second consideration while yet it is to day In that having prepared justification from all their sins and healing of all their diseases in Christ he is by and through him exerciseing such forbearance and deferring the execution of his Judgments for such ungodlinesse as is yet imputed to them while they continue in it That they may have opportunity to repent And in the opportunity still preaching and giving repentance and remission of sins in his name that they may be led to repentance and in turning receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance c. And in all this he is doing that in and through which they may be turned from their ungodlynesse washed and justified in that name though yet they be not Isa 42. 18-21 Act. 26. 18. Ezek. 24. 13. Isa 48. 9 10. 17 18. 4. He doth by and through Christ raised from the dead justify in a more full and proper sence him that believeth on Jesus from all sins past Their former rebellions and ungodlinesse of the second sort that were till then remembred and retained in Heaven against them though the execution of wrath or shutting out to it was deferred to give them opportunity yet to repent as aforesaid are now remitted covered and put out of his sight And they delivered from the wrath to come and made accepted in the beloved in whom they are found And also made partakers of this justification and the fruit thereof through his name and in the further opening of it to them Rom. 3. 25 26. 4. 5 6 7. ch 5. 1 2 c. Ephes 1. 6. Act. 10. 43. And this even while yet the naturall ungodlinesse remaines in them as a Law of sin in their members sin dwelling in them the flesh Iusting and warring against the spirit as Rom. 6. 7. 8. Gall. 5. 6. which also in due time they abideing in Jesus Hee will wholly turn away from them Rom. 11. 26. with ch 8. 11. Phill. 3. 21. 1 Joh. 3. 1-3 And in the meane time make good their cause give them the victory in the combate through the bloud of the Lamb and the word of their testimony So as they minding the things of the spirit and so walking in the spirit shall not fullfill the lusts of the flesh Sin shall not have dominion nor Satan neither because greater is he that is in them as that word is kept in their hearts then he that is in the World Rom. 6. 14. 7. 25. 1 Cor. 15. 57. Revel 12. 11. Gall. 5. 16. with Rom. â— 1-13 14. 1 Joh. 4. 4. Joh. 10. 27 28 29. Yea he is the continuall justifier of him that believeth on Jesus from their many offences in which ungodlinesse of the second sort is oft found with them They yet coming to God by him or returning from any of their wanderings in the leadings and recallings of his grace thither and that way If we confesse our sins acknowledge them and give them up as discovered and reproved by that light that discovers pardon and healing in Christ which confessing and giving up or laying apart is alwayes and only truly found in a hearty believing in the light He is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us by the bloud of Jesus from all our unrighteousnesse Rom. 3. 26. 1 Joh. 1. 7. 9. with ch 2. 1 2. So that no man or spirit can fasten any charge that will lye or remaine on Gods elect that is them that through his love do love him and those are they that keep his sayings Rom. 8. 28. with Joh. 14. 21 23. 10. 27. So as to trouble harme or hold them under bondage This word of faith being continued in or returned too continually makes them free Joh. 8. 32 36. nor shall any thing be able to separate such from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus Its God that justifieth It s Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Rom. 8. 32-39 This is that Doctrine of Christ the word of faith the hearing or hearty believing or receiving of which so as through and according to it to believe on him that sent Christ is counted to men for righteousnesse and here called their doing good This I say is the word of faith as now come forth by Christ That God hath raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our offences c. And that in and through him as raised from the dead and exalted with his right hand he is a God that justifieth the ungodly This and not any other perticular voyce word or testimony to or concerning us which a man may apply or take as particularly applyed to himselfe to assure him of Gods love in Christ to him or of his good estate in grace or the like nor any voyce or revelation what ever that is other then this or strange to it But this and this only is the word of faith as now brought to us by Jesus Christ we come next to consider 2. What is that faith or believing on him that justifieth the ungodly as before expressed in both the branches The hearing his word or believing God in his word or testimony given of his Son and by him And the believing on him through and according to it For our better understanding what it is in both the branches This is to be carryed along with us That it is opposed to our own works and that in such expressions as signifie a ceasing from our own works to be necessarily in it in every branch or act of it For he saith not only not to him that worketh which had been enough to shew the emptinesse and vanity of our works unto the attaining the righteousnesse of God or the saith by which it is attained But he saith more To him that worketh not which shewes an absolute
only perfect and worthy to be sought after and submitted too They honour the Son and so the Father in him they ascribe righteousnesse to their Maker as more largely we have shewed in our lamentation over the dead in Christ published on the death of Henry Rixe 3. Because they herein do that which is good and profitable as to the attaining righteousnesse And so is confirmed to be good in the good fruit of it all works of darknesse are unfruitfull the workers of them reap no profit or good fruit of them Eph. 5. 11. Rom. 6 21. Job 33. 27. Hence they are called dead works which have not profited those that have been occupyed in them Hebr 9. 14. 13. 9. But the work of righteousnesse shall be peace and the fruit of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for ever Isa 32. 17. Yea it is so now in a first fruites of the spirit The God of hope filles with all joy and peace in this believing that they may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost Rom. 15. 13. This faith is so counted to them for righteousnesse that they are therein made partakers in a first fruites of the spirit of what they believe on him for even the fruit of his righteousnesse with which faith closeth in the forgivenesse of their sins acceptance of their persons into favour and fellowship with God dayly washing sanctifying justifying and changing into his Image in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornfull But his delight is in the Law or Doctrine of the Lord and therein doth meditate or exercise himselfe day and night And so through and according to that Doctrine trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is He shall be as a Tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth forth her rootes by the River and shall not see when heat comes but be always fragrant and fruitfull The ungodly not so c. see and compare Psal 1. with Jer. 17. 7 8. He that abideth in him sinneth not misseth not his mark failes not of the end of his faith the saving of his soul attaines righteousnesse 1 Joh. 3. 6 1 Pet. 1. 8 9. Rom. 9. 30-32 1. In that they are made accepted with God in the beloved even in and according to that perfect righteousnesse that he hath compleated for them on which their parts and mindes are stayed In him they are compleat it being the office of the righteous one so to present them in himselfe so that as he is righteous and faithfull in his office And the Father righteous in his promise and covenant confirmed in him so he that doth righteousnesse believes in him for righteousnesse in which also he doth that which the righteousnesse of God discovered in Christ works in him both to will and to doe is righteous yea his righteousnesse that is imputed to him by him that imputes righteousnesse without works even the righteousnesse of God not of man made theirs through faith in Jesus and in which through saith in it he is accepted It is perfect and answerable to the holinesse of God such as in which his truth is fulfilled his justice satisfied so that they are made the righteousnesse of God in him that was made sin for them And in an answerable sence viz. by imputation as well as also by making them partakers of the fruit and blessednesse of it as he was made a curse for them of which more in the next considerations For as being accepted in Christ their iniquities are pardoned in Heaven not remembred or retained there against them So 2. They are made partakers of that forgivenesse of their sins in their mindes and consciences through his name and in the opening of it filling them with joy and peace in believing that also they may abound in the hope of his righteousnesse for further washing and saving to the utmost and perfecting what concernes them By him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses This blessednesse comes upon them in believing through his name Act. 10. 43. 13. 39 Rom. 8. 2 3. 3. 25 26. 4. tot Gal. 3. 9-14 Heb. 9. 14. 10. 22. The Law of the spirit of life in Christ even the Gospell of Christ declaring his righteousnesse in suffering and redeeming us from the curse of the Law is the power of God to save them that believe making them free from the Law of sin and death and quickening them to a new and living hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead that truth believed in the opening of it makes free from sin from the guilt accusation and bondage that they may serve him without fear in righteousnesse and holinesse all the dayes of their life Yea 3. They are also created in Christ in the light and power of his grace believed and believed in unto good works which God hath before ordained that they believers should walk in them And so also as well as in the sence forementioned he that abideth in him sinneth not that is he doth not commit sin he saith not he hath no sin but he doth it not he is kept from committing or serving it There is sin in them still dwelling and more stirring and warring in the members then formerly But he that abideth in him is dayly strengthened through his name against it that he doth not consent to or serve it or let it reigne in his mortall body and so he that is boâ—n of God or that is led of the spirit of God which alwayes leedes or carryes out of a mans selfe into Christ for satisfaction righteousnesse and strength he doth not commit or serve sin nor can he for the seed of God the word of truth abides in him And wheresoever that is suffered to dwell in the heart it will preserve and deliver from every evill work The power of God which is in it to that purpose being greater then the power of sin and Satan Therefore sayes David thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee If therefore sin prevaile over any of us so as we are thereby brought into bondage it must needs be acknowledged we are not then or therein born of God not led of the spirit of God not carryed out or brought forth of our selves into Christ for teaching and strength but leaning to our own understanding and retaining in our heart some Worldly principle or inclination and secretly consulting with that minding the things of it walking in the flesh and not in the spirit we reape corruption For that grace of God that brings salvation to all men Teacheth us that denying ungodlinesse and Worldly lusts we shâ—uld live soberly righteously and godly in this present World looking for the blessed hope
