Act. 26. 17 18 22 yea any man in having and declaring it faithfully doth minister grace to the hearers Eph. 4. 28. with Col. 4. 6. It is true men have no knowledge of or will to any thing that is spiritually good yea they are naturally inclined to all evil lusting after vain things but he giveth more grace grace abounding and exceeding their natural corruption pulling down their strong holds casting down their imaginations and every high thing that exalts it self against the knowledge of God it presents more excellent and glorious arguments and gives more strength where ore he saith God resisâ—â—th the proud such as still refuse to humble themselves and turn at his reproofs Jam. 4. 5 6. the grace of God saving to all men hath now appeared Tit. 2. 11. and therefore mens sin is rendred hereby to be exceeding sinful because they either receive not this grace or receive it in vain because they receive not the love of the truth so as to be saved thereby 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. But no more to this because it hath been in part spoken to already 3. This Gospel of Christ is called the word of his grace because it is that whereby he gives grace more abundantly to them that hear in hearing he rejecteth the proud that scorn to receive his grace but he giveth grace to the humble Jam. 4. 6. He so gives testimony to the Word of his grace as that in receiving this men receive the Spirit even through this hearing of faith and not by the works of the Law even that spirit of faith whereby they have the faith of the operation of God wrought in them and so they are said to have believed through grace Gal. 3. 2. Act. 14. 1 3. 18. 27. Hence this is called the Word of faith both because it testifies Christ to be the foundation and object of faith and because by it he is working faith in those that hear it yea and doth work it in all those that in hearing hear Rom. 10. 8 17. and so chuses them out of the world from the state and fellowship thereof saves them from their ignorance of God and enmity unto God Rom. 11. 5 6. Tit. 3. 3 5. it is that means whereby he makes them partakers of the forgiveness of their sins in their minds and consciences they are justified by grace justified by faith by this word of faith believed even from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Tit. 3. 7. Rom. 5. 1 Act. 13 39. he makes the opening of his name in his testimony the very declaration of that justification and forgiveness he hath received powerful to wash them from the guilt of their sins and so speaks peace to them Act. 26. 18. the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus doth make them free from the Law of sin and death and so from the a cusation of sin by the Law in opening this arâ—ument unto thâ—m that what the Law could no dâ— in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the â—â—eness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Rom. 8. â— 3. It washes their heart from an evil conscience namely from a conscience that chargeth and condemns it self as held under wrath because our first Father hath sinned and we in him and come forth frâ—m him naturally and necessarily polluted for this is not now the condemnation and from an evil conscience that seeks by dead works to wash it self and speak peace to it self from some works of righteousness of ours This truâ—h known makes free and so the Son hereby Heb. 10. 22. Joh. 8. 31 32 36. yea and hereby they receive remission of those sins in which they sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive forgiveness of sins Act. 10. 43. And so being justified by faith they have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ freedom from the fear of his wrath and that in believing this Word he fills with joy and peace in believing and multiplies grace and peace to them through the knowâ—dge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord even â—â—rough the doctrine of him known and received by them Rom. 5. 1. 15. 13. 2 Pet. 1. 2. and so begers them again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the deaâ— as discovered in the Gospel for it is his word that quickens them 1 Pet. 1. 3. Psal 119. â—0 93. yea hereby he washes them â—rom the dominion and service of sin in their members that henceforth they should not serve sin and walking in the Spirit in minding the things of the Spirit and yielding up to its operations sin shall not have dâ—minion over them nor shall they fulfil the lusts of the flesh Joh. 15. 3. 8 32. Rom. 6. 14. Gal. 5. 16. Psal 17. 4. 119. 9 11. through this knowledge of Christ and God's grace in him he gives unto them still and further the spirit of wisdom and revelation to glorifie Christ and enamour their hearts on him and so to redeem them from their vain conversation Eph. 1. 17 18. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Tit. 2. 14. And hereby he gives unto every one of this body grace even some gracious giâ—t whereby they may speak to God and pour out their hearts unto him and some useful gift to speak to men as this testimony of Christ is received by them and confirmed in them Rom. 8. 26. 1 Cor. 1. 5 6. Joh. 7. 38 39. yea in and with this he doth establish them and save them from the error of the wicked and from divers and strange doctrines that they may not be as children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine Heb. 13. 7 9. Eph. 4. 11 14. 1 Cor. 15 1 2. Psal 17. 4. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son to preserve and keep him from those deceivers that are entred into the world and to make him strong that the wicked one shall not touch him so as to corrupt him from that simplicity in Christ 2 Joh. 7 9. 1 Joh. 2. 13 14 4. 4. 5. 18. yea hereby he gives grace to them to strengthen them with might unto all long-suffering and patience with joyfulness in those afflictions and tribulations which he is ordering unto them this is their comfort in their affliction for his word quickens them and it is unto them the joy and rejoycing of their hearts Col. 1. 11. Psal 119. 49 50 78 82. Jer. 15. 15 16 17. he creates the fruit of his lips unto them in his testimoâ—y peace peace and so heals them that are broken in heart and binds up their griefs Psal 147. 2. with Psal 107. 20. Isa 57. 15 19. with Chap. 61. 1 3. and so causeth them to know and prove
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord we may be changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. And this leads us unto another instruction contained in this branch of the declaration of the excellency of this person and word to which he commits them Namely 3. That God and the word of his grace is able to build up believers this is the work of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ and the means by which he doth it is the Gospel of himselâ— according as it is vouchsafed he gives all things that pertain to â—ife and godliness but he gives it through the knowledge of himself 2 Pet. 1. 3. Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of the faith Heb. 12. 2. the Alpha and the Omega he who hath begun the good work and who also will perform it Phil. 1. 6 7. he is the foundation and he shall bring forth the head stone with shoutings crying grace grace unto it Zâ—ch 4. 6 7. Jesus Christ is â—â—â—â—oundation of God and yet he is so laid in the word of his grace and those that come unto him are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets as before It is his work and office to open mens eyes and to turn men from idols to himself but he doth it in preaching the Gospel Isa 42. 6 7. with Chap. 61. 1. The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple giving wisdom to them that have none and revealing him in beholding whom they may be made wise and the Law and doctrine of the Lord is perfect converting the soul both at first and continually Ps 19. 7 8. Hence the Apostle was sent with this to open the eys of Jews and Gentiles and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God Act. 26. 18 23. He gives unto makes them partakers of the forgiveness of sins that turn unto him but he doth give it they receive it through his name even through the word of faith Act. 5. 31. with Chap. 10. 43. 26. 18. He gives wisdom to the wise but he gives it through this word of wisdom The Lord giveth wisdom and out of his mouth his doctrine cometh understanding the spirit of wisdom and understanding is still and further given in the knowledge of him Prov. 2. 1 6. Eph. 1. 17. Joh. 7. 37 39. He quickens them to a lively hope but he doth it by his resurrection from the dead as declared in the Scriptures 1 Pet. 1. 3. his words are spirit and life his word quickens them Joh. 6. 63. Psal 119. 50 93. He it is that increaseth the faith of believers but he doth it in and by his testimony he hath written it that those that believe may believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God that they may go on believing be more strong in faith that their trust may be in the Lord he hath written to them excellent things in counsels and knowledge Prov. 22. 17 20. 1 Joh. 5. 10 13. He is faithful who will establish them and keep them from evil 2 Thes 3. 3. but he doth it according to the Gospel they are stablished in the faith Rom. 16. 25. Col. 2. 7. He doth and will sanctifie them throughout but he doth it through his truth and his word is truth 1 Thes 5. 23. Joh. 17. 17 19. he sanctifies and cleanses them with the washing of water by the word Eph. 5. 26. He fills them with the fruits of righteousness and makes their souls like a watered garden but it is by his Gospel this brings forth fruit in them and they that delight themselves in his Law and meditate there in day and night shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth his fruit in his season Col. 1. 6. Psal 1. 2 3. he doth build them up but it is by the word of his grace and they are therefore instructed to be building up themselves on their most holy faith Jude 20. In short they are kept by the power of God the Gospel of Christ through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. with Rom. 1. 16 17. they live by faith and therein they may go on to perfection as far as here they are capable Heb. 6. 1. it is able to make wise unto salvation and profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished and perfected unto all good works 2 Tim. 3. 15 17. and those gifts which Christ having ascended up on high hath given and which continue with us in the Gospel are for perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ c. Eph. 4. 12 13. And this is of usefulness to those that go before others in the word of the Lord yea and to all unfeigned believers to beware of Philosophy and vain deceit for in Christ as preached in the Gospel are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and in him believers are compleat Col. 2. 3 10. And that they turn not to the Law or any other doctrine or tradition of the Elders to perfect that by the flesh which was begun by the spirit for this Law and doctrine of the Lord is perfect in it self and in its effect for convincing the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment and turning and conveiting the soul and for teaching believers and guiding them into all truth and shewing them things to come and in walking after the Spirit in the testimony the righteousness of the Law shall be fulfilled in men he will put his Laws in their hearts and write them in their minds Joh. 16. 7 15. Psal 19. 7 8. Rom. 8. 4. 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. Heb. 10. 16. And this shews unto us wherein their great strength lies and how they may be preserved from all that would corrupt them and whereby they may be strong in the Lord this Gospel is the power of God it is able to build them up whoever would pull them down they cannot build up themselves by any wisdom or strength that is in them as of them but this is a powerful wâ—rd whereby they may overcome the wicked one and overcome the world be inabled to withstand in the evil day and having done all things to stand Eph. 6. 10 17. 1 Joh. 2. 13 14. 4. 4. 5. 4 5 18. to the end they may cleave to the Lord wiâ—h full purpose and love his Law the perfect Law of liberty and it might be their mediâ—ation night and day 2. He further shews the excellency of God and the word of his graâ—e in saying And which is able to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Which is still powerful to move us to 〈◊〉 ourselves thereto We shall here brâ—â—fly consider 1. What is this inheritance
