A TREATISE CONCERNING the free grace of God the Father and of the love of Jesus Christ In which is contained the Fountain of precious Consolation to all the Saints beloved and redeemed PSAL. 46 4. Yet there is a river whose streames make glad the city of God even the sanctuary of the tabernacles of the most High By TIMOTHIE BATT LONDON Printed by T. P. and M. S. for Ed. Blackmore at the Angel in Pauls Churchyard 1643. TO THE BELOVED Churches in God the FATHER and in IESUS CHRIST the blessed Redeemer living in Transilvania sanctified in Christ Jesus grace and mercie be multiplied from God our Father and from Jesus Christ whom he hath sent DEarly beloved seeing we are bound by the deare love of Christ not to conceal the mind of Christ and that we are not our own but every one bound by the bond of dear affection to tender the good one of another not onely in temporall and common affairs but also in spirituall and celestiall matters and not to retain as churlish Nabal but rather dispence as Booz unto Ruth I therefore upon the aforesaid considerations am determined according to the strength and power which Christ hath given unto me to bring to the view of the Saints this heavenly Doctrine of free grace of vocation by the Spirit of Adoption of Mediation by the Lord of life and glory of Reconciliation by his blood of sanctification by the Spirit of union through faith and love and of glorification through that sweet communion which we shall injoy in him who is the Lord of life and blessednesse for ever To whom shall I present these lines except to you who know the mysterie of life and salvation who are heires and coheires with God in Christ who have interest in all that is the Fathers and Jesus Christs whom he hath sent and walke in the light as Christ is the light of truth and Redemption I am perswaded of your intire loves and affections to the Word of life and salvation and that nothing is so dear unto you as to heare of the praise of your beloved In the true knowledge of what is Christs consists the true solace of heart joy in conscience and contentment of mind What joy what peace what consolation can be without this knowledge that God communicates to his grace undeserving that they are called from the kingdome of Satan to the kingdome of Christ that they who were slaves and captives of hell are made the brethren of Christ that they are united to the beloved Christ from whom they receive their being and well-being that they are sanctified by the Spirit of life which frees them from the law of sinne and death that they are clothed with the royall robes of Christ and that they shall for ever dwell with Christ in the heavenly Jerusalem This fountain is as Gileads balme and Damascus rivers As a continuall spring of the sweetest repast as a fountaine of over-flowing pleasures and the delightsome delectation of all the faithfull Hath eyes seen hath eares heard or mind conceived the admirable joyes that God hath laid up for them that love him or hath eye seen eare heard or mind conceived the singular consolation which comes from the knowledge of these to the Saints through the hand of a Mediator Was Jacob joyfull because Joseph was yet alive was Isaac comforted because of Rebeckah his wife and may not the Saints be consolated in this divine love and favour through the testimonie of the Spirit O the height of favour O the deepnesse of love O the breadth of grace and the longitude of free immense and in comprehense mercie of God to his poore servants that the clouds are discussed the mists and foggs of darknesse dispersed and the Saints behold the mirror of divine glory in the face of Jesus Christ I confesse beloved brethren that my talents in number answereth his who had but two and the composure of these lines are as the gleanings of the vintage yet doubt I not of your loving and sweet acceptation therefore I rest upon your loving acceptance yet will I never rest nor cease day and night imploring and beseeching the Father of supereminent grace and bountie to seal these spirituall and heavenly benedictions to your souls wishing your strength like Judah's your blessing like Josephs and your triumph like Gads through the good will of him who was in the bush and the sweet pleasure of him who died on the Crosse that so you may be preserved from miserie unto eternall felicitie through the Son of everlasting righteousnesse and glory to whom be ascribed all glory and honour for ever and evermore Amen Yours in all love and dear affection in the Rock Christ TIMOTHEUS BATT TO THE CHRISTIAN READER Christian Reader THou art not ignorant that the barren ground is not answerable to the fruitfull soyle notwithstanding through the dewie drops which cometh from the clouds it yeeldeth fruits for the use of man Though that the expressions of lines do not superabound with the sweetnesse of phrase or curiousnesse of stile yet according to the strength which from Christ I have received I have not been wanting for thy use or benefit Insensible creatures expresse according to that which to them is communicated and shall not man who is a sensible creature expresse according to communication The divine and abundant love of God binds not onely life but pen to move if it may make for his glory and the honour of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Both the great and little foxes run abroad to obscure the doctrine of grace and justification It is neither knowne to the Papists nor taught in the Churches of Arminians it is our Crown and dignitie not onely to hold forth the Word of life and salvation by preaching but also by writing Light is given to the Sun that the lower region might be enlightned In the plejades is placed the strengths of influence that of inferior things it might be received The end of Gods donation to rationals is that to others it might be revealed Every element moves to its proper place the earth and water downward and aire and fire upward every good Christian moves to his proper end to wit to the glory of his Maker and the good of his brethren If a man plants a vineyard it yeelds its fruits in time convenient If we have spent our labours in studies shall it not be declared in time expedient What is hotter then fire Love Love as a fire within my breast hath burned a long season Therefore I could not chuse but set my pen to paper in the course of indictment these have I not indicted because they are not known but because they are known or that the yongnes of dayes could equall the gravest sentences of the ancient or that my ambition is to answer the meanest of Rhetoricians but because my candle is lighted and two talents must not be interred sith that for the benefit of others it is
John 5.8 And there are three that bear witnesse in earth the Spirit and the water and blood and these three agree in one 1. Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ 19. Whosoever are under the Covenant of grace are not under the Law but under grace not under the jurisdiction of the devill but under the rule and command of Christ not under the dominion of sin and transgression but under the Regiment of the Spirit of life and adoption Rom. 8.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God 20. The faithfull after the time they are assured that God is their God through the Covenant of free grace and mercie are wholly removed from the barre of justice to heare what tydings of peace mercy and salvation shall come from the throne of grace and mercie Hebr. 12.18 19 20 21 22 23 24. 21. The Covenant of grace is smitten with the faithfull in Christ the onely and absolute Mediatour before they come to the true and effectual assurance thereof in their hearts and consciences 22. The joy of the holy Ghost doth then fill the hearts of the faithfull when in the receiving the seals of the Covenant they through the act of faith do firmly and strongly behold the marvellous and exceeding freenesse of that to them undeserving 1. Tim. 1.14 15. the 14. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 15. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief 23. If any man would have assured confidence that he shall live immortally and that grace communicated to him shall never be removed or extinguished let him turn his eye upon the freenesse and newnesse of the new Covenant established and confirmed to him in the hand of a Mediatour Hebr. 8.6 24. The Morall Law is no part of the new Covenant in equalitie and substance it is the same which was made with Adam in his innocency and integritie Gal. 3.12 And the law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them 25. As the Father of admirable love and kindnesse makes his covenant with his in Christ so doth every Christian make his covenant with God in Christ sith that in himself there is nothing but indigencie want and deficiencie and that through Christ the fountaine and well-spring of fulnesse and excellencie he may receive sufficient to performe what he hath promised to God-ward for his own particular Joh. 15.5 I am the Vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing 26. Our covenant is an holy resignation of soule and body to serve obey feare and love God our deare and loving Father and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent in answer to that free Covenant which he hath made to us in Christ when he chose us to be a peculiar people zealous of good works Rom. 12.1 I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service Tit. 2.14 Who gave himselfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquitie and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Contemplation THe eye that seeth the eare that heareth the mind that conceiveth the immense and incomprence love of God to his may admire that God through grace should make a new covenant of grace to his people undeserving grace he saw them in their blood