1. 15. 2 Cor. 4. 14. with ch 5. 1-10 2 Tim. 2 8-19 Hebr. 1. 3. 4. 14. 7. 23 c. 8. 1 6. 9. 11 14. 13 28. 10. 1 12. 13. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 21. 2 The persons for whom or in whose stead and for whose offences he was delivered to death are every of them whose nature he took even every man Adam and all his naturall posterity for therefore he was made a little lower then the Angels even in the nature of fallen man-kind in a Body prepared for him of the seed of Abraham and David after the flesh that by the grace of God he might tast death for every man He was made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law now we know that what ever things the Law saith it saith to them that are under the Law that every mouth may be stopt and all the World may appear guilty before God who hath therefore concluded all under sin that he may have mercy upon all Hebr. 2. 9 14 15 16. Gall. 4. 4. with Rom. 3. 19 22. ch 5. 20 21. 11. 32. This was the Apostles judgment and so the mind of the spirit of Christ that One dyed for all in their room or stead their death and for their good and commodity that through Him they might be saved and that then God was in Christ reconcileing the World unto Himself not imputing their trespasses to them For he laid or caused to meete on him the Iniquities of us all 2 Cor. 5. 14 15 19. Isa 53. 6. with Joh. 3. 17. The resurrection then of that Body from the dead that was so delivered up for us all must needes be for the justification of us all even of all man-kind for therefore was he made sin for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him And as the offence of one was upon or unto all to condemnation So in an answerable and more abundant sence the righteousnesse of one the one man Christ Jesus which was compleated in his Resurrection and offering up that Body aâ—spoâ—lesle Sacrifice a ransome or price of redemption for all was upon or unto all men unto justification of life Rom. 5. 18. And he even Jesus Christ the righteous being in his resurrection taken from the Prison and from the judgment acquit of all our sins imputed to him and accepted to all the ends of his laying down his life He is the propitiation not only for the sins of Believers that have him also as their advocate with the Father but also for the sins of the whole World The Mediator between God and men who gave himself a ransome for all a testimony in due time 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. with 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. yea he is Lord of all even a Prince and Saviour for to give repentance and remission of sins and that it should be preached in his name for therefore he both dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord of all Act. 10. 36. 39. 43. ch 2. 36. 5. 31. Rom. 14. 9. And that this is also contained in that Doctrine of the resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead as one of the great and maine things in that word of faith is evident in the Scriptures already mentioned where this is expressed as the sum of their ministry or of the word or reconciliation committed to them to be ministred by them And so also as the ground of all their exhortations reproofes warnings and encouragements As also of their praying for all men in due time and exhorting others to it Namely that Jesus Christ by the grace of God dyed for all and that so effectually that it is accepted with the Father as if all had dyed so that he hath raised him from the dead for their justification and given him glory that they that live should not hence forth live to themselves but to him that dyed for them and rose again That then in that work God was in Christ reconcileing the World c. 2 Cor. 5. 14. 15. 19. That God will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth For one God or God is one and there is one Mediator between God and men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himselfe a ransome for all a testimony in due time Unto this saith the Apostle I am appointed a Preacher and an Apostle a Teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity I will therefore that men pray c. See also 1 Joh. 4. 14. When after the Apostle hath admonished us not to believe every spirit but to try the spirits whether they be of God and given us this as the first part of his generall Rule for tryall Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is already come not coming in the flesh that so acknowledgeth and lifteth Him up as having already actually finished the works the Father gave Him to do on the Earth and so is risen from the dead and exalted in that body in Mans nature with the right hand of God is of God And then added this as a further part of that generall Rule for tryall of spirits vers 6. That they the Apostles in their Declaration of this word of life Christ raised from the dead were of God and therefore he that knoweth God heareth them assents and comes up to their words so acknowledgeth Christ come in the flesh and the extent ends and vertues of his Cross as they have seen and declared him And he that is not of God heareth them not In which addition of this further part of the Rule he signifies there may be some acknowledgment of Christ as come in the flesh which yet is not according to the Apostles word or Doctrine After this I say in the 14 verse he sums up their word or testimony concerning him which also they have left for the tryall of spirits We have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son the Saviour of the World That spirit therefore that in his confession of Christ doth not hear assent to and acknowledge him according to this their testimony of him is so far forth not of God As also is signified in those Declarations of the testimony of the true spirit concerning Christ by which he may be known and distinguished from other spirits 1 Joh. 5. 6 9. 11. 12. with Joh. 3. 14 15 16 17 c. And likewise in that discovery of the office and work of the true spirit which he executeth with this testimony in the World Joh. 16. 8-14 The further consideration of which we shall here wave for brevity sake 3 The offences he was delivered for are our offences He gave Himselfe for our sins Gall. 1. 4. He dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 3. Even for all the sins and offences that are ours any mans that is yet joyned to or of the number of the living or not yet blotted
our selves or others at any of those great and deep things of God contained in the testimony of Christ according to that Pro. 26. 4 5. Answer not a Fool according to his folly least thou also become like unto him Answer a Fool according to his folly least he be wise in his own conceite 1 Not to seek to answer them in their own way or so as we become like unto them in the use of such carnall weapons for confirming the truth as they use against it for that grants the way good that indeed is evill of measuring the truth of God by mans Imagination or endeavouring to bring it down to the comprehension of his blind and corrupted reason nor hath that any promise of Gods presence with it for reproving and convincing yea whatever faith is that way produced rests but in the wisdome and strength of man therefore the Apostles avoyded it 1 Cor. 1. 17 18 c. 2. tot 2 Cor. 10. 3 4. But 2. So to answer them with his words and in his way as the folly and vanity of their way of reasoning in which they desire by their carnall wisdome to finde out comprehend and be satisfied about the things of God in Christ may appear by opposing to them the greatnesse of God and the unsearchablenesse of his works and ways past finding out as well in that which he hath already done in the person of Christ as also in that which he doth in his dayly dispensations and providences And in that which he will doe and bring forth by him of which he hath given assurance in what he hath already done in all which his judgments are unsearchable He raiseth the dead why then should it be thought incredible that he should doe whatever he saith he doth or promiseth he will do though we cannot comprehend how such a thing should be If when God saith that he so teacheth man knowledge that that which may be known of God is manifest in them even in them that had not the records of the Scriptures among them yea in their hearts that liked not to retain it there And that his goodnesse doth lead those men to repentance that yet harden their hearts and are not led by it If then any reply against God and say how can this thing be this seemes absurd or will not stand with such traditions or apprehensions of God which we have taken up from our Fathers or with our reason seek not then to satisfie his reason in that way it desires satisfaction or to bring the great things of God down to it but to the Law to the Testimony what is written how readest thou and if God say it its meet for us to believe it for with him no word or work is unpossible no not to raise the dead and let that stop the mouth of further inquiry how such a thing can be as the Apostle when he would demonstrate that that which may be known of God is manifest in them he useth this onely as a sufficient demonstration that God hath showed it unto them Rom. 1. 19 20. For who teacheth like him or who hath enjoyned him his way c. Job 36. 22. 23-26 who then art thou oh vain man that replyest against God that raiseth the Dead We come now to the Doctrine mainly contained and spoken too in the text to wit the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead and of eternall judgment by Christ In this Declaration of it by our Saviour we have set before us 1 What the Resurrection and Judgment spoken of is As to the subject of it that is to be raised and judged 2 The time of it 3 Some intimation of the order of it 4 The meanes or power by which it shall be effected 5 The different state of Persons in the Resurrection or ends to which they shall be raised 1 What the Resurrection and Judgment spoken of is As to the subject of it This is clearly intimated and fully expressed to be the quickening or raising up of the dead Bodies of men after death hath fully ceized on them a raising them up in a sensible being and capable of partaking off and possessing everlasting glory or everlasting shame and horror And so the making alive the dead Bodies of men by Christ in an answerable sence to that dying or death that passeth on them all by the one man Adam as 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. A totall redeeming them from the first death and the grave And bringing them forth in soul and body reunited to their eternall judgment 1 This is clearly intimated in his saying marvell not at this namely at his former declaration of the present power and efficacy of his voyce or word on the spirits of men while in this body making those dead in sins and trespasses to hear and spiritually quickening and making alive such as in hearing hear and then adding as a reason why they should not marvell at that this further Declaration of the mighty power of his voyce as it shall be after manifested in raising and bringing forth all that are in the Graves which being added as a farther declaration of the mighty power of and in it to take them off from their sinfull marvelling at the former signifies that the Resurrection and bringing forth of the Graves here spoken of as the efficacy of his voyce is not the same efficacy of it with that forementioned But another thing distinct from it yea a greater and more wonderfull efficacy of the same voyce of the son of man And is as much as to say Marvell not that I said unto you that those dead in sins and trespasses shall hear the voyce of the Son of God And they that hear in that hearing given them shall have their spirits quickened and made alive for righteousnesse sake while yet the body is dead because of sin for loe a greater and more marveilous work then this shall be effected by it even all that are in the Graves shall hear it and shall come forth some to the resurrection of life and some to the resurrection of damnation so that in this our Saviour signifies the resurrection of the dead or bringing them forth of their Graves to Judgment to be another work and distinct from the work of spirituall vivification yea a greater and more wonderfull work then any work that is now working or wrought by his voyce on the spirits of men while yet the body is dead in the first death or that reignes on it as the fruit of sin which distinct and greater work can be no other but the quickening or raising up of the mortall body yea the totall redemption from the first death for those spirituall quickening efficacies of his word on mens spirits now are expresly mentioned in the foregoing verses as greater works then those of healing any bodily Infirmities verses 20 21 25. yea those are the greater works that our Saviour promises they that believe on him should do
