the School of Christ He hath begotten us by the Word of Truth And the Ordinance of preaching the Word is consecrated to this purpose Ephes. 5.26 That he might sanctify them by the washing of Water through the Word There are other Occasional Helps but this is the Instituted Means God will work no other way in his ordinary and revealed course and will accept no other Obedience and Sanctification but by the Word Holiness or that Piety which is proper and genuine is wrought by a Divine Truth otherwise it is Superstition not Godliness Civility not Holiness of Conversation Tho Men have never so good an Inclination yet because they have not a Divine Revelation for their Warrant it is but a Bastard Religion Superstition or framing a strictness of our own accompanied with opposition against the Truth The Word and Spirit are in Conjunction Isa. 59.21 My Spirit that is upon thee and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy Mouth c. These act in Conjunction and it is for the honour of the Scriptures that God hath annexed them 1 Thess. 5.19 20. Quench not the Spirit Despise not Prophesying Preaching of the Word and pouring out of the Spirit go together 4. Every part of the Truth worketh not but only the Gospel which is the Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Law sheweth us our Spots and the Gospel cleanseth and washeth them away The Work of the Law is Preparation but that which hath a special and direct influence upon Sanctification is the Gospel John 15.3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you and that was the Gospel Privilege This pulleth in the Heart to God that we may be partakers of his Grace Moses brought them to the Borders but Joshua brought them into the Land of Canaan The Apostle appealeth to the Experience of Believers Gal. 3.2 This only would I learn of you Received ye the Spirit by the VVorks of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Tho the Spirit may be received by the preaching of any part of Canonical Scripture yet most usually by the preaching of the Gospel The Lord would give us this sensible and authentick Proof of the Truth and Excellency of the Gospel that we receive the Spirit of Regeneration by it and not by the Law It is the Instrument by which God useth to confer the Spirit So 2 Pet. 1.4 To us are given exceeding great and precious Promises that by these we may be made partakers of the Divine Nature What part of the Word worketh the Heart to a conformity to God likeneth us in Holiness to God the great and precious Promises It is not by moral Strains nor by terrible Threatnings these have their use in their place but by the great and precious Promises as God was in the sâ—â—ll Voice 5. The Gospel worketh not unless it be accompanied with the Spirit There is a great deal of difference between seeing things in the Light of Reason and seeing things in the Light of the Spirit Truth represented in the Light of Reason begets but an humane Faith leaveth a weak impression and hath but a weak operation upon the Soul but things represented in the light of the Spirit â—â—â—keth quite otherwise there is not only a notional Irradiation but an experimental Feeling they see another manner of Beauty and Excellency in Christ a vanity in worldly Delights which they never saw before Running-water and Strong-water differ not in colour but in taste and virtue John 16.13 When he the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all 〈◊〉 1 John 2.27 The Anointing which ye have received of him abidet◠〈◊〉 you and ye need not that any Man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things Most Men content themselves with a superficial Belief they have but a hâ—â—ane knowledg of Divine Things and therefore their Souls are not carried out to Holiness Love Fear Trust Obedience they have a cold and naked apprehension liteâ—â—â— Knowledg is waâ—hy and weak it worketh not 1 Pet. 1.22 Seeing ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit 6. This must not only be represented in the Power and Demonstration of the Spirit but received and applied by Faith Sanctification is sometimes ascribed to the Gospel and sometimes to Faith which receiveth the Gospel Acts 15.9 Purifying their Hearts by Faith Our Hearts are purified by the Word of Truth 1 Pet. 1.22 Seeing that â—e have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit Here they were purified by Faith The Word worketh not without an Act on our part as well as on God's The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Heb. 4.2 As a Plaster worketh not till it be applied to the Sore Nay the Apostle's Word implieth more the Word must not only be applied to the Soul but mingled with the Soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As in a Medicine the Ingredients must be mixed together to do good So if we have the Word we must have the Spirit and we must have Faith mix it altogether and then it worketh Faith receiveth the Word as a divine and infallible Truth and that begets an Awe In short Faith working to Sanctification apprehends the Love of God the Blood of Christ the Promises Precepts of the Word and by all these it is ever purging and working out Corruption By apprehending the Love of God Gal. 5.6 In Christ Jesus neither Circumcisionâ— availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but Faith that worketh by Love Shall I love that which God hateth O do not this abominable Thing that I hate Jer. 44.4 Faith representeth God pleading thus Is this thy Kindness to thy Friend Do I thus requite God for all his Kindness to me in Christ There is an Exasperation against Lusts. It maketh use of the Blood of Christ. 1 John 1.7 The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sins Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Consciences from dead Works to serve the Living God That is an excellent Purger In outward Purging it is the Water and the Soap cleanseth but the Hand of the Laundress applieth it and rubbeth the Cloaths that are washed Faith apprehendeth the Blood of Christ to purge the Conscience it waiteth for the sanctifying Virtue of his Blood and the Grace purchased thereby So Faith maketh use of the Promises this giveth Faith encouragement to expect glorious Rewards Assistance is purchased and Acceptance is promised 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these Promises dearly Beloved let us cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God Then Faith constantly maketh use of the Precepts and Counsels of the Word by which Sin is discovered and taxed When the Word is received by Faith there goeth a
Curiosity In things not revealed a simple Nescience is better than a bold Inquiry there is enough for Service and Adoration Let not Reason prescribe to Faith He were not God if he were not incomprehensible Should Worms make their own Apprehension the measure of Divine Truth It is not so because I cannot understand it by a Candle in the Night I cannot see it therefore it is not Some things are to be received from Divine Testimony tho we cannot fully conceive of them Let us bless God for the Word and take heed unto it as to a Light shining in a dark Place It is God's Mercy that Christ came from Heaven with a Commission to discover so much to us It is a Ray of the Face of God in Christ. Here is God's Heart discovered to us and our Hearts to our selves Vse 2. When you consult with the Gospel make use of Christ. He is to discover his Father's Name he taught the Gospel not only on Earth but in Heaven I have declared thy Name and will declare it Non loquendum de Deo sine lumine There is no Saving-knowledg of God from our selves Christ is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Interpreter of his Father's Mind It is dangerous to set upon the Knowledg of the Mystery of the Gospel in the strength of our own Gifts and Parts to rest meerly on the study of Books and Humane Helps The Gospel is God's Riddle which none but himself can expound beg the Spirit of Revelation you cannot have a knowledg of it without a Revelation from Christ. We do not improve Christ's Prophetical Office so much as we should we think he must pacify our Consciences subdue our Affections but we do not look after Knowledg but think to get it by our own Industry 3. Point Christ doth not convey all Knowledg or the full notice of God's Name at once The Knowledg that is originally in Christ is not communicated to us but by degrees that it may increase more Like the good Housholder that brought out the best at last John 1.50 Because I said unto thee I saw thee under the Fig-tree believest thou thou shalt see greater things than these Partly to keep up our Dependance and Respect lest a Satiety grow upon us When there is no more use of a thing then we contemn it Man is a Creature that is led by Hope rather than by Memory Still God keepeth the best till last there is a perpetual use of Christ's Prophetical Office that he may declare more Partly to conform us to himself and to the Church Christ increased in Wisdom and Stature c. Luke 2.40 52. his Humane Capacity was inlarged by degrees The Church grew by degrees There was a Non-age then it was the Seed of the Woman afterwards In thy Seed c. To Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Then it was told what Tribe The Scepter shall not depart from Judah Gen. 49.10 afterwards of what Family to David that a Virgin shall conceive and shall bear a Son and shall call his Name Immanuel Isa. 7.14 At last Behold the Lamb of God John 1.29 Partly that he might suit his Dispensations to our Capacity God will not violate the Course of Nature Our Life is hidden in Christ. You do not teach University-Learning to a Boy Christ dealeth with us as we are capable according to our receptivity We are made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1.12 Vse 1. Comfort against present Defects Tho you are ignorant of some Mysteries of Religion do not despond Christ doth not give you all at once There is a double Comfort God will accept our weakness and we have an Head in whom is all Fulness As our Life is hidden in Christ so is our Wisdom hidden In the Text you see Christ hath undertaken for our growth we have a Teacher that will carry us on from one degree of knowledg to another Therefore let us not be discouraged tho we know little and our parts be weak and insufficient Vse 2. It presseth us to grow in Knowledg 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in Grace and in the Knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There is more to be learned Do not say I know as much as they can tell me we never know so much but we may know more there is no stint in Knowledg If there be a measure of Grace beyond which we cannot pass the Apostle would not say Grow in Grace and Knowledg Therefore be conscionable and careful in the use of Means We must not rest in our low and imperfect Measures nor alwayes keep to our A B C. We must grow till we come to Heaven and then there will be no more growing A formal Man is where he was as a Picture doth not increase in Stature The way to keep what we have is to increase our Store Gifts that lie idle and unactive suffer loss and decay an active Nature such as Man's must either grow worse or better It is an ill sign when we are contented with a little Light groweth to the perfection of Glory our Reward is increased in the other World Col. 3.16 Let the Word of God dwell in you richly in all Wisdom It is the worst of Poverty to have a poor Understanding Grace is multiplied through Knowledg 2 Pet. 1.2 Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you through the Knowledg of God and of Jesus our Lord. 4. Point Christ maketh one Mercy to be the Pledg of another I have declared and I will declare He is never weary of well-doing his Love is Infinite and cannot be wearied and his Grace is Infinite and cannot be spent Men waste by giving their drop is soon spent but the oftner we come to God the more welcome we are Our Faith is sooner tired than God◠Bounty for he doth not waste by giving I AM is God's Name he is where he was at first he is never at a loss what he hath done he can do and will do God's Providence is new and fresh every Morning God is One Gal. 3.21 he is always like himself The Creatures soon spend their Allowance but he is where he was at first But it chiefly holdeth good in Spiritual Mercies the least drop of Saving-Grace is an Immortal Seed it will grow it will increase it is a Spark that cannot be quenched it is the Pledg of meer Grace Therefore where Christ hath begun to work for thee in some sparks of Saving-Grace and Knowledg he will go on in his Work where he is the Alpha he will be the Omega where he is an Author he will be a Finisher Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith The Apostle would have us confident of this Phil. 1.6 Being confident of this very thing that he that hath begun a good Work in you will perform it until the Day of Christ. God's first Work is an Earnest and God will not lose his Earnest it is the
a vain Conversation 1 Pet. 1.18 By his Death the Covenant is made a Testament and all the Precepts are turned into so many Promises and Legacies Christ will give what he requireth All Excuse is taken away from Laziness and Wickedness is no longer allowed the Plea of Weakness There is Help offered in Christ. 5. Terrible Threatnings The Word is impatient of being denied it would have Holiness upon any Terms There is somewhat propounded to our Fear as well as our Hope Not only the Loss of Happiness Heb. 12.14 Follow Peace with all Men and Holiness without which no Man shall see God which is Loss enough to an ingenuous Spirit But the Forfeiture of the Soul into eternal Torments without ease without end Go ye Cursed into everlasting Fire God hath a Prison for obstinate Creatures a Worm that never dies a Fire that never goes out Whose Heart doth not tremble at the mention of these things We cannot endure the Torment of one Night under a Feaverish Distemper how shall we think of lying down in everlasting Burnings 6. The Word presseth all this with such a Majesty and Power that it astonisheth the Conscience and maketh the Hearts and Souls of Men to quake within them Felix trembled at the mention of Judgment to come There is so much of God in the Word that if it doth not renew Men it doth restrain them maketh them tremble where it hath least force it cometh with such a manifestation of divine Authority upon the Conscience Lactantius saith Nihil ponderis habent illa Praecepta quia sunt humanae There is no such Majesty in humane Precepts Nemo credit quia tam se hominem putat esse qui aâ—divit quà m illum qui praedicat Man is not astonished by Man Verba dedi verba reddidi But now the Word of God searcheth the Heart pincheth the Conscience and where it worketh least it maketh Men to quake within themselves It is said Mat. 7.28 29. The People were astonished at Christ's Doctrine for he taught them as one having Authority and not as the Scribes God's Word cometh with Evidence and Conviction upon the Conscience that they admire the Power of it there is Sovereign Majesty in it the Draught is like the Author Thus you see what a powerful Instrument the Word is even in a moral way therefore the fittest Means whereunto God should join his Assistance to work on the Heart of Man Vse 1. Of Information 1. It informeth us what a Treasure Truth is and what a value we should put upon it There are two Things in the World that God is very tender of his Truth and his Saints In the Controversy about Toleration Men on the one side have urged the danger of medling with Saints on the other side others have urged the value of Truth If the whole Controversy did depend upon this Issue which are to be most respected the Truth or the Saints since God is tender of both it would soon be decided For besides this that it is strange that they only who are called Saints should be afraid of a vigorous Prosecution and Defence of the Truth it is clear Truth must have the Preheminence for it is Truth that maketh Saints and we had need be more tender of the Root than of the Branches 2. It informeth us that out of the true Religion there is no Salvation because there is no true Holiness and without Holiness no Man shall see God Heb. 12.14 Follow Peace with all Men and Holiness without which no Man shall see God It is not without Peace the Necessity is not laid upon that but Holiness for Peace is often broken for Strictness sake A Man that is faithful and sincere may have little of the World's respect But now without the true Religion there is no Holiness that 's clear Hence 't is said Sanctify them by thy Truth There may be Civility and the Exactness of a moral Course counterfeit Grace but there can be no true Sanctification because the Heart can never be good that is ignorant of the Truth and poisoned with Error there may be Superstition which is but a Bastard Religion there may be a good Life but there cannot be a good Heart no true Comfort and true Grace Anima quae à Deo fornicata est casta esse non potest He that believeth ill can never live well Grace and Truth are Twins that live and die together Moral Vertue is very defective in it self Sapientia eorum plerumque abscondit vitia non abscindit All their Craft was to hide a Lust not to root it out 3. That they have not a sound apprehension of Truth that have no Grace There may be a naked and unactive Apprehension that is not accompanied with Power they learn Truth by rote and rest in a vain Speculation but have no strength to perform their Duty 2 Tim. 3.5 compared with Rom. 2.20 What in one place is called a Form of Godliness is in the other called a Form of Knowledg Poor slight and superficial Apprehensions of the Truth they take up Truth not upon any Divine Testimony or Evidence of the Spirit but upon the Credit and Authority of Men the Practice and Profession of the Nation or the Injunctions of a Civil State This is the account of most Mens Truth and Faith Alas Truth thus received entreth not upon the Heart Men gain but a disciplinary Knowledg a literal Knowledg and a spiritual Knowledg differ Ephes. 4.21 If so be that ye have heard of him and have been taught by him as the Truth is in Jesus When a Man receiveth it out of the Hands of the Spirit of Christ it frameth and disposeth the Heart to Godliness So Col. 1.6 Since ye heard of it and knew the Grace of God in Truth The tasting of a Thing excelleth the reading of it the true inward powerful affectionate Knowledg affecteth the Heart and altereth and changeth it A Man knoweth no more of Christ than he valueth esteemeth and affecteth and which puts the whole inward Man into an holy spiritual Frame Good Principles if heartily embraced will 〈◊〉 a good Conversation The Point needeth to be heeded in these Times when Knowledg is increased but practice and strictness suffereth an abatement and decay Boni esse desinunt postquam docti evaserint What Strength and Power of Religion possesses the Heart When you know the Truth doth it carry you to God and Godliness 4. They that are above Scriptures have no true Holiness God sanctifieth by the Truth It is strange how Charity over-reacheth to saint Antiscripturists and Men above Ordinances whereas it is the true Ground and Reason of Sanctification As Bernard saith of some That whilst they plead for the Salvation of Heathens scarce shew themselves Christians So I am afraid our excessive Charity to Men argueth little Affection to God God accepteth no Holiness but Word-Holiness and worketh Holiness no other way I doubt they that despise Prophesying quench the Spirit When
What they know not naturally as brute Beasts in those things they corrupt themselves Suppose they use the Spectacles of Art to help the Native Light of Reason with Industry yet their Eyes are blind How erroneous in Religion were the Civil Nations Rom. 1.22 Professing themselves to be wise they became Fools very foolish in Matters of Worship The Romans placed Fear Humane Passions and every paltry thing among their Gods The ruder and more brutish Nations worshipped only the Sun and Thunder things great and wonderful And still now we see great Scholars given over to fond Superstitions Nay go higher suppose besides the Spectacles of Art Nature be furnished with the Glass of the Word yet we see great Scholars very defective in the most useful and practical Points Nicodemus a Teacher in Israel knew not Regeneration John 3.10 Usually they delight rather in Moral Strains than Mysteries of Faith and err in one Point or another usually the Controversies of their Age they are blinded by Pride or Interest are loth to stoop to Truth revealed and so are outstarted by the Vulgar Surgunt indocti rapiunt Coelam c. they dispute away Heaven while others surprize it Nay suppose they had an exact Model and Proportion of Faith and do pry into all the Secrets of Religion as it is possible to do with the common Light and Help of the Spirit which is as far as a Reprobate can go yet all this is without any change of Affection without any savour or relish of Truth This Speculative and Artificial Knowledg doth not change the Heart But here is an Objection Many Carnal Men have great Parts and profess the Knowledg of the True God I Answer 1. The greatest part of the World lieth in Ignorance they are born in Darkness live in Darkness love Darkness more than Light and are under the Powers of Darkness Ephes. 6.12 The Rulers of the Darkness of this World The Devil hath a large Territory over all the blind Nations 2. Carnal Men that own the True God and profess him yet in a Scripture-sense they do not know him For Knowledg not being affective it is reputed Ignorance John 8.54 55. Of whom ye say that he is your God Yet ye have not known him but I know him and if I should say I know him not I shall be a Liar like unto you but I know him and keep his Saying It is a Lie to pretend to Knowledg without Obedience 1 John 2.4 5. And hereby we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Liar and the Truth is not in him For all their great Parts they are but Spiritual Fools they have no true Wisdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So are all Carnal Men Titus 3.3 We our selves also were sometimes foolish out of our Wits They do not understand things Spiritual and such as tend to maintain Communion with God they love and do those things with delight that are against all Reason hurtful to Body and Soul Natural Men are sometimes represented as Fools that judg amiss sometimes as Infants that know nothing Isa. 28.9 Whom shall he teach Knowledg and whom shall he make to understand Doctrine they that are weaned from the Milk and drawn from the Breast Sometimes as Beasts that are uncapable of Understanding Psal. 32.9 Be ye not as the Horse or as the Mule that hath no Vnderstanding Fools they are in their choice that prefer a Nut or an Apple before a Jewel they spend all their time in looking after Riches and Honours and such kind of things as do not conduce to Eternity for Carnal Pleasures forfeit their Souls and yet think themselves very wise In their Course they make War with Heaven and enter into the Lists with God as if they were stronger than he In their presumption they give out themselves for the Sons of God when they are the Devil's Children as if a Man born of a Beggar should pretend to be the Son of a King Fools and Mad-men challenge all Lands as theirs so do they all Promises and Comforts Within a little while experience will shew them to be Fools their Eyes are never opened to see their Folly till it be too late Luke 12.20 Thou Fool this Night thy Soul shall be required of thee Jer. 17.11 As a Partridg sitteth on Eggs and hatcheth them not so he that getteth Riches and not by Right shall leave them in the midst of his Days and at his End shall be a Fool. There is no Fool to the Carnal Fool Godly Men are only wise that are wise to save their Souls Vse It informeth us 1. Of our Misery by Nature For as the Reprobate lost World are so are we all by Nature we have no Knowledg of the True God Job 11.12 Vain Man would be wise tho Man be born like a wild Asses Colt We are apt to think our selves Angels but we are Beasts Every one affects the repute of Wisdom we would rather be accounted Wicked than Weak If a Man were born with an Asses Head or were monstrous and mishapen in his Body this were sad It is worse to be born with the Heart of an Ass to be born like a Wild-Asses Colt with such gross and rude Conceits of God and Holy Things This is our Estate by Nature 2. The Danger of Ignorance it is the state of the Reprobate World It is good to think of it partly that we may avoid it our selves and strive for Knowledg partly that we may be thankful if we have obtained Knowledg and partly that we might pity others as Christ wept over Jerusalem Luke 19.41 42. And when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes It is one of God's sorest Judgments when the Lord hath left threatning other things then he threatens a blind Heart and a vain Mind The great reproach that Nahash would lay upon Israel was to put out their right Eyes The great Design of the God of this World upon the Men of this World is to put out their Eyes that they might not come to the Knowledg of the Truth 3. Positive Ignorance is a sign that we are of the World I mean where we have Means and Opportunities to the contrary and do not come to the Knowledg of God and of his Ways 1 John 2.13 I write unto you little Children because ye have known the Father God hath no Child so little but he knows his Father The blind World knows him not when there is Night in the Understanding or Frost in the Heart it is a sign of a Worlding when Men are ignorant unteachable and do not grow in Knowledg God's Children many times may be ignorant and do not profit according to their Advantages John 14.9 Have I been so long
