He that gives a Kingdom at the Journeys end will not deny Bread and Water in the way He will provide for their Bodies and Souls for their Persons and Families Sixthly Correction is theirs Psal 89. 32. Heb. 12. 8. Correction is the Saints Priviledge and great advantage they have need of it 1 Pet. 1. 6. Though for a season if need be you are in heaviness c. And they have advantage by it Psa 119. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted Heb. 12. 10. But he for our profit Seventhly Protection is another priviledge of Children He will keep them as the Apple of his Eye Psa 17. 8. He will hide them in the secret of his Tabernacle Ps 31. 20. He will keep them Day and Night Isa 27. 3. He gives his Angels charge concerning them Psa 91. 11 12. Heb. 1. 14. Lastly The Kingdom is theirs O think what rest what joy what holiness what perfection what immutability and Eternity of Glory is in Heaven and say all this is my Estate by Adoption I shall one day be possessed of it here I am poor but there I shall be rich here I am empty and hungry there I shall be full here I am despised there I shall be honoured here I have not a house lay my head in there I shall have a Mansion to all Eternity here one and another says come sit at my Foot there shall I sit on a Throne and be a Crowned King for ever Here my Comforts go and my troubles stay worms breed in all my enjoyments but thereis no Rust nor Moth no Decay nor Death O blessed state indeed that Believers are Adopted to in Christ Fifthly The last considerable thing in Adoption is the Duties that flow from such a state and this is part of their priviledge also as being the Fruit of an Adoption-state and that which they are purchas'd as well as oblig'd unto by the blood of Christ all the filial duties of Believers are the fruits of Adoption-Grace Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts The Spirit of his Son to make you really such and to form in you the Nature and work you to the duty of Sons So that Adopted Souls are not only chosen of God to be heirs with Christ but are also begotten of God into the Nature and Image of Christ Rom. 8 29. Whom he did foreknow them he did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that as Christ carryed himself as a Son so should the Children of God in their measure and time and that by the same Spirit Now these duties which Gods Children are spirited and engaged to are First To love God as their Father even from a sense of his Fatherly love 1 Joh. 4. 19. We love him because he first loved us Deut. 6. 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy Soul and with all thy might The Lord thy God because he hath pleased to make thee his Son and to place thee in so near and high relation to himself Psa 31. 23. O love the Lord all ye his Saints You that are set apart for him and Sanctified by him O you of all Persons from the sense of this relation should love him This is a filial duty and so essential to Sons as that 't is put for the ground of all their Obedience Joh. 14. 13. If a man love me he will keep my word and my Father will love him that is manifest his love to him as a Father This is not a forced but a natural love to God arising from that new Nature and Spirit of Adoption in them so that a Child of God may as well cease to be a Child as cease to have a disposition to love him Indeed a gracious Soul may not alwayes actually love God but he hath a disposition to love him and can appeal to God that he knows he would love him and there is nothing in all the World he can value like him Secondly To obey him 1 Pet. 1. 14. As obedient Children not fashioning your selves according to former Lusts 'T is a great duty of Children to obey their Parents in all things lawful and so they that are Gods Children are much more oblig'd to obey God whose relation much more binds them being so far above all other relations whose love constrains them 2 Cor. 5. 14. whose Laws invite them they being holy just and good Rom. 7. 12. Whose rewards also encourageth them there is a reward in keeping them Psa 19. 11. and a reward upon those that keep them Rev. 2. 10. Now this Child-like obedience differs from all other obedience in that 1. 'T is the fruit of faith Joh. 8. 47. He that is of God heareth Gods word that is obeyeth Gods word but what an Obedience is this see the former ver It is an Obedience from faith ver 46. If I say the truth why do ye not believe me 2. 'T is the labour of love 1 Thes 1. 3. Remembring without ceasing your work of Faith and labour of love 3. 'T is delightful Obedience Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inner Man Thirdly A fear of offending him Hos 3. 5. And shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter daies This is a filial fear arising from their relation to God as their Father 1 Pet. 1. 17. And if you call on the Father c. pass the time of your sojourning here in fear This is a fear springing from and consisting with love there is a fear that love casteth out 1 Joh. 4. 18. perfect love casteth out fear that is slavish fear 'T is such a fear as keeps the Soul close to God and not drive him from him Jer. 34. 40. O how fearful is such a Soul of offending God Job 34. 31. He will do all he can to prevent sin Psa 119. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee Fourthly A zeal for Gods glory Psa 69. 9. The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up That is the zeal which I have for thy house or for thy pure Worship against them that would corrupt it hath like fire consumed me Zeal is the burning fire of love which will not bear any thing that dishonours God So Phinehas could not endure to see God dishonoured by the whoredomes of his People but in his zeal executes the Law upon one of the highest offenders Numb 25. 11. The want of the zeal made Laodicea in danger of being spued out of Gods mouth Rev. 3. 16. and therefore God calls her to Repentance and to this zealous Spirit in his Worship ver 19. Be zealous and Repent This zeal was that Child-like temper that God commended in Ephesus Rev. 2. 2. Thou canst not bear them that are evil A zealous Soul cannot suffer any reproach on Gods Name Psa 69. 20. Reproach hath broken my heart
the best of you your fair and specious Duties but he sees your inside and all your secret Rottenness when you sit before him as his People sit and seem devout in your Services he at the same time knows where your Thoughts are wandring and espies every vain Motion and sinful glance of your deceitful Eye when thou prayest with greatest Zeal his Eye is upon thy close Hypocrisie thy spiritual Pride thy base ends and those conceived Lusts which will break out when thy Duties are over O how should this abase thy proud Heart and prevent thy swelling Thoughts upon conceited Excellencies in thy self or supposed Worth in thy Duties seeing he knows what is in thee and how vain man would be wise This also should advise thy Soul to Sincerity in thy Profession Purposes Promises Duties because he beholds thee and weighs thy Paths searcheth thy Heart tries thy Reins and will shortly bring thy secret things to Judgment Lastly This counsels such as want Wisdom to be looking to Jesus and waiting at the Fountain and Spring-head for their Instruction Sixthly the Omnipotency of Christ is another of those glorious Properties of the divine nature which renders him so vast and unconceivable a Treasure to all that receive him He is the mighty God the everlasting Father Isa 9. 6. who hath infinite Strength to order and establish his Kingdom and to exert his Government in Sion and over Nations his Strength must needs be infinite because his Kingdom is eternal no created humane arm can sway the Scepter of the World and maintain an everlasting Rule over the Hearts and Conversations of all his People in all Ages and therefore he must be God and the mighty God to transact the whole Work that concerns him as Mediator and to answer the Appellations given him in Scripture Things are ascribed to Christ which cannot be performed by less than an infinite Power First His creating all things in Heaven and Earth Col. 1. 16. By him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him He is the eternal Word the Exemplar and efficient Cause of all created Beings The Heavens and Earth Angels and men the Inhabitants of the upper and nether World were all form'd by Jehovah Christ who gave Being to all his Creatures as pleased him and therefore his Power must needs be Almighty who is the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the Earth that fainteth not be that giveth Breath unto the People upon it and Spirit to them that walk therein Isa 40. 28. chap. 42. 5. What a potent Lord have Believers chosen who can supersede all their Difficulties by his Creation-help if his whole Store-house of Heaven and Earth be not full enough to supply their Wants he can soon set forth a new Edition of Mercies by his own immediate arm if their way to Glory lye through a waste howling Wilderness where no Foot-steps can be seen to guide them he can create a Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire by Night to conduct them If their Provisions fail to relieve them in their Journey he can rain a Shower of Manna from his secret Granary and open the Caverns of the Flinty Rock and put new Springs into the barren Wilderness to refresh them when they are invironed with Troops of Death he can in a Moment interpose his fiery Chariots and Horse-men and when all their Deliverers fail send from Heaven and save them when the Visibility of Religion ceases and the Heavens pass away as a Scrole when the Glory of the Lords House is dissolv'd into a Chaos when the Gold of the Sanctuary is become Dross and the Gospel-Church metamorphoz'd into the old World he can even then create a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness Is thy Heart Believer full of filthiness Thy Redeemer can create a clean Heart and if thy Tempest-tossed Soul can find no rest thy Lord can create the Fruit of the Lips Peace for thee What is too hard for a creating Arm to do Or what can undoe that People who have a faithful Creator to commit themselves and all their Concerns unto Secondly Another Proof of the Omnipotency of Christ is the upholding all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 1. 4. Who being the Brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power Here 's another Royalty of the divine Nature of Christ a new beaming out of his Glory as God even in the bearing up maintaining and Dispose of the whole Creation in the former ver the forming of the Universe and whole World was ascribed to Christ and here the Preservation of it also is laid upon him as a further Evidence of his oneness with the Father having begun his Work in the Creation he carries it on in his providential Sustentation thereof He is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. He is the Foundation that underprops the whole Fabrick of Heaven and Earth which would soon sink down into its first nothing if everlasting Arms were withdrawn from beneath it he that first gives Being to his Creatures must continue it Conservation is but a Continuation of the first act of Creation to preserve the World from Destruction to continue the Creatures in their peculiar Nature and Properties and to govern those Diversities in an united Subserviency to his Will and Glory and the Well-being of the whole is a work of infinite Power and needs the same Strength that first produced them And this is the work Christians of your Messiah that person who is God-Man who by his divine power and efficacious Providence animates actuates cherishes quickens and sweetly disposes of all Creatures Actions and Affairs in the World He is the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth that changes Times and Seasons whose hands are under his Wings and hath a wheel within the Wheels that turns about things as pleaseth him brings Light out of Darkness Order out of Confusion Good out of Evil who hath the Government on his Shoulders and absolute Power in his hand to dispose of all persons and things as may most further the Pleasure of his own Will the Advance of his Glory and the Good of them that fear him And is not this Security enough to those who have intrusted themselves and all their Concerns with this glorious Potentate and King of Kings who hath the Management of all things in Heaven and Earth that it shall be well at last with the righteous the momentous Affairs of the world and of Sion shall issue in the best Good of those that love his Name How should this calm the tumultuous Fears of the godly into a sweet Serenity of Spirit and still their tempestuous Thoughts in a quiet Relyance on the Arm Care and
to the Father Eph. 5. 25 26 27. Christ gave himself for his Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it and that he might present it to himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle Here 's a double Effect of Christ's Mediatorship One is By vertue of this Blood the Spirit comes and cleanses away the Corruption and subdues the Iniquities of his People this is that cleansing by Sanctification Then there 's a presenting the Saints to the Father complete in him without spot or wrinkle thus the vertue of Christ's Intercession and Righteousness applied by him to the Believer doth prove such a covering for all Believers that it hides every spot from God's Judicial Eye that the Lord is said to behold no Iniquity in them i. e. so as to be angry with them they are presented lovely and comely in Christ though black and deformed in themselves As a King And so he hath Authority to erect a Kingdom of Grace in the World to make Laws for the well-being of his Church and to require Obedience of all Persons Hence the Magistrates of the World are call'd upon to stoop to Christ Psal 2. 12. Kiss the Son lest he be angry All Authority in the World is placed under Jesus Christ in order to the carrying on his Mediatorly Kingdom Hence 't is said Prov. 8. 15. By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice they have their Power and Authority by the Government and disposing of Jesus Christ who is said to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He hath absolute Power over every Creature Every Knee must bow and every Tongue confess to him all must subject to him Psal 22. 28. For the Kingdom is the Lords and he is the Governour among the Nations He shall have Dominion also from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the ends of the Earth They that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him and his Enemies shall lick the dust Psal 72. 8 9. As a King he is invested with Right and Power to give out the Spirit of Grace for the effectual fulfilling of and compleating Obedience to all his Laws by his Church and People Obedience to the Laws of Christ cannot be yielded but by the Spirit the best of his People are no further subject to him than they are Spiritual for the Carnal mind is Enmity against God Hence he saith When I go away I will send the Comforter John 16. 7. It is an Expression that notes Authority When I go away when I mount my Throne I will send the Spirit and he shall promote Obedience He shall lead his People into all Truth ver 13. 14. Whenever he intends the flourishing of his Kingdom in the World he hath residues of the Spirit to give out the more Holiness there is in Saints and Churches the more there are of the pourings out of the Spirit I will pour out my Spirit upon thy Seed and they shall spring up as among the grass as Willows by the Water-courses Isa 44. 3 4. So Joel 2. 28 29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh c. In those days that is in the time of the Gospel and especially when the Jews are called Again as King the Lord Jesus Christ hath sufficient Power to protect and rule his People to govern and subdue his Enemies He is altogether compleat to enact his own Purposes and to fulfill his own Will for as God nothing is too hard for him He takes up the Isles as a very little thing Isa 40. 15. It is an easie thing with him to blow off the Nations and subdue all the Powers that oppose him He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in Derision Psal 2. 4. He makes nothing of all the Powers of his Enemies it is but to look through the Clouds and trouble their Hosts Exod. 14. 24. One Angel can suddenly destroy thousands of them he hath absolute Power over all Creatures to bring down all his Enemies where and when he will and he must reign till he hath brought them all down Heb. 2. 8. Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Psal 2. 9. The Saints are ready to tremble when they consider the Potency of their Enemies but it is far easier for Christ to dash all the Powers of the World in pieces than for a man to break an earthen Pitcher He will order and establish his Kingdom with Judgment and Justice Isa 9. 7. It is not for want of Ability in Christ to order and perfect the Obedience of his Church and People that there are such Disorders found amongst them only he is pleased to leave Irregularities for a while that he may come at last with his Fan and purge them So neither men nor Devils can pluck his Sheep out of his hand Jo. 10. 28. Enemies may touch them Temptations may wound and buffet them and sometimes Captivate his People but they cannot remove them out of his hand he will still support and preserve all that the Father hath given him Fifthly In this personal Union of the Lord Jesus Christ lies his Mediatorship In these two Natures he takes upon him and undergoes the Office of Mediator And this is so great a deep that time is too short to give a full Display of the Glory of Christ's Mediatorship Heb. 8. 6. But now he hath obtained a more excellent Ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant But now c. That is by vertue of this Union of both Natures in the Person of Christ he is become a Mediator of a better Covenant this we may see if we look back in vers 1. The Apostle speaks of Christs divine Nature who is set on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in Heaven and vers 2. his humane Nature is shewn called the Minister of the Sanctuary and vers 3. ordained to offer Gifts and having spoken of Christ in both his Natures he tells us that he is now become a Mediator betwixt God and Man a middle Person a days-Man he hath a Mediety or Middleness of Nature as God-Man and is a Mediator in regard of his Office in which Office the Lord Jesus stands in a double Relation first to God secondly to Man having both Natures he is interested in both parties the Son of God and the Son of Man one with God Joh. 10. 30. I and my Father are one of one Nature one Will one Delight having one Design and one Glory As man he is of the same Nature Flesh and Blood with fall'n man Heb. 2. 11. 14. 17. He hath the same Temptations the same Weaknesses and Infirmities with them Sin excepted that he might have a fellow feeling of the Infirmities of his people and put on Bowels of Compassions that he might be capable of fulfilling all Righteousness suffering for them and holding Communion with them Heb. 5.