God because he laid down his life for us it was God that was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit and the Father in him 1 Tim. 3. 16. And so it was one that was infinitely worthy one that had bought them there was no reason for any to take offence at this resignation was Paul crucified for you did any among them redeem them no surely but worthy hereof is the Lamb for he was slain and had redeemed them Rev. 5. 9. It was God their shepherd to whom he commits them whose flock thâ—y were v. 28. 29. And whom he had bought with one price after a double consideration according to the will of God and our Father 1. He was such an one as had bought them with his own blood or with himself in the vertues thereof and that in common with all men for he gave himself a ransâ—me for all as 1 Tim. 2 6. Namely for all men as is evident in that it is part of the proof he gives to evidence that God will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth ver 4. And the Apostle there speaks of his giving himself a price of redemption not to but for all it was to God he gave himself a ransome as is also evident that he speaks of it as done in order of Nature before he was Mediator and by vertue whereof he is the Mediator making intercession for transgressoâ—s and to that end he might be a testimony and testified in due time ver 5. 6. And so he gave himself a price of redemption to God for all that he might redeem them unto himself that they might be his and he be their Lord Rom. 14. 9. That the sentence of banishment that was against them might be released to him and that they might be under his dispose that the world thorow him might be saved Joh. 3. 17. He is raised again for our Justification who was delivered for our offences and hath received an acquittance from all our sins imputed to him he was justified in the Spirit 's raising him and hath by himself without any knowledge motion compliance on our parts or any thing required of us purged our sins and this he hath done before he sat down on the right hand of the Maiesty in high Heb. 1. 3 And so made peace slain the enmity drawn all men to himself so as that the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son Joh. 5. 22. He hath purchased and bought all men and hence all Lands all the earth are instructed to make a joyful noise unto the Lord and to know the Lord is God it is he that hath made us when we had marr'd our selves and his we are we are his people and the sheep of his pasture Psal 100. 1. 3. 4. He hath bought them who had corrupted themselves and whose blot it was that they were not his Children but were a perverse and erooked generation Deut. 32. 5. 6. He hath redeemed them that speak lies against him Hos 7. 13. Yea such as deny him and bring uâ—on themselves swift destruction thereby 2 Pet. 2. 1. in short he is Lord of all men because he dyed rose and revived fâ—r them and this to a gratious end while called to day that all men should honour him as they should honour the Father Rom. 14. 9. Joh. 5. 22. 23. And hath so redeemed them unto himself that no man shall perish for ever in that first death but be raised by the man Christ Jesus and then they shall not be judged by the Law as they fell under it in â—â—â—m but by the Law of liberty in which liberty is proclaimed from the curse of the Law Jam. 2. 12. O what a faithful resignation was this and what incouragement to leave our selves with him and commit our selves to him who hath thus manifested his grace and to moderate our sorrow â—â— that he lives who was dead and is alive for evermore and hath the keys of hell and death Rev. 1. 18. 2. More directly the person to whom he commends them it was God who had purchased them with his own blood namely redeemed them out of the World and from amongst men and that thorow the presenting his blood to them and commending it before them in the pretious and excellent ends and vertues thereof in which he was raised from the dead peace made righteousness compleated spirit received a new testament and everlasting covenant confirmed eternal redemption obtained in glorifying of which by his spirit and rendring it thus pretious in his testimony he had redeemed them and bought them of themselves and from their vain conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. Redeemed them unto God out of the kindreds and tongues and so from the earth and from amongst men Rev. 5. 9. with chap. 14. 3. 4. Made them willing for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ to suffer the loss of all things and to go on to count them as dung Phil. 3 8. 9. He gave himself to them for them that they receiving him might give themselves to hâ—m Eph. 5. 25. 26. Indeed he is thus buying all men that come to years of capacity in due time reconciling the VVorld to himself calling upon all the ends of the earth to look to him and be saved 2 Cor. 5. 19. 20. Isa 45. 22. But many refuse and when the price is put into their hands they have no heart to accept and imbrace it but when light is vouchsafed they love darkness rather then â—ight and this is their great iniquity and cause of their everlasting perdition that when they are called they are not chosen that they will not be elected Joh. 3. 18. 19. Mat. 22. 11. 14. But these to whom the Apostle speaks he had purchased with his own blood he was their Shepherd and they were his flock in a peculiar consideration his Church his Spouse and such as were therefore the subjects of his peculiar love and most special care Oh excellent one to whom he thus resigns them Oh blessed incouragement to trust in him and not be afraid and to look for his mercy unto eternal life who in his love and pitty had redeemed them of God in common with all from the curse of the Law and thorow the commendation of his pretious blood had bought them of themselves Oh what ground to conclude seeing the Lord was their shepherd they should not want and from his grace in laying down his life for them when sinners and enemies to be confident from his love therein commended that much more being reconciled they should be saved by his life Rom. 5. 6. 10. and 8. 32. Gal. 2. 20. Had the Apostle committed them to any mean man how faithful soever he might have complained of it as a burden Even Moses of whom the Holy Ghost gives this testimony that he verily was faithful in all his house as a servant Heb. 3. 5. Yet complains of that charge
2. They are free from alâ— pâ—â—secutions in words gestures or actions they are hid in the secret of God's presence from the pride of man and kâ—pâ— secretly in a pavillion from the strife of tongues Psal 31 19. after the body is dead their enemies have no more that they can do Luk. 12. 4. there the wicked cease from troubling and there the weary are at rest there the prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the opprâ—ssor Job 3. 17 19. The reproaches laughâ—ers scorns and persecutions that here they met with did seem to be grievous to them as to what they themselves thereby indured Psal 69. 20. as well as also as to their enemies it caused great grief to them rivers of waters run down their eyes and they were troubled in spirit because men kept not God's Laws but persecuted them wrongfully and were enemies to them for following the thing that was good Joh. 13. 21. this caused heaviness to them to consider the greatness of their iniquity and severity of the judgment they were pulling upon their heads by such iniquities They are now out of the danger of miscarrying and from henceforth there is laid up for them a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give unto them in that day 2 Tim. 4. 8. there is now a great gulf fixed and no passing from one place to another no altering of their condition no not for ever Luk. 16. 26. Eccl. 11. 3. Now abiding in Christ they are safe he that abideth in him sinneth not transgresseth not and misseth not the mark but if a man abide not in him he is cast forth its possible that such as have begun to run well may turn aside from him that called them into the grace of Christ 1 Joh. 3. 6. Gal. 1. 6. 5. 7. but then no change of their state and their works follow them all their work of faith and labour of love and patience in tribulation these shall not be forgotten but be recompensed in the resurrection of the just Luk. 14. 14. And now they are present with the Lord as here they were not when at home in the body seeing and beholding in their spirits the glorified and glorious body of our Lord Jesus and then walking by sight as now they do not for they are more excellent and therefore sorrow not for them as those that have no hope Isa 57. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 6 7 8. Phil. 1. 23 24. 2. It discovers his grace to all of this body both in soul and body when Jesus Christ shall appear the second time without sin to salvation Heb. 9. 28. in which his Israel shall be saved with an everlasting salvation they shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end Isa 45. 17. this is that which Peter exhorts the believers to hope for Gird up saith he the lions of your minds be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 13. and this he calls the grace of life 1 Pet. 3. 7. and indeed that eternal life they shall then inherit gloriously it is not wages as death is of sin buâ— a gift of grace Rom. 6. 23. Zech. 4. 6. And this grace that shall then be brought to them is so exceeding great as none here fully knows Hence that admiration Oh! how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Psal 31. 19. since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear by any thing they have heard in any declaration vouchsafed neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Isa 64. 4 These things were indeed revealed to the Apostles by the Spirit as in formâ—r times they were not and so they have declared them and yet they did but see in part and therefore Prophesie in part 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. with Chap. 13. 9. This grace is inexprâ—ssiâ—ly yea inconceivably great it hath not entred into the heart of man and much less can I declare it in order who have seen so little of it in the testimony but yet as I may be helped I shall speak a little of it 1. They that sleep in Jesus shall be raised and the living changed when Christ shall descend from heaven and so before the rest of the dead 1 Thes 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 51 52. As in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all be made alive but every man in his own order not all at once Christ the first fruits he is risen from the dead already and is become the foundation of the resurrection from and of the dead for if he be not raised there could be no resurrection and he shall be the effecter of it and is become the first fruits of them that are fallen a sleep in him especially like to whom shall be that lump Rom. 11. 16. afterward they that are Christ's at his coming then or afterward as ver 5. the end namely after the end of the thousand yeaâ—s of Christ's and his Saints reigning on the earth there will be the second and general resurrection when the dead small and great shall be raised and stand before God Rev. 20. 7 12 13 15. 1 Cor. 15. 22 24. So the Apostle John saith I saw to wit in vision the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the beast neither his image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished Rev 20. 4 6. Isa 26. 19. 2. In their being raised they shall be saved wholly from all sin death and other enemies And so From sin he shall present them to himself a glorious Church not having spot Eph. 5. 27. they shall then be sanctified wholly in spirit soul and body and be presented blameless before the throne of his glory 1 Thes 5. 23 24. 3. 13. Jude 24. No sin in them but as the first fruits Jesus Christ is holy so will be the lump then compleatly nor any imputation of sin to them or remembrance of sin upon them their sins shall then be compleatly blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and he shall send us Jesus who now is preached to us There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit but yet there is sin in them and if any of them say they have no sin they deceive themselves and the truth is not in them yea and there is some remembrance of sin upon them And as to those that dye in the
Zion where ye may cause the weary to rest and this is the refreshing namely that matter wherewith they might refresh those to whom they spake in directing them to the vision of all even to Jesus Christ as he was witnessed in the Law and the Prophets Isa 28. 12 16. These are Pastors after God's own heart that feed with knowledge viz. with the doctrine of Christ and with understanding with skilfulness in the word of God's righteousness Jer. 3. 15. To this then he commits them as to that wherewith they might do all their work for the Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth So the Apostle charges Timothy Preach the word namely the Word of truth the Gospel of our salvation be instant in season out of season 2 Tim. 4. 2. And this he determined to know amongst the Corinthians even Jesus Christ and him crucified as the one thing for and unto all things 1 Cor. 2. 2. Yea this our Saviour commanded his Apostles to preach the Gospel as the one thing in and unto their whole work of discipling Mat. 28. 19 20. Mark 16. 15. Luk. 24. 46 48. and so they did preach even Jesus Christ and not themselves or the Law Rom. 10. 8. Act. 10. 42. yea our Lord Jesus the great peace-maker and peace-preacher was anointed with the holy Ghost to preach the Gospel Isa 61. 1 3. Luk. 4. 18. And it 's the work and office of the holy Ghost to bear witness of Christ to glorifie Christ and therewith to convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment and to guide the believers into all truth and to shew them things to come Joh. 16. 8 14. Surely this word of God's grace is a compleat doctrine both for opening the eyes of the blind and turning to the Lord and for perfecting them that do believe so as there is no need for preaching the Law either at first to prepare men for Christ or afterwards to perfect that by the flesh which was begun by the Spirit In Christ as declared in the testimony ye are compleat c. Col. 2. 3 10. Nor is the Law in the use of it good unless it be lawfully used according to the glorious Gospel 1 Tim. 1. 7 8 11. This is that food then wherewith they might feed even with the Gospel of Christ in which is spiritually given to us his flesh which is meat indeed and his blood which is drink indeed and so here they might be instruments of causing the flock to lye down in green pastures this God even our God being alwayes with this word of his grace in the plain and faithful ministration of it to give himself to us to feed upon even his flesh which he hath given for the life of the world And so in green pastures Psal 23. 2. namely such as are delightful and pleasant to the eye and sweet to the taste sweeter than honey and the honey comb Psal 19. 7 10. 119. 103. And such as are fruitful and which cause growth and increase that from the head all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together may increase with the increase of God Col. 2. 19. For this bread of life cometh down and is given to us in this Gospel of grace so as that while Paul planteth and Apollo watereth God giveth the increases the feeding that is in this word of his grace is not dry like the heath in the wilderness but that which hath â—â—p in it and in which the Lord is the dew unto his Israel to cause them to revive as the corn and flourish like the Palm-tree and grow like a Cedar in Lebanon Psal 92. 13 15. Hos 14. 