as I have loved you Nothing is so pretious as Christs blood nothing so victorious as his death nothing is so pure as his righteousnesse so nothing is so tender as the love of our dearest Lord that bought us who hath left the highest throne of glory for the bondslaves of miseries but the prince of glory who hath stood betweene light and darkenesse betwixt heaven and hell betwixt eternall justice and the children of unrighteousnesse but the Lord our righteousnesse 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sinne the just for the uniust that hee might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the spirit Who hath beene surety for mine in respect of the acquirie of Redemption to make up the breach of union to answer the righteousnesse for justification to atchieve glorious communion beatification bediction felicitie and the fruition of my presence but he that shall stand for ever mediatour and intercessour in my presence or who hath indured that mocking that buffeting that scorning that arraigning that condemning but he in whom there is no condemnation but eternall life and salvation Act. 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved He hath laid downe his life for them that were deprived of the hope of life hee spilt his dearest blood for them that were involved in their blood hee hath ventured his death for the lives of them that were the children of death had a child of wrath died for a child of wrath that should not have been excellent had a child of death dyed for a son of death that should not have beene superexcellent but for the beloved of the father to die for miserable catives and captives that is transcendent The death of mee the Lord of life is more then a thousand Lords the death of mee the prince of peace is more then the death of tenne thousand princes the death of mee who am King of Kings is more then the death of all the Kings and Monarches under heaven I looked and behold the Angels hid their faces all creatures hid their heads Sith none could make up the breach of union a glorious presentation in my fathers presence conquer death through death overcome the devill through power blot out impurity through righteousnesse remove sinne through blood make peace through atonement and by grace and glory bring the poore soule to eternall glory Isay 59.16 And he saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessour therefore his arme brought salvation unto him and his righteousnesse it sustained him 2 Cor. 3. last But wee all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Out of my love I give rare gifts and graces to my Saints and servants Who hath opened the treasures of wisedome and knowledge if not I who hath broken open the treasure-house of heaven opened the throne of grace unlocked the mercy seate if not I who hath placed the heavenly minds in the heavenly places blessed the people delivered from the curse with spirituall blessings and made them that have tasted my love attaine to the height of my love but I. I powre my water upon the thirsty I give my bread to the hungry my cloath of righteousnesse to the naked and my dearest mercy and love to the lovelesse I power out my spirit upon my servants shew my visions to the young and give my dreames to the old Acts 2.17 And it shall come to passe in those dayes saith the Lord I will power out my spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie and your yong men shall see visions and your ould men shall dreame dreames My gifts are not of gold but of that which is more pretious then the gold of Ophir my gifts are not jewels gemmes and pretious stones But that which is more rich then jewels gemmes and pretious stones My gifts are not earthly treasures morrall righteousnesse worldly wealth and things terren and sublunarie but heavenly treasures and heavenly righteousnesse celestiall wealth and things sublime and heavenly Hence mine receive abundance from me the the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelt in me bodily Collosians 2.6 verse For in him dwelleth all the fullnesse of the Godhead bodily Hence mine receive grace and truth from the fulnesse of grace and truth as I have spoken and mine confesse John 1.16 And of his fulnesse have wee all receiued and grace for grace Out of my love I will not forsake mine in the midst of all their tribulation and temptations though the heaven should frowne and the earth should lowre the conscience should terrifie justice should amaze death should trouble sinne should burden the Devill should roare the flesh should assault all evills should environ notwithstanding I will not forsake my peculiar though principalities though powers though death though famine though perill though sword though hell though law though sinne though the grave and all evills should beset mine yet will I not leave them I love them in wants as if they had abundance in tribulation as if they were free from tribulation in temptation as if they were free from temptation And in sheep skins and goats skins as if they had cloath of gold beset with the rarest jewels What if they are stoned for my name sake what if they be banished for my testimony what if they should be wracked for the witnesse of the word of my truth what if they had not a hole with the fox nor a nest with the birds yet I will not shut them out of my presence Have I not given a testimony concerning them Heb. 11.36 37 38 39. And others had triall of cruell mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment They were stoned they were sawne asunder were tempted were slaine with the sword they wandered about in sheep skins and goats skins being destitute afflictet tormented of whom the world was not worthy They wandered in the desarts and in mountains and denns and caves of the earth And all these have obtained a good report through faith receiued not the promise When Paul and Silas my servants were in prison did I not make them sing songs of my dearest love When Peter was in prison was not the Angel of my presence by him when my servant Steeven was stoned did I not make his face to shine as an Angel and when my servants were in the fire furnace have I not delivered them from the furnace of fiety afflictions I am the rock when there is no rocke I am the refuge when there is no refuge I am their hope and horne of salvation when there is neither hope nor horne of salvation Hence mine may conclude with my servant Psal 18.18 They prevented me in the day of my calamitie but the
hence hath he left the Legacie of dearest and pretious love My peace I give unto you my peace I leave unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you Let not your hearts be troubled nor feare Therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 The second voice of Christ is the voice of Adoption As our Justification our Redemption our Vnion our Reconciliation our vocation and Glorification are in Christ So our sonneship or Adoption is in Christ If the Father of glorious mercy account thee a branch it is because thou art in Christ the vine if hee account thee a member it is because thou art in Christ the head If hee account thee one of the espoused it is because thou art in Christ the Bridegroomed If he account thee a son it is because thou art in his deare and welbeloved Sonne hence I come to draw thy soule to me I make to thee thy priviledge According as I have related by my servant Iohn 1 Ioh. 3.1 Behold how great love the Father hath given to us that we should bee called the Sonnes of God That though thou wast a slave of hell a vessell of wrath a child of perdition a bondslave to the law and under the ridged and severe tyranny of the devill notwithstanding I have chosen thee to be one of mine by the covenant of my freest grace and bounty I have redeemed thee for my selfe and called thee by my name I have adopted thee to be one of my sonnes and children by adoption when I tooke up my rest in my beloved I preached peace to the peacelesse liberty to the bondmen grace to the gracelesse riches to the poore and assurance of sonship to them who are and have not beene my sonnes by adoption hence though no creature pitty thee though Angels shut their eyes against thee and all the sublunarie Creatures should bid thee adew and farwell notwithstanding I come to imbrace thee and to love and delight in thee for ever since the day that I adopted thee have I not filled the soule with the joyes comforts and solaces of my spirit have not I sealed thee to the day of Eternall redemption by the seale of Adoption have not I given thee the spirit of prayer and supplication have not I given thee the assurance of life and salvation Now then there is no condemnation to thy soule which art in Christ Jesus for thou walkest not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thirdly the voice of God in JustificatioÌ„ how in justificatioÌ„ yea beloved this is the Admirable worke of the spirit of glory that we are assured that we are redeemed by the blood of Christ imcomparable that wee are reconciled by the death of Christ unspeakable that wee are assured that wee are justified by the righteousnesse of Christ undeclarable I being justified in Christ how should I injoy any thing but salvation Am I not made compleate in him that is the head of all principalities and powers Am I not cloathed with the righteousnesse of the Sonne of righteousnesse more bright then ten thousand Sunnes Am I not washed purified and clensed in the purest rarest and most pretious fountaine which is in the Kingdome of the deare Sonne of