necessity of ceasing from a mans own works that he may attain righteousnesse yea that this cessation is in and with that believing that is imputed for righteousnesse The working here mentioned and the believing on him that justifies the ungodly cannot stand together There is then in this believing with the heart which is unto righteousness A ceasing from a mans own works an entring into rest as Hebr. 4. which also answers to that instruction in the verses before the Text shewing the hearing his word and believing on him that sent him to be such as in which the Son is honoured and so the Father in him who is not truly honoured or gloryed in without this ceasing from our own works in which is a relinquishing all glorying in the flesh and not suffering it to glory or lift up it self in his presence Phil. 3. 3-10 1 Cor. 1. 29-31 with Jer. 9. 23 24. 1. The hearing his word Joh. 5. 24. The believing God Rom. 4. 3. in his testimony or record that he hath already given of his Son as 1 Joh. 5. 9-12 This is the first and fundamentall act in this faith of the opperation of God where this is with the heart and unfeined there is equally the other act or acts in it produced by the power of the word of truth so believed Therefore this alone is given as a description of that whole faith of the opperation of God wherwith a man believes to righteousnesse Rom. 10. 9 10. with ch 4. 3. Such it is as in which a man being enlightened and made to hear by the preventing grace of God in which the voyce of the Son of God in the witnesses of Gods goodnesse that is in and through him or in the preaching of peace by him comes to him even to his spirit by Gods spirit in and through the meanes vouchsated opening the eyes and eares of his mind with which grace God in and by Christ prevents every man in due time and alwayes before he require any hearing or receiving of them Such I say as in which a man in that enlightening and perswasion that is in that evidence and demonstration of the spirit in which his testimony that he hath already given comes to them Falls down before it gives glory to it as to the word of the Lord ceasing from his own thoughts words and works on Gods holy day even in the day of Gods power or powerfull word coming to him he is in that evidence and demonstration of the spirit in it perswaded of the truth goodnesse and faithfullnesse of it in it selfe and in all it saith and embraceth it esteemes loves receiveth and reverenceth it as the word of God and not of man As a good word a faithfull saying worthy to be received with all acceptation as the truth which teacheth all things and of which is no lye And accordingly rejoyeeth in it as having found all riches and that which answers all needs and is worthy to be submitted too and that all reproved by it should be parted with for it and so with meeknesse receives the ingrafted word that is able to save the soul without inward wrath murmurings or disputeings against it Ceasing from the workings of their own thoughts reasonings or Imaginations and so from consulting with the Doctrines and traditions of men that life up themselves against the knowledge of God suffering them to fall before it as the weapons thereof are mighty through God to cast them down they let God be true and themselves and every man lyars Neither seeking to measure or comprehend this light or word of truth brought to them by the darknesse of their reason or Imagination or by Philosophy and vain deceite after the traditions of men But perceiving in this light every man to be brutish in his knowledge as Jer. 10. 14 23. with Prov. 30. 2 3 4. They fall down in the sence and acknowledgment of their inabillity by any wisedome or strength of man to receive and comprehend what is discovered and brought to them That so they may be made wise in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit that brings it attending to receive all their demonstrations of truth and light and power to receive and embrace them in and from Gods testimony in a silent adhearing to it as fooles in themselves And so in believing the truth goodnesse and faithfullnesse of the word in its own sayings though they be never so short in understanding what is contained and plainly expressed in it yet believeing they waite for all further wisedome understanding and strength seeking it in the Lord and not in man or the things of man that no flesh may glory in his presence Likewise in this receiving his word with the heart there is a ceasing from the workings of the carnall mind in its inclinations affections and lusts which are set upon the riches of this World the praise of men the pleasures of this life or some exaltation or lifting up himselfe in some selfe sufficiency and that not only before men but before God or in his presence A ceasing from these 1. In their lifting up themselves in direct opposiâ—ion to the testimony or word of truth And to hinder the receiving and acknowledgment of it 2. In their seeking to get seeret service and satisfaction to themselves in mens receiving and closeing with it Either of which wayes the flesh with its affections and lusts will hinder mens hearty and unfeined receiving the word of truth the Gospell of their salvation if they suffer it not to be crucified and themselves to be brought of from it in the light and power of that word Therefore those that are Christs are said to have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Implying that they could never have so received and retained his word in their heart as to draw and unite them to Christ if they had still lived in the flesh or suffered that to live and rule in their spirit or minded the things of it and made provision for it for they that are in the flesh cannot please God Some by working in the wisedome and Imaginations of the flesh seeking and professing to be wise consulting with Philosophy and vain deceite their own thoughts and the traditions of men and so by murmuring among themselves close the eyes and eares of their mind against the truth when opened by it break his bands by which he is drawing them in his Doctrine And so keep out the light of his knowledge and themselves from acknowledging or understanding the truth of his sayings Joh. 6. 