5 6. 2 Thes 1. 3. And green pastures such as are not â—ouled and sullied but this word is very pure it is a wholsom word Psal 12. 6. 119. 140. there is no lye of it 1 Joh. 2. 27. every word of God is pure Prov. 30 4 6. Though men may corrupt the word of God in their interpretations and glosses and meanings which they put upon it yet it is pure in it self and he hath kept it and will preserve it so in the records of it that we may safely â—eed thereon and therewith And green even tender and easie of digression for the weakest milk for babes as well as strong meat for those that are strong yea such an abundance of feeding here is that the flock may lye down as satisfied as with marrow and 〈◊〉 and lye down and still feed and such security in those pastures as they may lye down and none shall make thâ—â— afraid Jer. 23. 4. Herein also they might instrumentally dâ—rect them to the still waters to give refreshing to their thirty â—â—uls even to him who is the fountain of living waters in whom is forgiveness of sins and fulness of spirit who is filled with grace and truth in whom is and who gives water of life which causeth fatness and fruitfulness and gives satisfying so as he that drinketh hereof shall never thirst yea their soul shall be as a watered garden and as springs of water whose waters fail not Joh. 4. 10 14. Isa 58. 11. and these are still waters even the consolations of Christ as given in the Gospel like the waters of Shiloah that run softly and make no noise in the world This doctrine of the grace of God is not like the divers and strange doctrines of men which make a noise like the noise of many waters and who have the wisdom of this world excellency of speech strength of reason consent of fathers approbation of great ones and power on their sides which makes them appear so strong as if they would carry all before them but this is the weakness of God and foolishness of God and that which being declared in the words which the holy Ghost hath taught is every where spoken against Isa 8. 6 7. 1 Cor. 1. 25. Act. 28. 22. And yet still waters in their effect that whereby God doth and will still and quiet the enemy and the avenger Psal 8. 2. confound the wisdom of the wise and bring to nought the understanding of the prudent and will make them quiet that they shall have nothing to say Act. 6. 10. the weapons of this warfare are mighty through God to the pulling down strong holds casting down imaginations c. 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. yea still waters waters of quietness in their efficacy to any and every one that takes and drinks of this water of life which any one may do freely Isa 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. they give quietness to the soul cause it to dwell at ease Psal 25. 13. cool its thirst quiet its fears still the clamours of sin deliver from the fears of God's wrath and make quiet from the fear of all evil adversity and tribulation so as in Christ they have peace while they have tribulation in the world Joh. 16. 33. yea
let him be accursed Gal. 1. 8 9. If any man consent not in his teachings to wholsom words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness he is proud c. from such turn away 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. Now then we may be assured that such consent to wholsom words who say Christ died not for all nor by the grace of God tasted death for every man contrary to 2 Cor. 5 14. Heb. 2. 9. and so such as deny him to be the standing propitiation for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2. 2. These teach men to deny the Lord that bought them yea they are led by the spirit of error who confess not praise not lift not up Jesus Christ as the Son of God the Saviour of the world they come not up to wholesom words for the true Christ is the Saviour of the world even of mankind and this began to be spoken by the Lord himself Joh. 3. 16 17. 4. 42. 6. 51. and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him 2 Cor. 5. 14 15 19. and so the Son of God is the Saviour of the world and this was the sum of the Apostles testimony which they had received and saw in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 13 15. And the Apostle Paul saith that he was ordained a Preacher of this viz. That God will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth c. 1 Tim. 2. 4 7. and instructed Timothy to hold fast the form of sound words which he heard of him that unto which he was ordained a Preacher as before and an Apostle viz. that God is one and there is one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time by which he proves and evidences that God will have all men to be saved c. I say to hold this last in faith in an hearty belief of the truth of it and in love to men so as declaring this to them and holding it fast in profession according to the constraining operations of the grace of God in Christ 2 Tim 1. 9 13. with 1 Tim. 2. 4 7. 2 Cor. 5. 13 15 18 20. and exhorted Timothy to command others to teach and himself to teach that the living God is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10 11. See also Tit. 2. 11 15. And in this direction given unto us for tryal of spirits that we may know so as to avoid false Prophets it is observable the Apostle doth not positively and particularly declare what the false spirits do hold and teach but in the general he saith If they confess not praise not lift not up Jesus Christ or give not to him the glory due to him in their confessions so as in all hearing the Apostles they are not of God and we are to beware of them if they Evangelize otherwise than what the Apostles have Evangelized we are to reject them for if it be not the voice of our Shepherd we may be sure it is the voice of a stranger and so we are to flee from them yea if any man come unto you saith the Apostle and bring not this doctrine the doctrine of Christ in which he is lifted up in the words of the Holy Ghost receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed He saith not if he take not up this doctrine which he may seem to do for advantage sake when he is with you that he may not be discovered but may deceive you but if he bring it not if this be not his message his errand when he comes the thing he is set to promote receive him not c. Prov. 14. 7. Joh. 10. 4 5. 2 Joh. 7 11. 2. And by their fruits may be meant also the effects of their doctrines which the Disciples of Christ may perceive and discern namely that they are such as tend to corrupt from that simplicity that is in Christ to draw away mens hearts and affections from him who is the only foundation of faith and hope the only fountain in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily the only bread of life and door of approach to God They tend to remove men from him that called them into the grace of Christ and cause men to err from the words of knowledge Prov. 19. 27. Gal. 1. 6. and this appears plainly in those that imbrace and entertain those confessions in which Jesus Christ is not lifted up in the word of the Apostles Now then in applying our selves to God and the word of his grace we may be preserved from those grievous Wolves for they confess not our God or confess him not according to that discovery given of him in the word of his grace Oh let us then keep sound wisdom and discretion so shall they be life to our souls preserve our souls in life and grace to our necks then shall we walk in the way safely and our foot shall not stumble Prov. 3. 21 26. take fast hold of instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy life Prov. 4. 13. 3. That I may not over-much inlarge I shall briefly say the Apostle directs and commends them to this person and thing that they might not arise speaking perverse things and that they might be preserved from those amongst themselves that would arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them ver 30. What hath been spoken before may be useful here also only in that he now forewarns them of this danger among themselves and therefore thus commits them He signifies 1. That amongst those whom the Holy Ghost hath made overseers over the flock some may possibly arise speaking perverse things crooked wreathed things such as in which they would pervert the Gospel of Christ Gal. 1. 7. and that either by desiring to be teachers of the Law as there were some inclined hereto amongst these believers 1 Tim. 1. 3 7. So some such among the Galatians that turned them aside to the Law to be justified or sanctified by the works thereof and to perfect by the flesh what was begun by the Spirit Gal. 2 15 16 3. 1 5. 5. 1 4. and turning them again to weak and beggarly elementâ— Gal. 4. 9. Col. 2. 22 24. or by not consenting unto wholsom â—â—rds event the words of our Lord Jesus Christ but limiting the grace of God and teaching men to deny the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. or not consenting to the doctrine according to godliness but â—urning the grace of our God into wantonness as if it gave liberty to men to continue in sin or to use their liberty for a cloak of maliciousness or licentiousness 1 Tim. 6. 3 4. Jude 4. 1 Pet. 2. 16 or corrupting the word of God with Philosophy and that Science
who in all ages have disallowed the living stone who is the foundation and corner-stone lest your bands be made strong but incline your ear and come unto him who is the rock and whose work is perfect Isa 28. 12 16 22. Psal 118. 22. Mat. 21. 42. Act. 4. 11 12. 1 Pet. 2. 4. 7. Yea and he is the foundation as distinguished from the purposes and decrees of God and so from any purpose of his which he hath purposed in himself concerning his loving some with peculiar manner of love Indeed he was purposed from the beginning to be the foundation and this was his decree the sum of his decrees concerning sinful mankind and out of the bowels of which all his decrees issue concerning them that he would raise Christ in due time from the dead Psal 2. 7. and hath fulfilled the promise and purpose but not his purpose and decree simply but Jesus Christ is the foundation the one and only foundation For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ And this appears evidently from that place some men alledge to prove some purpose of God to be the foundation viz. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure c. Which saying is not only opposed unto the effect of the evil doctrines of the false teachers namely they overthrow the faith of some nevertheless notwithstanding they have corrupted some and removed them from Christ the foundation yet the foundation of God stands steddy but also it is opposed to the doctrine it self of those vain bablers they said the resurrection is past already meaning as appears by resurrection some metaphorical or allegorical resurrection they said not there was no resurrection but they said there was no resurrection of the dead like those 1 Cor. 15. 12. and so consequently that Christ was not raised in that body in which he bare our sins on the Tree and so indeavoured to raze the foundation for if Christ be not raised ye are yet in your sins saith the Apostle preaching faith and hope is in vain But notwithstanding what they say Christ is risen from the dead and is become the first fruiâ—s of them that sleep and so the foundation of God stands sure notwithstanding their babblings and batteries made against him Compare 2 Tim. 2. 18 19. with ver 7. 8. 1 Cor. 15. 12 20. Yea it further appears in that pâ—ace that Christ is the foundation and not some purpose in God concerning some peculiar manner of love to and owning of some persons for his knowing owning and loving with peculiar manner of love is not the foundation but the seal of the foundation the foundation hath this seal for the evidence and confirmaâ—ion of its steddyness and goodness the Lord knoweth owneth approveth them that are his or iâ—s that are built and abide upon the foundation and so no purpose simply but Câ—rist as declared in the tâ—stimony is the foundation And much less is that the foundation of God which men call a purpose or decree of his that is not so viz. such a purpose as in which he hath absolutely purposed in himself and decreed a certain number of persons to salvation before they were born for this is no purpose of his but a device of men who are ignorant of the truth as it is in Jesus See what my Brother and helper in the Lord Mr. Tho. Moor hath spoken more largely to this in his explicite declaration of the Testimony Page 389 410. And so in coming unto and being built upon this foundation they became living stones and were made a spiritual house and habitation of God through the Spirit 1 Pet. â— 4 5. their sins were forgiven them for Christ's name sake on which they believed which is even the sum of all blessedness Rom. 4. 5 7. and that where-through he gives all knowledge and injoyment of further salvation Luk. 1. 77. and therefore it seems the receiving the forgiveness of sins answers unto and is put for the being built up Compare this Act. 20. 32. with Chap. 26. 18. or he quickned them together with Christ and made them lively stones and a spiritual house having forgiven them all trespasses Col. 2. 13. with 1 Pet. 2. 5. And so in being bottomed on Christ as preached in the word of his grace and united to him who is originally and compleatly the temple of God in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily in whom God dwells and will dwell for ever they also became the temple of God in whom he dwells and walks in and through whom he manifests himself and so they were made of the houshold of God 1 Cor. 3. 16. 6. 19. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Eph. 2. 19 22. And as this instruction is for admonition to them that are built on this foundation of God and made of this temple of the living God that they should be clean and not defile the habitation of God which is holy devoted and dedicated for peculiar use and service to him with any filthiness of flesh or spirit lest they provoke God to destroy them and suffer the Boar out of the wood and the wild beast of the field to devour them even those grievous wolves before spoken of for he cannot indure that his habitation should be polluted but holiness becomes his house for ever 1 Cor. 3. 17 18. 2 Cor. 6. 16 17. 7. 1. Psal 93. 5. So the consideration hereof that in coming to Christ and being built on him they were made a spiritual house is of great usefulness to them to incourage them in well-doing to commit themselves to God and the word of his grace for his receiving them and being a father to them when he deprives of faithful instruments for he hath a favour for such they are his building his family the sanctuaâ—y and true tabernacle which the Lord hath pitched and not man no servant hath such right in them or love to or care for them as he This man is counted worthy of more honour than Moses though Moses was faithful in all hâ—s house inasmuch as hâ— who hath builded the house haâ—h more honour than the house Moses was of the house and faithful as a servant in the house bâ—t he that built all things is God the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant c. but Christ as a Son over his own house they are his own house pitched by him his own family the children God hath given to him members of his body of his flesh and of his bones even begotten by the resurrection of Christ from the dead and holding â—ast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm to the end he doth and will nourish and cherish them when in the wilderness and guide them therein like a flock Heb. 3. 1 6. Eph. 5. 29 30. with Luk. 24. 39 Rev. 12. 14. Psal 78. 52 53. he is