because he went to his Father Joh. 14. 12. with Act. 26. 18. Greater works then those visible and sencible demonstrations of his power which they saw made by him on mens bodies amongst which also was his raising Lâzarus though that more singular and as a discovery of his mighty power for raising the dead as it should be more gloriously manifested in due time yet that was not a totall Redemption from death and the power of the grave and therefore might be rockoned among those works that are inferiour to the making alive the spirit for righteousnesse sake while yet the body is dead because of sin if then the quickening and saving operations of his word on the spirits of men now be greater then any of these works forementioned and yet the efficacy of the same voyce spoken of in the text as to come be another and distinct work and greater then that as t is clearly signified to be It s evident from thence it can be no Iesse nor other then that resurrection of the dead bodies of men in which they shall be wholly redeemed from the first death and from the power of the Grave And so the Apostle Paul speaking of the first Resurrection which is more properly then the other called a quickening of the mortall body or raising it unto life mentions it as another distinct and following work And such only as is greater then the making the spirit alive now while yet the body is dead Rom. 8. 10 11. And if Christ be in you the body is dead that is it is yet so because of sin though Christ be in you but the spirit is made alive for righteousnesse sake But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall body or raise up that also in a state of life and unto life by the same spirit that now dwels in you quickening your spirit Yea our Saviour also otherwhere speakes of the generall resurrection at the last day as another distinct work and greater then any spirituall efficacy of his voyce or word now in drawing men or strengthening and quickening the commers which yet also are there signified to be so great and of such a nature that nothing short of that his raising them up at the last day is greater see Joh. 6. 40 44. The Father hath sent him now in the light and power of his word or doctrine to draw men to him that otherwise could not come And to give eternall life through his name to all comers even in the knowledge and faith of it in him and in some first fruits of spirituall enjoyment and in the hope of the harvest To each of these he addes and I will raise him up at the last day signifying nothing short of that is greater then these and clearly mentioning that as another work and greater then any of these which yet also he saith he will do both unto those that come in his drawings to see and believe on him and to those also that break his bands asunder and will not come to him for life And then shall be fulfilled that which is written all that the Father hath given him shall come to him even those that now will not come in his drawings see verse 37 39. with Isa 45. 23 24. Psal 2. 7 8 9. And so in this place The resurrection of the dead is distinguished from and mentioned as a far greater work then any spirituall efficacy of his word or voyce on Mens spirits now And therein signified to be a mighty and wonderfull efficacy of the same voyce on their dead bodies that sleep in the dust of the Earth even such as in which they shall be wholly redâ—emed from the first death and from the power of the Grave Yea 2 So much is plain and full in the expressions 1 In that it s called the resurrection of them 2 It s said to be such as in which all that are in the Graves shall come forth 1 In that it s called the resurrection of them both some to life and others to damnation now there is no work in Scripture called the resurrection of the dead But that in which the whole man is wholly redeemed ouâ— and brought forth of the first death that came in and passed on all men at first by sin nor can be properly so called no not that quickening of the spirit that is now effected in hearing the voyce of the Son of God by what meanes soever preached though that as we have shewed already in respect of the nature and greatnesse of it is the neerest to this yet that is but such a quickening or making alive of the spirit in part or in a first fruites as may and doth stand together with their body being still dead as the fruit of sin Rom. 8. 10 23. yea of those of whom the Apostle supposes they were risen with Christ yet he affirmes of them that they were still dead and their life hid with Christ in God And when he who is our life shall appear then not before shall they also appear with him in glory Coll. 3. 1-5 And of himselfe the same Apostle plainly affirmes that he had not yet attained the resurrection of the dead but was pressing on to it ayming at it even at the first resurrection in which is such blessednesse yet so as looking for it both after the changing this vile body and at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven when he shall bring with him all that sleep in Jesus and not before see Phill. 3. 11-14 20 21. True it is In that gracious or spirituall work in which the spirit is quickened or made alive for righteousnesse sake now through the beliefe of the truth as it is in Jesus Therein also the Believer is said to be risen with Christ Coll. 3. 1. with ch 2. 12. But that is explicated to be not in or by a like act wrought upon our Persons as was wrought upon his when he was raised from the dead But through faith of the operation of God and so effected in the doctrinall and spirituall baptisme as also they are said in the same baptisme in a like sence to be buried with him He is the Person that was dead and buried and was raised again for us and with reference to that his personall buryall and resurrection the Apostle speakes there as also in Rom. 6. 3 4 8 11. shewing that in the spirituall washing of that doctrine of his death and resurrection we are through faith washed from the errors and polutions of the World into the acknowledgment grace and consolation of that his death and resurrection And so in that Baptisme or washing of the spirit which is in the beliefe of the truth we are taught and strengthened to reckon our selves dead and buried in his death and buriall there dead indeed unto sin and so risen with him through
wholly destroyed so that there shall be no more darknesse or shadow of death in which the workers of iniquity may hide themselves Hose 13. 14. Revel 20. 13 14. Job 34. 22. All that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth now how or in what consideration of them they are in the Grave or dust of the Earth is evident that it is in the flesh or body as distinct from the spirit or soul which departs out of the body at death and returnes to God that gave it to be appointed to its proper place either of prison or liberty till the resurrection of the body At death the dust returnes to the Earth as it was and the spirit returnes to God that gave it Eccles 12. 7. In death there is no difference between a man and a Beast as to outward appearance But there is this great difference to be believed though no man can by sence perceive it or by Philosophy comprehend it That the spirit of a Man goeth upward whereas the spirit of a Beast goeth downward to the Earth Eccles 3. 20 21. Hence 't is said of Rachel that her soul departed when she dyed Gen. 35. 18. So David saw corruption his flesh or body did turn to dust when as notwithstanding his spirit was with other spirits of just men made perfect as far as the spirit without the body is capable Now then the resurrection of the dead is such as in which the flesh or body that sleepes in the dust of the Earth shall be wholly redeemed from death and the Grave from that death to which the Grave is annexed even that death which presently turns them to corruption and dust if they rest in it All that are in the Graves shall come forth even all the dead Bodies of men that sleep in the dust of the Earth And shall never more return to dust again or be hidden in the Grave or any such disappearing state of death which unspeakably addes to the happinesse of those that have done well And to the misery and terror of the other Furthermore That the resurrection shall be of the same bodyes of men that dye in and from Adam even of the same that returnes to dust and corruption in those that sleep or rest in death That the selfe same shall be raised by Christ and made alive from that death though it shall not be raised the same or in the same quality yet that it even the dead the same body that dyes and is dead shall be raised and not another thing or body in the stead of it is evident from the resurrection of Christ which is both as hath been hinted already The foundation of the resurrection of the dead and also the first fruites of the same As saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15 20. But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruites of them that slept whence also he calls him the first born from the dead Coll. 1. 18. Now as the Apostle in another case argues the lump or harvest must needs be such as is the first fruites of the like nature or kind as Rom. 11. 16. If therefore the resurrection of Christ was the raising up from the dead of the same body that dyed in which he bore our sins to the Tree even Jesus of the seed of David after the flesh Then it follows necessarily that the resurrection of the dead by him is the raising up and making alive from that death the same bodies that dye in Adam else his resurrection in the same body in which he dyed could not be the first fruites of theirs But that the resurrection of Christ was of the same body that was hung upon the Tree and dyed is most clear First from his own demonstration of it after his resurrection and before his being taken up In all which he shewed saith the text Act. 1. 3. himselfe to them alive after his passion or suffering by many infallible proofes himselfe alive after his passion himselfe that suffered and dyed the same himselfe alive again after that his passion himselfe the same man the same person the same Jesus of Nazareth And in the same body in which he suffered and dyed and that was laid in the Sepulchre as we may see more fully and particularly in the narrations as Luk. 24. 39 40. Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my selfe handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as yee see me have And when he had thus spoken he shewed them his hands and his feet Again vers 46 47. It was necessary that the same Christ that suffered and dyed should rise again the third day And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name Likewise Joh. 20. After they had been at the Sepulchre and found not the body of Jesus there Jesus himselfe appeared to them and after some reasoning with them he shewed them his hands and his feet Then saith the Text were the Disciples glad when they saw the Lord vers 20. Again vers 27 Then saith he to Thomas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithlesse but believing Thomas having said before vers 25. That unlesse he should see in his hands the print of the nayles and put his finger into the print of the nayles namely by which he was nayled to the Cross And thrust his hand into his side namely that was pierced with a Spear Joh. 19. 34. he would not believe For which though he deserved reproofe and went not without it yet our Saviour graciously condiscended to his weaknesse for our further confirmation Secondly this is also most clear from the holy Ghosts Testimony of him after his ascension and being received up into Heaven That it was the same that the Jewes slew and hung on a Tree whom God had raised and exalted with his right hand a Prince and a Saviour And whom the Heaven must receive till the restitution of all things Act. 5. 30 31. 3. 13 21. He even the same that was dead is alive for evermore and hath the keyes of Hell and death Rev. 1. 18. This man continues for ever even the man Christ Jesus And therefore is a powerfull Mediator and high Priest Hebr. 7. 23 24 26. 1 Tim. 2. 5 6 See it very largely and expresly demonstrated Act. 2. 22-36 13. 23 38. That that man Jesus of Nazareth of the seed of David after the flesh who had been approved by God amongst his enemies by miracles and signes as they also knew Him whom they by wicked hands had crucified and slain Him God had raised up having loosed the paines of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it That David being a Prophet and knowing that God had sworne with an oath to him That of the fruit of his loynes according to the flesh he would raise
