and man Luc. 2.7 28 52. Yea and though through the operation of the Holy Ghost He was conceived and brought forth without any stain of sin in his Flesh yet He was born with a fore-skin thereon so as He was capable of receiving Circumcision as well in afterward He passed through Baptisme and that too not only of Water but also of fire or afflictions in manifold sorrows sufferings and Death not otherwise agreeable to the Divine and Almighty Word which yet was so made and manifest in that Flesh as to render those sufferings and that Death a full and all-sufficient Sacrifice and expiation for the sins of the World Yea that Heavenly Word in and through the Flesh so spake and so wrought as to procure and to produce the good of men not only in the instructing and healing them as there was need and He judged them meet or worthy thereof and they worthily complyed therewith but also so as to the Eternal salvation of all that duly entertain'd Him And me thinks there is a great analogy and resemblance between the conception and incarnation of that blessed Word and its manifestation in the Flesh and the Conception of Divine truth in the mind of man and its manifestation in word or writing though there is and may be much disagreement also therein Verily the truth of God cannot be comprehended in its fulness in and by the narrow finite mind of mortal man as well the truth of God as the peace of God doubtless passeth all understanding at least while mortal and till if that may be though a perfect union with it it 's advanced to its Divine and Inconceiveable largeness nor can what is there conceived and thence emitted or brought forth but he bounded by the model of the mind that receives and emits it and pertake in its expression of somewhat of its infirmities Yea oft-times it receives some mixtures of Sinfulness Ignorance and Mistakes or other Distempers from it in its being conceived worded or writ at least such coverings and superfluities as render a Circumcision by the Spirit of understanding or an understanding Spirit or a Baptism or Cleansing from the defilements mixed with it and a Remission of the sinfulness therein at the hands of God needful for it in which it differs from the word Incarnate of the Virgin for from her he received nothing of sin and therefore neither needed Circumcision nor Baptism for Remission of sins to admit him into Covenant and Acceptance with God Though both Circumcision and Baptism he received that he might fulfil all Righteousness But the Divine Testimony received into the sanctified Minds and expressed in the Preachings and Writings of the Holy Men of God the Apostles and Prophets bare and beareth a far fuller Analogy thereto then as in any other men it contracted nothing of sinfulness or uncleanness to it self as received and given forth by them from their receit of it or giving it forth And therefore in all the Prophecyings of other men though not to be despised we are to try all things and hold fast that that is good To try them not by comparing them with or bringing them to the Sayings Traditions reputedly Orthodox Doctrines Frames Systimes or Composure of other men of what ever party no though of the straitest Sect of Religion among a professed people of God but even their Sayings Traditions Doctrines Frames Systimes or Composures are all and every of them to be tried and judged of by the words and sayings of the holy Apostles and Prophets and wherein soever any of theirs or any mans Doctrine or Sayings disagree there-with they may and ought to be rejected of us But their Sayings are in all things to be Reverenced and Received without doubt or suspition as the Sayings of God as indeed they are though uttered and given forth by men And even as Christ though as Born of a Woman and as to his Flesh partaking of mans Infirmity yet had in him for all that even in that state the Power and Force of the Eternal Word so as that to them that received him he give heavenly Light Life Vnderstanding Strength and Freedom yea the Power and Priviledg to be the Sons of God even to them who believed on his Name And though his Flesh and Body might suffer Pain and be Abused and Crucified as indeed it was Yet his Deity or the blessed Word was not thereby impaired even so the Truth of God received and conceived in a pure Mind and good Conscience as in the holy Apostles and Prophets it most certainly and clearly was and thence brought forth to Light by Word or Writing with which it 's Clothed and as it were Imbodied though its form appearing according to the Model of the mind that conceives it and the Letter or Speech in which it is expressed may seem rude and plain as the Apostle Pauls Speech was by some said to be contemptible 2 Cor. 10.10 yea and may be exposed to diverse injuries or abuses Yet the Divine and Heavenly truth though in that Dress retains its Divine Nature and Worth True it is that its force towards others may by such Injuries be less apparent and they may therefore more slight and disregard it as Christ also by reason of his suffering Reproaches and Abuses was more slighted by many But yet where indeed minded and Imbraced it produceth singular and Divine effects in their Hearts and Lives by virtue of that Divine Nature and Spirit that is in and with it So as to Inlighten Instruct Reprove Convert Comfort Cleanse Sanctifie and Save them yea make them the Sons of God and in some measure like to God and in the end Blessed and Happy as on the other hand to those that Reject or Abuse it it occasions the greater Judgment and heavier Condemnation and so doth Christ also to them that stumble at and reject Him and his Government Wherefore the Heavenly Truth is not to be Judged by or Valued according to its outward Dress and Clothing nor according to the Man and his Meanness through whom it comes and in and by whom it is as it were Imbodied But it is to be received according to its Divine Original and to be made much of according to its excellent Virtues and Effects though no mans Saying or Writing is further the Truth of God and Divine then it is of God and is purely emitted from a pure Mind Thou must apply this Analogy fully and properly as is said to the Word and Preaching of the holy Apostles and Prophets and to other Mens only so far as one with and agreeable thereto and so far thou mayst apply it to this Discourse presented here to thee Christ lifted up as the Brazen Serpent was by Moses in the Wilderness is of only and unspeakable Vsefulness and Virtue for the saving the Souls of those that View and Believe on him from Sin and Destruction And for fitting them by Regeneration for and Advancing them by his Divine
fast and not turning therefrom be sure not to fail of it and we have their prayers for us that we may therefore hold fast and go on to the end with manifold provocations by word writings and examples to it Yea and many of our enemies too though they hate us for the the thing it self as practised by us yet they preach and approve what they hate in their doctrines and declarations even as the Jews approve and magnifie those Scriptures which hold forth what the Christians belieâ—â— though they believe not what is in their own Scriptures Joh 5.45 46. and 10.34 Yea and we have all Gods providences therein working together for us all things working together for good to them that love God all the paths of the Lord mercy and truth to them that keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Psal 25.9 Rom. 8.28 Yea all things ours Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the World or life or death or things present or things to come all are ours if we be Christs as Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3.21 22 Gal. 3.29 and therefore great encouragement have we to hold fast faith and go on believing in the Son of man the Son of God Encour 3. The great profit and benefit proposed to be received and injoyed in beleiving on him both the avoiding and escaping so great misery as perishing and the greatness of the good things contained in the eternal life to be injoyed a great recompence of reward Therefore cast we not away our confidence it 's life a Kingdom yea Eternal life and an everlasting Kingdom the Kingdom and Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ an eternal weight of glory Heb. 10.36 2 Thess 2.14 1 Pet. 5.10 2 Cor. 4.17 18. Yea and Encour 4. All the assurances given us of the certain fulfilling of what is said herein certifying us that we shall not perish but have Eternal life in such believing are strong Encouragements to us worthy to be minded by us As to say 1. We have Gods promise for it God that cannot lye hath promised Eternal life to the believer Tit. 1.2 1 Joh. 2.24 25. And faithfull is he that hath promised and he will perform it Heb. 10.23 And if we would trust an honest man upon his word or promise may we not much more trust God 2. We have the oath of God That by two immutable things in which it is not possible that God should lye namely his promise and his oath we might have strong consolation that flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us seeing therein appears the immutability of his counsel Heb. 6. 17 18. By my self have I sworn saith the Lord to Abraham and in him to his seed them that are Christs Gal. 3.29 that in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thee Gen. 22.16 Heb. 6.13 And if we believe men upon their solemn oaths shall we not much more believe God when to confirm our faith he adds his oath to his promise ingaging himself thereby to the performance 3. We have manifold evidences of Gods truth and the truth of his Word in which these things are covenanted and promised all that evidences Gods truth and faithfulness in making good his words increases this assurance and that 's much as the casting off the Jews for their Idolatry and unbelief according to what or so far as Moses and the Prophets long since fore-signified Deut. 31.17 18. 32.21 22. 30.1 with Rom. 9 10 11.11 The calling and bringing in us Gentiles to be his people which was prophesied off long before while we were all worshippers of Idols and Devils Yet God hath made good this against all appearing probability even then when that one Nation that had the Oracles of God and boasted themselves to be his people and to have him for their God and he a greater God than all the gods of the Gentiles was for their sins rejected so as to have their City sackt and burnt their Land laid wast their people destroyed by famine pestilence sword and led captive into all lands and that by those who opposed the Lord his word and ways and were ready to attribute all their successes to the strength of their Gods or Idols and the ruine of their enemies to the weakness of their God Judg. 16.23 24. 2 King 18.33 and 19.22 Yet even then by the preaching of the Apostles a few despised persons he got himself the victory over them and brought in the Gentiles against all the malice of the Devils and thier worshippers to confesse him and his oracles the holy Scriptures Many other things might be noted to confirm the truth of the Scriptures as but I shall note it as another ground 4. The raising up Jesus and so sending us his own Son his only begotten according to the promises and prophecies that fore-went of him to be our Saviour the light to lighten us Gentiles and to be his salvation to the ends of the earth Act. 13.32 47. and 26.22 23. with Isai 42.1 6. 