CHRIST The alone PROPHET of SAINTS CHAP. II. I Come in the next place unto the Prophetical office of Christ wherein hee is also in the dayes of the Gospell to be exalted In the handling of which I shall first shew you from the word of life That he is the Prophet and teacher of his people and secondly that hee is to be exalted in the days of the Gospell as the alone teacher of his people First that he is the Prophet and teacher of his people now for the better proceeding in the unfolding of this particular unto you I shall goe along comparatively holding forth the Prophetick office of Christ by the Prophets under the Law Now there were three things ordinary to the Prophets under the Law viz. Teaching working miracles and foretelling of things to come Now in all these three Christ answers them yea and excels them all for he himselfe is the substance of all their prophesies Iohn 1.45 1 It was the worke of the Prophets to teach the people so Moses a type of Christ both in respect of Law and worship God taught Israel by him so Esay 1 throughout Jer. 1.5 6 7 Chap. 2. and all the Prophets In this Christ hath manifested himselfe wonderfully to be a Prophet this part of Christs Propheticall office to wit as hee is the teacher of his people may be considered under these three heads First as hee was a teacher of his people before he came in the flesh Secondly When he was in the world Thirdly Now he is in heaven 1 before hee came in the flesh Christ taught them by the Prophets therefore you have ever the Prophets in the Old Testament saying The word of the Lord came unto me Jer. 1.4 Cap. 2.1 This Peter confirms 2 Pet. 1.20.21 For the prophesie came not in old time by thye will of man but holy men of God spake as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit No Scripture is of private interpretation that is men did not speak of their own private spirits not that private men as they call them may not interpret Scripture there is no such thing in the word but the truth held forth to us in it is that holy men that writ the Scripture did not speak their own mindes their own fancies but spake as they were inspired by the holy Spirit and hence it is that upon good grounds we receive the Old Testament for Scripture because it is the Word of God But 2 Christ performed his Propheticall Office when he was in the World hee then taught personally Mat. 5.12 He teaches his Disciples in the Mount he teaches a very long Sermon the longest Sermon we read of in all the Gospel it continues to the end of the seventh Chapter Mat. 13.1 2. you have Christ teaching multitudes in a ship by the Sea shore hee continues his Sermon almost throughout that Chapter speaking to them in parables In John you have Christ often teaching in the third Chapter teaching Nicodemus in chap. 5 6 8 9 10. and almost in every Chapter you have Christ teaching the Jews But beloved in the third place Christ is still a Prophet to his people now he is in heaven which is the principall thing I intend to speak unto In the handling of which I shall indeavour First To prove from Scripture that Christ is still the Prophet of his people Secondly By what rule he teaches his people now he is in Heaven Thirdly The manner how he teaches Fourthly The matter what he teaches 1 That he is a Prophet still to his people now he is in heaven he never fails teaching his people he is still powerfully present with his people now he is in heaven Mat. 28.20 I will be with you to the end of the world hence it is that Christ sayth John 6.45 And they shall be all taught of God and Christ when he ascends promiseth to send the Holy Spirit what to do to teach his people Ioh 14.26 But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance and this is the new Covenant the Covenant of Grace Heb. 8.10.11 I will give my Laws into their mindes and write them upon their hearts and they shall all know mee from the least to the greatest for they shall be all taught of the Lord Esay 54.13 so that you see Christ is still teaching and leading his people as a Pophet in the way he would have them to walke The second particular propounded was by what rule Christ teacheth his people now he is in heaven and that is by his Word the word of God is the alone rule by which Christ teacheth his people now he is in heaven therefore he sayth Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them you think to have eternall life and they are they that testifie of me and Esay 8.20 To the Law and to the testimony if any speak not according to this rule it is because there is no morning in them Ob. But some may say this was before Christs ascension into heaven Ans True but the same rule holds still see it confirmed after Christs ascension Gal. Co 6. He that walketh according to this rule peace shall be upon him and upon the Israel of God Marke it he that walketh according to this rule peace shall be upon him c. Note first The Word of God is the rule of a Christians life and secondly they are to walke according to it see 2 Pet. 1.18 20. We have also a more sure word of prophesie wherento you doe well that yoe take heed as unto a light that shineth in a darke place c. A sure word of prophesie that is the Scriptures and note in ver 20. he confirms the Scriptures for that end Know this that no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit now the Scripture brings a sure word of truth It is that which ought to be the rule of the Saints in all their actions and believe it Christ never teacheh contrary to this Scripture If this be truth how may this reprove two sorts of people First those that cast off Scripture and refuse to walk according to it under a pretence of being lead by the Spirit and so above Scripture refusing to receive the Scripture as the rule by which Christ teacheth looking upon the Scripture as nothing to them It is a very sad thing that men professing Godlinesse should fall into such absurdities in receiving such principles as are destructive to the very power and being of godlinesse how can a man walke if he have no rule how can a man walke without his compasse his line he knows not when he is in or when he is out so it must needs be with those that cast off Scripture they cannot know when they walke according to the mind of God or when they