defiled stained spotted and impure yet he chose and did not refuse them in that wofull state and condition Though they were unfaithfull to God in the first covenant he is faithfull to them in the second through the breach of the first they lost all through the help of Christ in the second they recover all in that they stood not in the first they shut the gates of heaven upon themselves through or by vertue of the second heaven is open for them to have free entrance though the Law of works speak bitter heavy and terrible things to the conscience yet the second speaks not of bitternesse dreadfulnesse or terriblenesse but of favour bountie and benignitie to the soule or spirit The first was in the hand of man the second in the hand of Christ Hence it is so fast strong and permanent that neither heights nor depths principalities nor powers neither dominions nor the prince of darknesse with all his rabble can anihilate disanull or bring to nothing O Christian whilest thou art comprehended behold that which is incomprehensible whilest thou art measured behold that which is immeasurable whilest thou ponderest of something ponder of that which is unutterable Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out CHAP. IIII. Concerning Vnion Definition 1. VNion is the work of the Spirit of Christ through faith whereby the Saints are united unto Christ and to the Father in Christ to the end they may enjoy communion in the promises and benefits of Christ in the state of grace and in the estate of glory everlasting beatitude and perfection 1. Cor. 6.17 But he that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit 1. Cor. 3.22 Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods 2. The faithfull are not onely united to Christ by faith as the instrumentall cause by the Spirit the cause principalliter operans but also by the blood of Christ as the cause materiall Ephes 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ 3. It hath not onely been the divine pleasure or benevolence of our heavenly Father that we should be united to his dearly beloved Son by nature but that we should be united to him by a secret and mysticall union Joh. 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me 4. The Son of God took upon him the humane nature of mankind through which he is joyned to all men but that is infirme and weake and not able to bring us to eternall glory without the union mysticall I in them and they in me c. Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold
Sanctification infancy and strong age the one is in the estate of grace the other in the estate of felicitie and glory 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 3. In Sanctification there are two parts considerable 1. Mortification 2. Vivification 4. Mortification is the first part of Sanctification through which sinne is mortified and the force thereof weakned and abated Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sinne might be destroyed that henceforth we might not serve sinne 5. Vivification is the second part of Sanctification through which the Image of God is restored and renewed 1 Cor. 15.49 And as we have borne the Image of the earthly we shall also beare the Image of the heavenly 6. The efficient and absolute cause is the Father of eternall grace and mercies 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soule and body be preserved blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7. The meritorious or formall cause the precious deare bloud of the Lord Christ that bought us Heb. 10.10 By the which will wee are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all Heb. 10.29 Oh how much sorer punishment suppose yee shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under-foote the Sonne of God and hath counted the bloud of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace 8. The instrumentall cause of our Sanctification is the precious and sanctifying Word of the Lord Jesus Joh. 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy truth thy Word is truth 9. The spirit of life and glory is the cause principally working and perfecting of our Sanctification Hence the Spirit of Christ is tearmed the Spirit of Sanctification Rom. 1.4 10. There is an inseparable lincke and conjunction betwixt the act of Justification by or through the righteousnesse of the Lord our righteousnesse and the act of Sanctification through the Spirit of life and Adoption The ground is this Sith the end of Justification through the love of God and righteousnesse of Christ is the holinesse of our lives and conversations 11. Whilest the inabilitie of man is insufficient to mortifie sinne transgression and iniquitie the Spirit of life and consolation worketh faith in the hearts of the faithfull which layeth hold on the deare bloud and precious death of the Lord Christ which draweth strength from thence to the utter subduing and mortifying of corruption Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge your conscience from dead workes to serve the living God Rom. 6.8 9 10. Now if we be dead with Christ we beleeve that we shall also live with him Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion over him For in that he dyed he dyed unto sinne once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God 12. Whilest man is insufficient to restore againe the Image of God which he lost in Paradise to him is given the Spirit of life through which he is freed from the Law of sinne and death and raised againe to live by the life and resurrection of Christ Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death Rom. 8.11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you 13. The New Creature reconciled through bloud justified through righteousnesse and sanctified by the Spirit is really absolutely freed from blame reproofe and sinne in the sight of God the Father 2 Cor. 5.17 Coll. 1.22 Vide. 14. As God hath glory by faith in his promise love to his Name and hope in his salvation so he hath glory by holinesse and sanctitie in our lives and conversations Rom. 4.20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbeliefe But was strong in faith giving glory to God Joh. 17 10. And all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 15. Though the Father of glory and God of all consolation give us life eternall without the desert of holinesse and sanctification yet he doth not give the joy of the Spirit supply of grace without the meanes of sanctimony or sanctification Act. 10.43 44. Vide. 16. Answerable to the sence of Gods divine favour the apprehension of the divine love of Christ and the over-fillings and over-flowings of the joy of the Spirit so is the faithfulls progresse to the high calling of God in Christ Phil. 3.14 I presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus 17. So farre as our sanctification or holinesse is an assurance of our glory and blessednesse hereafter that it shall receive the crowne of hope and approbation in the day of Judgement and that through it we glorifie our heavenly Father before the sonnes of men we may rejoyce before God with an assured confidence Act. 24.14 15 16. But this I confesse unto thee that after the way which they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers beleeving all things which are written in the Law and the Prephets And have hope towards God which they themselves also allow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust And herein doe I exercise my selfe to have alwayes a conscience voyde of offence towards God and men 18. Not the terrors of the Law the feare of hell the dread of Justice nor the affrightment through condemnation ought to move the Saints to the obedience of the Gospel of life and salvation sith they are bound to the obedience thereof by the love of God a reconciled Father and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Joh. 15.12 This is my Commandement that yee love one another as I have loved you Joh. 14.15 If yee love me keepe my Commandements 19. Though the Saints for their sanctitie and holinesse are not assured of life and immortalitie yet without sanctitie and holinesse they are not assured of beatitude and glory Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord. 20. When the faithfull doe not consider their justified estate and condition and their glorious presentation through the act of reconciliation but opposeth and compareth their works with the Commands and Precepts of the Morall Law It doth possesse them with dreadfull griefe and woefull sorrow Heb. 12.18 19 20