49.6 7 8. And he was discovered to be the Son of God by the testimony of the Scriptures of the Prophets by his own miracles and doctrine by the voyce of God and by the Spirit of holiness in the resurrection from the dead Joh. 5.36 37 39 and 20.31 Rom. 1.3 4. He as given of God for us and giving himself to be the ransome of our souls the propitiation for our sins the peace-maker and reconciler of us to God is an evident witness and assurance of the love and faithfulness of God to us and that in our believing on him he will be to us the Author of eternal salvation and everlasting life Isai 55.4 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 5.7.9 Having not spared his own Son but delivered him up to death for us all How shall not he with him freely give us all things Rom 8 32. 5. The holy Spirit given us as an earnest of the inheritance both as gifting the Apostles and believers at first with extraordinary and most usefull gifts inabling them to work miracles wonders and signs according to the fore-sayings of the holy Prophets Joel 2.28 29 in the name of Jesus witnessing therein to him and to the truth of his doctrine and also as inlighting the mind renewing the heart and assuring the conscience by his divine and heavenly operations in which we have included those three witnesses on earth mentioned in 1 Joh. 5.7 8. The Spirit inlightning and gifting the water washing and cleansing and the blood pâ—â—ging and pacifying and so the spirit by all assuring the conscience give assurance of Gods truth and faithfulnesse in making good his promises for saving the believer from perishing and giving him Eternall life Having therefore such motives and incouragements to believe and such assurances of welfare therein How should we not be strengthned to believe on him and to follow on to believe yet more and more strongly against all temptations and oppositions using
Power and Virtue to life Everlasting in his heavenly Kingdom But this excellent matter worthy to have been conceived in a more pure Womb or Mind and laid in a far better Dress then I have here wrapt it in as conceived and Discoursed of by me partakes of and evidences my great weakeness and as here Imprinted the Printers and Stationers too great Carelessness or Vnfaithfulness both which may gain it disrespect to many and is as here represented far short of that Excellency and Glory that Properly and Originally is its own and appertains to it and may perhaps meet with course Respect Censurings and Sufferings if it fall into some mens hands especially from the Scribes and Pharisees men Learned and of great Zeal for Gods Ordinances and Worship to appearance but yet such as have their Faith and Fear towards God taught them by the Traditions and Traditional Glosses of some Elders of their Party According to which also they Teach it to others and generally from Proud and Malevolent persons But yet if the Superfluity and Fleshliness of its Expressions in any thing being cut off by the judicious Judgment and charitable candid Constructions of the understanding Reader and it being Animated by the holy Spirit and his Presence and Blessing it be duly considered listened to and imbraced it will appear to have something in it of Virtue and Divine force So as that attending to the Truth and Spirit of it in singleness and simplicity of Heart it may be useful for Instructing Helping and Healing thy Soul but if Rejected or Abused it will rise up another day as a Witness and Judg against thee Take heed therefore good Reader to what thou Readest and take heed how thou Readest Hearest and Receivest it not judging of its Truth and Goodness according to the weakness in Phrase and Expression or the too many Mis-spellings and Mis-pointings in its Printing but according to its agreement in Matter and Desiâ—u with the Doctrine and Writings of the holy Apostles and Prophets That so thou mayst not fail of the Grace of God tendered in Christ to thee in and by it Heartily minding and obeying the Truth herein propounded thou shalt find I hope here-with and here-through Gods Blessing with thee and upon thee praying for which upon thee and upon all that hear it and to the same purpose committing thee to God with my self and weak Labours and Indeavours and desiring thy Charitable and Candid construction and kind Acceptance thereof and thy Prayers for me for further Grace and Mercy I leave thee and rest Thy Well-wishing Friend and Servant in and for Christ Jesus J. Horn. Lyn Febr. 6. 1673. REader there is a Passage in page 36. wherein I say the Apostles and Evangelists never call Christ the Son of man in their speaking of him which I should have restrained to the Writings of the Evangelists or also to the Epistles of the Apostles otherwise I must desire a Grain of Allowance because St. Stephen though indeed neither Evangelist nor Apostle yet a Holy man and Inspired by the Holy Ghost called him the Son of man in Acts 7.56 when he said I see Heaven open and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God And the Apostle John imitating or using the phrase of the Prophet Daniel saith of him I saw one like the Son of man Rev. 1.13 with Dan. 7.13 The BRAZEN SERPENT Or GOD'S Grand DESIGN Which is Christ's Exaltation for Man's Salvation in believing on him John 3.14 15. And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have everlasting life CHAP. I. Brief Observations upon Nicodemus and our Saviours Discourse with him OUr Lord Jesus at Ierusalem wrought many Miracles at the Feast of Passover by means whereof many believed on him but he that knew what was in Man and needed not that any should testifie of Man knowing all men did not commit himself to them saith the Evangelist Iohn 2.24 25. But above all the rest who are left unnamed the Evangelist gives us an account in this Chapter of one man by profession a Pharisee the strictest sect of Religion among the Jews by name Nicodemus and by place a Ruler of the Iews and tells us what passed between our Lord and him as that he came to Jesus bâ— night He came to him as bâ—ing moved and drawn by the excellency of the Power of God that appeared in him and attested the truth and divinity of his Doctrine and so much he also tells him in his address to him making this Confession Rabbi or Master We know that thou art a Teacher come from God for no man can do those Miracles which thou dost except God be with him And yet he came by Night either being letted by his other business to come by Day or rather as being not yet so strong in his affection to him as for his sake to be willing to undergo the reproches and rebukes that an open Day-light resort to him and owning of him might have occasioned to him He loved yet it 's likely to retain his honour with his Brethren and to avoid the speech of People about him and yet so much he loved him as come to him he would and acquaint himself with him and therefore chuses to come to him by Night rather then not to come at all Nor doth our Saviour upbraid him with his weakness or brand him as guilty of Cowardliness for so close and hidden an acknowledgment of him but bears therewith till better knowledge of him and more acquaintance with him might put more Courage into him as afterward we find it did for he durst and did plead for him among and against his Enemies Ioh. 7.50 51. Yea and when he was in his lowest abasement Crucified and put to death as a Malefactor and was hanged upon the Cross or Tree in a most shameful and reprochful manner he durst and did own him so far as to joyn with Ioseph of Arimathea in bestowing an honourable burying upon his then dead Body Joh. 19.38 39 40. honouring him when dead whom all the Authority and chiefest of the Priests and Rulers had dishonourably persecuted while alive and ceased not until they had put him to Death yea and then also reputed and blasphemously spake off as a Deceiver yea he then owned him when the rest of the Disciples yea even the Apostles had forsaken and left him Surely our Lord herein set us a good Example verifying the Prophecy that went before of him viz. that he should not cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the Streets that he should not break a bruised Reed nor quench the smoking Flax till he bring forth judgment into victory Isa 42.2 3. And also by shewing himself meek and lowly in this case Condemned that Pride and rashness of Spirit too ready to shew it self in others that are too apt to
it again When the People some of them said that it Thundred others that an Angel spake to him John 12.28 29. But these things were known to few 2. In his speaking and working by him such things as never any spake or did for the words that he spake he spake not from himself as man alone but of or from the Father who dwelt in him and he it was that did the Works John 14.10 Whence he saith to Philip Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else believe me for the works sake ver 11. With Chap. 15.24 7.46 And that God did magnifie him in this and lift him up among men The Apostle Peter testifies Act. 2.22 Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God by Miracles Wonders and Signes which God did by him c. As also 3. By his raising him from the dead glorifying him and maintaining his cause and name against all oppositions and gathering in a Church to him and upholding it in the midst of Persecutions c. Of which things I shall not inlarge 2. Of God the Word or Son also even by himself or his Divine Being or Deity exerting and putting forth it self and so glorifying him as the Son of Man And so it behoved him and he did it Both 1. In Work As in his working glorious Miracles Thus it s said upon his turning Water into Wine at that Marriage in Cana of Galilee This beginning of Miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory But more fully in his rising from the dead and ascending into Heaven and giving gifts from thence unto men as some Apostles some Prophets c. Whence he saith No man takes my life from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again This Commandement have I received of my Father John 10.18 For as it is said that he was raised again from the dead by his Father and his glory So also it is said that he rose again in and by the power of his divine Spirit And that he died rose and revived that he might be Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Lord it over the quick and dead Rom. 14.9 And he rose again the Third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.3 4. Being put to death in the flesh but quickned in the Spirit 1. Pet. 3.18 And so that he Ascended and went up on high and gave gifts unto men Psal 68.18 Eph. 4.8.9 2. In his Word Preaching forth himself and his own excellencies As he saith I am one that bear witness of my self and my Father that sent me he beareth witness of me Though he said If I bear witness of my self my witness is not true As implying that of himself as man only he bare not witness of himself if as Man only he had so done his Witness might have been slighted But he as the Word though made flesh witnessed of himself as in his works so in his word too and his witness as witnessing so was true For he knew whence he came and whither he went John 5.31 8.14 18. And so he declared himself in the Man-hood