that thou should'st keep them from the Evil. This implies Christ's mind is his People should continue in the World till their Work be done that neither Sin nor Danger may cut them off till their full time be come but that they may be kept from Evil from the Evil of Temptation and the Evil of Persecution Secondly He intercedes for the Sanctification of his People and this is a glorious Priviledge indeed Jo. 17. 17. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy Word is truth By the word of thy Truth make them partakers of thy Holiness For their sakes I sanctifie my self ver 19. I set apart my self now on Earth as an High-Priest and Mediator And why so That they may be sanctified through the Truth It may be a poor tempted Soul hath beg'd for Grace but finds no answer as Paul prayed twice thrice many times without return but Jesus Christ intercedes who will prevail and because he prayes they shall obtain according to the measure of Christ and in his time Thirdly The Lord Jesus Christ pleads in Heaven for Believers Union with himself and with one another Jo. 17. 11 21 22 23. Holy Father keep through thy own Name those whom thou bast given me that they may be one as we are That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one This he died for to gather his People into one and this he will procure in due time Their Union with himself shall be inseparable their Communion may be interrupted but their Union can never be broken And it is a matter of Comfort to Believers that grieve for the sad Breaches amongst Saints how that Christ intercedes in Heaven for their Union who cannot be denied Fourthly The Lord Jesus Christ intercedes for his Peoples Succour and support under and deliverance from Temptation Luke 22. 32. I have prayed for thee that tby Faith fail not Ah Soul Art thou followed with new Temptations every day Doth the Devil vex thee casting in wicked vile thoughts that do make thee tremble pulling and haling thee Fear not sayes Christ the Devil shall not prevail O sayes a Soul What shall I do for Faith I cannot take hold of this and the other Promise Why Christ in Heaven pleads for Believers that their Faith shall not fail shall not sink away nor faint in the day of Temptation He will not suffer you to be tempted above measure 1 Cor. 10. 13. He will make a way to escape As sure as Christ himself hath escaped from Satan and Dangers unto Glory so sure shall Believers pass thither also O Soul thou canst not tell how to pray this and the other wicked thought hurries thee Faith and Hope all seem to be gone but O what a blessed thing is this that there is a Mediator in Heaven to pray for thee Fifthly Jesus Christ intercedes in Heaven for the Pardon of all the Sins of his People and for the enjoyment of his Fathers favour If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. That 's part of Christ's Work in Heaven to Advocate in regard of their Sins So Joh. 17. 26. That the Love with which thou lovest me may be in them I have purchased thy Favour for them and Peace with thee by my own Blood therefore Father O take not away thy loving kindness from them O do not be angry with them for ever O what a wonderful Priviledge is this Christ is not contented that his Father love them with an ordinary and a common Love but his Will is that the same Love with which the Father loved Christ as Mediator be bestowed upon them Sixthly The Lord Jesus Christ Advocates in Heaven for the supply of all the wants of his People Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your need according to the Riches of his Glory by Jesus Christ Observe the ground and meritorious cause of all the Supplies of the Saints Needs is the Riches of Christ in Heaven the Riches of Christs Intercession O! when the poor Believer goes mourning under a sense of this and the other Want Christ in Heaven is interceding for them O sayes one I want a soft Heart a Heart to love God I want more power over Corruptions and Temptations More Humility sayes another O my proud heart I want more Patience I am fill'd with the Fire of Hell I want more Purity unclean Thoughts lodge in my Soul but Christ in Heaven is interceding for them thus Father There 's a Child of mine wants a soft Heart I will that thou give it to him there 's another goes complaining for want of more power over Corruptions I will that thou grant it to him Another wants Bodily supplies he is in straits in the World and knows not what to do Father thou hast made me Heir of all things and I will that thou give him some of mine Inheritance O that Believers did know this when they are pining away in their straits that they would look to Jesus and by Faith see him interceding for them Seventhly Another thing Christ pleads in Heaven for is the subduing of all the Enemies of his People Whatever is like to endanger their well-being in thelr work of glorifying God and in their way to Glory with God Christ pleads that it may be removed Are the Snares of the World like to carry away one the Snare of Prosperity or vain Company like to ruin another Doth the Flesh lust against the Spirit and ready to reduce it into Bondage Christ pleads in Heaven for the destruction of these Leviathans and will in his own time bring down all the Enemies of his People Yea Gog and Magog and all the implacable Adversaries of Sion must be subdued because Christ intercedes for it and Reigns till he hath put down all Enemies under his Feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. Eighthly He intercedes for his Peoples Consolation He seems to be much concern'd in this that his People be of good cheer in the World Joh. 16. 33. Be of good cheer Pluck up your Spirits walk comfortably I have overcome the World for you I will not leave you comfortless I will not leave you in danger of overwhelming Christ takes care that his People be not overladen with trouble but that they have comfort in due time Ninthly The Lord Jesus Christ pleads for their thorough and compleat Salvation for their preservation in Grace and their sure and certain enjoyment of Glory Wherefore he is able to save to the utmost because he ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. Whatever their dangers straits and hazards be Christ intercedes in Heaven for their utmost saving thorough all and from all The gracious Soul miscarries sadly this and the other time in this and the other matter he falls dangerously and bruises his Bones but Christ pleads in Heaven that this might not prove
was undone because a man of unclean Lips Isa 6. 4 5. And the Church Isaiah 64. 6. profess they were as an unclean thing Paul an elect Vessel a man of singular Revelations yet laments that in him dwelt no good thing Rom. 7. 18. That he was carnal and sold under Sin ver 14. and when he would do good evil was present with him ver 21. Secondly Here 's Comfort that their Corruptions in them shall not break their Covenant Relation to God Psal 89. 30. to 35. There can be no Forfeiture of this Promise I will be their God and they shall be my People Thy Lye cannot make God untrue Rom. 3. 3. 4. Thy evil Eye cannot make his Eye evil too Matth. 20. 15. Thy wicked Thoughts cannot alter his gracious Thoughts Isa 55. 8. 9. Thy invincible Corruptions cannot overcome his Mercies nor the Enmity of thy Nature make God thy Enemy Thirdly Christ is employed in Heaven about this very Work of subduing thine Iniquities he intercedes ever and why That this People might be sanctified by the Truth Joh. 17. 17. That they might have more Grace and the Spirit given out to mortifie their Corruptions he reigns in Heaven on purpose to bring down his and their Enemies 1 Cor. 15. 25. He carries on the work of Redemption in Heaven and what is that but to set his People free indeed he hath an assured care now in Glory to fulfil his Promises one of which is that Iniquity shall be subdued Mic. 7. 18. Romans 6. 14. Fourthly Christ's promise to the Father is security for the Destruction of thy Sin he is engaged to present his people compleat to the Father Eph. 5. 27. and to keep them unblameable to his heavenly Kingdom 1 Thes 5. 23. Fifthly His Glory and Pleasure is concerned in the Death of thy Corruptions Isa 53. 10. The Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand What is this Pleasure of the Lord It is the Redemption of his People from the Tyranny of Sin and the Slavery of Satan into the glorious Liberty of the first born of Glory 2 Thes 1. 11 12. Lastly Grace is of a prevailing Nature and must destroy thy Lusts at last and the Spirit of Grace is in his people Mat. 12. 20. the Interest of Sin and Sinners cannot always stand before the Interest of God and his people Esther 6. 13. Fourthly Here 's Comfort to tempted Believers such as are always dogged with filthy and frighâ—ing Temptations restlessly haunted with vile and blasphemous Thoughts and miserably buffeted with dreadful and dangerous Suggestions if Christ be interceding in Heaven then surely he will one day or other put an end to all the Temptations and in the mean time over-rule them that they shall not prevail over thee 1 Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 2. 19. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour those that are tempted Christ is a merciful High-priest and wants neither Knowledge Bowels or Abiliiy which might render him capable to relieve the tempted he hath the tempting Serpent the roaring Lion in Chains and will mercifully say to that proud one come so far and no farther Fifthly Here 's Comfort to Gods people under their Afflictions and Sufferings in the World or by the World if Christ be interceding in Heaven for them then surely he will not leave them comfortless in their Sufferings for him Joh. 14. 8. chap. 16. 32. 33. Then Tribulation nor Persecution nor any thing else can separate them from the Love of God in Christ Rom. 8. 35. He that is for them is stronger than all that are against them â—ers 31. He will be with them in the Fire and in the Water Isa 43. 2. Christ is never sweeter than when the World is most bitter to a Child of God Afflictions can but file away the Rust and scoure away the Filth it cannot diminish the Grace nor injure the State of those that are interested in Christ's Mediation Christ's Cordials are never better than when his people are most faint and languishing Christ in Heaven laughs at the vain hopes of his Enemies and will dash all their Attempts against himself and Interest in pieces Psal 2. 4 9. He will strengthen his tyred distressed Servants under Sufferings Isa 42. 10. 2 Cor. 12. 9. His Arm is made bare his Power display'd and his Strength made perfect in their Weaknesses Psal 27. 14. This may be the Trouble and dejecting Fears of some how they shall hold out-in times of Tryal I am afraid says one I shall never bare Reproaches Hatred Bonds Loss of Goods and death for Christ with a magnanimous and Gospel Spirit Why Soul It shall be given thee in that hour not only to believe but to suffer for Christ Phil. 1. 29. The Fury of the Adversary shall not terrifie you nor their rampent Rage deject your Courage Isa 35. 4. Sixthly Here 's Comfort to such as are Mourners for Sion and grieve at the Afflictions of God's People That lament to see Christ's Interest on foot and the Wicked on horse-back Transgressors to prosper and the Godly afflicted that weep to behold Divine Providences thwarting his Promises The Lord hath promised that to Christ shall every Knee bow and every Tongue confess Men read of glorious things spoken of Sion but when they look to the Interest of God they see nothing but matter of trouble and grief They look to the Earth and behold Darkness and Confusions they look to the Church of Christ and lo Decayes and Dyings Now this breeds trouble to the Friends of Christ to see things run counter and cross to expectation and promise yet here is Comfort from the Intercession of Christ on this account For First The Lord Jesus sits at Helm he is upon the Throne and reigns as King for ever and this hath been the Faithful s Refuge and Support in the worst of Times Psal 10. 2. 4. 16. Psa 29. 10. The Lord Jesus hath the Government of Nations as well as of Sion on his shoulders Isa 9. 6. Eph. 1. 22. He rules over all Psal 103. 19. His Kingdom ruleth over all Men and Devils cannot wrest the Scepter out of his hands In spight of all he is King of Sion Psal 2. 6. and his Government is maintained in all the Confusions that are on the Earth and if so there is no cause for the People of Christ to be dejected Fear not said Caesar to his Mariners in a Storm Caesar is here Why are ye so fearful said Christ to his Disciples when trembling at their Dangers in a boysterous Storm O ye of little Faith Matth. 8. 26. That Vessel cannot miscarry that hath Christ at Helm and if it could said Luther mallem ruere cum Christo quam regnare cum Caesare I had rather perish with Christ than reign with Caesar Secondly His Paths are in the deep waters Psal 77. 19. Thy way is in the Sea thy paths are in the deep waters and thy foot-steps are not
thee I will rejoyce over thee I will forget the wrongs thou hast done me I will requite thy Vnkindness with Kindness and draw thee with cords of Love with cords saith one woven and spun out of my very Heart and Bowels O miserable Caitiff embrace my Counsels listen thine Ears to Heaven gate and hear the melodious Musick that is there made by refined Spirits why wilt thou rather lye with damned howling Devils than sing Hallelujah's and the Song of the Lamb with saved Souls Accept of me and unchangeable Glory unspeakable Priviledges and Rivers of Pleasures shall be thine Thus doth the Lord Jesus woo poor perishing Souls to be happy and is not this Pity indeed Fourthly His readiness to receive them when they come to him No sooner do they open the door but he comes in Rev. 3. 20. If any man open the door I will come in unto him No sooner doth the Prodigal return but his Father meets him yea runs to meet him as if he could never come soon enough at him Luke 15 20. Mercy is upon the wing when it comes to receive returning Sinners No sooner did Ephraim repent but God repented too As soon as he said Turn thou me God said He shall be turned when he cries Thou art the Lord my God presently God Answers Is he not a pleasant Child So willing is Christ to receive returning Sinners as that he promiseth he will in no wise cast them out Joh. 6. 37. Yea if they cannot come unto him he will go and fetch them and if they cannot go he will draw them Joh. 6. 44. Fifthly His great Joy when he hath obtain'd them The Father of the Prodigal keeps a Feast and makes merry when his lost Child is found Luke 15. 23 24. Psal 104. 31. The Lord shall rejoyce in his Works and this he doth when he hath finished them Heb. 4. 4. But there is nothing the Lord Jesus Christ takes more pleasure in than in the Redemption of Souls Prov. 8. 31. He delighted in the habitable parts of the Earth This you vvill find further amplified in the Parables of the lost sheep and lost piece of Silver Luke 15. from vers 4. to 11. CHAP. XII The Improvement of the Pity of Christ by way of Terrour Encouragement and Advice ARE there such deep and large Bowels of Pity in Jesus Christ not only towards his Friends but his very Enemies Then here is First Terrour to Impenitent Sinners Ah Souls hovv fearfully great is your Sin being a plain defiance to the Mercy and pity of Christ Every Transgression of yours is a kicking the very Bovvels of Mercy and a stab at the Heart of Divine Pity O! hovv vile are your Iniquities vvhilst vvithout Christ They are no less than a despising of the Riches of the Mercy and Goodness of God which would have led you to Repentance and a treasuring up of Wrath against the day of Wrath Rom. 2. 