God hence I shall enjoy the horne of salvation the great free and eternall salvation in Christ Now then there is no condemnation to me that am in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Moreover these three things preserves the Saints from death and condemnation 1. The love of Christ 2. The power of Christ 3. The glory of Christ What said I the Love of Christ yea search the hights above sound the depths beneath extend thy thoughts abroad to all the parts of the sublunarie Orbe and thou shalt finde no love like the love of Christ is the love of a mother so deare to her child is the love of a husband so deare to the wife of his bosome as Christs love is to his Church no with the same love wherewith the Father hath loved Christ with the same love hee hath loved the Church and chosen the Father loved Christ from eternity Christ hath loved the Church from eternity the Father through his tender love did not leave his beloved in the day of his Crosse when he cryed out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Thou wilt not leave my soule in grave neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Psal 16.10 Loe the Lord Christ will not leave his poore servants his dearest jewels his pretious Saints in the dayes of greatest miserie and calamity Psal 9 10. The Lord is a refuge to the poore a refuge in due time in the day of trouble The Fathers love to the Lord Christ was so great that he set him above principalities above might above power and above all things that all things in heaven earth might bow bend before him Wherefore God hath exalted him and given him a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow both of things in heaven of things on earth and of things under the earth Phil. 2.9.10 The love of the Lord Christ is so deare to his that hee hath exalted them above all to him that overcommeth I will give to sit with me in my throne as I have overcome and sit with my Father in his throne Revel 3.21 The Father loved Christ so intirely that hee filled him with the riches of righteousnesse the treasures of wisedome and the plenitude of all heavenly excellencies Christ loves his Church so affectionately that hee fills her with heavenly joyes he enriches her with all spirituall and heavenly gifts blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ Eph. 1.3 therefore through my love there is no condemnation to mine they not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 Secondly Because of the power of Christ there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ His power is not onely the cause of our vivification from the dead of our Collocation in the heavenly places of our faith in his name But also of our conservation to eternall life and salvation John 17.2 He defends thee by an internall and efficatious power when thy spirit says that thou art overcome the spirit saith thou art more then a conquerer through him that loved thee every day thou art a conquerer through his blood a victoret through his death a tryumpher through his righteousnes neither the darts of hell the fire bales of the Devill the strength of the law the warres of the flesh nor the puissant strength of the world can vanquish thee for thou art defended by a strength invincible thou art protected by a power unconquerable thou art inviâ—oned by a might insuperable and thou art garded with a force
inexpugnable Am I not thy Rocke thy shield thy Buckler defender Am I not thy Sun thy shaddow thy horne of Salvation deliverer Am I not he that carries thee above one Eagles wings that breakes the bow the speare and sheild and vanquisheth overcommeth and concultateth under my feete all the enemies of thy salvation my strength is above powers my might above dominions my glory above principalities and my Puissancie above all the opposers of thy life and addoption Hence there is no condemnation to thee for thou art kept by my power to salvation not walking after the flesh but after the spirit Thirdly the glory of Christ is the cause why there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus that walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Christ speakes after this manner to his Saints Beloved I have written your name upon my breast I have in graven them in the booke of life I have presented your cause in the presence of my Father by my blood most pure by my death most victorious by my righteousnesse most acceptable therefore for the glory of my grace I will not leave you I that am the Lord of life the welspring of living waters that eternall and everlasting life given of my Father I have layd up your lives in the throne of my grace I have treasured them up in the throne of my mercy and for the glory of my mercy I will not desert you have I bestowed so great cost as to adventure my life bloud my death my righteousnesse and my glory for thee did I leave my height of glory to fetch thy Soule from the lowermost hell from the gates and barres of eternall death from the black clawes clutches and swadle bands of Sathan have I given thee communion with my Father and with my selfe in all the treasures of heavenly righteousnesse and made thee one of my members one of my branches one of my espoused and dearest friends and shall I now forsake thee I am that faithfull Yea and Amen and will keepe my promise I will bee with mine to the end of the world Mat. 28. verse last There is therefore no condemnation to mine they walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Wee proceede to the second part of the text which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit The blessed Apostle argues by evedent arguments that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus The first Argument is If that to the Saints victorie over sinne and death is given to them by Jesus Christ then is there no condemnation to them that are in Christ But to the Saints victorie over sin and death is given to them by Jesus Christ therfore there is no condemnation to them Rom. 7. the last I thanke God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the minde I my selfe serve the law of God but with the flesh the law of sinne If the law of the Spirit of life hath freed us from the law of sin and death then is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus But the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed us from the Law of sinne and death therefore there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death If God hath sent his Son to redeeme his owne from sinne and that sinne was condemned in the flesh of Christ for there sakes then is their no condemnation to them But God sent his owne sonne to Redeeme them and that sinne might be condemned in his flesh therefore there is no condemnation to them Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not doe in that it was weake through the flesh God sending his owne Sonne in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh If they who are in Christ Jesus walke not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit then there is no condemnation to them But they that are in Christ Jesus walke not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit therefore there is no condemnation to them Rom. 8 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Those that are in Christ Jesus walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit They live the life of faith of love of hope of peace of grace of mercy consolation through their union they live the life of freedome liberty in the state of grace the life of praise and prayer to the thron of glory through their Redemption they live the life of assurance of Mercy grace and peace through there Adoption they live the life of purity boldnesse and joy through their justification they live the life of holinesse of chastitie and sobriety through their Sanctification My branches walk through the strength of sweetnesse my members walke in the power of my wisedome my spouses walke in the joyfulnesse of the light of my Countenance Since the day that I washed them in my blood most pure they will not polute their bodies since the time that I gave them assurance that they were the sonnes of God they doe walke as deare and loveing Children since the moment that they have beene fild with my joyes my comforts my consolations my influences of divine grace and solace they are filled with praises honorings and praisings of my holy name My Spirit leades them into all truth when the Spirit of truth shall come he shall teach you all truth Iohn 14.26 He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you My Spirit leades them into all obedience For as many as are lead by the Spirit of God are the sonnes of God Rom. 8.14 My spirit leades them not to contentions to backbitings to slanderings to railings to whisperings to lyings to reproachings to Envie Malice hatred cōtempt Disdain Revenge But to mildnesse gentlenes curtisie Meeknes lenity to joy to peace to love to gratiousnes of spirit sobrietie Gal. 5.18 19.20 21 22 23. But if ye are led by the spirit ye are not under the law Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornicatiō uncleannes laciviousnes c But the fruits of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meekenesse temperance against these there is no law There is not a prayer from my grace to the throne of grace but my spirit hath beene the cause thereof there is not a praise from the praise of my glory but my spirit is the instrūent therof If they call my Father their Father it is by the spirit of Adoption Rom. 8 15. For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to feare but ye have received the spirit of Adoption wherby we cry Abba Father