as the Son of man or the Word made Flesh to be the Son of God to be in Heaven and come from Heaven and to know the things of Heaven John 3.11 12 13 16. And so when he said here he must be lifted up we may understand him to say in such intimations and declarations of his excellencies as those were So he testified of himself that he is the Light of the World John 8.12 12.46 The bread of Life the bread that came down from heaven The living bread His Flesh meat indeed and his Blood drink indeed Necessary to be fed upon to the obtaining everlasting life And such as 〈◊〉 gives everlasting life to all that feed thereupon John 6.35 48 50 51 55 56. c. That he knows the Father and is known of the Father John 7.29 10.15 That he gives the water of Life which whoso drinks it shall be in him a spring of living waters springing up unto eternal life And causing Rivers of living waters to flow out of his belly or inward man as being the Baptizer with and giver of the holy Ghost John 4.14 7.37 38 39. Act. 1.5 With John 15.26 That he is The good Shepherd The door of the sheep knowing his sheep and giving to them in their following him Eternal Life John 10.3 9 11 15 28 29. That he is the Resurrection and the Life So as that He that believeth on him though dead he shall live he that liveth and believeth on him shall not dye for ever John 11.25 26. That he is The way the truth and the life John 14.6 The true vine John 15.1 4. And many the like But chiefly he is and was lifted up And that I might have referred the two former to the testimonies of the Father and Word as being brought to us and our cognizance by him 3. By the holy Spirit whose business it is to witness of Christ taking his things and shewing them and so glorifying him John 15.27 16.14 And so it is prophetically said of him That when the Enemy shall come in like a stood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard against him which Standard or Ensigne is Christ of the Seed of David of the Root of Jesse Isa 11.1 10 11. And put him to flight Isa 59.19 And he was to lift him up and hath and doth diversly as 1. By fore-testifying glorious things of him As that he as the Seed of the Woman and so as the Son of Man should bruise the head of the Serpent Overthrow his plot against us and our well-fare and take away his acquired power and jurisdiction over us and open the way for us into Paradise and so to God again Gen. 3.15 That he as the Seed of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob and so as the Son of Man should be the blessing of or bringer forth of blessing to all the Nations or families of the Earth Gen. 22.18 26.4 28.14 With Gal. 3.8 That he as proceeding out of the Tribe of Judah should be the Shiloh the peaceable one or peace-maker Vnto whom should be the gathering of the People Gen. 49.10 That he should be the Prophet raised up from among the People and so as the Son of Man whom all the People should hear in all things that he should say unto them Deut. 18.15 18. That he should be as the Seed of David and so as the Son of Man the Great King and Governour upon whose shoulders the Government should be The Wonderful the Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace Of the increase of whose Government and Peace there should be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order and to establish it with justice and with judgment
That whosover believeth on him might not perish but have eternal life He doth not say indeed that Gods end is simply that every one might have eternal life without respect to their believing or whether they believe or not But yet he saith Verse 17. That the world through him might be saved Which is as much as that the world through what he hath done and doth for them might in looking to and believing on him would they so do be saved As also it 's said He gave his flesh for the life of the world John 6.51 That is that the world set free by his death sustained in his flesh from the first death so as out of it to as all shall 1 Cor. 15.21 22. be raised might also in feeding thereon live and not dye the second Death Nor doth he say that every one might believe on him and be saved and have eternal life but it is said that John bare witness to the light that all men through him might believe John 1.7 8. And the Apostle saith God wills all men to be saved and come to the knowledge or acknowledgment of the truth 1 Tim. 2.4 And another Apostle that God would not that any man should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 And God sent the Prophet Ezekiel to say to the People As I live I have no pleasure in the Death of the wicked but rather that he should turn and live which is all one as if he had said that he might believe and have eternal life for of such a life the Prophet doubtless is to be understood But he saith here that every one that believeth or whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have eternal life In which we may note these six Points or Observations implyed and signified Viz. 1. That men even the World as the next verses mention are in themselves generally in danger of or in the way to perishing 〈◊〉 there needed no indeavour for preventing it if no danger of it 2. That God hath no pleasure or likement that they should perish but rather that they should have eternal Life His using such a means or providing such a remedy to prevent the perishing and that men may obtain the life eternal clearly implies that in both its branches 3. That the Son of Man is the only person or Medium by whom we may be preserved from perishing and obtain eternal life And he is the Medium God hath appointed to those purposes This is clear in the whole scope of the Verse and in the verses following 4. That thereto it 's needful even for escaping perdition and obtaining eternal life and it's Gods good will that men believe on him the Son of Man so ordered of God for them 5. That it 's the gracious mind of God that every one that believeth on the Son of Man should not and accordingly whoso believeth on him shall not perish but have eternal life 6. That in order both to mens believing on him and also to their not perishing but having eternal Life in their so doing it 's Gods gracious mind and in it self needful and necessary that He the Son of Man be so lifted up as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness Of these in order and with convenient brevity or inlargement Obser 1. That men even the World are in themselves generaâ—ly in danger of or in the way to perishing This is evidently declared in the Scriptures of truth Yea all that God hath done to Christ in abasing and raising him and all that he doth through Christ in his words and works in his calls counsels repoofs corrections c. are declared to be done primarily and directly while it is a day of his grace and patience towards any to prevent or keep men from perishing which would have been and would be needless and groundless if they were not without it in danger of perishing Far be it from us to make God the God of Wisdom or only wise God to do or say so much in vain or needlesly or without ground or cause Nor is that perishing simply a bodily dying which God doth nothing to prevent that it should not at any time or at all come upon us but a perishing from Gods presence so as to be utterly lost miserable and undone Man was wholly and universally fallen into sin and misery even under the sentence of Death and Condemnation the first Death in the first Adam and therein we were in danger to have perished bâ—cause 1. As the people here in the Wilderness were bitten by the fiery Serpents and their bite was so poysonous venemous and perilous that it caused Death Num. 21.6 So there the old Serpent the Devil and Sathan inticing and tempting man to sin through Adams and Evah's listening to and acting according to his temptation he got power over them and all in them that is all men to bite them to Death by bringing them under the sentence of that righteous Law wherein God hath denounced death to them in case of their acting so as he inticed them For therein 2. All have sinned and are come short of the glory of God or are deprived of it Rom. 3.23 By one man sin entred into the World and Death by Sin and so Death passed over all men because all had sinned Rom. 5.12 The wages of Sin being Death Rom. 6.23 Not only a bodily Death but a Death of the whole person that sinned in being deprived of the favour and presence of God Psal 30.5 3. And from this no man could deliver himself nor be delivered by any other Creature the sentence of God and his Law standing against us and binding it upon us which no meer Creature could bear upon himself so as to redeem us from it nor had any power enough to raise us up from under it for who can stand under or prevail against God's anger Psal 98.7 8 9 11. 130.3 Nah. 1.6 If Christ had not dyed for us yea and risen again we had all perished in this Death and there had been no Resurrection out of it 1 Cor. 15.12 18 21 22. But we are redeemed from this first death by Jesus Christ having therefore given himself a Ransom for all and dyed for all and brought all to be under his gracious Lordship and dispose having so satisfied the justice and pacified the wrath of God for that offence as that whereas all had sinned and came short of the glory of God they are all justified by his grace as to that through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ And as by one offence the Judgment was unto all men to Condemnation So through the Righteousness of one the free gift is unto all men to justification of life 1 Tim. 2.6 Rom. 14.9 3.23 24. 5.18 So that no man shall perish in this first Death for ever but all shall be raised again there-from For as in Adam all dye so in Christ all shall be made