concerning his Essence and Will Psal. 138.2 Thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name there he hath made himself most known In Creation and Providence we may read much of God but in the Bible more and chiefly his Word of Promise and Covenant which is that Theater upon which his Mercy and Truth is discovered which is the Representation wherein God delighteth And again the Covenant as it is revealed in the Gospel is a chief part of his Name for his Name was secret before the New-Testament-Dispensation was set afoot Judg. 13.18 Why askest thou thus after my Name seeing it is secreet There was little known of the Trinity of the Son of God the Incarnation of the Son of God c. 1. Point That one great Priviledg of the Gospel is to know God by his right Name 1. I shall shew you how God's Name and Title hath been often changed and altered because he would acquaint his People with his full Name by degrees Exod. 6.3 I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the Name of God Almighty but by my Name IEHOVAH was I not known to them First to Abraham to distinguish him from Idols and false Gods El Shaddai then Jehovah as giving Being to his People making good his Promises after God of Abraham God of Isaac and God of Jacob as relating more to the Covenant then God that brought them out of the Land of Egypt Exod. 20.2 then God that brought them out of the Land of the North then the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ before that The Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23.6 The Jewish Church knew little of the Doctrine of the Trinity distinction of the Persons quality of the Mediator God proclaimed his Name Exod. 34.6 7. The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in Goodness and Truth keeping Mercy for thousands forgiving Iniquity and Transgression and Sin but the way of Pardon was not then so fully discovered Some Names God hath from Everlasting as Eternal Infinite some relate to the present State as Creator Lord God in Covenant the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. 2. What the Gospel especially doth discover more of God 1. The Distinction of the Persons in the Godhead At the Baptism of Christ the whole Trinity was sensibly present the Son in the Body the Father in the Voice and the Holy Ghost in the form of a Dove This was the Mystery brought upon the Stage 2. The Incarnation of Christ 1 Tim. 3.16 God manifest in the Flesh. The World was acquainted with this great help to Piety The Jews had a Temple here is a Temple wherein the Godhead dwelleth bodily Col. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily 3. The Attributes of God are more amply declared Every Excellency of God hath its proper Theater where it is seen In the Gospel all are discovered but chiefly Mercy Justice and Truth His Power and his Wisdom are seen in the World but more in the Gospel the Heavens do not declare half so much of the Glory of God as the Word and Doctrine which Christ brought out of the Father's Bosom 1 Cor. 1.24 Christ the Wisdom of God and the Power of God There is Truth 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the Promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen The greatest Assurance of his Faithfulness was his sending Christ that which we expect is nothing so difficult to believe as the Incarnation of the Son of God his second coming is not so unlikely as his first if he came to Suffer and to Purchase he will come to Reign His Wisdom in joining God and Man together in the Person of Christ Justice and Mercy together Comfort and Duty together in the Covenant of Grace two Natures two Attributes God loseth no Honour Man wanteth no Encouragement God sheweth his Justice Rom. 3.26 To declare I say at this time his Righteousness that he might be Just and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus While the Sacrifices continued God only shewed Patience and Forbearance His Holiness and Hatred of Sin by laying it on Christ punishing it in Christ. His Wrath the most dreadful sight of God's Wrath is upon Golgotha God spared not his Son But his Grace that was on the top Tit. 3.4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards Man appeared This is the Attribute that beareth sway in the Gospel Mercy is in Office ever since the Fall there was not so much Kindness to Man discovered in Innocency God did good to a good Man there was no Mercy to Enemies then there Man was made after God's Image here God is made after our Image and Likeness Mercy and Grace comes now to shew it self to the World Vse Let us admire and study more the Name of God in the Gospel The first Letter of Christ's Name is Wonderful He is a Mystery that is worthy our Contemplation The Angels have known more of God since Christ was revealed Eph. 3.10 To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God Let it take up your Thoughts set your Minds awork Heb. 3.1 Wherefore Holy Brethren partakers of the Heavenly Calling consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession Jesus Christ. There cannot be a more affective humbling and Heart-changing Consideration 2. Point That none can discover this Name of God but Christ none Authoritatively none perfectly 1. None Authoritatively can fix his Name by which he shall be known among the Creatures The imposition of Names implieth Superiority the less is named of the greater Adam had this favour to name the Beasts as having Authority over them Gen. 2.19 20. And out of the Ground the Lord formed every Beast of the Field and every Fowl of the Air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them and whatsoever Adam called every Living Creature that was the Name thereof And Adam gave Names to all Cattel and to the Fowl of the Air and to every Beast of the Field Now God is over all there is no higher to name him therefore he nameth himself Jesus Christ who is the very Image of God he cometh and declareth his Name My Name is in him Exod. 23.21 He is God and therefore Authoritatively fixeth the Name of God establisheth the Gospel as the Rule and Direction of the Church 2. None can so perfectly discover him Our Hearts are too narrow to conceive of God and our Tongues too weak to express him Prov. 30.4 What is his Name and what is his Son's Name if thou canst tell Who knoweth his Pedigree exactly Who knoweth his Being Who hath been in his Bosom to discover him so as Christ hath done we must have a borrowed Light to see him Vse 1. Sit down with this Revelation which Christ hath left in the Church there is enough to instruct Faith tho not to satisfy
giving all diligence add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledg c. wherefore the rather brethren give all diligence to make your calling and election sure c. for if ye do these things ye shall never fall for we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. So for Consideration Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider the Apostle and high priest of our profession Jesus Christ. The weightiest things lye by and are as if they were not sleepy reason is as none and the most important truths work not till consideration make them lively so for application what concerneth us not is passed over unless we hear things with a care to apply them we shall never make use of them Eph. 1.13 After ye heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation 'T is not enough to know the Gospel to be a Doctrine of Salvation to others but we must look upon it as a Doctrine that bringeth salvation to our own doors and leaveth it upon our choice a plaister doth not heal at a distance till it be applied to the sore truths are too remote till we set the edg and point of them to our own hearts Now this Question in the Text relateth to all Three 1. It challengeth our faith What shall we say to these things Do we believe them and assent to them as certain verities The Apostle doth in effect demand what we can reply or say to these things The unbelieving dark and doubtful heart of man hath many things to say against divine truths let God say what he will the heart is ready to gainsay it yet 't is good to press our selves thoroughly with the light and evidence of truths to compel the heart to bring forth its objections and scruples if any mind to contradict have we any solid arguments to oppose truth wanteth its efficacy when 't is received with an half conviction and doubts smothered breed Atheism irreligion and gross negligence certainly the weighty truths of Christianity are so clear that the heart of man hath little or nothing to say against them therefore follow it to a full conviction doth any scruple yet remain in our minds 't is good thoroughly to sift things that they may appear in their proper lustre and evidence John 11.26 Believest thou this Pose your hearts 2. This question doth excite consideration or meditation We should not pass by comfortable and important truths with a few glancing and running thoughts 't is one part of the work of grace to hold our hearts upon them Acts 16.14 Whose heart the Lord opened that she attended to the things that were spoken Otherwise in seeing we see not and in hearing we hear not when we see and hear things in a crowd of other thoughts as when you tell a man of a business whose mind is taken up about other things no your minds must dwell upon these things till you are affected with them a full survey of the object sheweth us the worth of it What shall we say to these things That is what can be said more for our comfort and satisfaction Or what do we desire more How should we be satisfied with this felicity and love of the Ever-blessed God to his people 3. It awakeneth application to our selves that we may make use of these things for our own good Application is twofold direct or reflexive and the question may be explained with respect to both 1. Direct application As when we infer and bind our duty upon our selves from such principles as are laid down so What shall we say to these things That is what use shall we make of them Christianity is not a matter of speculation only but of practise therefore when we hear the truth of it enforced we must commune with our selves What doth this call for at our hands but serious diligence 2 Pet. 3.11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness The truths of the Gospel are not propounded that we may talk at an higher rate than others do but to live at an higher rate if I should be negligent indifferent careless What will become of me 2. Reflexive application is when we consider our state and course and judg of it by such general truths as are propounded to us direct application is by way of practical inference reflexive by way of discovery and to this sense may this question be interpreted What shall we say to these things Doth heart and practise agree with them Do I live answerable to these comforts and priviledges What am I one called and sanctified and one that continueth with patience in well doing upon the hope of eternal life 2 Cor. 13.5 Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye are reprobates If Christ be formed in his people is he formed in me Thus things must be brought home to the heart and laid to the conscience if we would make a profitable use of them USE is to awaken this self-communing To make our assent more strong our consideration more deep and serious and our application either by way of inference or discovery more close and pungent Do we assent Is this a truth to be lightly passed over If this be true what must I do Or what have I done Now this you should do upon these occasions 1. When you are tempted to unbelief There are some points which are remote from sense and cross the desires and lusts of sensual men and we either deny them or doubt of them or our hearts are full of prejudice against them and also the Devil doth inject thoughts of blasphemy or doubts about the world to come into the hearts of people especially in those that take Religion upon trust or are secretly false to that Religion they have received upon some evidence Now to prevent all this 't is good to commune with our selves that we may be well settled in the truth therefore see with what evidence the great things of the other world are represented unto us in the Word of God and what a just title they have to our firmest belief Faith will not be settled without serious thoughts and it soon withereth there where it hath not much depth of earth Matth. 13.5 6. No thoughts in the highway ground slight thoughts in the stony ground faith is a child of light and given upon certain grounds Luke 1.4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed and Acts 17.11 12. They searched the Scriptures whether those things were so Therefore many of them believed But presumption and slight credulity is a child of darkness the fruit of ignorance and incogitancy therefore 't is good in those truths that need it most to ask What say we to these things 2. When you are in danger
John 10.28 29. This is the great security of the Fold that they are under the power of so careful and so able a Shepherd This Almighty power of God and Christ doth mightily fortifie us against all temptations we meet with in the way to Heaven 6. This right accrueth to believers by virtue of their interest in Christ 1 Cor. 3.22 23. All things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or to come all are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods All things are theirs wherein they are concerned if not in possession yet in reduction or final use Friends Enemies Ordinances Providences all conditions Life Death If you resolve firmly to obey Christ and adhere to him you need not fear any thing Now upon these grounds a Christian may conclude that nothing shall separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 4. That we ought firmly to be perswaded of this here I shall shew you how this perswasion is bred in us 1. By the word of the Gospel discovering to us the whole mystery of our Redemption by Christ with all the consequent benefits There all Gods merciful designs for the justifying sanctifying and glorifying the creature are manifested to us as matter of our faith Acts 19.8 And perswading the things concerning the kingdom of God The Doctrine and end of his Ministry was to perswade men of the necessity of coming out of their lapsed estate and the power of the Devil and to put themselves under the government of the King whom God hath set upon his holy hill of Sion that he may defend them against the Devil the World and the Flesh and at length bring them to everlasting happiness Again Acts 28.23 And he expounded and testified the kingdom of God perswading them concerning Jesus c. Assuring them of his sufficiency to save them Now this they did partly by shewing the danger of the contrary 2 Cor. 5.11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we perswade men and partly by shewing the grace and readiness of God to own them in all troubles Acts 13.43 Perswading them to continue in the grace of God And if men do quarrel at this dispensation they will not be edified by any other be it never so extraordinary Luke 16.31 Neither will they be perswaded though one should rise from the dead There is more reason to perswade the Scriptures are true than if a message were brought to us by a vision or apparition which would not induce us to quit our sinful habits and customs Now this is the means when we receive it and are perswaded of it 2. By the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we may know the things that are freely given us of God The spirit of God is necessary that we may believe the Doctrine of the Gospel and cure our worldly and sensual inclinations for who else will be brought to forsake the things which he seeth and loveth for a God and a Glory which he never saw 3. By faith which is a perswasion of the truth of such things as God hath revealed because God hath revealed them 1 John 4.16 And we have known and believed the love which God hath to us 'T is matter of faith to believe the love and care of God over his people 4. Experience The perswasion with application increaseth our confidence His love to us in particular is known by what he hath wrought in us and for us and this increaseth our perswasion and breedeth in us a holy confidence 2 Cor. 1.10 Who hath delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 2 Tim. 4.17 18. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthned me and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lyon and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work In this perswasion confirmed seasoned experienced Christians do continue who have not only a true faith in Christ and a settled love to him but such as maketh up an evidence in their conscience of their sincerity and giveth an undoubted perswasion of his love to them 1. They are such as are rooted and grounded in faith The full comfort of Christianity is reserved for such as are described by the Apostle Col. 1.23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel There is an initial faith which may wither as the grace of the second and third ground and there is a rooted faith which will be supported and maintained in the good and honest heart Therefore 't is not sufficient once to assent to the truth of the Gospel in our understandings or imbrace the good things offered to us by our will and affections but we must be rooted and grounded in the faith Fluctuating opinion without a well-grounded perswasion will not serve the turn Some slight desires and affections to blessedness to come will not maintain us against the several blasts of so many temptations as we meet with but we must get a faith that will make us indifferent to all worldly things heighth or depth life or death The sound world-conquering faith will only give us safety and I am sure will only give us comfort 1 John 5.4 For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith Such a sound belief of blessedness to come maketh us dead to the present world 2. Such as are rooted and grounded in love A taste may fail Heb. 6.3 4. A slender insufficient touch of the love of God upon the soul will not break the force of opposite inclinations and temptations Eph. 3.17 18 19. That ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able with all saints to comprehend what is the breadth and length and depth and heigth and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge A sincere love doth so fasten us to Christ that no temptation is able to shake us or unloose us for they are acquainted more and more with Christs love and admire it are ravished by it feel the effects of it The breadth noteth the great blessings we have by it or the ample priviledges of the New Covenant The length the duration of it from one eternity to another The depth of it his profound condescention fetching us out of Hell its self by a painful cursed and ignominious death The heigth as it raised us up to the glory of Heaven and that everlasting blessedness Now none are said to comprehend this but those that are rooted and grounded in love that is to comprehend them to their comfort and joy to comprehend it to their conquest and victory over temptations to comprehend it as their triumph and confidence None but those whose hearts are filled with the love of God and
of an infinite and unlimited Dignity and Authority how could the punishment of the Body by Death be proportionable to the offence committed against an infinite God An outrage done to the supream Majesty of Princes is punished more than an Offence against an inferiour person therefore there must be a time when the Body shall be raised to be capable of such a Punishment Besides how could the Soul be compleatly happy since 't was made for a Body if it should alwayes remain a Widow and never meet with its old mate again 2. It argueth from the Providence of God There are many Judgments that are Pledges that God will at length judge the World for sin as the Drowning of the old World the Burning of Sodom the Destruction of Jerusalem these are a document and proof what God will do to the rest of ungodly ones for they are set forth as an ensample Jude v. 7. The force of the Argument lyeth in this that God is the same still in one mind who can turn him he hateth the sin of one as well as the other in all his dispensations he is alwayes consonant and like himself Gal. 3.20 If he would not put up the sins of the old World he will not put off the Iniquities of the new if he punished Sodom he will punish others that sin in like manner for he is not grown more indulgent to sin than he was before Therefore if it be not now there will be a time when he will call them to an account and reckoning When Man first sinned God did not immediately execute the Sentence against him but gave him time of Repentance 'till he dyed and since he giveth every man time and space he would not have all the World be born at once and die at once but to live in several successions of Ages from Father to Son in divers Generations 'till he cometh to the period which Providence hath fixed Now as he reckoneth with every man particularly at Death so with all the world at the end of time Particular Judgments shew that God is not asleep nor unmindful of humane affairs but the general Judgment is referred 'till then 3. From the feelings of Conscience After sin committed men tremble though there be none to call them to an account as when the sin is secret and the person powerfull Conscience is under a dread of divine Justice and the solemn Process and Triumph which one day it must have hence Conscience is sensible Rom. 2.8 Felix trembled when Paul reasoned of Judgment to come Acts 24.25 There are hidden fears in the Conscience which is soon revived and awakened by the thought of this day Every guilty person is a Prisoner to Divine Justice and being held in the invisible chains of Conscience standeth in dread of a great and general Assize 4. The Conveniency of such a day 1. To vindicate Truth and Honesty from the false Judgment of the World The best Cause is often oppressed there needeth a review of things by an higher Court that that which is good may be restored to its publick Honour and evil may receive its proper Shame Christ will convince the World of his Love to the Saints when he cometh to be admired in them 2 Thes. 1.10 and when their Faith is found to Praise and Glory 1 Pet. 1.7 Thus shall it be done to the men whom Christ will honour proclaim their Pardon adorn them with Grace introduce them into their everlasting Habitations and this in the eyes of the scorning wicked as that Noble man Thine eyes shall see it but not taste of it then for their everlasting Confusion their Crimes shall be repeated in the ears of all the World and their false appearances shall be refuted 2. That the Counsels and Courses of Gods manifold Wisdom and Justice may be solemnly applauded We now view Providence by pieces but then the whole Context and coherence of it shall be set together and the full History of all the world produced before the Saints 3. Such a coming is necessary that God may fit us with all kind of Arguments against sin and so a restraint will be put upon the heart against it many times sin and wickedness is acted in secret Eccles. 12.14 God will bring every work into the Judgment with every secret thought whether it be good or evil And 1 Cor. 4.5 Christ will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the Counsels of the Heart Many make no Conscience of secret sins and if they make Conscience of Acts yet not of thoughts yet according to Christs Theology Malice is Heart-murther lustful inclinations Heart-adultery Mind-imaginations are Heart-Idolatry There may be a great deal of evil in a discontented thought against Providence Psa. 73.22 He that sinneth secretly is conscious to himself that he doth evil and therefore seeketh a vail and covering Men are unjust in secret unclean in secret envious in secret declaim against Gods Children in secret neglect Duty in secret sensual in secret afraid that men should know it yet not afraid of the great God Man cannot damn us man cannot fill our Consciences with everlasting burnings Now that we may be ashamed to commit those sins before God the day of Judgment is appointed to set these sins in order before us Psa. 50.22 I will reprove thee and set thy sins in order before thee Secondly If it be doubtful to Reason 't is sure to Faith Faith sheweth he will come The light of Faith is more certain and more distinct More certain because it buildeth upon a divine testimony which is more infallible than the ghesses of Reason and yields us a more compendious way to confute Atheism than our arguings by which we are often entangled 'T is so for God hath said it And 't is more distinct Nature could never find out the circumstances of that day It only apprehendeth the coming of a Judge but by whom this Judgment shall be managed in what quality he shall come as a Bridegroom and Lord and Husband of the Church it knoweth nothing In what manner he shall proceed and with what Company and Attendance all this we have from special Revelation Faith argueth 1. From Christs merit and purchase Would he buy us at so dear a rate and cast us off so lightly as to come no more at us surely he that came to Redeem us will come to save us if he came to suffer he will come to triumph Faith seeing Christ upon the Cross determineth I shall see him in the Clouds Would he be at all this cost and preparation for nothing and purchase what he never meant to possess It cannot be if he came from Heaven upon the one errand will he not come upon the other Surely Christ will not lose all this pains he hath taken to purchase to himself a People 2. Faith argueth from Christs Affection to us which is very great Christ is not gone in anger but about business to set all