4 5. O Sinners you run on score in abusing of the highest Mercy that ever was you provoke your best Friend against you Alas Who can help you if Mercy it self becomes your Enemy The Bowels of Christ are your last Asylum if this door be shut against you Farewel Souls and can you hope that Mercy will plead for you when rejected by you or will not God hear the Complaint of despised Mercy think you Sinners the Compassion of Christ shall come forth at the last day and say I would have saved that Soul but it would not how often would I have gathered it but it resisted Mat. 23. 37. I offered to pay it's Debts and to get him an Acquittance in the Court of Heaven but he refused it I would have ransom'd him from Death to Life and adopted him to an Inheritance in Glory but he would not I would have stamp'd the divine Nature on him and brought him into the Likeness of the Lord of Glory but he would not I would have put down his Name in the book of Life and secur'd his Title to Heaven but he would not I called he would not answer I perswaded he refused I beseeched he despised I strived he resisted and now Justice into thy hands do I deliver these rebellious Souls to be dealt with according to the Threatnings of the Gospel and Severity of the Law that my Wrongs may be avenged O! what a terrible Complaint will this be Sinners tremble then at the Thoughts of your abusing divine Mâ—rcy Vse 2. Of Encouragement to dejected Souls If there be such tender pity in the Lord Jesus O then take Courage hence to hope for Mercy these Mercies of Christ are infinite boundless and bottomless O what a stock of Mercy is in him for troubled Souls to trade upon what unfathomed Deeps are there in divine Compassions enough to serve all thy Turns and Necessities have thy Sins been many The free Gift is of many Offences to Justification Rom. 5. 6. Of the Offences of many persons be they never so many or the many Offences of one person there is vertue enough in this free Gift of the Blood of Christ for the pardoning them all if such return he saith one that had love enough to give us Christ hath Bowels enough to give us pardon believing Souls shall never dye for Debt if the Bowels of Christ hath wherewithal to pay it O! what Shifts will tender Parents make to keep their indebted Children out of Prison They will beg and borrow of others pinch themselves and spare what they can rather than their Children shall be undone and surely the Mercy of Christ must needs make the most of his Blood and Obedience of his Intercession and Satisfaction for the Pardon of his People And therefore Daniel joyns Mercies and Forgiveness together Dan. 9. 9. Is thy Unworthiness great and deservest thou nothing but Wrath from God O bear up thy Sinking Spirit on the Arm of Mercy Mercy is in vain and signifies nothing if Justice only must take place hast thou abused Mercy and sinn'd away the Favour of thy God Thou hast lost his Gift but he hath not lost his giving the Child spils his Water and goes to the Well to fill his Pitcher again there is more Mercy O troubled Soul in the deep Wells of Salvation for those that seek it Obj. But I have provoked God to withhold Mercy Ans Let me tell thee O distressed Believer there are Forgivings as well as Givings in the Bowels of Christ and I know not which are greater Are thy Wants many Be of good chear Mercy hath enough to supply them all and is as free to give as able and take this for they Encouragement Mercy never gives where there are Deservings Are thy Griefs Labours Fears Troubles and Burdens great Yet comfort thy self Misery and Mercy are a Kin Mercy lives in the â—lymate of Misery and never thrives better than in Misery's Ground to do good to miserable Creatures is Meat and Drink to Mercy John 4. 32. I have Meat to eat
holy he takes up his abode with them and keeps his Court amongst them Thirdly His bowing down of his Ear to hear the cryes of his poor and despised People Psal 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble Psal 31. 2. Bow down thine Ear to hear me Fourthly His gentle and kind reception of their poor pitiful Offerings and Services Psal 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit a broken and a contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise Fifthly His owning them in the face of the World before Kings and Rulers 1 Chro. 16. 21. 22. He is not asham'd to call them Brethren Heb. 2. 11. Sixthly His appearing for them in Heaven and confessing them before his Father's Face in Glory Matth. 10. 32. Heb. 9. 24. Seventhly His looking after their meanest Concerns and numbring the very hairs of their head Matth. 10. 30. Lastly His slowness to Anger But this properly pertains to another excellent Disposition of the Lord Jesus Christ namely his Meekness where you may find it fully handled Is Jesus Christ of such an humble submissive Disposition then First Admire the greatness of Divine Love in giving such a Saviour of so humble and lowly a Spirit Had not the Son of God been of a condescending Nature he would never have become man and what then would have been the state of Sinners Had he not been of a lowly mind he would never have consented to have come into the World in the form of a Servant and then enthralled Sinners could never have been made free Had he not been humble he would never have been willing to be made under the Law and then the righteousness of the Law had never been fulfilled Had he not been lowly he would never have borne our Fault and Punishment and then our Sins must have been charged upon our own heads Secondly This will serve to shame the proud hearts of men especially those that profess Christ O see the vileness of your Pride in the glass of Christ's Humility Thirdly Labour to be like to Christ and to be enriched with this excellent adorning Grace of Humility Fourthly Here 's Encouragement to humbled Sinners from the Lowliness of Christ You that see your Iniquities to be heavier than you can bear and are afraid because of the Terrours of the Almighty yet be encouraged to come to Christ because he is humble Isa 57. 15. You that see no Worthiness in your selves to come before him but are fearful to approach into his Presence because of your Poverty and low Estate be encouraged to draw nigh to him because he is humble Isa 41. 17. You that see an Infinite distance betwixt God and you and so dare not approach him let his Humility encourage you he will not despise the Prayer of the destitute Psal 102. 17. You that think your Souls beneath the thoughts and care of such a God and that he will take no notice of you O consider his Humility for your Hope Psal 113. 6. Cherish expectations from Christ's Humility for the mortification of your Pride because 't is God's Ordinance and appointment unto this end Matth. 11. 29. CHAP. XIV Wherein is shewn the transcendent Meekness and Gentleness of Christ To his Enemies and to his People ANother Branch of the sweetness of Christ's Disposition and Nature is Fifthly His Meekness He is meek and lowly Matth. 11. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is facil and easie as Criticks derive it because they that have this Meekness are of a gentle pleasing and affable Spirit to others The Latines express it by Mansuetus one used to the hand alluding to those wild Beasts that are thus tamed They are gentle and brought to the hand they are sociable and familiar not strange and harsh And such is the Lord Jesus he is meek of a sweet and gentle Spirit and carriage towards all when he opens himself as a Saviour to them but especially he is so towards his People Meekness especially relates to Anger as allaying and moderating of it So Arist defines it to be the sweetning of ones Spirit removing its roughness harshness and Passion and rendring it gentle pleasing and affable even to them that provoke it Now this is an excellent Spirit 1 Pet. 3. 4. 'T is spoken of Moses as one of his chiefest Excellencies Numb 12. 3. Now the man Moses was very meek And the Lord Jesus sets forth this to be the greatest Excellency that he presents in himself for the Imitation of his People Matth. 11. 29. When the Prophet Zachary would delineate the stately Majesty of Christ in his Kingly progress to his People he displayes him in the Glory of his meekness Zach. 9. 9. Thy King cometh to thee meek c. So Psal 45. 4. The Glory of Christ in his triumphant March in the World is held forth in his Meekness and Truth this is part of Christ's excellent Glory as Mediator 2 Cor. 10. 1. I beseech you by the Meekness of Christ Now the Lord Jesus is replenished with Meekness First To his Enemies This he manifested whilst on Earth to such as hated him abused him and sought to take away his Life 't is of such the Prophet speaks Zach. 9. 9. compar'd with Math. 21. 5. Now this Meekness of Christ to his Enemies appears First In his Slowness to Anger Psal 103. 8. The Lord is slow to Anger He was not easily provoked whilst on Earth under all the Provocations and Abuses cast upon him Matth. 12. 19. He shall not strive nor cry neither shall any man hear his Voice in the Streets Passionate persons will strive to have their Will when crost to defend their Names to oppose their Adversaries and to revile them that reproach them but Christ was not so he strove not in a contentious quarrelling way but being reviled reviled not again 1 Pet. 2. 23. Under all his Sufferings such as were able to make the meekest man on Earth to cry out and to stir up his Spirit against them yet Christ was silent Isa 53. 7. He was oppressed he was afflicted and yet opened not his Mouth he is brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before his Shearer is dumb so he opened not his Mouth You shall not find one froward Word from Christ in all his Sufferings by Jews or Gentiles look over the Jeers and Reproaches that were cast upon him in his Life and at his Death Is not this the Carpenter's Son Matth. 13. 55. Is not this the Carpenter the Son of Mary Mark 6. 3. They call'd him a Wine bibber a Friend of Publicanes and Sinners and yet we find him as a Sheep dumb before the Shearers The Pharisees charg'd him to be on◠that had Correspondence with Devils Matth. 9. 34. but he was silent another time they call him a blasphemer Matth. 9. 3. but see how mildly Christ answers them vers 4. Why think ye Evil in your Hearts Another time we find him sleighted by the Samaritanes
to these also he exerciseth much Long-suffering and Patience if you weigh First the Multitude of their Sins they are more than can be numbred more than the hairs of their head Psal 40. 12. Sins of Thoughts Words and Deeds Sins against Law and Gospel the first and second Table Sins in Duty and out of Duty Sins every day every moment Gen. 6. 5. Sins to the last hour of their Lives till their Tabernacle be pull'd down and the body of Death destroyed and this is not only the Condition of one or of a few Souls but of all the Elect every man that liveth 1 Kings 8. 46. There is none that sinneth not Secondly The Aggravation of their Sins taken First From the persons sinning The redeemed of God such as have been bought with a great price 1 Cor. 6. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 18. The pardon of whose former Sins cost so dear the Sons and Daughters of God Deut. 32. 19. Souls loved and chosen out of all the World to be his yea they only elected and all others left Amos 3. 2. Adopted to a glorious state to be Kings and Priests unto God to be Heirs and Co-heirs with Christ to be a name and a Glory to him and yet for these to be always grieving always provoking always reproaching of him is hard indeed but not too hard for Christ to bear Secondly From the person against whom they sin they sin against their Father who loved them with an everlasting Love drew them with the Cords of Love and led them in the paths of Love who hath given his Son for them and to them and fixed his unchangeable Love upon them imparted the royal Priviledges of Sons to them and yet to Sin against him who is the Father of Christ and their Father whose Glory was dearer to him than his own Blood is an aggravated Sin indeed They sin against God the Son who gave himself for them and bought them with a great price They sin against the holy Ghost who visited them in their low Estate and brought them the good News of Salvation who broke open their Prison-doors and let them forth into a glorious State of Liberty who quickned enlightned comforted and helped them in all their Soul-straits now to sin against this God the Father Son and Spirit cannot but exceedingly provoke the Soul of Christ Thirdly the State in which they sin O! how inconsistent is this with such an high and glorious Condition Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall have no more Dominion over you because you are not under the Law but under Grace The Sins of such are the works of Darkness in the day time Acts of Enmity in a state of Reconciliation and grievous Bondage in times of Liberty Fourthly The dangerous Effects of their Sinning 'T is a corrupt Tree that brings forth sad Fruit even the Grapes of Sodom and the Wine of Gomorrah their Sins rob God of his Glory and bring a greater Dishonour to him than all the Sins of the World besides Rom. 2. 23. They grieve the Spirit of Christ whereby they are seal'd up to the day of Redemption Eph. 4. 30. They depress and load yea break the Heart of God Amos 2. 13. They endeavour to frustrate divine grace and render the Death of Christ in vain Gal. 5. 4. They do as it were reduce the Lord to a great strait what to do to save their Souls Hâ—s 6. 4. they Shipwrack all their Duties and put a Vanity upon all their Profession Labours and Sufferings such run in vain Gal. 2. 2. They sadden the Hearts and weaken the hands of the Godly and become stumbling blocks in their way Psal 119. 158. And they do a great deal of mischief to the wicked in prejudicing them against the Lord Jesus and his holy ways in hindring their Reception of the Gospel and depriving them of the Fruits and Labours of Christ towards their Conversion in justifying them in their wayes encouraging them in their Sins and in causing them to blaspheme the holy Name of God Fifthly The blessed Advantages they have enjoy'd against their Sins they have many Obligations against it and many Experiences of the Evil of it and yet still continue in it O this doth make the burden of the Sins of the Godly exceeding heavy to Christ and yet that he should bear them so patiently and not consume them That though provoked daily by the Brambles and scratching Abominations of his People yet his Fury should not be kindled into a terrible Flame to burn them up doth manifestly demonstrate his meekness to be exceeding great Secondly Christ's forbearing of his People is another Evidence of his Slowness to Anger He is not easily provoked Neh. 9. 17. How long doth he forbear before he strikes he first threatens and then waits calls and exhorts shakes the rod and then strikes gently Isa 30. 18. Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious Thirdly His readiness to be reconciled to them when angry Psal 86. 5. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive O consider his perswading them to Repentance how doth he labour to convince them of their Sin and invite them to return he entreats reasons and beseecheth them to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. Lo how affectionately doth he receive them when they return how willingly doth he listen his Ear to their confession of Sin and bemoaning of their condition Jer. 31. 18. Fourthly The moderation of his Anger when raised shews his meekness Isa 27. 7 8. In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it He stayeth his rough wind in the day of his East-wind Job 11. 6. Lastly His actual forgiving all their Iniquities Psal 103. 3. Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities Luke 7. 47. Isa 44. 22. Vse Now if the Lord Jesus Christ be so full of meekness to his very Enemies so rich in gentleness sweetness of Nature and Patience to his People then learn this needful Lesson of him to be of a meek and patient Spirit Behold how quietly he took up his Cross and bore reproaches and Indignities from the worst of men yea how still he was under the infinite weight of his Father's wrath Learn meekness from his Gentleness as the Elephant doth from the Lamb when the Elephant is in his greatest Fury set but a Lamb before him and his wrath will presently be allay'd Learn of Christ to bear Injuries to restrain your Anger not to be angry but when Duty and the Cause of God calls you to it 'T is onely Sin should be the Object of a Christian's Anger Moses was calm at his own Reproaches but could not be still when God was dishonoured Learn from Christ to moderate the measure of your Anger he corrects in measure Let not your Anger exceed the desert of the Provocation Learn from him to time your Anger As a word fitly spoken so Anger seasonably exerted is beautiful and learn from him to remove it when the Cause is gone Anger should be as Physick