him and accept him heartily being discovered and Preached to us to which end also God added the Law for discovering of our sins that so we might look after accept and imbrace the Saviour whom he had fore-promised to us Gal. 3.19 22 24. Yea the very promise and declaration of that Saviour shews us to have been miserable Yea and yet if we neglect him to be in a most miserable condition for in that one died for all It 's most brightly testified that All were dead Yea and in that it 's such a one that died for us as Gods only Son it signifies and testifies yet more The greatness of our misery in our selves and of that death we were fallen into that put us into a need of such a ones dying for us 2 Cor. 5.14 But that will fall in in the third proposition or observation CHAP. X. The second Observation briefly spoken to and some Objections against it answered Obser 2 THe Second Observation is That God hath no pleasure in the death or perishing of men but that they rather should have eternal life And this is evident 1. By his own assertion under his oath that we might be the more confirmed in it as was noted above in Ezek. 33.11 Where he swears As he lives he hath no pleasure in the death of the Wicked but rather that he turn and live And sure if not in the wickeds in no mans death seeing it's the wicked that he every where threatens with Death As he saith to the wicked in the same Chapter Vers 8 Thou shalt surely die And The Soul that sinneth it shall die Chap. 18.3 20. And the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him ver 21. And yet he saith and sweareth that he hath no pleasure none neither secret nor revealed that the wicked should die 2. And his holy servants assert the same who have had his mind and grace in their hearts and declared it faithfully The Apostle Paul asserts That God wills all to be or that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2.4 And the Apostle Peter that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 And the Prophet Isaiah represents the Lord calling all the ends of the Earth to look to him and be saved Isa 45.22 3. The many addresses that God in and through Christ by his Word and Spirit makes unto sinners to call and bring them to Repentance that they might live and not die are so many evidences and convincing demonstrations of his love to Mankind and that he hath no desire or delight that they should perish but have everlasting life For we may not think such a wicked and impious thought of the Almighty who is love and charity truth and goodness it self as if he should pretend one thing and intend another That he signifies one thing to be his desire and will outwardly and desires and intends the contrary inwardly and so dissembles with his lips seeing he protests the contrary Viz. That the opening of his lips are right things That he speaks right things and wickedness is an abomination to his lips That his words are all right and that there is nothing froward or preverse in them Prov. 8.7 6 8. Isa 45.19 Far be it from us to think that he is like to the wicked whom his Soul abhorreth to cover hatred with deceit As is said Prov. 26.26 Now thinking holily of God and according to truth we shall perceive the desire he hath of mens welfare abundantly testified in his addresses to us diverse ways As 1. In his calls and counsells frequently given us As it s said Wisdom cries out she lifts up her voice in the streets crying how long ye simple turn at my reproofs c. Prov. 1.20.23 And doth not Wisdom cry and Understanding lift up her voice Can that be denied Is not that evident and that to men indefinitely yea and to the worst of them therefore it follows that she stands in the top of high places where and whence she may best be heard and cries To you O men I call and my voice is to the Sons of Men. O ye simple understand wisdom and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart Prov. 8.1 2 4 5. And so Turn ye turn ye why will ye die O house of Israel Ezek. 33.11 Yea this was one great end of our Saviours coming into the World in order to his saving the World Viz. To call sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 John 12.47 2. In his promising them great and glorious things upon their hearing and obeying his calls Turn ye at my reproofs behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words Prov. 1.23 So in Prov. 8.32 33. Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates waiting at the posts of my doors For whoso findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Aske and ye shall receive seek and ye shall find Mat. 7.7 8. And abundance the like 3. In his threatning sinners if they will take the course to perish and will not listen to his counsels As Because I have called and ye refused I stretched out my hands and no man regarded I also will laugh at your calamities I will mock when your fear cometh Prov. 1.24 26 c. O wicked man thou shalt surely die Ezek. 33.8 And many the like 4. In his reproving expostulating and reasoning the case with men that he might perswade them to their own good Why will ye die O house of Israel Ezek. 33.11 Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters and ye that have no money come buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Why will ye lay out money for that that is not bread and your labour for that that satisfieth not c. Isa 55.1 2 3. 5. In his chastening men also for their follies in neglecting and refusing their own mercy in order to their awakning to Repentance that they might live As he saith I smote them thus and thus yet they turned not to me saith the Lord. As implying that he smote them to that end they might turn Amos 4.6 7 11. All these things doth God twice and thrice with men that he might keep them from going down to the pit c. Job 33.29 6. In his exercising long patience and forbearance towards them with much bounty and goodness to the same end that is To lead them to repentance As is exprest Rom. 2.4.5 With 2 Pet. 3.9.15 Isa 30.18 Waiting that he may be gracious Yea 4. The next Observation is an evident confirmation of the truth of this Namely the gift of Gods only Son the Son of Man for if he gave his only begotten Son to be the Saviour of the World evident it is then that he loved the World and if he loved it he desired not that it should perish but rather be saved
through him and obtain eternal life But that is true as it is said in ver 16 17. And as we may see also in our speaking to that observation 1. Object But the Scripture saith that the World goeth to Destruction 1 Cor. 11 32. Or shall be condemned Answ True but that is because it goeth contrary to what God would have it it disobeys and rebells against his will and doth that which pleaseth him not Isa 66.3 4. John 3.19 20. 2. Object But God hated Esau before he was born therefore had pleasure in his Death and perishing Answ It is not said that God hated him before he was born but only that the Elder people Esau namely and his Posterity should serve the younger that is Jacob and his See Rom. 9.12 The other of hating Esau was said in Malachie's time Mal. 1.2 long after Esau was dead and was said of his Posterity when he laid their Mountains wast 3. Object But the Apostle adds this of Esau's being hated to that said before they were born as a demonstration of its truth and therefore that saying also refers to the same time Answ 1. That follows not for it confirms the truth of the former saying though understood of Esau nationally and in Malachie's time For Gods laying Esaus Mountains wast for his hatred against his Brother and therein testifying hatred against Esau in his Posterity when as he more gently chastised Jacob in his posterity was an evidence of Gods resolving to make good his purpose of making him a servant to Israel as nationally considered Gods destroying the Elder for not serving the younger was a demonstration that his place was to have been subject to him but if we should refer this hatred to the same time yet then 2. Less love is in Scripture called hatred and so Gods less love in respect of purpose to shew him grace and give him honour and priviledges might be called his hatred and stand well enough with a desire of his Salvation and that he might not perish As we are willed in such a sense to hate those whose destruction yet we may not desire yea whose good and happiness we are greatly to desire and endeavour as our Fathers Mothers Brethrens c. whom we are to hate that is love less then Christ so as to be willing to displease or forsake them for Christs sake Luk. 14.26 So may God be said to hate in such a sense also 4. Object But God raised up Pharoah to destroy him Answ 1. That is not so said but that he might shew his power in him and make his name to be declared in all the Earth And that he might do and yet desire his Salvation Yea as Origen in his Philocal also notes He might order those Judgments to him and harden him that he might bring them upon him to the bodily death and destruction to awaken him to Repentance and to prevent his perishing hereafter Sometimes God punishes men here to Death that they might not perish for ever 1 Cor. 11.31 32. But granting him to be perished Answ 2. I answer further that its true that there is a time when patience abused ends in vengeance and the day of Mercy may be followed with a day of Destruction And then he that in the day of grace would rather that the wicked turn and live will afford them no more space or grace to turn but will laugh at their calamity and mock when their fear comes Prov. 1.22 23 24 25 26 27. Yea and yet further Answ 3. Gods ways are oft-times unsearchable and his judgments past finding out when as yet his Word is right and all his works are done in truth Rom. 11.33 Psal 33.4 We are not therefore to doubt of or deny his words because we cannot always comprehend his ways 5. Object But he may make some Vessels to dishonour Answ 1. That he may do and yet in their humbling themselves under his Judgments shew them mercy as well as destroy those whom he was framing to be Vessels to honour as is signified in Jer. 13.11 14. With 18.3 4 6 11. He can make another Vessel of what is marred as easily as the Potter can turn again and make a new Vessel of what is broken upon the wheel And he may make any a Vessel to dishonour that will not obey his calls and counsels as well as make any a Vessel to honour that through his grace cleanseth himself from what defiles 2 Tim. 2.21 6. Object But the Lord made all things for himself and the wicked for the day of Wrath. Prov. 16.4 Therefore he made some to destroy them Ans 1. The words may be read And the Wicked are for the day of Wrath. Where by day of Wrath may be understood a time of Wrath against others the wicked then are fit for God to make use of as rods to scourge with For Wickedness proceeds from the wicked See Isa 10.5 6. 2. And the wicked must go to wrath notwithstanding Gods not desiring or delighting that they should so do in case they will be and persist to be wicked contrary to Gods desire I do not say that the wicked abiding wicked are not appointed to wrath but I say that God would not that men should be much less persist to be wicked but rather that they turn to him and be happy Let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts c. Isa 55.7 Vse This then commends the love of God and shews that he is Charity and that mens Destruction is not of him but of themselves And it affords Motive to all to seek and submit to him in order to their happiness yea it invites the wicked also to repentance as that that is most pleasing to him And that they may do so and meet with mercy it 's good for them to mind where God hath provided safety and acceptance for them which leads to the next Observation Namely CHAP. XI The third Observation briefly spoken to shewing Christ to be the only Medicine for our Misery and way to happiness appointed of God for us and what an inducement that consideration is to love God and accept of Christ Obser 3 THat God in order to the preventing mens perishing and bringing them to eternal life hath appointed the Son of Man his only Son to be mans Saviour Or that he is the only Medicine and Medium of Gods appointment in whom we may have Salvation and life everlasting This also is positively and abundantly asserted in the Scriptures for there we find 1. In the Scriptures of the Prophets that David spake of Gods raising up a King over men who should be and be Proclaimed to be Gods Son set upon his holy Hill for the good of Men so as that the Kings and Judges of the Earth should have cause of rejoycing in him and yet of trembling too because of his infinite power and terrible Judgments breaking in pieces as a Potters Vessel all that rebel against him but