cleanse the inward parts of the belly Prov. 20. 30. and be dedicated to him and filled with the fruits of righteousness and this fruit we reap of it in being exercised to the consideration of the grace of God in Christ that while we were yet without strength in due time Christ dyed for the ungodly and having access by faith thereinto Heb. 12. 2 11. Rom. 5. 2 6. Jam. 1. 2 5. Hence afflictions are compared to water because God is hereby washing and cleansing us Psal 66. 12. Isa 27. 3. and to fire because God is hereby proving and purifying and making white that the trial of the faith of believers being much more precious than that of gold which perisheth though it be tryed with fire might be found to praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ Isa 31. 9. 48. 10. Zech. 13. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. and so the means by which Jesus Christ doth wash baptize and sanctifie are the holy Ghost in the testimony and fire Mat. 3. 11. Luk. 3. 16. 3. How God and the word of his grace doth give and is able to give them the inheritance To this we say as before is noted that he doth not now fully and gloriously give it to them in this day yea Abraham to whom the promises were made and the rest of the Pâ—triarchs they received not the promises Heb. 11. 13 39. God gave Abraham none inheritance in the actual and glorious injoyment of it and he and Isaac and Jacob heirs together with him of the same promise all died in faith not receiving the promises Act. 7. 5. Heb. 11. 13. and though Peter saith he was a partaker of glory yet he saith of the the glory that shall be revealed it is not so yet 1 Pet. 5. 1. But now 1. Jesus Christ doth give it them in giving himself to them in the word of his grace to whom the promises were originally made Gal. 3. 16. who is the heir of all things now actually in our nature Heb. 1. 2. and whos 's the inheritance is and who is entred to take possession for us Heb. 6. 20. and so in receiving him they are made sons of God by faith in Christ Christ is theirs and they are Christs And if sons then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things unto him and he that believeth on the son hath everlasting life all things are theirs as Christ is theirs even by faith whether things present or things to come and they are Christ's and if Christ's then are they Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise Joh. 3. 35 36. 1 Cor. 3. 21 23. Gal. 3. 26 29. and so God in giving Christ as raised from the dead in the wâ—rd of his grace makes an everlasting Covenant with believers Isa 55. 3. with Act. 13. 34. And so 2. God doth in and through Christ give it in the word of his grace by promise which was confirmed of God in Christ before the Law and now actually ratified and sealed by the death of the Testator whose blood is the blood of the new Testament and everlasting Covenant and so God gave the inheritance to Abraham by promise and they who are Christ's are heirs according to promise Gal. 3. 18 29. that they might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them Heb. 6. 17. 20. and so as Abraham is said to have received the promise even in the word of it and through faith and patience to inherit the promises even so he gives and they are receiving it and are saved by hope and so by faith and in hope they are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be moved Heb. 12. 28. for he is faithful that promised having confirmed the Covenant by his blood and is alive to see it performed and is the Mediator of it that the called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance Heb. 9. 14. Jam. 1. 12. 2. 5. 3. He is giving unto them an earnest now even the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of the inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession Eph. 1. 13 14. 2. Cor. 1. 22. 5. 5. An earnest is a part of the whole a first fruits and so they receive a first fruits of the spirit Rom. 8. 23. and an earnest is also an assurance and confirmation that they shall have all in due time this spirit he is now giving unto them to make them partakers of the forgiveness of their sins to be a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ and so to indue them with a new spirit judgment and disposition to write his Laws in their hearts and put them in their minds and to fill them with his fruit love joy peace long suffering c. Heb. 10. 14 17. Eph. 1. 17 18. Gal. 5. 16 22 23. and this spirit which is the earnest of the inheritance he is giving unto them and they receive through the word of his grace according to that Received ye the spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith Gal. 3. 1 5. 4. Yea when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven he will give unto them the inheritance gloriously which here they have been receiving by faith and hope and in the earnest and first fruits of it they shall then inherit all things and God himself will be with them their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes c. and this he will give unto them not according to their works of righteousness but of grace yea and according to the rule of the word of his grace for God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel the word of his grace and so according to that rule he will give eternal life to them that by patient continuance in well-doing have been seeking glory honour and immortality Rom. 2. 7 16. they shall then be judged according to the Law of liberty Jam. 2. 12. and according thereto he that believeth the Gospel and is baptized sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God shall be saved viz. shall obtain that salvatâ—on in Christ Jesus with eternal glory Mark 16. 16. 2 Tim. 2. 10. they shall not then be judged according to the Law of works which is do and live and Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the Law to do them for according thereto no flesh living can be justified in his sight but by the Law of faith the word of his grace in which is declared to us that this is the will of him that sent Jesus Christ that every one that now seeth the Son and believeth in him should have everlastinglife and he will raise him up at the 〈◊〉 day to the glorious injoyment of it and so of that inheritance which
is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed Joh. 6. 40. Rom. 4. 16. and this alwayes excludes boasting and shâ—ws that this inheritance will be given to them of grace and that in Christ and not in themselves shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory Isa 45 25. What hath been said to this second branch of the further declaration of the excellency of the person and thing to which he commits them viz. which is able to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified may be useful to us 1. To shew unto us among whom this inheritance is to be injoyed and shall be possessed it is among all them that are sanctified even by saith in Christ and so 1. It is not to be inherited by such who are contentious against the truth and enemies to the testimony of God concerning Christ such as these shall inherit folly Prov. 14. 18. and shame shall be their promotion Prov. 3. 25. all that are incensed against Christ shall be ashamed Isa 45. 24. to such God will render indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish Rom. 2. 8 9. Whatever inheritances they may have here and how rich soever they are here yet then God will in flaming fire take vengeance on them that know not God Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord When he comes to be glorified in his Saints and sanctified ones 2 Thes 1. 8 10. 2. This inheritance shall not be injoyed by such as though they prosess to know God and believe his Gospel yet obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1. 8 10. Who though they receive the love of the truth yet receive it not in such manner and to such end as to be saved thereby but still hold fast deceit and refuse to return 2 Thes 2. 10 12. This is the will of God our sanctification that we should abstain from fornication from all filthiness of flesh and spirit He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God 1 Thes 4. 3 8. Oh let us not deceive our selves nor be deceived by others as if we should inherit though we receive his grace in vain and suffer it not to save us from our sins and idols or though we did run well yet are hindred from obeying the truth This ye knew that no whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man which is an idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Eph. 5. 5 6. they that do the works of the flesh shall not inherit the Kingdom of God â—al 5. 19 21. 6. 7. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. 3. Nor shall this inheritance be possessed by the children of the bondwoman who are born to the hope of and challenge the inheritance from some wisdom and strength of the flesh such as have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge who being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish a righteousness of their own submit not unto the righteousness of God Gal. 3. 16 18. 4. 22 30. such shall not inherit with the children of the promise who trust in themselves that they are righteous Joh. 1. 12 13. 2. Seeing there is such an inheritance prepared for the sanctified ones it may be of usefulness to those that are in Christ Jesus to walk after the Spirit and yield up to the saving efficacy of the grace of God and having such promises to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord And as he who hath called them is holy so to be holy separated from uncleanness and devoted to God in all manner of conversation 2 Cor. 7. 1. Col. 3. 1 5. Heb. 11. 13 15. 1 Pet. 1. 13 18. 1 Joh. 3. 2 3. And to chuse rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to injoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of this world having respect unto the recompence of the reward Heb. 10. 32 34. 11. 24 26. 13. 13 14. 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. 3. It shews the blessedness of the sanctified ones though they are generally the poor of this world and for Christ's sake killed all the day long and appointed as sheep for the slaughter yet they are rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which God hath prepared for them that love him Jam. 2. 5. 1. 12. 5. 11. Isa 54. 6 17. 4. In that the inheritance is among all them that are sanctified it may instruct them to live together according to knowledge and as heirs together of the grace of life that their prayers be not hindered 1 Pet. 3. 7. Eph. 4. 3 4. 5. Yea and it may strengthen them with strength in their souls not to fear for it is their fathers good pleasure to give them the Kingdom Luk. 12. 29 32. and therefore though now they walk in the midst of trouble he will revive them he will stretch forth his hand against the wrath of their enemies those grievous Wolves c. that spare not the flock and his right hand shall save them and though he hath removed eminent and faithful instruments yet the Lord will perfect by the word of his grace what concerns them his mercy indureth for ever he will not forsake the works of his own hands Psal 138. 7 8. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant make us perfect in every good work to do his will working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen THE END