41 42 43 44. 12. 34 35 Rom. 2. 21 22 23. 1 Cor. 1. 21 22 23. 1 Tim. 6. 20 21. Others when convinced of truth yet still seeking after wisedome in themselves to find out and comprehend the truth of Gods sayings by their Imaginations or by the same wisedome and reason of man with which before they did or others yet do oppose it And to build their faith
our selves or others at any of those great and deep things of God contained in the testimony of Christ according to that Pro. 26. 4 5. Answer not a Fool according to his folly least thou also become like unto him Answer a Fool according to his folly least he be wise in his own conceite 1 Not to seek to answer them in their own way or so as we become like unto them in the use of such carnall weapons for confirming the truth as they use against it for that grants the way good that indeed is evill of measuring the truth of God by mans Imagination or endeavouring to bring it down to the comprehension of his blind and corrupted reason nor hath that any promise of Gods presence with it for reproving and convincing yea whatever faith is that way produced rests but in the wisdome and strength of man therefore the Apostles avoyded it 1 Cor. 1. 17 18 c. 2. tot 2 Cor. 10. 3 4. But 2. So to answer them with his words and in his way as the folly and vanity of their way of reasoning in which they desire by their carnall wisdome to finde out comprehend and be satisfied about the things of God in Christ may appear by opposing to them the greatnesse of God and the unsearchablenesse of his works and ways past finding out as well in that which he hath already done in the person of Christ as also in that which he doth in his dayly dispensations and providences And in that which he will doe and bring forth by him of which he hath given assurance in what he hath already done in all which his judgments are unsearchable He raiseth the dead why then should it be thought incredible that he should doe whatever he saith he doth or promiseth he will do though we cannot comprehend how such a thing should be If when God saith that he so teacheth man knowledge that that which may be known of God is manifest in them even in them that had not the records of the Scriptures among them yea in their hearts that liked not to retain it there And that his goodnesse doth lead those men to repentance that yet harden their hearts and are not led by it If then any reply against God and say how can this thing be this seemes absurd or will not stand with such traditions or apprehensions of God which we have taken up from our Fathers or with our reason seek not then to satisfie his reason in that way it desires satisfaction or to bring the great things of God down to it but to the Law to the Testimony what is written how readest thou and if God say it its meet for us to believe it for with him no word or work is unpossible no not to raise the dead and let that stop the mouth of further inquiry how such a thing can be as the Apostle when he would demonstrate that that which may be known of God is manifest in them he useth this onely as a sufficient demonstration that God hath showed it unto them Rom. 1. 19 20. For who teacheth like him or who hath enjoyned him his way c. Job 36. 22. 23-26 who then art thou oh vain man that replyest against God that raiseth the Dead We come now to the Doctrine mainly contained and spoken too in the text to wit the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead and of eternall judgment by Christ In this Declaration of it by our Saviour we have set before us 1 What the Resurrection and Judgment spoken of is As to the subject of it that is to be raised and judged 2 The time of it 3 Some intimation of the order of it 4 The meanes or power by which it shall be effected 5 The different state of Persons in the Resurrection or ends to which they shall be raised 1 What the Resurrection and Judgment spoken of is As to the subject of it This is clearly intimated and fully expressed to be the quickening or raising up of the dead Bodies of men after death hath fully ceized on them a raising them up in a sensible being and capable of partaking off and possessing everlasting glory or everlasting shame and horror And so the making alive the dead Bodies of men by Christ in an answerable sence to that dying or death that passeth on them all by the one man Adam as 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. A totall redeeming them from the first death and the grave And bringing them forth in soul and body reunited to their eternall judgment 1 This is clearly intimated in his saying marvell not at this namely at his former declaration of the present power and efficacy of his voyce or word on the spirits of men while in this body making those dead in sins and trespasses to hear and spiritually quickening and making alive such as in hearing hear and then adding as a reason why they should not marvell at that this further Declaration of the mighty power of his voyce as it shall be after manifested in raising and bringing forth all that are in the Graves which being added as a farther declaration of the mighty power