or Turned away from but it is to be accepted willingly and discharged faithfully and diligently in Eye to and confidence in Gods Greatness and Goodness to uphold and bless in it and reward for it 2. But much more are they faulty who abuse the Gospel And so they do who 1. Corrupt or Pervert it as the Apostle speaks Gal. 1.7 Making it another thing then what it is in it self and from God like Wine mixed with Water Or Silver become dross Isa 1.22 Or Meat mixed with Poyson while the Name of God and the Son of man is neglected waved or laid by and Dreams and Fancies instead thereof Preached The Grace of God in its Freeness Fulness and Extent not held forth but a Mingle-mangle or Hotch-potch of Grace and Works Christ and Moses or some other Name or Doctrine in stead thereof declared such as puts men upon waiting for and expecting some Almighty and irresistable Operation and Force of Spirit to Convert and Assure them But in the mean time the Gospel of Christ which is the Power of God to Salvation to them that believe Waved and Rejected by them and Preached against even the Love of God to the World and so the Discovery of the Son of man and the Grace in him for sinners and for all men in which the Power and Spirit of God breaths and the Saving and Enlivening force is offered Men are taught to neglect that and the Power and Force working in it to look for another greater til by Stifling and Crucifying that they perish Like the Jews that rejected Jesus and the Grace discovered in and by him to look for another Messias of far more Pomp and Splendour then he Or as if some should have Taught the Wounded Israelites to have looked for some immediate Power beside the Serpent instead of looking to the Serpent through which God puts forth his Almighty Power for their Healing They who so do are to be avoided as poysoners of Souls in stead of good and skilful Physicians Or as the Corrupters of the Fountains and Springs of all true Piety and acceptable Devotion to God Tit. 3.3 4. Yea such as bring not this Doctrine of Christ we are not to receive to House or bid God-speed to for they are evil and deceitful Workers Messengers of Satan and Instruments or Authours rather of Perdition bringing in Heresies of Damnation Especially such as deny the Person and personal Works of Christ and turn them into Allegories their Doctrine is the Poyson of Dragons and the cruel Poyson of Asps quite contrary to the Doctrine of Christ Crucified the sincere Lifting up of the Son of man and therefore they that bid such God-speed or shew them any countenance and wish them success are therein partakers of their evil works Against these we may see what Woes are thundred in 2 Pet. 2. and Jude 4.19 And that For them and those after to be mentioned under this Head is reserved the blackness of Darkness for ever That is the saddest portion in Hell and Misery For these are like the evil fallen Angels especially if having known the Way of Truths they turn aside to be of these fallen from Heaven and become Seducers of men from the Way of Truth and Righteousness Causers and Provokers of others mens destructions the Instruments or Messengers of Satan to keep or delude men from Christ Jesus the Son of man that they by neglecting or putting away from them him his Salvation set forth in the Gospel and by looking to or for other false Medicines might die of their Wounds Yea by these Satan insinuates his strong delusions that men might believe Lies and be damned so that they are most Diametrically or Point-blanck opposite to Gods Grand design and mens great Good and Happiness And therefore as Christ and his Apostles were earnest and frequent in warning of such as these so there are none that the holy Prophets and Apostles speak more terribly against as shewing them to be men of swifter and greater destruction then others as may appear in Jer. 23.9 c. And in those Chapters of Peter and Jude above mentioned Oh what care therefore should be taken of falling into this number And of hearing and being perverted or subverted by them Take heed what ye hear Beware of false Prophets look to your selves for many Deceivers and Antichrists are gone out into the World that turn men from Christ and his Truth his true Church and People and lead them to destruction 2. Such as Preach the Truth but walk contrary to it in Pride Wantonness Fraud Uncleanness Covetousness Voluptuous Riotous Courses or the like causing men to stumble at the Gospel and speak evil of it These therefore are Enemies to the Cross of Christ too as the former are in their Doctrine and so much the greater as they are the more specious in theit Conversation as the Pharisees were to Christ so these also under pretence of Friendship betray it like Judas and expose it to its open Enemies to be Decried and Crucified Rejected and put away even those that Preaching it Phil. 3.18 19. yet have their Bellies their Gods and mind Earthly things whose end therefore is destruction too among the forementioned both occasionally to others and finally to themselves 3. They that do hinder the Gospel and Gospel-preachers forbidding them that would and are fitted for it and sent forth with it to speak it to others that they might be saved against such wrath hath come and will come to the utmost 1 Thes 2.14 15 16. For these men are herein such as please not God but are contrary to all men or at