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
this was one of his great businesses in the World to teach the People the knowledge of God and of his Kingdom and of the way thereto So we find him Preaching and Teaching the Word of God in the Synagogues and in the Temple and in the Houses and Ships and wheresoever the people resorted to him taking all occasions thereto Mat. 4.17 23. 5.1 2. 13.1 3 4. Mar. 1.14 15 21 38 39. 2.2 Mat. 26.58 Luk. 21.37 38. Joh. 18.20 And he spake and taught them as one having authority even the authority of God his Father and not as the Scribes Mat. 7.29 Job 7.16 17. Therein both declaring to men the love and goodness of God to the World Joh. 3.16 17. And his special love and goodness to them that believe on him Joh. 16.27 28. And his perfect hatred of evil Mar. 9 42 43 44 48. And in a Word both the name of the Father Joh. 17.6 And his Word Instructions or Commands ver 7.8 With Chap. 12.49 50. And so what was and is his will concerning us that we might be saved and live Joh. 5.24 6.29 c. And all things whatsoever we need to know believe and practice 2. By his walking works and doings exhibiting God and his Name and nature to the eyes of Men as it were as well as to their ears for he was God manifested in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 So as God even the invisible God might be seen in him as in his proper and most perfect Image 2 Cor. 4.4 Col. 1.15 Thence it is said by our Saviour He that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me and he that seeth me seeth him that sent me Joh. 12.44.45 And when Philip said to him Lord shew us the Father and it sufficeth Jesus reproving and instructing him made this answer Hast thou been so long time with me Philip and hast thou not known me he that hath seen me hath seen the Father and how sayst thou shew us the Father Joh. 14.8 9. Signifying to us that the invisible God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ was so made manifest in him that in perceiving and beholding his power wisdom and goodness love holiness meekness patience wrath c. The same Attributes of God might be discerned and known and so it might in him be seen how able and wise and willing God is to help save and succour his poor Creatures to forgive their sins to heal their diseases to succour them in their needs instruct their ignorances comfort them in their diseases How loving and good he is to all and yet how he hates their sins and sinfulness And how especially good and loving to the truly virtuous such as are subject to and followers of him c. So that here God afforded to man a sight of himself and of his excellencies in the Son of Man and in his demeanours and carriages doings and sufferings that we might know him love him believe in him obey and follow him and be saved by him and satisfied in and with him How great a benefit was this to the World to have God so represented and made manifest to them and especially to such in it as closed with and followed him out of their false Principles and ways learning of and obeying him who saw his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father John 1.14 So as it might in him be verified what is said in Psal 68.25 They have seen thy goings O God the goings of my God my King That is Christ in holiness or in the holy Place or Sanctuary Again 3. By his walking as man towards God and Man He hath by his example not only shewed us what God is and how he walks toward and among men but also how men ought to walk and please God in their demeaners of themselves towards God and men for as he was man the Son of man walking in God he hath given us a perfect pattern and example of what God requires of and likes in us men As it is said He hath left us an example that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2.21 And as himself said I have given you an example or pattern that as I have done to you so ye should do John 13.15 And so he hath shewed us in himself how we should obey the call and command of God his Father to us How we should perfectly love and trust in God and commit our selves and our ways to him doing all things commanded by him without murmuring and without disputing How we should patiently and quietly submit our selves to him in all tryals temptations and sufferings that he orders to us perfectly casting our selves upon him therein and trusting to him for his support and seasonable deliverance And so therein he hath shewed us a perfect pattern of Humility and Patience And so for walking towards men he hath set us an example of perfect Charity seeking the good of all and doing hurt to or seeking or desiring the harm of none and yet how when we seek to do them good we should not have fellowship with them in their sins but in meekness reprove them and where need is use sharpness therein that is where men are guileful and Hypocritical proud and conceited and there-through set themselves against Gods glory and the good of others under pretence of Religion and Piety towards him And such were the Scribes Pharisees Lawyers and the like so smartly reproved by our Lord. Mat. 23. Luk. 11. 