laid aside when there is no need of it True meekness may easily be discerned by its ends and grounds it must not proceed from a willingness to be aveng'd on others but to amend and reform them CHAP. XV. Wherein is demonstrated the infinite Bounty of Christ to all his Creatures with the manner of his giving THE next thing which discovers the sweetness of Christ's Disposition and greatness of his Personal Treasure is Sixthly His Liberality He is of a bountiful Disposition and this you know is of an endearing Nature Rom. 5. 7. Scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye Psal 13. 6. I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me Now this Liberality of Christ appears First To all his Creatures Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Psal 136. 25. Psal 145. 15. Whose heart is so large whose hand so wide as Christ's ver 16. He upholdeth all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. And by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. There is never a moment but he is laying out upon his Creatures and that must needs be a large Treasure that maintains the whole World Secondly To his Enemies He doth good to those that hate him He gives large portions of this World's goods to Esau's And uncharitable Dives's do many times fare deliciously and are cloathed gorgeously by his Bounty The wicked prosper Jer. 5. 28. Nay he doth not only give them the fat things of this Life but the great things of his Kingdome O the Privileges and Favours that Hypocrites enjoy as well as Saints He sends his Gospel to every Creature and causeth the very Dews of Sion to fall upon his Adversaris Thirdly Especially to his Children for to these he gives First Good things Whatever they have of him shall be good Jer. 32. 40. I will not turn away from them to do them good Their very Afflictions are for good their Wormwood and Gall is good Rebukes of God upon them stripping and humbling Providences nay their very Corruptions by this Bounty prove to their advantage Secondly All good things He gives Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84. 11. Psal 34. 10. All the good God sees fit for them and they are capable to receive shall be distributed to them Thirdly Great things Not Common but choice Mercies passing Knowledge Mysteries not onely to the World but to themselves Things unsearchable and things unutterable Things that cannot be known as they are nor valued as they deserve What one Nation saith David to God is like thy People whom God went to redeem for a People to himself to make him a Name and to do for them great things and terrible 2 Sam. 7. 23. Redemption-work brings forth great and terrible things for redeemed Souls O the great things that God doth and Christ gives to every ransom'd Soul Job 37. 5. Things which we cannot comprehend as you will see if you give but a general Survey on the Inventory of Christ's Gifts I shall instance in some of the most remarkable First That unvaluable Gift of Light He is the Light of the World Joh. 8. 12. How deformed is Darkness how beautiful is Light Eccles 11. 7. He is a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory c. Luke 2. 32. He is the bright Morning Star the Sun of Righteousness from whom the light of Life and all true Wisdom comes now this is a great and excellent thing Eccles 2. 13. Wisdom excelleth Folly as far as Light excelleth Darkness and this you know is very far Wisdom is preferred before Rubies and the most excellent things Prov. 8. from ver 10. to 20. That must needs be great which all the World cannot purchase but this is Wisdom now all true Wisdom comes by Jesus Christ he is the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 30. So who hath brought to light the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hidden things of God and that could by no ways be known but by Revelation No man hath known the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son shall reveal him Matth. 11. 27. He giveth Knowledge and Wisdom to whom he pleaseth that special Wisdom which none of the Princes of this World can attain unto 1 Cor. 2. 7. 8. Secondly Life He hath brought Life to Light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. and is not this a great gift All that a man hath will he give for his Life Job 2. 4. O! then what is Life from the dead to his people Eph. 2. 1. He is our Life Col. 3. 3. I am come that they may have Life and have it more abundantly Joh. 10. 10. Thirdly His Love all the World and Houses full of Treasures cannot be compar'd to Love Cant. 8. 7. Should Christ give all the World and withhold his Heart it were but a mean gift Favours are valuable by the love whence they come Isa 63. 9. In his Love and in his Pity he redeemed them Psal 63. 3. Deut. 33. 3. All Believers are set as a Seal upon his Heart Cant. 8. 6. He hath loved them with an everlasting Love they have his Heart and none else Fourthly Himself There being nothing greater than himself to demonstrate the Largeness of his Heart to his people he gave himself Eph. 5. 25. Who loved the Church and gave himself for it that is sold himself to purchase them gave himself to divine Justice to satisfie the Law and to taste of Death for them all that he had as Mediator he parted with for them and hath given himself to them also Heb. 8. 10. And I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People They have his person Hos 3. 3. Thou shalt not be for another so will I also be for thee All his Beauties and personal Perfections as described Cant. 5. ver 9. to the end all Believers have a Marriage right unto him by way of Gift again he hath given them his Purchase all that he hath bought with his Blood Math. 26. 28. This is my Blood of the New Testament shed for you Fifthly His Laws and Scepter to guide them through the World and to steer out their Course of Duty and Safety and this is a great thing Hos 8. 12. I have written to him the great things of my Law Rabab the excellent or honourable things of my Law for this word notes Quality as well as Quantity and if the things of God's Law are so great what are the Truths of the Gospel called so great Salvation Deut. 4. 8. And what Nation is so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so righteous Psal 147. 19. Sixthly His Spirit This he gives to all his People Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his 1 Cor. 12. 13 We are all by one
Chron. 19. 7. Thirdly He gives presently Mercies in hand he doth not say as the unjust and covetous man go and come again to morrow and I will give it thee when 't is by him he doth not delay to bestow Mercies on his poor Creatures one Jot beyond the due time Psal 145. 15. Gal. 6. 9. Christ is never at a loss to give he only stays for a fit time he had many things to say to his Disciples but he wanted a convenient opportunity they were not able to bear them Joh. 16. 12. Fourthly He gives heartily Jer. 32. 41. I will rejoyce over them to do them good with my whole Heart and with my whole Soul He doth not pretend Kindness and yet begrudge it in his Heart all his Promises are the Intents of his Heart Jer. 30. 24. Psal 51. 18. Do Good in thy good Pleasure to Sion Fifthly He gives liberally Jam. 1. 5. If any man lack Wisdom let him ask it of God who giveth liberally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Simply purely with a candid Mind and full Intent to do good 't is rendred bountifully as Liberality comes from a simple and pure Heart he gives many times more than we ask as the sick man of the Palsie came for Health and Christ gave him Pardon to boot Solomon asked Wisdom and God gave him more than he begged Riches and Honour too 1 Kin. 3. 12. 13. He gives richly to his People of all good things to enjoy 1 Tim. 6. 17. Sutable to his Treasures Phil. 4. 10. According to his Riches in Glory by Christ above what we can ask or think Eph. 3. 20. He gives a Kingdom Luke 12. 22. and therefore bids us open our Mouths wide and he will fill them Psal 81. 10. Lastly He gives constantly every day and every moment he is never weary of well-doing Isa 40. 28. The Lord fainteth not neither is weary men are soon tyred with Acts of Bounty to which the Apostle alludes Gal. 6. 9. But the Lord Jesus is a Fountain that never ceaseth running he is always doing there is never a moment but he is opening his Treasures and filling the hungry Soul Psal 73. 26. God is my Portion for ever The Saints are always living on God and are ever receiving from him His Mercies are new every Morning Lam. 3. 23. Yea though through Carelesness they have lost their Mercies as the Spouse lost the presence of Christ Cant. 5. and the Tastes of his Love vers 2. 6. And though by Sin they have forfeited their Mercies and have given the Lord cause to withhold them yet he is never weary of doing them good but always communicating something or other to them Vse 1. Is Christ so bountiful Then this may serve to convince all Christless Souls under the Gospel of the greatness of their Sin in sleighting and contemning Christ because it is utterly opposite to the Streams of his Bounty towards them this Sinner will gall thy Conscience another day when Christ shall say what Iniquity hast thou found in me that thy Heart is set against me have not I born thee all thy days maintain'd thee ever since thou wast born and fed thee with Food convenient and yet thou wilt have none of me but liftest up thy heel against me and crucifyest me with thy Sins every day so did the Lord plead with Israel Hos 11. 23. 4. Vse 2. This will serve to humble the people of Christ First For their great Unthankfulness to Christ O how great are the Obligations of Believers to Christ both for upper and nether Springs thy daily Bread comes out of his Cupboard all thy Comforts and Preservations are received from him but especially thy Souls Mercies are the Products of his Bounty thy Enlightnings Awakenings Drawings and Begettings to God thy Pardon Peace and hope of glory are all from him and yet who renders to Christ for all the Benefits done to him who returns to give Glory to God this is a grievous Sin 2 Tim. 3. 2. Secondly For their hard Thoughts of Christ hath the Lord Jesus laid out so much upon thee and hath yet such Riches in Store for thee and art thou always distructing of him and on every occasion jealous and suspicious of his bounty Ps 77. 7 8 9. Ps 78. 22. 32. Thirdly For their little Improvement of Christ's bounty see this in Joash 2 Kin. 13. from ver 17. to 20. Fourthly For looking to Creatures for their Supplies more than to Christ Jer. 2. 13. This is a heathenish Sin Rom. 1. 25. They loved and served the Creature more than the Creator Isa 55. 2. CHAP. XVI Wherein the Faithfulness of Christ is opened in accomplishing all his Prophesies fulfilling his Promises to all the Trust committed to him and in all the Relations he stands to his People THE Sweetness and Excellency of Christ's Disposition consists also Lastly In his Justice and Fidelity he is righteous true and faithful in all he doth and undertakes and this argues an excellent Spirit this was part of that Glory the Spirit of God puts on Moses Numb 12. 7. But my Servant Moses is not so who is faithful in all my House with him will I speak Mouth to Mouth even apparently God puts a singular Value on Moses hath a peculiar kindness for him and affords him more intimacy with himself than others have because of his Faithfulness So Daniel It was his great Honour that his very Enemies could not spot him or find any Error in him on the account of his Unfaithfulness Dan. 6. 4. 'T was this brought Judah into so high an Estimation with God as 't is said Hos 11. 12. Judah ruled with God and was faithful with the Saints Nay a faithful person is a Jewel so rare that he can scarcely be found Prov. 20. 6. Every man will proclaim his own Goodness but a faithful man who can find That is as some render it 'T is a common thing for men to talk of their Goodness Bounty and Mercy but 't is a rare thing for them to be so indeed to be so good as they seem to be Others comment on it thus 'T is an easie thing for men to promise fair and to speak of great things they will do but few are found that perform their word and are what they promise to be Take it in either Sense a faithful man is a rare thing who can find it as seldom seen almost as a black Swan or a rich Jewel Now the Lord Jesus is thus excellent he is true though every man be a Lyer called the faithful Witness Rev. 1. 5. His Name as well as Nature is faithful Rev. 19. 11. The Lord Jesus gives a faithful Testimony of the love that God bears to Sinners he lay in the Fathers bosom and hath given a true Revelation of him Rev. 1. 5. Isa 11. 5. Faithfulness is the Girdle of his Reins The Prophet alludes to those Ornaments Kings did use to wear they wore a Girdle as an Ensign of