on them till they have passed through death and be made the children of the Resurrection for all must first bear the Image of the earthy And not only so shall death remaine in being and in being as an enemy though a conquered one But also 2 In that it shall hold those that now were enemies to him and dyed before or at his coming as well as also those that shall be cut off in their sin and rebellion in the time of his Reigne It shall hold them I say from their utmost punishment to be for ever executed on soul and body in which the Lord shall be gloryfied and the righteous rejoyce even untill the finishing of that thousand yeares reigne on the earth This is plain and expresse The rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished Revel 20. 5. After the finishing of which thousand years also and not before yea after the resurrection and judgment of the rest of the dead at the expiration of that time Then saith the 14th verse were death and hell The first death and the Grave cast into the lake of fire that they might never more hide or hold the workers of iniquity from any part of their judgment or punishment or any of the righteous from any part of the fullnesse of their glory And so it answers to that The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death All other enemies in being and that shall be found persisting such shall be destroyed immediately on his appearing to take the Kingdome when he shall bring all that sleep in Jesus with him Then the Beast the humane and Worldly power appointed of God to stand its time though turning it selfe against him by whom it was set And the false Prophet The Antichristian power and spirit in conjunction with the Beast riseing up on his coming to make War with him and his Army shall have their power destroyed And their persons that are then in being eminently in the administration of that power shall be taken and cast alive into the Lake of Fire But the remnant of those enemies surviveing and riseing up with the Beast and false Prophet against Christ and his Army at his coming shall then be slain by the sword that proceedeth out of his mouth and shall have their Carkasses cast out And their flesh shall be meate for all Foules and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh And their spirits gathered together as Prisoners in the Pit till after those many dayes of his reign on the Earth with the children of the first Resurrection And then they shall be visited and have their dead bodies raised and in them be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire where the Beast and false Prophet are and were before them and where they shall be tormented day and night with the Devill that deceived them for ever and ever And at the same time all the rest of the dead both those that have dyed before out of Union with him And those that have been cut off in their Rebellion in the time of his Reigne And also those that in that time have volluntarily submitted to that Government and walked in the light of it whether they have dyed before in the time of that his Reigne as happily some of them may or lived till the end They shall all then be raised or changed and stand before his judgment seat and receive according to their deeds according to the Gospell rule of judgment compare Isa 24. 21 22. chap. 34. 2 3 c. with chap. 66. 15 16-24 Revel 19. 11. to the end with chap. 20. 5. 11. to the end All shall come forth out of their Graves and out of the disappearing state of death And appear before his judgment seat But those that now sleep in Jesus shall rise first and with them the Survivers of that body shall be changed then immediately at his coming The rest of the dead shall not live again till the thousand yeares be finished yet all this whole and generall resurrection and judgment in both parts of it shall be in that one hour time or day of the son of man forementioned as expressed in 2 Tim. 4. 1. At his appearing and his Kingdome The first fruites as with relation to the other they are called Rev. 14. 4. immediately at his appearing The compleating and finishing of the generall resurrection and judgment at his Kingdome and before it be delivered up as 1 Cor. 15. 22-28 with Revel 20. By what hath been said in the opening these three Branches of Instruction viz. what the resurrection and judgment is as to the subject of it And in what time and order it shall be We have shewed and proved by the Scriptures That there shall be a generall Resurrection of the dead Bodies of men both of the just and unjust And that all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ at his appearing and his Kingdome That every one may receive in his body the things done in his body according to what he hath done whether it be good or bad But every man in his own order They that are his in this day at his coming And after that yet in that time of his Kingdome all the rest of the dead To the other two Branches of Instruction contained in the Text and more directly and fully spoken too viz. The meanes or power by which all shall be raised and judged And the different state of persons in the Resurrection or ends to which they shall be raised To these we shall speak in the proving and explicating these two positions as contained in the Text and opened and confirmed in other Scriptures 1 That both the just and unjust one and other of them shall be raised and judged by the voyce of the son of man 2 That in the Resurrection there shall be this manifest difference between those that have done good and those that have done evill The first shall come forth to the Resurrection of life The other to the Resurrection of damnation 1 That both the just and unjust even every of mankind shall be raised and judged by the voyce of the son of man is plainly asserted in the Text especially compareing it with the verse before where he asserts that the Father hath given him authority to execute judgment also because he is the son of man And here addes that all that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce namely the voyce of the son of man And shall come forth c. The Resurrection and eternall judgment shall be by the man Christ and by his voyce who is the only begotten Son of God in mans nature The son of man so called by way of eminency because there is no more such sons of God or sons of men as Hee 1 It shall be by vertue of or because of his being the son of man 2 It shall be effected by his mighty power in the immediate and wonderfull patting forth of his
and effectuall with the Father as that through Christ in the name and grace of the Father they might have been saved in due time They could not be righteously judged for denying him that bought them and not receiving the love of the truth that they might be saved His judgment therefore from such demonstrations is and shall be evidenced to be according to truth against them that commit such things see Rom. 2. 2. 4. 5. 10-16 3. 3 4. Act. 17. 30 31. 2 Thess 2. 10. 11 12. Though the spirit that dwelleth in us as of us Justeth to envy and pride yet God giveth more grace and because he doth so therefore he saith He resisteth the proud that still persist in their pride and stubbornnesse notwithstanding his grace bringing salvation did abound and was more then their naturall filthinesse and corruption and would have overcome all for them and in them had it not been willfully again and again rejected by them This is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men loved darknesse Jam. 4. 5 6. Joh. 3. 19. Therefore also in the right understanding of the greatnesse and truth of this love of God in Christs dying for all and through it to manward the Apostles did discern and know the unspeakable greatnesse of his terror against Scorners in that Day of his judging all men by Jesus Christ according to their Gospell 2 Car. 5. 10. 11-14 15. Hebr. 2. 3. 10. 29. And the truth is whatever is said to the lessening or taking off from either the greatnesse or truth of Gods grace in and through Christ to manward tends every whit so much to the extenuating of their evill that sin against it and to the abating or taking off from the clear discoveries of the terror of the Lord and the greatnesse and equity of his severity that shall be against Scorners persisting such and so to the blunting the edge and taking away the force of all Gospell admonitions and warnings for according to his fear or grace and glory in Christ to manward that he might be feared by them now even such so infinite and unspeakable will be his wrath against Scorners then Psal 90. 10 11. 2 This Resurrection and Judgment shall be effected by his mighty power In the immediate and wonderfull putting forth of his voyce even the same powerfull voyce or spirit that now breathes in the Gospell to the awakening the dead or making them to hear and to the making partakers of life them that in hearing hear That it shall be by the same voyce is clear in the 25. and 28. verses compared This more wonderfull efficacy of his voyce in raising the dead and bringing them in judgment is here declared to correct and silence their sinfull marvelling at the 〈◊〉 power and efficacy of the same voyce on the spirits of men before 〈…〉 â—uch is asserted by the Apostle Rom. 8. 11. If the spirit of him that 〈…〉 the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead 〈…〉 also quicken your mortall Bodies that is Raise them in the first Resurrection and to life by the same spirit that now dwels in you And in such wise also the generall Resurrection of all the rest of the dead shall be effected by him in the last day as is signified Joh. 6. 39-44 where he not only saith that he will raise them up at the last day But clearly signifies that he will doe it by the same power by which he was now sent to draw them and was drawing them even by that eternall spirit by which he was raised and with which he is filled and cloathed without measure in that Body in mans nature by vertue of his sufferings and by which he is now striving with and working on the spirits of men to the drawing and quickening them yea that word that he hath now spoken to them and preached by his spirit to their spirits shall judge them at the last Day Joh. 12. 48. By the power now graciously breathing in it to make them willing they shall then be brought to his judgment Seat whether they will or no And be judged by and according to it God hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised Him from the dead by whom in the mighty putting forth of the same power and spirit he will judge discern discover and bring to light and judgment every secret thing whether it be good or bad And so judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to Paul's Gospell This Instruction is used in Scripture for consolation to those that now receive and retain this voyce of the Son of man This word and spirit in it by which he was raised to dwell in them He shall raise and judge them by the same word and spirit that now dwels in them speaking peace and giving healing to their spirits through his bloud and the love of God therein displayed so that it must needs be to them a resurrection to life and the compleating of that joy to which they are now quickened in their spirits by the first fruites of the same spirit while yet the body is dead because of sin as Rom. 8. 10-11 12. 24-25 so Job 11. 25 26. I am saith our Saviour the Resurrection and the life not only as the procuring Cause but also as the effecter and worker of it And that by the same spirit by which he was raised and with which he is immeasurably filled in mans nature And by which he now accompanies his word that through him men might believe and dwels in the hearts of the receivers in a first fruites of it as is shewed before Therefore says he because I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth on me though he were dead yet shall he live And he that liveth and believeth on me shall never dye he shall not dye or be separated from God or cut off from his hope in that first death or shadow of death which he must passe through And the second death shall have no power on him yea the first fruites of the spirit being to the quickening their spirits that now receive it what can the harvest or fullnesse of the same be to them when it shall be poured out upon them but still more even to fullnesse of efficacy of the same nature life from the dead The totall quickening of soul and body together So likewise the same Doctrine is used for admonition and warning to the rejectors while it s to day to take heed of murmuring against that power by which he is now striving with them drawing and working upon their hearts For by the same power spirit voyce or word of the Son of man they shall be raised and judged in the last day And therefore it must needs be a terrible resurrection and Judgment to those