13.14 15. So Christ also hath set forth himself as an example of subjection to the Magistrates and of paying wrongfully and to our own damage what they demand of us rather then give offence by contending with them and striving against them therein Mat. 17.24 25 26 27. As also of patient putting up and suffering injuries from them or others 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. And so of all Righteousness and goodness and of all tender care of and love to such as are good or desire so to be and to that purpose yeild themselves willing and ready to learn that they may know and obey the truth John 15.9 10. 10.15 13.34 c. And he that saith he abides in him ought even so to walk as he hath walked John 2.6 And surely this in every branch of it was a very great grace or gracious condescention of God to us men that he in the person of the Word should be made Flesh and therein give us an evidence of himself his name nature and will concerning us both by his vocal Doctrine and Ministry and by his own demeanour and walking in the Flesh both shewing us the way of Gods walking towards man and the way how man ought to walk towards both God and Men. But again 2. In his being the Son of Man that is very man he hath given us the greater ground of boldness and confidence in our dependance on him and approach to God by him as the Mediator of
to us to lead us into his truth Joh. 16.7 14 16 17. Heb. 9.24 25 26. Act. 2.33 And so as the great Lord and King command deliverances honours and blessings to us we could not have him as an Object to look to to forgive us our sins to give us the holy spirit to support our spirits renew our natures guide us to death raise us up from death and give us the Kingdom if he were not impowered to do all these things and all things else for us our faith in him for all these things would be otherwise in vain But now being in all things before-mentioned lifted up made the Son of God in the nature of man delivered up to death for our sins as a ransom and attonement for us and therein supported and accepted and therefrom raised and revived exalted to Gods right hand and there glorified He is a compleat Object of faith to be believed on being every way able to help and save us One who in his death and Resurrection hath delivered us from perishing in the first death or judgment for the first offence and as exalted at Gods right hand able to save us also from the wrath to come and so from the second Death and so he will all that come to God by him through his exercise of his glorious Office of High Priest with God for us and of his Prophetical and Kingly Offices towards all men and especially those that believe and of his Lordly authority over all Creatures in Heaven Earth and Hell for our behoof and benefit and to give Eternal Life to all of us that believe on him being a person also both willing and faithful as his ready undertakings and sufferings of such things for us evince and as his glorious Offices to such purposes put upon him and received by him in a sense enjoyne or require of him I might add hereto that as all this exaltation and lifting up of the Son of Man was necessary to render him an Object to be believed on So was it also necessary for the discovering him to be such an Object which is necessary also to the begetting belief on him for God being true and one that could not lie could not nor would not have discovered that as an Object to be believed on that were not such his making peace was the ground as well as the matter of his preaching in preaching Peace Nor could there therefore have been any sending forth of the Spirit with such a discovery to inable and move to believe it His personal lifting up in those ways and particular being the foundation of all the rest nothing of the rest could have been without that but I only hint it and pass to the second Branch Branch 2. That his being so lifted up and exalted in those real Acts done to himself as is before mentioned was necessary for his saving us from perishing and for his giving us Eternal Life in believing on him and this is evidenced both in what is said before in the fifth Observation about the way of his saving us from perishing and our having Eternal Life and also in what is said on the former Branch And indeed this evinces it in general and as to all the particulars included therein that that being Gods grand design in giving him as the next Verses shew God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him mtght be saved yea and of his lifting him up as this Verse saith That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have Eternal Life it follows that either these things before mentioned were necessary to be ordered and done to him to those ends or else those ends might have been otherwise brought about and so they were ordered and done to him needlesly and in vain which would impose upon the infinite wisdom or goodness of God and imply that which neither may be conceived nor conceded or granted For if there had saith he been a Law and by consequence any other way that could have given life doubtless Righteousness should have been by it Gal. 3.21 But besides that all these things were necessary to be ordered and done to him for his saving us from perishing and giving us Eternal Life may be seen also by induction For his being taken into unity of person in the Divine nature that was necessary to his saving us from perishing in the first Death for otherwise his power and ability his worth and excellency would have been too small to have done and suffered what was needful for our Redemption therefrom and for Gods acceptance as sufficient thereunto It was the work of