doe not Object Christ hath promised to write his laws in the hearts of his people and that they shall be all taught of God and that hee would send his spirit which should teach them all things Ergo for those thus taught of God it is to legall for them to walke by Scripture Answer First those that deny some Scripture must by the same ground deny all and if one Scripture be not a truth to mee and to be received in any practice how can I judge of the truth of another and the truth is that those that will believe but on that Scripture which they have a minde to believe rejecting the rest do not rightly believe any there is the same ground to believe all as to the believe one 2 Pet. 1.20 21. 2 I answer If you doe indeed believe these Scriptures to be a truth I make no question but you will anon believe the truth of the whole Scripture these being opened in comparing them with other Scriptures First Christ promising to find his spirit c. I answer that it was a particular promise made to the Apostles most principally and in some measure to all the Saints Two things here mentioned in this Scripture are most principally to the Apostles 1 That is mentioned is the first Hee shall bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you Note the Disciples of Christ were with him saw his miracles heard his word but now when Christ is gone to heaven he will send his spirit which shall bring all things that Christ spake or did necessary to be be remembred for our information and consolation to their remembrance that they might leave it upon record to future generations and this promise of the spirit properly belongs to the Disciples of Christ who were both eye and eare witnesses of all he did or spakes and this may confirme us admirably in the truth of the Gospell it was you see written by the immediate inspiration of that Spirit of promise bringing it to the remembrance of those that wrote it and by no meanes serves to destroy the rest of the Scriptures The second thing promised is That it shall teach them all things note here also an admirable word Christ tels his Disciples that that spirit he would send them should teach them all things that is all things that God intended to make knowne to man for their rule and direction in this life and this without question Christ who is truth it self made good to his Disciples Therefore I hope this doth not serve to destroy Scripture but to confirme it abundantly for if Christ did as without question it is blasphemy to say hee did not teach his Disciples all things then are the rules prescribed by the Apostles in their Epistles true and perfect rules and you and I are bound in duty as wee will approve our selves Christians to submit unto them to receive them as the holy promised truths of God Object But Christ makes this promise not only to the Disciples but to all the Saints also for all Scriptures is written for our learning c. Ans True but in the first place it is to the Disciples that they might leave us a perfect patern from himself and in this there is much comfort for the Saints that wee have in the Scripture truth and all truth needfull for a Christian to know and secondly this promise is made good to all the Saints in its measure God gives them his spirit to understand the Scriptures and therefore it is that the Apostle sayth 2 Tim. 3.16 17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction and for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works Note it is the Scriptures that thorowly furnishes or perfects the man of God to every good worke and wee are said to be built upon the Apostles and Prophets that is the doctrine the truth layd down by the Apostles and Prophets Christ himself being the chief corner stone Ephes 2.20 And for the second Scripture that God hath promised to write his laws in the hearts of his people and they shall be all taught of God c. It is true God makes this promise good hee writes his law in the heart where hee once corres in a way of grace that is he puts his spirit in them makes them freely willing to walke according to the rule of Scripture for the spirit and the word do answer each other If any man will say he hath received the spirit of Christ and refuses to walk according to the rules of Christ hee is alyar 1 Iohn 2.4 5 6. and the truth is not in him It is true also God teaches all his people they are all taught of God but how God doth teach and leade into all truth by the rule of Scripture therefore Christ sayth in his prayer 1 Iohn 17.17 sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth see then what a sweet harmony is held forth in all the Scriptures the spirits teaching and leading it is still according to the Scriptures The spirit of Christ where it is leads into truth and that truth is contained in Scripture Now for any man to say hee hath the spirit of Christ and yet cast away Scripture or for every man to say hee hath the spirit of Christ and yet cast away Scripture I must give him leave to say it but