all dye so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. And when they are raised they shall not be judged according to that first rule of judgment buâ— God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ he is appointed the judge of quick and dead anâ— God will judge the world in righteousness by tâ—â—â— man â—ct 10. 42. 17. 31. and the rule by which he will judge â—â—â—â— will be according to Pauls Gospel in which is declared â—hâ—â— Christ dyed for all and by the grace of God â—asted 〈◊〉 for every man 2 Cor 5. 14 15. Heb. 2. 9. Rom. 2. 16. And he â—â—at believeth this Gospel as declared â—â— the means 〈◊〉 and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth â—ot shall be damned Mark 16. 15 16. Joh. 16. 8 9. Rom. 2. 6 11. Jer. 31. 29 30. Ezek. 18. 2 4. Psal 68. 18 21. 2. He hath not only delivered us from so great a death and curse and from the hand of our deadly enemy who hated us but hath obtained and recovered all things into himself for us and is made perfect through sufferings that he might bring us back to God namely he hath obtained forgiveness spirit and grace and all power and authority in the name of the Father Forgiveness he is exalted with God's right hand a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins Act. 5. 31. This man when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down c. namely from this work of offering any more his sacrifice being so acceptable as that he hath taken away the guilt of his sins which were imputed to him and hâ—th obtained power to forgive the sins of the people Heb. 7. 27. 10. 11 12. He is ascended up on high and hath led captivity captive and hath received gifts of justification forgiveness and spirit in the man for men as they come forth from Adam yea for the rebellious also which add rebellion unto their sin Job 34. 37. Psal 68. 18. Herein the free gift this grace in Christ exceeds the offence of the first man the judgment was by one offence to condemnation but the free gift is of many offences unto justification Rom. 5. 16. even of many offences that are distinct from that offence and unto which men are not thereby necessitated meerly of many offences in which men sin after the similitude of Adams transgression ver 14. through this man whom God raised again and who saw no corruption is preached the forgiveness of sins even of such sins as they that believe this preaching are justified from namely from such sins as they could not be justified from by the Law of Moses for which it afforded or directed to no sacrifice for a typical justification to wit rebellious presumptuous sins Act. 13. 38 39. with Numb 15. 30 31. The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins Mat. 9. 6. and in him God is become a God gracious and merciful pardoning iniquity and transgression and sin Rom. 3. 25. Heb. 10. 14 18. In him the Apostles had in the testimony to declare redemption through his bloud even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of Gods grace Eph. 1. 7. Col. 1. 14. Oh great consolation for us that have transgressed and have rebelled and have thereby procured such testimonies of displeasure as in which he hath been taking away faithful and eminent helpers in the Lord Oh excellent object and medium to be commended to that we may in the incouragement of his grace in what he hath done and is become and hath received come with boldness to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy forgiveness of our sin and grace to help in time of need Heb. 4. 16. And he hath received the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost the spirit of grace Isa 11. 1 3. 42. 1. Joh. 3. 34. he is full of grace and truth Joh. 1. 14. In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col. 2. 3. This is the record that God hath given us eternal life even the knowledge and favour of God and fellowship with him and this life is in his Son 1 Ioh. 5. 10 11. all things are here ready Mat. 22. 4. durable riches and righteousness a feast of fat things for all people of fat things full of marrow Prov. 3. 13 18. 8. 18 19. Isa 25. 6. he is become a fountain of life and living waters to cool and refresh our thirsty souls and to wash us from all our pollutions and defilements Zech. 13. 1. Psal 36. 9. Ier. 2. 13. Yea it discovers the great power and authority and dominion which he hath recovered into and received in our nature and for us God hath given him power over all flesh over all mankind he is the Prince of the Kings of the earth and hath power over all creatures all power is given to him both in heaven and in earth Mat. 28. 18. God hath given him dominion over the works of his hands in this lower part of his Creation the which he gave to man in the first Adam but by their seeking out inventions they came short of this glory of God which he had conferred upon them Gen 1. 26 28. Eccl. 7. 29. Rom. 3. 23. but our Jesus hath redeemed this which was part of our possession and which we had sold and aliened and not only so but he hath power over Angels he hath obâ—â—iâ—â—d a more excellent name than they even than the holy and elect Angels they are now his and are instructed to worship him even all the Angels of God Heb. 1. 4 6. they are the Angels of the Son of man sent forth and ordered by him Mat. 24. 30 31. Heb. 1. 10 14. and his own right hand and his holy arm hath gouen himself the victory over the evil Angels he hath bound the strong man spoiled principalities and powers and God hath put all things under his feet Eph. 1. 20 21. Psal 98. 1. This was that which was more darkly prophefied of by the Prophet Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands thou hast put all things under his feet all sheep and oxen yea and the beasts of the field even the great and wild beasts the fear of him is upon them the fowl of the Air and the fish of the Sea and whatsoever passeth thorow the paths of the Sea Psal 8. 5 8. He hath the dominion over these that he may give food to all flesh during his pleasure and that he may preserve from the â—ury and rage of the wildest and strongest of them that mens lives may be preserved while it is the day of his grace and for the peculiar good of those that believe Job 5. 22 23. Yea the Apostle citing that place in the Psalmist and shewing it was spoken concerning our Jesus doth also explicate it unto us and shews that he hath obtained a more excellent
them that is their iniquity which is now imputed to them according to the rule of the glorious Gospel Men were not capable of adding rebellion to their sin if God were not thus preventing them with his goodness for this is that which renders them rebellious when they are disobedient to God who is stretching forth his hands to them that is who is even beseeching them to be reconciled and giving them some light and power of his Spirit that they might turn and when also they are gainsaying and contradicting and so rebelling against the light extended Compare Isa 65. 2. with Rom. 10. 21. Men are therefore said to be a rebellious people because they have eyes to see and see not and ears to hear and hear not Ezek. 12. 3. Jer. 5. 21 23. Mat. 13. 15. This is the condemnation viz. the cause of condemnation the condemning sin and that which makes all sins condemnable according to the rule of Gospel that light is come into the world some discovery and manifestation of God's goodness afforded and some capacity to behold it given and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil so discovered to be by the light Joh. 3. 17 19. And certainly no man shall be condemned to a second death but for refusing the grace of God that brings salvation to save them in due time and persisting therein As our Saviour saith to the Jews If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak or excuse for their sin Joh. 15. 22. And this is great consolation to us that Jesus Christ is appointed to be and is the light of the world for he is good and upright any man is unmeet for this though he were never so willing yet he is unable to speak to all men yea the spirit is not put upon them to give forth or dispense to others this glory he will not give to another besides Jesus Christ nor his praise to graven images Isa 42. 6 8. It is true they are instruments in his hand and though they have no sufficiency of themselves as of themselves to do any good yet their sufficiency is of God and Jesus Christ hath promised to be alwayes with his people in their faithful ministration even to the end of the world Mat. 28. 18 20. But however unable men are yet seeing God hath given him to be a light of the Gentiles that he should be for salvation to the ends of the earth he will not fail nor be discouraged and this grace of his and of the Father in him is discovered to us in this word of his grace 2. He is also the Mediator between God and men making intercession for transgressors Isa 53. 12. that is to say when men after some manifestation of God's goodness afforded leading to repentance and some capacity given to behold it and men strengthned to turn from darkness to light yet they are found rebelling against the light and grace of God vouchsafed and provoke new wrath now that men might not be presently cut off and bound over to the wrath to come according to their deserts he is appearing in heaven for them that God may be still patient toward them and not deal with them according to their sins It is generally found with men that they are sinning against the grace of God bringing salvation to them the Lord after means used and mercies afforded looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God They are all gone aside they are together become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14. 2 3. they are not believing God in what he is testifying to them of his goodness in and through Jesus Christ or however not in what he is therewith testifying of them their works wayes and idols And he that believeth not the Son is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God that is not so believed as to love the light more than darkness Joh. 3. 18 19. And this is generally the reason of mens refusing and rebelling against the light not simply because it discovers good of God and declares his graciousness and desire of mens good but because it testifies of the world that the works thereof are evil Joh. 7. 7. even their best works as well as their worst works He that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved and discovered Joh. 3. 20. Job 23. 13 17. and for this men are condemned they do deserve and are under the sentence of the wrath to come this is the sin of the world and for which it shall be condemned so persisting Now Jesus Christ in his present work is presenting himself in the vertues of his sacrifice once offered and alwayes acceptable before the Father for such as these during his good pleasure that judgment may not speedily be executed upon them but patience and forbearance may be exercised further means used and spirit sent forth in the means to open their eyes and to turn them from their disobedience to the wisdom of the just he is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world even their sin of unbelief for this is the sin of the world Joh. 1. 29. with Chap. 16. 8 9. that is he in his present Mediation so takes it away that God's wrath may not presently break forth to cut men off in their sins and so in a lower sense he procures forgiveness for them not such as they receive who come unto God by Christ for their sins are blotted out in heaven but the sins of these are retained in heaven against them while they conâ—inue in them and the wrath of God abides on them Joh. 3. 18 36. but he procures sparing and further space of repentance Luk. 13. 34. Rev. 2. 21. and is also giving unto them grace of repentance and to such an end he is said to be and is the propitiation not only for their sins who have him as their Advocate with the Father but also for the sins of the whole world who lye in wickednes 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. with Chap. 5. 19. Hence it is that God is so slow to anger and that he saith to men to day after so long a time if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts yea that he waits so long on such as love their simplicity delight in scorning and hate knowledge Prov. 1. 22. Isa 43. 14. 2 Pet. 3. 15. A type of whom was Moses who was the Mediator of the first Testament When that people had greatly sinned so as God threatned to destroyed them then Moses his chosen stood in the breach before him to turn away his wrath lest he should destroy them Psal 106. 23. Heb. 3. and so prevalent is he in his Mediation that God alwayes gives to him his
Lord though their spirits are made perfect as before yet there is some fruit of sin upon them but then he will cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea their sins and their iniquities he will remember no more Act. 3. 19. Heb. 10. 16 17. Mic. 7. 19. Jer. 50. 19 20. And this further appears in that they shall be raised out of and delivered for ever From death and all its fruits this was the wages of sin Rom. 6. 23. By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin Rom. 5. 12 14. And now the body is dead because of sin Rom. 8. 10. And it is appointed to man the whole kind once to dye though all shall not sleep in death yea the bodies of those just men generally whose spirits are made perfect sleep in the dust they are prisoners though prisoners of hope and so they are in the graves But he will open their graves and cause them to come ouâ— of their graves and their bodies shall be fashioned into the likeness of Christ's glorious body Phil. 3. 20. Now they are corruptible have the seeds of corruption and principles of mortality they are perishing decaying bodies and we may with him say to corruption Thou art my father and to the worm thou art my mother and my sister Job 17. 14. We must needs all dye and those that sleep in death their bodies return to dust but they shall be raised incorruptible no more to return to corruption this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mottal immortality That which is now dishonourable and of which we are ashamed for sin brought in shame and therefore need cloathing and covering that the shame of our nakedness appear not and which is sown in dishonour a vile loathsom carcass shall be raised in glory even with the glory of the Lord upon it Mat. 13. 43. They shall no more need this vile cloathing but they shall then be cloathed with the garments of salvation and covered with the robe of righteousness That which is now weak at best and subject to many infirmities weaknesses and sicknesses destitute of that health and strength at first created in and so sown in weakness no life no strength in it to move it self and even like the beasts for that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts even one thing befalleth them as the one dyeth so dyeth the other c. Eccl. 3. 