power of the same voyce to the Resurrection of Damnation 1 To the first of these who they are that have done good and who they are that have done evill after the Gospell Rule according to which all must be judged To this we shall speak distinctly in the severall parts of it and most fully to the first part God assisting That we may therein answer the desire of our deceased Sister whose being taken from us occasioned the publishing this discourse as her said desire was expressed by her on her death bed which was that some such Instruction might be delivered And opened to the people as we shall have further occasion to speak to in the opening of this point For so I was informed by those that were with her And those such as had good understanding of and acquaintance with the grace of God and experience of the truth of the things discoursed by her That she earnestly desired that those great branches of the Doctrine of Christ that were then much upon her own spirit in a feeling apprehension of the truth of them to her abundant refreshing and consolation and to the enlargement of her heart for the good of others should be made known and opened to the people And that those parts of the Doctrine of Christ which were so much upon her spirit then and to the understanding of such as forementioned excellently discussed by her to the last though in broken expressions as her end approached were in effect as followes I may ranck them under these three heads 1 The way of attaining Gods righteousnesse for the remission of sins and justifying our persons before God And for the cleansing us from all unrighteousnesse and making us partakers of his holinesse even to the perfecting all that concerns us That it is by faith in Christ without the deeds of the Law and that faith and all the justification saving and healing by it not of our selves but the gift of God and that not of or according to works of righteousnesse that we have done or doe But of his free grace in Christ to manward according to that his mercy and through the discoveries and displayings of it in Christ that none may boast according to those Scriptures then much with her To him that worketh not namely for righteousnesse or seekes that way to attain righteousnesse as Rom. 9. 30. 33. 10. 1 2 3. But believeth on him that justifyeth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse even as David also describeth the blessednesse of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without works c. Rom. 4. 5. 6-9 Like as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousnesse now that was not written for his sake alone but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our Justification Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ By whom also we have accesse by faith into this Grace namely for perfecting all that concernes us c. see Rom. 4. 3. 9 22. 23. 24. 25. with chap. 5. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse For it is written cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to doe them But that no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God it is evident For the just shall live by faith And the Law is not of faith But the man that doth them shall live in them Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith Gall. 3. 6-14 For by grace are ye saved though faith And that not of your selves it is the gift of God not of workes least any man should boast For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus not only through or by meanes of the worth vertue and preciousnesse of him but also in the evidence and demonstration of him unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them And if by grace in Christ Jesus then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace but if it be of works then it is no more grace otherwise work is no more work Eph. 2. 8 9 10. Rom. 11. 6. 2 The infinite riches and freenesse of this grace of God in Christ towards all sinners both in the preparation and bringing in of everlasting righteousnesse in Christ for them by making Him to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him And also in the bringing it forth to them in and by him whom he hath raised from the dead and set on his own right hand a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance and forgivenesse of sins a testimony to men in due time Gods light to the Gentiles his salvation to the ends of the Earth and the glory of his people Israell the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe as 2 Cor. 5. 21. Act. 5. 31. Isa 42. 49. with ch 55. 4 5. 1 Tim. 2. 4 5 6. Luk. 2. 32. 1 Tim. 4. 10. According to that Scripture Rom. 3. 20 27. by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God for by the Law is the knowledge of sin But now the righteousnesse of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets even the righteousnesse of God not of man It is now manifested by the faith or Doctrine of Christ the preaching of peace that is by him And it is as before witnessed and now manifested unto all namely in the redundancies discoveries and reall tenders yea in the gift of it in and with Christ that in the light and power of his givings he and so it might be received that through him men might believe and believing through the same name be saved And it is upon all that believe namely in the imputation and application of it to them in their particular persons through his name making them through faith in it The righteousnesse of God in him that was made sin and a curse for them And all this without difference or respect of persons For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Being justifyed all men in that one that dyed for them and rose again in their stead as in a publique person And all that believe in their particular persons by him and through faith in him And this both these Freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud to declare
had been holden of Death or the Grave and not been taken from the prison and from the judgment If he after the same consideration of him in which he was delivered for our offences even Jesus of the seed of David after the flesh be not raised again and so mightily declared to be the Son of God by the Resurrection from the Dead we are yet in our sins and must needs perish in them we can have no justification from them by him if he himselfe in that his own personall Body in which he bore our sins to the tree and gave himselfe for our sins be not raised and exalted in the name and Glory of the Father by the power of the eternall Spirit now no more to returne to corruption If there were any truth in such Imaginations as that there is some quickening or translateing work that is or may be effected upon the soule or spirit as Distinct from and without its body that may properly be called the Resurrection of that person on whom it passeth from the Dead yet that truth would doe us no good as to a word of saith Such a Resurrection here would not help us nor any thing lesse or besides the resurrection and exaltation of the same Body in which he was delivered if the same flesh or body be not raised exalted and glorified with God we can have no faith or hope in him For this also we finde that that Body was prepared for him as absolutely necessary to doe the whole will of God in for mans salvation and that through him they might be saved as well as also that by him they might be judged in Righteousnesse according to the Gospell And so not only that he might therein suffer our Death and Curse But also that he might have it as through sufferings made perfect to offer up in Sacrifice to God as the Ransome or price of redemption in which God might smell a savour of Rest for fallen mankind and likewise to appear in in the presence of God as the Mediator between God and men and as the Great Apostle and High Priest of our profession that all fullnesse dwelling in him bodily we also of his fullnesse might receive c. yea that it is through the offering up of the Body of Christ once for all that we are sanctified 'T is through this man and because God hath raised him from the Dead that repentance and remission of sins is preached to us and by him all that believe are justified c. Yea because this man continueth ever therefore he is able to save to the utmost them that come to God by him and therefore also all judgement committed to him see Hebr. 10. 5-10-12 with ch 9. 11. 12. 14. 23. 24. 25. 26. 28. and ch 8. 1-3 4. and 7. 23. 24. 25. c. 1 Tim. 2. 5. 6. Joh. 1. 14. 16. with Coll. 2. 9. Act. 13. 37. 38. 39. Ioh. 5. 27. Act. 17. 31. This therefore is mainly considerable in that testimony of Christ delivered as the Ground of all our faith and hope that God hath raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our offences even the same Jesus of Nazareth and in that his own personall Body in which he was to delivered Jesus Christ of the seed of David after the flesh Rom. 1. 3. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 8. This truth we have before sufficiently proved for confirmation of the hope of the Resurrection of our Bodies that dye in Adam Here we shall only farther shâ—w of how great weight and importance our Saviour and the holy Ghost by the Apostles signify it to be and the asserting and acknowledgement of it as one of the first and greatest things in the Word of faith on which the other things in it depend and in which they are included and therefore not to be passed over as a lighter matter or bieopinion to be so discoursed of or only to be of some lesser use To this it is very observable That our Saviour after his Resurrection In all those his appearances and instructions to his Apostles before his being taken up in which he was confirming and preparing them for that great work of giving forth the full preaching and revelation of the Word of faith to all Nations for the obedience of faith he then chiefly insisted on this to shew himselfe to them alive after his passion and that it was he himselfe the same that suffered and was hung on a Tree And that he had the selfe same body flesh and bones hands and feet really as a spirit without a body hath nor though it may sometimes assume such shapes that it was the same in which he sometime conversed with them in weaknesse that was nailed to the Crosse pierced with a speare c. And withall he instructed them that all this was necessary these things must needs be so fulfilled that repentance and remission of sins might be preached in his name Luk. 24. 36 48. Ioh. 20. 24. 27. with Act. 1. 3. Likewise the Apostle Iohn summing up the Word of faith The testimony of God concerning Christ they had received of him to declare unto us cals it a declaration of that which they had looked upon with their eyes and their hands had handled of the Word of life which being with such apt alusion to those words of our Saviour handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as yee see me to have Luk. 24. 39. with Ioh. 20. 24. 27. Must needs meane the Lords body raised from the dead The man Christ Jesus alive after his passion in the same body in which he bore our sins to the tree which other believers are said not so to have seen Ioh. 20. 29. 1 Pet. 1. 8. yet to believe and in the beliefe of it to rejoyce and be blessed 1 Ioh. 1. 12. Hence also we read in that whole story of the Acts of the Apostles as in all their Epistles that they in giving forth the Gospell of Christ the Word of faith after the holy Ghost was poured out upon them from on high doc chiefly insist on this as the first and fundamentall things of all Orracles of God as now come forth The foundation of all our faith hope as now declared and of the resurrection of the dead and eternall judgment that God had raised up and exalted the same Jesus of Nazareth of the fruit of David's loynes according to the flesh that was crucified that his soul was not left in Hell neither did his flesh see corruption that God had given him glory in that Body in which he bore our sins to the Tree that our faith and hope might be in God And from hence do evidence repentance and remission of sins to be therefore preached to us through this man and in his name as Act. 2. 22-36 3. 14-21 4. 10-12 5. 30-32 13. 23-37 38. 39. Rom. 1. 1-5 4. 24. 24. 10. 9. 1 Cor. 15.