of and in it to take them off from their sinfull marvelling at the former signifies that the Resurrection and bringing forth of the Graves here spoken of as the efficacy of his voyce is not the same efficacy of it with that forementioned But another thing distinct from it yea a greater and more wonderfull efficacy of the same voyce of the son of man And is as much as to say Marvell not that I said unto you that those dead in sins and trespasses shall hear the voyce of the Son of God And they that hear in that hearing given them shall have their spirits quickened and made alive for righteousnesse sake while yet the body is dead because of sin for loe a greater and more marveilous work then this shall be effected by it even all that are in the Graves shall hear it and shall come forth some to the resurrection of life and some to the resurrection of damnation so that in this our Saviour signifies the resurrection of the dead or bringing them forth of their Graves to Judgment to be another work and distinct from the work of spirituall vivification yea a greater and more wonderfull work then any work that is now working or wrought by his voyce on the spirits of men while yet the body is dead in the first death or that reignes on it as the fruit of sin which distinct and greater work can be no other but the quickening or raising up of the mortall body yea the totall redemption from the first death for those spirituall quickening efficacies of his word on mens spirits now are expresly mentioned in the foregoing verses as greater works then those of healing any bodily Infirmities verses 20 21 25. yea those are the greater works that our Saviour promises they that believe on him should do
outword works and services after the oldnesse of the letter which yet happily he will attribute to Gods grace in Christ and say with the Pharisee God I thank thee c. But that they are not the productions of that grace believed nor have they their dependance on that for them is evident from the former consideration which shewes that they have no beliefe or perswasion of that or of the truth of it to them But what depends on and alwayes springs up from such frames and quallifications towards God and men first found in them or if they have some other ground together with them as some particular promise or assurance that they are children of God yet usually these are one main ground of their application of those and however these are of the ground of their perswasion of any grace or good will in God towards them as to eternall life and therefore not the fruites of it or begotten by it but of the wisedome and strength of the flesh The other the true Believer of Gods Testimony being in the light of that Testimony of Gods glorious grace in Christ to sinners therein made sensible of his own weaknesse and the emptinesse of all other wayes of attaining righteousnesse as also of the great obligations to love from Gods first loving us and sending his Son the propitiation for our sins that we might live through him In which likewise he is instructed into and perswaded of the certainty of the way of attaining righteousnesse even to have the righteousnesse of the Law fullfilled in him that it is by minding the things of and walking in the light and power of the spirit that is in that testimony he hath already given of Christ and of Gods glory in him and not in the flesh Rom. 8. 3 4 5 c. He therefore goes out of himself and from his own thoughts reasonings and works to mind and consider the things of the spirit that he hath testified of Gods grace in Christ there seeking and expecting in the standing still to behold that grace and through the light and power of its instructions to love to have his heart begotten and purified to unfeigned love of God of men of brethren such as in which is the fullfilling of the Law And so for mortifying the deeds of the body They waite through the spirit for the hope of Gods righteousnesse by faith as for example To subdue the riseings of envy revenge mallice or bitternesse They consult not with flesh and bloud nor expect help from humane prudentiall considerations nor seek to mortify it in any wisedome or strength of theirs exercised in the consideration or observance of their duty But running out of themselves and from all other reasonings and works they run into his name to consider and remember his graciousnesse in forbearing and so giving them for Christs sake and how they have heard and tasted of it in and througâ— the word of the truth of the Gospell and what instruction that affords to the purpose There seeking and expecting help Eph. 4. 31 32. 5. 1 2. 1 Pet. 2. 1 -3. So likewise for subduing the riseings of uncleannesse They sensible of their own weaknesse to get victory run out of themselves and from consulting with flesh and bloud unto this name of God in Christ trusting in and staying upon it expecting strength against the lust in the believing consideration of his right to the body by purchase yea by double purchase the excellency of the pâ—ice wherewith he hath redeemed them both of the Father and from under the curse of the Law and of themselves and from the World and their vain conversation to be his and at his dispose his present care of the body in his mediation for it and gracious providence and eye over it for the good of the whole man his righteous judgment according to the Gospell before which ye must all appear to receive in the body the things done in it whether they be good or bad so for subduing the inclinations to convetousnesse pride or any manner of uncleannesse see 1 Cor. 6. 13 14 15 19 20. with 1 Pet. 1. 13 18 19. 2 Cor. 5 9 10 14 15 19 20. with ch 6. 