19. shall be raised in power be strong and freed from all weakness and diseases That which is now a natural body which we received by natural propagation and was here nourished with natural meat and drink by the word of God and is sown a natural body shall be raised a spiritual body they shall be the sons of God then as to their bodies being the children of the resurrection and then they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more they shall be so spiritualized that they shall be like to and equal with the Angels not hindered by any obstacles they shall bear the image of the heavenly and so they will be more excellent than man in his first creation and now freed from all sickness pain and grief these inhabitants shall no more say they are sick for their sins shall be forgiven them 1 Cor. 15. 43 49. Luk. 20. 35 36. Isa 49. 10. 33. 24. Rev. 21. 3. Christ shall then present them to himself a glorious Church not having wrinkle no fruit or remembrance of affliction or grief upon them Eph. 5. 27. Job 16. 8. but the glory of the Lord shall be seen upon them then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 53 55. they shall be freed and delivered for ever from the first death and shall be freed and delivered for ever from the first death and shall not go into the second blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power Rev. 20. 6. they shall not be condemned with the world in that everlasting fire which was not at first prepared for mankind but for the Devil and his angels into which all that have been incensed against and continued disobedient to Jesus Christ shall be cast he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death Rev. 2. 11. Then they shall be delivered and saved from all their enemies and from all their deceits and troubles God shall redeem their souls from deceit and violence Psal 72. 14. From deceit God shall then bruise Satan under their feet as he is already bruised under the feet of the Captain of our salvation for during the thousand years reign of Christ and his Saints he shall be bound so as not to deceive the Nations all that time and when the thousand years are expired he shall be loosed a little season out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the Nations he shall not then have liberty given him to deceive the Camp of the Saints much less the beloved City and presently after he shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone Rev. 20. 1 3 7 10. into the holy City new Jerusalem shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or a lye Rev. 21. 27. 22. 15. Now they have temptations from Satan and men though yet in hearing Christ's voice and following him none shall pluck them out of his hands neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers not things present nor things to come c. shall be able to separate them that love God from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Joh. 10. 27 29. Rom. 8. 38 39. but yet Satan is trying and indeavouring all means to corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus and by â—etting slip the things heard and listening to Satan it 's possible that a man may be intangled and overcome there being sin in believers also that is alwayes working deceitfully as appears by the many admonitions given to believers and jealeusies of the Apostles concerning them and some instances in Scripture recorded c. 1 Thess 3. 5. Gal. 1. 6 7. 5. 3 5. 6. 1. 2 Cor. 11. 1 3. Heb. 2. 1 3. 4. 1. 10. 23 29. but then as they have no sin within them so none without them that shall tempt them any more And herein their condition is more excellent than was Adam's and mankind's in him in the first Creation for though then God made man upright yet there was a tempter permitted to tempt him and through his subtilty did beguil him he not keeping in believing mindfulness the word of God but listening to the lye of the serpent And then they shall be delivered from violence also he will give to them then rest from all their troubles when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flâ—ming fire taking vengeance on them that
Lord is good sing praises to his name for it is pleasant for the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his peculiar treasure they shall then gloriously triumph in the works of his hands which he is now working in leading forth his people which he hath redeemed out of the world Exod. 15. 13. Psal 92. 4 5. and the Lord himself shall rejoyce in his works Psal 104. 31. And that he shall then destroy all enemies and save his people with an everlasting salvation and they shall then reign on the earth These are now his thoughts which are very deep his enemies and theirs shall then perish and all the workers of iniquity be destroyed for ever but his horn shall be exalted with honour gloriously and visibly and the righteous shall flourish Psal 92. he shall then bring in his people and plant them in the mountain of his inheritance in the place which he hath made for them to dwell in in the sanctuary which his hands have established and the Lord shall reign for ever and ever Psal 149. Exod. 15. 17. 18. 7. And now they shall have a glorious inheritance to which I shall not here speak because it more properly refers to the latter end of the verse And thus according to my great weakness I have shewed the first Reason why the Gospel is called the Word of his Grace 2. This is called the Word of his grace because hereby he gives grace unto men even as it is called the Word of Life because as it discovers that eternal life in Christ so it gives life unto others The words that I speak unto you saith Christ they are spirit and they are life Joh. 6. 63. so it is called the word of salvation because it not only shews where salvation is wrought and compleated but therein and therewith also it brings salvation to men c. So here answerably the Gospel of Christ is called the word of his grace because as it is the most excellent means whereby God manifests and reveals his grace in Christ as before so hereby he gives grace unto men he doth manifest his goodness and graciousness unto men and gives them some discovery and discerning of it by all means The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work he left not himself without witness to the Gentiles Psal 19. 1 6. 147. 7 9. with Act. 14. 17. Rom. 1. 19 28. but he was more especially good to Israel therefore they especially were to praise him and had peculiar ingagement so to do He shewed his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Iâ—â—ael he had not dealt so with any Nation and as for his judgments they had not known them Psal 147. 12 19 20. What advantage hath the Jew c. much every way chiefly because unâ—o them was committed the Oracles of God though hereby simply they were not better as to their gracious state with God yet they had greater advantage so to be Rom. 3. 1 2 9 and still greater advantage is given to us now the Gospel is prâ—acâ—â—ed according to the revelation of the mystery And hence it is said That grace and truth came by Jesus Christ Joâ— 1. 17. and that the Prophets in former times prophesied of the grace that should be brought and vouchsafed to us 1 Pet. 1. 10. namely the more clear and abundant revelation of it and therewith a more free dispensiâ—g of it whereby he gives and prevents men with capacity to behold his grace in Christ and is turning them from idols unto God to serve the living true God The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul whether men be converted by it or no it is converting restoring and bringing it 〈◊〉 Gâ—d and in order hereto the testimony of the Lord in which God hath testified unto us what Jesus Christ hath done for us and is become and his grace in him this is sure making wise the simple even those that are without mixture of wisdom it fails not in this efficacy of it it discovers Jesus Christ who is the fountain and object of wisdom in knowing whom we may be made wise and it gives wisdom and subtilty to the simple Jam. 1. 5. Prov. 1. 4. The commandement the old and new commandement declared from the beginning in which was prophesied and promised that the seed of the woman should break the Serpents head and which is now more revealed because the darkness is past 1 Joh. 2. 7 8. this is pure namely in its effect also inlightning the eyes and therewith converting Psal 19. 7. 8. Hereby he gives grace of repentance unto men and is operating faith in them his spirit being alwayes vouchsafed and present in and with this testimony of Christ in the faithful ministration of it even unto the end of the world so that he that rejecteth rejecteth not man but God Mat. 28. 20. 1 Thes 4. 8. Surely he doth accompany all means which he affordeth while it is called to day with some presence of his Spirit and doth in due time give some supernatural light unto men because he is willing all should come to repentance There is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding Job 32. 8. He saith not it must give it them if they have it but it doth give it unto them So he is said to give breath unto the people upon the earth and spirit to them that walk therein Isa 42. 5. and that his Spirit is sent forth into all the earth even that Spirit which the Lamb that was slain hath received Rev. 5. 6. 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. and in and with his Prophets he spake by his Spirit and gave his good Spirit even unto them that rebelled against him to instruct them and this aggravated their iniquity that they alwayes rejected the Holy Ghost for God did not only call them with an outward call but he sent his words in his Spirit in the light and power thereof and so stretched out his hand unto them Neh. 9. 20 26 30. Zech. 7. 12. Isa 65. 2. but now in and with the Gospel of Christ as now preached according to the revelation of the mystery he doth pour forth of his Spirit upon all flesh namely to glorifie Christ and shew his excellency and comeliness for our escape and therein and therewith to wither all flesh to shew that all flesh is grass and all the glory of man the goodliness of the flesh is as the flower of the field that men might cease therefrom and turn in his reproofs and so he will further pour forth his Spirit unto them Act. 2. 17. with Isa 40. 3 8. Hence it is called the ministration of spirit even of this spirit of grace 2 Cor. 3. 6 8 With this Gospel the Apostle was sent to open the eyes of Jews and Gentiles and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God
do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think the Father hath committed all judgement to him and so infinitely loved him because he humbled himself and became obedient to death even the death of the Cross that he hath not given the Spirit by measure unto him but hath filled him immeasurably therewith and hath given all things into his hand Joh. 5. 22. 3. 34 35. with Chap. 10. 17 18. yea herein is imported his sufficiency and readiness to assist them and dispense unto them according to their needs and capacities whatsoever was good unto all their services and sufferings and unto the utmost saving of them that they might be preserved blameless unto his coming and so not fail of his grace 1 Thes 5. 23 24. Heb. 7. 25. 2. As with respect to himself who now commended them even the Apostle there is signified 1. That he had the care of these lying upon him and indeed upon him came daily the care of all the Churches he was a steward to whom a great trust was committed and it is probable was the first that planted the Gospel among them and so might be an instrumental father of them and now he shews his love to these who had first given themselves to the Lord and afterwards to him and his fellow-labourers by the will of God as 2 Cor. 8. 5. and his faithfulness to his Lord in returning the charge of them to him from whom he received it herein imitating our Saviour the great shepherd of the Sheep Thine they were saith he and thou gavest them me and now I am no more in the world but these are in the world and I come unto thee holy father keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me Joh. 17. 6 11 13. And thus our Brother who was counted faithful and put into the Ministry and had a trust committed to him when departing to shew his faithfulness to the chief shepherd and love to the sheep returned his charge to him from whom he had received it 2. His assurance of his faithfulness and ability to whom he commends them it was to him whom he knew by experience to be gracious and had proved faithful in all things who had been exceeding abundantly gracious to him and had stood by him and strengthned him even as Israel blessed Jacob and intimately commends him and his to one whose faithfulness he had proved The God saith he which fed me all my life long unto this day the Angel which redeemed me from all evil bless c. Gen. 48. 15 16. He knew whom he had believed and he was perswaded that he was able to keep that which he committed to him against that day as 2 Tim. 1. 12. he was well assured of and satisfied in his infinite faithfulness and therefore safely trusts in him and commends these unto him 2 Tim. 4. 17 18. 3. As with respect to them whom he commends he may intimate unto us 1. That they were children such as had not attained either were already perfect Phil. 3. 12. and could not keep themselves they were all little children though there might be diversity among themselves some fathers experienced believers who might be instruments of begetting others through the Gospel and some young men who were strong having the word of God abiding in them and some weak and babes yet in this respect all little children they had not yet attained to perfection as 1 Joh. 2. 12 14 18. they yet needed a tutor but not such as they were under during the ministration of the Law in which though sons they differed nothing from servants but such an one as became sons even Câ—rist as a Son over his own house and the word of his grace and so the Law of faith and not of works they were not perfect as to attainment and therefore needed to be committed to one who would be careful of and faithful to them yea and that they had many enemies who would indeavour to corrupt them from the simplicity that is in Christ and if possible defraud them of their inheritance and so beguil them of their reward many evil men violent persons and many seducers that would indeavour to pervert them and subvert their souls by removing them from him who had called them into the grace of Christ they were weak in themselves and had strong enemies whose end was destruction and therefore they needed an helper 2. To instruct them to commit themselves to and leave themselves with him Psal 10. 