ask Assurance is a ground of the more earnest Request When Daniel understood by Books the number of the Years then he was most earnest in Prayer and when Elijah heard the sound of the Rain he prayed Prayer is to help on Providences that are already in motion That thy Son also may glorify thee Here is another Argument It is usual in Prayer to speak of our selves in a third Person so doth Christ here That thy Son may glorify thee This may be understood many ways partly as the Glory of the Son is the Glory of the Father partly by accomplishing God's Work that I may destroy thy Enemies and save thy Elect partly by the preaching of the Gospel in Christ's Name to the Glory of God the Father He doth as it were say I desire it for no other end but that I may bring Honour to thee From this Clause 1. Observe That God's Glory is much advanced in Jesus Christ. In the Scriptures there is a Draught of God as Coin bears the Image of Caesar but Caesar's Son is his lively Resemblance Christ is the living Bible we may read much of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. We shall study no other Book when we come to Heaven for the present it is an advantage to study God in Jesus Christ. The Apostle hath an expression 2 Cor. 4.4 Lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Christ is the Image of God and the Gospel is the Picture of Christ the Picture which Christ himself hath presented to his Bride There we see the Majesty and Excellency of his Person and in Christ of God And Vers. 6. the Apostle saith To give the Light of the Excellency of the Knowledg of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. In Christ we read God glorious in his Word Miracles personal Excellencies Transfiguration Resurrection we read much of God There we read his Justice that he would not forgive Sins without a plenary Satisfaction If Christ himself be the Redeemer Justice will not bate him one Farthing His Mercy he spared not his own Son What scanty low Thoughts should we have of the Divine Mercy if we had not this Instance of Christ His Truth in fulfilling of Prophecies Psal. 40.7 8. Then said I Lo I come in the volume of the Book it is written of me I delight to do thy Will O my God yea thy Law is within my Heart This was most difficult for God to grant for us to believe yet rather then he would go back from his Word he would send his own Son to suffer Death for a sinful World All things were to be accomplished though it cost Christ his precious Life God had never a greater Gift yet Christ came when he was promised He will not stick at any thing that gave us his own Son His Wisdom in the wonderful contrivance of our Salvation When we look to God's Heaven we see his Wisdom but when we look on God's Son we see the manifold Wisdom of God Ephes. 3.10 The Angels wonder at these Dispensations to the Church His Power in delivering Christ from Death and the glorious Effects of his Grace His Majesty in the Transfiguration and Ascension of Christ. O then study Christ that you may know God There is the fairest Transcript of the Divine Perfections the Father was never published to the World by any thing so much as by the Son 2. Observe Our Respects to Christ must be so managed that the Father also may be glorified for upon these terms and no other will Christ be glorified 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the Promises in him are Yea and in him Amen to the Glory of God by us Phil. 2.10 11. That at the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow and every Tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father John 14.13 Whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son Look as the Father will not be honoured without the Son John 5.23 That all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father he that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him so neither will the Son be honoured without the Father I condemneth them who out of a fond respect to Christ neglect the Father As the former Age carried all respect in the Name of God Almighty without any distinct reflection on God the Son So many of late carry all things in the Name of God the Son that the Adoration due to the other Persons is forgotten The Wind of Error doth not always blow in one Corner When the heat of such an Humour is spent Christ will be as much vilified and debased Our Hearts should not be frigidly and coldly affected to any of the Divine Persons 3. Observe It is the proper Duty of Sons to glorify their Father Mal. 1.6 If I be a Father where is mine Honour Mat. 5.16 Let your Light so shine before Men that others seeing your good Works may glorify your Father which is in Heaven How must this be done 1. By reverend Thoughts of his Excellency especially in Worship then we honour him when we behave our selves before him as before a great God this is to make him glorious in our own Hearts When we conceive of him as more excellent than all things Usually we have mean base thoughts by which we streighten or pollute the Divine Excellency 2. By serious Acknowledgments give him Glory Rev. 4.11 Thou art worthy O Lord to receive Glory and Honour and Power for thou hast created all things and for thy Pleasure they are and were created Now this is not in naked ascriptions of Praise to him pratling over words but when we confess all the Glory we have above other Men in Gifts or Dignity is given us of God this is to make him the Father of Glory Ephes. 1.17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledg of him 3. When we make the advantage of his Kingdom the end of all our Actions 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatever you do do all to the Glory of God Phil. 1.20 Christ shall be magnified in my Body whether it be by Life or by Death Christ had glorified him yet he seeks now to do it more Self will be mixing with our Ends but it must be beaten back We differ little from Beasts if we mind only our own Conveniences 4. By making this the aim of our Prayers We should desire Glory and Happiness upon no other terms Ephes. 1.6 To the Praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved It is a mighty encouragement in Prayer when we are sure to be heard John 12.28 Father glorifie thy Name then came there a Voice from Heaven
sought thy Precepts I am thine Lord I would not be my own unless I be thine As those who being denied Protection by the Romans offered up themselves and their whole Estate to them Si nostra tueri non vultis at vestra defendetis quicquid passuri sumus dedititii vestri patiantur c. SERMON III. JOHN XVII 3 And this is Life Eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent HEre our Lord declareth the Way Means and Order how he would give Eternal Life to the Elect and so it is added as an Amplification of the former Argument The words must be expounded by a Metonymy Such kind of Predications are frequent in Scripture John 3.19 This is the Condemnation c. that is the Cause of it Sometimes it signifies the outward Means John 12.50 His Commandment is Life Everlasting that is his Word is the most assured Means of it Sometimes the principal Cause Jesus Christ is the true God and Eternal Life 1 John 5.20 that is the Author of it This is Life Eternal Some understand these words formally as if they were a Description of Eternal Life which consisteth in a sight of God But I suppose it rather layeth down the Way and Means and sheweth rather what is the Beginning and Original of Eternal Life than the Formality and Essence of it It is not in this Eternal Life consisteth but by this Means it is gotten and obtained 1. Partly because the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is here used is proper to the Light of Faith and so it is used Vers. 7. They have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee and Vers. 8. They have known surely that I came out from thee Vision is proper to the light of Glory it is more usually exprest by seeing than knowing vers 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may behold my Glory 2. Christ is proving the Reason that unless he were glorified he could not bestow Eternal Life for there could be no Knowledg without his Ascension into Heaven and effusion of the Gifts of the holy Ghost and so by consequence no Eternal Life so that the words must be explained This is Life Eternal that is this is the way to Life Eternal or Life Eternal begun and in the Root and Foundation That they may know thee That must be understood by way of Apposition This is Life Eternal to know thee and Knowledg is here put for Faith or Saving-Knowledg It is a known Rule that words of Knowledg do imply â—â—itable Affections as 1 Thess. 5.12 We beseech you to know them which labour among you that is reverence them Or more clearly to the present Case 1 John 2.4 He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Liâ—r and the Truth is not in him Our Saviour understandeth not naked and unactive Speculations concerning God and Christ or a naked Map or Model of Divine Truths Bare Knowledg cannot be sufficient to Salvation but a lively and effectual Light Faith is intended as is clear by the mention of the double Object God and Christ He that knoweth God in Christ knoweth him for his reconciled Father and so leaneth on him And affections and Motions of Grace are intended for it must be such a knowledg of God as discerneth him to be the chiefest Good and only Happiness They know not God that do not chuse him for their Portion They that know thy Name will put their Trust in thee Psalm 9.10 Again suitable Practice and Conversation is implied for surely St. John knew Christ's meaning 1 John 2.3 Hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his Commandments So that in Knowledg all the genuine Effects of it are included Assent Affiance Practice Choice necessary respect to God and Christ. Literal Instruction is not enough to Eternal Life A Carnal Man may know much of God and Christ and yet be miserable In point of the Object I know no difference between godly and carnal Persons all the difference is in the force and efficacy as fair Water and strong Water differ not in Colour but only in Strength and Operation I confess in Matters Evangelical Nature is most blind but by reason of common Gifts they may have a great proportion of Knowledg as to the Letter more than many of God's Children But of this elsewhere The only true God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Much ado there hath been about this Clause I shall endeavour to bring all to a short decision The Doubt is How can the Father be said to be the only true God since the Spirit and the Son do also communicate in the Divine Essence 1. Some to salve the matter invert the order of the words thus To know thee and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent to be the only true God But if the construction would bear it what provision is there then made for the God-head of the Holy Spirit which is also a fundamental Article 2. Some say that the Father is not to be taken strictly and personally for the First Person but essentially for the whole God-head But this seemeth not so plausible an Answer for then Christ must pray to himself He prayeth here as God-man and all along to the Father For my part I think the Expression is used for a two-fold Reason 1. To exclude the Idols and false Gods 2. To note the Order and Oeconomy of Salvation 1. To exclude the Idols of the Gentiles foreign and false Gods such as are extra-essential to the Father and to note That that God-head is only true that is in the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee the only thee the true God The Son and the Holy Ghost are not excluded who are of the same Essence with the Father Christ and the Spirit are true God not without but in the Father John 10.30 I and my Father are One. John 14.30 I am in the Father and the Father in me not divided in Essence though distinguished in Personality Such kind of expressions are 〈◊〉 in the Scriptures when any of the Persons are spoken of singly as Rom. 9.5 â—â—ere Christ is said to be God over all blessed for ever And more expresly he is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the only true God 1 John 5.20 by which neither the Father nor the Spirit are excluded from the Godhead Many such exclusive Particles there are in Scripture which must be expounded by the Analogy of Faith as Mat. 11.27 None knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any Man the Father but the Son where the Spirit is not excluded who searcheth the depths of God 1 Cor. 2.10 One Person of the Trinity doth not exclude the rest So see Isa. 43.11 I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour Which is applied to Christ Acts 4.12 Neither is
are not but are the Synagogue of Satan Mr. Greenham tells of one who was executed at Norwich for an Atheist first he was a Papist then a Protestant then he fell off from all Religion and turned Atheist How can you believe it is true that there is God when this Truth hath so little power on the Heart 3. It presseth you to lay this Principle up with Care All Satan's malice is to bring you to a denial of this Supream Truth it is good to discern his Wiles There are special Seasons when you are most liable to Atheism When Providence is adverse Prayers are not heard and those that worship God are in the worst Case the Lord doth not come in when we would have him The Devil worketh upon our Stomach and Discontent and when we are vexed that we have not our Desires we complain as Israel Exod. 17.7 Is the Lord among us or no when they wanted Water But still our God is in the Heavens and doth whatsoever he pleaseth The Saints in their Expostulation still yield the Principle Psal. 73.1 Truly God is good to Israel however the state of things are yet he is resolved to hold to Principles So Jer. 12.1 he layeth it down as an undoubted Maxim Righteous art thou O God! God is God still So when we meet with Oppression Men pervert Judgment others forswear themselves our Innocency doth not prevail the Devil abuseth the rage of Passions in such a Case As Diagoras a noted Atheist among the Heathens became so upon this occasion he saw a Man deeply forswearing himself and yet was not striken with a Thunder-bolt Consider though this be a sure Temptation yet there is a God Eccles 3.16 17. I saw under the Sun the Place of Judgment that Wickedness was there and the Place of Righteousness that Iniquity was there What then I said in my Heart God shall judg the Righteous and the Wicked for there is a time for every Purpose and for every Work God will have a time to judg this Matter e're long still recover your supreme Principle out of the hands of the Temptation So in times of general Oppression when the innocent Party are left as a Prey to their Adversaries Eccles. 5.8 When thou seest the Violent perverting of Judgment and Justice in a Province marvel not at the Matter for he that is higher than the highest regardeth and there be higher than they We may lose all outward Supports but not our God Attamen vivit Christus regnat So when second Causes operate and accomplish their wonted Effects according to their fixed and stated Course all things continue as they were 2 Pet. 3.4 they think the World is governed by Chance or Nature so this proveth a Snare But you should see God at the other end of Causes he can change them as he pleaseth SERMON IV. JOHN XVII 3 And this is Life Eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent DOCT. II. THE next Proposition is That this God is but one Thee the only true God Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is one Lord. The Heathens multiplied Gods according to their own Fancies They had Lords many and Gods many Austin in one of his Epistles speaketh of one Maximius a Heathen who excuseth the Polytheism of the Gentiles that they worshipped but one Supream Essence though under divers Names Ejus quasi quaedam membra variis supplicationibus prosequimur ut totum colere valeamus That they had several Deities that they might as by so many several Parcels adore the whole Divine Essence The Truth is Nature hath some sense of it for as it sheweth there is a God so it sheweth there is but one God Socrates was a Martyr to this Truth The Platonicks worshipped one Supream Essence whom they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Philosophers sometimes called God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Being sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that one thing Tertullian proveth that the Soul was naturaliter Christiana as he speaketh Oh testimonium Animae naturaliter Christianae which he proveth from the Forms of Speech then in use Deus videt c. What God shall award God seeth let God determine of me and for me And in Troubles they cryed out O God! and in Straits they did not look to the Capitol the imagined Seat of such Gods as the Romans worshipped but to Heaven the Seat of the Living God Thus it it is with the Soul saith he when recovered out of a Distemper The Truth is it was the dotage and darkness of their Spirits to acknowledg many Gods as Drunkards and Madmen usually see things double two Suns for one But besides the consent of Nations to give you Reasons There is a God and therefore but one God there can be but one first Cause and one Infinite one Best one most Perfect one Omnipotent If one can do all things what need more Gods If both be Omnipotent we must conceive them as agreeing or disagreeing if disagreeing all would be brought to nothing if agreeing one is superfluous God hath decided the Controversy Isa. 44.8 Is there a God besides me Yea there is no God I know not any As if he said If any have cause to know I have but I know none This Point is useful not only to exempt the Soul from the anxious fear of a false Deity and to confute the Manichees Marcion Cerdo and others that held two sorts of Gods and those that parted the Godhead into three Essences and the Pagan Fry But Practically 1. It checketh those that set up other Gods besides him in their Hearts If there be but one God why do we make more and give Divine Honour to Creatures A Worldling maketh his Mony his God and a Sensualist his Belly his God Covetousness is called Idolatry and Phil. 3.19 Whose God is their Belly How is Covetousness Idolatry and how can any make their Belly their God Who ever was seen praying to his Pence or worshipping his own Belly I answer Though it be not done corporally and grosly yet it is done spiritually That which ingrosseth our Love and Confidence and Care and Choice and Delight that is set up in the room and place of God and this is to give Divine Honour to a Creature Now this is in Worldlings and Sensualists For Confidence they trust in their Riches for a supply do not live on Providence 1 Tim. 6.17 Charge them that are rich in this World that they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain Riches but in the Living God Prov. 10.15 A rich Man's Wealth is his strong City He is provided of a Defence against all the Chances and Stroaks of Providence So for Care a Man devoteth his Time to his God and the Sensualist sacrificeth his Estate his Health his Soul to his own Gullet many Sacrilegious Morsels to his own Throat every day he offereth a Drink-Offering and Meat-Offering to Appetite Oh
Brethren take heed of Gods of Man's making He is as much an Idolater that preferreth his Wealth to Obedience his Pleasures before God's Service as he that falleth down to a Stock It would be sad if on your Death-Beds God should turn you back as he did the Israelites in their distress Judges 10.14 Go and cry to the Gods whom ye have chosen let them deliver you in the time of your Tribulation Go to your Wealth to your Pleasures 2. If God be but One worship him with an intire Heart The Story goeth that the Senate hearing of the Miracles in Judea decreed Divine Worship to Christ but Tiberius the Emperor crossed it when he heard that he would be worshipped alone God is but one our Hearts should close with him as an All sufficient Portion There is enough in one The Scripture speaks of believing with all the Heart Other Comforts and Confidences must be disclaimed Sometimes Carnal Persons set their Hearts upon other Comforts Christ is not their whole Delight they would have Christ for their Consciences and the World for their Hearts Christ in an extremity but their Affections go out to other things Sometimes they will have other Confidences they would trust Christ for their Eternal Salvation to salve Conscience but the World ingrosses their Care as if they were to shift for themselves in temporal things and be Masters of their own Fortunes as it appeareth when temporal Supplies fail when visible Supplies are absent then they despair It is a meer mistake and folly to think it is easier to trust Christ for Pardon of Sins and Eternal Life than for daily Bread as Christ said Mark 2.9 Whether is easier to say Thy Sins are forgiven thee or to say Arise take up thy Bed and Walk The truth is Temporal Wants are more pressing and urging than Spiritual and Men are careless in the business of their Souls Doct. 3. The next Proposition is That this God is One in three Persons This also is collected from the Text. To know thee that is the Father with all the Coessential Persons They are undivided in Essence though distinguished in Personality Take a place of Scripture 1 John 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one Let me a little open the Doctrine of the Trinity by some short Observations This is a Mystery proper to the Scriptures Other Truths are revealed in Nature but this is a Treasure peculiar to the Church There are some Passages in Heathens that seem to look this way as Plato speaketh of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mind Word and Spirit And Trismegistus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. but these were either some general Notions received by Tradition from the Jews and by them misunderstood for they dream'd of three distinct separate Essences or else Passages foisted into their Writings by the fraud and fallacy of some Christians who counted it a piece of their Zeal to lye for God It is not likely that God would give the Heathens a more clear Revelation of these Mysteries than he did to his own People the Church of the Jews We find it but sparingly revealed in the Old Testament though I might bring many places where it is sufficiently hinted but more distinctly in the New after the visible and sensible discovery of the three Persons at Christ's Baptism Mat. 3.17 The Spirit of God descended like a Dove and lighted upon him and lo a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Voce Pater Natus Corpore Numen Ave. The whole Trinity were present at that Solemnity Some Darkness there is still upon the face of this Deep we shall have more perfect knowledg of it in the Heavens John 14.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity still troubleth the present weakness of Reason but when we shall see God face to face our Knowledg shall be more satisfactory and compleat For the present we must come to this Truth with a sober mind and adore it with a humble Piety lest we puzzle Faith while we would satisfy and inform Reason There are many words which the Church hath used in the explication of this Mystery as Vnity Trinity Essence Person Consubstantial which though they be not all found in the Scriptures yet they are the best that we can use in so deep a Matter and serve to prevent the Errors and Mistakes of those who would either multiply the Essence or abolish the Persons Some Terms must be used and these are the safest They be Three and yet One and the most commodious way to solve it to our Understandings is One in Essence and Three Persons for there being Three in the Divine Essence the Father the Word and the Spirit each having the whole Divine Essence and yet the Essence undivided there must be some words to express the Mystery God being One cannot be divided in Nature and Being and there being Three every One having the whole Godhead in himself distinguished by peculiar relative Properties what term shall we use Three ways of Existence there are in the Nature of God because of those three real Relations Paternity Filiation and Procession One they are and distinct they are really There is and must be a distinction for the Essence and particular way of Existence do differ Whatever is said of the Essence is true of every Person God is Infinite Eternal Incomprehensible so is the Father Son and Spirit But now whatever is said of the Existence as Existence cannot be said of the Essence every one that is God is not Father Son and Holy Ghost I say then there being a distinction between the Nature and particular Existences there must be some Terms to express it The Greek Church in the Nicene Council some 360 Years after Christ worded it thus The Occasion was this some Hereticks said If Christ be God of the same Substance and Being with the Father then when Christ was Incarnate the Father was Incarnate also No say the Orthodox though the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Substance or Essence be the same it is not the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same Subsistence in the Godhead and then began the publick and received Distinction of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying the Nature or Substance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the several manners of Existence And the determination of the Church was that these were the fittest Terms to explicate this Mystery Not but that these words were used before in this Matter as may appear out of divers Authors that lived and wrote before that famous Nicene Council but they were not so accurately distinguished nor so publickly received And indeed though the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Essence be not in Scripture yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is There is ground for