1 2 17 18 7 1. This is the doing good mentioned in the Text. The hearing the word or voyce of Christ and through and according to it believing on him that sent him and hath raised him from the dead and given him glory that our faith and hope might be in God And such are reckoned doers of good doers of truth 1. Because they herein cease from their own works and do the work of God even that work which he through the power of his truth is doing in them for it is God that workes in them through the discovery of his works and his salvation in Christ for them Both the will and the deed of all this faith in all the acts and fruites of it whence 't is called faith of the opperation of God who hath raised Christ from the dead Coll. 2. 12. 1 Pet. 1. 20. Joh. 6. 29. And they are said to be saved by grace through faith and that not of themselves it is the gift of God Eph. 2. He that doth good is of God Joh. 3. 11. And yet this also is counted to them for righteousnesse reckoned to them as their doing good because though all is of God yet he worketh in them both to will and to doe of good pleasure of him they are made willing and strong in the day of his power to doe what the goodnesse and truth of God is doing in them without murmuring and disputeings to cease from their own Imaginations and works that they may rejoyce in his works and seek righteousnesse and strength in the Lord by faith in him they come to him as to a living stone even in the vertue and force of his drawings allureing and strengthening them through the tasts of his graciousnesse And yet therein they are truly reckoned and indeed made comers they in the light and power of his drawings standing still from their own thoughts and works are made volluntary consenters and doe owne and close with him and as lively stones that are quickened by him to choose him for their foundation are built upon him 1 Pet. 2. 3 4 5. 2. Because herein they do that in the light and strength of the Lord which is in it selfe good righteous and just In acknowledging the emptinesse and lyingnesse of their own Imaginations and of every thought that exalteth it selfe against the obedience of Christ And God to be true in all his sayings as in that glorious testimony he hath given of Christ and by him so in all its discoveries and reproofes of instruction Themselves sinners and voyd of righteousnesse yea without strength And him righteous and faithfull according to that standing witnesse and glorious revelation of himselfe in his Son And his everlasting righteousnesse brought in in and by Christ
in mans nature 2. By asserting to them and instructing them into the generall resurrection of the dead both just and unjust by the same voyce of the Son of Man and his rendering to every man according to his works then And this as an antidote against their sinfull marvelling Whence in generall we may note this instruction signified to us that the Doctrines of the Resurrection of the dead and of eternall judgment by the voyce of the Son of Man are very fit and powerfull to strengthen faith in Christ And so in God for all that he hath said or promised against all the corrupt reasonings of the carnall mind or of the wisdome of the flesh they are mighty weapons through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down Imaginations and every thing that exalts it selfe against the knowledge of Christ and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. Hence it is that the tasting of the powers of the World to come Hebr. 6. 5. is so placed as answering to the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the dead and of eternall judgment vers 2. signifying that those doctrines of the World to come are very powerfull to the correcting and silenceing carnall disputings and sinfull marvellings and so proved or tasted in the prevalency of them on the spirits of such as believingly consider them as 2 Cor. 4. 14 16 17 18 and 5. 1 10. Whence this apprehension of God as one that quickeneth the dead and calleth those things that be not as though they were yea he makes them to be in his so calling them as he commanded light to shine out of darknesse This is mentioned as that which strengthened Abraham against hope to believe in hope Rom. 4. 17. Yea that God raiseth the dead as the truth of that is evidenced in his having raised up Christ our Lord as the surety in man's nature from the dead In which he hath delivered us from so great a death and given assurance unto all men that he will raise them from the dead and judge them by that man whom he hath so ordained And also as it s manifested by and through Christ in his quickening all things and dayly delivering and saveing in deaths and from the evill of them as the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe This is declared as that which did strengthen the faith and hope of the Apostles and Believers in greatest tribulations and deaths and against all unlikelyhoods and impediments 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. 1 Tim. 4. 10. and 6. 13 For 1. Herein his infinite power for doing whatsoever he pleaseth is lively presented in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit that is in that Doctrine as contained and held forth in the testimony of Christ hence Abraham retaining such an apprehension of him as forementioned was fully perswaded that whatever he had promised he was able to performe And therefore when he was tryed offered up his onely begotten Son accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead from whence also he received him in a Figure Rom. 4. 20 21. Hebr. 11. 