14. to submit themselves to God and commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator and to be ordered and guided and taught by this Law of grace and to have all their expectation from him and it for their being kept by his power in this Gospel through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 4. 19. 1. 5. And indeed this is the most pâ—rfect means by which he doth now help them assist instruct and strengthen them and preserve them from evil the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 1. 16. This is the way whereby he keeps the souls of those committed to him so much may be signified to us in this That when the congregation of God's poor cry out to him Help Lord for the godly man ceaseth c. God doth then create the â—â—uit of his â—ips peace and speaks good words and comfortable to them in first assuring them that in committing themselves to him he would care for them and prethem and then he or the Prophet in his name directs them where they might meet with his gracious keeping guidance and preservation he will set his poor and needy ones in safety but wherewith and where may they expect this so as to commit themselves and way thereto The words of the Lord of or concerning the Lord in which is shewed that he is the Lord and by what means he is so become and the grace of God in him and so the words that are spoken by the Lord in the words of the Holy Ghost and not which mans wisdom teacheth are pure words that is they are pure in themselves in what they testifie of the Lord and of all things faithful words there is no lye of them and worthy of all acceptation they give a true and right discovery of all things and a good and gracious report of the Lord and they are pure in their effect and efficacy inlightning the eyes Psal 19. 7 8. and purifying the heart Act. 15. 19. and so purifying from all filthiness of flesh and spirit Jam. 3. 17. Joh. 15. 3. by this means then God saves and helps even by his words and therefore he is commending them to us that we might in them and by them expect his performing all things for us Now then in that he saith I commend you to God and to the word of his grace therein is imported to us that his desire and counsel
to God and the word of his grace we may be helped to become fools and so to be crucified to the world and not matter though we be accounted unlearned ignorant men and such as have never learned which is part of the Cross of Christ that is to be taken up and born by us Joh. 7. 15. Act. 4. 13. This wisdom is part of the goodliness of the flesh the glory of man which the spirit in the testimony is withering Oh! that he might be suffered to have his perfect work in us And oh that this were considered by them that are taught that that manner of preaching the Gospâ—l which is with wisdom of words makes the Cross of Christ of none â—ffect when men receive the word of God as the word of men and their faith stands in the wisdom of man that is they hear it with delight and credit it because such as bring it to them are furnished and come with excellency of speech or of wisdom though it is the word of God that is received yet it works not effectually in them 1 Thess 2. 13. 1 Cor. 2. 5. And truly we all need to be admonished of this evil for men naturally love and admire the wisdom of this world and oh that there were not too much cause to say that many of God's people are too much polluted with this iniquity If a man be made willing to become a fool for Christ's sake in declaring the testimony how ready is he to be despised and lightly esteemed Whereas if another be wise in Christ and exalt himself this they can suffer gladly and love to have it so and stâ—engthen those that so teach thâ—m in this evil way while they weaken the hands of others 1 Cor. 4. 10. 2 Cor. 11. 20. Oh let us all beware of the inâ—icing words of mans wisdom and so of Philosophy c. for in Christ dwelâ—s all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in him we are compleat Col. 2. 2 4 8 10. 3. And in this to which the Apostle commits them there is contained motive for feeding that which is powerful to strengthen to seek the good of men generally and especially the good of the flock of Christ As to say 1. Herein they may behold the infinite grace of Jesus Christ and God in him toward every sinful soul of mankind and that he is not willing any man should perish but that all should come to repentance as is wonderfully evidenced in this that Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man Oh how will this constrain to indeavour the good of men and especial good of believers The love of Christ constrains us saith the Apostle because we thus jâ—dge that if one died for all then were all dead and he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose again This judgment received by them did powerfully move them to perswade men and they could not but speak the things they had seen and heard 2 Cor. 5. 11 15. Act. 4. 19 20. This love of God known and believed with the heart effects in them that so receive it an hearty desire and prayer to God that they may be saved who are ignorant of and enemâ—es to the righteousness of God it framâ—s them to some like mindedness with their heavenly fatâ—er and causeth their hearts to burn within them in an ardent affection to and desire of the good of those that are ignorant and out of the way 1 Joh. 4. 14 16. Luke 24. 26 27 32. Jer. 20. 9. Whereas others that have not received thâ—s judgment that one died for all and rose again what appearance of zeal and devotion soever they have yet the love of Christ doth not constrain hereto but either they do what they do that they may have praise of men or out of a desire of filthy lucre or to establish a righteousness to themselves yea and this judgment received and believed is the bottom ground and motive to move them that have it to feed the flock of Christ to pray them to be further reconciled to God and not to receive his grace in vain 2 Cor. 5. 14 19 21. 6. 1. their hearts are purified in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto the unfeigned love of the brethren 1 Pet. 1. 22. And so 2. They have this further motive to move them to feed the Church that they are Christ's flock the Church of God which he hath purchaâ—ed with hâ—s own blood not only hath he given himself a ransom to God for them as he hath done for all but he so evidenced the preciousness of his blood to them in the peace and atonement which he thereby made in the victory thereby obtained in the righteousness thereby compleated in the fulness of grace and truth thereby received in the New Testament and everlasting Covenant thereby confirmed as that they not being disobedient to the heavenly call were hereby redeemed unto God and what things were formerly gain to them these they counted loss for Christ and so were made of the chosen generation and of his flock in a peculiar consideration being all baptized into one body and made to drink into one spirit called in one hope of their calling c. such as Christ loves with peculiar manner of love and frames those that receive his grace to the same mind even to do good to all but especially to the houshold of faith Gal. 6. 10. to love one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Pet. 1. 22. and so to be followers of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ hath loved them Eph. 5. 1 2. This is a great moâ—ive for a servant to love and seek the good oâ— such as are his Lord's children and such as he delights in So Peter from this motive exhorts the Elders Feed the flock of God that is among you 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. yea and in that they are his flock there is contained in it this further incouragement that he will bless and assist their helpers and be with them in the faithful declaration of the Gospel unto the end of the world Mat. 28. 18 20. For who goeth a warfare at any timâ— at his own charges yea these had some oversight of the flock committed to them and it is required of Stewards that a man be found faithful and the shepherd will require the flock at their hands Ezek. 34. 10. Oh let such take heed therefore to themselves and to all the flock that they may be pure from the blood of all men Nay surely in their places and according to their capacity all the holy brethren are partakers of the heavenly calling though not all chosen into office and the grace of God doth instruct them and God their Shepherd doth furnish them that they may edifie one another on their most holy faith Jude 20 21. 1 Thes 5. 11. Rom. 15. 14. The manifestation
pretend to a great deal of meekness self-denial mortification righteousness in their dealings amongst men holiness and have a shew of wisdom in will-worship and humility and neglecting of the body not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh Col. 2. 18 23. they appear very righteous unto men while yet within they are ravening wolves and full of hypocrisie and iniquity as Mat. 23. 25 28. and have a form of godliness upon them and so are deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apâ—stles of Christ And no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light therefore it is no great thing if his Ministers be transformed as the Ministers of righteousness c. 2 Tim. 3. 5. 2 Cor. 11. 13 15. there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes and say to others stand further off for I am holier than thou though yet they are not washed from their filthiness There is a generation Oh how lofty are their eyes and their eye-lids lifted up Isa 65. 5. Prov. 30. 12 13. they are like unto the Pharisees of old who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others and even accounted themselves more pure than the Lord Jesus condemning him and faulting his Disciples Luk. 18. 9 11. 15. 1 2. Joh. 9. 16. and therefore they are the more dangerous were they such as were walking in the gross lusts of the flesh they would be more readily abstained from but being like graves that appear not yea appearing as the Disciples of Christ in their outward conversation And also boasting of themselves and their own mouths praising themselves as if they were the only Saints and mean time despising and condemning others they are the more powerful to deceive considering that we are naturally prone and apt to sâ—ffer gladly such fools as exalt themselves and proclaim their own goodness 2 Cor. 11. 19 20. We have therefore great need to watch unto God and the word of his grace 2. The mâ—ssâ—ge also which they bring is such as the flesh savours and finds sweetness in it is such as is suitable to our natural spirit lust and desire namely such as leads men to have their rest and rejoycing in something that was not crucified for them as in some work or priviledge of the flesh some manner of observing such or such an Ordinance some tradition of the Elders some light spirit or operation in men some marks frames qualifications changes or alterations in them some sign that is not the sign of the Prophet Jonas In short as is before said the voice of their divers and strange doctrines is stollen waters are sweet and bread of secrecies is pleasant Prov 9. 17. to wit the matter of feeding they direct unto and commend and approve it is somewhat else than the flesh of Christ which was given for the liâ—e of the worâ—d Joh. 6. 51. that which wisdom calls to and commends it is that feast of fat things prepared in Christ for all Nations and those consolations of Christ wherewith the God of all comfort doth comfort the believers in all their tribulations are such as are proper to comfort others that are in any trouble Prov. 9. 1 6. Isa 25. 6. Mat. 23. 4. 2 Cor. 1. 3 5. But now these consolations of God are small with them because there is some secret thing with them Job 15. 11. and they direct men to have the beginning of their confidence and consolation not in Christ as declared in the Testimony but in themselves which is very savoury to the flesh Hence the Apostle when he had been exhorting the believers as the sum and end of all he had been speaking to them to rejoyce in the Lord even in Christ Jesus as preached in the Gospel he adds beware of dogs beware of evil workers Phil. 3. 1 3. As who should say those evil workers will direct you to rejoyce in something besides the Lord and indeed as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilâ—y so they come to corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11. 3. viz. by promising others that in listening to them they shall be as Gods and have a self-sufficiency in themselves and shall have their life in their own hands Oh how pleasing is this to us ever since we drank in the poyson of Satans temptations How doth this fill us with evil thoughts and jealousies of God and of that rest and refreshing he hath prepared for us in Christ and leads us to seek to have our portion in our own hands How doth this lead us to say Our soul loatheth this Manna this light bread and to seek after some other beginning of confidence some other witness and sign of God's love some other matter of feeding than the flesh of Christ or to feed on it after some other manner than as given for the life of the world and to have the ground and bottom matter of our rejoycing and confidence in our selves or in something in which we are preferred before others or dâ—fferenced from others and to this these ravening wolves lead yea and they pretend a great deal of love and kindness to others and use flattering words promissing them liberty in listening to them and that they shall have their fill of love boasting of their freedom from sin their attainments experiments c. many times while they though privily are the servants of corruption Prov. 7. 13 21. Gal. 4. 17. Col. 2. 4. 2 Pet. 2. 18 19. and therefore we need to beware of them in the light and strength of God's grace 3. They are such also as are very forward impudent and diligent in promoting their evil design they will enter in amongst you saith the Apostle ver 29. they come unto you saith our Saviour Mat. 7. 15. So 2 Joh. 10. their feet abide not in their houâ—e but now they are without now in the streets and lye in wait at every corner to call passengers who go right on their wayes Prov. 7. 8 12. 9. 13 16. They sleep not except they have done mischief and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall they compass Sea and Laâ—d to make a proselyte as our Saviour saith of the Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 23. 15. they watch for all opportunities that with good words and fair speeches they may deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16. 18. who believe every word Prov. 14. 15. and trouble and unsettle believers and if they can but find Câ—rist's servants asleep the enemy then will have a fit season to sow his tares Mat. 13. 25 this is the day they look for and through their importunity and watchfulness to beguil others they do much mischief Needfulâ— herefore also it is to betake our selves to God and the word of his grace and watch thereto and therein that we may not be turned aside by them 4. Yea they are very reserved and subtil of heart Prov. 7. 10. and use a great