he must give me leave not to believe him and also to tell him that it is a diabolicall lying spirit that casts away Scripture if any man speaks not according to this rule it is because there is no truth in him Esay 8.20 A second sort of people that are here to be reproved are those that pretend to be all for the Scripture and yet walk not up according to the rules of Scripture without question those whom Christ teacheth hee teacheth to walk according to the rules that he prescribes them Of these there are two sorts 1 those that do not rightly divide between Law and Gospel between Legall rules and Gospell rules 2 those that instead of following the rules of Christ follow the rules and inventions of men that wait for what men will prescribe resolving to make that their rule First those that doe not rightly divide between Law and Gospell And of these there are both Ministers and people not rightly dividing the word of truth as the Apostle exhorts Timothy 1 Tim. 2.15 And this is ignorance which remayns to this day upon the hearts of many whom I question not for their godlinesse and honesty yet God hath not taught them to this day that cleere difference betweene Law and Gospell and the ignorance of these men consists principally under these five heads 1 In not understanding the difference betweene Gospell Churches and the Church of the Jews 2 Gospell Ordinances and the Ordinances of the Jews 3 Gospel priviledges
the great commands of the Gospel Ans 1 Love is the great command and where true faith and love is there will be the effects of it 1 Tim. 1.5 Now the end of the commandement is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfained This is both the beginning and end the first and last in the Law of the Gospel Love first God out of love hath given us a law wee out of love yield obedience to it James calls it the royall Law Jam. 2.8 If ye fulfill the royall law according to the Scripture thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyselfe 2 Now this love is manifested 1 To Christ 2 To the Saints 1 To Christ and that first in keeping his commandements Joh. 14.23 Jesus answered and said If a man love me he will keepe my words ver 24. he that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings Love will cause those in whom it is to submit to Christ in every thing 1 John 5.3 This is the love of God that wee keep his commandements that is here in is our love to God made manifest in keeping his commandements Quest What are the commands of Christ to his children with relation to himself Ans His command is first love as you have heard 2 Obedience flowing from her this obedience is first to Gospel commands 2 In a Gospell manner 3 To Gospel ends First it must be to Gospell commands wee are to heare Christ in all things not Moses Act. 3.22 him shall you heare in all things c. believers are to receive every comand as from the hands of Christ John 15.14 Ye are my friends if you doe whatsoever I command you The first command that Christ requires of believers and that next after faith received is Baptisme Mar. 16.17 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved so likewise Mat. 28.19 Disciple Nations and baptize them this was the first thing in the commission to be submitted to and it was ever so in the Apostles practice which must be our pattern Act. 2.41 As many as gladly received the Word that is believed the truth of the Gospel and gladly received the Lord Jesus the summe and substance of the Gospel were haptized so Act. 8.12 They believed and were baptized both men and women so Act. 16. Lydia and the Goalar In a word this was the first duty that ever the Saints performed the first ordinance that ever they subscribed to after faith received in the Scripture there is neither precept nor president either to baptize before faith or after to teach faith or else after faith is received to neglect or slight baptisme it being a command of Christ love in the Saints compelling them to yield obedience to every ordinance of Christ for his own sake with an expectation of a farther discovery and manifestation of love and grace from God in his own ordinance in his own way Now I confesse there are many objections that by many are made against this truth who plead for and practice the baptizing of insants But because I have in another treatise indeavoured from the light of Scripture to cleare the truth and answer those objections I shall in this place passe them by onely by reason of our late conference I shall briefly touch upon these three Scriptures we then had in disputation The first is Act. 2.38 39. The promise is to you and to your children c. The Promise in this place was concluded upon that it was remission of sins and the gifts of the holy spirit hence was drawn this conclusion that the infants of believers found as large an interest in this promise as their parents and therefore ought to bee baptized Which I cannot but deny and assirme that the promise here was to the Iews as many as the Lord did call to their children as many as the Lord should call to the Gentiler afar off as many of them as the Lord should call There is a sound truth in the Scripture thus interpreted for God gave remission of sius his spirit all the good things of the Gospel to as many as he called both Iow and Gentile and so he will to the worlds end and indeed he never promised it to any other He that believeth on the Son hath life he that believeth not hath not life Joh. 3.31 If the promise of the Covenant of grace remission of sins and the goodthings of the Gospel had been to the Iews that beleeved and to their naturall seed it must then have been made good to them or else there was no truth in the promise but it was never made good to them for then they had not been apostated as they are to this day nay the Lord was so far from intending any such thing to the Iews that hee intended their rejection and casting off Rom. 11.15 neither was the promise to the naturall seed of the believing Gentiles but the elect of God both Iews and Gentiles obtain it Rom. 2.7 and God under the Gospel makes no difference between the seed of the believer and unbeliever with relation to their Generation but it is grace that makes the difference The second Scripture was Mar. 10.13 14. Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdome of God That which is hence inferred is that children are blessed that they are a part of the Church and therefore have a right to baptisme whereas it is very probable that those infants were brought to Christ to be cured of some diseases for the Text sayth They brought young children to him that he might touch them and he blessed them that is gave them the blessing they came for to wit health and cure and whereas Christ sayth of such is the kingdome of heaven that is of such qualified spiritually as those infants were naturally so Christ himselfe interprets it ver 15. Verily I say unto you whosoever doth not receive the Kingdome of Heaven as a little childe be shall not enter therein that is whosoever doth not receive the Kingdom of God both of grace and glory as a little childe that is humble and meek and teachable able to doe nothing himselfe but Christ is his all and in all he shall never enter therein so that Christ takes occasion from those little infants to discover a Gospel mystery a mystery indeed to naturall men Mat. 18.2 3. The third Scripture was that in 1 Cor. 7.14 The unbelieving wife is sanctified to the believing husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Now it was first granted that the sanctification of the wife is but a civill sanctification shee is sanctified to his use that he ought not to put her away 2 This was granted also that holinesse is a fruit of sanctification then I say the fruit or effect cannot be greater then the cause the cause cannot produce a greater effect then it selfe the cause being onely a civill sanctification the holinesse of the children
the spirituall Israel page 95 Knowledge of Christ brings men to the knowledge of themselves page 117 L LIve by saith what 165. How the soule doth live in the want of the full enioyment of him page 103 Love of God to be admired 45 It is free Ibid. Full 45. Everlasting 47. What love is 170. Properties and effects of it 172. It is quieted in the single enioyment of Christ 174. It slights all hardships 175. Love among the Saints the excellencie of it 176. It covers a multitude of infirmities 178. It is an everlasting grace 179. How it is manifested page 193 M MAns righteousnesse what page 10 Marter of Christs Kingdom spirituall page 223 Miracles How Christ Works them at this day page 199 N NEw Why Christs commandement called new page 169 Naturall conscience and the Law have a conflict 217. How to know it page 228 O OBedience the fruit of faith page 123 Offering of Christ what 16. The offering of the High-priest what page 16 17 Offices of Christ 15. Priestly Office of Christ wherein it consists 32. Office of Christ as Prophet page 82 P PEace with God the ground of a Christians ioy page 77 Power of God to be admired page 50 Priests Christ hath made the Saints Priests page 71 Priviledges of the Iews and of Christians their difference 101. Priviledges under the Gospel what page 101 Propheticall office of Christ page 82 R REconciliation wrought by Christ page 32 33 Remedies against corruption oppressing the soule 64 65. against temptations page 71 Resting in any thing beneath Christ what an evill page 57 58 59 Righteousnesse if Christ onely iustifies 11. Righteousnesse of man what page 10 15 Rule for Baptisme not one with the rule for Circumcision 97. The Scripture the rule by which Christ teacheth his people page 92 S SAints Why oftentimes sorrowfull 20. They are made Priests 78. God hath nothing against them 78. Their estate happy in the world to come page 80 Selfe-denyall 124 125. Selfe-sinfull 125. Selfe-righteous 127. Selfe-wisdom 131. Selfe-profit 134. Selfe-pleasure 135. Selfe-love 141. Selfe-will page 142 Selfe-sufficiencie 144. Selfe-ends page 145 T TEach Christ teacheth those whom he teacheth to know themselves 109. To believe 121. How wee may know when Christ teacheth the soule page 156. seq Type The Iewish Church a Type of the Christian Church 94. Kingly power put in Israel after the flesh a Type of the spirituall power Christ hath in his Church page 95 V VIrgins Mat. 25. Why called foolish page 57 W WIsdom of God to be admired 42. Christ the wisdom of the Father page 43 Word The Word is the rule by which Christ teacheth his people page 86 World to come what benefit to the Saints page 80 Worke of the Devill Christ destroys two wayes page 205 Errata Pag. 14. l. 7. for her 1 He p. 23. l. 11 your thou p. 26. l. 3. for hear no pray r. hear nor pray p. 66. l. 7 as r. us p. 67. l. 19. two r. few p. 76. l. 8. the r. thou P 79. l. 14. stay r. way p. 88 l. 4. walk r. work l. 15. to r. too p. 89. l. 10. That is mentioned is the first r. The first that is mentioned is p. 100. l. 10. once should the type r. once come the type should p. 103. l. ult or r. are p. 118. l. 25. dele o p. 132. l 22. put in not p. 140. l. 17 was not so r. was so p. 186. l. 1. for freed r. frets p. 187. l. 24. fire r. fiery p. 198. l. 14. add r. and p. 219. l. 10. enow r. ere now p. 225. l. 