17 19. This great power of God in Christ as evidenced in his raising the dead would being believingly minded powerfully silence those sinfull marvellings in which men are vainly disputing against his words and unwisely inquiring concerning his works As how can it be that the works of Creation and providence should be witnesses of Gods goodnesse that is in and through Christ and so leading to repentance This consideration I say would correct and silence them that it is God that raiseth the dead and quickeneth all things and will bring all men out of their Graves to his judgment seat by Christ he it is that hath spoken it and of his own work to shew and manifest it in such wise Therefore our Saviour here propounds this Doctrine to correct their sinfull marvelling at that declaration of the present power of and in his voyce in the severall preachings of it in which it is by him sent forth to men vers 25. The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voyce of the son of God and they that hear shall live Marvell not at this says he for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth c. And if it should not be thought a thing incredible that God should raise the dead and that by the man Christ and by the voyce and power of his word why should it be thought incredible that the same word as now witnessed and preached to men by any meanes of his appointment should be so powerfull as to open the blind eyes and make the dead to hear that in hearing they might hear and live why say some men this cannot be without power or free-will in man as of him to such hearing seeing the same voyce shall raise the dead bodies out of their Graves 2 In this Doctrine also is the discovery of a reward then to be rendered by him that is now preached to them and that according to every mans work after the Gospel rule of judgment And this Discovery being also with the evidence and demonstration of the spirit that accompanyes that whole Doctrine of Christ and especially in the plain and faithfull ministration of it puts an admonition upon mens spirits not to dally with him and with their own soules now while it is to day to beware of murmuring among themselves and lifting up Imaginations in opposition to the light and power of his testimonies to give more earnest heed to his words while they have opportunity that are able to beget and strengthen faith As perceiving in this Discovery of things to come that it is eternall life and eternall death that is set before them And the present opportunity is only theirs for chusing the one through the grace of God bringing salvation and for avoyding and fleeing from the other Therefore our Saviour uses this as a powerfull motive to warn men not to murmur among themselves now not only that no man can come to him except the Father which had sent him to draw them do draw him But also that whether they now come to him in his gracious drawings or no they shall come to him he will raise them up at the last day and bring them before his judgment seat Joh. 6. 43 44. with vers 36 37 39. And then those that now were incensed against him and would not come to him for life shall bow before him and acknowledge him Lord to the glory of God and justify him in their own everlasting destruction These and the like considerations in this Doctrine made it so powerfull on the spirits of the Apostles as we reade 2 Cor. 5. 9 10 11. 2 Tim. 4. 1 8. We may also here learn by our Saviours example how to answer correct and silence such sinfull marvellings in
of Gods truth on such demonstrations as is suited to the wisedome of this World They receive it not as the word of God but as the word of men And so deprive themselves of the excellent sweetnesse and efficacy of it their faith resting on the wisedome and strength of man and not in the power of God as is signified 1 Cor. 2. 1 5. 1 Thess 2. 13. whence Believers are admonished to beware of Philosophy and vain deceite c. Coll. 2. 8. Likewise some by working in their own will and purpose to hide serve and get satisfaction to the lusts and affections of the flesh against the light and power of the reproofes of instruction keep out themselves from listening to or from understanding and receiving the word of truth yea many see and hate because it reproves their deeds Joh. 3. 19. 7. 7. 8. 43 44. 6. 27-36 5. 44. Ezek. 33. 30-33 Others in listening to and receiving the truth yet retaining such divers lusts the heart still inclined to covetousnesse the praise of men or the like And now thinking to get or keep these things together with the truth or also to get them by and in the receiving and profession of it still retaining and pursuing the lust seeking to render themselves wise strong and honourable in Christ or in the receiving and acknowledgment of him as those 1 Cor. 4. 10. contrary to 1 Thess 2. 3 4 5 6. They herein disable themselves from so coming to the knowledge and acknowledgment of the truth as that they might be saved by it And so make their very believing in vain Joh. 12. 42 43. 2 Tim. 3. 6 7. 1 Tim. 6. 9 10 11. For no man can serve two Masters Math. 6. 24. No following after righteousnesse to purpose without an equall fleeing from these things in the pursuite 2 Tim. 2. 19-22 But he that doth truth cometh to the light ceasing from his own wisedome thoughts and works that he may see all his works wrought in God receives his word as his word in its own evidence and power and not as mans to be measured or comprehended by mans wisedome And as a good and faithfull saying in which is contained enough to satisfy and make willing to let goe all other advantages and suffer the breaking of other purposes and desires for And worthy to be submitted to in what ever it saith though discovering and reproving evill in himselfe And so there is in this hearty believing the word of truth the true confession of sins and judging a mans selfe believing and acknowledging himselfe such a sinner and worthlesse helplesse one his sins so vile his works so vain and unclean as this word discovers them And because so discovered in the light of that Gospell of their salvation that sets open before them the Fountain for their washing and healing 1 Ioh. 5. 