admiration of the times because of his wisedome and discretion Christ the wonder and admiration of his Churches because of his speeches and declaration My soule he that is thy peace thy rest thy love thy mercy he shall be thy cōmander he that is thy prince of glory thy Lord of life he is thy gratious protector hee that is thy vine thy head c thy bridegroome he shall be thy leader rule for grace and peace came by him when the Law came by Moses Ioh. 1.17 Redemptiō Justification and Reconciliation came by him when Condemnation adjudication came by Moses Consolations comforts joyes and springs of solace came by him when terrors horrors feares and servitude came by Moses Therefore thou shalt glory and expresse the praise of glory concerning the words of freedome and liberty Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death 2. The Law of the Spirit of life It hath beene said of Paradise that it was the rarest place in the habitable world in respect of Altitude in respect of Amaenetie in respect of Profunditude and in respect of Jucunditie the same may be spoken concerning the Spirit of life and glory it is extolled in respect of Altitude sith it is in Christ who was placed in the high and heavenly places of Amaenetie sith it is the delight of the beloved Saints and peculiar of Profunditude sith it soundeth the lowest and deepest misery of Jucunditie sith it makes the drooping soule most joyous and chearefull Therefore the same that was the joy and glory of the blessed Apostle is the joy and glory of the drooping soule joying and glorying in the words of the Apostle Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death The Law of the Spirit of life Pretious are the gifts and graces which come from the Father of everlasting light rare are the treasures which come from the Lord of life and peace rare and pretious is the Law of life which is from and of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus What is so jucundious what is so amaenious or what is so joyous as the spirit of Adoption which sealeth the soule up to the day of eternall Redemption or what can be so pleasant so delightsome or joyfull as the spirit that consolates the soule in the midst of all distresses or what can be so rare so wonderfull and admirable as the law of of the spirit of life that frees us from the law of sinne and death the seale of the spirit doth rejoyce thee in the day of thy Adoption the disconsolated are consolated in the day of Consolation the wanting vacuous are filled with joys in the day of impletion and the soule is filled with all fulnesse and sweetnesse in the day of liberation hence comes in our joyfullnesse and fullnesse that as we receive our peace from the Prince of peace our righteousnesse from the Lord of righteousnesse so we receive the law of life from the spirit of life in Christ Jesus If thou hast the revelation of the mistery of the Kingdome it is by the spirit Mat. 16.11 He answered and said unto them because it is given unto you to know the misteries of the Kingdome of Heaven but to them it is not given If to thee is given to know the deep and profound things of God it is by the spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit for the spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God If to thee is given to know the mind of God before the world was it is by the spirit Ephes 4.7 But to every one of us is given grace according to the gifts of Christ Ephes 3.5 That to other Generations hath not been known to the sonnes of men is now revealed to the Apostles and prophets by the spirit So if there is a revelation of the mistery of glory to Babes and Sucklings and denied to the learned Doctors and Rabbies of the world it is by the spirit Mat. 11. 25.26.27 At that time Jesus answered and said I thanke thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hide these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to Babes even so Father for so seemed good to thy sight All things are delivered unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the sonne but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father but the sonne and he to whom soever the sonne will reveale him None can write the law of God in the hearts of the Saints but the spirit of Christ as none can seale to the Conscience the everlasting love of God the Father and the precious treasures of Jesus Christ but the spirit of glory as none can give the spirit of oration to them that cannot pray the spirit of consolation to them that sit in mourning weeds but the spirit of Comfort so none can write the mind of God in the conscience or the will of Christ in the spirit of the Saints but the spirit of assurance or obsignation Hence it is recorded by the Apostle 2 Cor. 3.3 Yee are our Epistles written in our hearts which is known and read of all men manifest to be the epistle of Christ c. The same spirit that reveales unto the Saints the unsearchable riches of Christ that engraves the heavenly and gracious mind of the Father in the consciences of the Redeemed the same quickens the soule by the mighty power of life and vivification when we lay dead in sinnes and trespasses when wee were troden in our bloods by the Horsmen of Hell and Death when we were involved in the depth of the gulfe of miseries then by the same spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead we were quickned therefore not without cause is he called the spirit of life First In the respect of Christ Secondly In respect of the life that the Saints receive through uniō by the spirit Thirdly In respect of that life the Saints receive through Faith Love and hope by the spirit in the act of communion When our Lord was in the grave neither hell nor death nor law nor justice nor all the force of the creature could retaine him for he shewed himselfe the Lord of life by rising from the dead Apoc. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead I am alive forever more Amen and have the keyes of Hell and death Lord over sin by the blood of his crosse Col. 2.14.15 Blotting out the hand writing of ordinances which was against us which was contrary to us and tooke it out of the way nailing it to his crosse and having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them all Conquerer over the Divill by the power of his death Heb. 2.24 For as much then as the children are partakers of
flesh and blood he also himselfe tooke part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devill Victorer over the law and over all accusations by his intercession Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that justifieth who is it that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen againe who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Triumpher over Captives and leading captivitie captive by the power of his assention It was impossible our Lord should be retained by the bonds of death the barts of hell and the power of the Devill not only because it hath beene the determinate counsell of the Father not to leave his soule in grave nor suffer his holy one to see corruption Acts 2.27 Because thou wilt not leave my soule in hell neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Because of that pittie he had to his beloved Spouse his dearest members his tender branches Ephes 2.6 And hath raised us up together made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus because of the dignity of himselfe being King of his Church Lord of life Mediatur of the Covenant Acts 2.24 Whom God hath raised up having gloosed the paines of death because it was not possible he should be houlden of it But also because of the mighty and infinite power of the spirit of glory which rais'd up our Lord of life Prince of glory O my soule consider consider what the spirit of life hath done for thy foule Had not our Lord been raised from the dead by the spirit of life sinne would have crusht thy conscience to the lowest gulfe of misery the Devill like a roaring Lion would have devoured thee the law of terrors would have bound thee to the barre of eternal justice to eternitie death would have delivered thee to the second death forevermore and all evills would have ceased upon thy spirit for ever and ever Thē mightest thou have said with the Psalmist The sorrowes of death had compassed thee and the evills of hell had found thee thou foundest woe and sorrow then mightest thou have spoken with Hezekiah That thou wast forsaken as a Shepards Tent that justice would have beene as a Lion to breake all thy bones thou mightest have mourned as a Dove chattered as a Crain to the dayes of eternity Saying That thou should'st behold his gracious face no more behold his gracious countenance no more but remaine in everlasting chaines under darkenesse for evermore Shouldest thou have beene so happie as Jonah no he was but in the bellie of the Whale but thou shouldest have beene in the bellie of hell he was in the depth of the sea but thou shouldest have beē in the depth of the bottomlesse pit the waves of the sea and the bellowes thereof incompassed him but the waves of greatest sorrowes and bellowes of exceeding wrath should have incompassed thee he was heard out of the bellie of the Whale and his prayer came into his holy temple but thy prayer should have beene shut out from his glorious presence and should not have appeared before the throne of grace a Goard was provided for him to hide his head from the