1. 2 3. Gall. 5. 13. 14. And such good use of the Law puts not beleivers under the Law nor genders to bondage but is profitablâ— for them but o the reproofs of the law which boâ—ed under and not answeâ—ing the end in flying to Christ which genders to bondage I speak not of in this discoâ—â—e but of the reproofs of instruction and turning thereat which is the way to reâ—eive spirit and life and so blessed freedome Pro. 1. 23. and 6. 23. * 2. Some have thought this pressing wisdomes repâ—oofs is not Gospel like because the Gospel is good news and glad tidings of peace and salvation an opening the door to life and immortality A pâ—eaching forgiveness peace and life and all to be received in beleiving and so cause of joy to all people as indeed it is Isa 52. 7. Rom. 10. 15. 2 Tim. 1. 10. Acts 13. 38. 39. Ioh. 3. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 36. Luke 2. 10. and this agrees well with all said in this discourse For Answ The asserting the reproofs of instruction to be received is Gospel language not ungospel like nor at all eclipseth any thing said of the gospel in these like places for glad tidings of salvation pardon peace life c. implyes loss danger misery sins and deserts of curse in those to whom such tidings come and to be acknowledged and confessed by such as beleive and receive those tidings Isa 53. 67. and 3. 13. 1 Tim. 1. 12. 13 14 15. Tit. 3. 3. 4. And indeed the affording and receiving such reproofs is very gospel-like every way For 2. Jesus Christ our Saviour the object discovered to us in the Gospel in his working redeâ—ption and salvation in himself for us he was fiâ—st abaâ—ed and sâ—ffered and made sin and dyed for us and then â—ose from the deâ—d ascended righâ—eous and offered himself a sacrifice for us and received all fulness of spiâ—it to send forth and â—o in his ministration of gospel he suffered and dyed and so through sufferings entred his glory leaving us an example and as by his suffering and death he made peace for us so by his reâ—uâ—rection it was compleated that it might be communicable to us for though he dyed to make peace yet had he not â—isen we could not have been justified by his blood and suitable to this it is that we be abased in our selves that by him we may be exalted as hath been shewn 2. Jesus Christ exalted and filled with the spirit the great Prophet in making known his Fathers name and the redemption wrought and salvation procured in and by himself for men and so having been crucified for us and discovering of himself the pardon peace righteousness and life in him he is therein set forth first for the raising again of many and so both killing and making alive Luke 23. 4. Deut. 32. 39. 1 Sam. 2. 6. 7. 8. and he sits upon unfeigned beleivers as resiners fire and a purifier and so is in them by his word A spring of living waters John 7. 38. and his spirit in the word breaths on the flesh and withereth the flesh and so quickens and enlivens the spirit Isa 40. 1. 8. Rom. 8. 10. suitable to which is that said in this Discourse 3 In his gratious call to behold and credit him in the demonstrations of his goodness it is to be saved by him and that is from goodness it is to be saved by him and that is from sin and evil as well as to enjoy quickning and life by him c. Isa 45. 22. And so from that salvation seen first to turn at his reproofs and then receive the pouring out his spirit and making known his words and so to repent and beleive the gospel Prov. 1. 23. Mar. 4. 15. And when so beleiving yet still to be denying themselves and receiving the reproofs of instruction that they may be denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and so receive more abundance of life to live and walk in the spirit Pro. 6. 23. and 9. 8. 9. and 15. 5. 31. and 17. 10. and 29. 75. and 25. 12. Tit. 2. 11 12. Gal. 5. 25. 26. so that receiving the reproofs of instruction is both gospel teaching and gospel like and the way rightly to receive the Gospel * 3. Some are ready to think this is a hinderance to the beleiving rejoycing in Christ and so to his chearful walking in faith and love and his drinking in spiritual consolations and so makes his life sad dumpish and unbeseeming But the Gospel it self doth answer this For Answ This hath before been proved false Chap. 3. and 4. and it is directly contrary to the plain testimony of this spirit that saith the reproofs of instruction are the way to life Prov. 6. 