my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world 5. This union is produced through effectuall vocation through which the Saints are brought from the worlds delectation to love the Lord Christ with a deare entire and tender affection 1. Cor. 1.9 God is faithfull by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Sonne Jesus Christ our Lord. Cant. 1.2 Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better then wine 6. By how much the Saints feele the sence of Gods deare and sweet bountie and injoy sweet communion with their Lord that bought them by so much the more they rejoyce in the love and fellowship one of another 1. Joh. 1.7 But if we walk in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Sonne cleanseth us from all sinne 7. There is so strong an union betwixt Christ and his Saints that there is no need of his corporall presence in this vaile of miserie sith more excellent benefits redounds to the Saints by his presence in heaven then if he should remaine on earth Hence he is said to have consummated the work of our redemption to sit at the right hand of God to make intercession for us and to go to his Father to provide for us an habitation Joh. 14.3 And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that Where I am there ye might be also 8. The greatest dignitie under heaven is to be a member of Jesus Christ a branch of the vine Christ and one of the spouses to Christ our royall and loving Bridegroome Hence the Church glories in her priviledge Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his he feedeth among the Lillies Revel 19.7 8 9. Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour unto him for the marriage of the Lambe is come and his wife hath made her self ready 8. And to her was granted that she should be arayed in fine linen cleane and white for the fine linen is the righteousnesse of Saints 9. And he saith unto me Write blessed are they which are called to the marriage of the Lambe 9. All the strength power might of all the enemies of salvation cannot separate the branches from the vine the members from the head or the spouses of the Lord Christ from Christ her deare and loving Bridegroome Because they are made perfect in one through union with Christ and with the Father in Christ Joh. 17.23 10. Christ by the grace of complement will crown all his absolutely with full fruition in the kingdome of beatitude and with the grace of supplement in the kingdome of grace and primary communion that they might not want in the day of fiery trials a supply by his gracious hand of dispensation Revel 22.5 And there shall be no light there and they need no candle neither light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reigne for ever and ever Joh. 1.16 And of his fulnesse have all we received and grace for grace 11. There is an inseparable linke betwixt union with Christ the peace and obsignation of the Spirit of glory and the fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse to the glory of the Father Joh. 15.5.8 the 5. I am the vine ye are the branches He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing The 8. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my disciples 12. The united have interest in God through Christ from whom they receive the spirit of Adoption which worketh in them effectually that they might be delivered from sin and regenerated to the hope of eternall life 1. Cor. 3.22 Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours 1. Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which ac-according to his abundant mercie hath begotten us againe unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Josus Christ from the dead 13. The members of Christ are moved by the same Spirit known by the same badge of love fruit and charitie and have the same end which is life eternall and salvation Joh. 15.16 Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine that whatsoever ye shall aske of the Father in my Name he may give it you 1. Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls 14. Though the Saints who are united unto Christ may appear to be dead in themselves yet the life which they received in their first communion and union with Christ cannot be utterly abolished or extinguished The ground is this sith there is an inseparable conjunction betwixt the perpetuall communion and everlasting union of the Saints with and in Christ their Lord that loved them and bought them with an eternall worth or price impervestigable Contemplation VVHo could search the depth of the waters of the Sanctuary or who can search the depth of this glorious and heavenly mystery It is a mystery of mysteries a depth of depths and a riddle past finding out If I had the tongue of a thousand Angells the rationality of a thousand men yet could I not relate the excellency of this union betwixt Christ and the soule and the soule and Christ Rare is the influence of celestiall bodies in sublunary creatures Rare is the vitall motion in rationall creatures but more is the working of Christ in them who are his redeemed and united people O my soule when thou wast as far from Christ as heaven is from hell as the East is from the West the North from the South thy Lord came by his oyntments powred out by his drops of liquid myrrhe by his precious incomparable bloud and made thee one with him who was so distant from him thou wast a dead branch fit for the everlasting burnings thou wast a dead member fit for hells interring thou wast a divorced Spouse not worthy of enjoying yet his eye of love was deare over thee and thy Lord hath made thee a branch not of hell but of the Vine of Consolation a member not of death but of himselfe the head of his Church and sweet dilection a Spouse not of an earthly Prince and Monarch but to himselfe the beloved his Fathers delectation Oh! what love is this that my Lord should goe to the gates of death the barres of hell to the tribunall seate of Justice to the chained under the blacke swadle bands of the devill and fetch my soule from thence and make me one of his Oh! what mercy is this to my soule that my Lord is become my Bridegroom to satisfie me with pleasurable and delectable delights my head to fill me with wisdome
convenient they should be used these presented passing thy meditation expect not the strongnesse of the aged or the boughes of a Cedar from a twig but let thy wisdome and discretion Christian Reader passe by the weaknes of the writer More must not be expected then is communicated therefore it is not meet that acceptation should be further requested yet requesting that the benefit of these may be to thy conscience sealed that thou mayst live and not die that thou mayest die and live no more to the creature but to God blessed for ever To whom be ascribed all blessednesse through Christ Jesus for evermore Thine in the Lord Christ beloved of the Father and respected of the Saints Timothie Batt The Table of the severall Heads contained in this Book 1. Of Grace 2. Of Election 3. Of the Covenant of Grace 4. Of Vnion 5. Of Vocation 6. Of Adoption 7. Of Redemption 8. Of Christs Mediation 9. Of Reconciliation 10. Of Justification 11. Of Sanctification 12. Of Glorification CHAP. I. Concerning Grace Definition 1. THe Hebrew word Chen from Chanan doth signifie to pitie The Greeke ward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from charistomaj signifies to shew kindnesse to a man immeriting or undeserving Definition 2. Grace is the free benevolence or gracious favour of God the Father in Christ through which he loves his chosen and peculiar people remitting their transgressions imputing them just and righteous and bestowing on them the spirit of Adoption and eternall hope and benediction Jer. 31.33 34. I will be their God and they shall be my people I will forgive their sin and their iniquitie I will remember no more Ephes 1.3 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ 3. The prevenient grace of God is that through which God loves his in the beloved without any respect to any merits or deservings in his own peculiar 1. Joh. 4.19 We love him because he loved us first 4. The concomitant grace of God is that whereby he doth continually supply his own with sweet communion with himself in the day of grace and perfect fruition and communion with his Christ in the eternall weight of glorie 1. Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard that declare we unto you that ye may have communion with us and our communion is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 5. The subsequent and prevenient grace of God are all one and the same onely they differ in respect of dispensation 6. Operating grace is that which changeth the mind will and affection Cooperating grace is that which makes the Saints move to Godward when the will is changed 1. Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Phil. 4.13 I am able to do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me 7. The grace of Christ is that whereby he dispenseth abundantly to the Saints from the overflowing and abundance of grace enwrapt within himself and procureth for his eternall favour through which they are ever beloved of his Father Joh. 1.16 And of his fulnesse all we receive grace for grace Jude 21. Keep your selves in the love of God waiting for the mercie of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8. The supereminencie of divine grace and bountie is declared in the redemption union and salvation of the unworthie and immeriting Ephes 2.7 That he might shew in the ages to come the supereminent riches of his grace according to his bountie towards us in Christ 9. Grace is proposed unto all in the Gospel of life and reconciliation but made effectuall to none but the Saints beleeving Hebr. 4.2 The Word profited them not because it was not mixed with faith in them which heard it 10. The fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse mediately are produced by the Saints communion with Christ and immediately by grace the cause of everlasting hope and reconciliation 1. Joh. 1.6 If we say we have communion with him and walk in darknesse we make him a lyar and there is no truth in us Tit. 2.11 The grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared vers 12. Teaching us to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live chastly godly and righteously in this present world 11. The collocation of inestimable and unspeakable graces abounded in Christ sith he was anointed with the oyl of gladnesse above his fellows and the Spirit was not given to him by measure Hebr. 1.9 Joh. 3.34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth him not the Spirit by measure 12. There is an inseparable conjunction between the grace of God and the satisfaction of the Lord Christ sith the Lord Christ hath no otherwise merited life and salvation by his merit or satisfaction save by the favour or divine pleasure of his Father Luk. 22.42 Father if thou wilt take this cup from me neverthelesse not my will but thy will be done Joh 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Sonne that whosoever beleeved on him might not perish but have eternall life 13. There is an inseparable bond betwixt the satisfaction of Christ and the pleasure of God the Father Hence whatsoever the Lord Christ hath procured it is his Fathers pleasure to bestow it Matth. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world 14. The inestimable grace of God which is collocated in the Lord Jesus and from him effectually bestowed on the Saints redeemed cannot utterly be abolished or extinguished Rom. 8.39 Neither height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 15. The Lord Christ by the grace of supplyment doth supplie the travellers of his hope in the estate of love and mercy and by the grace of complement doth crown his peculiar with the fruition of glorious and full communion in the estate of glory 1. Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who is made unto us wisdom of God and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption Which is his body the complement of him who filleth all in all Ephes 1.23 16. Answerable to the act of faith pitching upon God the Father in his beloved Christ so is the gracious injoyment of the sence of Gods free mercie and benevolence in Christ Ephes 3.17 18 19. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith 18. That being rooted and grounded in love ye may be able to comprehend what is the breadth and the length and the depth and the height 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth all knowledge that ye may be filled with all the fulnesse of God 17. Pacification of spirit and peace of conscience ariseth whilest the faithfull rest on Gods fatherly indulgencie being
certainly perswaded that whatsoever they do according to his pleasure is accepted in the hands of Christ Mediatour Ephes 1. Vnto the praise and glory of his grace whereby he hath freely accepted us in his beloved 18. The effects of divine grace and favour are the remission of sins the imputation of righteousnesse the donation of the Spirit of peace and consolation and everlasting blessednesse in the kingdom of hope and fruition 2. Thess 2.13 God hath chosen us from the beginning unto salvation by sanctification of the Spirit and the faith of truth 14. Now the same Lord Jesus Christ and God even our Father which hath loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 19. Christ died for the sins of his Saints and is risen again for their righteousnesse and justification so that he is not onely become our salvation but his Father is gracious and propitious to us for his sake Rom. 4.25 He was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Matth. 17.5 This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased hear him 20. As by the sin of Adam we were estranged from God and destinated to destruction so by the obedience of Christ we are received into favour and imputed righteous to justification Rom. 5.19 As by the disobedience of one man many were made sinners so by the obedience of one man many were made righteous 21. God began to imbrace through free favour whom he loved freely before the foundation of the world then it appeared apparently when he reconciled us to himself through the precious blood of his beloved Son Ephes 2.4.13 Through his great love wherewith he loved us now in Christ Jesus ye who were sometime afar off hath he made nigh by the blood of his Son 22. God through his benevolence hath not onely given the body of Christ but the soul of Christ to feel the sence of his wrath for the redemption of mankind that although we were lost we might be found and although through the law we could hear nothing but condemnation yet now through Christ we may hear the sentence of salvation Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that abideth not in all things which are written in the Law to do them 2. Tim. 1.10 But now is made manifest by the glorious coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and brought in life and immortalitie into light by the Gospel 23. In this hath appeared the immense love of God towards men whilest he was sent into the world for their deliverie whilest he was made a sacrifice to pacifie the wrath of his Father which was so hot against them 1. Joh. 4.10 In this is love not that we have loved God but that he hath loved us and hath sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins 24. God was most clementious and propitious in the beloved Christ making him the Redeemer of humane generation whilest the beloved Christ was willing to redeeme them Heb. 10.6 7. Burnt-offerings and sacrifice thou wouldest not for sin then said I behold I come In the volume of thy book it is w itten of me that I should do thy will O God 25. The free grace of God is the stay of the mind the prop of the soul and the hope of the conscience in the midst of all sorrow and tribulations Lament 3.21 22. This call I to mind therefore have I hope It is the Lords mercy we are not consumed but his compassions fail not 26. If any man shall set himself before the tribunall seat of an angry God he shall not stand being there is nothing in him that may merit favour or deserve love at the hands of God Psal 130.3 If Jah shall observe iniquities O Lord who shall stand 27. Christ through his obedience hath obtained favour he hath satisfied for our sins he hath born the punishment for us and through his obedience God is well pleased 2. Cor. 2.21 For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Contemplation O Christian look to the Rock from whence thou art hewen and to the hole of the pit from whence thou art digged all that thou receivest is from free favour and grace of a loving Father had he not favoured thee where hadst thou remained or where hadst thou been assuredly in the bottomlesse pit under the heat of everlasting burnings bound by the black swadle bands of the devill lockt up under the blacknesse of darknesse to the judgement of the great day arraigned by the power of justice and condemned by the morall Law never to have heard the sweet sound of reconciliation or the heavenly harmony of the gracious doctrine of redemption except the bowels of overflowing mercie had yearned and the gracious countenance of thy loving Father had been manifested The clouds open and distill their drops to the refreshing and replenishing of the sublunarie creature Thy gracious Father hath yearned by the bowels of his compassion and hath replenished and refreshed thy soule with his abundant kindnesse Thy dayes might have been dayes of sorrow and thy nights nights of terrour The terrours of death the horrors of hell and the afrightment of a wofull conscience might have sadded thee had not free love and superabundant grace prevented Is not his grace better to thee then kingdomes then Consulships then riches then Honours then dignities or dominions The Disciples wondred at the rare and famous buildings of the Temple and mayest not thou wonder at the excellencie and incomparablenesse of the free grace of God thy celestiall Father O how sweet is his grace unto me is it not as an ointment poured out as the sweetest drops distilling from the fullest clouds and as the sweetest dewes upon the tender hearb Did the babe spring in the wombe of Elizabeth at Maries salutation and doth not joy spring in my conscience because of free grace in everlasting redemption Here is grace incomparable here is mercie ineffable and here is bountie unalterable is not this the River from whence my soul hath water is not this the Sunne from whence my mind hath light is not this the heart from whence my will receiveth vitall motion I am adopted to be a sonne elected to salvation redeemed from bonds united to the Lord Jesus Christ But from whence flowes all these but from the rivers of free love and the fountain of gracious love and bountie My life my hope my peace my rest my faith my all is from Christ all in all as the Apostle saith Rom. 11. last verse For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be praise and glory for ever Amen CHAP. II. Concerning Election 1. ELection is the selecting or chusing of some certain men that the glorious and supereminent grace of God may
be manifested upon them Rom. 9.23 That he might declare the riches of his glory upon the vessels of mercie which he hath prepared unto glory 2. God in the election of free grace wils the glory of the riches of his grace and the everlasting benediction of his people Hence he hath disposed a way for them that they may come to everlasting life and benediction Ephes 1.5 6. Who hath predestinated us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ in himself according to the good pleasure of his will vers 6. Vnto the praise of the glory of his grace whereby he hath made us freely accepted in his beloved 3. Christ is not the meritorious or impulsive cause of election nothing in election must be considered but the meer and free goodnesse of God our heavenly Father Ephes 1.11 In him I say in whom we have obtained lot whilest we were predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsell of his own will 4. The fruition of glorious salvation is founded on the free mercie and bountie of a loving God the matter upon the obedience or satisfaction of Christ the instrument is faith and the end is the glory or illustration of divine mercie Ephes 1.4 As he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblameable before him in love 5. The elect can never fall finally or totally from grace received sith in Christ their grace is founded and that Gods love to them in Christ cannot be altered Isa 54.10 For the mountains shall remove and the hils shall fall down but my mercy shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace fall away saith the Lord that hath compassion on thee Rom. 8. last verse Neither height nor depth nor any other 〈◊〉 shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 6. To the Elect is given the sound and solid knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent sith that to them is not onely given the knowledge of the letter but also the revelation of the mystery of God Christ through the Spirit Colos 1.27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mysterie among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory Contemplation BEfore man had a being God moved to man through love the being and well-being of every creature He singled Angels to stand in the estate of puritie and man to stand in the estate of innocencie and integritie Love chose us before we were chosen Love imbraced us before we loved Much was given to Mary she loved much much is given to the Saints before they loved before we were the children of wrath we were the children of mercie and whilest we were the children of mercy we became the children of wrath we were that we are not through love we are that we were not not for beautie amiablenesse or comelinesse not for works doings and performances not for riches honours or dignities are we chosen to salvation Our silver became drosse our excellencie became a dunghill of iniquitie and our glory was turned to impuritie The Father of mercie moved in mercie shewed mercie and yearning in the bowels of compassion incompassed poor souls with dear compassions when they were in their blood he said unto them Live when they lay wallowing in their blood he made them live for ever they were received when the righteous were refused the poore prodigals are received in their fathers house when the self-conceited are despised The loveliest starres and the choisest cedars were chosen for the building of the Temple the poorest spirits and the captives of hope are chosen to be temples of the holy Ghost Oh my soul thou art become a child of bountie through bountie and a vessell of glorie through the riches of eternall glorie thy Father delighted in thee when thou hadst no delight in him he loved thee when thou hadst no love to him and gave thee the right hand of fellowship and communion when thou stoodest not related to Godward by relation or union Fear nothing O my soul what though thou art not famous nor glorious in the world what though thou possessest not the riches and pleasures thereof what though no eye under heaven shew pitie or compassion towards thee yet thy God will extend the bowels of that his tender bountie towards thee Art thou not chosen of mercie to expresse mercie and a vessell of glorie to expresse the riches of his glorie thou art chosen to be that thou wouldest be and denied to be that thou wouldest not be denied to be a child of wrath and death and chosen to be an heire of mercie and life What wilt thou give to God for so great a kindnes what wilt thou render to God for so great a favour though thou canst not answer mercie yet declare of mercie and though thou wantest in the expression of favour yet declare and expresse the favour of thy loving God and Father Psal 136.23 Who remembred us in our base estate for his mercy endureth for ever CHAP. III. Concerning the Covenant of grace Definition THe Covenant of grace is the free promise of God in Christ Jesus through which he strongly assureth his chosen people that he wil be their God and they shall be his people Jer. 31.31 32 33. The 31. verse Behold the daies come saith the Lord that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah The 32. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt which my Covenant they break although I was an husband unto them saith the Lord. The 33. But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people The difference betwixt the old and the new Covenant 1. Under the old they had the promise of Christ to come we the testification that Christ is come 1. Joh. 5.6 This is he that came by water and blood even Jesus Christ not by water onely but by water and blood and it is the Spirit that beareth witnesse because the Spirit is truth 2. They had the time of infancie and bondage we the time of freedome and the spirit of adoption Galat. 4 5 6. The 5. To redeeme them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of sons The 6. And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts crying Abba Father 3. In old time it was made known onely to one people in our time to all Nations under heaven Isa 54.1 Sing O barren thou that didst not beare breake
forth into singing and cry aloud thou that didst not travell with child for more are the children of the desolate then the children of the married wife saith the Lord. Rom. 10.6 7 8. But the righteousnesse which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above 7. Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring Christ again from the dead 8. But what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach 4. They had the grace of God darkly and obscurely we plainly and apparently 2. Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 5. The communication or gifts of the Spirit under the Gospel of reconciliation are more excellent then those which have been communicated under the Law Act. 2.17 18. the 17. And it shall come to passe in the last dayes saith God I will poure out of my Spirit upon all lesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesie and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams The 18. And on my servants and on my hand-maids I will poure out in those dayes of my Spirit and they shall prophesie 6. The old Covenant was given by Moses this by Jesus Christ Joh. 1.17 For the Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 7. The old Covenant binds us over to absolute righteousnes the new commands us to seek it in Christ the Lord our righteousnesse Joh. 6.40 And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and beleeveth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Rom. 3.26 To declare I say at this time his righteousnesse that he might be just and the justifier of him which beleeveth in Jesus 8. The old Covenant was given to impell men to Christ the new to hold forth and exhibite Christ Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternall life and they are they which testifie of me 9. The proper object of the old was to consternate and humble the new to comfort them who are consternated and humbled Matth. 11.28 29. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavie laden and I will give you rest 29. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls 10. They differ by accident and through our infirmitie for the Law without the Gospel is insufficient to salvation Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not do in as much as it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh 11. The Lord Christ is the Mediatour of the new Covenant not onely because the Covenant is made with his for his sake but because through the vertue of his mediation this Covenant cannot be disanulled Hebr. 8.6.9 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministery by how much also he is the Mediatour of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises 9 Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord. 12. The supereminent superabundant and superexcellent grace of God our dear and propitious Father is manifested to his poore servants in that he hath established the everlasting Covenant of free grace and mercie in the hand of Christ Mediatour 2. Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us Hebr. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediatour of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternall inheritance 13. The Covenant of grace is an everlasting and perpetuall Covenant sith the foundation of that Covenant is the free grace of God and the ratification and confirmation of the same is the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ Hebr. 12.24 And to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel 14. The supereminence of divine grace and favour hath not only appeared in this that he hath established this Covenant in the hand of a Mediatour but also in this that he hath smitten a Covenant with the immeriting and undeserving Hos 2. the last And I will sowe her unto me in the earth and I will have mercie upon her that had not obtained mercie and I will say to them which were not my people Thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God 15. The grace of God is the ground the blood of Christ the matter the end eternall life and beatitude made over to the faithfull in all ages that they might be certainly and fully assured that God will be their God and Father everlasting Hos 2.19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousnesse and in judgement and in loving kindnesse and in mercie 16. The true and solid knowledge of this free Covenant of grace bountie causeth the beloved Saints and beleevers to hate all Pharisaicall performances or the righteousnesse of Justiciaries Phil. 3.9 That I may be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is by the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God through faith 17. The benefits of the free Covenant of pitie and clemencie are the remission of sinnes and condonation of transgression the donation of the Spirit everlasting and continuall communion with the Lord Christ in the kingdome of felicitie perseverance in the state of grace by the all-sufficient hand of God our clementious and heavenly Father Jer. 31.34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord For they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquitie and I will remember their sin no more 1. Joh. 3 24. And he that keepeth his Commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us 1. Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation to be revealed in the last time 18. The intrinsicall seal of the Covenant of grace and salvation is the Spirit of glory and obsignation the extrinsicall is the Lords Supper Baptisme 1.