least to the good of those men from whom through their cause it is withheld filling up the measure of their sins Whether they be 1. Such false Teachers that like the Pharisees and Lawyers of old take away the Key of Knowledg the Vision of all the Preaching of the Grace of God that brings Salvation to all men the Preaching of the Cross of Christ as seen and testified to by all the Prophets of God and by all his holy Apostles and that gives Light to all other matters of Doctrine and Practice and concerns all men as laying a good Foundation for their Faith and Repentance and all right Obedience unto God neither entring the Kingdom themselves nor suffering those that would to enter it in so Receiving and Believing the Grace of God in Christ toward them as to be renewed into a Conformity to him and Submission to his Government by it Yea shut the Kingdom of God against men while they will not have that Preached to them that should let them see their way into it and perswade them to walk in it and enter by it Mat. 23.13 Luke 11.52 Or 2. Such as exercising some power amiss do by violent and compulsive courses hinder the Preaching and Preachers thereof whether that power misexercised be Ecclesiastical or Civil and so whether they that abuse their power to
this was one of his great businesses in the World to teach the People the knowledge of God and of his Kingdom and of the way thereto So we find him Preaching and Teaching the Word of God in the Synagogues and in the Temple and in the Houses and Ships and wheresoever the people resorted to him taking all occasions thereto Mat. 4.17 23. 5.1 2. 13.1 3 4. Mar. 1.14 15 21 38 39. 2.2 Mat. 26.58 Luk. 21.37 38. Joh. 18.20 And he spake and taught them as one having authority even the authority of God his Father and not as the Scribes Mat. 7.29 Job 7.16 17. Therein both declaring to men the love and goodness of God to the World Joh. 3.16 17. And his special love and goodness to them that believe on him Joh. 16.27 28. And his perfect hatred of evil Mar. 9 42 43 44 48. And in a Word both the name of the Father Joh. 17.6 And his Word Instructions or Commands ver 7.8 With Chap. 12.49 50. And so what was and is his will concerning us that we might be saved and live Joh. 5.24 6.29 c. And all things whatsoever we need to know believe and practice 2. By his walking works and doings exhibiting God and his Name and nature to the eyes of Men as it were as well as to their ears for he was God manifested in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 So as God even the invisible God might be seen in him as in his proper and most perfect Image 2 Cor. 4.4 Col. 1.15 Thence it is said by our Saviour He that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me and he that seeth me seeth him that sent me Joh. 12.44.45 And when Philip said to him Lord shew us the Father and it sufficeth Jesus reproving and instructing him made this answer Hast thou been so long time with me Philip and hast thou not known me he that hath seen me hath seen the Father and how sayst thou shew us the Father Joh. 14.8 9. Signifying to us that the invisible God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ was so made manifest in him that in perceiving and beholding his power wisdom and goodness love holiness meekness patience wrath c. The same Attributes of God might be discerned and known and so it might in him be seen how able and wise and willing God is to help save and succour his poor Creatures to forgive their sins to heal their diseases to succour them in their needs instruct their ignorances comfort them in their diseases How loving and good he is to all and yet how he hates their sins and sinfulness And how especially good and loving to the truly virtuous such as are subject to and followers of him c. So that here God afforded to man a sight of himself and of his excellencies in the Son of Man and in his demeanours and carriages doings and sufferings that we might know him love him believe in him obey and follow him and be saved by him and satisfied in and with him How great a benefit was this to the World to have God so represented and made manifest to them and especially to such in it as closed with and followed him out of their false Principles and ways learning of and obeying him who saw his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father John 1.14 So as it might in him be verified what is said in Psal 68.25 They have seen thy goings O God the goings of my God my King That is Christ in holiness or in the holy Place or Sanctuary Again 3. By his walking as man towards God and Man He hath by his example not only shewed us what God is and how he walks toward and among men but also how men ought to walk and please God in their demeaners of themselves towards God and men for as he was man the Son of man walking in God he hath given us a perfect pattern and example of what God requires of and likes in us men As it is said He hath left us an example that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2.21 And as himself said I have given you an example or pattern that as I have done to you so ye should do John 13.15 And so he hath shewed us in himself how we should obey the call and command of God his Father to us How we should perfectly love and trust in God and commit our selves and our ways to him doing all things commanded by him