7. 9. And this word where-ever so believed and received with the heart unfeinedly According to the Discoveries and Demonstrations of it brought nigh in those preachings of it vouchsafed for he requires not any other or farther receiving then according to what he gives yea he is very mercifull in not upbraiding with what dullnesse and shortness he findes in that and to him that hath shall more be given I say where so believed with the heart it works effectually 2. A believing on him that sent Christ Ioh. 5. 24. And hath raised him from the dead and through him as raised from the dead for our justification justifieth the ungodly Rom 4. 5. 24. 25. Which believing on him is such as in which I. The heart and mind from the hearty perswasion of the truth and goodnesse of his word and in the light and power thereof is stayed on the Lord Jesus Christ and so on that name of the Father in him resting satisfied with this and trusting in and to it as a sure full and sufficient ground and foundation for all faith and hope in God and bottome matter of feeding and rejoyceing at all times a sure Refuge and strong Tower of defence to run into for saving to the utmost and in all his needs And so rejoyceing in the Lord Jesus even in his flesh that he gave for the life of the World And so in that Redemption Righteousnesse and life in Him as the fruit thereof as one that needs or desires no other thing to be added to or with it for object of saustaction or feeding ground of faith or hope for whatever is yet needfull or wanting to him And therefore renouncing all other objects of satisfaction and grounds of rest trust or rejoycing to his soul as losse and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of him that he may only know him and him crucified and be found in him cloathed with his righteousnesse and not that of his own either alone or together with it Isa 26. 3. 50. 10. Ioh. 6. 32 33 35 45-50-58 Phil. 3. 7-10 Gal. 2. 20. He worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly Some labouring to establish a righteousnesse of their own in the wisedome and strength of the flesh according to the Law thereby keep out themselves from knowing and proving the fullnesse and excellency and from submitting to the righteousnesse of God in Christ Rom. 10 3. Others in their coming to him yet reasoning with flesh and bloud and looking upon the things to be let goe or parted with for him and the sweetnesse and gain they have apprehended in them labouring to retain and hold fast the rejoyceing and confidence they have had in such works or things of the flesh And yet to have their rejoyceing in Christ and enjoy that consolation that is in him And the comfort of Gods love through him also and together with the former or looking back again upon those things believed when they have begun to let them goe for Christ and seeking to be perfected by the flesh in the wisedome or strength of it or things of its commending to that purpose when they have begun in the spirit These by their working and labouring make Christ of none effect to themselves For they cannot know him prove and tast his preciousnesse And he found in him without a hearty and daily letting goe and suffering the losse of their own things yea whatever hath been gainfull to them as discovered and reproved in the light of the knowledge of him Phill. 3. Others also when they have suffered the losse of many things for Christ and tasted of his excellency and preciousnesse and been much filled with the consolations that are in him the comfort of Gods love by and through him the fellowship of the spirit and thence with bowels and mercies even to the bringing forth the fruites of righteousnesse by Jesus Christ Yet they falling to work according to the wisedome and inclination of the flesh to make these fruites and efficacies of the knowledge of him the matter of their feeding and rejoyceing or seeking to to joyne
only perfect and worthy to be sought after and submitted too They honour the Son and so the Father in him they ascribe righteousnesse to their Maker as more largely we have shewed in our lamentation over the dead in Christ published on the death of Henry Rixe 3. Because they herein do that which is good and profitable as to the attaining righteousnesse And so is confirmed to be good in the good fruit of it all works of darknesse are unfruitfull the workers of them reap no profit or good fruit of them Eph. 5. 11. Rom. 6 21. Job 33. 27. Hence they are called dead works which have not profited those that have been occupyed in them Hebr 9. 14. 13. 9. But the work of righteousnesse shall be peace and the fruit of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for ever Isa 32. 17. Yea it is so now in a first fruites of the spirit The God of hope filles with all joy and peace in this believing that they may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost Rom. 15. 