greatest Evils so he Swears again to assure us of the greatest good By my self have I Sworn saith God to Abraham that in Blessing I will Bless thee Heb. 6.13 14. Those to whom Christ is made Righteousness do also receive the Holy Spirit The clean Water of Christ's Blood and the Spirit do go together Ezek. 36.25.27 Tit. 3.5 1 Cor. 6.11 Psal 51.12 Some call the gift of the Spirit Executive Justification they mean that God executes the Sentence of Justification by bestowing the Spirit to break off our Chaines burn up our Dross purge away our Filth and make us free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 Though the Law of Sin be a strong and powerful Law to inslave us yet the Law of the Spirit of Life is more mighty to set us free as Jesus Christ by his Blood redeems us to be the Temple of God so by his Spirit he comes into his Temple takes Possession of it and fills it with his Glory As we live by the Sentence of Justification so Christ lives in us by the Spirit of Sanctification Gal. 2.20 The Spirit is given as a Tree of Life and all Graces are the Fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 The Holy Ghost is given as the well of all Living Waters and Spritual streames John 4.14 John 7.37 38 39. By Faith we drink in the very Well it self and therefore Believers can never be totally dry He that Believeth on me shall never thirst John 6.35 Observe and compare the words of God the Father Zech. 13.7 with the words of the Church Cant. 4. last As God said once Awake O Sword against my Shepherd against the Man that is my Fellow smite the Shepherd so the Church now saith daily Awake O North wind and blow O South wind upon my Garden that the Spices of it may flow forth Because the Sword of Justice hath awaked terribly against Christ the Spirit may sweetly awake and blow on our Soules excite quicken and draw forth Grace into act and exercise Christ gives his people the Glory that the Father gave him John 17.22 Musculus understands this Glory to be the gift of the Holy Ghost The Spirit was on Christ Isa 61.1 and given to him John 3.34 And Christ communicates this glorious Spirit to his Members as the soul of the whole mystical body and this makes them one with the Father and the Son and perfects them in one because they participate of the Spirit that proceeds from the Father and the Son and have by it a new divine Nature and do aim at design and seek the Glory of the Father and the Son as they do design their own Glory 6. The Prayers of Justified persons are acceptable to and powerful with God for the Spirit that testifies God's Grace to Believers doth make Intercessions in them As a Spirit of Grace it gives Encouragement to Prayer as a Spirit of Supplication it gives assistance in Prayer Zeck 12.10 Rom. 8.26 This is the Fire from Heaven that warms our cold hearts and kindles all our Sacrifices that they may flame upwards The Prayer of a Believer is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 James 5.16 A deep in-wrought Prayer it is not born in the lips but springs from the Soul Luther on Genesis well expresses it it is not Spuma oris sed singulus cordis The Foam of the Mouth but the Throbbing and Sighing of the Heart The Holy Ghost breaths in Holy Affections and the Soul then breaths out holy desires and expressions Saints pray as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as those that are possessed and acted mightily by the Spirit of God hence it is that they so strive and wrestle with God and their prayers are so much valued and desired by Christ Those are wonderful words Cant. 2.14 Christ saith to the Church Let me see thy face let me hear thy voice He that seeth his Father's Face above desires to see Petitioners Faces below He that hears the Songs the Hallelujahs of Angels of Saints in Heaven desires to hear the Voice the Suits of Believers on Earth And as their Prayers are desired so they are accepted The Prayer of the upright is God's delight Prov. 15.8 They Pray in Christ's powerful Name John 16.23 26. and he adds the Incense of his Merits to the Prayers of all Saints Rev. 8.3 and so takes away the Iniquity of their Holy Things The Altar had a Grate of Brass Exod. 27.4 the use of it was to separate the Earthy and Grosser part of the Sacrifice and to let the Ashes through So Christ is an Altar that hath a Grate he separates our sins our defects our weaknesses from our services yea he is the Altar on which our Offerings must be laid and that renders our Sacrifices acceptable to God Isa 60.7 It is said that the Offerings of Believers shall ascend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon Good-Will my Altar God speaks and puts this glorious Name on Christ Good-Will my Altar What an encouragement is this to Saints that are Spiritual Priests to offer Holy Sacrifices seeing they have Good-Will for their Altar God is so pleased with and delights in Christ that he calls him Good-Will my Altar 7. All the outward and Temporal Mercies of Justified Persons are heightened and sweetened to them by the Spring from whence they flow and they have a new tast He delivered me saith David because he delighted in me Psal 18.19 In love to my Soul saith Hezekiah he hath delivered me from the pit of corruption having cast all my sins behind his back Isa 38.17 Even Temporal Mercies are Glasses in which they see their Father's Face and are Stairs or Ladders by which their Hearts are raised to God Jehoshaphat had an Established Kingdom Riches and Honour in abundance And what was the fruit and effect of this his heart was lifted up in the ways of God 2 Chron. 