26. professe r. proceed p. 233. l. 4. dele It. THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST The alone High-priest of SAINTS CHAP. I. JOHN 3.14 And as Moses lift up the Serpent in the wildernesse so it behoves the Son of man to be lift up c. THis text presents you with the exaltation of the Lord Jesus and the manner of it Occasioned by a discourse between Christ Iesus and Nicodemus from the beginning of the Chapter these words being a part of that discourse and they are the words of Christ who is truth it self and cannot lie the faithfull and true witnesse the Alpha and Omega the first and the last of all truths and heavenly mysteries of the Gospel The text divided in two parts In this Scripture you may be pleased to take notice of two particulars first an act to be done Christ lifted up Secondly how it must be done even as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wildernesse c. I shall not meddle with that title by which Christ is pleased to describe himself the sonne of man I might note that Christ is the sonne of man and so true and perfect man as well as God Romans 3.4 But I shall rather pitch upon the mayne glorious Gospell truth held forth in this Scripture and the truth or conclusion is this Doct. That the Lord Jesus Christ now in the dayes of the Gospel is to be lifted up even as Moses lifted up these pent in the wildernesse Christ is to be lifted up now in the dayes of the Gospel Note 1 Christ is to bee lifted up in the preaching of the Gospel 2 In the soule of believers 1 In the preaching of the Gospell and that first for justification and life as the alone Priest Attonement and peace maker between God and his people 2 He is to be lifted up as the alone Prophet to teach as the alone King and Law-giver to his Church and people And this is to be done both in the preaching of the Gospel and in the hearts of believers 1 In the preaching of the Gospel Christ is to be lifted up for justification and life this was the end for which Christ came into the world John 10.10 I am come that yee might have life and that yee might have yet more abundantly ô beloved Christ came to give life to dead soules John 5.25 The dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare shall live and this life Christ communicates to his in giving his life to purchase life for his own who were dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2.1 And so freely and fully ustifies all whom he intends to save Rom. 3.24 And this justification although free through the redernption that is in Christ yet we come to participate of that justification by faith Rom. 3.26 27 28. And the preaching of the Gospell is the Instrumentall means in the hand of God working faith Rom. 10. from ver 14. to 17. Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the Word of God therfore Christ is to be exalted in the preaching of the Gospel for justification and life that men beholding him may have life by him See this truth confirmed Mat. 10.27 What I tell you in darknesse speak yee in the light and what ye hear in the eare that preach yee on the house tops Note what Christ doth tell his servants in the darke he
through believing The second is in expecting that from those who indeed falsly have appropriated that title of Priest to themselves which they are to expect from Christ as namely Teaching O how have those men been and still are to this day set up as Christ amongst many people making their words their rule as if it were not possible such learned men might erre and I conceive it arises partly from the misunderderstanding of that Scripture Mal. 2.7 The Priests lips should preserve knowledge and they should seek the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts Now this usually is applyed to the Ministers who have given themselves the title of Priests and that the people should seeke the law at their mouthes and indeed they themselves have done what in them lyes not only to bring people into this errour this ignorance but to keep them in it whereas Christ is indeed the alone Priest the substance of the lews type And the people are to seek the Law at his mouth for hee is the messenger of the Lord of hoasts he is called the messenger of the covenant Mal. 3.1 the alone Prophet and Teacher of his people Object But Christ hath appointed Ministers to teach his people are not the people to seek the Law at their mouthes Answ 1. Not by vertue of that Scripture for Christ is the alone Priest and there is none in that office beside him though it is true all the Saints are Priests and the Church a holy Priesthood 2 Wee are to receive nothing from any man as truth but what hee brings from Christ and therefore our duty is to try all things and hold fast that which is good We are men subject to errour and it is our duty to try the truth of what is delivered and not receive any thing because another sayth it but see whether the Lord hath said it therefore the Apostle sayth Gal. 1.8 If I or an Angell from Heaven teach you any other dectrine then that you have received hold him accused And the Noble Bereans were commended for searching the Scriptures to try if those things preached were truth Acts 17.11 If the Bereuns try the truth of Pauls doctrine by the Scriptures who spake by divine inspiration from Christ much more should you search and try the truth of things delivered and not build your faith upon any others word but the word of Christ your High-Priest who keepeth knowledge for you and hath promised to teach you Esay 54.13 The fifth and last ground of mens I meane still those that have some knowledge of God comming short of answering the rules