sufficient to salvation and my Vine to make me abundantly fruitfull through fruition am I not bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh Should I not enjoy the benefit of his mediation the fruit of his glorification and the priviledge of glorious and sweet Communion who shall separate me from the love of my sweet Saviour shall Satan No shall imperfections and infirmities No shall the Law or the Gaoler of hell No they are of no force to disjoyne them whom God hath joyned by a bond inseparable Now I am assured he will fill me with love confirme with his promise love me with his beloved ones watch over my soule and deliver me from the roarings of the devill though the Charets and horsemen of hell pursue me I shall possesse his glory of inheritance Though I fall I shall rise againe though I was in the vaile of death I would not be afraid for his sweet streames would comfort mee Hence will I take up the resolution of the Psalmist Psal 46.2.3 Therefore will we not feare though the earth be moved and though the hills be carried into the middest of the Sea Though the waters thereof rage and swell and though the mountaines shake at the tempest thereof CHAP. V. Concerning Vocation Definition 1. VOcation is a gathering of men unto Christ by the Gospell of life and everlasting salvation that they may be united unto him by a happie and perpetuall union 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithfull by whom we are called unto the Communion of his Sonne Jesus Christ our Lord. 2. Vocation is efficatious or inefficatious 3. Efficatious vocation is that through which the faithfull are called from Satans Kingdome to the Kingdome of grace and glory by the sanctifying Word of truth and the effectuall work of the Spirit that they may not want in the appointed time that glorious salvation which Christ their Lord hath purchased Act. 26.18 That thou mayest open the eyes of the blind and convert them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive the remission of sinnes and an inheritance amongst them who are sanctified by faith which is in me 4. Inefficatious vocation is when the sonnes of men are under the sentence of the Gospel of atonement and reconciliation yet never find the effectuall operation of the holy Spirit unto an absolute Conversion Hence many are called and few are chosen 5. Vocation is Universall or Speciall 6. Vocation universall is that whereby God invites all men through the ministery of peace and propitiation that they would come to the knowledg of himselfe and Jesus Christ the appointed Redeemer of his elect and peculiar Col. 1.23 For which cause I Paul am made Minister to preach the Gospel to every creature under heaven 7. Speciall vocation is that whereby God doth dignifie his owne peculiar whilest he doth illuminate their minds working in their hearts effectually by his Spirit Rom. 5.5 Moreover hope makes not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by his holy Spirit 8. Universall Vocation hath been shadowed out by Types or divine Oracles 9. By Types Melchesidecke although he was a Gentile and without the promises of Abraham nevertheles he was the Priest of the most high GOD Heb. 7.1 10. By Oracles he shall be the expectation of the Gentiles Mat. 12.21 And in his Name shall the Gentiles trust 11. In vocation there is Christs oblation and the Christians reception considerable 12. Christs offer is that he will be a sufficient Redemption Reconciliation and Salvation to every one who beleeveth and resteth on him as his assured refuge and eternall Sanctury 1 Joh. 4.14 Whosoever shall drinke of the water which I shall give unto him shall not thirst againe but the water which I shall give unto him shall be in him a fountaine of springing water unto eternall life 13. Christs proffer is internall and externall 14. Christs externall proffer is when by the Ministers of the Word of truth and salvation he proposeth himselfe the onely and absolute salvation in heaven and earth Act. 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other neither is there any other name given under heaven by which we must be saved 15. Christs internall proffer is when Christ proposeth himselfe effectually to the hearts of the faithfull through which they have assured confidence that Christ hath redeemed and saved them from sinne Satan the Law hell and destruction and that the Lord Christ will communicate to them eternall life peace joy and everlasting reconciliation Col. 2.2 That their hearts might be comforted and they knit together in love and in all riches of the full assurance of understanding to know the mystery of God even the Father and of Christ 16. Reception is through which the faithfull doe not refuse the proffer of grace but receiveth it through the help of the Spirit of glory Act. 10.43 44. To him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his Name whosoever beleeveth in him shall receive remission of sinnes While Peter spake these words the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word 17 Sometimes there is a reception of the Word of mercy and propitiation which is not operative or effectuall to salvation Mat. 13.20 21. And he that receiveth seed into stony places the same is he that heareth the Word and anon with joy receiveth it Yet hath not roote in himselfe but dureth for a while for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended 18. Reception is either taken actively or passively 19. Actively when the heart resteth on Christ the blessed Redeemer of his redeemed reconciled passively when there is a spirituall being of grace in the hearts of actuall Beleevers 1 Pet. 2.2 As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby 20. Sometimes the Saints are called alone by the efficacy of the Spirit of obsignation Sometimes by the Word and efficacy of the Word of Life and Redemption The Word and the Spirit are not seperated in the vocation of the Saints Ephes 1.13 In whom also yee have trusted after that yee heard the Word of truth even the Gospel of your salvation wherein also after yee beleeved yee were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise 21. All the faithfull have been effectually called from eternall by vertue of Gods decree notwithstanding the Declaration thereof is as it may make for their good and the glory of God their heavenly and gracious Father Ephes 1.11 12. In him I say in whom yee have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the councell of his owne will That we may be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ. 22. God calls not all his Elect and Adopted in the same moment to the knowledge of his sanctifying truth and the sence of free and benignous favour and experience Mat. 20.5 6. 23.