heate of the Sunne but no shelter nor shadow had beē provided for thee to hide thy soule frō everlasting burnings Where had beene the glorying of the Saints had our Lord not beene raised from the dead we should have had no cause to glory in the blood and death of his crosse no cause of triumphing in a glorious presentation in a hapy reconciliation in an absolute abolition of the hand writings which were written against us Where had been our redemption from death and the feare thereof from the grave and the sting thereof from out of the hands of the Devill and and the slavery thereof from the law and the execration thereof where had been our royall Robes of Righteousnesse our garments of glorious salvation justificatiō in his glorious presencs if the holy one had seen corruption the branches of the rarest vine should have withered the members to the head of purest gold would have perished and the spouses to our blessed and dearest Bridegroome would have been clothed with shame reproah for ever But blessed thrice blessed be that name is blessed forevermore sith he hath raised the head and the members the branches the vine the bridegroome the spouses together He that left not our Lord in the grave hath not left the Redeemed of the Lord in the pitt of distruction he that suffered not the sonne of the bosome to see corruption will not suffer the sonnes by adoption to be swallowed up by everlasting perdition Therefore you sonnes daughters of men we will not only glory in Christs incarnation in Christs crucifixtion in his grave buriall glorious assention but also in his victorious triumphous Resurrection The risse of the son of righteousnesse is more to us then the sun of morning light that delights the eye sence of sublunaries this the soules of distressed consciences that causeth the hearbs plants trees to rise out of the earth this causeth the branches spouses members of Christ to rise out of the lowest pitt that removeth darknesse bringeth in a light Diurnal this removeth darkenesse bringeth in a light eternall That is the plenitude above and the riches of the earth beneath this is the riches of the Church Militant and the plenitude of the Church Triumphant Therfore will we glory in the spirit of life according to the Text Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death The spirit of life Sweet and pleasant is the expression of Job Will the wilde Asse roare when he hath grasse or will the Oxe low when he hath fother or will the dead soule mourne for life when it hath the spirit of life Noe it will joy it selfe in the spirit of joy and consolate it selfe in the spirit of consolation triumphing with the Apostle because the spirit of life hath freed it from the law of sinne and death according to the Text. Rom. 8.2 For he law of the spirit of Life◠in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Secondly It is called the spirit of life sith that the spirit is the cause of union with the Lord Jesus by which the Saints receive both life spiritual and life eternall My prisoners of Hope and Bond men to the throne of mercy know and consider that it is not in your powers to injoy union with me and Jesus Christ whom I have sent the spot of your sin the blott of your transgressions and the impurity of your iniquities hath prevented the exactnesse rigidnesse and perfection of my law most pure hath hindered the eternitie
the infinite and the purity of my divine justice letteth Could your darkenesse bring it selfe to my glorious light I dwell in the light unaccesable 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality dwelling in the light whom no man hath seene nor can see to whom be honour and power everlasting amen Can your impurity reach my infinite and eternall purity I am a God that can behold no iniquitie Haback 1.13 Thou art of pu rer eyes then to behold evill and canst not looke on iniquitie wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal◠trechearously and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous then he Can thy death atting and touch my life being from eternitie to eternitie I am alone the fountaine of living waters Jer. 2.13 For my people have committed two evills they have forsaken me the fountaine of living waters and hewed them out Cisternes broken Cisternes that can hold no water Or can your lownesse and profunditie reach the highnesse of my sublimitie I dwell in the high and the holy place Isaiah 57.15 For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternitie whose name is holy J dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Could Dives passe the gulfe of hell to the bosome of Abraham No can a bird without wings reach the hight of the sunne No can a man without eyes behold the highest orbs No or can thy soule that is involved in the law of horrid iniquitie unite it selfe to me No this way of union was not found in the habitable world but in my habitation of glory this was not found in the depths below but in the heights above this was not found in thy breasts and invention but in my breasts of heavenly compassion well saith the scripture Man knoweth not the price thereof neither is it found in the land of the living the depth saith it is not in me and the sea saith it is not in me God understandeth the way thereof and he knoweth the place thereof Therefore this was my wisedome to give this Glory to my beloved sonne John 17 22. and the glory which thou gavest me J have given them that they may be one even as we are one That by his blood he might make them which are afarre off nigh to me Ephes 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus yee who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ That by the death of his crosse he might make of two one Ephes 2.15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmitie even the law of Commandements contained in Ordinances for to make in himselfe of twain one new man so making peace And that he might bring them to me that never knew the riches of my grace Ephes 2.18 For through him we both have an accesse by one spirit unto the father Untill I came to live in my people to make thē a habitation dwelling place till I made them habitations of glory for the spirit of my glory they were as farre from me as my dwelling place is from the lowest hell as the clearest light is from the greatest darkenesse and the barre of my Justice from the throne of mercy But my spirit gives them a being in the heavenly places my spirit removed all the letts betwixt me and my people my spirit gives them to injoy a being reall in me and in the dearest of my breast 1 Thes 1.1 Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus to the Church of Thessalonica which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Hence all the branches receive their life from the vine Christ Jesus hence also the members receive their vitall motion from their head Christ Jesus hence the spouse receiveth her being from the bridgroome Jesus Christ through and by the spirit of life therefore comes in the glorying and expression of my people according to the text For the law of the spirit of life in Christ hath made me free from the law of sinne and death Thirdly because of the life of Faith and love and hope which is given thee by the Spirit of life It was not the shadow of Peter that healed the sick and weake but the overshadowing grace from the throne of eternall mercy it was not the handkerchiefes and neckcloathes of Paul that drave out devills but the omnipotent power of the eternall mediatour it was not the water in Baptisme that washeth away sinne but the blood of Christ so it hath not been in the purity strength of the sonnes of death to free themselves from the Law of sinne and death but in the power of the law of life according to the text Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me from the law of sinne and death You that have been Prisoners without hope as by the blood of my Testament I have sent you out of the pit where there is no water so by the law of my life I have freed you from the law of sin death I have made you to live the life of faith when I hide my face the light of my dearest love and gratious countenance when I covered my selfe with darknesse and wrapt my selfe in a clowd when I seemed to bid farrwell as though I would see you no more then I made you to live by faith which was in mee when as my servant Ionas was in the depth of the Sea in the gulfes beneath invironed in the mighty waters and in the bellie of the devouring whale I made him to call upon my name and to looke towards my holy Temple when thou wast in the depths of the sea of miseries in the ocean of miserable iniquity notwithstanding I have made thee looke to the throne of my grace and bounty highest mercy when I suffered thee to be mocked scoffed derided scorned to be stoned deprived of bread convenient shutt out from amongst the dearest and nearest friends bringing thee to the gates of deepest miseries and to the prison where thou shouldest have lost thy liberty notwithstanding I have made thee live by faith which is in mee I have brought thy faith into Christ there thou livest there thou delightest there thou restest there thou dwellest there thou joyest and there abidest as the seate of the Eagle is upon the rock undervaluing all inferiour places so thy habitation is in Christ the rocke of righteousnesse and thou undervaluest all sublunarie and inferiour things As I have made the promises yea and Amen to the praise of my glory so I have made thee to rest upon those promises to eternall glory As I am becom thy most benignous and gratious Father in my Covenant to perpetuitie so will I make thee live by love through my Covenant to Eternitie If I have