of the Gospel is their ignorance in not understanding the difference between covenant and covenant God owned the lews as they were a body a Church under a covenant of works but the church of the Gospel under a covenant of grace It is true the covenant God made with Abraham Gen. 17. from the first verse no the fifth is a covenant of grace and by vertue of that covenant he promised to be 2 God to Abrahams naturall seed but he never owned Abrahams naturall seed in a covenant of grace if so then they must all of them have been saved for the covenant of grace is sure to those that were under it see Esay 55.3 it is called An everlasting covenant even the sure mercies of David Ier. 32.40 I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turne away from them to doe them good but will put my feare in them and they shall not depart from me But God never made such a covenant with Abrahams naturall seed nay the truth is that God never intended such a thing neither to Abraham nor any man in the world to make a covenant of grace with their naturall seed for God himselfe sayth of the Iews the seed of Abraham Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea yet but a remnant of them shall be saved Esay 10.22 23. with Rom. 9.27 now the covenant under which God owns his church under the Gospel is an everlasting covenant Heb. 8.10 11 12. when God promiseth this covenant in Ier. 31.3 32. Behold that day is come sayth the Lord That I well make a new covenant not according to the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt which covenant they brake c. This covenant of works it was under which God owns the children of Israel as a church to which circumcision hath a relation therefore called a covenant Gen. 17.10 binding to to this covenant the Law Gal. 5.3 Rom. 2.25 Now there are two evils that usually flow from this misunderstanding of the covenant The first is this that seeing the covenants are one and the same under which God owned the church of the Iews under the Law and now owns the church 〈◊〉 Gentiles under the Gospel which 〈◊〉 is not so the conclusion is drawn that we must lay the foundation of Gospel churches and Gospel Ordinances in the Law and hence it is that men are so hardly drawn off from their legall principles we must have nationall Churches we must have infants baptized the ground ariseth from the Law because the Iews were a nation all church and their males were baptized O grosse legality Is not this to deny Christ to be come in the flesh 1 Iohn 4.3 Truly if it be not I confesse I am yet ignorant of what God intends in that Scripture O how hard it is to bring learned wise men to lay the foundation of their practice in the Gospel It is almost impossible nay I had almost sayd altogether impossible if God doe not mightily work to perswade them that Christ Jesus as a Son over his own house is faithfull in all things giving exact rules in every particular for the well ordering and governing of his house that is the Church 1 Tim. 3.15 and for the administration of every ordinance although Moses himselfe hath sayd Deut. 18.15 A Prophet shall the Lord thy God raise up unto thee of thy brethren like unto me him shall yee hear If the Lord 〈◊〉 you once to see that yee are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6.14 Then you will be contented to receive your rules from the hands of grace the Lord Jesus Christ A second evill that flows from hence is this many a poore soul for want of a cleer apprehending of the differēce between the covenān the one of works the other of grace are held under much slavish feare and legall bondage the poore creature lookes upon the law the covenant from Mount Sinay Exod. 19. 20. chapters Where is nothing but feare and dread and hence it is that no longer then the creature can worke can it have comfort and the reason is because it hath been ever set upon working out salvation not remembring that blessed word of truth Heb. 12.18
persecuted and so will Christ deal with thy soule whoever thou art that cleavest as close to thy sins as thy skin to thy flesh he will fetch thee off from it if thou belong unto him The fourth particular propounded was the matter which Christ our Prophet teacheth First he teacheth man to know himselfe for it is life eternall to know God and Jesus Christ John 17.3 and therefore you shall ever finde men in Scripture appointed by Christ for the work of the ministry to preach the Gospel that is a crucified Christ Peter Act. 2.36 37. preacheth Christ crucified brings them to know that it wa Christ indeed whom they had crucified so Philip Act. 8.12 preacheth the truth that concerne the Kingdom of God and the name of Iesus So Paul 1 Cor. 15.3 preached that Christ dyed for sin according to the Scripture this is the first thing to be preached Christ and glad tydings by him and therefore surely this is the first thing that Christ effectually teacheth where he comes Object Must men be taught the knowedge of Christ before they know their own misery by reason of sin surely no man will accept of Christ unlesse they see a need of him Ans It is the sight and knowledge of Christ that brings men truly to see and know themselves Saul Acts 9. thought himselfe a very holy and happy man till he met Christ on the way and note Christ teaches him in the first place the knowledge of himself Who art the Lord sayth Saul I am Jesus of Nacaroth sayth Christ whom thou persecutest Christ did not tell him of his sin O thou 〈◊〉 accursed persecuting creature dost aske whol am thou haddest more need know thy selfe c. No no hee discovers himselfe unto him and this I am sure was Gods usuall