necessity of ceasing from a mans own works that he may attain righteousnesse yea that this cessation is in and with that believing that is imputed for righteousnesse The working here mentioned and the believing on him that justifies the ungodly cannot stand together There is then in this believing with the heart which is unto righteousness A ceasing from a mans own works an entring into rest as Hebr. 4. which also answers to that instruction in the verses before the Text shewing the hearing his word and believing on him that sent him to be such as in which the Son is honoured and so the Father in him who is not truly honoured or gloryed in without this ceasing from our own works in which is a relinquishing all glorying in the flesh and not suffering it to glory or lift up it self in his presence Phil. 3. 3-10 1 Cor. 1. 29-31 with Jer. 9. 23 24. 1. The hearing his word Joh. 5. 24. The believing God Rom. 4. 3. in his testimony or record that he hath already given of his Son as 1 Joh. 5. 9-12 This is the first and fundamentall act in this faith of the opperation of God where this is with the heart and unfeined there is equally the other act or acts in it produced by the power of the word of truth so believed Therefore this alone is given as a description of that whole faith of the opperation of God wherwith a man believes to righteousnesse Rom. 10. 9 10. with ch 4. 3. Such it is as in which a man being enlightened and made to hear by the preventing grace of God in which the voyce of the Son of God in the witnesses of Gods goodnesse that is in and through him or in the preaching of peace by him comes to him even to his spirit by Gods spirit in and through the meanes vouchsated opening the eyes and eares of his mind with which grace God in and by Christ prevents every man in due time and alwayes before he require any hearing or receiving of them Such I say as in which a man in that enlightening and perswasion that is in that evidence and demonstration of the spirit in which his testimony that he hath already given comes to them Falls down before it gives glory to it as to the word of the Lord ceasing from his own thoughts words and works on Gods holy day even in the day of Gods power or powerfull word coming to him he is in that evidence and demonstration of the spirit in it perswaded of the truth goodnesse and faithfullnesse of it in it selfe and in all it saith and embraceth it esteemes loves receiveth and reverenceth it as the word of God and not of man As a good word a faithfull saying worthy to be received with all acceptation as the truth which teacheth all things and of which is no lye And accordingly rejoyeeth in it as having found all riches and that which answers all needs and is worthy to be submitted too and that all reproved by it should be parted with for it and so with meeknesse receives the ingrafted word that is able to save the soul without inward wrath murmurings or disputeings against it Ceasing from the workings of their own thoughts reasonings or Imaginations and so from consulting with the Doctrines and traditions of men that life up themselves against the knowledge of God suffering them to fall before it as the weapons thereof are mighty through God to cast them down they let God be true and themselves and every man lyars Neither seeking to measure or comprehend this light or word of truth brought to them by the darknesse of their reason or Imagination or by Philosophy and vain deceite after the traditions of men But perceiving in this light every man to be brutish in his knowledge as Jer. 10. 14 23. with Prov. 30. 2 3 4. They fall down in the sence and acknowledgment of their inabillity by any wisedome or strength of man to receive and comprehend what is discovered and brought to them That so they may be made wise in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit that brings it attending to receive all their demonstrations of truth and light and power to receive and embrace them in and from Gods testimony in a silent adhearing to it as fooles in themselves And so in believing the truth goodnesse and faithfullnesse of the word in its own sayings though they be never so short in understanding what is contained and plainly expressed in it yet believeing they waite for all further wisedome understanding and strength seeking it in the Lord and not in man or the things of man that no flesh may glory in his presence Likewise in this receiving his word with the heart there is a ceasing from the workings of the carnall mind in its inclinations affections and lusts which are set upon the riches of this World the praise of men the pleasures of this life or some exaltation or lifting up himselfe in some selfe sufficiency and that not only before men but before God or in his presence A ceasing from these 1. In their lifting up themselves in direct opposiâ—ion to the testimony or word of truth And to hinder the receiving and acknowledgment of it 2. In their seeking to get seeret service and satisfaction to themselves in mens receiving and closeing with it Either of which wayes the flesh with its affections and lusts will hinder mens hearty and unfeined receiving the word of truth the Gospell of their salvation if they suffer it not to be crucified and themselves to be brought of from it in the light and power of that word Therefore those that are Christs are said to have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Implying that they could never have so received and retained his word in their heart as to draw and unite them to Christ if they had still lived in the flesh or suffered that to live and rule in their spirit or minded the things of it and made provision for it for they that are in the flesh cannot please God Some by working in the wisedome and Imaginations of the flesh seeking and professing to be wise consulting with Philosophy and vain deceite their own thoughts and the traditions of men and so by murmuring among themselves close the eyes and eares of their mind against the truth when opened by it break his bands by which he is drawing them in his Doctrine And so keep out the light of his knowledge and themselves from acknowledging or understanding the truth of his sayings Joh. 6. 41 42 43 44. 12. 34 35 Rom. 2. 21 22 23. 1 Cor. 1. 21 22 23. 1 Tim. 6. 20 21. Others when convinced of truth yet still seeking after wisedome in themselves to find out and comprehend the truth of Gods sayings by their Imaginations or by the same wisedome and reason of man with which before they did or others yet do oppose it And to build their faith
of Gods truth on such demonstrations as is suited to the wisedome of this World They receive it not as the word of God but as the word of men And so deprive themselves of the excellent sweetnesse and efficacy of it their faith resting on the wisedome and strength of man and not in the power of God as is signified 1 Cor. 2. 1 5. 1 Thess 2. 13. whence Believers are admonished to beware of Philosophy and vain deceite c. Coll. 2. 8. Likewise some by working in their own will and purpose to hide serve and get satisfaction to the lusts and affections of the flesh against the light and power of the reproofes of instruction keep out themselves from listening to or from understanding and receiving the word of truth yea many see and hate because it reproves their deeds Joh. 3. 19. 7. 7. 8. 43 44. 6. 27-36 5. 44. Ezek. 33. 30-33 Others in listening to and receiving the truth yet retaining such divers lusts the heart still inclined to covetousnesse the praise of men or the like And now thinking to get or keep these things together with the truth or also to get them by and in the receiving and profession of it still retaining and pursuing the lust seeking to render themselves wise strong and honourable in Christ or in the receiving and acknowledgment of him as those 1 Cor. 4. 10. contrary to 1 Thess 2. 3 4 5 6. They herein disable themselves from so coming to the knowledge and acknowledgment of the truth as that they might be saved by it And so make their very believing in vain Joh. 12. 42 43. 2 Tim. 3. 6 7. 1 Tim. 6. 9 10 11. For no man can serve two Masters Math. 6. 24. No following after righteousnesse to purpose without an equall fleeing from these things in the pursuite 2 Tim. 2. 19-22 But he that doth truth cometh to the light ceasing from his own wisedome thoughts and works that he may see all his works wrought in God receives his word as his word in its own evidence and power and not as mans to be measured or comprehended by mans wisedome And as a good and faithfull saying in which is contained enough to satisfy and make willing to let goe all other advantages and suffer the breaking of other purposes and desires for And worthy to be submitted to in what ever it saith though discovering and reproving evill in himselfe And so there is in this hearty believing the word of truth the true confession of sins and judging a mans selfe believing and acknowledging himselfe such a sinner and worthlesse helplesse one his sins so vile his works so vain and unclean as this word discovers them And because so discovered in the light of that Gospell of their salvation that sets open before them the Fountain for their washing and healing 1 Ioh. 5. 7. 9. And this word where-ever so believed and received with the heart unfeinedly According to the Discoveries and Demonstrations of it brought nigh in those preachings of it vouchsafed for he requires not any other or farther receiving then according to what he gives yea he is very mercifull in not upbraiding with what dullnesse and shortness he findes in that and to him that hath shall more be given I say where so believed with the heart it works effectually 2. A believing on him that sent Christ Ioh. 5. 24. And hath raised him from the dead and through him as raised from the dead for our justification justifieth the ungodly Rom 4. 5. 24. 25. Which believing on him is such as in which I. The heart and mind from the hearty perswasion of the truth and goodnesse of his word and in the light and power thereof is stayed on the Lord Jesus Christ and so on that name of the Father in him resting satisfied with this and trusting in and to it as a sure full and sufficient ground and foundation for all faith and hope in God and bottome matter of feeding and rejoyceing at all times a sure Refuge and strong Tower of defence to run into for saving to the utmost and in all his needs And so rejoyceing in the Lord Jesus even in his flesh that he gave for the life of the World And so in that Redemption Righteousnesse and life in Him as the fruit thereof as one that needs or desires no other thing to be added to or with it for object of saustaction or feeding ground of faith or hope for whatever is yet needfull or wanting to him And therefore renouncing all other objects of satisfaction and grounds of rest trust or rejoycing to his soul as losse and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of him that he may only know him and him crucified and be found in him cloathed with his righteousnesse and not that of his own either alone or together with it Isa 26. 3. 50. 10. Ioh. 6. 32 33 35 45-50-58 Phil. 3. 7-10 Gal. 2. 20. He worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly Some labouring to establish a righteousnesse of their own in the wisedome and strength of the flesh according to the Law thereby keep out themselves from knowing and proving the fullnesse and excellency and from submitting to the righteousnesse of God in Christ Rom. 10 3. Others in their coming to him yet reasoning with flesh and bloud and looking upon the things to be let goe or parted with for him and the sweetnesse and gain they have apprehended in them labouring to retain and hold fast the rejoyceing and confidence they have had in such works or things of the flesh And yet to have their rejoyceing in Christ and enjoy that consolation that is in him And the comfort of Gods love through him also and together with the former or looking back again upon those things believed when they have begun to let them goe for Christ and seeking to be perfected by the flesh in the wisedome or strength of it or things of its commending to that purpose when they have begun in the spirit These by their working and labouring make Christ of none effect to themselves For they cannot know him prove and tast his preciousnesse And he found in him without a hearty and daily letting goe and suffering the losse of their own things yea whatever hath been gainfull to them as discovered and reproved in the light of the knowledge of him Phill. 3. Others also when they have suffered the losse of many things for Christ and tasted of his excellency and preciousnesse and been much filled with the consolations that are in him the comfort of Gods love by and through him the fellowship of the spirit and thence with bowels and mercies even to the bringing forth the fruites of righteousnesse by Jesus Christ Yet they falling to work according to the wisedome and inclination of the flesh to make these fruites and efficacies of the knowledge of him the matter of their feeding and rejoyceing or seeking to to joyne