23. for right knowledge of Christ and spiritual things The rod and reproof give wisdome Prov. 29. 15. and the ear that heareth the reproof of life and abideth among the wise and getteth understanding Pro. 15. 31. 32. And the humble shall see his gratiousness and be glad Psal 69 32. â—he poor in spirit the mourners the meek blessed c. Matt. 5. 3 4 5. For God giveth grace to the humble and in due season exalteth them that humble themselves under his mighty hand Iam. 4 6. 1 Pet. 5. 5. 6. And makes darkness light before them Isa 42. 16. And so the eyes of the blind to see out of obseurity and darkness Isa 29. 18. Yea so satisfieth the afflicted soul that their light shall rise in obscurity and their darkness â—e as the noon day Isa 58. 10. yea to purge their beleif and confidence from mixtures he brings them to receive the sentence of death in themselves that they may trust only in him that raiseth the dead and so fits them with consolations suitable to their afflications 2 Cor. 1. 4 9 10. Sa as in patience possessing their souls they rejoyce in afflictions temptations and tribulations Rom. 5. 2. 3. 4. Jams 1. 2 3 4. True it is their heaâ—â— knoweth its own bitterness such as are strangers thereto intermeddle not with their joy Prov. 14. 10. and to such they may well appear as unknown while yet well known as dying while behold they live as chastned and not killed as sorrowful while yet alwayes rejoycing as poor while yet making many rich as having nothing while possessing all things 2 Cor. 6. 9. 10. Not did Pauls perswasion of the Terror of the Lord in minding the first branch of the testimony hinder his rejoycing and hope in Christ but salt oâ— season him for â—ight considering and hoping 2. Cor. 5. 11. Nor did the darkness Micha sitting in respect of Gods ordering providence and dispensation according to the second branch of the testimony hinder his rejoycing hope but season him for right considing and waiting Mich. 7. 7. 10. nor in looking to the third branch of the testimony did Habakkuks belly trembling lips quivering rottenness entring into his bones and trembling in himself at the voyce
salt with its saltness that our members on earth may be mortified and given up as weapons of righteousness unto righteousness Pro. 26. 3. Coll. 3. 5. 6. Rom. 6. 16. 19. Therefore in obedience to our Saviours command Let us have salt in our selves that is let us have it in our mind perswasion and usefulness as habituated and dwelling in us as the truth and righteousness of the spirit reprooving discoveries in the testimonies of Christ and the efficacies of it as mentioned Chapter 4. at 1. 2 3. have them habituated and dwelling in us And so have in us even all of them namely 1. That low and base estimate of our selves as Adams sons of our Wisdome as Folly our strength weakness our best deeds as filthy rags our sins vile our selves wretched and miserable which was discovered to us and effected in us in the appearance of the Grace of God in Christ Crucified for us Isa 53. 6. 2 Cor. 5. 14. Rom. 7. 14. 24. 25. 2. That more vile estimate and judging our selves base and vile in respect of our willing sinning after we came to understanding and had means used towards us which was effected in us in and by the appearance of the infinite mercy love and compassion of God in Christ to manward in calling us thereby when we were such foolish and disobedient ones overcoming evil with goodness Tit. 3. 3 4 5. 3. That faâ—ther low estimate of our selves in respect of our short answering that grace and great scantiness in likeness to him and many unkind usages and ill requitals of his love being in this respect with the former the chief of sinners which the infinite riches and excellencies of his grace dispensed and continued to such unworthy and ill requiting ones did in such appearance of it effect in us 1 Tim. 1. 15. 4. That contempt and low estimate of the fellowship friendship applause honours dignities riches and pleasures of this world and all the conceited righteousness and priviledges thereof which was effected in us in and by the excellency of the knowledge of Christ as discovered in the whole of the testimony of him to us Phil. 3. 3. 7 8 9. 