it self and his excellencies as therein discovered for the believing in or on the Lord is an effect of the believing God and therefore that phrase or saying Abraham believed in the Lord. Gen. 15.6 Is by the Apostle rendred Abraham believed God Rom. 4.3 As implying that then God is heartily believed in his Testimony when he whom he testifies of is believed in as also that the believing in the Lord is an evidence and product of believing God 2. Here is mentioned also the several causes of this perswasion and so by consequent of that perception and believing on Christ that follows upon it As 1. The principal and first cause the Author and begetter of this faith belief or perswasion and of all that follows upon it is God himself testifying of Christ As it is said Ye are saved by grace through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 And this is the work of God both that which he requires of us and that which he works in us That ye believe on him whom he hath sent Joh. 6.29 Yea and our Saviour further testifies it to be the work wrought of God in saying No man can come to me except the Father that hath sent me draw him v. 44. And No man can come to me except it be given to him of my Father Ver. 65. Of him descendeth and cometh down every good and perfect giving And therefore both this perswasion and all therethrough effected But he works mediately and so here is 2. The subordinate and mediate cause of this perswasion and believing on Gods part which is the same that is also the object believed even the Word and Testimony of God the very clearness excellency and evidence of which as manifested of God to the heart perswades the heart to embrace and credit it As by the light of the sun a man sees the sun so the goodness and truth of Gods Testimony is seen by its own brightness and that draws in the heart to receive it By his word God wrought at first in making the world and by his word he works in making new creatures And that this is that by which he works in the heart and perswades it to believe on Christ our Saviour himself testifieth in saying John 6.45 They shall all be taught of God every one therefore that hears and learns of the Father comes to me Thence also his word the Testimony he beareth of Christ the Gospel is called the word of faith Rom. 10.8 But yet this produceth not this believing without some act of man which is and may be called 3. The subordinate cause or means on mans part that without which this believing is not effected and that is expressed to be a serious listening to that word Whence that in Isa 55.3 Hear and your souls shall live And in Rom. 10.17 Faith is of hearing and hearing is of the word of God They that stop their ear lest they should hear deprive themselves of the efficacy of God and his word even of the Spirit of God breathing and working in the word and are justly left of God to their perverseness and unbelief Matth. 13 14 15. I add the word serious to signifie that it is not a careless formal hearing but a diligent attentive hearing Such as our Saviour signifies in that double expression Every one that heareth and learneth so heareth as also to learn of the Father comes to me Such a hearing as includes that which Moses called on the people to do when he said Set your hearts to all these words Deut. 32.46 Or as that in Heb. 2.1 A giving earnest heed to the things spoken in the Gospel And this leads to the next viz. 3. The proper subject of this perswasion belief and so also of the perception and all that follows upon it and that is the heart as it is said With the heart man believes to righteousness Rom. 10.10 And indeed when men set their hearts to attend to Gods words and to consider them God will perswade their hearts and the heart perswaded and believing is there-through both framed to do righteousness in believing on Christ and also is accepted and justified of God therein and the man accounted of God righteous And in both these senses the words may be understood that with the heart man believes unto righteousness Many there are that profess and say they believe and are perswaded of the truth of Gods word and yet they are far from believing on Christ as their lives make manifest in many of them because they believe not with the heart their hearts are not set to or ingaged in the matter They may learn so much of the form of Knowledge in subserviency to some other designs as of getting a livelihood honour and respect with men ease from troubles of mind c. as that they may draw nigh with their mouths and honour him with their lips and yet their hearts be removed far from him going after their covetousness or what they mainly design Isa 29.13 Ezek. 33.31 And these attain not to righteousness They neither render to God and Christ that which is right just and meet viz. that honour fear faith trust and affection that he is worthy of Nor are they therefore justified and accepted of God as righteous persons But when men so receive Gods Testimony as to believe on Christ their minds wills and affections are all ingaged therein and through the presence and operation of the Spirit of God which is always ready to help and save and to that purpose to effect what he requires and is needful to their Salvation in them that attend to him and as he is preventing them by his grace yield up themselves to him they are strengthened and framed to all the acts and exercises both conducing to and contained in this believing on Christ the Son of Man Which are also in this description expressed both 4. The acts productive of and the acts contained in the believing on Christ 1. The acts productive of it are 1. An heart-perswasion or belief of the truth of God or of the word that he speaks and testifies concerning Christ as of him we have largely shewed that he testifieth This is properly the believing God and the believing Christ and the believing his Prophets and Servants in their testimony as speaking forth the word of God and of Christ and they that so do are in the way to prosper 2 Chron. 20.20 This is that by which the faith or belief of the Patriarchs is expressed Heb. 11.13 They see the promises afar off and were perswaded of them And they whose hearts are perswaded of God to believe his testimony as God will perswade Japheth or the perswasible as some render Gen. 9.27 those that meekly hear and attend Psal 25.8 James 1.18 19 21. in them also is certainly effected 2. A heart-perception of the Excellencies of Christ Eor as God in his Doctrine beareth witness to his Son the Son
of Man so there is nothing to be said of Christ because nothing in him but what is excellent for in him all fulness dwells and he is fairer then the children of men the chiefest or he that carries the banner among ten thousand The most powerful wise just holy merciful and gracious one And the entrance of Gods word concerning him gives light discovers the excellencies in him the Forgiveness of sins Redemption Spirit and Spiritual Blessings the Grace and Glory in him and it gives understanding to the simple It gives sight to discern the light and what is discovered in and by it It opens the eyes of the blind and makes wise the simple Psal 19.7 8 9. 119.130 And so the Soul perceives the excellencies of Christ That he is the excellent and precious one Beautiful and glorious excellent and comely Isa 4.2 however he appears to others whose eyes are not opened but they are yet spiritually blâ—â—d or are blinded of Sathan for their not believing 2 Cor. 4.4 Yet the enlightened Soul sees him worthy to be adhered to above all other things and persons worthy above all to be loved and to be believed on Thus the Apostles whose eyes were blessed because they see saw in him as the glory of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and of truth And therefore pronounced of him Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God and whither should we go thou hast the words of eternal life c. John 1.14 6.68 69. Matth. 16.16 Now from this perswasion of the truth of Gods Testimony I say and this perception of his Excellencies discovered therein flow 2. The acts contained in the believing on Christ wherein the believing on him properly stands and is exercised which the Scripture variously expresseth To take in all which I say 1. It 's a hearty betaking of the Soul or of a mans self to Christ In which expression I include and intend what our Saviour or the Evangelists expresses in two used by them viz. 1. The receiving Christ which hath respect or reference to his being given of God to us and coming in his name and tendring himself to us to be our Saviour Helper Healer and in order thereto our Prophet Master or Teacher our King Commander Protector and Defender our precious Sacrifice and perfect High Priest yea our Lord and our God Now he that betakes himself to him receives him with all acceptation as such a one as the great gift of God and of himself unto and for all those exercises of his authority over us and grace toward us unto which he is given and which he tenders And this is interpreted in the Scripture it self to be believing on him or on his name John 1.12 He came to his own and his own received him not but to as many as received him he gave power to become the sons of God even to them that believed on his name This phrase also our Saviour uses to signifie the believing on one John 5.43 44. And so he that believes on him receiving him as the Prophet and Teacher sent of God receives also his sayings instructions reproofs counsels c. and receiving him as the Lord and King receives his commands yea receiving him as the great High Priest receives him so as to come to God by his Sacrifice yea receiving him as God receives his sayings and commands as the most sovereign and absolute sayings and commands of God To which also tends 2. The coming to him This also is included in believing on him and so in the betaking a mans self to him yea so as to go from all other to him For receiving him as such a one the Soul comes to him or betakes it self to him from all others that may stand in competition with him to be taught instructed counselled commanded and so to be helped healed protected and saved by him and to obtain blessing from God by his Sacrifice and Mediation And this phrase also is often used to express and signifie the believing on him As when it 's said Ye will not come to me that ye might have life John 5.40 He that cometh to me shall not hunger John 6.35 If any man thirst let him come to me and drink which in the next verse is He that believeth on me John 7.37 38. and many beside Now this coming is 1. First and principally of the heart and inward man liking prizing loving and looking to him for all grace and blessing and such is the believing heart a heart drawing nigh or cleaving to him with purpose or resolution Heb. 10.22 Acts 11.24 As the unbelieving heart is called an evil heart withdrawing or departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 10.39 An heart removed far from the Lord Isa 29.13 or departing from him Jer. 17.5 8. 2. Secondarily as the way to and an effect of the former it contains and leads to a coming to him in his Ordinances and the appointments of God as to the Assemblies and Societies of Gods people where he is spiritually present and exercising his power and dispensing his grace and blessing in a bodily coming thereto Matth. 18.20 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 1.13 Heb. 10.24 25. Psal 133. II. It 's a yielding up a mans self to him which as it is also included in the receiving Christ the admitting or entertaining him in his Doctrine counsels reproofs commands and so in the exercise of his Priestly power with God and Princely Authority over us and all things so it also hath in it that resigning up a mans self to his gracious guidance and government which is required of us and that obeying him which is to be exercised by us as is implied in that saying Heb. 5.8 9. That being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him which is put there for that which here and in other places is believing on him Obedience to him in yielding to his counsels and commands and so in being ruled and governed by him being a necessary and indispensible fruit or exercise of the faith or believing on him to which the promises are made exercised also and practised by the antient and approved believers recorded in the Scripture whose faith we are to follow as is to be seen in Heb. 11.7 8 17. Whence the unbelievers are called the children of disobedience and judgment threatned to them as such Eph. 5.6 Col. 3.6 2 Thess 1.7 8 9. This expression of yielding a mans self to the Lord we have in 2 Chron. 30.8 Yield your selves or as the Margent hath it Give your hands to the Lord who is stretching out his hand to us to succour and supply us to pull us out of the snares of sin and Sathan and to bring or lead us into his Sanctuary c. III. It 's an attendance to him also called in Scripture sometimes a looking to him as seeking and expecting all grace and blessing from him Isa 45.22 Psal 34.5 and a waiting