Honour and Power Job 12. 18. He looseth the bonds of Kings that is their Girdle by which he means their Power and Authority which he removes now instead of this Ensign of Honour which Kings did wear Christ shall be cloathed with Faithfulness and Righteousness this shall be his Ornament and Glory Heb. 2. 17. He is the faithful high-priest First He is faithful and just to all men even to his very Enemies he will not wrong them in the least he renders to every one his due Rom. 2. 6. The very Hypocrites shall have their Reward Matth. 6. 2. The Lord Jesus will not give cause to any to say at the last day that he is their Debtor or doth them Wrong Matth. 20. 13. The wicked shall have their Portion in this Life all that is coming to them as much as they can in Justice demand If Ahab repent he shall have Reprieve from his Punishment eternal Repentance shall obtain eternal Deliverance If Esau pray for the Blessings of this life with Tears God will give them to him he cannot be a Debtor to any his very Enemies shall have their due as much as their outward Duties or servile Labours amount to for the holy one of Israel cannot lye what Promise soever God makes to any outward Action or Vertue it shall certainly be fulfilled he cannot defraud any the Pharisees shall have their Honour Judas his bag Demas the World and Dives his Pleasures he that commands his People to render every one their due cannot possibly wrong any Secondly He is faithful to his People 1 Pet. 4. 19. Let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator That is Christ is able to keep you in Sufferings because he made you of nothing and he that gave you a being when you were nothing he can keep you now though all the World be set against you He can do it because he created you of nothing and he will do it because he is faithful and hath promised now this Faithfulness of Christ to his people lies First In his exact Accomplishment of all his Prophesies All things written concerning him are fulfilled in him Luke 18. 31. A tittle of God's word shall not fall to the ground all the Types and legal Figures as they shadowed out Christ to come namely the High-priest the Altar the scape Goat c. were perfectly accomplisht in him they were the Shadows he the Substance all Scripture Prophesies concerning divine Providence the Resurrection of Sion and the Destruction of Babylon shall be fulfilled to one Iota Luke 21. 22. Secondly in performing his Promises never an Engagement made by the Father to the Son or by him to his people but he will see it assuredly made good Rom. 15. 8. 1 Kings 8. 28. 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his Promises Tit. 1. 2. 2 Cor. 1. 20. All the Promises are in him yea and Amen Object Christ's Faithfulness in fulfilling his Promises pertains only to the Heirs of the Promises but I cannot call the Promises mine because of my unfaithfulness to God Answ The Promises of God are not made to the Doers of the Law or Goâ—pel but to Believers nor are they made for doing but upon believing 'T is true by Faithfulness and Obedience comes the thing promised but a Title to the Promises is procured by believing pray put a distinction between the Promises and the thing promised Gal. 3. 22. That the promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe Heb. 6. 17 18. The promise of Grace Healing and Salvation depends not upon the fidelity of the saved Soul but upon the faithfulness of God in Christ Obj. But I do not find the Promises made good to me God hath said He will never leave nor forsake his People but I doubt he hath forsaken me for I cannot see his out-goings in the Sanctuary He hath promised to hear the Prayers made in his Name to dispence Grace to give out his Spirit and to create a new heart but I find not the performance of these things in me Answ First If the Lord Jesus doth not fulfill his Promises 't is because thou art not fit for them God would have brought Israel into Canaan near forty years before he did but they were not fit for that mercy They were carnal lusting murmuring rebelling so that God sent them back again into the Wilderness Christ would have taught his People many glorious Truths but they were not able to bear them Joh. 16. 12. Food yea the choicest Dainties upon a distempered Stomach are cast away they feed nothing but the Disease If God accomplish not his Word to thee 't is because thou art uncapable for it Thy Iniquities it may be withhold good things from thee Isa 59. 1. Secondly Christ may be performing his Promises though thou dost not see it For First Christ doth fulfill his Promise though he doth not give the same thing he seems to promise If he give thee that which is equivalent in the room of it So if the Lord doth not give his People the Comforts of this Life yet if he gives them Contentment without them he fulfills his Promise So he dealt with Paul Phil. 4. 11. I have learned in every state to be contented and with David Psal 16. 6. The Disciples had nothing yet in the want of all they had all things 2 Cor. 6. 10. If in the want of Bread God gives Strength and Satisfaction he fulfills his Word The wicked in their Fulness are in Straits Joh 20. 22. But the Godly in their Straits have a Fulness Secondly Christ doth fulfill his Promise though he gives not the same thing if he gives a better thing If Christ withholds Earthly things and gives Spiritual As Saul found not his Asses but in the room of them met with a Kingdom The Disciples lost their Nets and Boats and found a Treasure in Christ They lost their taking of Fish and became Fishers of men Paul suffer'd a Shipwrack of all his own Excellencies and found the Excellencies of Christ Thirdly Christ fulfills his Promises though he do not give the same things his People would have yet if he gives them sutable things such as he sees best sutes and fits their present state So the Disciples expected a Temporal Kingdom but Christ gave them a Spiritual Kingdom It may be a little Mercy is more sutable for thee than a great deal Children must have their meat suted to their Health not their Stomach Paul could not bear much Vision of God and therefore must have a Thorn in the Flesh 2 Cor. 12. 7. Fourthly Christ doth fulfill his Promise though he doth not give thee what thou thinkest thou dost want if he give thee what he knows thou wantest Rom. 8. 26. Thou supposest thou wantest Comforts he withholds them and gives thee humblings Fifthly Christ fulfills his Promise though he doth
his Face from them when he speaks sharply to them and severely rebukes them Secondly To own his Friend in all places times and conditions so Jonathan owned David in his greatest Dangers when his Father sought his Life when it was dangerous to appear for him 1 Sam. 20. 28. 32. so Christ is not asham'd to own his People before God men Matth. 10. 32. Whosoever shall confess me before men him will I confess before my Father's Face 1 Cor. 16. 21. He reproved Kings for their sake saying touch not mine anointed c. Thirdly Pity Job 6. 14. Pity should be shewn from a Friend And in this is Christ faithful he hath compassion on the ignorant and those that are out of the way Heb. 5. 2. He cannot hide his Eyes from his own Flesh he is that good Samaritane Luke 10. 33. Fourthly Counsel Prov. 27. 9. Oyntment and Perfume rejoyce the Heart so doth the Sweetness of a man's Friend by hearty Counsel Christ is called the Counsellor Isaiah 9. 6. He will guide his People with his Eye and instruct them in the way they should go Psal 32. 8. Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them Neh. 9. 20. Fifthly Adherence Prov. 18. 24. There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a Brother 2 Sam. 16. 17. So the Lord Jesus he stands by his People in time of need Ps 50. 15. Ps 91. 15. Ps 44. 3. Sixthly Comfort So Joh's Friends Job 2. 11. Came to mourn with him and to comfort him the Lord Jesus is faithful in this also Joh. 14 18. I will not leave you comfortless Isa 61. 2. To comfort all that mouâ—â— Seventhly Communication of Secrets Judg. 16. 15. How canst thou say thou lovest me when thy Heart is not with me Now the Lord Jesus Christ is such a Friend he will open the very Secrets of his heart to his People Joh. 15. 15. I have called you Friends for all that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you Psal 25. 14. O the secret Mysteries of the Gospel he discloseth to his faithful People that walk much with him Joh. 14. 2 3. Lastly Supply of wants Prov. 17. 17. A Friend is born for Adversity So Paul tells the Thessalonians of his friendly respects to them 1 Thes 2. 8. A true friend is ready to impart any thing for his Friend so Jonathan stript himself to his Girdle and Bow and Sword for David 1 Sam. 18. 4. Christ is such a Friend as will supply all the Necessities of his people Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your need Such a Friend he was to Jacob Gen. 48. 15. The God which fed me all my Life long Secondly He is faithful as a Brother for in this Relation also doth he stand to his people Joh. 20. 17. Go to my Brethren and say to them that I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God Christ and Believers have all one Father though in a different way Christ the natural Believers the adopted Children of God Now as he stands to them in the Capacity and State of a Brother an elder Brother so his Fidelity consists in a faithful Discharge of the Duties of such a relation As First One Duty is Love All the Saints stand in the relation of Brethren one to another and so are obliged to mutual Love 1 Joh. 3. 10. Christ fulfills this duty to his people he loves them as himself Eph. 5. 25. perfectly with the same love with which the Father loves him Joh. 15. 9. Secondly Another brotherly duty is Pity 1 Pâ—t 3. 8. Having Compassion one of another love as Brethren be pityful So Christ can truly say as Esther did of her Kindred Esther 8. 6. Now can I endure to see the Evil that shall come unto my People or how can I endure to see the Destruction of my Kindred Thirdly Unity is the duty of Brethren Psal 133. 1. Behold how good and pleasant is it for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity so is the Lord Jesus one with his people This he dyed for Joh. 11. 52. This he prays for Joh. 17. 21. Fourthly Another brotherly duty is Peace Gen. 13. 18. Let there be no strife betwixt me and thee and betwixt my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren So Christ labours after peace for his people and with them Jo. 16. 33. Fifthly Acknowledgment is another duty of Brethren So Christ Heb. 2. 11. He is not asham'd to call them brethren Lastly visiting one another and taking hold of Opportunities to enquire the welfare of each other and communicate Refreshments Thus did Moses Acts 7. 23. He visited his Brethren and so doth Christ his People he gives them special Accesses by his Spirit he leaves them not comfortless but will come unto them Joh. 14. 18. Thirdly As a husband to his Spouse is Christ faithful to his People Isa 54. 5. Thy Maker is thy Husband 2 Cor. 11. 2. I have espoused you to one Husband Hos 2. 19. 20. I will betroth thee unto me in Righteousness loving Kindness and Faithfulness Now Christ performs all the Offices of a tender Husband to them First In loving them as himself Eph. 5. 25. Husbands love your Wives as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it Now I shall give you eight Proofs of Christ's great love as a husband to his People First His high Valuation of them he esteems them beyond all the World besides nay above Heaven it self he could leave the Heaven of Heavens to seek after and to save them and Mansions of Glory to come down and betroath them he despised all the offer'd Pleasures and Grandure of the world when proposed to divert his Love from them Matth. 4. He sets forth their excellencies by terms of greatest worth he calls them his Treasure Exod. 19. 15. A Kingdom of Priests vers 6. His Jewels Mal. 3. 17. Cant. 1. 10. Thy Cheeks are comely with Rows of Jewels thy Neck with Chains of Gold Cant. 2. 2. As the Lilly among Thorns so is my Love among the Daughters He terms them a Fountain of Gardens an Orchyard of Pomegranates Cant. 4. The only one of her Mother the choice one of her that bare her These high Characters the Lord Jesus gives his Spouse shews the wonderful account he makes of her Secondly His costly purchase of them he sold himself to redeem them Eph. 5. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. He parted with all his Glory Treasures Peace Pleasures Strength and Life to procure a people to himself had not his love been infinitely great to all his Seed he would never have bought them at so dear a rate 1 Cor. 6. 20. Thirdly His great Endurings for them Jacob tells us of some Hardships he underwent to gain Rachel Gen. 31. 40. 41. But these are nothing to Christ's Endurings for his Spouse he bore infinite Torments for her all the Wrath and Vengeance of a consuming Fire which all the Sins of Believers did
2 Thes 1. 6 7. Psal 116. 7. Hâ—b 4. 3. Fifthly Sin shall never more have dominion over them Rom. 6. 14. Sixthly God will withhold no good thing from them Rom. 8. 32. No temporal blessing Math. 6. 33. No spiritual blessing 1 Tim. 4. 8. No instruction Jer. 31. 33. Isa 54. 13. Joh. 14. 26. No sanctified correction Heb. 10. 10 11. Rom. 5. 3 to 5. No consolation Isa 51. 3. 2 Cor. 1. 4. No edification and increase in Grace Eph. 4. 12 16. Nay all things shall work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. Lastly They can never forfeit their state of Grace and interest in the Favour of God Joh. 13. 1. 2 Cor. 7. 10. They shall be sure to be kept by the mighty power of God unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. There is not the least room left for a falling off from Grace Because First Salvation is purchased for them and if the end be purchased then all the means to the end and God in Justice is bound to make good Christs purchase and to deliver what he bought and paid for 2 Tim. 4. 8. Secondly Preservation in grace is ingaged to them Jer. 32. 40. 1 Thes 5. 23 24. The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blamelesse unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it Here we may see both Sanctification and Salvation is secured to all that are savingly called of God Salvation is the End and sanctification is the Means and both are sounded not on the will of Man or on his care and fidelity but as depending on the act and faithfulnesse of God not only the first Act of Sanctification but Preservation continuance and growth in Grace is the work of God and it's perseverance is laid upon divine preservation to which God hath bound himself by promise to every Soul that is truly sanctified and his Faithfulness is engag'd to make it good Thirdly They are put into the Hands of Christ on purpose to be secured in Grace to Glory Joh. 10. 28 29. They shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand They are engraven on the palms of his hands their walls are continually before him Isa 49. 16. Their Walls that is their safety This was spoken in a time when the Walls of Jerusalem were broken down Yet at that time God had Walls about them to secure them which they saw not Both Believers themselves their Graces and all the Promises are put into the hands of Christ hence they cannot fall away Fourthly True Grace is of an abiding nature 1 Joh. 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed abideth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not at constantiam penitissimam inhaesionem saith one 'T is an abiding and constant inhesion of Grace Some to evade the evidence of this Truth would pervert the sense of it taking it for the new Creature which is born of God whereas the Original is clear against it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Masculine Gender which notes a person not a thing Again it would be a Tautologie to add a reason why such a one cannot sin because he is born of God and his seed remaineth in him whereas the new Creature and the seed of God are all one but here they note two things First A Person Secondly The Regenerate part of the Person which is fully explain'd in the following ver where he that is born of God or the Child of God is opposed to the Child of the Devil which is meant of a distinct Person not a different Nature in the same Person and this seed of God is of an abiding nature wherever it comes it comes never wholly to depart more Isa 59. 21. Fifthly Because their Life is hid in Christ and therefore cannot be lost and perish at their pleasure Col. 3. 3 4. The Believers Grace is sure in the Root however it be in the Branch and therefore Christ engages to his people that they shall live because he lives Joh. 14. 19. Lastly They have an Inseparable union with the Spirit of Grace that dwells in them Rom. 8. 11. He that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Where the Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as one observes ever notes the Person of the Holy Ghost not his Graces so that the Saints have an abiding union with the Spirit of God the third Person and so cannot perish for want of Grace but are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation He can never want Water that may have access to the Fountain or Ocean nor can any Soul be destitute of Grace that is united to the Spirit of Grace The Graces of Saints are sure their Faith their Preservation is sure O what a glorious priviledge is this that flows to Believers from this purchase of Christ that their Salvation is sure and they may know it to be so CHAP. XVIII Sanctification and Holiness is purchas'd for Believers by the Death and Sufferings of Jesus Christ ANother part of Christs purchased Treasure for Believers is Fourthly The Sanctification of their Natures and Persons Here I shall shew 1. That the Lord Jesus hath Purchased Grace and Holiness 2. For whom this Holiness is purchased 3. What this Holiness is he hath purchased 4. That this is part of Christs Treasure First That the Lord Jesus hath purchased the sanctification of the Natures and Persons of his people This I shall prove by several Arguments First All the Types under the Law do imply so much and darkly open this great truth to Believers We find that Christ in the non-age and Infant state of his Church and People dealt with them in Figures and Shadows So the Laver and Sacrifices the Priests pure and white Robes and Vestments and the washing of their Garments when they were to approach the Divine Majesty were Typical of this Holiness which he was to procure for his people in the fullness of time so much the Apostle imports Col. 2. 17. Which are a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ The shadow goes before and the body follows These Types are precedaneous to the coming of Christ and his full accomplishment of the things intended and signified by them thus Christ is the Altar that sanctifies the gift In him we have those true and solid good things which were shadowed out in those Ceremonies under the Law saies Daven on the place Secondly The Names and Titles given to Christ import so much He is called Jesus because he shall save his People from their sins Mat. 1. 21. He is called a Redeemer to deliver them from their Bondages and hard Service He is termed the Sanctifier For he that Sanctifieth and they that