5. That abhorring and hatred of Idolatry Perjury Blasphemy Profaness Murder Adultery lying oppression covetousness drunkness c. which was effected in us in the appearance and dispensation and our receipt of the mercy of God in forgiveness and righteousness and hope given us Psal 119. 110. 128. 6. That acknowledgement of our need that poorness of spirit with prizing of and hungring after Christ and his righteousness which was by his grace effected in us by and in our receiving of his grace and mercy in beleiving Isa 4. 2. Psal 119. 123 124. And herewith that loathing of our selves and love of him and his word and wayes Psal 119. 98 c. 7. That perswasion of the terror of the Lord and the terribleness of the second death with trembling at his word and judgements that was effected in us in our beholding and belief of the truth of his testimony when he drew us in to beleive in him 2 Cor. 5. 10. 11. Psal 119. 119 120. Let us not content our selves to say we have had but let us have all these habituated and dwelling in us in usefulness as mentioned Chap. 4. And so have salt in our selves And to move us hereto the command of our deer and loving Saviour so earnestly prest might be enough to prevail with us it being that which is good and equal And yet a word or two more may be added to warn us as that 1. It is required in and suitable to the teachings of the spirit in the testimony who in discovery of the knowledge of Christ the wisdome love mercy riches of grace righteousness and life in Christ and the mind of God in him to be desired beheld and received doth therein and thereby discover folly in us and waies as foreshewn with such strength of his as in accepting we might in that season turn at his reproof in disowning and so denying our own wisdome thoughts desires designs and waies which if then we do not the spirit will not be poured forth to us to make known his mind in his words and teach us so as this is suitable to his teachings and the way to understand and receive the same Prov. 1. 22 23 24. and 10. 17. and 12. 1. and 15. 31. 1 Cor. 3. 18. 2. The having this saltness in us is verily needful and necessary for us there being in us of that self wisdome will and sinful Iusts proceeding from the corrupt disposition in the flesh which the spirit in the testimony discovers sinful and to be denyed which if not denyed on his reproofs we can neither receive his tendred knowledge grace teachings and life nor walk after the spirit in his teachings but certainly errâ— and go astray Prov. 1. 29. 32 and 3. 7 8. and 10. 17. Tit. 2. 11 12. For 1. The Pride and corrupt disposition in us in the flesh will â—ise up in its Iusts even when we are hearing reading or meditating of the spirits testimony and his mind and sayings stirring with conceits of our own ability to understand with readiness to sancy an understanding Ioâ— 11. 12. And a thinking we know before that known â—ath its saving work in us Gall. 6. 3. 1 Cor. 8. 23. Yea a presuming to be salting and seasoning the sayings of the testimony which is to salt and season us which not receiving we count hard dangerous and absurd and so would be seasoning them to make them easie and safe to our conceptions Iohn 33. 27. and 21. 22. Prov. 3. 2. 6. Isa 40. 13. 14. with other vain thoughts and Iusts many which if at the reproofs of the testimony we do not disown and deny we certainly e rt and cannot rightly receive his grace savingly to our selves nor be accepted of God Psal 2. 3. nor find knowledge Pro. 15. 12. 31. 32. and 14. 6. and 12. 11. 1 Cor. 3. 18. 19. 2. This Pride and corrupt disposition stirreth and moveth when God in the meanes is by and according to the testimony tendred to us forgiveness mercy peace instruction consolation and spiritual gifts And when we approach to God in hearing prayer praise or fellowship with brethren And when we are declaring the word to others c. to conceit of our own furniture and ability to receive and do to aspiring after more then seen in the testimony to desires of applanse to ones self vain glory selâ—advancement and prehemenency above others and many wandrings and fleshly lusts besides Rom. 7. 21. 23. 1 Cor. 4. 6. Gall. 1. 11. and 5. 17. 4. and 4. 2. 3. which if not denyed at the reproofs of the spirit in that testimony c. 3. In that which pertains to ones self for conversation and managing affairs in this life this corrupt disposition in the flesh raiseth motions of Pride self exaltation and satisfying and so to inordinate affections