taken up my rest my contentment my acquiescence and complacencie through atonement If I have filled the sonne of my love with the treasures of hidden wisedome and science the treasures of pure and unspotted righteousnesse it is because thou mightest live by faith which is in me at that time thou maiest answer the words of my faithfull Apostle Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh is by the faith of the sonne of God who loved me and gave himselfe for me If thou hadst beene with Noah in the Arke thou wouldest have lived above the waters If with Daniel in the Lyonsden thou would'st have lived by the strength of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah If with Shadrech Meshech and Abednego in the fierie furnace thou wouldest have lived by the fire of love and by my promise of deliverance out of the fire Isaiah 43.2 When thou passest thorough the waters I will bee with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not bee burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Out of the eater comes meate and out of the strong comes sweetnesse from love comes love to Christ againe We love him because he loved vs first 1 Ioh. 4.19 and out of the strongnesse of Christ comes the pleasantnesse and sweetnesse of the Saints Ephes 3.20.21 Now unto him that is able to doe exceedingly and abundantly above all we aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in us unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Amen Hence they are filled with glorious expressions expressing the love of Christ in their freedome and liberation according to the text Rom 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Till I appeard in the rare expression of my love thou lovedst the vanities the treasures the glory the riches and power of the Creature before me till I powred out the savour of my sweet oyntments and caused my frankincence to smell in thy nostrills thou lovest thy self above me till I let my fingers drop the myrhe the sweet distilling mirhe thou sattest at rest and soughtest not after me but in the day of the effusioÌ„ of my sweet oyntmeÌ„ts I made thee love me Cant. 1.2 3. Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mohth for his love is better then wine because of the savour of thy good oyntments thy name is as oyntment poured forth therefore doe the virgins love thee in the time of the distillations of my mithe I made thee seeke after me Cant. 5.4 5 6. My beloved put in his hand into the hole of the doore and my bowells were moved for him I rose up to open to my Beloved and my hands dropped with Myrrh and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh upon the handles of the locks I opened unto my beloved but my beloved had with-drawne himselfe and was gone my soule failed when he spake I sought him but I could not finde him I called him but he gave me no answer Assuredly thou didst account of the treasures of the mountaines above the riches of the heavenly places the riches of the seas above the riches of the sea of sure mercies thou didst value the riches of Kingdomes above the riches of my heavely kingdom and thou didst prize the earthly jewelâ—s above the jewell of jewells and the pretious jemmes above the pretious stone the foundation of my Redeemed when my love appeared above women then thou didst love me above women when my love appeared to thee above riches treasure honours kingdomes provinces then thou lovedst mee above Kingdomes and provinces above riches treasures and honours thou wast not sick of love till my love made thee sicke of love Cant. 5.8 I charge you O daughters of Ierusalem if ye finde my beloved tell him that I am sicke of love Thou wast not overpowred with the overpowrings of my Love till I overpowred thee with my pretious love can the waters from below water the fruitfull and barren soile without me or can the raine droppe showers from the clouds without me or can the soule have the overflowings of love without my spirit no. Rom. 5.5 And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Canst thou know that supereminent love of my sonne without I shew my grace supereminent no. Ephes 2.6 7. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come he might shew forth the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse towards us through Christ Jesus Ephes 3.19 And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God Or couldest thou have known the height the depth the length or breadth of my dearest faviour without my spirit No Ephes 3.16.17 18. That he would give you according to the riches of his glory to be strenghened with might by his spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that yee being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge Hence thy experience witnesseth that the spirit of life is thy life of love and freedome Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made thee free from the law of sinne and death What is the light of the Candle to the light of the Moone or the light of of the Moone to the light of the sonne or what is the light of the Sunne to Christ the sonne of glorious righteousnesse when by the light of his glorious countenance he shines upon the soule by giving to it the life of faith in God Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turne them from darkenesse to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive the forgivenesse of sinnes and inheritance amongst them which are sanctified through faith that is in me The life of love in Christ Ephes 1.15 Wherefore I also after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the saints And the life of hope in the promise 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen nuto the glory of God by us Heb. 11.1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seene Hence we glory not only in the spirit of life but in the law of the spirit of life Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death I gave to
in the power of the law of life sith Christ in that is become thy life Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made thee free from the law of sinne and death Thirdly The father hath given the Lord Jesus Christ to bee the shepheard of his flocke through his Covenant of life and mercy Elkanah gave to Penninah and her children portions but to Hannah hee gave a double portion Abraham gave to the sonnes of Keturah gifts but to Jsaack he gave the possession though to others the Father gives riches and honours notwithstanding he gives to his everlasting Beatification Not only in condonation of transgression in peace of conscience through Christs intercession but also by giving them into the hands of the great shepheard of his sheep that they might injoy an eternall tuition protection All we were wandering sheepe we had lost the image of God and beare the Image of the devill deprived of the title of eternall life being bound with chaines to eternall death bound to beare the burden of iniquity to undergoe the dreadfull and terrible sentence of the morall law wee were blinde without sight naked without cloathing spoiled and bereft of all the rare and noble injoyments which wee injoyed poore sillie sheepe wandering upon the craggie mountaines of iniquity the rockes of misery the desert and wildernesse of calamity Was the groat lost not we amonst the lost were the sheepe gone out of the way and we not gone astray Notwithstanding such hath beene my tender mercy my superemenent grace my yearning bowels of compassion towards you That I have sent the great and gratious shepheard of Israel to seeke the lost sheepe of the house of Israel the Lord of life to seeke the sons of death and the son of my love to call and seeke the Children of wrath Eze. 34.16 I will seeke that which was lost and bring againe that which was driven away and will binde up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick but I will destroy the fat and the strong I will feede them with judgement Rather then mine should rest upon the lofty mountaines of impurity my beloved shall seeke them up by the word of reconciliation rather then mine should abide upon the craggie rockes of iniquity my beloved shall seek thē up by the word of great salvation Rom 10.7 8. But the righteousnesse which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine heart who shall ascend up into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above or who shall discend into the deep that is to bring up Christ againe from the dead But what saith it the word is neigh the even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which wee preach Ther is no such Shepheard as the Shepheard of Israel he loves his sheep to the death Hath it been recorded that any King hath layd down his life for rebellious Subjects Hath it been inrowled that any Bridegroome hath lost his life for his Bride or any Shepheard hath layd down his life for his sheep but my beloved the King of my Church chosen the Bridegroome to his beloved spouses and the great shepheard of his sheepe hath layd down his life for his wandring sheepe John 10.18 No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my selfe I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it againe this commandement have I received of my father He is the carefull shepheard of my flock neither the heate of the day nor the cold of the night hindred Jacobs care of Labans flock the heate of my