13. This faith is so counted to them for righteousnesse that they are therein made partakers in a first fruites of the spirit of what they believe on him for even the fruit of his righteousnesse with which faith closeth in the forgivenesse of their sins acceptance of their persons into favour and fellowship with God dayly washing sanctifying justifying and changing into his Image in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornfull But his delight is in the Law or Doctrine of the Lord and therein doth meditate or exercise himselfe day and night And so through and according to that Doctrine trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is He shall be as a Tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth forth her rootes by the River and shall not see when heat comes but be always fragrant and fruitfull The ungodly not so c. see and compare Psal 1. with Jer. 17. 7 8. He that abideth in him sinneth not misseth not his mark failes not of the end of his faith the saving of his soul attaines righteousnesse 1 Joh. 3. 6 1 Pet. 1. 8 9. Rom. 9. 30-32 1. In that they are made accepted with God in the beloved even in and according to that perfect righteousnesse that he hath compleated for them on which their parts and mindes are stayed In him they are compleat it being the office of the righteous one so to present them in himselfe so that as he is righteous and faithfull in his office And the Father righteous in his promise and covenant confirmed in him so he that doth righteousnesse believes in him for righteousnesse in which also he doth that which the righteousnesse of God discovered in Christ works in him both to will and to doe is righteous yea his righteousnesse that is imputed to him by him that imputes righteousnesse without works even the righteousnesse of God not of man made theirs through faith in Jesus and in which through saith in it he is accepted It is perfect and answerable to the holinesse of God such as in which his truth is fulfilled his justice satisfied so that they are made the righteousnesse of God in him that was made sin for them And in an answerable sence viz. by imputation as well as also by making them partakers of the fruit and blessednesse of it as he was made a curse for them of which more in the next considerations For as being accepted in Christ their iniquities are pardoned in Heaven not remembred or retained there against them So 2. They are made partakers of that forgivenesse of their sins in their mindes and consciences through his name and in the opening of it filling them with joy and peace in believing that also they may abound in the hope of his righteousnesse for further washing and saving to the utmost and perfecting what concernes them By him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses This blessednesse comes upon them in believing through his name Act. 10. 43. 13. 39 Rom. 8. 2 3. 3. 25 26. 4. tot Gal. 3. 9-14 Heb. 9. 14. 10. 22. The Law of the spirit of life in Christ even the Gospell of Christ declaring his righteousnesse in suffering and redeeming us from the curse of the Law is the power of God to save them that believe making them free from the Law of sin and death and quickening them to a new and living hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead that truth believed in the opening of it makes free from sin from the guilt accusation and bondage that they may serve him without fear in righteousnesse and holinesse all the dayes of their life Yea 3. They are also created in Christ in the light and power of his grace believed and believed in unto good works which God hath before ordained that they believers should walk in them And so also as well as in the sence forementioned he that abideth in him sinneth not that is he doth not commit sin he saith not he hath no sin but he doth it not he is kept from committing or serving it There is sin in them still dwelling and more stirring and warring in the members then formerly But he that abideth in him is dayly strengthened through his name against it that he doth not consent to or serve it or let it reigne in his mortall body and so he that is boâ—n of God or that is led of the spirit of God which alwayes leedes or carryes out of a mans selfe into Christ for satisfaction righteousnesse and strength he doth not commit or serve sin nor can he for the seed of God the word of truth abides in him And wheresoever that is suffered to dwell in the heart it will preserve and deliver from every evill work The power of God which is in it to that purpose being greater then the power of sin and Satan Therefore sayes David thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee If therefore sin prevaile over any of us so as we are thereby brought into bondage it must needs be acknowledged we are not then or therein born of God not led of the spirit of God not carryed out or brought forth of our selves into Christ for teaching and strength but leaning to our own understanding and retaining in our heart some Worldly principle or inclination and secretly consulting with that minding the things of it walking in the flesh and not in the spirit we reape corruption For that grace of God that brings salvation to all men Teacheth us that denying ungodlinesse and Worldly lusts we shâ—uld live soberly righteously and godly in this present World looking for the blessed hope