many Afflictions and Tribulations enter his Kingdome as he through sufferings entred his glory and the power of the life of Christ in the Testimony may be manifested in our mortal and dying Flesh Act 14. 22. Luk. 24. 26. 2 Tim. 3. 12. 2 Cor. 4. 10 11 16. And so when by the Testimony of Christ men are called and brought in to beleeve him then as God in Christ and so Christ by his Spirit chooseth and refineth such beleevers seperating them from the Union and Fellowship of the World and bâ—inging them into further Union and Fellowship with himself to receive more abundance of his Gâ—ace to bâ—ing them to glory By the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth framing them to be obedient to the blood of sprinkling 2 Thes 2. 13 14. 1 Pet. 1. 1 2. So also press home and to make effectual and prevelent this choosing work he salteth them with these reproofs and afflictions and â—â—ery trials and so chooseth through the Furnace of afflictions Isa 48. 10 11. Gal. 6. 14. Psal 94. 12. And so as oft and as much as need is every Sacrifice even every Beleever shall be salted with Salt all which serveth to pâ—ess Beleevers to and recieve this salting what ever of the flesh it fret and consume and what ever seen or temporary again we lose thereby or trouble undergo Yea so in indâ—â—ing and feeling the smart it causeth that we may tremble in our selves that we may say that it is better now and after and find rest in the day of trouble Heb. 3. 16 17 18. which receiving ouâ— Saviours Councel here foregiven Suits well with that admonition given Luk. 14. 25 35. And as in the sence said every Beleever shall be salted with Salt so likewise in the other sence 2. every spiritual Sacrifiâ—e that Beleevers offer to God by Christ or in his name shall in their offerings be salted with Salt For â—ight understanding this the Testimony must be our guide and attend to it it will help us â—ightly to understand for in belief of the Testimony we are taught by it that 1. The Sacrifices here spoken of are spiritual Sacrifices though ouâ—waâ—d and able and visible things be used in offering many of them yet the Sacrifices be spiritual Sacrifices such as are offered spiritually and by not bodily but spiritual Preists in which is neither Male nor Female as in Church offices and Officers here but all one in Christ Jesus And though Church chosen Officers may be also spiritual Preists and may also so offer yet these Sacrifices are spiritual Sacrifices and are offered by such â—s are and as they are spiritual Preists 1 Pet. 2. 4. 5 9. Gall. 3. 27. 28. Coll. 3. 10 11. 2. These Sacrifices are Sacrifices of Righteousness that are to be offered to God And so Pâ—al 4. 5. Produced by the righteous Sacrifice that is the Sacrifice of compleat righteousness Iesus Christ in his own body offered to God this beleâ—ved is the Producer Psal 50. 5 14. And so it is offered to God by and through Christ in the belief of his Name who also peâ—fumes and makes them acceptable 1 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 13. 15. and 7. â—5 Revel 8. 3 4 And Soul so offered to God with righteousness and righteously in râ—â—driâ—g to him the glory and praise due unto his Name Psal 29. 1 2. and 15. 14 23. 1 Theâ— 5. 18. And affording to men â—nd bâ—eâ—hâ—en â—hat whiâ—h is due to them Isa 26. 8. and 16. 8. Mar. 11 24 25 So. 3. That these spiritual Sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Christ first they are many and so exprest also Psal 5â— 17 1. A broken Spirit and contrite heart a heart from the sight and belief of the mind love and holiness of God demonstrated in and through Christ broken of its own wisdom well thoughts confidences and designs abâ—sed and made loathsome in and to it self filled with grief and sorrow for its contraryness to God and sinning against so great holy and gtatious a God with indignation against ones self for such offences even trembling at his Word and falling low before them by it to be at his dispose and bear his chastisements longing for his mercy Psal 51. 17. Isa 57. 17. and 66. 2. Yea all Sacrifices are to be with such a heart which is a Sacrifice also 2. Hearty Pyayers to God for the good things he hath promised with Thanksgiving for his mercies benefits and good things received that he hath extended to us and those also promised Psal 62. 