of God to the World Thus the Creatures glorify God objectively there is somewhat of the Wisdom Goodness and Power of God stamped upon them somewhat of God to be seen in every thing which he hath made So Man much more There are Vestigia Dei the Footsteps of God in the Creatures but Similitudo Imago Dei the Likeness and Image of God in Man in his natural Excellencies much more in the New Creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that we may be to his praise Ephes. 1.12 There is more of God engraven on us when a true Spirit of Wisdom Justice Holiness Truth Love prevaileth upon our Hearts and runneth through all our Operations When we live as such as converse with the great Fountain of Goodness and Holiness A Christian's Life is an Hymn to God his circumspect walking proclaimeth the Wisdom of God his awfulness and watchfulness against Sin proclaimeth the Majesty of God his chearful and ready obedience under the hardest Sufferings proclaimeth the Goodness of God his Purity and Strictness the Holiness of God the impression and Stamp of all the Letters of God's glorious Name is imprinted upon his Heart and Life A Carnal Christian polluteth his Honour and prophaneth his Name Ezek. 36.20 And when they entred unto the Heathen whither they went they prophaned my Holy Name when they said to them These are the People of the Lord and are gone forth out of his Land But how can God be polluted by us As a Man that lusteth after a Woman hath committed Adultery with her in his Heart while she is spotless and undefiled Mat. 5.28 Carnal Christians are a scandal to Religion they are called Christians in opprobrium Christi Men judg by what is visible and sensible and think of God by his Worshippers by those who profess themselves to be a People near and dear to him 4. By that which is an immediate consequence of the former by an exemplary Conversation when we do those things which tend to the Honour of God's Name and to bring him into request in the World 1 Pet. 2.12 Having your Conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as of evil doers they may by your good Works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of Visitation Mat. 5.16 Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven Our Holiness must be shewn forth for Edification not for Ostentation not for our Glory but the Glory of our Heavenly Father It is the fruitful Christian bringeth most honour to God John 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much Fruit. Glorifying God is not a few transient Thoughts of God and his Glory or a few cold Speeches of his Excellencies and Benefits this is not the great end for which we were made and new made but that we might be fruitful in all Holiness and shew forth those Impressions which God hath left upon us In the Impression we are Passive in shewing it forth Active 5. When we are active for his Interest in the World Our Lord took notice of it in his Disciples John 17.7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee If we are Agents for his Kingdom he will be our Advocate in Heaven This is the Method of the Lord's Prayer Hallowed be thy Name and then Thy Kingdom come This is the first Means of promoting the great End Jesus Christ himself telleth us this was the end of his coming into the World John 18.37 To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the World that I should bear witness unto the Truth It belonged to him in a more especial way as the great Prophet of the Church he came out of the Bosom of God to reveal the Secrets of God and for the same end we all came into the World Isa. 43.10 Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord and my Servant whom I have chosen that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he They that felt the comfortable effects of his Promises and his Truth can best witness for him A Report of a Report is little valued we are all to witness to God by entertaining it in our Hearts and shewing forth the fruit of it in our Lives this is a witness to an unbelieving and careless World John 3.33 He that hath received his Testimony hath set to his seal that God is true Heb. 11.7 By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with Fear prepared an Ark to the saving of his House by which he condemned the World Phil. 2.15 That ye may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the World When you are diligent in Holiness patient and joyful under the Cross full of hope and comfort in great Straits meek self-denying mortified you sanctify God in the Eyes of others You propagate the Faith by an open Profession Mat. 11. 19. Wisdom is justified of her Children When we suffer for it in times of great Danger and seal it with our Blood it is a great Glory to God John 21.19 This said he signifying by what Death he should glorify God It is an honour to God when in the midst of Temptations and Discouragements we are not ashamed of his ways 6. By doing that work which he hath given us to do But what is that work which he hath given us to do 1. The Duty of our Relations 2. The Duty of our Vocations and Callings 1. The Duty of our particular Relations They that are not good in their Relations are no where good This is a Rule that whatsoever we are we must be that to God An Heathen could say Si essem luscinia canerent ut luscinia c. If I were a Lark I would soar as a Lark if a Nightingale I would sing as a Nightingale As a Man I should praise God as such a Man in such a Relation still I should glorify God in the condition in which he hath set me If Poor I glorify God as a poor Man by my Diligence Patience Innocence Contentedness If Rich I glorify God by an humble Mind If Well I glorify God by my Health If Sick by meekness under his Hand If a Magistrate by my Zeal improving all advantages of Service Nehem. 1.11 If a Minister by my Watchfulness If a Tradesman by my Righteousness From the King to the Scullion all are to work for God every Man is sent into the World to act that part in the World which the great Master of the Scenes hath appointed to him Tit. 2. 10. That ye may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things As to Husband and Wife Prov. 18.22 He that findeth a Wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord. God expecteth that in the Catalogue
Molestations of the World but you have a sanctified use of them John 16.33 These things have I spoken unto you that in me ye might have Peace in the World ye shall have Tribulation but be of good comfort I have overcome the World The Victory consisteth not in not suffering and not fighting but keeping what we fight for 2 Tim. 4.18 The Lord shall deliver me from every evil Work not from the Lion but Sin Vse 5. The Example of Christ. When we die let us be mindful of the Danger of our Relations that we leave behind us our Families Church Ministry commend them to God Dying Christians should be best at the last dying Moses left a Song Do not leave the World without a testimony of your Love and Zeal 2. Pet. 1.14 15. Knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my Decease to have these things always in remembrance SERMON XVI JOHN XVII 11 And now I am no more in the World but these are in the World and I come to thee Holy Father keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are I Come to the Compellation of the Party to whom the Prayer is made Holy Father This Compellation is to be observed Titles of God in Scripture are suited to the Requests made to him as 2 Thess. 3.16 The God of Peace give you peace always by all means So Rom. 15.5 The God of Patience and Consolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another He prays for brotherly-forbearance and sweetness In the several Paragraphs of this Chapter Christ speaketh to his Father in a different Stile according to the Nature of the Address Vers. 1 5. it is Father only In Verse 28. it is Righteous Father because of the Truth and Equity which he observeth in his gracious Dispensations and here it is Holy Father When he beggeth things suitable to his commutative Justice then it is Righteous Father but when he asketh things suitable to his Holiness it is Holy Father Certainly it is a great Relief to Faith in Prayer to pitch upon such a Name and Title in God as suiteth with the Nature of the Request it begetteth a Confidence that he both can and will do us good When we call a Man by his Name he will look about upon us and when we ask things according to his Nature he will pity us But why doth Christ use this Title at this Time I Answer Some take Holiness more largely for the general Goodness and Perfection of the Divine Essence a branch of which is his Veracity or Truth in keeping Promises and conceive the Argument thus The Holy God cannot break his Word nor be stained with any Unfaithfulness therefore unless God should deny himself he will keep them through his own Name But I rather think it is specially put for his Purity Christ goeth to his Father as a pure Fountain of Grace for Sanctification for his Disciples Holiness it is the Object of God's Approbation the Effect of his Operation he worketh Holiness and he delighteth in it Holy Father that art Holy in thy Essence Holy in thy Influences Holy in thy Dispensations sanctify them by thy Truth thou that abhorrest all that is Evil workest all that is Good keep them from the Evil God hateth Sin as much as we do and infinitely more and therefore it is some hope that he will help us against it Doct. When we deal with God in Prayer especially for Grace and Sanctification we must look upon him as an Holy Father I. I will open the Holiness of God Holiness implieth a freedom from Sin and Defilement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the privative Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 terra in whom there is no Earth no Pollution but all Heavenly Purity When God speaketh to us he crieth out Jer. 22.29 O Earth Earth Earth hear the Word of the Lord. We are Earth in our Understandings in our Affections is our Practices But when the Seraphims speak to God they cry Holy Holy Holy as if it were said without Earth without Earth without Earth Briefly God's Holiness is an Attribute by which we understand his Essence to be most perfectly just and pure at the utmost distance from sin and weakness loving and liking himself above all and the Creatures as they do more or less partake of his Glory Now God is called The Holy One not An Holy One but The Holy One. 1 Sam. 2.2 There is none Holy as the Lord. He doth not say There is none Holy but the Lord but there is none Holy as the Lord. Therefore let us see the difference between the Holiness of God and the Holiness of the Creatures This is an Argument fit for a Seraphim it becometh an Angel's Mouth rather than Man's the Angels that come nearer to God in Essence can best proclaim his Holiness But our Ear hath received a little thereof None is Holy as the Lord because God is essentially Holy infinitely Holy and originally Holy 1. He is Essentially Holy God is not only Holy but Holiness self Goodness it self it is his very Essence The Creatures when they are Holy they are Holy according to the Law the Holiness of Angels or Men is a Conformity to the Law of their Creation as we say he is Holy whose Heart and Life doth exactly agree with God's Law But God's Will is his Rule his Essence is his Law and therefore all his Actions are necessarily Holy The Divine Esse and Being as it is the beginning of all Beings so it is the Rule of all Moral Perfections all created Holiness is but a resemblance of God's either a conformity to God's Nature or a conformity to God's Will Habitual Holiness is a conformity to God's Nature Actual Holiness is a conformity To God's Will his Will is the Rule his Nature is the Patern But now God is a Rule to himself there are no eternal Reasons of Good and Evil beyond God Things are not first Holy and then God doth them but God doth them and therefore they are Holy He himself is his own Rule Andy one may err that hath not the Rule of Righteousness in himself God's Act is his Rule therefore he cannot sin The Hand of the Artificer faileth often in cutting because his Hand is not the Rule by which he worketh there is a Rule or Line without him sometimes he striketh right sometimes wrong If the Hand of a Man were the Rule it were impossible he should work amiss There is a Rule prescribed to Angels and Men their Will is one thing their Rule another for no Creature is Holy by its own Essence This Notion is of practical use there is Holiness in all that cometh from God when he afflicteth us and our Friends or suffereth us to be unjustly afflicted by Men when he
take in Liquor by drops so do we Divine Truths and therefore you have need to hear the same things often that your Understandings may grow familiar and acquainted with these Notions Isa. 28.10 For Precept must be upon Precept Precept upon Precept Line upon Line Line upon Line here a little and there a little they must be taught as little Children are wont to be taught when they learn to read or write to know Letter after Letter and to draw Line after Line we must go over it again and again that you may understand it more Frequent inculcation maketh us to observe every Part and Point you take it in by degrees 2. Our Attention is small we do not consider it when we understand it Since the Fall we have lost our setled and solemn Thoughts the roving vanity of our Minds needeth this outward Cure When Truth is again brought into the view of the Understanding the Mind is set a work first we learn and then we meditate If Christians would observe their Hearts they would find it hard to go along with the Preacher at first hearing but when they go over it in their Thoughts then it worketh spiritually and they consider it with affection upon a review Mary kept all these Sayings in her Heart Luke 2.51 We mind things but slightly there must be Apprehension before Musing Study findeth out a Truth Meditation improveth it 3. Our Memories are weak We have a short Memory in the best Things a Man needeth no Remembrancer to put him in mind of worldly Gain and to revenge Injuries But as to good Things our Memories are as a Bag with holes or as a Grate or Sink that retaineth the Mud and lets the running Water go Heb. 2.1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip We are as sandy Ground or leaky Vessels we have much lost the practical Memory have few actual Thoughts of Truths in the season of them Men forget what we have told them of God's Justice his Omnipresence the Day of Judgment When we are about to faint under Afflictions Heb. 12.5 Have ye forgotten the Exhortation that speaketh unto you as unto Children My Son despise not thou the chastning of the Lord neither faint when thou art rebuked by him It is a main Office of the Spirit to remember us of Truths in their Season John 14.26 The Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name he will teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you It is one thing to know another thing to remember seasonable Thoughts are a great relief in Temptation 2 Tim. 4.2 Preach the Word be instant in Season out of Season 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We may press Truths when there is not such express need of them in season press them again it is a great advantage 4. Our Wills are slow and averse It is not enough for a slow and a dull Servant to hear the Commands of his Master but they must be often told him We must be urged again and again as Christ doth Peter The Heart is averse and deceitful we give a slight Answer to the first Demand Will you do this for God 2 Pet. 1.12 13. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things tho ye know them and be stablished in the present Truth Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance Most Men love to hear as being greedy of Novelty and Speculation expecting things that are rare and less known it is our Duty to press things that are more known to urge the Will 1 John 2.21 I have not written to you because ye know not the Truth but because ye know it and that no Lie is of the Truth not to acquaint them with new Doctrine but to urge them to stedfastness All Preaching is not to enlighten the Understanding but to gain the Will to stir you up again Our Affections are changeable heated Water groweth cold again we have need of the same Truths to revive our Frame Our Affections soon flag as a Bird cannot always keep upon the Wing and Remembrance worketh not so much as present excitement It were an excellent Work to put you into the same frame again Our Corruptions and Temptations daily arise we lose what we have wrought we had need be quickned anew put in mind again that we may be kept in a good frame 2 Pet. 3.1 This second Epistle I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure mind by way of remembrance Secondly It helpeth Duties 1. Meditation The Mind worketh freely upon such Objects to which it is accustomed in things rare and seldom heard of there is more need of Study than Meditation to search them out 2. It helpeth Application We hear to do and practice not only to know we do not hear to store the Head with Notions but that the Life and Heart might be bettered Vse 1. Let it not be grievous to you to hear the same things pressed Common Truths are not too plain for our Mouths nor too stale for your Ears If you should hear the same Sermon preached again Observe God's Providence A Sparrow doth not fall to the Earth without our Heavenly Father Have I considered of this meditated of it Doth not my Heart need it again Sure there is somewhat in it that God directeth the Minister to it again Usually we come to hear Sermons with an unmortified Ear and bewray an itch of Novelty as the Athenians who loved to hear of new Things And this puts Preachers upon ungrounded Subtleties and quintessential Extracts and so the gravity and sobriety of Religion is lost Or else there is Pride in it as if they were above these common Helps the most learned need a Remembrancer Some will say this I knew before they can teach no more than I know already 1 Cor. 8.2 3. If any Man think that he knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know But if any Man love God the same is known of him Dost thou practise what thou knowest This is a new Hint from God to humble thee to quicken thee God seeth that I do not live up to my Knowledg and therefore the same Truth is returned Preachers should hear Sermons as Prophets studied their own Prophecies as Godly as Prophets there is difference between the Man and the Prophet Or else for want of Affection In Musick if a Man hear an excellent Lesson he would hear it again the second hearing is sweetest to a gracious Heart If it be grievous to any it is to us that do more deeply consider it and weigh it before it is brought If it be not grievous to us it is safe to you It is a great wantonness and gluttony when Men