17.5 6. Earthly Enjoyments do usually fuel Men's Lusts but they fed and inflamed Hezekiah's Love to God they are to Carnal Men Weights that press them down the Prosperity of Fools doth destroy them Prov. 1.32 but through Grace they are Wings to raise Saints Souls to God Believers enjoy their outward Mercies by a Spiritual Right they have them by Promise Heb. 11.9 Canaan was the Land of Promise and Abraham was Heir to it by the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.13 Sacrifices were slain that Typified Christ and then God entred into a Covenant with Abraham gave and assured Canaan to him Gen. 15.8 9 10 17 18. Believers have a Right to Earthly things by God's Promise and Christ's Death who is the Heir of all things Heb. 1.2 Earthly things are but as Cyphers but God adds a great Figure to them to make them signifie something Gen. 17.8 I will give thee the Land of Canaan and I will be thy God they are to Believers but additional things as an over-plus cast into the Kingdom of God as the Principal Matth. 6.33 So the Country of Sihon and Og the King of
us that he who hath imposed righteous Commands on us and hath denounced for our disobedience righteous Threatnings against us should to secure and preserve us or be made Righteousness to us This is admirable and wonderful that Jehovah should provide a Laver to wash us and work out a Righteousness to cloath and adorn us This is such a rare and stupendious thing that the Son of God by this gracious Condescention to us by this merciful Provision for us hath acquired a new honourable and everlasting Name The Words afford us two Points of Doctrine 1. That in Christ's Days Judah and Israel Jew and Gentile shall be most eminently and signally saved 2. That Jesus Christ is and shall be called the Lord our Righteousness Doct. 1. That in Christ's Days Judah and Israel Jew and Gentile shall be most eminently saved For the prosecuting of this Doctrine 1. I shall shew you what Days are meant and intended by the Days of Christ 2. What this Salvation is that shall be given forth in his Days 3. Why Salvation is by way of Excellency said to be bestowed in his days and then more eminently communicate 1. What days are meant by the Days of Christ Ans The Days that begin from the incarnation of the Son of God and continue and run on to his second coming these in Scripture are called his Days Psal 72.7 In his Days shall the Righteous flourish and these days are Long days for it followeth and an abundance of Peace there shall be as long as the Moon endureth So that the days of the Messiah do run parralel with the Moon as to their duration God had promised to him that he should prolong his Days and the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his Hand Isa 53.10 It is a wonderful Condescention that he whose goings forth were from everlasting and was ancienter than days should take an Humane Nature and live a life in it that should be measured by days The Time since Jesus Christ was exhibited and manifested to the World is called his days 2. What is this Salvation that Jesus Christ bestoweth I shall shew you 1. The Nature 2ly The Properties and Adjuncts of this Salvation I shall first explain the Nature of it This Salvation hath two parts 1. A Privative 2. A Positive part 1. A Privative part It is Salvation from the most dreadful Evils 1. It is Salvation from Sin Matth. 1.21 thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his People from their Sins 2 Tit. 14. he gave himself to redeem us from all Iniquity His Blood is the precious Red Ink to blot out our Transgressions and the most wonderful Red Seas to drown the Spiritual Egyptians the Host of our Iniquities in Christ was but baptized in the deep Waters of sorrow and sufferings but he drowned for ever all our sins God made war with Christ to make peace with us Zech. 13.7 God saves by Remission of Sins Luke 77. and by the washing of Regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.4 5. God made him an instance of Severity that we might be eternal Monuments of Mercy 2. Christ saves from wrath Jesus delivers from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1. last Being justified by his Blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Rom. 5.9 The Apostle