an Infinite and boundless strength such as the finiteness of a Creature or meer man could not reach unto to stand under and bear upon himself the weight of mans Sin and Death and by bearing to overcome them and to satisfie Gods justice for the sin and abolish the death required a Sacrifice of an infinite merit and worth no meer man had either strength or worth enough for such a thing not strength to endure and overcome such agonies and death nor worth to be taken for a sufficient ransom or price of Redemption for all men no nor for any one man for no man that is but a man can give to God a ransom for his Brother a price to God sufficient for him that he may not see death Psal 49.6 7 8. But the Lord Jehovah He that is God also will Redeem my Soul saith David from the hand or power of Hell or of the Grave for he will receive me Verse 15. Nor can any meer man or Creature be able either to raise up the body out of the first death and Grave or to deliver or preserve us from the second death that we should not perish in that for he that would preserve from that must have virtue in his Sacrifice to take away by obtaining for us and dispensing to us the pardon of our following sins committed by us in our own proper persons against the light and truth of God and prevail with God for Grace and Spirit to be given to us and give it to us too to inlighten inliven and raise from Spiritual death discover the evil of sin and the deceits of Sathan so as to enable the Soul to see and avoid them and obtain and give grace for repenting of any such sins and forgiveness of them thereupon and for renewing the Heart yea he must be able to deliver from the power of Sathan and his policy or else he cannot deliver from perishing either from the way to life or in the second death in the end as the issue of perishing from the way Much less can any meer Man or Creature be able to give to us or possess us of Eternal Life because to that it 's
Teachers for perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the Edifying the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and acknowledgment of the Son of God to a perfect man c. Ephes 4.7 8.11 12. And it was needful he should give such Gifts to men to the end that he might be Lifted up by men in the Exercise of them Yea and that they be faithful to men therein making it the great Business Work and end of all their exercise of their Gifts and so of all their Ministry and Conversation to Lift up and Magnifie the Son of Man to glorifie Jesus Christ our Lord by and from whom they have all their said Gifts and all their Mercies and Injoyments bestowed upon them Heb. 13.7 8. 2 Thes 1.12 Yea and of all that know and believe in him to confess him with their Mouth and magnifie him both in Word and Work calling in others to him And so it 's said The Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come Rev. 22.17 And this Witnessing to him and Lifting him up as the Son of God the Christ the Saviour of the World the Lord the Ransom of our Souls who hath given himself the Ransom or Price of Redemption for all the Testimony in due time the Reconciliation and Reconciler the Propitiatory or Mercy Seat through whom God doth cover the Sins of men through Faith in his Blood and the Propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole World The Peace-maker and Peace between God and man and between men and men The great Prophet and Apostle Light and Leader of men into the Truth true Knowledg Faith and Worship of Cod the great High Priest over the House of God the Mediator of God and man that makes Intercession for Transgressors and for all that come to God by him the great King of Saints and Nations the Procurer and Giver of Remission of sins and of the Holy Ghost and of all Spiritual Grace and Blessing the great God and our Saviour who hath the Fulness of God yea all the Fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him Bodily and hath the Government of all things committed to him so as he hath all Power and Authority over all things in Heaven and Earth and hath the dispose of all Mercies for this Life and that to come Spiritual and Corporal the only Way to the Father to be worshipped by us and from the Father to Convey all Grace and Blessing to us the Resurrection and the Life yea the All I say the lifting him up as such a one is exceeding useful and behoveful yea necessary for begetting in mens hearts an exceeding high apprehension of him so as to render him precious to them more precious then the fine Gold of Ophir or the Mountains of Prey and to lead them to account all things loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledg of him and so to come to and believe on him And though in all Ages nor in all Places there hath not been given forth a like Express and full Testimony of and to him as there is given in these Ages and these Places wherein we live having the Testimony of the Apostles and of the holy Spirit by them nor where we have that is there in every one the same fulness of understanding firmness of belief and clearness of declaration of what is said and contained therein Yet this in the fulness of it and all that is in it is very needful and behoveful for bringing men in to believe on him explicitly and firmly against and because of all the oppositions of the Devil and evil Spirits and of the reason and wisdom and stubbornness of the Flesh and carnal