dealing in the Gospel those whom he taught he taught them first to know Christ and this Christ our Prophet must teach thee if ever thou be taught it is not mans wisdom that will help thee to the knowledge of Christ See 1 Cor. 1.21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God all the wisdom in the world cannot teach thee to know God it may spoyle thee and undo thee but not help thee Col. 2.8 Beware lest any man spoyle you through Phylosophy that is through the wisdom of man mans wisdom may nay will if God prevent it not spoyle you for ever for there is no greater enemy in the world in it self mans corrupt nature so working with it to hinder man in the true knowledge of Christ then mans carnall wisdome and learning see Rom. 8.6 For the * wisdome of the flesh is death so the word in the Grecke is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see 1 Cor. 1.20 Where is the wise where is the Scribe c. Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world O take heed of resting upon humane wisdome arts and sciences they are dangerous things if the Lord prevent it not for a malicious devill and a deceitfull heart to deceive you withall Secondly Christ teacheth these whom hee teacheth to know themselves and that as I have sayd by a reflecting back upon themselves from beholding of Christ They come now to see themselves cursed lost creatnres and believe it every one whom Christ effectually teacheth hee teacheth them to know themselves to be poore lost and undonecreatures in themselves Thus Christ brings those Acts 2.37 from beholding of Christ to behold themselves and make them cry out Men and brethren what shall we do c. and so Saul Acts 9.5 6. after hee had seen Iesus I am Jesus whom thou persecutest c. and then hee sees himselfe a poore creature and comes trembling and astonished and sayd Lord what wouldest thou have me doe So if our Christ come hee will make you see your selves sinners with a witnesse and this thou canst never do savingly unlesse Christ teach thee Saul could persecute and think hee did well till Christ meets him and shews him his sin but hee could never see himselfe a persecutor till Christ taught him Saul perfecutes but he confesseth he did it ignorantly through unbelief 1 Tim. 1.13 So there are many that out of zeal are persecutors of Christ in his Saints but they do it ignorantly they are perswaded that it is their duty and that they doe God service in it as Christ himselfe foretelleth John 16.2 but I dare say as Saul sayd of himselfe it is through ignorance out of zeale thinking they doe God good service that it is their duty so to doe Did they know that in so doing they persecute Christ who indeed takes every wrong done to his as to himselfe I dare say they would not doe it but it is the power of Christ that must come upon their spirits before they can see it O men can hardly believe it tell such a man that persecutes and imprisons the Saints as did Saul that they persecute Christ they will not believe it they will be ready to say as Hazael 2 Kings 8.13 when the Prophet Elisha tels him what great wickednesse he should commit vers 12 What am I a dog that I should do this great thing so many men who are bitter enemies to the Saints ready to do any mischiefe unto them yet cannot be perfwaded that they are the men that persecute Christ What I such a dog to persecute Christ God forbid yet can and will persecute the Saints Beloved consider of it Christ takes any wrong done to them as done to himself Acts 9.4 Why persecutest thou Me 3 Where Christ comes in power he teaches men to believe this he taught when he was upon the earth John 6.29 This is the work of God that they believe on him whom he hath sent and verse 47. Verily verily he that believeth on me hath everlasting life Chap. 3.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned and verse 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life c. And this was it hee gave in commission to his Disciples to preach Mar. 16.16 17. To preach the Gospell to every creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and this Paul preached Acts 16.31 Believe in the Lord Iesus and you shall be saved c. and this Christ doth not onely teach to the care but to the heart also where he comes in power this he taught his Disciples Mat. 16.16 and Iohn 6.69 We believe and are sure that thou art Christ the Son of the living God And this hee taught all that ever came to him effectually Acts 2.41 All that gladly received the word that is the truth held forth in the word the glad tydings of life by Christ preached in the Gospel and this is the work of Christ Heb. 12.2 the gift of Christ Ephes 2.8 Quest What is that Gospel faith Christ teacheth to his people Ans It is a believing of that record God hath given concerning his Son with a depending upon him for