them together with or add them unto Christ as a better ground of assurance and hope of the promise of eternall life then they had in him before or yet have simply in what he is hath done and is become in himselfe for us Though these efficacies of the graciousnesse of the Lord tasted by them were his works yet their thus putting them out of their place and in the place of Christ and seeking to deck their Idols with his Ornaments as Ezek. 16. 19-20 These are their works For the Law of faith excludes boasting every where or rejoycing in any thing even in what we have received through grace otherwise then so as the rejoycing be only in the Lord. Rom. 3. 27. 1 Cor. ult 4. 7. And instructs alwayes when we have done all these things to acknowledge our selves therein unprofitable Servants that have done no more then our duty from the grace already bestowed Luk. 17. 10. Yea to be sensible of and acknowledge our short coming of that so much found with us in all things That still we may take shame to our selves and seek to have all our rejoyceing in and feeding on him and not in any of those things And truly this work of our own in this abuseing and misplaceing the works of God cannot stand with our abideing in him as we have received him But doth weaken and draw away the heart from him and also occasion the decay and withering of the good things so rejoyced in and fed upon But he that doth good or that doth truth alwayes comes to the light that he may alwayes see all his works wrought in God in emmanuell That so he may have his rejoyceing in him evermore And as one that hath enough there he comes to that Fountain that he may be filled with the knowledge enjoyment and fruites of that in and with Christ And he that so eatest me saith our Saviour shall live by me They trusting in resting satisfied with and staying upon that perfect righteousnesse perfected in his resurrection And the glorious name of God in him as a full and sufficient ground of rejoyceing and hopeing and matter of feeding for justification sanctification and all things pertaining to life and godlinesse they are therein II. From the fullnesse and riches of grace perceived and tasted in him instructed and strengthened to seek righteousnesse and strength in the Lord so as by an exercise of faith in Jesus to depend on him for and expect from him and with him the hope of his righteousnesse in the perfecting what concerns them According to the promise of eternall life given us in Christ which containes in it both the promise of this life and that to come They believe in Christ that they may be justified by the faith of Christ Gall. 2. 16. Acknowledging themselves as discovered in the light of his testimony as of themselves and from Adam to be sinners and altogether filthy and under curse by the Law and without strength They expect not nor seek that way to help themselves as to the attaining righteousnesse but seek and follow one to know what he hath done and is become for sinners to understand and perceive the perfection of his work and sacrifice its fullnesse and answe ablenesse to all their needs And the infinite riches of the grace of God in him to such sinners seeking and expecting through the knowledge of him to have their hearts and mindes stayed on him preserved in him yea more brought into him And in him to finde acceptance with God and to receive the remission of their sins and so the cleansing of their mind and conscience through his name and in the further and continuall openings of it They likewise believe on him stay upon and trust in his name for all righteousnesse even for sactifying washing and saving them to the utmost Knowing his rich furniture and abillity to save to the utmost all that come to God by him which also they know in knowing what he hath done and is become for us while we were yet sinners and enemies as Rom. 8. 32. Hebr. 7. 25. 9. 15. with Rom. 5. tot In which likewise they are assured that the Gospell of Christ is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth For therein is the righteousnesse of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written The just shall live by faith being also therein made sensible of their own weaknesse insufficiency and deadnesse they are perswaded and strengthened in the light and strength of those instructions to disowne and goe out of themselves cease from their own thoughts reasonings and works and exercise themselves in the light and power of his grace to a diligent beholding and mindfullnesse of him in what he hath done and is become for them and the end and fruit of it and the grace and glory appearing in and through it They run to that and stay in and upon it seeking and expecting in it the light and power of God to conforme them to him and so to strengthen them to purge themselves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit They through the spirit do waite for the hope of his righteousnesse by faith for giving them victory through the bloud of the Lamb and the word of their testimony and for perfecting what concerns them to the perfect Day They seek not righteousnesse by works but seek the works and fruit of his righteousnesse to be wrought and found in them through faith in him who was made sin for them that they might be made the righteousnesse of God in him We have here occasion to mention a double or twofold difference between him that worketh for righteousnesse And him that worketh not but believeth for it on him that justifies the ungodly 1. The one works for a ground of faith that he may believe the other believeth and resteth on a certain ground of faith that he may work the works of God The first seeks for frames and quallifications as the ground of his faith namely that from thence he may gather conclusions of Gods love and good will to him in Christ and of his good condition before God The other believing Gods love and good will to Manward and so to himselfe in Christ while an enemy that through Christ and by his name he might be saved His readinesse to accept any sinner coming in his drawings by Christ and to wash them from their sins in his bloud from hence is encouraged and provoked to seek and expect the framing and quallifying his heart to love and good works in the believing mindfullnesse of this grace And as the end and fruit of his faith 2. The one seekes to work up and frame his heart to love God and men by observing such and such Rules which the wisedome of man teacheth or the precepts of the Law in the wisedome and strength of man And in the same strength of the flesh on which he depends for it may do many
outword works and services after the oldnesse of the letter which yet happily he will attribute to Gods grace in Christ and say with the Pharisee God I thank thee c. But that they are not the productions of that grace believed nor have they their dependance on that for them is evident from the former consideration which shewes that they have no beliefe or perswasion of that or of the truth of it to them But what depends on and alwayes springs up from such frames and quallifications towards God and men first found in them or if they have some other ground together with them as some particular promise or assurance that they are children of God yet usually these are one main ground of their application of those and however these are of the ground of their perswasion of any grace or good will in God towards them as to eternall life and therefore not the fruites of it or begotten by it but of the wisedome and strength of the flesh The other the true Believer of Gods Testimony being in the light of that Testimony of Gods glorious grace in Christ to sinners therein made sensible of his own weaknesse and the emptinesse of all other wayes of attaining righteousnesse as also of the great obligations to love from Gods first loving us and sending his Son the propitiation for our sins that we might live through him In which likewise he is instructed into and perswaded of the certainty of the way of attaining righteousnesse even to have the righteousnesse of the Law fullfilled in him that it is by minding the things of and walking in the light and power of the spirit that is in that testimony he hath already given of Christ and of Gods glory in him and not in the flesh Rom. 8. 3 4 5 c. He therefore goes out of himself and from his own thoughts reasonings and works to mind and consider the things of the spirit that he hath testified of Gods grace in Christ there seeking and expecting in the standing still to behold that grace and through the light and power of its instructions to love to have his heart begotten and purified to unfeigned love of God of men of brethren such as in which is the fullfilling of the Law And so for mortifying the deeds of the body They waite through the spirit for the hope of Gods righteousnesse by faith as for example To subdue the riseings of envy revenge mallice or bitternesse They consult not with flesh and bloud nor expect help from humane prudentiall considerations nor seek to mortify it in any wisedome or strength of theirs exercised in the consideration or observance of their duty But running out of themselves and from all other reasonings and works they run into his name to consider and remember his graciousnesse in forbearing and so giving them for Christs sake and how they have heard and tasted of it in and througâ— the word of the truth of the Gospell and what instruction that affords to the purpose There seeking and expecting help Eph. 4. 31 32. 5. 1 2. 1 Pet. 2. 1 -3. So likewise for subduing the riseings of uncleannesse They sensible of their own weaknesse to get victory run out of themselves and from consulting with flesh and bloud unto this name of God in Christ trusting in and staying upon it expecting strength against the lust in the believing consideration of his right to the body by purchase yea by double purchase the excellency of the pâ—ice wherewith he hath redeemed them both of the Father and from under the curse of the Law and of themselves and from the World and their vain conversation to be his and at his dispose his present care of the body in his mediation for it and gracious providence and eye over it for the good of the whole man his righteous judgment according to the Gospell before which ye must all appear to receive in the body the things done in it whether they be good or bad so for subduing the inclinations to convetousnesse pride or any manner of uncleannesse see 1 Cor. 6. 13 14 15 19 20. with 1 Pet. 1. 13 18 19. 2 Cor. 5 9 10 14 15 19 20. with ch 6. 1 2 17 18 7 1. This is the doing good mentioned in the Text. The hearing the word or voyce of Christ and through and according to it believing on him that sent him and hath raised him from the dead and given him glory that our faith and hope might be in God And such are reckoned doers of good doers of truth 1. Because they herein cease from their own works and do the work of God even that work which he through the power of his truth is doing in them for it is God that workes in them through the discovery of his works and his salvation in Christ for them Both the will and the deed of all this faith in all the acts and fruites of it whence 't is called faith of the opperation of God who hath raised Christ from the dead Coll. 2. 12. 1 Pet. 1. 20. Joh. 6. 29. And they are said to be saved by grace through faith and that not of themselves it is the gift of God Eph. 2. He that doth good is of God Joh. 3. 11. And yet this also is counted to them for righteousnesse reckoned to them as their doing good because though all is of God yet he worketh in them both to will and to doe of good pleasure of him they are made willing and strong in the day of his power to doe what the goodnesse and truth of God is doing in them without murmuring and disputeings to cease from their own Imaginations and works that they may rejoyce in his works and seek righteousnesse and strength in the Lord by faith in him they come to him as to a living stone even in the vertue and force of his drawings allureing and strengthening them through the tasts of his graciousnesse And yet therein they are truly reckoned and indeed made comers they in the light and power of his drawings standing still from their own thoughts and works are made volluntary consenters and doe owne and close with him and as lively stones that are quickened by him to choose him for their foundation are built upon him 1 Pet. 2. 3 4 5. 2. Because herein they do that in the light and strength of the Lord which is in it selfe good righteous and just In acknowledging the emptinesse and lyingnesse of their own Imaginations and of every thought that exalteth it selfe against the obedience of Christ And God to be true in all his sayings as in that glorious testimony he hath given of Christ and by him so in all its discoveries and reproofes of instruction Themselves sinners and voyd of righteousnesse yea without strength And him righteous and faithfull according to that standing witnesse and glorious revelation of himselfe in his Son And his everlasting righteousnesse brought in in and by Christ