doth not mention whose wrath but means the wrath of God This wrath is so formidable and terrible that all other wrath is as nothing doth not deserve the Name of wrath it is but a false or painted Fire a Bubble an empty Name and sound God can array all the Creatures as his Hosts in Heaven and Earth to fight against Sinners He can awaken and stir up Conscience to accuse and condemn the Sinner and so make him both a Burden and a Terrour to himself God can remember and set all our Trangressions before our Sight and fix our Eyes on this dreadful and dismaying Object that they shall never divert or look off from it God can pursue Sinners with punishment in this world and meet them with more dreadful vengeance in another World he can strike and support the Criminal at once he can blow up the Fire of his Anger and preserve the Souls and Bodies of Sinners to be eternal Fuel to it he can make extremity and eternity of Misery to meet in the same Person It is amazing wrath to make a bundle of Tares to subsist and continue in the Furnace for ever to be immortal Fuel to an eternal Fire It is from this dreadful wrath that Jesus Christ saves his People 2. There is a positive part of this Salvation 1. Jesus Christ saves and quickens us The Dead hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear it shall live John 5.25 As God breathed the Breath of Life into Adam's formed Body and he became a living Soul Gen. 2.7 so Christ breathed on his Apostles and said Receive you the Holy Ghost John 20.22 the Life of Saints is a Beam of and a stream from the Life of Christ Eccl. 2.20 How noble is their Life They live by Christ's living in them through the Spirit they are ingrafted into Christ are Branches of the true Tree of Life they are in him who is the true God and Eternal Life 1 John 5.20 2ly Christ saves them and builds them Zech. 6.12 13. The Branches should grow up out of his Place and he should build the Temple of the Lord we fell and were ruined in and by Adam and we lay in Ruines and Rubbish till Christ doth lift up his Feet to our Desolations doth with Pity behold and in Mercy raise up our Ruins Satan dwells in and rejoices over these Ruins Those that are pulled down with respect to God may be said to be built up with respect to Satan as Ruins of a House are of no use to us so ruined Creatures are altogether unprofitable to God Rom. 12. O this is great Mercy for Satan to be dispossed and ejected and for Souls to be framed as a holy House and to be built up as a Spiritual Temple for God to inhabit and be worshipped in Those that are God's Temples are animated by his Spirit and are filled with his Glory at once they are framed to be a Habitation for God and fitted to be Inhabitants with him in the Heavenly Jerusalem 3. Christ saves waters and improves our dry Ground our Barren Land Isa 44.3 God saith he will pour water on him that is thirsty and Floods on the dry Ground And God thus explains the meaning of this Metaphor I will pour my Spirit on thy Seed and my Blessing on thy Off-spring We are by Nature a wretched dry and barren piece of Ground we did ly upon improvement to none but to the Heavenly Husbandman it was the second Adam only that could enrich such a hungry and dry Ground he that can give the Spirit as Rivers of Living Water John 7.37 38 39. He invites Sinners to come and drink
They that go a whoring from God shall be destroyed 2. Consider what is the great hindrance the grand obstruction of your Salvation Whether some Sin is not so sweet some Lust so pleasant and delightful that you will rather venture a miserable Eternity than part with it What is it that holds you Rom. 7.6 And what is it that you hold fast Jer. 9.5 There is some Adulterous League between you and your Lusts between your Hearts and the Creatures that hinders a lawful Marriage with Jesus Christ and an interest in his Salvation Do you not delight in some Abomination and therefore are unwilling to be made clean and set free from it 3. We must fly to Christ enter into this Ark get into this City of Refuge Men are said to be saved in the Lord with an everlasting Salvation Isa 45.17 We must look to Christ for Salvation Isa 45.22 Come to him for Life John 5.40 There is a believing to Salvation Heb. 10. last Salvation is in Christ 2 Tim. 2.10 Redemption is in Christ Rom. 3.24 and everlasting Life 1 John 5.11 Trust on Christ and not on the pieces of the Shipwrack as they Acts 27. last Some have Civility Morality a little Form of Religion all these are but the broken Planks of our old Shipwrackt state do not mistake a Truce for a Peace Embalming for Quickening it is Christ only that can be our Salvation and our Life We must see the Son and believe on him John 6.40 Acts 16.31 that we may see Salvation Luke 3.6 Though Noah was a Righteous Man yet he must leave his own Home and enter into the Ark that he might be saved from the Flood So those that have most of an inherent