he is the great Apostle and High-Priest of the believers profession and able to save to the utâ—ermost all that come to God by him and they that forsake him shall be ashamed of all other confidences consolations bread of secresies and stollen waters while in him all the seed of Israel shall be justified and shall glory 2. We have also direction given us to know so as to beware of those grievous wolves Our Saviour gives a general one to his Disciples By their fruits ye shall know them Mat. 7. 15 16. where by their fruits is not meant their outward cloathing or outward appearance Such may seem unto men to have a good life and conversation and be therein blameless among men Phil. 3. 6. appear outwardly righteous unto men Mat. 23. 28 desire to make a fair shew in the flesh Gal. 6. 16. have a form of godliness upon them 2 Tim. 3. 5. abstain from many gross evils Luk. 18. 11. be transformed as the Ministers of righteousness 2 Cor. 11. 15. boast of their sufferings and preaching freely 2 Cor. 11. 7 13 23. zealously affect the believers Gal. 4. 17. commend themselves and justifie themselves before men 2 Cor. 10. 7 12 18 Luk. 16. 15. promise others liberty and fulness of contentment and satisfaction in listening to them Prov. 7. 14 18. 2 Pet. 2. 18 19. and yet be inwardly ravening wolves and therefore the way to know them is not by their outward appearance for that may be so specious in evil workers that the believers themselves while judging and walking as men may have such a good opinion of them as to fall too much in love with them and to count them their enemies who give a true discovery of them Gal. 4. 16 and occasion grief to those that are over them in the Lord and admonish them because they are so hardly perswaded to beware of them Phil. 3. 18. judge not according to appearance saith our Saviour but judge righteous judgment Joh. 7. 24. as signifying the judging according to appearance is not righteous judgment for such as are the enemies of the Cross of Christ may have a beautiful outside do ye look on things after the outward appearance saith the Apostle when he is warning of deceitful workers 2 Cor. 10. 7. This is the way to be mistaken and deceived But by their fruits is meant 1. The fruits of their lâ—ps even those divers and strange doctrines which they bring in which they cause to err from the words of knowledge And this appears to be the meaning of it and not their outward appearance because such have sheeps cloathing as is said before as well as also it is a direction for knowing not evil persons in general but false Prophets in particular Now how should they be known so well as by their strange voice and a strange voice it is indeed to hear persons that appear to be and are by many taken for sheep and have sheeps cloathing upon them to bark like wolves against the Shepherd and the Testimony of Christ to appear like a Lamb and speak as a Dragon as is said of the man of sin Rev. 13. 11. and this understanding of it suits well with what our Saviour gives as the reason why the sheep will not follow a stranger which also he calls a wolf namely because of their voice and not their outside appearance A stranger saith he they will not follow but will flee from him for they know not the voice of strangers Joh. 10. 4 5 12. by their words then they may be discovered and condemned And that this is meant â—y fruits will further appear by those rules of direction given to know false Prophets by by the Apostles I shall particularly pitch upon those two given by the Apostle John 1 Joh. 4. 1 6. where he warns the believers not to believe eye y spirit but to try the spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world And that we may try them he gives two rules for tryal by which we may know them 1. Every spirit that confesseth not Jesus Christ come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Antichrist ver 3. So again 2 Joh. 7. Many deceivers are entred into the world who confess not Jesus Christ come in the flesh this is a deceiver and an Antichrist The person they confess not is Jesus Christ which is come in the flesh and hath finished the work which the Father gave him to do in his own body even Jesus of Nazareth who was born in the dayes of Cesar Augustus when Cyrenius was Governour of Syria who was delivered for our offences and raised again in the same body in which he was crucified the third day according to the Scriptures as distinguished from all other persons and things And by confessing is meant an open and plain acknowledgment that he hath come with a praising commending and speaking honourably of him according to the Scriptures giving thanks unto him or giving him the praise which is due unto him and so thankfully acknowledging in their doctrines that he hath done such things is become and is such an one as the Father hath testified of him So where it is said Psal 18. 49. I will give thanks unto thee or praise thee it is thus rendred Rom. 15. 9. I will confess to thee among the Gentiles So where we read in Psal 107. 8 15 21 31. Oh that men would praise the Lord. In every of these verses in the former translation it is rendred confess So Mat. 11. 25. At that time Jesus said I thank or praise thee it is in the Margin I confess c. See also Heb. 13. 15. So here Every spirit that confesseth not Jesus Christ which is come in the flesh that is that praiseth not magnifieth nâ—t lifteth not up celebrateth not him is not of God We may instance a little particularly 1. Those persons confess not praise not Jesus Christ come in the flesh who tell us That the bread and wine in the Supper when consâ—crated is transubstantiated into the very body and blood of Christ They hereby praise not that Jesus of Nazareth that was born of the Vâ—rgin Mary and dyed for our sins at Jerusalem and is raised again but somewhat else in the room and stead of him that was not then nor many hundred years since in being which was never crucified for us never buried never raised again as he was yea blasphemously they lift up and magnifie themselves who think they can make their Saviour and so are greater than he besides they cast him down from his excellency for he is but one 2 Cor. 5. 14. 1 Cor. 8. 6. but of these it may be said according to the number of their Cities are their Christs as Jer. 2. 28. 2. So also they confess not Jesus Christ who say the body of our Lord Jesus lyes where they laid it and is turned to dust and rottenness
sanctified and made meet for the inheritance 1. What it is to sanctifie and who they are that are sanctified To sanctifie and to be sanctified in Scripture signifies these two things 1. To separate a person or thing from common and profane use and so from uncleanness and filthiness as it usually signifies in our types of old So Hezekiah commanded the Levites to sanctifie themselves and to sanctifie the house of the Lord and to carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place and accordingly they sanctified it by carrying out the uncleanness out of it as is signified 2 Chron. 29. 5 15 18. and so the sanctifying the people it was a separating them from those things that we e provâ—king in the eyes of God or forbidden by him Lev. 20. 2 8 a severing them from the pollutions and manners of the Nations whom the Lord cast out Levit. 20. 23 26. 2. To set aparâ— forthâ— Lord and for his pâ—culiar use and service any thing or person a devoting or dedicating it to the Lord that it may be his aâ—d unto him as were the Priests and Levites and â—emple c. So setting apart unto the Lord answers to and is the same with sanctifying unto him Exod. 13. 2 12. So here They are said to be sanctified who are cleansed from the errors and polluâ—ions of this world and devoted to the Lord separated from uncleanness and set apart for the Lord such as come out from among men and are separated and touch no unclean thing Such as in the light and strength of God's promises do cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. 7. 1. and so the sanctified are such as are daily turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God Act. 26. 18. 2 Tim. 2. 21. such as so receive the grace of God as to redeem them from all iniquity and to purifie them unto him a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2. 11 12 14. 2. The means whereby God in Christ by his Spirit doth sanctifie as to persons I mean that are come to years of capacity are 1. The chief and principal medium is the word of his grace in which is declared and commended to us the free grace of God in the blood of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is said to sanctifie with the washing of water by the word even with the kindness and love of God our Saviour Eph. 5. 26. and so he is said to wash in his blood in which the love of God is commended and men are said to be sanctified with the blood of the Covenant Rev. 1. 5. Heb. 10. â—9 that is the blood of sprinkling whereby the heart is sprinkled from an evil conscience and the conscience from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 10. 22. 9. 14. and so they are said to be sanctified by the Spirit in the testimony and so by the Word 2 Thes 2. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Joh. 17. 17 19. Act. 26 18. and these three agree in one 1 Joh. 5. 6 8. And indeed the principal means whereby men may be sanctified born again and saved now it is by discovering and commending the love of God to mankind in lifting up the Son of man by the Spirit in the testimony So our Saviour signifies in answer to Nicodemâ—s when he asks How can these things be namely that a man can be born again in answer thereto he tells him As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up c. For God so loved the world of mankind that he gave his only begotten Son Joh. 3 5 9 14 17. So that which the Apostle preached in order to the sanctifying of the Corinthians who were unholy and prophane the first thing he delivered to them was that Christ died for their sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and tells them they were washed sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus even in and by that good report of him in which the Father's love was manifested and by the Spirit of our God Compare 1. Cor. 15. 1 4. with Chap. 6. 10 11. So the Apostle signifies that the means whereby he and other believers were saved from their ignorance disobedience and serving divers lusts it was by the appearance of the kindness and love of God our Saviour to man-ward which is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 3 6. It is not the Law as a Law of works or any observance thereof by men or indeavouring to frame their hearts thereby to love God and men and to avoid the evils forbidden that is the way or means whereby God doth sanctifie nor is the Law first to be preached to the effecting this sanctification though men may seek to sanctifie themselves and purifie themselves thereby and in so doing account themselves Saints and be so accounted by others yet these are none of God's Saints or sanctified ones but these shall be consumed together Isa 66. 17 nor is it any peculiar manner of love to mens persons in a personal consideration first discovered to or working in men before they believe that is the means for effecting this sanctification but it is done by the Spirit in glorifying Christ and therein commending God's love to the world sinners and ungodly ones Act. 26. 18 23. this is the supream means 2. And in subsâ—rviency and â—ubordination to the former he doth also cleanse and wâ—sh with afflictions even with the manifold trials and temptations which he is ordering to men while it is called to day in which he is also purging and causing the scum to swim aloft that by this men might be purged and that the iniquity of his Jacob might be purged Isa 27. 9. that he may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from him Job 33. 17 19. then he sheweth men their work and their transgressions that they have exceeded he openeth also their ears to discipline and commandeth them to depart from iniquity Job 36. 8 10. and sheweth unto men the vanity of their idols in which they have been trusting and by which they have been lifting up themselves according to that When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth surelâ— every man is vanity Psal 39. 11. He then sheweth that all flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of the field even all their wisdom strength goodness c. and so is cleansing and purging them from their sins and idols that they may live to him and bring forth more fruit Joh. 15. 2. So the Apostle saith he chastens us for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 10. that we may be delivered from our filthiness for stripes