are Sanctifyed are all of one Heb. 2. 11. Thirdly For this end he was actually designed of God and made over to his People in the Everlasting Covenant decrees purposes and determinations of God 1. Cor. 1. 30. He is made of God unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption He is made of God Non in creatione sed in ordinatione saith Paraeus Not created so according to his Divine Essence as some Hereticks assert but ordained and given of God to this end to be Sanctification that is the Author of Sanctification and therefore he is said to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. which can never be accomplish'd without Holinesse For without holinesse no man can see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Fourthly For this work was the Lord Jesus promised by the Father to come unto Sion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Rom. 11. 26. This Scripture is quoted out of Isa 50. 10. from which the Apostle varies following the Septuagint Translation then in great use rather than the Hebr. seeing it retaines tâ—e sense though different in words In Isa 't is The Redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from Transgression The Apostle saies He shall come out of Sion and turn away ungodlinesse from Jacob To reconcile which Peter Martyr thinks the Septuagint might mistake Lashub To turn for Leshabe To them that turn But this is not likely that those Learned Doctors could be so mistaken in the Original and therefore 't is a far better answer that Beza and Grynaeus do give That the Prophet speaketh of the Effect of Christs coming which is a turning away from Sin And that the Apostle speaks of the Cause of their turning from Sin which is Christs taking away of Sin for none can turn from sin till Christ do remove Sin And this is the end of his coming into the World To this end he is promised Mal. 3. 2 3. He shall sit as refiners fire and purify the Sons of Levi. The Sons of Levi are Firstly meant of the Apostles Secondly I suppose of all the Saints But so much is clear that the Lord Jesus is promised to be a refiner to his People in Gospel times and to purge away their filth and dross and to make them Holy Fifthly For this end it was the Lord Jesus Christ gave himself up to Redemption-work Eph. 5. 25 26 27. As Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might Sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the word Here we have 1. One great end of Christs Obedience and Suffering 't is to make his People Holy 2. Here 's the efficient Cause of this Holinesse that is By the Spirit of Christ The blood of Christ purges away the guilt of sin Meritoriously and the Spirit of Christ purifies the filth of sin Efficiently signifyed by Water as 't is often us'd in Scripture Joh. 4. 10. 14. Chap. 7. 38 39. 3. Here 's the instrumental cause of this Holinesse the means by which it is wrought and carryed on and that is by the word the immortal seed of the Soul This he undertook and was intended to do in the Covenant of Redemption betwixt the Father and him Isa 42. 1 2 3 4. He shall not fail till he hath set Judgment in the Earth that is Holiness for so 't is taken Joh. 16. 8. And this work is the Lord Jesus here engag'd to do Some take the word Ethmoch I uphold passively for the Fathers dependence and Christs Faithfulnesse He leans or stays upon his undertaking this work and trusts to his performance of what he undertook to do Others take it actively for the Fathers upholding and carrying Christ through this great work of Redemption and Sanctification In both senses 't is true The Lord Jesus stands engaged to carry on Redemption-work and is throughly furnished with grace to accomplish it Heb. 10. 7. Christ readily consents to the fulfilling of the Fathers will and what that was you have Isa 42. 7. To open the blind eyes and to bring out the Prisoners out of the Prison which is meant of the work of Redemption and Regeneration and it was the will of God the Father that Christ should do this 1. Thes 4. 3. This is the will of God even your Sanctification And this he stood bound to do to promote and perfect the power of Holinesse in all his Children Now what Christ did undertake he finished Meritoriously whiles on Earth Joh. 17. 4. I have finished the work thou hast given me to do And for the application of it he is in Heaven to see it perform'd and this is the work of his Intercession Joh. 17. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth This Christ Intercedes for in Heaven and therefore 't is the fruit of his Purchase for he Intercedes for no more in Heaven than what he dyed for on Earth Sixthly His Authoritative sending the Spirit of Holinesse to his people shews his right to it by his Purchase Joh. 16. 7. I will send him to you That is after the finishing of his work and re-instalment in Glory Joh. 7. 39. For the Holy Ghost was not yet given because Christ was not yet glorifyed Lastly Were not holinesse purchased for saved Souls Christs Redemption-work would be imperfect neither could Souls ever answer the ends for which he dyed Without Holinesse were procured and compleated by Christ there could be no Salvation For First Man cannot Sanctify himself We are all as an unclean thing and our Righteousnesse as filthy rags Isa 64. 6. And who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean no not one Job 14. 4. Indeed the Scripture sometimes speaks after this manner Make you a clean heart Ezek. 18. 31. Make you a new heart So Isa 1. 16. Wash ye make ye celan But there is Mans Duty not his power It shews the subject not the Author or this holinesse and where you find such Exhortations they are to lead men to Christ for the getting of this Holiness wrought in them as 1 Pet. 2. 4. To whom come as as to a living stone c. Secondly Without this holiness be wrought in Believers they can never be capable of answering the ends of Redemption which are First To enjoy Union and Fellowship with God Joh. 11. 52. 1 Joh. 1. 3. Heb. 8. 10. Now without Holiness no Fellowship with God 2 Cor. 6. 14 15. 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. For his Person is Holy and his offerings and services are Holy Secondly To reconcile together in one all things in Heaven and Earth Col. 1. 20. But no Fellowship with Angels or Saints in Heaven without holiness for they are holy Creatures Thirdly To be brought into the nearest Union and Conformity to himself Rom. 6. 4 5. But without Holiness this cannot be Fourthly To be a Name and a praise unto God Eph. 1. 12. But without Holiness no glorifying of God Fifthly To bring Souls to the possession of the purchased
Inheritance in Glory Eph. 1. 14. But nothing that defileth shall enter within the Gate of the new Jerusalem Rev. 21. 27. So much for the first Head That Jesus Christ hath Purchased Holinesse We shall now enquire Secondly For whom hath the Lord Jesus Purchased Holinesse Answ For all his feed for every Soul the Father hath given him Joh. 17. 9. Christs Purchase death and Intercession is only for those the Father hath given him and every one of them for all his seed that belong to him as the second Adam And in this sense is that Scripture to be taken Rom. 5. 18. As by the offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon all Men to Justification of life That is As death came by Adams fall to all his seed so life comes by Christ to all his seed neither can it be stretched further as the Apostle affirms 1 Joh. 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath life but he that hath not the Son hath not life Neither will any affirm that all Men are justified unto life nor any but those that believe in Christ which are his seed The Lord Jesus tells us Joh. 17. 20 'T is for all them that believe on him through his word Gal. 3. 22. That the Promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe The Apostle speaks here of a double Promise made to Abraham and through him to Believing Gentiles 1. The Promise of Righteousnesse in Justification ver 18 19. 2. The Promise of the Spirit in Sanctification ver 14. That we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith and both these are made over to Believers You that come to Christ in truth and receive him into your hearts by faith and take his Yoke on your shoulders obey his Laws sincerely give up your all to him and are no more your own but though you see your want of Holinesse yet are really willing to be Holy as God is Holy submitting to all the appointments of Christ in order to it you are the seed of Christ the people to whom the Promise of Holinesse doth belong Thirdly What is the Holinesse Christ hath Purchas'd for his People Answ First The truth of Grace in opposition to Hypocrisie The Lord Jesus never shed his blood for counterfeit grace His purchas'd Treasure consists not of Counters but tryed Gold Rev. 3. 17. What he offers to Sinners that he purchased and dyed for but Christ offers tryed gold to invited Souls Any thing short of saving grace is not worth the shedding of the blood of the Son of God That which Christ Promiseth to his people is the same with that he hath purchased but he promiseth true grace Ezek. 36. 26 27. He Promiseth a new heart and a new heart is a truly sanctified heart 'T is his Spirit he will put within them and his Spirit is a Spirit of truth Joh. 14. 17. There is never a Soul whose heart is made willing to be the Lords but Jesus Christ hath purchased sincerity for him Christ never dyed for Lies and Untruths but seeming grace is a lye and not of the truth This is wonderful comfort to poor troubled Souls that are always doubting of the truth of their graces and would give a thousand Worlds to be sure that their gold is tryed gold and their graces true graces Now if ever thy Soul were brought to desire Christ in truth and to receive him with a lively Faith thou mayest be sure thy graces are true because the Lord Jesus hath purchas'd this for all Believers Now this truth of Grace consists in a through change of the Soul even of the whole Man which may be distinguished into these two parts 1. The taking away of Sin 2. The giving of Grace the delivering the Soul from the power of Satan and the reducing it under the power of God and into his Kingdom The purging the Soul from Lust and possessing it with Grace the destroying the works of the Devil and creating it the workmanship of God In freeing the Soul from the Ruling Power of sin in every part and implanting the Nature and Image of God on every Power and Faculty of it Acts 26. 18. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Tit. 2. 14 Rom. 6. 14. Secondly Perseverance in Grace Their continuance in a state of grace And the abiding of the seed of God in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 't is the same word that signifies the Spirits abiding with Believers which Christ saith shall be for ever Joh. 14. 16. 1 Joh. 2. 27. This he hath Promised in the new Covenant and therefore this he hath purchased Jer. 32. 40. And therefore the sanctified are called the preserved in Jesus Christ Jude ver 1. And the Saints are said to be kept by the Power of God through faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. This Christ stands engaged to the Father to do Joh. 17. 12. If Jesus Christ hath not purchased perseverance in Grace to the end for all his people but leaves their continuance in the truth to their free-will then he leaves them in the same state in which they were under the first Covenant For the standing of Adam in the first Covenant was upon his own choice and will but this cannot be because Christ hath taken away the first Covenant from Believers and Established the second which makes the Commers thereunto perfect Heb. 8. 6. to 11. Chap. 10. 9 10. Thirdly Growth in Grace What he calls them to that he hath purchased for them for Christ cannot invite his people to uncertainties or disappointments what he exhorts them to he promiseth to work them to Phil. 2. 12 13. Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling For 't is God that worketh in you both to will and to do Now he bids them to grow in Grace 2 Pet. 3. 18. And this he Promiseth also Hos 14. 5. 7. I will be as a dew unto Israel and he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon they that dwell under his shaddow shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine Psa 92. 12. The Righteous shall flourish as the Palm-Tree and grow as the Cedars in Lebanon What God Promised under the new Covenant Christ hath dyed for for this Covenant is wholly Confirmed by blood by the death of the Testator Heb. 9. 14 17. Quest Then what is the reason Gods People grow no more in Grace this day Answ First All are not Israel that are of Israel Many passe for Saints in the Judgment of Men which were never sanctified in Christ Jesus nor will appear to be so in the approbation of God and therefore some in whom you see no growth are no contradiction to this truth at all they being none of the seed of Christ Secondly The Lords Trees as well as the Trees of the Wood have their growing times The Winter is no time to