Righteousness must not stay at Home nor trust in themselves but fly to Christ the Ark of Salvation that they may be deliver'd from an Eternal Storm of Fire and Brimstone Psal 11.6 4. We must repent unto Salvation 2 Cor. 1.10 wash our Hearts from wickedness that we may be saved Jer. 4.14 We cannot fly from wrath Mat. 3.7 If we do not escape that Corruption that is in the World through Lust 2 Pet. 1.4 how can we drink Spiritual Poyson wallow in our Mires serve those Lusts that war against our Souls and yet be saved 1 Pet. 2.11 We must crucify the Flesh with its Affections and Lusts Gal. 5.24 It is these hurtful Lusts that do drown Men in Perdition and Destruction 1 Tim. 6.9 10. How can we be saved and yet retain that which keeps open the Breach keeps up the enmity between God and us Lusts do war against our Souls in good earnest and we must not be in jest with Sin or fight as those that beat the Air 1 Pet. 2.11 1 Cor. 9.26 5. We must work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling 2 Phil. 12 13. We must work upon and about our Salvation we must work more to perfect it there are things lacking in our Faith 1 Thes 3.10 We are defective in our Love and Holiness we must nor think we are rich enough are saved enough live enough we must not set any limits to Christ's Kingdom or bounds to our growth God bids us open our Mouth wide that he may fill it Psal 81.10 11. Christ came that his Sheep might have Life and have it more abundantly John 10.10 Saints should daily be drawing Spiritual Waters at the Wells of Salvation Isa 12.3 We must draw or else be dry we must draw or else decay and decline run behind hand and become poor What pains did Noah take in preparing for and building of the Ark and yet this was but the means of Temporal Salvation Noah was probably longer in building the Ark then we do live bere in the World and he did not give over till he had wrought out and finished this Vessel for his Temporal Salvation and shall we not all our Life long be working out and perfecting our Spiritual Salvation O tremble to neglect any means of Salvation or to use them slightly It is God that works in us both to will and do of his own meer good pleasure therefore we must not displease affront or provoke him by our Laziness or Slightness This is the great end and the proper improvement of God's long-suffering to account it Salvation 2 Pet. 1.15 that God spares us not that we might rise to Honour gather Wealth drink in sensual Pleasures and delight but that we might mind and pursue an Everlasting Salvation As God exercised long-suffering towards the Old World while the Ark was building 1 Pel. 3.20 so God lengthens out his Patience while the Elect are building up themselves on their most holy Faith and are perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 1 Cor. 7.1 Be therefore more renewed in the Spirit of your Minds Ephes 4.23 Let the word of God root deeper and let the Temple of God rise higher in you Let your Weeds be more rooted out your Filthiness be more purged away your Dross be more burnt up take heed of minding of and doting on Earthly things and of forgetting and neglecting your Eternal Salvation 6. We should order our Conversations aright Psal 50. last walk with God walk worthy of God to all well-pleasing 1 Col. 10.11 1 Thes 2.12 We must keep the way of Salvation walk in the path of Life and in the way everlasting Psal 159. last If we are guided by God's Counsel Psal 73. Psal 24. and led by his Spirit we shall be certainly received to his Glory 7. We should often consider that our Salvation draws every Day nearer Rom. 13.11.12 We advance in our Race we draw nearer to the Mark and Prize and this should mightily quicken and influence our Souls O think often of this that you are near the end of Time the Borders and Confines of Eternity you draw nearer to the glorious Presence of God and to an immediate and full Communion with him Should you flag or faint near the end of your Race should you grow drowsy and sleep at the Door of your Father's House near the Borders of Immanuel's Land O how should you rouse up your selves and consider you will soon be gone from the Lion's Den and Mountains of Leopards You will get out of this Barren Wilderness into the delicious pleasant Canaan that is above Salvation is ready to be revealed 1 Pet. 1.5 a full and perfect Salvation Christ will come as a Saviour from Heaven Phil. 3.20 His Life shall then perfectly be derived to the Soul and his Image be impressed on the Body Phil. 3.21 1 Cor. 15.48 Then you will be satisfied with his likeness and be fitted to have an immediate and everlasting Communion with him O think upon and make sure your Interest in this Salvation you will loose the greatest good and suffer the worst Evil if you come short of this Salvation Consider whether you have the things that accompany Salvation Heb 6.9 Have you the Graces that are joined with a state of Salvation