wrath furie and indignation nor the coldnesse of the effections of his peculiar can prevent his care over my scattered and dispearsed flocke Were the shepheards carefull of their flock in the day of Christs comming and will not Israels shepheard be carefull of his flocke after his comming he is not only as a father to mine to carrie them in his armes Cant. 2.6 His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth imbrace me As an Eagle that beares them upon his wings Deut. 32.11.12 As an Eagle stireth up her nest fluttereth with her wings spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them beares them upon her wings So the Lord alone did lead him and their was no strange God with him But as a shepheard who carries his upon his shouldiers to the fould of grace and glory John 10.16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also J must bring and they shall heare my voice and there shall be one fold one shepheard Whilst mine are subject to chances and all evils he is their defender whilst they are subject to goe astray he is their gatherer hence he answereth my Commission Mat. 15.24 But he answered and said J am not sent but unto the lost sheep of Jsrael The poorest and meanest of his flocke by him are sustained the strongest and fatest of his flocke by him are supported he leads them by his precious promises clothes them with his heavenly grace and gives them a rich inheritance amongst his Saints Ephes 1.18 The eyes of your understanding being opened that yee might know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints If they are scorched by the heate of tribulations he is their cloud of preservation if they want light in the darkest night he is their fire by night for consolation Isaiah 4.6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heate and a place of refuge and for a cover from storme and from raine For thou hast been a strength to the poore a strength to the needy in his distresse a refuge from the storme a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storme against the wall His sheep are neere to him through union John 27.23 J in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me They are deare to him through redemption 1 Pet. 1.18.19 For as much as yee know that ye were not redeemed with corruptable things as silver and gold from your vaine conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as a Lambe without blemish and without spot They are precious to him through donation John 17.9.10 J pray for them J pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine and all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them And they are gracious in his sight and presence through acceptation Ehes 1.6 To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved They are precious Jewells in his account and estimation they are his tender flocke in
unto thee c. O my soule if I glory I will not glory in that which is written in tables of stone but in that which is written in the fleshly tables of thy heart not in that which is the ministry of death but in that which is the ministry of life not in the ministry of condemnation but in that which is the ministry of salvation not in that which gendreth to bondage but in that which tendeth to libertie not in that which hath a vaile and darkenesse but in that which hath light and glory not in that which disconsolates and discomforts the drooping conscience but in that which consolates comforts the drooping spirit Thou gloriest in the pretiousnesse of his riches in the rarenesse of his promises in the beauty of his righteousnesse and shalt thou not glory in the pretiousnesse rarenesse riches of the law of life in Christ did David desire the waters of Bethlehem above all waters did Abraham desire a sonne above the Land of Canaan and shalt thou not desire this law of life above all lawes if others pitch their tents by Sinai thou shalt pitch thy tent by Sion if others follow Moses thou shalt follow Christ if others delight in that which drives them from God thou shalt delight in that which drawes thee neere to God The law of sinne and death hath not freed thee from the law of sinne and death the law of curse or execration hath not freed thee from the law of death and condemnation the law of terrours and horrors hath not freed thee from the law of terror horrour but the law of life by which thou art dead to the law that thou mayest live unto God Gal. 2.19 For I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God Hence thou therefore shalt hearken to the Commission of the Father Mat. 17.5 While he yet spake behold a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voyce out of the cloud which said this is my beloved sonne in whom I am well pleased heare ye him Who hath the words of eternall life but he John 6.68 Then Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life Into whose lips hath grace been infused but into his Psalme 45.2 Thou art fairer then the children of men grace is powred into thy lyps therefore God hath blessed thee forever Or who hath the words of peace and reconciliation but he Ephes 2.17 And came and preached peace to you which were affarre off and to them which were nigh Hence will I glory in the glorying expression of the Apostle Paul Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sinne and death Hath freed me Israel had ten portions in the King when Judah Benjamen had but two but it cannot be spoken according to that tenour of the saints beloved for they have a like inheritance in God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent sith they are chosen by one Lord redeemed by one Christ sealed by one spirit of life injoying the law of life being freed from the law of sinne and death Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the law of sinne and death Christ is then operative in the soule when by faith he is particularly applied The transcient passage of the beauty or splendor of an object is through the eye unto the mind the passing consolable delectation which is in Christ is through a Christians application to the soule in Christ are treasures passing the treasures hid in the sands the emenency and superemency of all heavenly and divine compassions passing the compassions of humaine generation the excelency yea the superexcellency of worth merit and value passing all the valuable things which are wrapt up in the breast of things terrestiall But what are those treasures passing treasures the eminency the superemency of those heavenly and divine compassions the excellency the superexcellency of that his merit worth and value without a speciall or particular applyment The comfort of the eye is in seeing of the eare in hearing of man in moving the comfort of the soule is in applying What joy is there to a Rebell to thinke there is a Kingdome and yet out of that he shall be banished what comfort is there to a man to know there are rich treasures wrapt in our mother earth and he of those shall be deprived or what joy or comfort can come to the soule or conscience though there are all excellencies wrapt within Christs bosome if they of him shall not be injoyed other creatures were before man was created light overspread the earth before light in the sun was placed but comfort to the faithfull doth not arise before that Christ by faith is applied Our sad houres our dolefull dayes our gloomsome times are then removed when the vertuall efficacy of Christ through faiths application is received our comfort till we come to heavens City our joy till we come to heavens felicity and our solid refreshment till we come to heavens glory is through faiths applying Christ ours all in all Though the waves of iniquitie doe roare the floods of transgression fall the wind of bitter affliction blow heard upon us yet if once by applying we cast anchor into Christ solid joy doth inviron the heart and conscience as light doth incompasse the body of a rationall then the terrible the dreadfull the iâ—efull God against sinne and transgression appeares most bounteous most benignous most clementious through his marvilous compassion then the covenant of eternall grace and mercy puts to repulse the law of death and miserie then the worth and merit of Christ pleads redemption from the foule black jawes of the Devill reconciliation between the God of infinite purity and man who through sinne hath procured an infinite miserie and justification in the sight of our heavenly and compassionate father Anchor being cast in Christ all becomes a Christians his wisedome his death his blood his power his spirit and his Kingdome If the Bridgroome be the Brides by combination then his lands his livings his jewels his gold his silver is hers If Christ be ours then his heavenly benedictions his spirituall blessings his superabundant and heavenly treasure are become ours also All are yours and yee are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3.22 O my soule apply whole Christ particularly that thou mayest injoy him fully Was he deprived of all before Pilate accused of the Souldiers buffited of the high Priests disdained and not for thee he indured that which thou shouldest have sustained he suffered for that which hadst deserved Oh what did he sustaine Oh what hath he not sustained Oh what did he suffer Oh what hath he not suffered did he not undergoe the burthen of thy sinne which was insufferable by a strength and power invincible at what time the vaile of the temple rented