good Work it is not of your selves but of God Every Act every Degree of Holiness is from God III. For whom he prayeth the Apostles I. That were already holy John 13.10 Ye are clean and in the Verse immediately preceding They are not of the World yet now Sanctify them let their Hearts be more heavenly and their Lives more pure every day Observe Those that are sanctified need to be sanctified more and more Rev. 22 1â— He that is righteous let him be righteous still he that is holy let him be holy still 1. Our inward Sanctification must increase because of the weakness of present Grace and the relicts of Corruption 2 Cor. 4.16 Tho our outward Man perish yet the inward Man is renewed day by day It is not a Work to be done at once 1 Thess. 5.23 And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is perfect in parts at first the New Creature doth not come out maimed but not in degrees there is need of more Sanctification in Spirit in Soul in Body the Kingdom of Heaven increaseth by degrees 2. Our outward Man must be cleansed day by day because of new defilements John 13.10 He that is washed needeth not but to wash his Feet but is clean every whit It is an Allusion to a Man coming from the Bath his Feet contract Soil in the Passage Your Persons are sanctified by the Spirit but when you are never so holy there are new Defilements Vse 1. Be not satisfied with any present degrees of Grace There is an holy Covetousness I count not my self to have attained Phil. 3.14 Christ is so full that we cannot receive all at once 2. It is a strange Conceit in any to think they may be too good When we begin to be unwilling to grow better we begin to wax worse it is a good degree of Grace to know our Defects 3. Therefore let us use Means to persist in Holiness to increase in Holiness especially Prayer which is the Breath which God hath appointed to keep in the Flame II. For the Persons once more They were to preach the Word as a Preparative he prayeth for Sanctification Observe Holiness is a good Preparative to the Ministry and they are inwardly consecrated by the Spirit sanctifying them 1. That they may have experience of the Truth of the Doctrine upon their own Hearts The Apostles were to preach the Truth to others now saith he Sanctify them through thy Truth I believed and therefore have I spoken Psal. 116.10 We speak best when we speak by experience This is the right way of getting Sermons by Heart We are God's Witnesses now we should have sound Experience 1 John 1.1 That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our Eyes which we have looked upon and our Hands have handled of the Word of Life That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you Ezekiel was first to eat the Roll Ezek. 3. 1 2 3. not only to see it and to hear it but to eat it Ministers must first eat themselves then feed others We are not to speak by hear-say to deliver God's Message as a meer Narration but out of a deep Impression on the Heart What cometh from the Heart and from Experience is quick and lively 2. For the Honour of God Carnal Ministers bring a Reproach upon the Ordinances 1 Sam. 2.17 The Sin of the young Men was very great before the Lord for Men abhorred the Offering of the Lord. Who will take Meat out of a Leprous Hand 3. To answer the Types of the Law Aaron and his Sons were sanctified for the Levitical Priesthood Exod. 29.4 To be washed with Blood and Oil to be washed in the great Laver sprinkled with Blood anointed with Oil which denotes Remission of Sins Regeneration the Gifts of the Spirit 1 John 5.8 There are three that bear Witness in Earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood Every Office should have a solemn Consecration Vse 1. Ministers should look to their inward Call They that are designed to serve God in a special manner must look after special Purity It breedeth Atheism when we do not live up to our Doctrine People will say they must say something for their Living 2. Let People look to their choice of Ministers There is a great deal of difference between an Eloquent and an Experienced Pastor Secondly We now come to the Means or Manner how Christ's Request is to be accomplished by thy Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it may be rendred in thy Truth or by thy Truth oâ— through thy Truth as Vers. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without an Article that they may be sanctified through the Truth or as in the Margeâ—t truly sanctified but we better render it by the Truth there is an Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not in Truth but in the Truth and it is presently added thy Word is Truth So that it noteth not the kind of their Sanctification but the Instrument and Means Now these words by thy Truth may be understood either of God's Faithfulness or his revealed Will both which are called his Truth Of God's Faithfulness as Vers. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as keep them by thy Power so sanctify them by or according to thy Truth and Faithfulness But this Exposition tho plausible yet is not so proper because it is presently added thy Word is Truth By Truth then is meant not his Faithfulness but his revealed Will. Now God hath revealed his Will by the Light of Nature or by the Light of his Word That Will of God which is revealed by the Light of Nature is called Truth so the Gentiles are charged Rom. 1.8 With-holding the Truth in Vnrighteousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which may be known of God Vers. 19. is called Truth How came the Gentiles by the Truth who are strangers to the Covenant of Promise The Apostle answereth much of God was known to them But this Truth that is here spoken of is the Will of God made known in his Word or the Knowledg of things necessary to Salvation concerning God and his Worship first delivered by the Prophets afterwards explained by Christ himself to the Apostles and by them consigned to the Church Now the Truths delivered in the Word may be referred to two Heads Law and Gospel The distinction in Christ's Time was Law and Prophets In this place Christ chiefly intendeth the Gospel the Truth which they were sent to preach to others Christ would have them to have an experience of it themselves And it is notable that in many places of Scripture the Gospel is called Truth not only in opposition to humane Writings but also with respect to the Law and other parts of Scripture because it is the Truth by way of eminency as we call the Plague
the Sickness as being the chief of the kind Before I come to the Observations I must clear up the latter part of the Text Thy Word is Truth Why is this added I Answer Either by way of Explication or by way of Argument and Reason 1. By way of Explication Christ would pray intelligibly some might ask as Pilate did What is Truth John 18.38 Christ answereth Thy VVord is Truth The Word is the authentik and publick Record of the Church the Truth whereby we are sanctified is no where else to be found all pretended Truths are hereby to be examined 2. Or else by way of Argument and Reason why Christ would have them to be sanctified by the Truth that they might have a saving experience of the Power of it and so the better preach it to others then we know the Truth of the Word when it sanctifieth This premised I come to the Point Doctrine That God sanctifieth by his Truth I shall open the Point in these Propositions 1. God's way of working is by Light and in infusing Grace he beginneth with the Understanding He dealeth with Man as a rational Creature and therefore not only teacheth but draweth and sanctifieth the Heart by enlightning the Mind As the rising of the Sun doth not only dispel Darkness but Mists and Vapors so doth a saving Light not only dispel Ignorance but Lusts. This way is Spiritual Life begun Ephes. 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the Dead and Christ shall give thee Light A Man would have thought the Apostle should rather have said and Christ shall give thee Life than give thee Light It is the Apostle's word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he shall shine upon thee rather than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he shall quicken thee But Light is enough the Power of Grace breaketh in upon the Soul by the Light of the Gospel As it is said of the Natural Life John 1.4 In him was Life and the Life was the Light of Men. Reason and Understanding are the Fountain of Life to Men so is Spiritual Reason and Spiritual Understanding to the Soul If the Mind of a Man were once Spiritual inlightned and possessed of the Ways of God the Heart could not utterly reject them There is a notional Illumination that like a Winter-Sun shineth but warmeth not leaveth no comfort and profit upon the Heart But a Spiriâ—â—al Light is always effectual for tho the Will and the Judgment are distinct Facâ—lties and the Will is averse as the Understanding is blind yet God doth never soundly and throughly convince the Judgment but he moveth and inclineth the Will If we know things as we ought to know as the Truth is in Jesus Ephes. 4.21 the Heart must needs close with the Ways of God for the Will of Man is not brutish but reasonable and acteth reasonably Answerably â—o the discovery of Good or Ill in the Understanding there is a Prosecution or Aversation in the Will Therefore a through conviction of Judgment must be the ground of Grace in the Heart for God worketh in us not only by a powerful and real Efficacy but agreeably to an intelligent Nature by teaching perswading counselling nothing can be wrought in this moral way unless Light and Knowledg go before 2. It must be a true and not a false Light Truth sanctifieth and Error defileth Titus 1.1 According to the acknowledgment of the Truth that is after Godliness Right thoughts of God and his Ways preserve an awe in the Heart which both restraineth and reneweth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Chrysostom It is Truth that cleanseth the Heart Error leaveth a stain and defilement The Understanding and the Will are like the Head and Stomach a corrupt Heart blindeth the Mind and a blind Mind corrupts the Heart they mutually vitiate one another As in a ruinous House the upper Room being uncovered lets down the Rain to founder the Supporters â—â—low and the rottenness of the Supporters below weakeneth all above Erroneous Persons are generally represented in Scripture as vain and sensual Jude 8. These filthy Dreamers defile the Flesh First there is Dreaming and then Defilement Error maketh way for Looseness and a vain Mind for vile Affections Partly by God's just Judgment some Opinions seem to be remote and lie far enough from practice yet the Persons that profess them are generally loose Nay some Errors seem to encourage strictness as Doctrines concerning the Power of Nature and the Merit of good Actions but we find it is otherwise Duty is best pressed upon God's Terms Phil. 2.12 13. Wherefore my Beloved as ye have always obeyed not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his own good pleasure By the Judgment of God such are of loosest Life God will have his Glory kept unstained Idolatry is expressed by Whoredom Bodily Uncleanness ends in Spiritual Hosea 4.12 13. My People ask counsel of their Stocks and their Staff declareth unto them for the Spirit of Whoredoms have caused them to err and they go a whoring from under their God They sacrifice upon the tops of the Mountains and burn Incense upon the Hills under Oaks and Poplars and Elms because the shadow thereof is good Therefore your Daughters shall commit Whoredoms and your Spouses shall commit Adultery So Rom. 1.23 24. They changed the Glory of the uncorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible Man and to Birds and four-footed Beasts and creeping things Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the Lusts of their own Hearts to dishonour their own Bodies between themselves Partly by a natural Efficacy the Spirit is embased by Error and all false Principles have a secret and pestilential influence on the Life and Practice We lose a sense and care of Piety if we have not a right apprehension of God's Essence and Will a frame of Truth keepeth an awe Therefore where there is so much Truth as to sanctify yet because it is mingled with Falshood there is no such reverence of God no such strictness Unbelief is the Mother of Sin Misbelief is the Nurse of it In Error there is a sinful confederacy between the rational and the sensual Part and so carnal Affections are gratified with carnal Doctrines 3. Every true Light will not serve the turn but it must be the Light of the Word God hath reserved this honour of sanctifying the Heart to the Doctrine of the Scriptures to evidence their Divine Original James 1.18 Of his own Will begaâ— he 〈◊〉 with the Word of Truth The great change that is wrought in the Heart of Man is by the Word a Moral Lecture may make a Man change his Life but the Word of God maketh a Man change his Heart as Xenocrates's Moral Lectures made Pollemo leave his vitious and sensual course of Life But Regeneration is only found in
Light with it to see Sin after another manner altho a Man did not know it before Faith persuadeth us that the Commands of God are just and equal there is a believing Commands as well as Promises this is a Command from God Psal. 119.66 Teach me good Judgment and Knowledg for I have believed thy Commandments SERMON XXVII JOHN XVII 17 Sanctify them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth I NOW Proceed to the Reasons why God sanctifieth by his Truth It is most suitable to God's Honour and to Man's Nature I. To God's Honour It was meet that God should give a Rule to the Creatures or else how should they know his Will And then it was meet to honour this Rule by owning it above all other Doctrines by the concomitant Operation of his Spirit This is the authentick Proof the Efficacy of the Word is a Pledg of the Truth of it John 8.32 And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make ye free from the Bondage of Sin the Devil and Death A wicked Man cannot have an absolute assurance of the Truth of the Word he hath no feeling of the Power of it There is a great deal of Do How do you prove the Scriptures to be the Word of God A Believer hath the Testimony in his own Heart 1 John 5.10 He that believeth in the Son of God hath the Testimony in himself His Conscience and Heart are set at liberty by Water and Blood This made the Apostles bold and should make Ministers so Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God unto Salvation We should not be ashamed to preach it and you should not be ashamed to profess it it is the Power of God God will not associate and join the powerful Operation of his Spirit with any other Doctrine So David when he commendeth the Law by which he doth not mean the Decalogue but the whole Word of God Psal. 19.7 8 9. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the Simple The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the Soul the Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the Eyes The Fear of the Lord is clean enduring for ever the Judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether He had spoken before of the Excellency of the Sun now of the Word intimating that the Word of God is as necessary for the Heart as the Sun is for the World We can as well be without the Sun as without the Bible But how doth he evidence it From the Effects upon the Heart and Conscience Comfort and Grace are two great Evidences of the Perfection of the Word No Doctrine in the World save this Divine Truth set down in Scripture is able to discover the Sin and Misery of Man the Remedy and Relief of it in Christ. No Doctrine save this alone can effectually humble a Soul and convert it to God make it sensible of the Loss by Sin and restore it to a better Condition II. It is more suitable to Man's Nature The Word is more morally accommodated to work upon the Heart of Man than any other Instrument Means or Doctrine in the World 1. The Precepts of it It is the Copy of God's Holiness the Light by which we see ever◠thing in its own Colours The Light of Nature is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Work of the Law Rom. 2.14 15. It taketh notice of gross Acts of Sin and the outward Work of Duty they made Conscience to abstain from gross Acts of Sin and to perform outward Acts of Piety and Devotion as offering Sacrifices and Prayers But now there is an excellent Spirit of Holiness that breatheth in the Word and all matters of Duty are advanced to their greatest perfection Psal. 119.96 Thy Commandment is exceeding broad of a vast extent and latitude comprizing every Motion Thought and Circumstance in Duties not only the Act is required but the Frame of Heart is regarded not only Sins but Lusts are forbidden If ever there were an Instrument fitted to do a thing the Word is fitted to promote Holiness the true Purity that is pleasing to God 2. The Paterns and Examples of the Word We miscarry by low Examples and learn Looseness and Carelesness one by another Therefore the Word of God to elevate Holiness to the highest extent presseth not only the Examples of the Saints whose Memorials are left upon record in the Word but the Holiness of the Angels yea the Holiness of God himself The highest Aim doth no hurt he will shoot further who aimeth at a Star than he that aimeth at a Shrub Be ye Followers of them who through Faith and Patience have inherited the Promises Heb. 6.12 Thy Will be done on Earth as it is done in Heaven Mat. 6.10 Be ye holy as I am holy 1 Pet. 1.15 Communion begets Conformity We need all kinds of Examples high Examples that we may not rest in any low degrees and beginnings of Holiness low Examples that we may think it possible We are not Angels but Men and Women 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of like Affections that have the same natural Interests natural Wants with others It is a trodden Path in the Way to Heaven you may see the Footsteps of the Saints 3. Excellent Rewards and fit Arguments to induce us to the Practice of Holiness 2 Cor. 7.1 Having these Promises dearly Beloved let us cleanse our selves from all the Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these ye might be Partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lust. God covenants with us as if we were free-born to interest our Hearts in the Love and Practice of Holiness we have as much propounded as we can wish for nay and more 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the Heart of Man the Things which God hath prepared for them that love him Lactantius saith of the Heathens Virtutis vim non sentiunt cujus proemium ignorant They feel not the Power of Vertue because they are ignorant of the Reward of Vertue Life and Glory and the great things to come are powerful Motives can you meet with the like elsewhere All Creatures seek their own Perfection Philosophy is to seek of a sure Reward and Encouragement 4. Our many Advantages in Christ. We have not only Encouragement offered but Help and Assistance Christ hath purchased Grace to make us holy 1 Pet. 2.24 Who his own self bare our Sins in his own Body on the Tree that we being dead unto Sin might live to Righteousness by whose Stripes ye were healed He hath not only purchased the Rewards of Grace to wit that God should not deal with us in Soveraignty but purchased the Abilities of Grace redeemed us from
is to sanctify God when we can say he is thus and none like him Now it is fit that you should be acquainted with the Grounds and Reasons of your holy Profession with the distinct Excellency that is in it above all other Religions in the World God counts no Assemblies in the World to be like the Church therefore we should be always studying the Excellencies and Perfections of God that we may see there is none like our God That Phrase Who is like unto thee is twice used in Scripture Of the Church Deut. 33.29 Who is like unto thee O People saved by the Lord And of God Micah 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee who pardoneth Iniquity c. The Church should in gratitude return this upon God where is there such a Pardon to be had such a Satisfaction for Conscience and such a Fountain of Holiness Christ and the Church are thus brought in mutually pleasing themselves in one another Cant. 2.2 Christ begins with the Church As the Lilly among the Thorns so is my Beloved among the Daughters It is not meant in regard of scratching as if the Church were in the midst of Thorns but by way of Comparison Look as a Lilly excells Thorns so the Church excells all the World And then the Church begins Verse 3. As the Apple-Tree among the Trees of the Wood so is my Beloved among the Sons Look how much the Fruit-bearing Tree excells the barren and rotten Trees of the Forest so doth Jesus Christ excell all others Upon these grounds it will not be amiss to enter upon the Discourse concerning the Divine Authority of the Scriptures IV. Whether a wicked Man remaining wicked may be convinced of the Truth of the Word I should think they can have no absolute Assurance till they have some Work of Grace because that is the Fruit of Grace Col. 2.2 That your Hearts might be comforted and knit together in Love and unto all Riches of the full Assurance of Vnderstanding to the Acknowledgment of the Mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ. 2 Cor. 4.4 If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural Man receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God for they are Foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned He receives not the things of God that is doth not perceive them with demonstration nor receive them with acceptation A natural Man may have an Opinion a light Conjecture a slight Conviction upon his Heart enough to beget an Awe so as he knows not how to contradict the Truth of the Scriptures but not an absolute Assurance of the Truth of the Word It is Christ's Sheep only that are able to distinguish his Voice John 10.27 My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me They that look upon the Scripture in the Light of the Spirit they are only able to see that it is from God We may convince them and use preparative Inducements but they cannot be absolutely assured of the Truth of the Doctrine and that for two Reasons 1. Because all external Arguments without the Light of the Spirit work but an humane Faith He that inspired the Scriptures must open our Eyes to know them and incline our Hearts to believe them otherwise we shall look upon them but as a Traditional Report Isa. 53.1 Lord who hath believed our Report The Church maketh Report What is the reason wicked Men do not entertain it 1 John 2.20 Ye have an Vnction from the Holy One and ye know all things Men may speak of Christ by hear-say as a Parrot talks after a Man but it is the Spirit only that must reveal him to the Heart The Disciples themselves knew not the Truth of the Gospel so much by Christ's outward Ministry as by the inward Illumination of the Spirit So Christ himself saith John 16.13 Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come he shall guide you into all Truth Christ had brought it out of the Bosom of the Father and had taught them by an external Ministry but the Comforter was to bring it into their Hearts to lead them into all Truth Therefore tho carnal Men may have a rational Conviction and may be so over-powered with Reason that they cannot contradict the Word and so far understand it as to be condemned by it yet they have not an absolute Assurance it is accompanied with Atheism Doubts and Dissatisfactions 2. Because the Spirit worketh not by way of Certioration and full Assurance but when he sanctifieth And therefore the Apostle saith 1 Thess. 1.5 Our Gospel came not to you in Word only but also in Power and in the Holy-Ghost and in much Assurance It cleanseth and sanctifieth the Heart And in the Text it is said Sanctify them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth Where-ever there is an inward plenary Conviction there is the Spirit and where the Spirit of God works he changeth the Heart It is true a wicked Man remaining carnal may have common Gifts from the Spirit Heb. 6.4 They may be inlightned and taste of the heavenly Gift and be made Partakers of the Holy-Ghost and taste the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come They may be able to make use of the Model and Form of Knowledg that is in the Brain but there is not an absolute Assurance This partial Conviction is soon lost it is led in by Man and led off by Man A natural Man being in the Church may have great Presumption and Probability he may know nothing to the contrary why it is not God's Word nay he may in Bravery die for his Profession but he dies in his own Quarrel and for his own Humor not for the love of the Truth because it is his not because it is God's because his own Profession may not be disparaged But a true Certainty they cannot have such as is affective transforming setled Vse 1. To wicked Men that stagger about the Truth of the Scriptures and are haunted with a Spirit of Atheism and continued Doubts 1. Wait upon common Grounds Consent of the Church and probable Arguments You ought out of respect to search into it whether it will be found to be the Word of God or no. You read in Jugdes when Ehud said to Eglon Judges 3.20 I have a Message from God unto thee he rose out of his Seat If a King's Letter threatning great Peril were brought to a Man he doth not know whether it be the King's Letter or no but because the Peril is great he will enquire further into the Matter So when the Word of God is brought unto you propounding everlasting Hope threatning everlasting Death this should make you wait enquire and see if it be the Word of God or no. We venture far for great Gain upon a probable Hope If there were but a loose probability of having a great Prize for a Shilling a Man