of Christ 1. It is a new Name that Jehovah the Son assumes if Adam had not fallen broken the Command defaced the Image extinguished the Life of God in his Soul there had been no need that the Son of God should have assumed this Name It doth not suit the state of Man standing but the condition of Man fallen and that in order to recover and raise him up If the Law of God had remained written Holiness and Righteousness had countinued flourishing in our Souls we should have been stiled the Friends of God and have needed no attoning Sacrifice to reconcile us to God But now we are destitute and void of Righteousness and so do need that Jehovah should take this Name and become our Righteousness It may be enquired whether Christ doth not point at this Scripture when he promises to write his new Name on victorious Believers Rev. 3.12 That this Name shall be openly legible and visible on them and that they shall have the honour and benefit of it to Eternity 2. This is a Name proper and peculiar to Jehovah the Son and cannot be extended or communicated to the Father or Spirit The Father is said to beget us again 1 Pet. 1.3 And to create us after his own Image Ephes 2.10 Ephes 4.24 And we are said to be born of and sanctified by the Spirit John 3.6 1 Cor. 6.11 But yet neither the Father nor the Spirit are said to be our Righteousness Our Saviour Christ is both the sole Worker and Subject of that Righteousness whereby we are Justified 3. This is a Mysterious Name it is asked by Agur who knows the Name of God's Son Prov. 30.4 Indeed we should never have been acquainted with this secret Name of the Son mentioned in the Text if the Scripture had not revealed it to us The Righteousness of God for our Justification is a great and deep Mystery most Remote from the Sentiments of the Natural Man and if Christ had hid it in his heart we should for ever have been ignorant of it Psal 40.9 10. The Son that wrought it doth also declare and Preach it to the World Would it not have looked like an unreasonable Presumption and have been reputed intollerable Pride for us to call Jehovah our Righteousness Could we ever have aspired to or hoped for such a thing had not the Scripture given Christ this Name and taught us this Doctrine What an amazing Mystery is this that when the Law of God requires us to work out a perfect Righteousness and perform a compleat Obedience for our own Justification that now the Son of God himself hath wrought and brought this Righteousness that he that might have exacted Righteousness of us should give Righteousness to us that he who as a Law-giver obliges us to a full Conformity to his own Law should become a Subject to his Father and a Servant to his own Law O! how surprizing is this that he who Teaches us Duty should himself learn Obedience Heb. 5.8 and become obedient to Death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.7.8 If Christ had not been made under the Law Gal. 4.4 he could not have been made Righteousness to us 1 Cor. 1.30 4. This is a most Honourable Name to Christ this is promised both as an Honour and as a Reward to Jesus Christ that he should justifie many Isai 53.11 How glorious is this to Christ that he is the Righteousness of the whole Church that he provides a Garment wide large and long enough to cloath his whole Body He appears in a Garment down to the Foot Revel 1.13 that can cover and adorn all his Members Though he be but one Man yet many may be justified by his Obedience Rom. 5.19 Though he be but one Sacrifice yet his Blood is shed for many for the Remission of sins Matth. 26.28 As the first Adam could defile thousands more if the World should so long continue so the second Adam could justifie thousands more if they did fly to him and trust on him God is as well satisfied as if the Curse had been executed on them that believe and they are as safe as if the Law of God had been Abrogated for them Believers are clothed with change of Rayment Zech. 3.4 This one Garment is styled change of Rayment it is as effectual to Clothe and adorn us as if every time we contracted New Guilt or Spotted our selves we were furnished with a new Garment this Righteousness of Christ is the only Righteousness of Men for Justification since their Fall It is an everlasting Righteousness Dan. 9.24 The Glory of it never fades the Virtue of it is never Exhausted it is a Righteousness that hath lasted through all Ages and will be effectual to the end of the World It is so large a Patrimony so rich an Inheritance that as Noah was so all Believers may be Heirs of the Righteousness that is by Faith Heb. 11.7 and this is glorious to Christ that he hath so filled up the Breach by his own dead Body and made it stronger than if the Wall of our Innoceny had never been broken 5. This Name of the Son of God is most comfortable to us How woful is our Natural State there is none in it Righteous no not one none that doth good no not