father so we also may walke in the newnes of life Rom. 6.4 O that I might feele the mighty operatiō of Christs mediatiō then should I behold God most propitious and clementious then should my faith cleave fast to the mercy seate for mercy and to the throne of grace for grace thereby should I rejoyce abundantly the singing birds would not so rejoyce when winter is gone and summer doth approach as I shall rejoyce in receiving delectation from Christs mediation then should I not runne from God with Adam but have accesse to God as Ester had to Ahashuerosh By whom also through faith we have accesse unto his grace by which wee stand and rejoyce under the hope of the glory of God Rom. 5.2 O my soule give glory to God thy heavenly Father and to Jesus Christ thy gratious Redeemer and to the holy Spirit who sealeth unto thee sure mercies which will never faile thee in the greatest extreamities Gods eternall favour in Christ established the efficatiousnesse of Christs merits and value the sealing thereof is not in thine owne power but in the power of the holy Spirit Hee that lookes upon the Creature he concludes that the Creature made not it selfe but it was made by the hand of the Creator he that minds how great a matter it is to have the eternall love of God and the merit of Christ to his conscience sealed will conclude it is not of himself but through the work of the Spirit who is our sealer And ye are scaled by the holy spirit of promise who is the earnest of our inheritance to the obtaining of Redemption unto the praise of his glory Ephes 13.14 but to draw unto a conclusion least many lines may be offensive unto thy patience Christian Reader only chuse thou Christ O my soule that when thy heart failes thee hee may be thy strength and thy portion for ever is not thy Saviour better then tenne thousands all things are valued but his value is invaluable all things are esteemed yet his worth is inestimable many things are uttered yet his excellency is unutterable Am I not ravished when he is my contemplation Am I not overjoyed when hee is my Meditation doth not my valley abound with pleasure when the vertue of his grace takes in me possession is the morning sunne so joyous to a traviller as Christ is to me when I thinke of him in the morning hee is more to thee O my soule then riches then honours then gold thē silver yea then pretious stones if thou hadst a kingdom and wast not assured of his kingdome what would that profit thee if thou hadst a world if thou hadst no interest in that blood which purchased the world to come what would that availe thee if thou hadst all the joyes and pleasures under heaven if thou hadst not the joy of his spirit what would that benefit thee if thou hadst al the gay apparrell in the world if thou hadst not Christs righteousnesse to defend thee from the wrath of God what fruit would that bring ūto thee if thou hadst all to plead for thee if thou hadst not Christ to excuse thee in the day of the Lord what joy could possesse thee it is good for thee to rest where Christ is so shall he be to thee a resting place it is good for thee to dwell where hee is for there are joyes for evermore O my soule feare not what man can doe unto thee if they take away thy name remember thy name is ingraved upon his breast he bare thy name upon the crosse he beareth thy name now in the sight of thy gratious Father Though thy name is extinguished yet not extinguished though not remembred yet remembred evermore Let Justiciaries cast their Arrowes by day and their fierie dars by night yet know that through thy saviour thou art able to repulse the fiery darts of Satan much more theirs Let them take away thy life thy life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Let them conclude that thou art vaine glorious thy glorying expression shall be of Christ thy Lord of life and righteousnes sith if any in heavē or earth are bought to God by our Lord of life glory then thou art one of that company whilst thou as a poore pilgrim wanderest towards heavens City make thou a heavenly dimention of his glory Worthy is the Lambe who was slaine to receive power riches and strength wisedome and honour and glory and blessing and to him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lambe be ascribed blessing and honour and glory and strength for ever and ever Amen Revel 5.13.13 From the law of sinne and death O my people what have I done for you as Reconciliation to God my Father through my blood and death is the greatest mercy as my Adoption by my Spirit of glory is the highest love so my Redemption from the law of sinne and death by the Law of the Spirit of life is the freest bountie Have you not come short of my glory and the glory of my Father Rom. 3 23. For all have sinned are come short of the glory of God Have you not been under the curse and execration of the morrall law Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the the workes of the law are under the curse for it is written cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the booke of the Law to do them Have not your Spirit been silenced and your mouthes stopt before my Fathers presence Rom. 3 .19 Now wee know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them that are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God Hath not Moses accused you before the barre of justice John 5.45 Doe not thinke that I will accuse you to the Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust Was not the same Law that was made for ungodly wicked and incorrigable siners made for you 1 Tim. 1.10 For whoremongers for them that defile themselves with mankind for men-stealers for lyers for perjured persons and if there bee any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine But I have delivered you from the law of Condemnation by the law of Salvation from the law of execration by the Law of benediction from the Law of accusation by the law of life and reconciliation and from the law of adjudication by the law of hope and Redemption When that I saw that ye were come short of all righteousnes fulfilled al righteousness Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness sake to every one that beleeveth Whē I saw that you were accursed I became a curse for you having undertaken to die the cursed death of the Crosse Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for
us for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth upon a tree I saw that you could not stand just in the sight of my Father I gave you another righteousnesse by faith which is in me Phil. 3.9 And being found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnes which is of God by faith Now as you are not the sonnes of death but children of life so you are under the law of life Now as you are not the children of servitude and bondage but the children of liberty and Adoption are under my law of liberty and Adoption Gal. 4.1.2 Now I say that the heire as long as hee is a child differeth nothing from a servant though he is Lord of all but is under Tutours and Governours untill the time appointed of the Father Gal. 5.1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and bee not intangled againe in the yoake of bondage Now are you not children of unbeleefe and diffidence sith I dwell in your hearts by faith which is by me Ephes 3.16.17 That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to bee strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith being rooted and grounded in love Now you are not slaves of hell and wrath but the dearest and choysest ones through my grace and tender compassion therefore you are not under the law but under grace Rom. 6.14 For sinne shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the law but under grace Therefore you shall walke as my dearest my choisest and my redeemed as my peculiar my jewels and reconciled Doe I make my branches stately through my union do I make mine fruitfull through my blessed Communion and doe I not make mine subjective through the law of life and benedicton Now they will live the life of faith in me the life of love through me the life of obedience by me I have not given them the rule of mercy and peace to walke contrary to the rule of mercy and peace I have not given them the law of faith to call in question the faithfulnesse of my Fathers love and the pretiousnesse of my dearest blood So I have not given to them the fruits of the Law of life that they should walke as a dead people but that they should live by my fountaines of living waters by my nearest union and richness of communion through spirit of life and Adoption ever triumphing rejoycing and glorying in my law of life by which they are freed from the law of sinne and death according to the text Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sinne and death JOHN 16. verse 22. And ye now therefore have sorrow but I will see you againe and your hearts shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you THe sad complaint of Israel was mine eyes runneth down with water because the Comforter is farre from me he that should releeve my soule will not looke upon me my bowels are troubled the enemy hath prevailed over me this is the relation of the Israel of God mine eye powreth downe with waters my comforter is not farre from me hee that will releeve my soule will looke upon me my bowels are refreshed the chariots of hell hath not prevailed against me therefore though I am possest with sorrow because I possesse not what I shall possesse neverthelesse I shall see his face my heart shall rejoyce and my joy shall no man take from mee And ye now therefore have sorrow What