Kingdom at all is the reward of all such labours Sixthly 'T is work that will surely end in death Let men work never so hard yet they must dye and be damn'd at last for falling short and this is bondage-work indeed but the Children of God are freed from this work Rom. 7. 6. But now we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we are held that we should serve in newness of Spirit and not in oldness of the letter Again As they are freed from bondage-work so are they freed from bondage-wrath The wrath of God is upon all the Children of disobedience all Christless Souls are Children of wrath bound over to an Inheritance of wrath Eph. 5. 6. Chap. 2. 3. Because the Law worketh wrath Rom. 4. 15. It brings all its Servants under wrath under the curse and under death Rom. 6. 23. But from this also are all the Sons of God freed Heb. 2. 14. And destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil And not only from the Devil but from the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 8. Rom. 6. 14. Chap. 8. 2. Gal. 3. 13. Again they are free from all yokes of bondage laid on their Consciences by Men. Gal. 5. 1. 1 Cor. 7. 23. Ye are bought with a price be not ye the Servants of Men Do not give up your Faith and Conscience to their Commands obey not them contrary to the Command of Christ Gal. 1. 10 11. if I yet pleased men I should not be the Servant of Christ This is the first part of liberty the Children of God are brought into even a liberty from Servitude Secondly They have a liberty to service in the Worship of God Their service of God is free and ingenuous Service their offerings are free-will Offerings Psa 119. 108. Accept the free-will offerings of my mouth That is those offerings or vows which my mouth hath freely offered The Children of God are a willing people Psa 110. 3. They serve the Lord freely from the heart Rom. 6. 17. They obey from the heart that form of Doctrine deliver'd to them They delight in the Law of God after the inner Man Rom. 7. 22. The strictest Service of God is to them the most desired liberty the Commands of God are no wayes grievous to them that is to their inner Man indeed so far as flesh and Corruption get head they drag heavily to duty when the spring of their motions even their child-like love to God is abated and all the Indispositions of a child of God flow from decaies of love to God and some abatement of the Adoption-Spirit in him The Children of God are never in their Element or as they would be but when their hearts slow out after God and they can run the paths of his Commandements this they pray and labour for Psa 119. 32. I will run the way of thy Commandements when thou shalt enlarge my heart So ver 69. I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart Their hearts move naturally after God when in their right temper As the Waters run towards the Sea and the Sun runs his race Their service of God comes from a new Principle even from Faith that works by love and is directed to new and higher ends than all the services of Hypocrites The sense of divine love constrains them to duty that they cannot but chuse the things that please God further than they are bound back by Corruption and Temptation their works are wrought in God from a Principle of life raised and revived by grace They have no mercenary aimes in their Duties to attain any carnal selfish end below God but their Motives are high and heavenly pure and spiritual as the Love of God and care they have to please him They see a beauty in Holiness and a pleasantness in the ways of God and find a sutableness in their hearts to love these though under never sâ— great discouragements and disadvantages aâ— to flesh and blood hence 't is a Child of God cannot cast off God and his Worship though he see nothing of good or comfort coming in by them nor be perswaded to consent to any thing that is sinful though to save his purse person yea life it self All the threatnings of Men or visible dangers in his way can't bring his heart to comply with ungodliness or speak or do any thing against God his people or wayes 2 Cor. 13. 8. We can do nothing against the truth None but a Judas can come with a Band of men and Officers against Christ to apprehend him or his people for owning him Micaiah would speak nothing against the truth though to please a King 1 Kings 22. 17. Nor Jacobs Soul enter into the secret of the wicked in their sinful enterprise A fearful Peter may forsake the professing of Christ for a time but he will not be seen on the side of those that do oppose him no this is far from the true Spirit of Gods Children We read of the Christians in the primitive times that left their preferments rather than they would be seen against Christ people and the whole Legion chose rather to lay down their lives than to oppose their fellow Christians Such shufflings and Compliances are opposed to the Spirit of the true Children of God they can run after God in a Wilderness but cannot be drawn against God by all the World Secondly They have new Rights and Interests Believers being once entred into the Family of God by Christ are presently invested with new and Glorious Rights whicâ— they never had before nor any besides the Chilâ—ren of God have or can ever have which will appear in these fix things First They have a right to the special and blessed presence of God the Father Son and Spirit Psa 140. 13. The upright shall dwell in thy presence The upright that is the faithful the Children of God these shall dwell in thy presence in thy special presence for all Men and Devils are in the general presence of God but the Saints shall be in Gods special presence and not step into it only as strangers may but continue for ever as Sons Joh. 8. 35. The servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever Psa 26. 6. Secondly They have a right to the purchase of Christ to all the fruit of his Obedience and sufferings His blood is theirs with all the procurements of it Isa 53. 5. He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed whatever Christ dyed for according to the agreement betwixt the Father and him is the Right of his Children Joh. 17. 9. Thirdly They have right to the Promises 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises Whereby that is by the knowledge of him as ver 3. Or through Faith in him that is by Jesus Christ we come to have
right to the promises for all the promises are in him Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. The promises of this Life and of that which is to come all are theirs 1 Tim. 4. 8. Fourthly They have Right to Communion with and to the blessing of the whole Family of Christ Being entred into Gods Family they have a Right to fellowship with all his people 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit are we baptised into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit The great design of the Apostle in this chap. is to shew that all Believers are brought into nearest Union with Christ and each other even into one body this he proves in this ver by the end of the Ordinances of Baptism and the Supper both which do signifie and seal up Believers into the nearest Union and Communion by reason of which they have equal right to one another and the whole body they have right to Communion with Angels and Saints All the Sons and Daughters of God have right to his House to his Church and all the priviledges of it Isa 56. 5. Ordinances and Ministers are theirs 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Yea they have right to the blessings of God on all Psalm 3. 8. Thy blessing is upon thy People Eph. 1. 3. Fifthly They have a right to all the good things of this Life Rev. 21. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things Even the good things of this Life Ps 37. 9. They that wait on the Lord shall inherit the Earth They are Heirs with Christ who is Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. They have through Christ a Right to all the good things of this world so far as God sees it best for them they have their right in the Second Adam who is Lord of all this is a New-Covenant-Right not over other mens rights to invade or break the civil properties of any but to those Creatures God gives them and to the good of all things even wants and enjoyments and have a sanctified use of them which none but the Children of God have Tit. 1. 15. Sixthly They have Right to the inheritance of Glory Tit. 3. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Heaven is the Country Home and Inheritance of all Saints Their Title is founded on the Purchase of Christ and Adoption of Grace not upon their Merit or Holiness and therefore 't is called on the account of Christ the purchased possession Eph. 1. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased Possession That is until we are actually redeemed from Corruption and put into the possession of purchased Glory yea their Reversion in Heaven is so freely procured for them without any of their money or price duties or obedience further than 't is the way to walk in to Glory that Eternal Life is said to be the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. Death comes by Man's merit but not Life and Salvation and is not this a glorious state and blessed condition to be made Heirs and Coheirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. And if Children then heirs and Joynt-heirs with Christ partakers of the same Rights with him Heirs of the Righteousness of Faith Heb. 11. 7. So was Abraham and so are are all Believers they have a right to Justification by believing and a right to the Kingdom of Glory Jam. 2. 5. Heirs of the Kingdom They have as good a Title to this by Grace and through the purchase of Christ as any man to an Inheritance here on Earth yea and far more sure of it for men may be turn'd out of their Rights and Properties here but Believers cannot be deprived of their Title and Inheritance through Christ Seventhly They have an interest in Gods love they are upon his Heart at all times Joh. 16. 27. For the Father himself loveth you He loves with an infinite Love a Love passing knowledge and transcending the love of all Creatures Isa 49. 15. A Mother may forget her Child but God cannot forget his He loves at all times Eternally and unchangeably He loves his Children ardently when they have but little love to him He loves them notwithstanding their unkindnesses and provocations Psal 89. 31 32 33. He loves them when he seems to be angry with them and is forced to correct them Heb. 12. 6. He always thinketh on them for good Jer. 29. 11. I know the thoughts I think towards you saith the Lord thoughts of Peace and not of Evil. He is very tender of them and hath the bowels of a Compassionate Father towards them Psal 103. 8 13. Mal. 3. 17. And I will spare them as a man spareth his Son that servâ—th him Eighthly They have a right to the Spirit of Grace the Spirit is put into their Hearts Gal. 4. 6. Not the spirit of Bondage but of Adoption Rom. 8. 15 16. They have union with the Spirit never to be seperated more v. 11. they have the Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zach. 12. 10. To quicken teach influence assist in Duty and make intercession for them Rom. 8. 26. O what a blessed priviledge is this to have the Spirit of the Son whereby they can go to God as a Father and to have the Spirit working in them the disposition and working for them the actions of Sons Thirdly They have holy and reverential boldness to come into the presence of God through his Son Ps 26. 6. I will wash my haâ—ds in innocency and so will I compass thine Alter Eph. 2. 18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father They can come to God at all times and behold his Face in Righteousness unless their sins do cause him to hide himself for a time Eph. 3. 12. And plead their cause through Christ with boldness Heb 10. 19 20. And they are not only free to come but sure to speed Joh. 16. 23 24. 1 Joh. 5. 14 15. Fourthly Instruction is another Priviledge of Sons They shall be taught of God Isa 54. 1â— He will teach instruct and shew them things they know not He will lead thâ—m into all truth Joh. 16. 16. The Spirit searcheth the deep things of God and revealeth them to the Saints 1 Cor. 2. 20. He wll teach them all things which they are able to bear They shall have the openings of Christs mind to steer their course whiles in this Wilderness of the World and shall receive the revelation of all truths necessary to Salvation Fifthly They have choice and delicate provisions and rich maintenance this is the duty of Parents to provide for their Obedient and indigent Children 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any man provide not for his own House he hath denyed the Faith He cares for his Children Mat. 6. 31 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. He that gives his Son how can he but with him freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your wants
we do to obtain this Adoption-grace Answ This is an act of Sovereign pleasure and Free-grace Rom. 9. 15 16 18. It cannot be purchased by any thing in or done by the Creature You cannot with Simon Magus buy this Relation Act. 8. 18 19. yet there are some ways in which Adoption grace may be obtained as First Get your Souls separated from sin 2 Cor. 6. 17. Secondly Get justifying Faith Eph. 2. 13 19. Thirdly Beg the Spirit of Adoption Gal. 4. 6. Lastly Open the door of thy heart to the Spirit Psa 24. 7. Rev 3. 20. CHAP. XX. The Confirmation of the new Covenant is the Fruit of Christ's purchase prov'd by several Arguments ANother glorious Fruit of Christs blood and purchased Treasure for saved Souls is the establishment of the new Covenant to Believers and Believers in the Covenant This is the certain effect of Christ's death the making sure the Covenant to all his seed That there is no more possibility of making it void to the Heirs of promise This is the great thing undertaken in the new Covenant that it shall be sure to all the seed Rom. 4. 16. There are Eight things which secure this to Believers First This new Covenant must needs be firm and unalterable because the reason why God â—â—und fault with the old Covenant was because it was weak and could not secure those that were within it Heb. 8. 8 9. Which Covenant they brake though I was an Husband to them saith the Lord Jer. 31. 32. Now if this were the reason why God did alter the first Covenant then the new Covenant he makes in the room of it must nâ—eds be free from this Imperfection and mutability or else it would abundantly reflect on the infinite wisdom of God to make a new Covenant guilty of the same errour Secondly This was Gods design in making a new Covenant that it might be ordered in all things and sure 2 Sam. 23. 5. That it might be firm and established upon better promises Heb. 8. 6. Why are they called better promises Are there better promises than the promises of Heaven and Glory They are called better because more pure and absolute promises and because it was Gods design to make them sure Rom. 4. 16. Thirdly It is confirmed by the blood of Christ and therefore the blood of Christ is called the blood of the Covenant Mat. 26. 28. This is my blood of the new Testament 'T is the blood of the new Testament in that it seals to the fulfilling of this Covenant The death of the Testatour makes the Testament to be in full force Heb. 9. 17. That now all the Promises and Legacies are certain and cannot be disappointed to the Legatees and Heirs of Salvation Again this blood of Christ is the blood of the Covenant and confirms it in that it makes good all the conditions of it that whatever is required to make this Covenant good is undertaken by Christ in the behalf of all his feed and therefore he is called the surety of the new Covenant Heb. 7. 22. By death he hath fulfill'd the Condition of the first and undertaken for the fulfilling of this new Covenant in and by Believers Yea his obedience is for them to present them compleat to the Father notwithstanding all their failings Fourthly This new Covenant is sure to Believers because the Administation of it is in the hands of Christ Heb. 8. 6. But now he hath obtain'd a more excellent Ministery by how much he is the Mediatour of a better Covenant The whole trust about the Administration of new-Covenant-blessings is devolved on Jesus Christ and therefore he is called the Mediator and Minister of the Covenant So that the Covenant must needs be sure seeing the dispose thereof is by compact betwixt the Father and Christ deliver'd into his hand upon the account of his death Now he that is the Believers Friend Head and Husband hath all power in Heaven and Earth to make good the Covanent to them Mat. 28. 