8. and 65. 2 4. and 50. 14 15 23. 1 Thes 5. 17. 18. 3. To do good that which is righteous and may be profitable and edifying to men and make for truth and peace And with this to communicate of what God makes us stâ—ongly of and furnisheth us with in shewing mercy and relieving the poor and needy specially them of the Houshold of Faith Heb. 13. 16. Gall. 6. 10. Phill. 4. 8. 2 Cor 9. 9 15. 4. In and with all the former to hold forth the word of life in word and conversation among a wicked generation and for edifying brethren with desire in all things to glorifie God and approve our hearts to him and be found honest and decent towards men Phil. 2. 15 16 17. 1 Pet. 2 9 12. Ephes 4. 29 32. Heb. 13. 16 18. Rom. 15. 16. 5. To aime at endeavour and strive in all this also to convince the unbeleevers that we may gain them in to believe and so to glorifie not us but God that so we may present them singly to Christ that he may present them to God Acts 14. 15. 2 Cor. 4 5. and 11. 2. Rom. 15. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 5 9 12. Num. 5. 20. 6. In and for doing all this by the mercies of God to present ouâ— bodies a living Sacrifice holy as the Lords and acceptable through Christ to be the Lords to be disposed ordered and so offered by him to do undergo and forgo what ever hâ—s Mercy and Grace requireth and leadeth to in services of him which is but our reasonable service facilating that more spiritual Rom. 12. 1 2 3. These and such like are the Sacrifices for Beleevers to offer to God by Christ and of these it is said every Sacrifice even every of these and every particular offering and every of these shall be salted with Salt This affirmed by our Saviour and it is needful and profitable for Beleevers who have sin yet remaining in their flesh with its thoughts and lusts and the World with its Documents Customes Allurements and Terrors and the Devil with his wises and suggestions all assâ—iâ—â—ing them to divert and corrupt them and turn them out of the way yea so as if they cannot hinder them from it yet they will defile them so as as there may 1. Be in our conâ—iâ—ion a mixture of worldly sorrow of some murmuring grudging and impatience for some loss deprivation and pain yet pretended sorrow for sin or
otherwise some mixture of rest or confidence in their brokeness as thereby counting themselves better then others and meeter to be answered and some secret hankering after some thing for helpfulness in that which is reproved and to be turned from all which is cross to true brokeness and needeth to be purged out with Salt 2 Cor. 7. 9. 10 Isa 58. 53. Zach. 7. 5. Psal 7â— 34 36. Iob 9. 27 28. 2. In our prayers and thanksgivingâ— may be mixtures of carnal at last humane wisdome griefs desires and confidence and of desiring even good things to satisfie our lusts of pride own vain glory ease or coveteousness Yea of revenge on Enemies and of repaying and not forgiving such as have wronged us And of striving for method and words more then the single powering out our hearts unto God besides murmuring at Gods silence and too much being lift up with enlargements besides many wandring by-thoughts and end and other defilements many which defile our Prayers and need Salt to purge them out 1 Tim. 2. 8. Psal 116. 13. 14 15 and 66 18. Isa 48. 2 3 Hos 7. 14. Iam. 1. 6 7. and 4 2 3. 3. In doing good and shewing mercy may be many mixtures of carnal reasonings and self respects and defaming such as need helpfulness and herein also much short coming in and grudging at that which of necessity is done and vain glory c. 2 Cor. 9. 5 6 7. needing salt to purge 4. In holding forth the word of life may be mixtures of fears fainting and humoring men c. desire of applause to our selves and thence presuming beyond the proportion of Faith given us and intruding into things not seen in that testimony conceiving by our parts and speakings to prove all besides other by-words which need salt to purge them out 1 Tim. 1. 8 1 Thess 2. 2 4 5. 2 Cor. 2. 17. Rom. 12 3. Coll. 2. Gall. 6. 3. 5. In respect of aiming at the right effect and striving for it there may be mixtures of enquiring and looking at and taking at and takeing content in being assisted to speak good things and scurvey hearers to like them and prize and love us when yet the convincement of them and drawing them in to prize beleive in and magnifie Christ is not discerned to be effected nor so looked at as that without which we can have no content but grief Gall. 4. 