the Saints beloved are they not delivered from the power of darkenesse and translated into the kingdome of my deare sonne have they not the spirit of joy and delightfull solace are they not crowned in Sion with everlasting joy upon their heads doe they not rejoyce in the garments of Salvation and perfect robes of righteousnesse Have they not the oyle of joy and gladnesse in stead of the garments of heavinesse and shall they not sing praise for ever and ever more unto mee which am blessed for evermore notwithstanding they are invirond with great sorrow and heavinesse Who lives amongst Tygers Wolves Lyons and Beares if not they who are counted the basest of the creature the vilest of the earth the terror to the sonnes of men and the scumme of the world if not they who encounters with the Devill makes war with the flesh fights against sinne and all evills if not they if the roaring Lyon the devill seeke to devoure them doe they not seeke to me the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah if the flesh doth burthen them say they not with Paul who shall deliver them from the power of death if sin doth defile them do they not desire to be washed in my pretious blood and if the law of terror affright them doe they not fly to the law of life in Christ Jesus mine would sinne no more offend no more but praise me evermore Sith I have made them new creatures formed them according to my Image and made them conformable to my mind and pleasure True it is I imbrace them I love them and I delight in them to dayes everlasting yet my divine pleasure hath been to hide my face for a moment to obscure my selfe for the twinckling of an eye as though I would take my leave or farwel of them notwithstanding I have done it for their consolation to shew my might and power in conservation and my superemenent bounty and love in their beatitude and glorification I that hid my glory I that gave them not a footstep for habitation have given to them my heavenly mantion and though I deprived them of my personall presence yet my blessed presence shall shine upon them in my heavenly Citie What though for a moment they doe not possesse me in the fulnesse of communion in the blessednesse of my beatification in the plenitude of hope and benediction Yet I will see them againe their heart shall rejoyce and their joy shall no man take from them But I will see you againe If I come to mine who am my Churches King of glory I will bring her to the habitation of my heavenly glory if I the loving bridegroome come to my beloved Church and choysest Spouse I will make her glad with my heavenly and gratious countenance I will remove away her teares though thousands her forrowes though infinite and her Lamentations though as the sands upon the sea shore then shee that was wrapt in the dust below shall sing glory and praise to me on high for I that take away all teares will wipe away teares from her face For I will see her againe her heart shall rejoyce and her joy shall no man take from her I will What I will it was my pleasure to excercise mine under tribulations tentations
will make thy windowes of Agates and thy gates of Carbuncles and all thy borders of pretious stones Though they were left as a widow forsaken and as a virgin relinquist I have not left them nor forsaken them Isay 54.6.7 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit and a wife of youth when thou wast refused saith thy God For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee Though they were not accounted worthy of a being upon the face of the earth I have given them a heavenly habitation 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved wee have a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heavens And shall not mine love mine for ever I will not have my bruised quast I love the smoaking flax and the bruised reed I will not have my broken disesteemed my wounded despised my sicke neglected my prisoners not visited my feeble unrefreshed my poore begging bread and my distressed consciences uncomforted To what end doe I commit them to my Churches care to belie slander backbite and speake evill of my people No to frowne lowre and pet against my weake ones No that they might breake bruise and tread under foot my weakest servants No but that they should refresh comfort solace and refocilate my weake ones and my poorest servants as their names their lives their liberties their consciences are deare to me so I will have their names lives liberties and deaths pretious in my peoples sight What rarer then the influences of my grace from my superemenent grace Yet that have I bestowed upon my jewels what is purer then the garments of my salvation Yet that have I given to my choisest ones and what more pretious then my dearest blood yet that I give to my dearest saints As I cause the sweet influence of the Plejades to rest upon and in the plants of the feild so I cause the sweet influence of my grace to rest and abide in my peculiar people and shal not mine distribute their goods make known their gifts and spend their lives each for other 1 John 4.10.11 In this was manifest the love of God towards us bacause that God sent his only begotten sonne into the world that we might live through him herein is love Not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his sonne to be the propiciation for our sinnes Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another I have loved mine with a faithfull love am I not that faithfull witnesse I witnesse faithfully are my promises yea and Amen and am not I yea and Amen doe I sanctifie mine with my truth and am I not the truth it selfe If mine have infirmities and failings I tell it not in the gates of Gath nor in the streets of Askelon I carrie not the failings of my people from the throne of my grace to the barr of my justice but I free them from the barr of justice and accquite them before the throne of grace And shall not mine love mine with a faithfull love and an intire affection what in word in tongue in lookes in shadowes No But in sincerity of spirit and faithfullnesse of heart not speaking evill of mine as Doeg did of David not uncovering the shame of mine as Ham of Noah but speking gratiously of mine as Jonathan of the Lords anoynted Answering my Commission 1 John 3.18 My little children let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth I have loved mine freely They were vessells of wrath bound under the chaines of hell death and darkenesse under the black clawes of that roaring Lyon the Devill not withstanding I looked upon them in mercy I regarded not the multitude of their performances the beauty of their righteousnesse the excellency of their gifts I made the beggar to sit amongst Princes 1 Sam. 2.9 He raiseth up the poore out of the dust lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill to set them amongst Princes and to make them inherite the throne of glory For the pillars of the earth are the Lords and he hath set the world upon them I make the ofscurings of the earth through my blood Kings and Priests to God my father Apoc. 1.5.6 And from Jesus Christ who is the faithfull witnesse and the first begotten from the dead and the Prince of the Kings of the earth unto him that hath loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his owne blood And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his father to him be glory dominion for ever ever Amen I made the distressed vallies of death and darkenesse to injoy an inheritance amongst my sanctified by faith that is in me Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turne them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive the forgivenesse of sinnes and inheritance amongst them that are sanctified by faith that is in me And shall mine not love mine in sheep skins goats skins as if they weare the cloth of gould beset with Diamonds if they were upō the dunghil as if they were the greatest the honourable the richest and the noble Shall they not eye the weake the meanest and the poore of my redeemed flocke as well as the fat lusty of my flocke beloved Jam. 2.3 4 5. And yee have respect to him that wearrch the gay cloathing and say unto him sit thou heare in a good place And say to the poore stand thou there or sit here under my footstoole are yee not partiall in your selves and are become judgers of evill thoughts Hearken my beloved brethren hath not God chosen the poore of this world rich in faith and heires of the kingdome which he hath promised to them that love him I have loved mine so dearely that I have layd down my life for mine I might have reasoned and said these are Rebels against my glory Traytours against the throne of my grace Transgressours of my divine and purest law they have undervalued my word of gratious reconciliation they have despised the word of my sanctification and they have disrespected the doctrine of free and plentious redemption Who have advanced their owne righteousnesse above my righteousnesse if not they Who hath set their posts by my posts if not they Who hath disesteemed the blood of my covenant if not they and shall not mine love mine to the death yea if I the great shepheard the tender Bridegroome the pleasant vine and King of my Church have layd down my life for my Church shall not the sheep the spouse the branches and subjects of my kingdome lay downe their lives for each other O my people I am the searcher of the hearts and tryer of the raines I walke in the midst of the golden Candlesticks to see what love is or should be in the midst of my