one Rom. 3.10 11. All are under fin Rom. 3.9 all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God Rom. 3.23 They have failed in the Race of Obedience and are fallen short of the Prize of Glory And O how Refreshing and Reviving is this to hear that the Son of God brings near his Righteousness Isai 46.12 The World is a Sea of Wickedness an Ocean of Impiety Where could Righteousness be found or how could it be attained But this is a most surprizing and refreshing Truth that the Son of God Incarnate should be an Isle of Innocency and Righteousness standing up in the midst of a Sea of Corruption Theodoret in one of his Orations concerning Providence observes this as a wonderful Work of God to Create Isles as so many Inns in the Sea for Ships to apply themselves to rest in and receive necessary supplies from But this is more Grace and Mercy that we that are void of Righteousness laden with Iniquity and ready to sink into the Deep and Bottomless Sea of the Wrath of God may by Faith saile and swim to this blessed Isle of Righteousness the Lord Jesus Christ and there find rest and safety from the Tossing and Threatning Waves of Divine Displeasure It is dreadful for sin to be always and ever before the Lord Psal 109.14 15. but it is most sweet and comfortable for Christ's Blood to be sprinkled on the Thrones and to be always before the eye of God We were in darkness and horrour and ready to sink under desperation and then doth this Sun of Righteousness arise with healing under his wings Mal. 4.2 his glorious beams do scatter the thick and black clouds of our Iniquities Isai
say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my Sin Prov. 20.9.3 Who can understand his errours Psal 19.12.4 If thou Lord should mark Iniquity who shall stand Psal 130.3 4. Though Saints as Job in their pleadings with Men held fast their Integrity Job 27.6 yet they have let go all confidence in their own Works in their approaches to God We are all as an unclean thing and our Righteousnesses are but Filthy rags Isa 64.6 10. Abraham was long before he offered up Isaac a Beleiver and a Justified person Gen. 15.6 Abraham Believed in the Lord and he counted it to him for Righteousness it is very observable that we have no mention or Record made of Abraham's Faith and Justification till now though he was called effectually near Twenty years before And why is the mention of Abraham's Faith and Justification reserved till now I answer God now promises him that the Son that should come out of his own Bowels should be his Heir and that from this Son should Spring a Seed as Numerous as the Stars of Heaven Gen. 15.45 And in Isaac Christ was Typified and promised as Isaac was a Child Raised from the dead body of aged Abraham and the dead womb of old Barren Sarah so Jesus Christ should be raised from the Dead the Apostle Paul plainly parrallels these two things Rom. 4.19.24 Abraham saw Christ's day in the Promise and Birth of Isaac John 8.56 Therefore it was exceeding proper for Moses then to record Abraham's Faith in God when Jesus Christ was promised by whom we Believe in God 1 Pet. 1.21 As Abraham could not Believe in God but by the Promised Seed so we could not be Justified but through Christ Now Would Abraham go from trusting in the perfect Righteousness of the promised Seed to trust in his own defective Works and imperfect Righteousness Certain it is that there is but one way of Justification The Righteousness of God is Revealed from Faith to Faith Rom 1.17 It is not from Faith to Works but Faith at first and all along and at last apprehends this Righteousness of Christ and builds on it Therefore the Just is said to live by Faith Abraham was a Believer and Justified at his first effectual call yet Moses Testifies that many years after he Believed in God and he counted it to him for Righteousness so that Abraham's Faith acted on God through the promised Seed from first to last for Justification Here the Apostle might take ground for his assertion that the Righteousness of God was revealed from Faith to Faith Did Abraham begin in the Spirit as to his Justification and would he after this resort and repair to the Flesh to be perfected Did the Righteousness of the Messiah begin his Justification and was his own Righteousness to compleat it What would this be but to go from a Son of Righteousness Mal. 4.2 to a candle of Righteousness From a compleat ship to a broken plank From a beautiful and glorious garment to a Filthy Rag Gal. 3.27 Isa 64.6 From a sweet smelling Sacrifice to stinking and lothsom Dung Ephes 5.2 Phil. 3.8 9. 