to have a good opinion of a thing till we make trial The Testimony of the Church hath inclined us to think that the Scriptures are the Word of God not that the Church can make and unmake Scripture when it pleaseth as a Messenger that carrieth Letters from a King doth not give Authority to them 3. How the Church hath witnessed to the Truth of the Scriptures in all Ages Partly by Tradition partly by Martyrdom 1. By Tradition Holy Books were indited one after another according to the necessity of Times and still the latter confirmed the former Moses was confirmed by Joshua Chap. 23.6 Be ye couragious to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses And Joshua and others by succeeding Prophets and all were confirmed by Christ Luke 24.44 These are the Words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and 〈◊〉 the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning me For the New Testament it was confirmed by all the succeeding Ages of the Church Christians different in other things yâ—t agreed these to be the Writings of the Apostles So that we have a more general consent than we have about any other Matter probable in the World Men of excellent Parts and Learning that were not apt to take Matters on trust all assent to Scripture as the publick Record for the trial of Doctrines When Heirs wrangle they go to the Last Will and Testament 2. By Martyrdom The Patience and Constancy of the Martyrs who have ratified this Truth with the loss of their dearest Concernments yea even of Life it self Rev. 12.11 They overcame by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their Lives unto the Death It is possible that a Man may suffer for a false Religion and sacrifice a stout Body to a stubborn Mind but because there is counterfeit Coin is there no true Gold The Devil's Martyrs are neither so many for number nor for temper and quality so holy so wise so meek as Christ's Champions The Christian Religion can shew you Persons of all Ages Young and Old of all Sexes Men and Women of all Conditions of Life Noble and of low Degree of all Qualities Learned and Unlearned Persons that could not be suspected to be mopish or melancholy or tired out with the Inconveniences of an evil World but were in a capacity to enjoy temporal Things with the highest delight and sweetness and yet counted not their Lives dear to them to confirm the Truth of this Word What is dearer to Men than Life And this not out of any desire of vain Glory their Death being accompanied with as many disgraceful as painful Circumstances not out of any sensless stupidity or fierceness of Mind they being of a meek Temper and blamed for nothing else but their constancy in asserting that Truth which they professed not out of any confidence in their own strength in bearing those horrible Cruelties that were inflicted upon them but humbly committing themselves to God and imploring his Strength did deliberately and voluntarily give up themselves to be cruelly butchered and tormented as a Testimony of the Power of this Truth upon their Hearts some of them kissing the Stake thanking the Executioner others wrestling a while with Flesh and Blood and natural desires of Life yet the Love of the Truth prevailing came at length to encounter the Horrors of a cruel Death with a well-tempered Constancy and Resolution which certainly in so many thousands even to an incredible Number could not be without some Divine Power and Force upon their Souls That all this should be done by Persons otherwise of a delicate tender Sense and a meek and flexible Spirit what should move them to it but the Power of the Truth This being a Religion of little Reputation in the World which the Philosophers and Disputers of that Age sought to batter down with Arguments the Politicians with all manner of Discouragements the Orators with a Flood of Words the Tyrants with Slaughters and Torments the Devil by all manner of Crafts and Subtilties What had the poor Christians before their Eyes but Prisons and wild Beasts and Gibbets and Fires and Racks and torturing Engines more cruel than Death They had Flesh and Blood as well as others a Nature that continually prompted them to spare themselves as well as others Life was as dear to them and their care of their Families and Little-ones as great their respect to Parents and Friends as much in them as any yea more Religion requiring natural Affection in the highest Exercise and intendering their Hearts with a sense of their Duty Yet rather than give their Bibles to be burnt or be led away from their Religion they could trample upon all Certainly such an invincible constancy could not be imputed to any rigid Sullenness or foolish Obstinacy or distempered Stiffness but meerly to the love of Truth which prevailed over all other Concernments Let it shame us that they could part with Life and all their Interests for Christ and his Truth and we cannot part with our Lusts they with their well-being and we not with our ill-being Could they suffer the Persecutors to destroy their Bodies and will not we suffer the Fire of the Word to consume our Lusts Reason and Conscience is calling upon us to quit these things and yet we hug them to our great Prejudice we to whom a little Duty is so irksome a little pains in Prayer so tedious what would we do if the Fires were kindled about us and we were every day to carry our Life in our Hands and could look for nothing but Halters and Stakes and Instruments of Destruction Surely our Spirits are too silken and soft for such a Religion so abstracted from Ease and Pleasure and worldly Interests III. The Malignant World hath owned it the deadly hatred of the Devil and the constant opposition of wicked Men is a proof of it The Malignant World know it and therefore they hate and oppose it The Reason of the Argument is because the Heart of Man is naturally averse to God 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Now that which all wicked Men do universally and constantly oppose and malign certainly that is of God As Christ saith of his own Disciples John 15.19 If ye were of the World the World would love its own but because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you So may we reason If the Scriptures were of Men if devised by them and suitable to their Lusts and Humours the Men of the World would receive them with a great deal of stillness Flesh and Blood would love its own But carnal Men have constantly
Zin because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the Children of Israel 4. Another Quality to be discerned in the Manner and Form of the Scriptures is the Harmony and Agreement that is to be found in them all along notwithstanding the diversity of Times Places and Persons still there is an increase of Knowledg and Dispensations rise higher and higher as the Light increaseth till Noon-day but there is no difference Luke 1.70 As he spake by the Mouth of his Holy Prophets which have been since the World began One Mouth many Prophets They lived in such distant Ages handled such diversity of Arguments yet all conspired in promoting the same Truth which is now revealed to us in the New Testament There is a great difference of Style some speak with more loftiness and majesty others with greater familiarity and humility of Expression yet all promoting the same thing There is a difference in the manner of Prosecution yet an exact harmony in the Substance and essential Quality of their Writings not only in their general drift and scope to set out the Glory of God and the Good of Mankind but in the matter handled without any spice of secular Vanity as is to be seen in other Writings So that one and the same Spirit appeareth throughout the whole 1 Cor. 12.4 Now there are diversities of Gifts but the same Spirit Yea there is not only a diversity of Style but a different degree of Light according to the increase of God's Dispensations yet there is an Harmony God's Name and Style and the Mystery of Christ was made known to the Church by degrees the solemn Title and Style of God was not one and the same from the beginning of the World but tho they were divers yet they were not one contrary to another but one perfecting the other He is called by Melchisedeck The most High God Possessor of Heaven and Earth Gen. 14.19 Afterwards by reason of his Covenant with Abraham 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God Alsufficient Gen. 17.1 I am the Almighty God or the Alsufficient God walk before me and be thou perfect Then when he was put to it he made known himself by the Name of Jehovah Exod. 6.2 3. And God spake unto Moses and said unto him I am the Lord. And I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the Name of God Almighty but by my Name IEHOVAH was I not known unto them And after the appropriation of the Covenant to the Family of the Patriarchs he is called the God of Abraham of Isaac and of Jacob Exod. 3.15 The Lord God of your Fathers the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob hath sent me unto you This is my Name for ever and this is my Memorial unto all Generations Then upon experience of God's care of them he is called Exod. 20.2 The Lord thy God which hath brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of Bondage Then the Lord that brought his People out of the North Country Jer. 23.7 8. Therefore behold the days come saith the Lord that they shall no more say The Lord liveth that brought up the Children of Israel out of the Land of Egypt But the Lord liveth which brought up and which led the Seed of the House of Israel out of the North Country and from all Countries whither I had driven them and they shall dwell in their own Land Then when the Sun of Righteousness was risen the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively Hope c. 2 Cor. 1.3 Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Mercies and the God of all Comfort Ephes. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly Places in Christ. So for the Mystery of Redemption First it was revealed to Adam to be by the Seed of the Woman Gen. 3.15 I will put enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed It shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Then to Abraham by thy Seed Gen. 12.3 In thee shall all the Families of the Earth be blessed which was repeated to Isaac to cut off Ishmael then to Jacob to cut off Esau. Then it was revealed out of what Tribe he should come viz. out of Judah Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor the Law-giver from between his Feet until Shiloh come Then that he should come of David's Line Isa. 11.1 There shall come forth a Rod out of the Stem of Jesse and a Branch shall grow out of his Roots And that he should be born of a Virgin Isa. 7.14 Behold a Virgin shall conceive and shall bear a Son and shall call his Name Immanuel There is a difference of manifestation yet still an Harmony as there is a difference between a small Print and a great Print but the Matter is the same The Mystery of God manifested in the Flesh is set forth in a fairer Edition 5. There is one Character more in the Form and Manner of these Writings and that is Impartiality Kings and Subjects are bound by the same Laws liable to the same Punishments encouraged by the same Promises If the Scriptures were only a Politick Device to keep Subjects in awe there would be some exemption for Potentates but they are alike obnoxious to God's Judgment and the same Tophet that is provided for the Peasant is provided for the Prince Isa. 30.33 For Tophet is ordained of old yea for the King it is prepared he hath made it deep and large c. Tophet was a Valley where the Idolatrous Jews were wont to burn their Children therefore as a fit Type of Everlasting Punishment it is put for Hell it is capacious enough to receive all King and Subject Now the Scriptures that threaten Potentates as well as others must needs be a Law that cometh from an higher than the Highest Who would presume else to threaten those in Power Rev. 20.12 And I saw the Dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which was the Book of Life and the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their Works On this side the Grave there is a distinction between Man and Man but all are alike obnoxious to Christ's Judgment and all stand in dread of it There is enough in the Scriptures to astonish the Heart of the mightiest Potentate and make it tremble II. Now from the Matter of the Scriptures I am much prevented from what is published on James 1.18 But let me speak something now All that is spoken in the Scripture may be reduced to these five Heads Precepts Promises Doctrines Histories Prophecies Now all these
Life no Man cometh to the Father but by me None can come to the Son but by the Father John 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him And none can come to both but by the Spirit Unity is his Personal Operation Eph. 4.3 Endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace The Father hath an hand in it Christ hath an hand the Spirit hath an hand Well then let us bless God that we have such a compleat Object for our Faith as Father Son and Spirit The Father bestoweth Christ on us and us on Christ as Marriages are made in Heaven The meritorious Cause of this Union is Christ the Mediator by his Obedience Satisfaction and Merit otherwise the Father would not look upon us and the Spirit is sent from the Father and the Son to bring us to the Father by the Son The Spirit worketh this Union continueth it and manifests it All the Graces of God are conveyed to us by the Spirit the Spirit teacheth comforteth sealeth sanctifieth all is by the Holy Ghost And so are all our Acts of Communion we pray by the Spirit if we love God obey God believe in God it is by the Spirit that worketh Faith Love and Obedience We can want nothing that have Father Son and Spirit whether we think of the Father in Heaven the Son on the Cross or feel the Spirit in our Hearts Election is of the Father Merit by the Son actual Grace from the Holy Ghost 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the Foreknowledg of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience and Sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ. Our Salvation standeth on a sure Bottom the Beginning is from God the Father the Dispensation through the Son the Application by the Spirit It is free in the Father sure in the Son ours in the Spirit We cannot be thankful enough for this Priviledg Fourthly The End and Issue That the World may believe that thou hast sent me By the World is not meant the unconverted Elect for Christ had comprehended all the Elect in these Words Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe in me through their Word Verse 20. The Matter of his Prayer is that they may be one c. and the Reason that the World may believe that thou hast sent me So that by the World is meant the reprobate lost World who shall continue in final Obstinacy By believing is meant not true saving Faith but common Conviction that they may be gained to some kind of Faith a temporary Faith or some general Profession of Religion as John 2.23 24. Many believed in his Name when they saw the Miracles which he did But Jesus would not commit himself unto them because he knew all Men. And John 12.42 43. Nevertheless among the chief Rulers also many believed on him but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him lest they should be put out of the Synagogue For they loved the Praise of Men more than the Praise of God There Believing is taken for being convinced of the Truth of his Religion which he had established though they had no mind to profess it or if so yet they did not come under the full power of it But how is this the Fruit of the Mystical Union The Fruits of the Mystical Union are four to this purpose 1. Holiness Whosoever is in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Sanctification is a Fruit of Union 1 Cor. 1.30 For of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption And it is a means to convince the World Mark 5.16 Let your Light so shine before Men that they seeing your good Works may glorify your Father which is in Heaven 1 Pet. 2.12 Having your Conversation honest amongst the Gentiles that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil-doers they may by your good Works which they shall behold glorify God in the Day of Visitation 1 Pet. 3.1 Likewise ye Wives be in Subjection to your own Husbands that if any obey not the Word they also may without the Word be won by the Conversation of he Wives 2. Unity 1 Cor. 12.13 For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body To endear us to himself and to one another as Fellow-members Christ would draw us into one Body John 13.35 By this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have Love one to another Aspice ut se mutuò diligunt Christiani Oh the mighty Charity that was among the Primitive Christians Acts 4.32 And the Multitude of them that believed were of one Heart and of one Soul Divisions in the Church breed Atheism in the World 3. Constancy in the Profession of the Truth Jude 1. To them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called We are preserved in Christ as Wine in the Hogs-head being in the Cabinet where God's Jewels are kept Now this is taking with the World 4. Special Care of God's Providence God keepeth them as the Apple of his Eye Dan. 2.47 Of a truth it is that your God is a God of Gods and a Lord of Kings and a Revealer of Secrets seeing he could reveal unto you this Secret 1 Cor. 14.25 And thus are the Secrets of his Heart made manifest and so falling down on his Face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth Dan. 3.28 Blessed be the God of Shadrach Meshech and Abednego who hath sent his Angel and delivered his Servants that trusted in him and hath changed the King's Word and yielded their Bodies that they might not serve nor worship any God except their own God Dan. 6.27 He delivereth and rescueth and he worketh Signs and Wonders in Heaven and in Earth who hath delivered Daniel from the Power of the Lions Joshua 2.11 And as soon as we had heard these things our Hearts did melt neither did there remain any more Courage in any Man because of you for the Lord your God is God in Heaven above and in Earth beneath Acts 5.12 13 14. And by the Hands of the Apostles were many Signs and Wonders wrought among the People and they were all with one accord in Solomon 's Porch and of the rest durst no Man join himself to them but the People magnified them And Believers were the more added to the Lord Multitudes both of Men and Women Doctr. That the general Conviction which the lost World hath of the Truth of Christianity is a very great Blessing to the Church Christ here prays for it let them be one and why that the lost World who are left out of his Prayer may believe that thou hast sent me that they might not count Christ to be an Impostor nor the Doctrine of the Gospel a Fable And what Christ prayed for he had promised before for as good
and He communicates in the same Nature the Fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily Col. 2.9 Now there is something which answereth to this in the Mystical Union there is a communion of Spirit between us and Christ tho not the same Nature The same Spirit dwelleth in Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bodily that is essentially in us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiritually we partake of the Divine Nature in some Gifts and Qualities 2. By constant Influence God is in Christ by a communication of Life Vertue and Operation 1. The Father is the perpetual Beginning Foundation and Root of Life to Christ as Mediator John 6.57 As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me even he shall live by me So is Christ to us Gal. 2.20 Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life that I live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me 2. The Divine Essence sustained the Person of Christ as Mediator The Humanity could not subsist of it self but by constant influence from the Godhead Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold Christ had constant sustentation from the Father he upheld him and carried him through the Work So are we preserved in Jesus Christ Jude 1. We have not only the Beginning and Principle of Life from Christ but constant support We can no more keep our selves than make our selves all things depend upon their first Cause 3. The Father concurreth to all the Operations and Actions of Christ and so the Father is in Christ as he worketh in him John 14.10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me the words that I speak unto you I speak not of my self but the Father that dwelleth in me he doth the Works The Divine Power was interested in Christ's Works as Mediator especially in the Miracles that he wrought to confirm the Truth of his Person So is Christ in Believers as he worketh in them all their Works for them John 15.5 I am the Vine ye are the Branches He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much Fruit for without me ye can do nothing he doth not say nihil magnum no great thing but nihil nothing at all Thinking is the most suddain and transient Act sure the new Nature there may get the start of Corruption But 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Actions are more deliberate there is more scope for the interposition of corrupt Nature but of our selves we cannot think a good thought What Use shall we make of this Vse 1. If Christ be in us as God was in Christ let us manifest it as Christ did Christ manifested the Father to be in him by his Works John 10.37 38. If I do not the Works of my Father believe me not But if I do tho ye believe not me believe the Works that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him Works and Miracles exceeding the Power and Force of Nature shewed that Christ was a Divine Person sure the Father is in him or else he could not do these Works So St. James puts Hypocrites upon the Trial Shew me thy Faith by thy Works James 2.18 Do we do any Works exceeding the Power of corrupt Nature that would be a proof of Christ's working in you When Jacob counterfeited Esau Isaac felt his Hands So what are your Works If you walk as Men do no more than an ordinary Man that hath not the Spirit of God where is the proof of Christ's working in you Many boast of Christ in them if Christ were in them he would be there as the Father was in Christ they would bewray it by their Operations You may know what is within by what cometh out if Christ be within thee there will come out Prayer Sighs and Groans for Heaven fruitful Discourses heavenly Walking a mortified Conversation all this cometh out because Christ is within But now when ye belch out filthy Discourses rotten Communication there is nothing cometh out but Vanity and Sin how dwelleth Christ in you are these the Fruits of his Presence Vse 2. Learn Dependance upon Christ. All the Power we have to work is from Christ. Whence hath the Body the Vigor it hath to work and to move from Place to Place but from the Soul And whence hath a Christian his Power but from Christ We derive all our Strength from Christ. We are as Glasses without a Bottom they cannot stand of themselves but they are broken in pieces Christ can do all things without us but we can do nothing without him As the Soul can subsist apart from the Body Christ hath no need of us but we cannot live and act without him Sine te nihil in te totum possumus Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthneth me The Apostle doth not speak it to boast of his Power but to profess his Dependance It was never seen that a Father would cast away the Child that hangeth on him III. I shall now speak of Christ's being in Believers apart that I may a little enforce this Argument How is Christ in Believers We must not go too high nor too low It is not to be understood essentially so he is every where and cannot be more peculiarly in one than in another Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy Presence Psal. 139.7 He is here and there and every-where in Heaven in Earth in Hell Personally he is not in us that cannot be without a Personal Union if the Spirit were personally in us that would make us to become one Person with the Holy Ghost as the Divine and Humane Nature make but one Person But Mystically with respect to some peculiar Operations which he worketh in us and not in others Christ is in us as the Head is in the Members by influence of Life and Motion not such Influence as tendeth to Life Natural so natural Men live in him move in him and have their being in him There is an Union of Dependance between God and all his Creatures but Influence with respect to Life Spiritual In short Christ is not only in us as in a Temple or House that is one way of his being in us therefore he is said to dwell in our hearts by Faith Eph. 3.17 But he is in us as the Head in the Members and as the Vine in the Branches Joh. 15.1 where there is not only a Presence but an Influence Once more he is not only in us in a moral Way in Affections his Heart is with us and our Heart is with him and his Love and his Joy is in and towards us Prov. 8.31 Rejoicing always in the habitable parts of the Earth and my Delights