18. So that the promises of the Covenant cannot be forfeited by Believers being made over to Christ as to a Trustee for them and their Covenant state also being so surely confirm'd that they cannot fall from it Fifthly Christ's sufficiency to see new-Covenant-promises made good and new-Covenantends accomplished to them is security enough for their safety He is an alsufficient Saviour able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. He is able to see Gods part fulfilled having all the promises in his hand and all the things promised at his dispose and he is able to see the Believers part fulfilled also for he hath all that in him which is needful for the making of the Condition good on their part For First He hath all Wisdom in him to make them wise to Salvation Col. 2. 3. He is made of God to his people Wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. Appointed of God to receive Wisdom for them whatever they need to guide them in the way and fit them for Salvation Knowledge is necessary to Eternal Life Joh. 17. 3. The Image of God consists partly in it Col. 3. 11. Without it the heart is not good Prov. 19. 2. No Faith without Knowledge 2 Cor. 4. 4. No Obedience without Knowledge Psa 18. 44. This is needful to discern the wiles of Satan 2 Cor. 2. 11. The sinfulness of sin Rom. 7. 13. The preciousness of Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. The beauty of holiness Ps 110. 3. The love of Christ that passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19. The hope of your calling and the things freely given of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. And for this end all Wisdom is laid up in Christ to be given out to his people by his Spirit through his word hence 't is said that Believers have an Unction from the holy one to teach them all things 1 Joh. 2. 20 27. And the promise of the Spirit is made to them to lead them into all truth Joh. 16. 13. So that whatever is needful for Saints to fit them for Covenant-Duties and Mercies all this is in Christ for them and so he is able to make the Covenant good to them Secondly He hath all Grace in him that tends to the fulfilling of this Covenant in Believers and for them He hath received the Spirit without measure Joh. 3. 34. And why is this But that from his fullness Believers may receive Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. He is the fullness that filleth all in all Eph. 1. 23. And therefore hath promised Grace sufficient to his people in all their temptations 2 Cor. 12. 9. 1 Cor. 10. 13. under all their burdens Psa 55. 22. For all duties and undertakings Phil. 2. 12 13. Chap. 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Thirdly He hath all power in Heaven and Earth put into his hand Math. 28. 18. Power to bruise Satan under his peoples feet Rom. 16. 20. To subdue Corruptions in them Mic. 7. 19. To
vanquish all their Enemies for them Joh. 16. 33. Rev. 12. 11. To heal all their backslidings Hos 14. 4. To work all their works in them and for them Isa 26. 12. To give them Faith and to finish it Heb. 12. 2. To keep them faithful to the death 2 Thes 2. 3. And to secure the promised Fruit of all for them Rev. 22. 12. and therefore sufficiently able to make good Covenant-Promises to them and to fulfill Covenant-duties in them Sixthly Christs engagement to and for his people and his interest in them is another ground for the fulfilling of the Covenant Christ hath promised the Father that he will bring them all to Glory and hath undertaken all their work for them Heb. 10. 7. And he hath promised to them to make good his Covenant when he perswaded their hearts to him Heb. 8. 9 to 13. Isa 55. 11. Again his own interest in them is security enough All the fruit of his death and purchase lies in the fulfilling of the Covenant if that be broken he loseth all his hopes and Obedience he hath dyed in vain his blood and Intercession are to no purpose for herein lies all the travel of his Soul Isa 53. 10 11. In this is the enjoyment of all his delights if this Covenant be not sure then no Soul can be saved and Christ should lose those delights he had in the habitable parts of the Earth before the World was made Pro. 8. 31. Saved Souls are Christs Crown and Glory and how mangled and defective would Christs Crown be should any one Perish who are interested in this Covenant Upon this depends all Christs Mediatory Glory Joh. 17. 4 5. And should there be a failure here he would lose his expected Glory as Mediatour So that you see the fruit of his Purchase the delight of his Soul and his Eternal Glory with the Father are all wrapt up in the accomplishment of this Covenant Seventhly The Immutability of Gods Counsel and the certainty of his engagement confirmed by an Oath renders the new Covenant sure Heb. 6. 17 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew to the heirs of promise the immutability of his Counsel confirm'd it by an Oath These are two immutable things Gods purpose and his engagement and because these could admit of no variation therefore the things Promised must be fulfill'd indue time Heaven and Earth shall pass away but the Counsel of God that must stand 'T is laid upon Infinite Wisdom and all things in order to the fullfiling of it are made so sure that it cannot possibly be frustrated He wants not sufficient Power and faithfulness to reach his own designs and therefore what he hath determined must come to pass and upon this purpose of God is laid his promise He having first resolved upon it is engaged to it Lastly Another reason to prove the certainty of the new Covenant is taken from the nature of the promises they are absolute 't is true there are some conditional promises as the effects of the other but the fundamental promises and those which compleat the Covenant of grace are altogether absolute 't is true also faith is a necessary qualification to interest a Person in these promises but when the Soul comes to have a propriety in them the tenure of them then is absolute Jer. 31. 33 34. Heb. 8. 9. He will put his Spirit within them and will cause them to walk in his Statutes Ezek. 36. 25 to 28. I will be a God to them and they shall be my People Jer. 32. 40. And I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good But I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me In which you see the condition is undertaken and secured as well as the promise and things promised had it indeed depended upon conditional promises alone which doubting Souls have most in their eye then the failure of the condition would have forfeited the promises and then they had been null'd But you see the promises of the new Covenant are absolute and therefore sure to all the seed even to every one that believeth in Jesus Christ These are the grounds of hopes the believers have that the Covenant and every tittle of it shall be made good to them but that which doth meritoriously confirm it is the blood of Christ His death and suffering on which account it may be lookt on as the sealing and confirming of it and so believers may see to whom they are beholding and oblig'd for all their new-Covenant stability VSE From this grand and glorious truth The fulfilling and assurance of the new Covenant flows 1. Wonderful Comfort to all true Believers 2. Great Obligations on them to thankfulness and Obedience First This yeilds abundant Consolation to Believers on a double account 1. From the certainty 2. From the Excellency of this Covenant First From the certainty of this Covenant flows these streams of comfort First In that all occasions of Jealousie about the love of God are cut off for if the Covenant be sure then Gobs love is sure and secured from all mutability and cessation this being one great thing contained in it Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an Everlasting love Gods love to his People is Eternal therefore sure He doth rest in his love to them Zeph. 3. 17. The word is Jacharish he will be silent in his love Bucer renders it Silebit cum dilecta sua He shall be silent in his Beloved that is saith he He shall cease from contending with her being wholly delighted in her But Montanus renders it in the abstract he shall be silent by reason of his love Propter dilectionem suam But Cocceius and other Interpreters render the letter Beth In He shall be silent in his love or rest in his love alluding to the wonderful excess of affection in a Person that through exceeding amorousness cannot speak or express it for a time Cocceius takes it for the pardoning of their sin and ceasing from those former stroaks of his displeasure And this I suppose may be chiefly intended here to wit The greatness of his love noâ—ed by silence and exuberant Joy with a remove of all tokens of his anger and this to be fixt and perpetual so the Apostle assures Believers that the love of God in Christ is irremoveable Rom. 8. 35. All the World cannot withdraw Christs heart from his People where he once loves he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. This a believer may be assured of in the New Covenant that Gods love changeth not his heart is still towards his people however his dealings may be with them Secondly Then all the grounds of tormenting fear are now removed If the Covenant of grace be confirmed to believers then there 's no Just ground for them to entertain slavish fear Rom. 8. 15. For ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear
the Pool's side near the means of cure but never the better ver 6. 7. And so continued till Christs time came to cure him So Israel were barren and unfruitful till the Lord became a dew to them Hos 14. 5. Therefore this is no discouragement if thou believe and come to Christ God will be a dew to thee and thou shalt quickly find a change 8. Object But saith one I am not only never the better for all the means of grace but I am worse than I was before when I was under first awakenings my heart was more tender but now my heart seems to be more brawny and hard I find more unbelief than ever more indisposition to go to Christ I am worse than I was Answ So was Sarah too as to the receiving the promised mercy more and more indisposed she complaines of the deadness of her womb she was past age to be the Mother of Children till the time of life came then Sarah's growing indisposition becomes no impediment at all to the fulfilling of the promise So was Israel they began to say for their part their hope was cut off and God had forsaken them when mercy was nearest to them So the woman that had a bloody issue twelve years and had spent all that she had on Physitians yet was nothing bettered but rather grew worse till Christ came and healed her Mark 5. 25 26. Persons are usually worst in their own eyes when mercy is nearest their doors Again Thy not comming to Christ is the cause of thy decaies and hardnings 't is thy unbelief that deadens thy heart and withers thy Soul Christ doth withdraw his influence from such and refuseth to do any mighty works in them because of unbelief O then Soul come away to Christ and this is the way to cure thee 9. Object But saies the Soul Christ seems to take no notice of me I call but he heareth me not I come to Ordinances but I cannot see him nay he seems to be angry with me every thing goes against me his word speaks bitter things to me methinks there 's never a threatning but belongs to me I am the Hypocrite and unclean person that God strikes at in every Sermon and his rod lies heavy on me too and in the way of his providence he writes bitter things against me Answ Soul is this thy case doth Christ take no notice of thee It is because thou takest so little of him when he unveils his beauty thou dost not believe in him when he makes a promise to thy Soul When he sends words of Counsel thou dost not obey him He hath called and thou hast not answered and therefore when thou callest he doth not answer Zach. 7. 13. Yet at such a time what follows doth God make an end of such sinners No see Chap. 8. 2 3. O Soul if the Lord Jesus Christ seems to take no notice of thee but to frown upon thee it is to frown thee from thy unbelief it is but to make thee sensible of thy slighting him If thou wilt this day accept of the Lord Jesus Christ his frowns will soon pass away as a dark Cloud doth when the Sun shines he will remember thy Iniquities no more 10. Object But may some Soul say I would fain come to Christ but I cannot I like the terms well but O my unbelieving heart O my impenitent hard heart I cannot sense Salvation-kindness Answ O Soul The afflicting sense of thy unbelief is a hopeful sign of thy faith If thou dost see thy unbelieving heart so as to be burdened under it and be weary of it the Lord reckons it for the beginnings of faith Mark 9. 24. This is the method of Salvation-Grace in begetting faith to convince thee of its impotency to believe Joh. 16. 9. Soul is this thy weariness that thou canst not come to Christ Wouldst thou have a wider heart for him Thou art the Soul he waits for that mournest over thy unbelief Mark 9. 24. But there 's one thing more may be as a discouragement to some Souls 11. Object O saies the Soul I fear the time is past and that God will be gracious no more I have had a day of grace but that is gone The Angel came troubling the Waters but I would not step in I bave had the dawnings of mercy but I resisted I fear I have outstood my Market That I have outstrived the Spirit so long that he will strive no more And this bows me down that I am afraid to look up Answ Sinner if this be thy case know that thy fears of losing the day of grace is a sign it is not lost The greatest symptome of departing grace is security and false peace 1 Thes 5. 3. So it was with the people before the flood Noah threatned judgments but they dreamt of peace Math. 24. 37. c. Security usher'd in the departure of grace from them But while the Spirit of grace strives with thy Soul the day of grace is not past from thee Doth God call upon thee now and plead with thy heart And dost thou find some movings and turnings of thy Bowels in thee crying out O that there might be mercy for me that this day of grace may not be past If so then sure the Spirit strives yet with thy Soul Therefore Soul if now thou wilt close with Christ none of these pleas can debar thy closing with him Well Sinners consider the Lord Jesus Christ invites you to come to him once more he demands your answer what say you will you be his or no Do your hearts accept of him Do you like his proposals will you heartily consent to be his upon all his terms If so I shall lay down some Counsels to direct you in your right comming to Christ First Sinner if thou will come to Christ thou must come as a poor needy empty undone Sinner stript of all beauty as having nothing at all that may deserve his favour 'T is the poor have the Gospel Preached to them Math. 11. 5. It signifies such as are brought to great necessities and extremities So Beza renders it Such as are brought very low Therefore some derive it from a word that signifies falling down at the rich Mens feet As some beggers will Ferus interprets it the poor in Spirit that acknowledge themselves mean and are low in their own eyes So Calvin takes it for them that are oppressed with the sense of their own wants such as feel their pinching necessities that lye down overwhelm'd with the apprehension of their emptiness The Treasures of the Gospel are design'd to such Persons that are poor and afflicted in their own Spirits There 's no greater obstacle in this Match betwen Christ and sinners than a sense of self worthyness This keeps many from seeing the beauty of Christ their own Righteousness hangs in their eye they are too heavy laden with their own thick clay I mean the sense of their own worthyness to be