Pharaohs Court as the Son of Pharaohs daughter yet through faith believing on the Son of Man he was not snared so as to perish from the way thereby but refusing to be called the Son of Pharaohs daughter chose rather to suffer adversity with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproches of Christ greater riches then all the treasures of Egypt for he had respect to the recompence of reward Heb. 11.24 25 26. 5. In case of Gods giving honour power and authority to men they are in a danger to and often do perish from the way either neglecting and sleighting and so missing it or if they were somewhat in it before they wander out of it not believing in the Son of Man to steer them evenly and uprightly in it as is to be seen in many Kings and Princes that are or have been corrupted by power and greatness Instances we have in Saul and Vzziah Solomon and other Kings of Judah and Israel but now if any such believe on the Son of Man and in God through him he will preserve them from perishing from the way as may be seen in David Asa Jehosaphat Hezekiah and Josiah though they all had their stumbles and falls in the way and this is that that is implyed in the second Psalme when he saith Be wise now therefore O ye Kings understand or be instructed ye that Judge the Earth Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce before him with trembling Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish out â—f the way if his wrath be kindled but a little Kiss that is imbrace honour submit to believe on the Son even him that is set upon Gods holy hill of Sion to whom God said Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Gods Son this Son of Man the Lord Jesus But then in adding Blessed are all they that trust in him He implies that they who do so in an exercise of faith in or believing on him they shall be happy in this that they shall be preserved from such perishing out of the way as befalls others that do not kiss or believe on him I may also add 6. In case of Gods honouring and lifting up men with great spiritual gifts and favours as knowledg utterance experience and such like priviledges The heart not exercising faith in the Son of Man and living upon him as nothing in and of itself notwithstanding them and as needing always to be found in him upheld and supplied by and presented in him is in danger to perish out of the way As is implied in that counsel and warning of the Apostles to the Gentiles Rom. 11.20 21. Thou standest by faith be not high-minded but fear for if God spared not the natural branches take heed lest he also spare not thee And as was exemplified in Jerusalem Ezek. 16.16 17 18. That trusting in her own beauty and excellency received from Christ her husband and not living upon and trusting only to and in him plai'd the harlot and perished from the way as is to be seen in the following verses there and in Jer. 2.5 6 7 31. Whereas the living by the faith of the Son of God and exercising it by believing on him preserves and saves there-from as the Apostle Paul and all that in all ages lived by faith in their injoyments of Gods gifts favours and priviledges were Gal. 2.20 Heb. 10.38 7. In case of difficulties and seeming hardness in the words or works of God or Christ so as we cannot find them out or comprehend them by our understanding from want of believing on the Son of Man many perish from the way of truth and righteousness So we find that Israel fell in temptations and provocations not knowing Gods way erring in their hearts through unbelief of his words not mixed with faith in them Psal 95.10 Heb. 3.15 16 18. with 4.2 When Caleb and Joshua that believed followed God with a full heart and were not offended at any of his ways Asaph had like that way to have slipt but that going into the Sanctuary of God through believing what he there met with he was recovered Psal 73. Jeremiah also though he would reason with God of his judgments yet holding fast faith and believing that God was righteous in all his ways was not in danger of miscarrying Jer. 12.1 Yea in a word Great peace have they that love Gods Law and nothing shall offend them either in Gods words or works for they believe that his word is right and all his works are done in truth Psal 119.165 with 33.4 That God is a Rock his work perfect and all his ways judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32.4 But a most eminent instance of this we have in Christs Disciples Joh. 6. where at a hard saying of his about eating his Flesh and drinking his Blood many of his Disciples were so offended that they perished from the way turning back from and no more walking with Christ and that because they believed not hung not upon him as the Christ tho Son of God trusted not to his leading beyond what they could see and comprehend with their own understandings as one they were perswaded of that he would not deceive or mislead them Whereas Peter the other Apostles being asked If that offended them also and if they would go away too replied Whither shall we go Thou hast the words of eternal Life and we know and are sure that thou art the Christ the Son of the living God and would not depart from him Joh. 6.60 61 64 67 68 69. Abraham also believing according to what was said and giving glory to God staggered not through unbelief either at the strangness or greatness of what was promised or at the unlikeliness of its being performed and so turned not out of the way however he may be said to have tripped in it by listening to Sarahs advice Gen. 16. Rom. 4.16 17 18. Whereas Israel in the Wilderness as is noted afore not believing for the words sake nor for Gods sake upon the account of his power and faithfulness but judging by sight and appearance and accordingly believing or distrusting turned aside and perished from the way many of them And to say no more in case of temptations generally men not believing on Christ the Son of Man and so on God are in danger to perish out of the way being overcome of their lusts and of Sathan And so all the diverse ways of the people of Israel falling into sin and perishing from the way as by lusting after evil things by Idolatry by murmuring against Christ by tempting Christ and by fornication mentioned 1 Cor. 10. are resolved generally into their unbelief as the grand root and cause of them Heb. 3.19 Jude 5. When as they who hold fast faith in Christ and depend on him continually are thereby preserved from every evil way As it is
and the Salvation of his Soul And if he perish as to any other hope and design which is carnal which as a man yet subject to infirmity and in many things offending he may as Abraham did in his hope and design of bringing about Gods promise by his going in unto Hagar and the birth and life of Ishmael Gen. 16 such perishings of such hopes and designes though causing some grief shall not hurt them It may be said of such as it is of the hay and stubble built upon the good foundation which shall be burnt and the builder of it suffer loss but himself shall be saved so as by fire 1 Cor. 3.12 15. The believer himself as to his great hope and design shall not perish nor shall he his Soul perish as they that draw back but his believing is to the Salvation of that both in his Death wherein he hath hope that will not make him ashamed or fail him Prov. 14.32 Rom. 5.5.6 And in the Judgment when he shall be adjudged to and enter into everlasting life Mat. 25.35 46. Qu. 2. As to the Second Querâ— How the believer shall be saved from this perishing either from the way or in the end in his Death or in the Judgment We may say 1. He shall be saved from perishing from the way by Christ 1. By his giving in light and truth faithfully to direct him and shew him the way that he should go in As it is said The meek will he guide in judgment the meek will he teach his way And what man is he that fears the Lord him shall he teach the way that he shall chuse his Soul shall dwell at ease or lodge in goodness shall not fall into snares and mischiefs Psal 25.8 12 13 14. And in beholding him who is Gods Servant upon whom he hath put his Spirit to bring forth Judgment He that is Christ will not fail to teach him and to bring forth Judgment into truth or victory Isa 42.1 3 4. Christ being come a Light into the world that whosoever believeth on him should not abide in darkness but see the light of Life John 8.12 And his word being believed and abid in as it is in believing on the Son of man keeps from sinning against him Psal 119.11 Yea it cleanseth their way and makes it more perfect ver 9. And so gives a continuance in the Father and in the Son both in dependance on them and in their favour and protection from what might harm them whether it be the World or any Antichristian principles or Doctrine 1 John 2.24 And that because Christ also therein and there-with 2. Gives in his holy Spirit to work in men both a right discerning of his truth and love and affection to it and so conformity to him in and by it his Doctrine being a ministration of Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 Yea his words are Spirit and Life John 6.63 And he hath promised that they that believe on him as the Scripture hath said to them he will give so as they shall receive his holy Spirit Joh. 7.37 38 39. Act. 5.32 We have not now his blessed Body of Flesh to see and converse with sensibly or to shew and testifie our love to as his Disciples and Mary had but instead thereof he hath left us his words and therein his mind and Commandment and we may shew love to him therein though we cannot anoint his head kiss his feet take his body in our armes which his enemies might do and one that pretended love to him in some such actions betrayed him yet we have that in which we may testifie love even his word we may attend to him in that hear him and hugg him too as it were therein take that and lay it up in our hearts keep it in our breasts and diligently observe and follow it And he that hath his Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth him and he that loveth him shall be loved both of the Fathe and of him and he will manifest his own self to him praying the Father for them and sending his holy Spirit to lead and guide them into all truth and abide with them for ever John 14.15 16 17 21. And he will so glorifie Christ to the Soul and shew it things to come as to make afflictions and persecutions light and bearable to it and give it peace and comfort in them and carry them above and keep them from being harmed by the prosperity and allurements of this World or by any baits or temptations It being the spirit of wisdom will make wise and fill with such discretion and understanding as will preserve from the way of the evil Man and of the strange woman and so from every false way as was noted before Prov. 1.23 2.10 11 12 15 16. Psal 119.104 17.4 And the Soul that trusts to and follows its conduct shall not miscarry To these ends also 3. He preserves them by mediating with God his Father from them that the weaknesses and infirmities and through infirmity neglects and wanderings from him being seen confessed and turned from might not be imputed to hinder or with-hold his grace and Spirit from being given forth to lead instrust reprove reduce comfort and work the works of God in them till it perfect what concerns them Heb. 7 25. And there-through he saves them to the utmost So he helped Peter Luk. 22.31 32. 