day of the Lord Jesus the day Jesus comes in to doe good unto him for when ever the Lord Jesus takes an oportunity to doe good to a sinner that is the day of the Lord or the Lords day when he manifests mercie see Psal 110.3 2 Cor. 6.2 Thus Christ rules by his Law generally in the Assembly of Saints But 2 He manifests his Kingly power in ordaining officers with their gifts and callings which the Scripture seems in the strictest and most refined sense to call Elders and Deacons or Bishops and Deacons 1 Tim. 3.1 2 3 c. Of Bishops or Elders are two sorts or a different administration with relation to their gifts ruling and teaching these although they ought not to seeke it for they are the Churches servants yet by the Church are to be accounted worthy of double honour 1 Tim. 5.17 and in things partaining to Christ are to be obeyed for they watch for soules Heb. 13.17 Quest But what power hath Christ committed to his Church wherein his Kingly office appears Answer Hee hath given power to his Church 1 To Judge 2 To Determine 3 To Passe sentence 1 To Iudge and this under a twofold consideration 1 Of the faith of members that are to be received 2 Of proceedings within the same body 1 Of the faith of members that are to bee admitted This belongs to the Church or some appointed thereunto by the Church For if faith be required of those that are to be admitted then faith is to be manifested in those received to those that receive it this is a truth generally held forth in Scripture Act. 2.38 with the 41. and Act. 8.37 and 19.17 18. And likewise there seems to bee somthing to this purpose in that Scripture Mat. 16.19 I will give unto thee the keyes of the Kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt binde on earth shall be bound in heaven Whatsoever the Church of Christ concludes on on earth is approved of in heaven while they walke according to rule although I believe the great mystry couched under these words is another thing to wit the power Christ gives to the faith of Peter all that obtain like precious faith whatsoever is bound on earth that is whosoever believes on earth that is bound in heaven whosoever believeth not on earth looseth all it is loosed in heaven for it is to Peters faith Christ commits the keyes 2 There is power to judge of things in the Church and this every member ought to make use of in looking to the wayes of each other Phil. 2.4 Look not every one to his own things but every one to the things of one another Mat. 18.17 18. Thus all the body ought to watch over each other and to judge the actions of each other thus the Elder is to watch over the body and to judge the actions and to reprove rebuke exhort with patience and love where is occasion and thus may nay and ought the whole Church to watch over and if occasion be reprove admonish c. the Elder Thus is the Kingly office of Christ carryed along sweeetly in the Church of Christ 1 Tim. 5.19 20. When all watch over each other when all are subject each to other 1 Pet. 5.5 2 Christ hath given power as to Judge so to Determine of things and this for the good of the body for the order of the Church of Christ 3 And also It to passe sentence I mean spirituall by way of excommunication as you heard before I conceive the Church and state of the Jews who was Abrahams naturall seed was a type of the Church of the Gospel the spirituall seed of Christ Gal. 3.26 They had laws and statutes so hath the Church of Christ now onely theirs carnall ours spirituall for that Church was more carnall then Spirituall for that was the naturall seed this the spirituall they were to admit none but those that were naturally or bodily circumcised we none but those that are spirituall Rom. 2. ult They were not to touch any thing whereupon was any externall uncleannesse wee are not to touch the spirituall unclean thing that is Sin or sinfull worships or fellowships 1 Cor. 6.15 16 17. They were to put offenders that were grosse to death bodily the Church of Christ spiritually by excommunication Thus is the Kingly office of Christ carried along in the Kingdom in the Church of Christ under the Gospel and you see both Church and Laws are spirituall 3 The executions of the Churches Laws are spirituall but this I have opened already in my foregoing discourse therefore I passe 4 The ends of it are spirituall namely as you have heard 1 The good of the body the edifying of the body of Christ see Ephes 4.11 And 2 The glory of Jesus the execution of the Laws of Christ as it tends to the Saints good so Christs glory Yee call me Lord sayth Christ but where is mine honour This should be the end as of all the Saints Church actions so of all civill actions the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.23 Thus you see Christ is King and he hath a spirituall Kingdome and he rules by his Scepter in this Kingdom and there is good reason for it 1 He was borne King he hath a right to it by birth it is his birthright Mat. 2.2 Where is he that is borne King of the Iews He is a Iew that is one inwardly and it is Christs birthright to reigne over them and those who take the rule the Kingdom from Christ are no lesse then enemies and traitors to the royall crowne and dignity of the Lord Jesus and he will take them alive one day and cast them into the lake of fire Revel 19.20 2 He is thereunto appointed by the Father God the Father hath committed all judgement to the Sonne Iohn 10.22 For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son ver 27. And hee hath given him authority to execute judgement because he is the Son of God God the father hath given up the Kingdom to the Son and all government rule and dominion is in the hand of Christ as he is man as well as God Act. 17.31 He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World by that man whom he hath ordained Mat. 28.18 All power is given to me both in heaven and in earth c. Thus you see power and authority is given to the Lord Jesus and he is to exercise it and not man farther then hee hath appointed for the good of his Church 3 He hath purchased this Kingdom with his own bloud and therefore good reason he should reigne in it and over it Act. 20.28 He hath purchased his Church with his own bloud is it not reason then that Christ should reigne over those whom he hath purchased those who were lost and undone children of wrath as well as others Christ having redeemed them out of the hands of all their enemies and now rules-over them in love