up in the blessing Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from hence forth yea saith the spirit c. He that endureth to the end shall be saved Be thou faithfull unto death saith Christ and I will give thee the crowne of life Math. 24. 13. Rev. 2. 10. So James affirming the blessedness of the man that endureth temptation saith That when he is tryed namely to the end when that work of trying purging and making white through manifold temptations is finished he shall receive the crown of life Jam. 1. 12. Many that have been going right on their way yea runing wel suffered many things yet afterward wickedly drawing back and departing from the living God by an evill heart of unbeliefe have not been found among the righteous nor shall be found among them when he appeareth they so persisting till sin be finished Therefore let us not be weary of well doing In due season we shall reap if we faint not Thus we have done with the first branch of the point under consideration namely who they are that have done good And what we have said in it leads into the understanding of the next branch namely who they are that in a like scripture-sence according to the rule of the Gospell have done evill To that therefore we shall ad but a few words The doing evill that is imputed to men and which brings under condemnation the wrath of God is clearly expressed according to what is also shewed before to be mens being contentious against and not obeying the truth when it is manifested to them in their minds by the evidencâ— demonstration of the spirit and powerfully leading to repentance They then like not to retain it in their knowledge or so to receive the love of the truth as to save them but are incensed against Christ and his gospell because he reprooves their deeds by the light and power of it Rom. 2. 6 7 8 9. with ch 1. 18 19 21 28. 2. 1-4 5. 2 Thess 1. 8. 2. 10 11 12. Isa 45. 24. Their willfull refusing to come in his drawings to â—imselfe for he is drawing all in due time even to himselfe for life And this is the condemnation that when light comes men love and chuse darkness Hose 11. Job 6. 47 with ch 12 31. 32. Psal 2. Joh. 12. 47. 48. 25. 22. 24. nor is any man under a state of condemnation or wrath but for such seeing hateing hearing and rejecting for the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son And so the time of their doing evill in this sence is in the very opportunity given them for doing good even when light comes when he is preaching peace and witnessing goodness to their spirits when his goodness is leading and drawing to repentance even when and as they are so called to the most high they goe back and willfully refuse to exalt or honour him in those discovery â—s and operations of his goodnesse and glory in and through him vouchsafed Hose 11. 1 Pet. 3. 19. Joh. 3. 19. Rom. 2 4 5. If light had not so come to them or he had not so spoken to them they had not known or been capable of sins of this nature as now charged upon them But yet mens evill or in quities of this nature though they are truly said to be Doers and workers of it while they continue in it yet are not in a full and proper sence said to be done or finished nor so reputed of God While yet the day of salvation lasteth to any man that is while God is yet calling his grace bringing salvation to them If yet they repent and seek him none of their former wickednesse shall be remembred to him that is joyned to all the living there is hope but when sin is finished it brings forth death In an utter separation of the person from Gods mercy and binding him over and sealing him up to the wrath to come They that have done evill to the resurrection of damnation 2. The next and last point to be considered in this last position propounded is where in the manifest difference that shall be made between them in the resurrection standeth or how it shall be made and made to appear in the coming forth of the one by the power of his voyce to the resurrection of life of the other by the power of the same voyce to the resurrection of damnation there is a reall difference between the doers of good and the doers of evill now in this day before either of them have finished their course And a very great one too see 1 Ioh. 5. 19. 20. The whole world lies in wickednesse even in the wicked one for while they willfully remaine in the state and condition or in the darknesse of this world in ignorance of God in Christ strangers to the life of God loveing and chusing their darknesse when light comes they consequently remaine under the Power Bondage and Dominion of Satan holding in captivity to sin the mind conscience and whole man So that they are in their uncleannesse and not washed from it in the flesh and under the wrath of God for not believing on him that came to save and deliver them is bringing that salvation to them through the power and in the grace of his truth But saith the Apostle speaking of themselves and other Believers or doers of truth God hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true namely as the fruit of the knowledge of him we are brought into him to have our hearts and mindes stayed there as a full object and foundation of rest and satisfaction to our soules a sure refuge and house of defence to save us from sin and Satan and hide us from the wrath of God we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ and so in God This is the true God this is eternall life Babes keep your selves from Idols They in whom the word of truth the things heard from the begining in the word of the truth of the Gospell remaines or abideth do continue in the Son and in the Father 1 Ioh. 2. 24 25. As the fruit of which knowledge of and union with God in Christ The righteous is more excellent or abundant then his neighbour But the way of the wicked seduceth them Prov. 12. 26. But this difference is not yet manifest or visible as to outward appearance or to be seen by the carnall mind nor otherwise then as faith is the evidence of things not seen while Christ doth not yet appear personally in his glory on the Earth and in his spirituall presence in through and according to the Gospell is hidden not discerned known or taken notice of by the World But under reproach his people also are in lâ—ke manner a hidden people and rendered as the filth and off-scouring of all things unto this day As he