4. By the exercise also of his glorious power and authority over all things he keeps off what might be too hard for us in our depending on him he will be faithful to us and will not fail nor be discouraged Isa 42.1 4. He will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able but with the temptation will give an issue that we may escape 1 Cor. 10.11 12. Surely the wrath of man shall praise him and the remainder thereof he can and will restrain Psal 76.11 Yea and 5. By ordering merciful and faithful corrections and Chastisements to us to break us off from our purposes and hide pride from us to purge away our sins purifie and make us White and so to be partakers of his holiness that we might be kept from going down to the Pit and our life might see the light and that we being made holy might see the Lord. Job 33.16 17 29. Dan. 11.35 Heb. 12.10 11. Thus he delivers the believer on him from every evil way and preserves him to his heavenly Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.18 And then 2. He preserves him from perishing in the end 1. By receiving his Spirit when it departs hence washing it in his precious Blood and presenting it pure and glorious to himself Eph 5.25 26. Psal 49.15 Acts 7.59 Rev. 6.10 11. 2. By redeeming him from the power of the Grave raising him up from death and redeeming the body from all corruption and mortality Psal 49.15 Rom. 8.23 2 Cor. 4.15 3. By his adjudging him being raised to a better condition fully blotting out
saith is of hearing and hearing is of the word of God not of every hearing nor of every word but of hearing the word of God From which word hearing or the hearing Ear also is effected and proceeds Rom. 10.17 For no man can come unto Christ this Son of Man unless it be given to him of God unless he draws him and he draws by his teaching men the knowledge of him whence it is said every one that heareth and learneth of the Father comes unto him Joh. 6.44 45 65. It is of his own good will that he begets men through the word of truth to be of a contemptible vile worthless creature as man hath made himself by his sin a kind of first-fruits of his creatures a more noble and prime creature to him a new creature a first-fruits of his future new creation therefore it behooves men every one to be swift to hear slow to speak slow to wrath slow to murmur and be angry at the word of truth and the instructions reproofs and counsels of it because clashing with the wisdom and will of the flesh the principles thoughts and practices of the world and of the wise men thereof but with meekness to receive the ingraffed word the word as God puts and ingraffs it into the heart which is able to save the Soul being not only hearers of the word but doers of it as it is working and so God in and with it to will and to do of good pleasure Jam. 1.18 19 21. Phil. 2.12 13. turning at Gods reproofs therein given from whatsoever in conceit apprehension or opinion we hold or imagine that clashes with the truth discovered in the word and its instructions that we may so conceive judge and believe as that declares and informs us of all things and from whatsoever in affection desire purpose or practice we naturally or through evil principles or customs affect desire purpose or practice disagreeing with and reproved by the light and instruction of that blessed word that so we may obey its counsel and instruction and affect desire purpose and practice what it commends and leads us to seeking after that and so the wisdom of God will pour out his spirit to us and make known his words Prov. 1.22 23. and so hearing the Soul shall live Isa 55.3 there through attaining to know the name of the Lord the Son of Man we shall be strengthened framed and have the will set to trust in him Psal 9.10 in meditating in the law and doctrine of the Lord and exercising our selves in it day and night the heart will be fixed to trust in the Lord and to make him its hope Yea and therein to be rooted grounded and fixed like a Tree planted by the water side so as to abide in the blasts of temptations and be fruitful in every good work increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all might according to his glorious power to all patience and long suffering with joyfulness Psal 1.1 2 3. Jer. 17.7 8. Col. 1.10 11. for the Gospel of Christ the preaching of the cross is the power of God to salvation even from unbelief and all the power of darkness to every one that believes it Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. 1.22 23. So as that in taking diligent heed thereto and yeilding up our selves to the power that worketh therein we shall be helped and framed to believe on the Son of God it s through his name that men receive power to believe on him Acts 10.43 and therefore it behooves all men as they would avoid the perishing from Gods way and the everlasting misery and destruction at the end and as they would obtain the everlasting life and happiness propounded and promised to give serious and diligent heed and obedience thereto who would willingly incur pain grief and affliction here or to perish by hunger cold prison gallows or the like and yet these things are infinitely short of the evil of perishing from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power for ever Yea who that is travelling to some remote place where if he go right on to it he shall find great riches honours or gain would be willing or through carefulness expose himself to loose and be lost out of the way and to wander in a Wilderness among bryers and thorns boggs and lakes yea among wild and savage creatures as serpents lyons tygers c. when in a diligent careful inquiry after and attendance to some faithful direction and guide he might go right and safe and attain the good proposed and miss that perishing by hunger cold the teeth of the wild beasts that he is otherwise in danger off and yet that perishing from the way and danger of finally perishing by the ways or means forementioned are little evils in comparison of perishing from Gods way and by what that perishing exposes to who again that hath proffer and opportunity of being made rich honourable living pleasantly and delightfully for a long time so long suppose as was the life of Methuselah would willingly refuse and loose such enjoyments and incur answerable miseries and yet this eternal life which God hath promised to give to them that believe on and follow after the Son of Man is infinitely more excellent then all the honours riches pleasures and most excellent enjoyments of this world though they might be enjoyed safely not only so long as the life of Methusalah but also so long as from the beginning of this world to the end thereof without interruption Oh therefore how concerns it all men to come and believe on the Son of Man and to that purpose to listen to and receive the teachings of God concerning him that such miseries may be missed and such mercies enjoyed that they may not perish in the way and from the end but may have everlasting life Vse 2. How doth this then reprove the vanity folly pride and wickedness of the world which rejects and puts from them and matter not to believe on this most excellent one whom God to such glorious ends hath raised up for us If it be folly and madness in men who may in hearing their Fathers and freinds good instructions in matters of this world live well and comfortably have and get yet more of the good things of this world to maintain them and preserve them from want and beggery and make them live in credit and repute to turn their backs upon such good counsels and thereby willingly and wilfully through their pride folly slothfulness love of bad company or the like bring themselves into debt poverty prisons and nothing but a Series of miseries How much more is it folly and madness for the world or any of us to neglect Gods word and Gods Son and that great Salvation wrought and preached and brought to us by so great and glorious a hand as that of this Son of Man being also the Son of God the mighty God and our Saviour and thereby to