Heart and the course and principles of the world tending to keep men therefrom as to mens more distinct full and comfortable exercise of Faith in him Indeed as it is not of absolute necessity to Salvation and Eternal life that every one have the same fulness and comfortable exercise of believing so also neither is it of absolute necessity that they have every one the same clearness and fulness of understanding and perswasion of the commendations pertaining to him Yea as to Gods power to save men through him I cannot assert a necessity of a distinct knowledg of the Name and particular Acts of Christ at all for doubtless many who died before his Incarnation and had no distinct knowledg of his Person and personal Acts in the flesh were saved as well as many Infants and others since But yet generally needful it is that he be so far Lifted up and made known and there-through that the heart be so far perswaded of his Being Fulness Power Excellency Sufficiency as that the heart see him the only excellent and sufficient Object of Faith and Confidence the only powerful One to be looked to and hoped in by us or else he cannot be distinctly believed on to Salvation and Life everlasting Where there is no Vision the people perish but where there is so much as that people may see the Law and Doctrine of Christ or the Mind of God concerning them through him he that keeps the Law is happy Even that of the Law that concerning him or by and through him is made known Prov. 29.18 with Rom. 2.26 Acts 10.34 And where men have the clear knowledg of him to declare to others for their helpfulness in believing on him and they conceal it from men woe to them for so doing 1 Cor. 9.16 Br. 2. As the Exalting and Lifting up of Christ by way of Declaration of him as aforesaid is necessary for mens believing on him for Life and Salvation at the first and further then he is made known in his Being and Excellency no man can have any Faith in or belief on him So this is necessary also to the abiding and growth in him and recovery of the Back-sliders to Faith in him again that he be still and always Lifted up and Magnified in the Eyes of men even of those that have begun to believe or have formerly believed on him For if by any means the Lifting of him up and the Preaching and praises of him being with-held or neglected the Serpent foist in high thoughts of some other thing or things as better and fuller then he or as necessary besides him and the Grace in and by him for our Life and Salvation or for our Welfare and Happiness either here or hereafter so as the thoughts or mind be corrupted from the simplicity in him And he begin to appear or be looked upon as less Full Precious and Desirable the soul is in present danger to be withdrawn from him and be gone ceasing to believe and depend on him or to do so singly and rightly for the Salvation and Life that is in and by him which occasioned the Apostles godly jealousie of the Corinthians least by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve their minds should
or Turned away from but it is to be accepted willingly and discharged faithfully and diligently in Eye to and confidence in Gods Greatness and Goodness to uphold and bless in it and reward for it 2. But much more are they faulty who abuse the Gospel And so they do who 1. Corrupt or Pervert it as the Apostle speaks Gal. 1.7 Making it another thing then what it is in it self and from God like Wine mixed with Water Or Silver become dross Isa 1.22 Or Meat mixed with Poyson while the Name of God and the Son of man is neglected waved or laid by and Dreams and Fancies instead thereof Preached The Grace of God in its Freeness Fulness and Extent not held forth but a Mingle-mangle or Hotch-potch of Grace and Works Christ and Moses or some other Name or Doctrine in stead thereof declared such as puts men upon waiting for and expecting some Almighty and irresistable Operation and Force of Spirit to Convert and Assure them But in the mean time the Gospel of Christ which is the Power of God to Salvation to them that believe Waved and Rejected by them and Preached against even the Love of God to the World and so the Discovery of the Son of man and the Grace in him for sinners and for all men in which the Power and Spirit of God breaths and the Saving and Enlivening force is offered Men are taught to neglect that and the Power and Force working in it to look for another greater til by Stifling and Crucifying that they perish Like the Jews that rejected Jesus and the Grace discovered in and by him to look for another Messias of far more Pomp and Splendour then he Or as if some should have Taught the Wounded Israelites to have looked for some immediate Power beside the Serpent instead of looking to the Serpent through which God puts forth his Almighty Power for their Healing They who so do are to be avoided as poysoners of Souls in stead of good and skilful Physicians Or as the Corrupters of the Fountains and Springs of all true Piety and acceptable Devotion to God Tit. 3.3 4. Yea such as bring not this Doctrine of Christ we are not to receive to House or bid God-speed to for they are evil and deceitful Workers Messengers of Satan and Instruments or Authours rather of Perdition bringing in Heresies of Damnation Especially such as deny the Person and personal Works of Christ and turn them into Allegories their Doctrine is the Poyson of Dragons