11. To assert a Second Justification before God by Works What is it but to confound the two Covenants to blend the Covenant of Works and Grace together and to form up a Bastard-Covenant that is not purely of Grace or wholy of Works but mixed and Compounded of both which the Scripture dis-claims as inconsistent Rom. 11.6 As Hagar and Sarah Ismael and Isaac could not quietly Dwell or peaceably abide together in one Family Hagar dispised Sarah Gen. 16.4 and Ismael mocked at Isaac Hagar first fled Gen. 16.6 7. and afterwards both Hagar and Ismael were cast out of Abraham's Tent Gen. 21.10 It is this seems to point at and Type out this great truth that the Covenant of Works and Grace of which these two Mothers were Types Galat. 4.24 Cannot be reconciled cannot consist together He that Beleives hath Everlasting Life John 5.24 John 6.54 And is this Title to Everlasting Life weak or crazy Must it be waved or needs it to be fortified by our Works Is it a good Title for one that begins but must another or better be sought in his progress 2. Object A second Objection is Raised by some against Christ's being our Righteousness that then we should be as Just and Righteous as Christ yea that we might be styled Saviours and Redeemers of the World I Answer This doth not follow for 1. The First Adam's Sin is imputed to us yet it is not true that we are as Great and Heinous Sinners as the First Adam We did not Exist in our own Persons as he did We did not receive a Law from God Immediately as he did or were in our own persons invested with a Lordship over all the Creatures and placed in Paradise as he was he was a publick but we are particular and private persons he Sinned in his own person we but in him Therefore though his Sin be imputed to us yet his guilt was greater than ours This parallel between the First and Second Adam may somewhat answer the Objection 2. Jesus Christ is the Author and Subject of this Righteousness but we are neither only it is imputed to us and bestowed on us 3. Jesus Christ's Righteousness is not imputed to us according to its full Value but our particular necessity as a pretious Jewel given for the Redemption of a hundred Captives None of them hath the whole Jewel given for him but it is given for every one of the hundred Captives according to his particular Exigence to obtain his liberty So Christ is said to give himself for the Church in general Ephes 5.25.26 yet every Believer according to his own need applies Jesus Christ to himself in particular as Paul did Christ he saith Loved me and gave himself for me Galat. 2.20 The Righteousness of Christ is not accounted our intrinsick Righteousness so indeed we should be Reputed Saviours It is imputed to us not according to its universal value but according to our particular necessity that we by it may be accounted Righteous It is imputed to us as the subjects have benefit by it but not as the causes of it as Amesius doth judiciously express it Object 3. Bellarmine further Objects that we may be perfect in this Life and so not at all need Christ's Righteousness We may see by this from whom our Quakers have taken their doctrine of Perfection It came out of Anti-Christ's Forge not out of Christ's School Answ 1. This Assertion that we may be perfect in this Life is most false and expresly contradicts the Scripture That there is not a Just Man on Earth that doth good and sinneth not Eccles 7.20 If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us 1 John 1.8 We cannot say we have no sin for we have Original sin yet remaining and dwelling in us The Leprosy of sin is not perfectly purged out of
control vile affections subdue and yield your Spirits to God You also are Priests first offering up your selves and then offering up Prayers and Praises to God Under Christ's Priesthood of Attonement there Springs up another Priesthood of Gratitude and Thanksgiving As on Christ the Altar God presents the Flesh and Blood of Jesus as Sustenance to us So on the same Altar we offer our Souls and Bodies and all Spiritual performances as precious Sacrifices to God Justification is joined with strength to resist and overcome Sin Isa 45.24 Surely shall one say in the Lord I have Righteousness and strength Jesus at once Satisfied for Sin and also curcified our old Man Rom. 6.6 Christ ruined the Natural Life of the First Adam he destroyed that Life and Body that is the Subject of Sin and the Members by which it is executed The animal Life is a great Temptation to Sin we are enticed by the Pleasures Profits and Honours that belong to it Christ therefore abolished it as an imperfect Life in himself that he might destroy it as a Sinful Life in us He pulled away the Earth in which this weed growes and pulled down as Sampson the very house in which our Lusts as Spiritual Philistines dwell as the first Adam's corrupt Nature passes with the guilt of Adam's first Sin so the new Nature of Jesus Christ passeth to Souls together with his Righteousness In the same Testament that Christ doth dispose Remission of Sins he doth also Bequeath a new Heart Ezek. 36.25 26. If God blots Sins out of his Book he will write his Laws also in our Hearts If he Reverse the Sentence of Death passed on us he will breath the Spirit of Life into us Those that are