over us and for us his judgments also unsearchable and full of strength youth and beauty Psal 4.6 and 92.5 6. Rom. 11.33 His eyes or inspections like Doves eyes washed with milk undefiled pure and clean chast and single and fitly set nothing wrong or amiss in them he seasonably beholds our needs and wants and discovers either love or anger as is meet for us His cheeks the appearance of his face as beds of spices sweet flowers both lovely to the view and grateful to the tast and smell sweet fragrant precious refreshing the inward senses His lips like Lillies dropping sweet smelling myrrh his words pure and clean precious refreshing the heart and physical and full of purging healing virtue to the Soul and Conscience His Hands as Gold-rings set with the Beryll his powerful acts and works precious rich heavenly and his power without beginning or end His Belly as bright Ivory overlaid with sapphires his inward hearty affections and bowelly compassions manifest pure clean and chast and most preciously rich and inriching as opened and disclosed in the Holy Books or Scriptures of truth His Leggs as Pillars of Marble his goings strong and steddy set upon Sockets of fine gold having their Basis or Foundation in his Deity or also in his precious sufferings wherein he was as Gold tried in the Fire for us and all suitable to his Word and Wisdom more precious then the finest Gold Psal 19.10 and 119.72.127 Prov. 3.14 and 8.10 18 19. His 〈◊〉 like Liâ—â—â—â—â— excellent as the Cedars his stature and the growth of his glory and glorious Kingdom such as is beautiful and fragrant strong durable and such as over-passeth all others and his love and favour marveilous great strong and refreshing His mouth most sweet his gracious and heavenly Doctrin sweeter then the honey and the honey comb Psal 19.10 and 119.72 Yea he is altogether lovely or love and desires worthy to be admired and beloved of us Cant. 5.10 16. and though he hath not always one and the same appearance attributed to him yet it s always excellent and glorious In Dan. 10.6 his Body appeared like the Beryll of a sky-colour to signify his heavenliness and the heavenliness into which he brings his Church his face as the appearance of lightning terrible to his enemies and exceeding bright pure and glorious in its sudden transient manifestations His Eyes as Lamps of Fire his inspections such as discover things in the dark and burn up things combustible and such as are saving to his People Isa 62.1 Yea his eyes behold his eye-lids try the Children of men Psal 11.5 His armes wherewith he works and his feet wherewith he walks like in colour to polished brass strong bright glorious and pure for his work is perfect and all his ways are judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32.4 Or as Nebuchadnezar expressed it His works are truth and his ways judgment and such as walk in pride he is able to abase Dan. 4.37 The voice of his words like the voice of a multitude Such firmness in his sayings and testimonies that are as much or more to be believed then what is testified by a multitude of witnesses In Rev. 1.14 it s a little otherwise His head white like wooll white as snow to shew him to be from of old from everlasting Mic. 5.2 The everlasting Father Isa 9.6 and his Authority and Government to be perfectly pure and immixed with any thing of evil His eyes as flames of fire his views such as perfectly discerns what 's in the dark and makes it evident burning up the evil His feet like unto fine brass like as if they burned in a Furnace which may signify beside what we noted on them in Daniel the fiery trials that he orders in his ways and providences for purifying his members in their goings and yet the durableness of his ways and meanest and greatliest suffering members that are not thereby consumed but consume what opposeth his walkings His voice as the sound of many waters which signifies a multitude of witnesses as before In his right hand seven Stars to signify his holding and upholding by his power and favour his shining Ministers and disposing them as he pleaseth And out of his mouth went a sharp Sword his quick and piercing Word with its Instructions Reproofs and Judgments And his countenance as the Sun when it shineth in its strength his favour affording most excellent and full light of understanding warmth and chearing of heart and effecting fruitfulness in all good things when it shines forth such is He as he is represented in the similitude of a man yea as He took a body of flesh for us so He therein and therethrough is the body or substance of all things that typed him out Col. 2.16 But let us view him also in the Perfections of 2. Man's inside as made of God God breathed into Man the breath of life and Man became a living Soul Life is common to Man with other Creatures and is a great excellency of the Creatures indued with it making them therein to excel the inanimate Christ not only hath life in himself but is the life the life of the Soul the Resurrection and the Life Joh. 11.25 The Way the Truth and the Life Joh. 14.6 Yea all life he gives to the Soul as well as He hath it in himself Life of growth for as he himself grew in wisdom stature and favour both with God and man so he causeth the Soul to grow in grace as He in the knowledg of himself comes more and more into it The Thessalonians being in God and Christ their faith and love grew exceedingly 2 Thes 1.1 3. 2 Pet. 3.18 Life of sense and motion He hath that perfectly for he beholdeth all things and nothing is hid from his sight but all things are opened and naked before him Heb. 4.12 13. Though yet through charity none so blind as he not to see and observe against us our iniquities Isa 42.19 20. Psal 130.3 4. He heareth all things for he that planted the ear shall not he hear Psal 94.9 Though through charity he is oft as one deaf to what may make against men so as not to testify his hearing in punishing them Isa 42.19 20. But he hears the cry of the poor and helpless yea he hears from heaven Psal 102.20 compared with ver 25 26. and Heb. 1.10 11. He smells the savour of his Spouses Ointments above all Spices and her Garments as the smell of Lebanon Cant. 4.10 11. He tasts the sweetness of her love more then Wine and eats his honey-comb with his honey and drinks his Wine with his milk and findes sweetness and refreshing therein Cant. 4.10 and 5.1 Though he will not smell in the solemn Assemblies of evil doers tast their sacrifices nor regard their Songs or the melody of their Viols Amos 5.21 22 23. He feels also our infirmities and can be touched with his
man and Saviour of the World that hath dyed for all men and through his Death hath the only name in which there is salvation and that He is the only Justifier of men that will convince them of a need of going out of themselves and all their own works and righteousness unto Christ to believe on him 2 Cor. 5.14 Gal. 2.15 16. Those who were not sinners of the Gentiles but Jews and had great fleshly priviledges which they looked upon as advantage to them yet hereby were convinced of their righteousness that it would not profit them even by the Spirit witnessing to and glorifying Jesus in and by the Ministry of his Servants Phil. 3.4 7 8. as it is said He the Holy Ghost namely shall convince the World of righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more Joh. 16.10 And that 's our way through the Spirit to convince such too And so Instance 4. Would we convince men of righteousness in Christ for them the righteousness of God freely prepared for and given to them of God that so they may come to believe on him This is the way glorify Christ and Preach his acceptable Sacrifice which He hath offered for us that He the Son of God the Word by whom all things were made hath given himself the ransome for all the Propitiation for the sins of the whole World and that He hath offered up so acceptable a Sacrifice to God that in the vertues of it He is ascended up to God and is entertained of him so as He comes down no more to be abased or to suffer for us In the sight of this that men are not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Jesus which implies the vertues of his Death and Sacrifice and the acceptableness thereof for taking away sin and obtaining favour for the approachers to God thereby the Apostles and others were moved to let go their trusting in their own righteousness according to Law and to believe in Christ that they might be justified Gal. 2.16 And so in the lifting up of the Son of man all that have come in to believe on him have been prevailed with thereto it being as well through his Name that any do believe on him as that they that do believe on him do and shall receive there-through remission of sins Act. 10.43 1 Cor. 1.21 Instance 5. Would we convince the World of Judgment that their judgment is naturally false and wrong and that God will judge the World in righteousness and give to every man according to his works The way is to lift up the Son of man and shew forth the truth as it is in him for that light makes manifest whatsoever is reproved and lays open the foundation of the Eternal Judgment and discovers the truth certainty and impartiality thereof Upon this ground and in so lifting up the Son of man Paul preached to the Athenians the reproof of their former judgment and the certainty of the Judgment to come Act. 17.30 31 32. And to the Corinthians He saith that their judgment concerning both Christ and all men besides so as no more to know them after the flesh sprung from their understanding and judging that Christ dyed for all as also from thence he grounds the judgment and the appearance of all before Christ's Tribunal 2 Cor. 5.10 14 15 16. with Rom. 14.9 10 11 12. Because Christ hath dyed for all and released all from under the first judgment and is there-through become Lord of all and all ought to live to Him and not to themselves Instance 6 Would we have men to Repent yea or exercise Faith The way to move them thereto is to lift up the Son of man So the Apostle Paul that saith He testified both to Jews and Greeks repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus tells us he did that in testifying the Gospel of the Grace of God Acts 20.21 24. And that he fulfilled his Commission given him of Christ To open the eyes of the blind and turn them from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan unto God in shewing to them at Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the Coasts of Judea and to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and do good Works meet for Repentance All which he did in Witnessing both to small and great saying no other things but those which Moses and the Prophets did say should come to pass to wit that Christ should suffer and be the first that should rise from the Dead and should shew light to the People and to the Gentiles Acts 26 18.20.22 23. Or with these Arguments he moved them to that Repentance and Faith which he Preached and Urged Instance 7. Would we dehort from any sin This is our way to do it lift up the Son of man shew him to be Lord and Christ that to him we owe subjection and obedience and that he hath suffered for sins the Just for the unjust that he might bring us to God and therein hath given himself for us that he might redeem us there-from to himself So the Apostle disswades from Fornication 1 Cor. 6.14.18 19. and so we may disswade from Covetousness Fraud Envy Malice and every evil thing as is implied Rom. 6.1 2 3.9 10 11. Tit. 2.11 12 13 14. and 3.4 5. Yea it 's the usual way of the Apostles first laying down the Doctrine of Christ and therein lifting him up in the former part of their Epistles then in the latter part to dehort and disswade from all evil and provoke and stir up to all Virtue and Goodness And therefore also Instance 8. Would we perswade to Obedience and Virtue This is the powerful Argument to be used and the way wherein to do it Lift up the Son of man and shew how all is due from us to God upon account of the Grace in him and brought to us by him by which he Teacheth us that denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope c. Tit. 2.11 12 13. And so that 's here observable that we noted in the foregoing going particular concerning the manner of the Apostles in their Epistles as may be seen in the Epistles to the Romans Galatians Ephesians Hebrews c. Instance 9. Would we convince of Errour The way is to hold forth the Truth as it is in Jesus Lifting up and Glorifying the Son of man So the Apostle refutes those that denied the Resurrection of the Dead by minding them of the Gospel Preached to them and therein of the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3. And so he reproves the Errours of the false Apostles and the Galatians by minding them of the Lord Jesus his giving himself for our sins that he might deliver us from the present evil world and of the Grace in and of him Gal. 1 2 3 4 5