and the cruel Poyson of Asps quite contrary to the Doctrine of Christ Crucified the sincere Lifting up of the Son of man and therefore they that bid such God-speed or shew them any countenance and wish them success are therein partakers of their evil works Against these we may see what Woes are thundred in 2 Pet. 2. and Jude 4.19 And that For them and those after to be mentioned under this Head is reserved the blackness of Darkness for ever That is the saddest portion in Hell and Misery For these are like the evil fallen Angels especially if having known the Way of Truths they turn aside to be of these fallen from Heaven and become Seducers of men from the Way of Truth and Righteousness Causers and Provokers of others mens destructions the Instruments or Messengers of Satan to keep or delude men from Christ Jesus the Son of man that they by neglecting or putting away from them him his Salvation set forth in the Gospel and by looking to or for other false Medicines might die of their Wounds Yea by these Satan insinuates his strong delusions that men might believe Lies and be damned so that they are most Diametrically or Point-blanck opposite to Gods Grand design and mens great Good and Happiness And therefore as Christ and his Apostles were earnest and frequent in warning of such as these so there are none that the holy Prophets and Apostles speak more terribly against as shewing them to be men of swifter and greater destruction then others as may appear in Jer. 23.9 c. And in those Chapters of Peter and Jude above mentioned Oh what care therefore should be taken of falling into this number And of hearing and being perverted or subverted by them Take heed what ye hear Beware of false Prophets look to your selves for many Deceivers and Antichrists are gone out into the World that turn men from Christ and his Truth his true Church and People and lead them to destruction 2. Such as Preach the Truth but walk contrary to it in Pride Wantonness Fraud Uncleanness Covetousness Voluptuous Riotous Courses or the like causing men to stumble at the Gospel and speak evil of it These therefore are Enemies to the Cross of Christ too as the former are in their Doctrine and so much the greater as they are the more specious in theit Conversation as the Pharisees were to Christ so these also under pretence of Friendship betray it like Judas and expose it to its open Enemies to be Decried and Crucified Rejected and put away even those that Preaching it Phil. 3.18 19. yet have their Bellies their Gods and mind Earthly things whose end therefore is destruction too among the forementioned both occasionally to others and finally to themselves 3. They that do hinder the Gospel and Gospel-preachers forbidding them that would and are fitted for it and sent forth with it to speak it to others that they might be saved against such wrath hath come and will come to the utmost 1 Thes 2.14 15 16. For these men are herein such as please not God but are contrary to all men or at least to the good of those men from whom through their cause it is withheld filling up the measure of their sins Whether they be 1. Such false Teachers that like the Pharisees and Lawyers of old take away the Key of Knowledg the Vision of all the Preaching of the Grace of God that brings Salvation to all men the Preaching of the Cross of Christ as seen and testified to by all the Prophets of God and by all his holy Apostles and that gives Light to all other matters of Doctrine and Practice and concerns all men as laying a good Foundation for their Faith and Repentance and all right Obedience unto God neither entring the Kingdom themselves nor suffering those that would to enter it in so Receiving and Believing the Grace of God in Christ toward them as to be renewed into a Conformity to him and Submission to his Government by it Yea shut the Kingdom of God against men while they will not have that Preached to them that should let them see their way into it and perswade them to walk in it and enter by it Mat. 23.13 Luke 11.52 Or 2. Such as exercising some power amiss do by violent and compulsive courses hinder the Preaching and Preachers thereof whether that power misexercised be Ecclesiastical or Civil and so whether they that abuse their power 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
designs to do it hateth the light neither cometh to the light least his deeds should be reproved Joh. 3.19 20. and so we find the Scriptures every where assert that the cause of Mens destruction is their voluntary rejections of the remedy as in Psal 81.10 11 12 c. When God offered himself to Israel to be their God bidding them open their mouth wide and he would fill it their refusing him his advise and counsel not hearing his voice nor accepting him to be their helper but preferring others before him procured his leaving them to themselves and their Idols and then what but misery and destruction could befall them the like we see in Prov. 1.20 24 25. Wisdom addresses her self to all within and without the City or Church of God reproving their love of their simplicity scornfulness and folly and tendring her grace and spirit to them but they generally will not answer her calls and hear her counsels nor regard the stretching forth of her hands to relieve help or draw them in to her self but put away all her counsels and will none of her reproofs and therefore destruction comes upon them the like may be seen in Isa 66.3 4. Jer. 7.24 25 26. And the like we find our Saviour and his Apostles say of the cause and reason of mens perishing not to be any want of goodness or graciousness in God or want of provision in Christ or readiness in him to help them but mens own wilfulness in refusing and putting from them the grace and truth discovered of God in and by Christ to them for their salvation that they receive not the love of the truth that they may be saved believe not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. That they stop the ear close or wink with the eye least they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and he should heal them Matth. 