17 19. Thess 3. 8. 6. In giving up our bodies to be the Lords what resurvations and limitations if not as those Luke 9. 59. 61. Iohn 6. 26. But alass defilements exceeds all said the flesh anoying with so many sinful lusts and warring against all the motion of the spirit and humane wisdome mixing it self to direct and customes of many to deviate and we so weak of our selves that there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not Eccles 7. 20. yea in such walking in the light as we have fellowship with him we need as it is not without his blood cleansing us from all sin 1 Iohn 1. 7 8 9 10. So as this is a consolatory as well as an admonitory saying Every sacrifice shall be salted with salt And it may move us to see to answer that in truth which was typed in the command of old with all our offeriâ—gs to offer salt and not let salt be lacking to our sacrifices Levit. 2. 13. For as the blind the lame or sick or any corrupt thing is evil and rejected So that which hath an evil savour will not be accepted of the Lord Mall 1. 8. 14. and 2. 13. And our high Priest will not fail to afford Salt which may move us to receive imbrace and retain this salt in his wholsome reproofs so as we be framed and seasoned thereby and as we are found wanting in such embracement of them to count it good and accept his chastisments used to press them home that they may take place and have their efficacies in us whatever we undergoe or forgoe in enduring the same knowing according to our Saviours saying Its better to endure that now then the greater torment hereafter And farther to press this on us and move us to embrace this salting work our Saviour gives another affirmative CHAP. IV. The third Affirmation with caution or condition SAlt is good but if the salt have lost its saltness wherewith will you season it consider both First the affirmation salt is good so Luke 14. 34 Salt is good and for understanding this consider 1. What is meant by salt and also 2. That salt is good while it hath its saltness in its efficacies 1. What is here meant by Salt to understand this it matters not whether we take the term Salt as used Metaphorically borrowed from or alluding to Salt That is good having a firy biting and fretring nature both to purge out that corruption filth and unsavoriness in meats to be eaten and also to make the same savory and relishable to the Pallate of the eater so here to signify something in spirituals of like nature and efficacy or whether we take the term Salt as Alluding to our tipes that were to use salt in all their sacrifices and to signifie and set forth that which is to be found in the truth or we may take the word both waies for both come to one and the same sence so that by salt is here meant that which tends to is fit for and effications for purging out the corruption filth and unsavoâ—iness in us and making relishable to us the food of life given us of God to eat and also to purge out of our services that which makes them unsavoâ—y to God and frame us to receive that in which they will be accepted of God And so that primely here to be noted is what is here meant by salt that is spiritual salt to be received used and good in the use and this may be set sorth in three things that are salt 1. The efficacies oâ— teachings of the spirit in the testimony of Christ in that he became and suffered and hath dore for mankind and what he now doth for and to them and what he hath to be slow on them that receive it and his mind that they should receive it in his wayes this discovered and set home to the heart is that which received and beleived will season the receiver For this certainly discovers in and through the Sufferings Cross and Sacrifice of Christ 1 The vileness and baseness of man in and of himself as from Adam the immensness of his sinfulness and woful grievousness of his desert the vanity of all his own wrought righteousness the weakness and inability of himself and all other creatures to help him so to take down his pride and break him of his enterprize Isay 53. 3. 8. Rom. 5. 6 and 8. 3. 2 Cor. 5. 14. 2 The fulness fitness and excellencies that is in Jesus Christ for our recovery for escape from curse and for peace