according to the severall degrees of their indignities and evill works of this nature For we know him that hath said vengeance belongs to me and I will repay And againe the Lord shall judge his people in that judgement of eternall damnation he will remember and recompense on the heads of evill doers all the injuries reproaches hard speeches and unlawfull deeds which ungodly sinners have spoken and done against them for his name-sake as Math. 25. 43-46 Yea every idle word and rebellious practise with every secret thing as it hath been commited against the light and power of his grace bringing salvation and moving to repentance shall then be remembred and put on their account together with the many opportunities of mercy put into their hands with seasonable warnings and the manifold patience and long suffering of God towards them And how and for what lying vanities all have been willfully and wickedly rejected by them and their hearts more fully set in them to do evill And none of their former righteousnesse or good workes that they have done shall ever be remembred for them But in the sin which they have done and finished they shall be for ever separated into that fire of the wrath of God that shall never be quenched where their worme dyeth not and their fire is not quenched It will be a most fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the liveing God under that judgement for he that made them will have no mercy on them he that formed them will shew them no favour repentance shall be hid from his eyes yea who knoweth the power of his anger of that wrath to come it shall be according to his greatnesse and terriblenesse and answerable to the infinitenesse of his grace towards sinners now that he might be feared yea answerable to the exceeding riches and glory of the hope of his called Heb. 10. 26-31 Math. 12. 36 18. 34. Eccles 12. 14. Rom. 2. 16 14. 9-12 Ezek. 33. 13 Iude 14. 15. Yea that which will be a great felicity to the one and misery to the other in which also the righteous judgement of God shall wonderfull be manifest is this The righteous shall in all this see their desire on their enemies yea he shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance and the snfoake of their torment ascending up for ever and for ever and that they have no rest day nor night Psal 112. 8. 58. 10 11 Revel 14. 10. 11. with ch 19 2. 3. For they shall then have no more pitty or bowels of mercy and compassion towards these as sometimes they had while the compassions of God was towards them now to have pitty or compassion towards them would be a misery seeing there is no more in God towards them and so no hope for them but this shall be part of their glory and song Righteous art thou oh Lord that hast judged thus Likewise also the wicked shall see their horn exalted with honour and shall be greived and gnash his toeth in the perfect remembrance of the many fair oportunities he hath rejected once and many a time graciously put in his hand for escapeing that place of torment and for being made meete to partake of the inheritance with the Saints in light Psal 112. 10. Let all be of this use to us 1. To instruct us not to mourn immoderately as those that have no hope concerning them that are asleep for if we beleive that Jesus dyed and rose even so them also which sleepe in Jesus God shall bring with him 1 Thesse 4. 13. 14. c. 2. To encourage to patient continuance in well doing and to be stedfast and unmoveable therein allways abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that ouâ— labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. In due season we shall reap if we â—aint not Ro. 2. 6. 7. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Gal. 6. 9. 3. To exhort all to eschew evill depart from it in the light and power of Gods grace leading to repentance and doe good while they have oportunity and it is in power of their hand to doe Be not only hearers of the word of God but doers of it in what it is working in you both to will and to doe of good pleasure let us not deceive our own soules For what a man soweth that shall he also reap he that soweth to his flesh shall of it reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of it reap life everlasting for the son man shall come in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels and then shall reward every man according to his works then it will appear an unvalluable losse if a man shall gain the whole world and loose his soule Psal 34 14. 37. 27. Iam. 1. 19-25 Gall. 6. 7 8. 4. To admonish evill doers to awake to righteousnesse to stand in aw and not to sin against him who is yet waiting to be gracious for he is a God of judgement If sin be once finished it brings forth death in an utter separation to the wrath to come and to him belongs vengeance and he will repay Nor will there be any oportunity in the grave or after for escaping that righteous judgment on them that know not God nor obey his Gospell Wherefore the holy Ghost saith to day while it s called to day if ye will hear his voyce harden not your hearts for behold the great day of the Lord is coming that shall burn as an Oven and all the proud and evill doers shall be as stubble They shall then be made to heare to their everlasting woe and horror The same voyce that now they rejected when it might have been to their everlasting comfort For the houre is comeing in which all that are in the graves shall hear the voyce of the son of man and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the resurrection of damnation FINIS
as his own sins And he owned and acknowledged them and willingly bore and suffered for them as his own sins Psal 40. 12. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Though he knew no sin for God made him that knew no sin to be sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. All we like sheep have gone astray namely in that offence of one in which all have sinned Rom. 5. 12. 3. 23. Therein we have volluntarily and together run out from God at one Gap and so like Sheep And from thence have turned every one to his own way As the naturall fruit of that first generall departure we are naturally following every one his own lust Thus both the branches of the sins of the first forâ— are expressed and with respect to them all he affirmes the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Answerable to which is that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconcileing the World to Himselfe not imputing to them their trespasses meaning plainly by their trespasses as appeares by the matter treated on and the dependance those expressions have on the former even all their trespasses that occasioned and brought in the first enmity and breach between God and mankind which God was in Christ reconcileing and making up in those works he gave him to finish in his own Body on the Earth And so all those sins and trespasses in which they were naturally dead and are so as considered without and before this gift and the grace in and through it which were all their sins as so considered as before is shewed God did not impute to them their trespasses but laid them upon his own Son And he was delivered for them as the guilty Person even as for his own sinnes The sins of the World after the second or following consideration viz. All those in which men sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression against the light and power of the grace of God bringing salvation loving and chusing darknesse when light comes These having no possibility of Beeing in the World before the consideration of peace made for men and preached to them by Christ were not of those imputed to or laid upon Christ as his own sins for him to satisfie for And take away from before the Father by and in that Act of the sheading of his bloud and offering up of his Body once for all But sins of that nature are still imputed to and charged upon the people by God while they continue in them Joh. 20. 23. with ch 3. 18 19 36. Yet for these sins also he was delivered and did give himselfe and shead his bloud That thereby he might purchase and obtain power to take away sins of this nature as they should be found in men while his grace is bringing salvation to them and so to make reconciliation for the sins of the people by his dayly mediation in the infinite and abideing vertue of his one oblation Hebr. 2. 14-17 Therefore was he made under the Law and all our sins after that first consideration imputed to him and laid upon him that by or through his sufferings he might not only make peace and attonement for them But thereby also obtain plenteous redemption even the forgivenesse of sins and so become by meanes of that death which was for the Redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament The Mediator of the new Testament yea a standing propitiation for the sins of the whole World even for their sins after the following consideration Hebr. 9. 15. with 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. For of sins of that nature he speakes 1 Joh. 3. 8 He that committeth sin is of the Devill Every man is a sinner and wholly sinfull from Adam even as a naturall heritage But the grace of God in such wise brings salvation to all men in due time that men are not left in a necessity of committing serving and so pineing away in their iniquities Therefore he that committeth or serveth consenteth yeildeth up to and walketh in sin he is therein of the Devill begotten born and led of Satan willfully consenting and complying with him against the light and power of the grace of God bringing salvation And to this he addes For this purpose was that Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devill not only to destroy his first and great work in which he had prevailed over all mankind by suffering the judgment of this World And so breaking the snare and casting him out of his principallity he had over mankind by conquest made in his resurrection But also that by vertue thereof he might destroy his following works in taking away those following sins of men complying with him in his new temptations which provoke and make lyable to that wrath that is yet to come in respect of the execution of it the second death And so it answers to the fifth verse yee know that he was manifested to take away our sins even our sins committed and continued in by us against the grace of God and hope set before us in Christ to purify us in which the Law also is transgressed as appears by comparing this with verses 3 4. He gave himselfe for us and for our sins that he might redeem us from all iniquity that he might deliver us from this present evill World And so that he might purify to himselfe a people out of the World for the good of the World a peculiar people zealous of good works He suffered the just for the unjust that he might bring us back from all our wandering to God So that he needs not to offer dayly or often as the former Priest first for his own sins and then for the peoples For this he did once when he offered up himselfe That one offering was first for all those sins of the World which were imputed to him as his own sins that therein peace and attonement might be made for them that they might not be so imputed to us And then also the same offering was for the sins of the people even those that are still imputed to them while they coâ—tinue in them And so he was delivered and gave himselfe for them as for the sins of the people that they might be found guilty of and running into after his grace bringing salvation to them and during the day of his grace and patience towards them That by that one offering perfected through sufferings and in his resurrection and ascension he might be impowred in the name of God to make intercession for the transgrestors and so to take away the sins of the World by his continued mediation appearing in the presence of God for us That patience and forbearance may be exercised towards Rebbels while it may be for their good And that he may in the same name of the Father give unto these that while it is yet to day are moved to repentance by his goodnesse whereby he is all the day leading to it The forgivenesse