Love of Christ is there too His Love may be in us in the Sense and Feeling when we have the assurance of it Rom. 5.5 The Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost which he hath given to us that they may feel it in their Hearts that God loved them in Christ. There is the Work of the Spirit and the Witness of the Spirit both are intended in that Expression chiefly the latter such a Sense of God's Love as stirreth up Joy and Thankfulness and Hope The precious Ointment gave no savour while it was shut up in a Box till it was poured out So God's Love while it is kept secret it yieldeth no reviving Fragrancy These two differ for many have the Effects of God's Love but not the Sense and the Effects of Love do always abide for it is an Immortal Seed but the Sense of Love is flitting and changeable Nothing can separate us from the Love of God in Christ yet the Love of God in Christ is often beclouded overcast and interrupted and some have more Effects tho less Sense the most shining Years are not always the most Fruitful a Man may have greater increase of Grace tho less comfort Observe for your Comfort that Christ prayeth for both he hath prayed not only for Grace but for Assurance that we may feel our selves beloved by the Father The Lord delighteth not only to love us but to assure us of his Love It is no comfort to a blind Man to hear of a glorious Sun or brave Shews he cannot see them God would not leave us in the dark but give us an Experience of his Love II. How this ariseth from the Manifestation of God's Name in the Gospel 1. The Knowledg of God is a means to kindle our Respects to God 2. To convey the Influence of his Grace to us 1. It is a means to kindle our Respects to God as Trust Psal. 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their Trust in thee Men are ignorant of God's Goodness Mercy and Truth and therefore they make so little use of him Usually Fears are in the Night Doubts come from Ignorance of the Tenour of the Gospel if we did believe those Things to be true which are revealed concerning his Mercy and Love to Sinners we should trust in him Fire once kindled would burst out of it self into a Flame so did we once savingly know God's Name there would be more Trust and Confidence in God Isa. 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obey the Voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and hath no Light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God We are overwhelmed with Difficulties and Straits for want of studying God's Name So also for Love Cant. 1.3 Thy Name is as Ointment poured forth therefore do the Virgins love thee Ignoti nulla cupido Love springeth from Knowledg In the Beams of the Sun there is a mixture of Warmth and Light We know not the Gift of God and therefore our Bowels are not troubled Did we but see him as he is it would set us all on Fire 2. It is the means to convey all the Influences of Grace to us 2 Pet. 1.2 Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you through the Knowledg of God and of Jesus our Lord. God worketh upon us as rational Creatures agreeably to an intelligent Nature and so nothing can be wrought unless Knowledg go before An House the more the Windows stand open the more it is filled with Light so the more Knowledg the more is the capacity of the Soul inlarged to receive Comfort and Grace Guilty Nature is full of Fears more presagious of Evil than of Good and therefore it must have clear grounds of Comfort and Hope But you will say How comes it to pass that Persons of great Knowledg want Comfort and have no sense of God's Love I Answer It is not the Light of Parts but of the Spirit I have declared c. It is God's Prerogative to settle the Conscience I create the Fruit of the Lips Peace Peace c. Isa. 57.19 The Gospel is a Sovereign Plaister but God maketh it work Our own Thoughts do nothing unless God put in with them Vse 1. It informeth us of a double Duty 1. To study God's Name It would settle the Conscience to meditate upon those Declarations which Christ hath made of his Will Deep Thoughts fasten things upon the Spirit and musing maketh the Fire to burn How hath God declared himself we may trust him upon his Word Psal. 104.34 My Meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord. We should oftner find sweetness if we did oftner meditate of God It is sweet thus to inlarge our Thoughts upon the Promises and Comforts of the Gospel 2. To apply it When God's Name is proclaimed and made known to thee urge thy own Soul with it Rom. 8.31 What shall we say to these things Job 5.27 Lo this we have searched it so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good This is Christ's Aim that Knowledg should beget Love in them Knowledg without Application doth no good We must take out our Share The Riches of God's Goodness are laid open to us for this End and Purpose that we may feel what is expressed We have known and believed the Love that God hath to us 1 John 4.16 It is no presumption it is the great End why the Gospel was written Wicked Men are too forward and presumptuous of God's Love they continue their ungodly Courses do those things which offend him and yet are perswaded that God loveth them God's Children pray against their Sins and fight against their Sins and yet after all cannot be perswaded of it There is a fear of Presumption and a fear of Security 1. A fear of Presumption as some say I am not worthy it is as if you should say I am too poor to ask or receive an Alms too filthy to be washed say not so for this is the way to make you worthy 2. Of Security this is to say If I take the Physick I shall be sick whereas it is not by applying Christ that we are endangered but by an insensibleness of our Misery If thou feelest thy Misery there is no danger of Security it is not every thing will satisfy a sensible Sinner not every slight Comfort Vse 2. Examination Whether you have gotten benefit by the Gospel Is God's Love in you Have you any Fruits or Feeling of his Love Can you say God loveth you All God's Children cannot feel his Love but have you the Fruits of his Love The Feeling of his Love is to be improved immediately to Thankfulness and the Fruits of his Love are to be improved by Spiritual Discourse to Confidence The present Argument will afford us ground of search and enquiry 1. Things without us are excluded they can be no Evidence or Argument of God's Love It
a wonderful mercy before or as when recovered and in health we forget the rediousness of sickness and are not thankful for the comfortable days and nights we enjoy when we go about our business and sleep without pain So we undervalue the present state of Grace by forgetting the unfruitful works of darkness or the evil dispositions and practices of our Unregeneracy and have not such comfortable apprehensions of the mercy which the Spirit of God shewed in our Cure Cannot you remember when it was once much otherwise with you that you are not now the persons you were then 2. Here is a Description of their present state by Grace which deserveth to be weighed by us In it I observe 1. That the Doctrine of the Gospel is in Conversion imprinted on them for it is said That they have obeyed from the heart the form of Doctrine into which they were delivered Their very heart and Soul was modelled according to the Tenor of the Gospel and the Truths revealed therein 1. I will prove that it is so with all Converts by that Promise of the new Covenant Heb. 8.10 I will put my Laws into their minds and write them in their hearts The thing written is the Law of Christ or the new Covenant or the substance of the Doctrine of the Gospel not every lesser Opinion or minute Circumstance of their Duty but those Points which are essential to Christianity smaller matters depend upon a particular gift The Book is the mind and heart of the Believer by the Mind is meant the Understanding by the Heart the Will or rational Appetite in the one is the directive Counsel in the other the imperial and commanding Power of the Soul the one is compared to the Ark in which the Law was put I will put my Laws into their minds the other to the Tables of stone upon which the Law was written God will convince their Understandings of their Duty and incline their Affections to receive and obey it The Writer I God challengeth it as his proper work 2 Cor. 3.3 Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God By this Spirit the mind of man is inlightened the heart is inclined but yet we must do our Duty both to understand the Will of God and set our hearts upon it and do the things required of us To understand we must dig for knowledge and cry for understanding Prov. 2.3 4. and for inclining our hearts Psal. 119.112 I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes always even unto the end and for actual Obedience we are solemnly consecrated to God in Baptism that we may take up that course of living that is prescribed of God in the Gospel and therefore it is said 1 Pet. 1.14 Not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts of your ignorance We must not mould our selves to any form but that of this Doctrine cast all our actions into this mould 2. I will shew the fruits of it They are either internal within the man or essential to this work or resulting from it by immediate consequence Such as an abhorrence from sin and a promptitude and readiness to holy actions 1. For the first where the Doctrine of the Gospel is imprinted on our hearts it is an awing Principle which restraineth us from sin Psal. 37.31 The Law of God is in his heart none of his steps shall slide he that knoweth and loveth what is commanded knoweth and hateth what is forbidden therefore his heart giveth back when any thing contrary is offered to him 1 Joh. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him neither can he sin because he is born of God Still something riseth up by way of dislike he looketh upon sin not only as contrary to his Duty but his Nature Gen. 39.9 How can I do this wickedness and sin against God The heart as thus constituted is not easily brought to it By this Temptations are defeated whether from Satan or our own hearts from Satan 1 Joh. 2.14 I have written unto you young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one Or from our own hearts Psal. 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee Our hiding the word in our hearts is subordinate to Gods writing it in our hearts we must use the means the Grace is from him 2. A promptitude and readiness to holy actions for all holy and heavenly actions are suited to them and there is a Cognation between the Law within and the Law without so that they are carried after them with more love delight and pleasure Psal. 40.8 Thy Law is within my heart I delight to do thy will O God There is an inclination and propensity to do the Will of God and to please and serve him which maketh our obedience more easie and even 3. The Benefits of being stamped and moulded into the form of this Doctrine 1. It is ready for our use they have Principles laid up to be laid out upon all occasions either of trouble or temptation or business and affairs Prov. 6.21 22. Bind them continually upon thine heart tye them about thy neck When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee So that the Christian is a Bible to himself as the Heathens were said to be a Law unto themselves there was something urging them to Duty restraining them from sin 2. It preventeth vain thoughts what is the reason evil is so ready and present with us because our hearts are not stocked with the knowledge of heavenly Truths Vain thoughts cannot be prevented unless the Word dwell richly in our hearts If a man have many brass Farthings and but a few pieces of Silver he will more readily draw out Farthings than pieces of Silver But a Christian when alone and destitute of outward helps Psal. 16.7 His reins instruct him in the night season when he hath no benefit of the Bible or other literal Instruction 3. It furnisheth and supplieth our Speech for the Tap runneth according to the Liquor with which the Vessel is filled In Prayer the new Nature beareth a great part for its desires and inclinations furnish us with Requests its annoyances and grievances with Complaints its solaces and satisfactions with Thanksgivings and where it is not obstructed there cannot be that leanness and baseness of Soul wherewith we are often surprized Psal. 45.1 My heart is inditing a good matter I will speak of the things that I have made touching the King my tongue is the pen of a ready writer As to ordinary Converse Mat. 12.35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things When the Spring is dryed
his Offices John 15.26 But when the comforter is come whom I will send to you from the father even the spirit of truth that proceedeth from the father he shall testifie of me And John 16.14 He shall take of mine and glorify me He revealeth the tenor of Christs Doctrine and attests the truth of it by his gifts and graces bestowed upon the Church and to every one of us in particular by his powerful effects in our hearts Therefore 't is said We are witnesses of these things and so is the holy ghost which he hath given to them that obey Acts 5.32 Christ that taught us the Christian Religion doth work it in us by his Spirit and so doth confirm it to us and partly Because by this means all the Divine persons have their distinct work and share in our recovery to God 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledg of God the Father through the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Christ. The Father concurs by Electing the Son as Purchasing the Spirit as Sanctifying and inclining us to God As the Father must not be without the Glory of his free grace nor the Son of his infinite merit so neither the Holy Ghost of his powerful and effectual application and partly also because this is agreeable to the Oeconomy or Dispensation that is observed among the Divine persons The Spirit is the effective power of God therefore he it is that causeth our life or by regeneration infuseth a new Life into us Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit into you and cause you to walk in my ways I prove it by three Arguments The first is taken from the nature of the thing it self certainly we cannot live independently without the influence of God for all Life is originally in him and from him conveyed to us and that by his Spirit In life natural 't is clear all that God did in Creation was done by his Spirit Job 26.13 By his spirit he hath garnished the Heavens his hands hath formed the crooked serpent The Spirit is the immediate worker in the Creation of the World by his concurrent operation with the Father and the Son all things were produced he speaketh there of the Heavenly Bodies and Constellations And again in Psal. 114.30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit and they were created And when the Creation of man is spoken of Mal. 2.15 Did he not make one yet had he the residue of the Spirit 'T is true also of Spiritual life which is called a new Birth and no man can enter into the kingdom of God but he that is born of water and the spirit John 3.5 and 't is called a new Creature All Creation is of God 2 Cor. 5.17 18. A resurrection to life or a quickning dead Souls Eph. 2.1 5. And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins Even when we were dead in sins hath he quickened uâ— together with Christ. And therefore the Spirit of Life is from God Now if God effecteth all these things by his Spirit to whom but him alone is our Salvation to be ascribed as the Scripture doth frequently mention My second Argument is taken from our incapacity to help our selves and recover our selves from the Devil the World and the Flesh to God so blind are our minds so depraved are our hearts so strong are our Lusts and so many are our Temptations and so inveterate are our evil Customs that nothing will serve the turn but the Spirit of God who doth open the eyes of our mind Eph. 1.18 Change our hearts Titus 3.5 reconcile our alienated and estranged affections to God that we may return to his Love and live in Obedience to him and finally be presented before him as fit to live for ever in his Presence 1 Cor. 21.22 And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight All this doth the powerful and All conquering Spirit of God by vertue of the meritorious purchase of Christ. In short he findeth in us such addictedness to Sin such a love to the present World such indulgence to the Flesh as beareth down both reason and the authority of God that no less Agent can do the work My third reason is taken from the subsequent effects If this life be strengthned by the spirit 't is much more wrought and infused by the spirit at first when all is against it Now the Scripture is copious in asserting the supply of the Spirit of Christ as necessary to do and suffer the Will of God Eph. 3.16 Strengthned with all might in the inner man from the spirit 1 Pet. 4.14 The spirit of God and of glory resteth upon you Surely he that must help us when we are living musâ— quicken us when we are dead and he that is necessary to break the force of our carnal affections still after they have received their Deaths Wound was absolutely necessary to overcome them at first when in full strength the necessity of strengthning grace doth much more shew the necessity of renewing grace for there needs much more power to overcome the corruptions of nature than to heal or prevent the infirmities of the Saints 2. The new nature is the product of the Holy Ghost John 3.6 That which is born of the spirit is spirit Men become spiritual in their dispositions inclinations actions and aims from the effects of the spirit of Regeneration which may be considered with respect to God or to man First How the converted Person or new Creature standeth affected to God seemeth to be set forth by the Apostle in that place 2 Tim. 1.7 For we have not received the spirit of fear but of love and power and a sound mind I shall explain it Observe in the negative description but one part only of Mortification is mentioned deadness to the fears of the World but that defect may be supplied from another Scripture The spirit lusteth against the flesh Gal. 5.17 he deadneth us to the delights and hopes of the world as well as the fears and sorrows but the one is understood in the other for this spirit causeth us to prepare for sufferings in the world and to look for no great matters here but to expect crosses losses wants persecutions injuries painful sicknesses and death and doth fortifie us against all bodily distresses that we are not greatly moved by them considering our relation to God and Interest in blessedness to come which doth weigh down all so 't is not a spirit of fear But then you must enlarge it by considering the main work of the spirit which is to subdue the lusts of the flesh that the government of God may be set up in our Hearts for the flesh is the great rebel against God and sanctified reason Therefore we must obey the spirit and take
Abba father Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son and if a son then an heir of God through Christ. Which teacheth us how to come to a conclusion in soul debates Have I a child-like inclination and sense and confidence that God hath adopted me into his favour and have the sanctifying of the spirit upon my heart I may be bold then to enter my claim 3. It Informeth us That the priviledges of believers are so linked together that where one of them is there are all the rest Therefore if we injoy one then we must collect and infer that the rest do belong to us also If sons we must not rest there then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. One link of the golden chain draweth on another there is a great deal of profit in these collections and inferences our minds are usually taken up with trifles and childish toys surely the priviledges of a Christian are not so much considered as they should be The benefit of it is this partly it keepeth our hearts in a way of praising God and constant rejoicing in God if we did more consider the excellency of our Inheritanne 1 Pet. 1.3 4. Blessed be God who hath begotten us to a lively hope to an inheritance incorruptible undefiled Our thoughts are too dead and cold till we revive the memory of our excellent priviledges by Christ. Partly as it keepeth us in a constant and cheerful adherence to the truth what ever it cost us we slight all temporal things how grievous or troublesome so ever they be Rom. 8.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Rom. 5.3 We glory in tribulation as knowing that tribulation worketh patience Partly To help us to despise the pleasures of sin which are but for a season while eternal things are in view 2 Cor. 4.18 While we look not to the things which are seen but to the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal And Partly To digest the labours of duty and obedience all the pains of the Holy Life 2 Cor. 5.9 Wherefore we labour whether present or absent that we may be accepted of the Lord. What shall we not do for such a Father that hath provided such an inheritance for us that we may injoy him and be accepted with him Therefore we should stock our minds with these thoughts 4. That we should not question our estate because we are under grievous pressures and afflictions For the words are an anticipation of an objection If Sons of God and Heirs of Glory why are we then so afflicted he inverteth the Argument You are so afflicted that you may have the inheritance 'T is rather an evidence of our right than an infringement of it especially if patiently endured for Gods sake seeing thereby you are conformed to the Son by nature Rom. 8.29 He hath predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his son We have communion with Christ and his Sufferings and if we be like him in his estate of Humiliation we shall be like him in his estate of Exaltation also 2. USE is Exhortation 1. To bilieve this blessed inheritance which is reserved for the children of God 'T is a great happiness but let not us therefore suspect the truth of it for 't is founded in the infinite mercy of the eternal God and the everlasting merit of a blessed Redeemer And we are prepared and qualified for it by the Almighty Operation of the conquering spirit 't is an happiness that lieth in another world and we cannot come at it but by death But is there no life beyond this Where then shall the good be rewarded and the wicked punished 'T is unseen but it is set before us in the promises of the Gospel which God hath confirmed by miracles and sanctified to the conversion and consolation of many souls throughout all successions of ages and were the best and wisest of men that ever the world saw deceived with a vain fancy Or can a lye or delusion be sanctified to such high and holy ends therefore do you believe it John 11.26 Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die believest thou this If you believe your Reconciliation with God by the death of Christ why not your salvation by his life If your adoption into his family why not the inheritance both priviledges stand by the same grace 2. Let us live always in the desire of it that desire that will quicken you to look after it Phil. 3.14 And to seek after it in the first place Matth. 6.33 That desire that will quicken you to long for the enjoyment of it Phil. 1.23 3. To comfort your selves with the hope of it Rom. 5.2 And rejoice in hope of the glory of God 't is the glory of God God giveth it God is the solid part of it and can we expect shortly to live with God and upon God and not rejoice in the hope of it Is a deed of gift from God the security of infallible promises nothing Is the Title nothing before possession When this estate is so sure and near we should more lift up our heads and revive our drooping spirits 4. Let us walk worthy of it 1. Despising Satans offers Heb. 12.16 Be not a prophane person as was Esau. 1 Kings 21.3 The Lord forbid that I should part with the inheritance of my father Be chary of your inheritance keep the hopes clear fresh and lively 2. Wean your hearts from the world Col. 3.1 2. If ye be risen with Christ seek the things that are above set your affections above and not on the earth There is your Father your Head your Christ your Patrimony 't is reserved for you in the Heavens 3. Live in all holy conversation and godliness 1 Pet. 3.7 Living as heirs of the grace of life in all duties to God love to one another fidelity in all our relations We that shall live in the clear vision and full fruition of God in Christ should be other manner or persons 4. In an heavenly manner Phil. 3.20 But our conversation is in heaven Either acting for it or living upon it or sollacing our selves with it with delightful thoughts of Heaven sweeten your pilgrimage here be willing to suffer afflictions if God call us thereunto patiently you suffer with Christ Christ takes it as done to himself Acts 9.4 Why persecutest thou me Fill up your share of the sufferings Providence hath appointed for Christ Mystical Col. 1.24 Who now rejoice in my afflictions foâ— you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the church 2 Cor. 1.6 And whether we be afflicted it is for your consolation and salvation and Phil. 3.10 That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship
curse of the law and absolve us from the guilt and eternal punishment of all our sins and moderate the temporal punishment of them surely the cross may be the better born and then a life begun which shall not be quenched Blessed is that soul who hath these priviledges 6. See the way how we get assurance of Gods love and our own salvation We know the purposes of Gods grace by the effects by which he witnesseth his love to his elect ones by vocation our predestination is manifested by justification we feel the comfort of it so climb up to glory by degrees Those whom God hath predestinated from all eternity and will glorifie in the world to come he doth powerfully call The Scripture promiseth Salvation not to the named but described persons here then is your way of procedure Would you know your election of God Are you called sanctified brought home to God Begin to live in the spirit 2. USE Do not know these things in vain nor reflect upon them meerly to satisfie curiosity or to keep up a barren speculative dispute but to cherish the love of God Holiness Patience and become more serious in the work of salvation What effects have you of this Predestination 1. Love to God From everlasting to everlasting he is God Psal. 90.2 Psal. 103.17 And from everlasting to everlasting his mercy is to them that fear him We see his love in his purposes and performances the one before the world began the other when the world shall have an end and so two eternities meet together eternal glory arising from purposes of eternal Grace so that whether we look backward or forward you see the everlasting love of God Oh then Let God be yours first and last let the everlasting purposes of his Grace be your constant admiration and the everlasting fruition of God in glory be your fixed end which is always in your eye and let the sense of the one and the hope of the other quicken all your duties Gods mercy you see from all eternity it began and to eternity it continueth we adjourn and put off God as if we had not sinned enough and dishonoured his name enough hereafter will be time enough to return to our duty If we begin never so soon God hath been aforehand with us some make early work of Religion as Josiah Samuel Timothy some are called sooner some later but tho all are not called so soon as others they are loved as soon as others for these benefits were designed to us from all eternity 2. Holiness That we might hate sin more and prize holiness more holiness is inferred out of election as a special fruit of this predestination Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen us to be holy 'T is inferred out of calling for he hath called us with an holy calling 2 Tim. 1.9 The calling is from misery to happiness from sin to holiness 't is inferred out of Justification Sanctification is the inseparable companion of it God freeth us a malo morali that freeth us a malo naturali impunity followeth uprightness our recovery were not else intire our case is like that of a condemned Malefactor sick of a deadly disease who needs not only the skill of the Physitian to heal him but the pardon of the Judg. And 't is inferred out of glorified none shall enjoy everlasting glory after this life but such as are holy here and if they be not sanctified and renewed by the spirit they shall never enter into the Kingdom of God for we cannot have one part of the covenant while we neglect another 't is not only the way but part of glory 3. Patience under afflictions The same notions are used of afflictions which are used of your priviledges by Christ 1 Thes. 3.3 Ye are appointed thereunto You should look to that in all that befalleth you he that appointed you to the Crown appointed you to the Cross also Called 1 Pet. 2.21 For even hereunto were ye called We are called to the fellowship of the Cross we consented to these terms Matth. 10.38 He that taketh not up his cross and followoth after me is not worthy of me Justified the comforts of it are most felt then Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God Glorified take it for degrees of holiness holiness is promoted by affliction Heb. 12.10 We are chastned that we might be partakers of his holiness Final blessedness 1 Pet. 4.13 Rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad with exceeding joy Christs last day is a glad day to you 4. More seriousness in the work of salvation 2 Pet. 1.10 Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure 2 Pet. 3.14 Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that you may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless SERMON XLI ROM VIII 31 What shall we then say to these things if God be for us who can be against us WE are now come to the Application of these blessed truths and the triumph of Believers over sin and the Cross yea over all the enemies of our Salvation 't is begun in the Text What shall we then say The Words contain two Questions 1. One by way of preface and excitation 2. The other by way of explication setting forth the ground of our confidence So that here is a question answered by another question 1. Let us begin with the exciting question What shall we then say to these things Doct. When we hear divine truths 't is good to put questions to our own hearts about things There are three ways by which a truth is received and improved By sound belief serious consideration and close application sound belief 1 Thes. 2.13 For this cause also we thank God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Serious consideration Deut. 32.46 Set your hearts unto all the words I testifie among you this day Luke 9.44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears Close application Job 5.27 Lo this it is we have searched it out know thou it for thy good Now these three acts of the soul have each of them a distinct and proper ground sound belief worketh upon the clearness and certainty of the things asserted serious consideration on the greatness and importance of them close application on their pertinency and suitableness to us see all in one place 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief These are all necessary to make any truth operative we are not affected with what we believe not therefore to awaken diligence the truth of things is pleaded 2 Pet. 1.5 10 16. And besides this
them that do well and evil with them that do evil That every man should reap according to what he hath sown Therefore those whom Christ will receive into Everlasting life must appear faithful and obedient for then God will judge the world in righteousness Acts 17.31 Now in patience towards the wicked now by way of exercise and tryal of his people 2. The certainty of the Event The hour is coming John 5.28 That there is such a time coming he ill deserveth the name of a Christian who maketh any Question of it But because many live as if they shall never be called to an account I shall evidence that certainly we shall appear both by natural Light and Scripture 1. Let the evidence of Reason be heard so far as it will go Reason sheweth that it may be and argueth 1. From the nature of God There is a God That God is just and 't is agreeable to his justice that it should be well with them that do well and ill with them that do evil These are principles out of dispute and foundations in the structure and building of the Christian Faith Here the best suffer most and are exercised with poverty disgrace scorn and all manner of persecutions and the wicked live a life of pomp and ease how shall we reconcile these things with the notions which we have of God and his Providence No satisfactory account can be given but this The wicked are reserved to future punishment and the Godly to future reward Here the goodness of God towards the good and the justice of God towards the wicked is not enough manifested therefore there is a day when his Judgment shall be brought to light and his different respect to good and bad made more Conspicuous 2. From the providence of God There are many Judgments which are pledges of the general Judgment that at length God will Judge the whole world for sin As the drowning of the Old World the burning of Sodom the destruction of Jerusalem these are as a warning to all for 't is said Jude 7. these are set forth as a warning to all that should live ungodly God is the same still Gal. 3.20 God is one that is in one mind of punishing the wicked without variation and change he hateth the sins of one as well as of another If he would not put up the iniquities of the Old World he will not put up the iniquities of the New if he punished the iniquities of Sodom he will punish the iniquities of others who sinned in like manner God is not grown more indulgent to sin than he was before though it be not now there will be a time when he will call them to a reckoning In every Age he keepeth a petty Sessions but then will be the general Assizes When man first sinned God did not immediately execute the Sentence of his Law upon him but giveth him time of Repentance till he dieth As he giveth every man time and space so he giveth all the World for he would not have all the World to be born at once and die at once but to live in several successions of Ages from Father to Son throughout divers generations till we come to that Period which his Providence hath fixed Now as he reckoned with every man particularly at his death so with all the World at the end of time Particular Judgments shew that God is not asleep or unmindful of humane Affairs but the general Judgment is deferred till then 3. From the Feelings of Conscience After sin men are troubled though there be none about them in the World to call them to an account or though the fact be done so secretly that it is not liable to an humane Tribunal Nature is sensible that there is an higher Judgment that Divine Justice must have a solemn Triumph Conscience is afraid of it Heathens are sensible of such a thing Rom. 1.32 Who knowing the Judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death Foelix trembled at the mention of it which sheweth there is an easie reception of such a Truth Acts 24.25 There is an hidden fear in the Consciences of all men which is soon revived and awakened by the Thoughts of this Truth Every guilty person is more or less held in the Chains of darkness which sheweth how easily this Truth can insinuate it self into a rational mind 2. Faith sheweth that it shall be The light of Faith is more certain and more distinct 'T is more certain for it buildeth upon a Divine Testimony which is more infallible than the ghesses of Reason And 't is more distinct for Nature could never find out the circumstances of that day as by whom this Judgment shall be managed and in what manner that God hath appointed one Man by whom he will judg the World in Righteousness that he shall come in the glory of his Father and all the holy Angels with him Faith concludeth this certainty 1. From that Revelation which God hath made in his Word Matth. 13.49 50. So shall it be at the end of the World the Angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just and shall cast them into the Furnace of Fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Joh. 5.28 29. The hour is coming in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Heb. 9.27 And it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the Judgment Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God Matth. 12.36 37. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works And in many other places for this being a necessary Truth is more plentifully revealed than others of lesser importance This was the great Promise ever kept afoot in the Church Scoffers took notice of it saying Where is the Promise of his coming The Apostle Jude intimateth the Ancient Promise of it Jude v. 14. And Enoch also the seventh Son from Adam prophesied of these things saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints And it hath been revived in all Ages by Moses and David and Daniel and Joel Zechary and Malachi and more clearly by Christ himself and his Apostles every where Now we may reason that hath God been faithful in all things will not fail at last he hath ever stood to his Word when more unlikely things have been
calumnies the people of God are represented as strange sort of people unto the World 2 Cor. 6.8 As deceivers and yet true They are reputed as a company of hypocrites and dissemblers all their experiences questioned and scoffed at prophane and wanton wits will be spitting out their venom in every age and Gods people will be Judged according to men in the flesh though they live to God in the Spirit 1 Pet. 4.6 God permitteth it reproach is the soil and dung whereby he maketh his heritage fruitful but yet this is an hiding and disguising the Spiritual life Lastly 'T is hidden under manifold weaknesses and infirmities the best have their blemishes and the most of Christians shew forth too much of Adam and too little of Jesus and so the Spiritual life is carryed on darkly and in a riddle Though the old man of corruption doth not bear sway in their hearts to command direct and order all their actions as formerly it did yet sin is not wholly gone they feel a Law warring in their members Rom. 7.33 And 't is not only warring but sometimes prevailing that they themselves can feel little of the holy life There are some question and life of grace others scorn and scoff at it yet believe it for 't is the great truth revealed in the Scriptures and 't is in some measure felt by sense yea the rays of this hidden and rejected life are often discovered to the World For there are some who by their practices condemn the World live in counter-motion to the corrupt sort of men walk as those that have another Spirit than the Spirit of the World 1 Cor. 2.12 and as those that look for an happiness else where Therefore believe that there is such a life 2. Value and esteem it according to its worth and excellency I mean with a practical esteem as Paul doth counting all things but dung and dross in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. What would he know in him Phil. 3.10 That I may know him and the power of his Resurrection Or the vertue of raising him out of sin to the life of grace Oh that is an excellent thing indeed 'T is more to be advanced to this life than to the highest honour in the World This is to live in God to God to have miracles of grace wrought in us every day 'T is the divine power that giveth us all things that pertain to life and godliness 2 Pet. 1.3 Not begun nor carryed on without a daily miracle or a work exceeding the power of nature or the force of the creature life ennobleth all things a living dog is better then a dead Lion to be alive to God when others are dead in sin what a great priviledge is that 3. Deal with Christ about it Come to him he purchased it by his death John 6.51 This is my flesh which I have given for the life of the World To God in sacrifice to us for food Look upon him as one that is possessed of the fulness of the Spirit to work it in all those that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 He is able to save to the uttermost all those that come to God by him for he liveth for ever to make intercession for them That is penitent believers for by faith and repentance we come to God by Christ. He is angry that we will not come to him for this benefit John 5.40 Ye will not come to me that ye may have life If you have a pressing need why should you keep away from him That 's his Quarrel against us that we will not make use of him for this benefit He is best pleased when we have most of it John 10.10 I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly He would have us not only living Christians but lively He hath appointed Ordinances to convey it to us The word Isa. 55.3 Hear and your Souls shall shall live The Sacraments Psa. 22.26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied they shall praise the Lord that seek him your heart shall live for ever Prayer that we cry earnestly and express our desires of this benefit Psa. 36.9 For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light David often calleth upon God as the God of his life Well when we go to God he remitteth us to Christ Christ to the Spirit and the Spirit to the Ordinances there we should observe his drawings and obey his sanctifying motions when he saith Arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Eph. 5.14 When more awakned than at another time 4 When we have this life let us Improve it and act grace in all holy obedience unto God Eph. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us walk in the Spirit If partakers of the new life of grace we must shew it in our conversations for newness of heart is seen in newness of life USE 3. is to put us upon self reflection and self examination Have we a new life communicated to us 1. If it be so then there is a great change wrought in us 'T is said of Christ he was dead and is alive Rev. 1.18 To him we are conformed Luke 15.24 This my Son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found So Eph. 2.1 You that were sometimes dead in trespasses and sins yet now hath he quickned Surely when a man is translated from death to life that should be a sensible change as if another Soul dwelt in the same body he is another man to God hath holy breathings after him delights frequently to converse with him in prayer Acts 9.11 Arise and go into the street called straight and enquire in the house of Judas for one Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth And Zach. 12.10 I will pour upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication He hath a child-like love to God as a Father Gal. 4 6. And because ye are Sons he hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your heart crying Abba Father Have a Child-like reverence to him Eph. 5.1 Be ye followers of God as dear Children Illustrate it by that Jer. 35.6 When they set pots of Wine before them to drink we dare not Jonadab our Father commanded us saying ye shall drink no Wine And a Child-like dependance upon him Matth. 6.32 Your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things A Child-like hope from him 1 Pet. 1.3 Who hath begotten us to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Zeal for him 2 Cor. 5.10 Knowing the terrour of the Lord we perswade men He is another man to his neighbour he carrieth it justly and righteously to all both as to person name and estate and this not by compulsion of conscience but inclination of heart which the Scripture expresseth by loving our neighbour as our selves seeking their good as our own
principle and power to act or else Gods most precious gifts would be in vain and therefore 't is their duty to rowse and quicken themselves 2 Tim. 1 6. That thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee And Isa. 64.7 No man stirreth up himself to seek after God We have understanding and memory sanctified and planted with a stock of divine knowledge to revive truths upon the conscience And Partly because Gods Children are never so deserted but that there is some help from God There are auxilâ—a necessaria Some liberal and plentiful aids of grace which may be suspended But that grace which is simply and absolutely necessary is still vouchsaâ—ed Therefore they are more inexcusable If the wicked man that had but one talent be taxed for being a lazy and sloathful Servant Matth. 25. Much more the regenerate that hath three talents A reasonable nature grace habitual and such actual help as is absolutely necessary And Partly Because to neglect duty is to resist grace and run way from our strength God hath promised to be with us what we are doing 1 Chron. 22.6 Vp and be doing and the Lord be with you Davids silence and keeping off from God did him no good When the Eunuch was reading and knew not what to make of it God sent him an interpreter Acts 8. 2. 'T is an abuse to think the exhortation in vain to press people to become new creatures 'T is not in vain 1. That man may own his duty and be sensible of the necessity of the change of his estate who would otherwise be altogether careless and mindless of such a thing a duty which must be speedily and earnestly gone about if they mean to be saved The exhortation is a demanding of Gods right and maketh the creature sensible of his own obligation that he may take care of this work as well as he can at least that he may acknowledge the debt and confessing our impotency beg grace 2. God requireth it of us that he may work it in us he worketh by requiring for Evangelical exhortations carry their own blessing with them John 11.43 Lazarus come forth There went a power and efficacy with the words to raise him from the dead So Matth. 12.13 Stretch forth thine hand there was the difficulty but the man found help in stretching forth his hand 3. The exhortation is not in vain because there are some things to be done before this renovation's in order thereunto as wood is dryed before 't is kindled There are some preparations to conversion and we are to be active about them as that we should rowse up our selves Psa. 22.27 The ends of the World shall remember and turn to the Lord. And Psa. 119.59 I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies Man is very inconsiderate his Soul is asleep till consideration awakens it he is to try his own estate whether good or bad Lam. 3.40 Search and try your ways and turn unto the Lord. To set himself to seek after God in the best Fashion he can Hos. 5.4 They will not frame their doings nor think of recovering themselves nor bending their course that way 4. The exhortation is not in vain that men may not hinder Gods work and obstruct their own mercies and render themselves more unapt to be changed God taketh notice they would not observe his checks Prov. 1.23 They set at nought my counsel and would not turn at my reproofs Sometimes conscience boggleth either as excited by the word Felix trembled Acts 24 25. Or some notable affliction or streight Gen. 42.21 By one means or other the Waters are stirred great helps are vouchsafed to us not to observe these seasons is a great loss 2. VSE What is the true use to be made of this Doctrine 1. To make us sensible that 't is an hard task to get the change of the new creature if you have mean thoughts of this work you lessen your obligation to God for your cure by the grace of your Redeemer believing your disease light you think your remedy easie and so cannot be thankful for your recovery if you lessen your sickness And besides it will lessen your care and make you vain and negligent you will not beg it of God so heartily if you do not think this work to be what it is Therefore in the first place you must be convinced of the difficulty of it 2. To check despair Many when they hear they must be new men in all things conceit they shall never be able to reach it Surely Christ can change thy heart Matth. 19.26 He can make thee a new creature he that can turn Water into Wine can also turn Lyons into Lambs 3. To keep as humble For all things are of God What have we that we have not received 1 Cor. 4 7. We have all by gift and if we be proud 't is that we are more in debt than others Let us not intercept Gods honour 4. To make us thankful Give God the praise of changing thy nature if from a bad man thou art become good He looketh for it for his great end is to exalt the glory of his grace Now let us ascribe all to him 't was he at first that gave us those permanent and fixed habits which constitute the new nature he furnisheth us with those dayly supplies by which the Spiritual life is maintained in us 'T is he that exciteth and perfecteth our actions therefore put the Crown still upon graces head Luke 19.16 Thy pound hath gained ten pounds Gal. 2.20 Not I but Christ that liveth in me 1 Cor. 15.10 Not I but the grace of God which was in me When we have done and suffered most we must say of thine own have we given thee 5. If all things are from God let us love God in Christ the more and live to him it worketh upon our love when we see how much we are beholding to him and our love should direct all things to his glory Rom. 11.36 For all things are of him and through him and to him What is from him must he used for him Our new being should be to the praise of his glorious grace Eph. 1.12 and 30. Glorify him in deed as well as word 6. Live in a cheerful and continual dependance upon God for that grace which is necessary for our continual dependance doth ingage us to constant communion with God if we did keep the stock our selves God and we would soon grow strange as the Prodigal when he had his portion in his own hands goeth away from his Father the throne of grace would lie neglected and unfrequented and God would seldom hear from us Therefore God would keep grace in his own hands to oblige us to a continual intercourse with him A cheerful dependance for God is able and ready to help the waiting Soul and hath ingaged his faithfulness to give us necessary and effectual grace to preserve the new life 1 Cor. 1.9