sprinkled with Christ's Blood are Redeemed from all Iniquity and consecrated to God As a Redeemed People they are obliged to be first Fruits to God Revel 14.4 and as a Regenrated People they are enabled to be First-fruits to God Jam. 1.18 Where Christ washes with his Blood he doth also anoint with his Spirit Are we adopted John 1.12 Have we power and right to be called the Sons of the living God Hos 1.10 Are we the Children of the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. last Justification is alwayes attended with Adoption Those that receive a white stone that is are absolved acquitted Justified from all their Sins they have also in this white Stone a new Name Revel 2.17 What is this new Name but the Name of a Child of God Adoption is an Amplification of our Justification We are not only pronounced as Righteous and owned as Friends but reputed and accepted as Sons and Daughters are nearly Related and greatly endeared to God Are you the Children of God not by Hagar the Bond Woman but by Sarah the Free Woman Do you serve with a free Spirit and not as slaves that have no delight in God and could wish his Law were totally abrogated 5. Do you love God and Christ Luk. 7.47 She loved much because much was Forgiven her When great debts are Remitted Heinous crimes are Pardoned deep Spots and Stains are fetched out this calls for highest and hottest Love He that covereth Transgessions seeketh Love Prov. 17.9 Then surely God and Christ have sought our Love by covering our Sins Psal 32.1 2. Our Iniquities are many ways aggravated and so are of a Scarlet and Crimson Dye Isa 1.18 And for this deep dye to be washed and fetched out and for them to become as white as Snow and Wool this is wonderful Mercy For a Sinner to be as much accepted with God as if he had never Offended and Transgressed Our Sins as Commited against God are Talents and as they have been multiplied 't is a debt of Ten Thousand Talents and for this whole debt to be freely Forgiven 2 Col. 13. And for the Blood of Christ to be the clean Water to purge away Sin Ezek. 36.25 Revel 1.5 this must needs warm and inlarge the Heart heighten and inflame the affections towards God If you do not give your Hearts to God if you do not set your Love on Christ it is a plain Sign that you have not Tasted of the Grace of God or experienced the Kindness of Christ in Forgiving your Sins 6. What free access have you to God and what joy and Delight have you in him Are your Consciences so perfected that is so perfectly purged that you dare to draw nigh to God and that with confidence Heb. 7.19 Heb. 10.19 It is a great thing to have boldness to enter into the Holiest Place and to approach to the Highest Majesty Heb. 12.23 Jisus Christ died to bring us to God 1 Pet. 3.18 Dare we to come to God the Judge of all as being assured he will not Condemn us Heb. 12.23 Do we rejoyce in God through our Lord Jesus Christ having now received the Atonement Rom. 5.11 Do we rejoyce in what God is to us in what he hath done for us and in what he farther designs towards us Can we Feast on Mount Ebal Deut. 27.7.13 14 15. where the Curses were Proclaimed Can we there Triumph because Christ Jesus hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law by being made a Curse for us Gal. 3.13 Are we so Justified in the Lord as to glory Isa 45. last In the Lord shall all the Seed of Israel be Justified and Glory Can you Glory over all Accusers and Accusations Do you glory in the Person in whom and in the Righteousness by which you are Justified there is no exception against the Person that Justifieth and there is no flaw or defect in the Righteousness that is imputed Surely shall one say in the Lord I have Righteousness so it is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is a full and compleat Righteousness in Christ as Christ Rising from the dead did carry away our Sins so he propagates a new Nature to the Redeemed Is our Justification matter of greatest joy to us Isa 61.10 I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord and joy in my God for he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness 7. Do you much Praise and Bless God for Reconciling and Pardoning of you Psal 103.12.3 Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me Bless his Holy Name who forgiveth all thine iniqutites O Lord I will Praise thee For thou wast angry with me but thine anger is turned away and thou dost comfort me Isa 12.1 In the times of the Gospel it is said Men shall shew forth the Praises of the Lord Isa 60.6 The time of the Gospel is as a Pleasant and Delightful Spring The Winter is past the Rain is over and gone the time of the Singing of Birds is now come Cant. 2.11 12. The Spring is as it were a mediator between the extreme cold of Winter and the excessive heat of Summer and so is a fit Emblem of the times of the Gospel in which Christ is Revealed as a Mediator between us that are so cold as