13.14 15. Acts 28.20 27. Yea the very Heathens who had the least discoveries of God and his goodness and grace that through Christ he exerciseth towards and among men yet perish upon this account that they with-hold the truth in unrighteousness that when they know God they glorified him not as God nor were thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkned that they liked not to have God in their knowledge and the like Rom. 1.18 21 28. 2. As to the equitableness and justness hereof what more just and equitable then that men who will not be saved should perish that they who refuse the most excellent remedy and compleat Medicine and way of healing which the most wise and gracious God in his most perfect understanding and heighth of love and affection hath devised and prepared for them dye of their wounds which through their own default and wickedness they have brought upon themselves Yea when God hath been at a great cost and charge to provide man a Saviour and prepare them help and shewed forth his great goodness therein for their happiness when He hath not spared his own Son but delivered him as made man the Son of man for our offences and raised him again for our Justification and therein and thereby hath saved men from perishing in the first Death into which they were fallen in and through Adam and therein cured that deadly wound given them at first by the Serpent and hath glorified him and filled him with his own infinite fulness of power spirit and all spiritual grace and blessing therein both impowering him and appointing him to raise all men out of the first death which he also will not fail to do and also providing in him all things by which he is furnished for calling and drawing them in to believe and in believing on him to preserve them from the second Death and to make them to live for ever being furnished with authority and fitness to cure all such stings of the old Serpent as might and would otherwise sting them to that second Death and all this without their knowledge motion or desire Yea and through him also and by him making known to us what he hath done and calling and counselling us to come to him and accept of his grace and salvation in and through him through whom also we live and move and have our beings and are made capable of hearing and coming at his call to him in whom we are so compleatly provided for that there is no defect or want of any thing needful for our salvation and everlasting well-being yea and that we might have both the greatest ground of assurance of finding help in him and the greatest ingagements upon all accounts to hearken to and comply with his counsels and yield our selves subject to his will and commandements he hath set before men both his alsufficiency as being the Son of God and God and his having in him all the fulness of God and also the greatness of the love both of the Father in not sparing him but giving him forth and preparing him through so great sufferings to be our Saviour and of the Son in sustaining them for our sakes that there-through he might be so perfected for us how should he not be provoked to great displeasure and so to leave us to dye and perish of our wounds if they or any of us after and notwithstanding all this refuse his calls and will not submit to him to be saved and be made happy for ever by him What man of us and especially what Prince or Nobleman if he be at great cost and labour to prepare either a feast to entertain or a Medicine to heal his poor neighbours likely otherwise to perish through want or diseases could take it well if after that they scorn his love and make light of his provision and yet such is the case of Mankind towards God as the parables in Matth. 22.1 14. and Luc. 14.17 24. shew And surely the offence is so much the greater and the more inexcusable and unpardonable in us men and lays open to the greater and deserves the more severe punishment then any can be deserved from or inflicted by the greatest or mightiest man by how much God is greater than man and more uningaged to us than man and by how much his provision and love therein and the tenders and proffers thereof to men exceed all that can be found in or from men So that God will certainly be just in his proceedings against men in his condemning them and will be justified in the eyes and sight of all his Creatures both Angels and men yea the condemned ones themselves when he is judged as is said Rom. 3.4 And there will be nothing found by men to plead for themselves or condemn him when he enters into Judgment with them not so much for that his power and greatness will bear them down as because of the exceeding great equity and righteousness that will