This hath not been without the divine pleasure of our gracious and heavenly Father that Election which hath been before the world was he maketh knowne to his by operative and effectuall Vocation Rom. 8.30 Whom he hath predestinated them also hath he called and whom he hath called them also hath he justified and whom he hath justified them also hath he glorified 24. Election and Vocation proceeds from the free benevolence of a loving God and are confirmed to the consciences of true beleevers through the true and faithfull testimony of the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.17 And the Spirit witnesseth together with our spirit that wee are the Sonnes of God 25. If we desire to see and know the propitious minde of God let us turne our faces towards Christ in whom the Father is well pleased if we would seeke eternall life and the immortalitie of the celestiall Kingdome Not to any other but to Christ must we flie for he is the fountaine of our life the Author of our salvation and the ground of our Adoption and effectuall calling 1 Thes 5.9 For God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to salvation by the meanes of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our worke but according to his owne purpose and grace which was given to us through Jesus Christ before the world was 26. Now whitherward doth our Election tend but that through the bountie of him who is propitious towards us we may enjoy the filiation of sonnes immortalitie and salvation and although our minds are troubled and our cōsciences perplexed yet no otherwise can we know the certaintie thereof but by vocation and absolute regeneration for absolute regeneration and vocation are assured pledges of our salvation immortalitie and filiation 1 Pet. 1.3 4. Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant bountie hath begetten us to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead To an inheritance immortall and undefiled and that withereth not reserved in heaven for us 27. Although our heavenly and gracious Father love all his people as he loved his beloved Christ yet it is his divine grace and pleasure in effectuall vocation to try some of his in the fiery furnace of sorrowes and great tribulation Act. 2.37 Who when they heard it they were pricked in their hearts and said to Peter and other Apostles Men and Brethren What shall we doe Isa 6.5 Then said I I am a man undone I am a man of polluted lips and I dwell amongst a people of polluted lips mine eyes have seene the King the Lord of Hoasts 28. Our life is hid with God in Christ and we are called efficaciously from the world unto celestiall grace and from woefull darknesse unto his glorious light that we may live godly in this present world expecting the comming of our Lord and Saviour Ephes 4.1 I therefore being prisoner in the Lord pray you that yee walke worthy of the vocation whereunto yee are called Titus 2.13 Expecting that blessed hope and that glorious comming of that great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Contemplation THis was the saying of Moses Who is a Rock like our Rock or who is a God like the God of our salvation We may say Who hath a Father like our Father or who hath found any so sweet and delectable as he hath been to us As the sweet influence of the Plejades and the sweet distilling drops from the Clouds so hath he been in our vocation his words are rarer then the words of Moses the one is Law the other grace and peace Joh. 1.17 The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth cams by Jesus Christ. The one a killing Letter the other a quickening Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 Who also hath made us able Ministers of the new Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life The one the ministery of condemnation the other the ministery of life and salvation 2 Cor. 3.9 For if the ministery of condemnation hath been glorious much more the ministery of righteousnesse doth abound with glory The one written in Tables of stone the other in the fleshly Tables of our heart 2 Cor. 3 3. In that yee are manifest to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us and written not with inke but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in the fleshly Tables of the heart The one accuseth us before the Barre of Justice the other acquitteth us before the Mercy Seate Joh. 5.4 5. Thinke not that I am come to accuse you before the Father there is one who accuseth you to wit Moses in whom yee trust Hath Moses fetcht home the lost sheep sought the lost groat or imbraced the poore returned Prodigalls No it was our Christ the great and blessed Shepheard of Israel What are the drops or dewes without the Sunne or what can the body effect without the soule or what can the Law doe in the act of vocation without the effectuall operation of the Spirit of Jesus from whence art thou called O my soule Not onely from the receipt of custome but from the custome of hell Not onely from prophanenesse to civilitie from civilitie to moralitie but from all to heavenly and celestiall grace and glory What hast thou found in Christ fince he called thee I have found my life in him my name in the heavenly places a hope amongst his peculiar a rest in his love a communion in his promises a fellowship amongst the Saints and the glorious gracious and loving face of a sweet Father And hast thou not also found rare effects in thee since the time of his overpowring of his precious graces yea now his love is more to me then Kingdomes then Consullships then riches then honours then dignities then Dominions yea then all things If I were possest with the wealth of Arabia the riches of India the treasure of Africa and the glory of Europe what would those be to me without a Christ I would rather choose one dram of his grace then mountaines of gold then a sea of silver then an earth of pleasures and Kingdomes and Provinces of delights and delectations Rachel said Give me children or els I dye I say give me Christ or I shall dye Abraham said What availes all these if I goe childlesse I say what availeth all if I goe Christlesse Was Jacob comforted when he wanted Joseph or can I be comforted when I want my Beloved And did not Rachel mourne and would not be comforted when her children were not And doe I not mourne and cannot be comforted because my Christ is not From henceforth will I triumph with the triumphers and take my place amongst the Conquerours for I am not called from the sheepfold but from the gates of hell and made a King and Priest to God the Father I am
we are said to be chosen out of the world through his divine love and free benevolence Joh. 15.16 Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my Name he may give it you Joh. 17.14 I have given them thy word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world 19. The royall robe of Christs righteousnesse is their covering in the day of judgement the blood of Christ is their peace in the day of evill and the name of God is their glory in the midst of afflictions Isa 26.8 Yea in the way of thy judgements O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our soul is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee 20. The adopted are made kings and priests to God the Father through the blood of the Sonne of God Christ Jesus Revel 1.5 6. the 5. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithfull witnesse and the first begotten of the dead and the Prince of the kings of the earth unto him that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood Verse the 6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father To him be glory and deminion for ever and ever Amen 21. The sonnes of God by adoption may feele the sence of Gods anger yet God is not angry with them but exceeding loving bountifull and full of clemencie towards them Micah 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquitie and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Malachi 3.17 And they shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own sonne that serveth him 22. Though the Father of deare love do crown his deare people with deare love grace and mercie yet he doth not alwayes endow them with outward blessings and prosperitie 2. Cor. 6.4 5 6. the 4. But in all things approving our selves as the Ministers of God in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses The 5. In stripes in imprisonments in tumults in labours in watching in fastings the 6. By purenesse by knowledge by long-suffering by kindnesse by the holy Ghost by love unfained 23. The cries groanes and sighs of the sonnes of God whether in the day they want the sence of Gods dear love and rarest bountie towards them or in the time of great and strong temptation over tops the roarings of Satan the cries of vengeance and the arraigning sentence of the Law so terrible Rom. 8.26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought But the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered 24. Though the sonnes of God may loose the sence of their first communion yet they shall for ever injoy everlasting and perpetuall union so that God for evermore stands in relation unto them as a Father and they to him as loving and dear children Isa 63.16 Doubtlesse thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledgeth us not O Lord thou art our Father our redeemer thy name is from everlasting Isa 64.9 Be not wroth very sore O Lord neither remember iniquitie for ever behold see us we beseech thee we beseech thee we are all thy people 25. Though we were the sonnes of God by creation yet we became through sin the sonnes of the devill of wrath of incredulitie of diffidence of this world and of darknesse notwithstanding by adoption we are made sons partakers of the divine nature brethren of Christ and children of light that we might not sin but that we might be one with Christ through union and that we might love the brethren with entire love and affection 2. Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust Hebr. 2.11 For both he who sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all one For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren Joh. 15.12 This is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you 26. The kingdom of our God the glory of which is unutterable unspeakable and unmentionable hath been prepared of old for those who have a being in Christ interest in the free promises and have been beloved of the Father before the world was Matth. 25.34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Contemplation OH the deepnesse of immense and admirable love that of the children of diffidence and distruction through Christ are made Saints and sonnes of salvation that of vessels of wrath hell the devill and damnation we are made the vessels of rich mercie peace love and happic consolation When I was a poore distressed captive taken by the devill did I think to be made an heire with Christ and freed from the accusing law and wofull evill not thy wisdom but the wisdom of thy deare benignous Father hath found a way in the time of misery to bring thee to glorious and blessed felicitie That was not found in the land of the living Ask the depths and they will say that wisdom was not found there Ask the Sea and it will say it had no habitation there in thy deare Father hath been the place of singular wisdom and rarest intelligence Pharaoh knew his dreame but was ignorant of the interpretation thou knowest thou wast a slave but wast ignorant of thy redemption and adoption O admirable priviledge and excellent prerogative O wonderfull dignitie given to the Saints by filiation What is it to be the son of a King or an Emperour of a Monarch of a Potentate What is it to be an heire to Kingdoms to Provinces or to Empires What is it to enjoy pleasures joy or delectations in this orbe terrestriall if we enjoy not the priviledge of the daughters and the sons of the living God It cannot avail thee to be an heir and not an heire of Christs kingdome It cannot advantage thee to be a son of an Emperour and not to be the son of God by adoption it cannot help thee to be nephew to a Potentate and not to be an inheritour with the Lords inheritance Thou art Gods by creation but art thou Gods by a speciall relation Thou hast treasures abundant but art thou his chief treasure thou hast inheritance amongst the sons of men but hast thou an inheritance amongst the sons of royall possession O my soule what will thy sweet Father do for thee great things he
any more Heb. 2.14 15 Verse the 14. For as much then as the Children are partakers of flesh and bloud he also himselfe likewise tooke part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Deuill Verse the 15. And deliver them who through feare of death were all their life time subject to bondage 16. God hath commended his love to us who gave Christ the price of Redemption for us commanding us to flee for succour to his bloud that through that we might stand secure in the day of Judgement Rom. 5.8 God hath commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us 17. Christ hath been subject to the righteousnesse of God that he might performe what was required of us fully performing what was necessary to the delivery of those who are true beleevers Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth 18. The great grace and righteousnesse of God is manifested in the freedome of his from evill to enjoy the chiefest good Psal 136.23 Which remembred us in our low estate for his mercy eadureth for ever Verse the 24. And hath delivered us from our enemies for his mercy endureth for ever 19. The application of delivery is the singular worke of the Spirit of life and Adoption Hence the Spirit is said to be the earnest of the Saints Redemption and the seale of their everlasting delivery and liberation 20 Redemption floweth from the divine Decree and Donation of GOD whereby he doth give certaine men unto Christ that he might redeeme and save them from sinne and iniquitie Luk. 1.68 69. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people And hath raised up an horne of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 21 Redemption is not without the minde of Christ being Christ determined that his satisfaction should be for the good of them whom he would redeeme by his bloud unto God Rev. 5.9 And they sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the booke and to open the seales thereof for thou wast slaine and hast redeemed us to God by thy bloud out of every kindred and tongue and people and Nation 22. The shedding of the bloud of Christ is not without the acceptation of his Father being his Father accepteth his satisfaction through his bloud as sufficient to salvation redemption and reconciliation Col. 1.20 And having made peace through the bloud of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things to himselfe by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven 23. Liberation or Redemption from sinne and death not onely hath been established in Gods Decree but also in Christ and granted to us in him before it be received of us 1 Joh. 2.2 And he is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world 24. Christ did satisfie for them onely who by him are saved although in respect of his sufficiency he hath satisfied for all and every one 1 Tim. 2.6 Who gave himselfe a ransome for all to be a testimonie in due time 25. The death of Christ frees from sinne the bloud of Christ from the anger of God and iniquitie The power of Christ from the jawes of Satan and Christs active and passive obedience from the force of the morall Law Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us For it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree 26. Through the delivery or freedome from these we have not onely assurance that wee shall inherit the Kingdome of glory but also in the state of grace we have assurance that wee shall continually have supplyes of that abundant and overflowing grace which is in Christ Jesus 1 Joh. 1.16 And of his fulnes have all we received and grace for grace 27. Peace of Conscience joy in the holy Ghost holinesse of conversation are adjuncts of this freedome or Redemption Luke 1.74 75. That he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without feare 75. In holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life 28. Redemption hath been once performed twice manifested in the day of grace and the houre of Judgement Rom. 8.23 And not onely they but our selves also which have the first fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groane-within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the redemption of our body 29. Redemption doth so farre free the Christian that he is wholly taken from the barre of Justice and placed alwayes at the throne of grace and mercy Heb. 12.18.22 23 24. Verse the 18. For yee are not come unto the Mount that might be touched and that burneth with fire nor unto blacknesse and darkenesse and tempest Verse the 22. But yee are come unto Mount Sien and unto the Citie of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angells Verse the 23. To the generall Assembly and the Church of the first borne which are written in heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect Verse the 24. And to Jesus the Mediator of the Covenant and to the bloud of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel 30. The comfort and consolation of the Redemption by the hand of Christ Redeemer is according to the act of faith in Christ by whom this redemption is wrought Psal 116.8 Thou hast delivered my soule from death mine eyes from teares and my feete from falling Isaiah 51.11 Therefore the Redeemed of the Lord shall returne and come with singing unto Sion and everlasting joy shall be upon their head they shall obtaine gladnes and joy and sorrow shall flee away 31. There is an inseparable conjunction between Election and Redemption sith that before the foundation of the world Christ was chosen to be the Redeemer of his chosen and peculiar Ephes 9.7 Having made knowne unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himselfe Verse the 7. In whom we have reaemption through his bloud the forgivenesse of sinnes according to the riches of his grace Contemplation SUch was the kindnesse of God to Israel that once in fiftie yeare they had a yeare of Jubile in which he who was in bondage and thraldome was set at libertie and freedome Such hath been the bountie of God to us that he hath appointed a yeare of deliverance by the hand of Christ that we being Captives might be set free and being also bondslaves we might be set at libertie Christ was anointed for that end not with the oyle of Olives or other materiall substance but with the abundant and overflowing grace of God that hee might bring poore Captives from Captivitie and wee who were poore