without murmuring and without disputing How we should patiently and quietly submit our selves to him in all tryals temptations and sufferings that he orders to us perfectly casting our selves upon him therein and trusting to him for his support and seasonable deliverance And so therein he hath shewed us a perfect pattern of Humility and Patience And so for walking towards men he hath set us an example of perfect Charity seeking the good of all and doing hurt to or seeking or desiring the harm of none and yet how when we seek to do them good we should not have fellowship with them in their sins but in meekness reprove them and where need is use sharpness therein that is where men are guileful and Hypocritical proud and conceited and there-through set themselves against Gods glory and the good of others under pretence of Religion and Piety towards him And such were the Scribes Pharisees Lawyers and the like so smartly reproved by our Lord. Mat. 23. Luk. 11. 13.14 15. So Christ also hath set forth himself as an example of subjection to the Magistrates and of paying wrongfully and to our own damage what they demand of us rather then give offence by contending with them and striving against them therein Mat. 17.24 25 26 27. As also of patient putting up and suffering injuries from them or others 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. And so of all Righteousness and goodness and of all tender care of and love to such as are good or desire so to be and to that purpose yeild themselves willing and ready to learn that they may know and obey the truth John 15.9 10. 10.15 13.34 c. And he that saith he abides in him ought even so to walk as he hath walked John 2.6 And surely this in every branch of it was a very great grace or gracious condescention of God to us men that he in the person of the Word should be made Flesh and therein give us an evidence of himself his name nature and will concerning us both by his vocal Doctrine and Ministry and by his own demeanour and walking in the Flesh both shewing us the way of Gods walking towards man and the way how man ought to walk towards both God and Men. But again 2. In his being the Son of Man that is very man he hath given us the greater ground of boldness and confidence in our dependance on him and approach to God by him as the Mediator of
he pleaseth to be Apostles Prophets or otherwise useful for perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the acknowledgment of the Son of God unto a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the age of Christ Eph. 4.8 11 12 13. Col. 2.3.9 That it is He that hath prevailed to open the book in the right hand of God and unâ—rose the seals and discover and declare the hidden Wisdom and secret Mysteries contained therein Rev. 5.1 6. The great Apostle faiâ—hful in all things to him that appointed him as Moses in all his house accounted worthy of more honor then Moses to be more acquainted and intimate with God even as his Son in his bosome and so fullier furnished for declaring his Glory and glorious grace and good-will and more faithful even as a son in his own house built by himself Whereas Moses was faithful but as a servant therein Wherefore as the Holy Ghost also saith to day if ye will hear his voice even his that is Gods own Son the heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds his who is the express character of his Fathers person and the brightness of his glory giving forth the fullest and brightest discovery of God and of his holy mind and will and speaking to us from heaven harden not your hearts c. Heb. 3.1 2 3 4 7. with 1.3 12.25 Secondly As the Priest in and High Priest over the house of God the most authorized and consecrated person consecrated with the Word of Gods Oath and after the power of an endless life by a sacrifice once offered for ever and that never needs to be iterated made a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck an everlasting Priest in the vertues of his once endured Death for us and therefore able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Heb. 7.25 A Priest upon the throne and so both a King and Priest the true Melchisedeck being both King of Righteousness and after that King of Peace working performing and commanding righteousnes and so commanding and prevailingly making and giving Peace far greater then Aaron Levi or Abraham Such a Priest as we needed and it behoved us to have being holy harmless undefiled and separated from sinners and made higher then the heavens Heb. 7.1.26 â—7 A great High Priest entred into the heavens even into Heaven it self by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle and by vertue not of the bloud of others as Aaron did into the figure of the heavens onely but of his own precious bloud and sacrifice Where he now appears in the presence of God for us having obtained eternal redemption Heb. 4.14 9.11 12 24. A faithful High Priest and therefore made like is brethren in all things that he might be so to make atonement and reconciliation for the people and to succour and help the tempted Heb. 2.17 18. To which end also he is both perfectly furnished with knowledge of our cases and conditions by reason both of his exceeding quickness and powerfulness as the VVord of God for searching into all things and piercing even to the dividing asunder the soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow being a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart So as there is not any creature that is not manifested in his sight but all things are naked and opened as things anatomized and laid perfectly before his view Heb. 4.12 13. The Spirit that rests upon him making him quick of understanding Isa 11.2 3 4. And also as having had an experimental feeling of our infirmities and temptations as man in himself having himself suffered and been tempted yea tempted in all points like to us yet without sin and so the more acceptable and prevalent in his mediating and interceding with God for us And also perfectly merciful and compassionate towards us ready to plead for us and help us Heb. 2.17 18. with 4.15 5.1 2. So as we have great ground of encouragement from this consideration of his Priesthood and its perfection and his fitness by the vertues of his Sacrifice to make the worshippers of and comers to him and to God by him perfect to draw nigh and come with boldness to the throne of grace with true hearts and full assurance of faith to ask and receive grace and mercy to help us seasonably in all our trials and temptations Heb. 4.14 16. 9.14 10.19 22. Thirdly As a King he is set forth as furnished with the most sovereign Authority over all creatures in heaven earth and under the earth all things being put under him and the Throne and power of God given him in the manhood So as also to be every way accomplished to be the Law-giver Saviour and Judge He being indued also with all the fulness of the Spirit of counsel and might which resting upon him renders him both infinitely quick in understanding in the fear of the Lord and perfect in Righteousness in all his Government and the exercise of it Girded up in his loyns with righteousness and in his reins even in all his thoughts purposes and desires from whence issue all his words and motions for action with faithfulness Isa 11.2 3 4 5. Having a white horse under him as supported by his own Righteousness or as riding on the Heavens and having them at his command for the help of his subjects and riding swiftly and prosperously in all his Government Deut. 33.26 27. being called faithful and true and in righteousness judging and making war His eyes as a flame of fire discovering and trying all things And on his head are many Crowns Either as denoting his superlative Power or Jurisdiction over the many Countreys brought into an acknowledgment of him yea Kings and Kingdoms Or the many great Victories gotten by him over his enemies whether evil spirits or evil men engaging themselves against him and gotten by his truth against errour and impiety Or also the many praises ascribed to him And he hath a name Dignity Title Power which none knoweth but himself as signifying that he is exalted above all blessing and praise Neh. 9.5 and that none can set forth all his praises Ps 106.2 And he is clothed in a vesture dipt in bloud either because all his appearance in his Government to the spiritual eye is such as in which is manifested the vertue of his most precious Bloud Sufferings and Sacrifice for us Or because it represents the overthrow of his and our enemies And his name is called the Word of God as being the great speaker forth and Interpreter of the knowledge of God to us And he hath a sword that goeth out of his mouth A sharp cutting word full of killing convincing efficacy to all that stands cross to him which is therefore said to go out
deprive our selves of such unspeakable bliss and happiness as cannot be conceived and plunge our selves into such miseries as cannot be imagined And yet evident it is that such folly and madness the world is greatly guilty of For evident it is that it generally rejects and treads under foot the Lord Jesus and the doctrine that declares him and is left to us by him in which is included our salvation and happiness Deut. 32.46 47. Prov. 4.13 Joh. 12.49 50. That the world generally slights both him and his doctrine the bleatings of the sheep and the lowings of the Oxen testifie that is the general Atheism Prophaneness Disorder and Wickedness the false Religions and Worships generally practised commanded or countenanced do loudly proclaim it Use 3. It may also provoke such as do believe on the Son of Man the Lord Jesus Christ to hold fast the faith and so their believing on him and by no means to suffer themselves to be withdrawn therefrom For let us consider with our selves that Consideration 1. If we turn away and fall from our dependance on him we turn after vain things and things that cannot profit because vain 1 Sam. 12.19 20. and so we deprive our selves of all the good in him and plunge our selves into all the misery that can be incurred by us For this eternal life being in the Son of Man Christ Jesus in departing from him we depart from it and losing him we lose it and he being the Saviour and Salvation in withdrawing from him we withdraw from it and lie open to all the evil that the unbeliever may fall into Nay indeed better never to have known the way or word of truth or the holy commandement or to have had fellowship with him then to turn away again therefrom for the latter end in that case is worse than the beginning 2 Pet. 2.20 Luk. 11.26 27. For as all that are far from him do and shall perish So he doth and will destroy them who go a whoring from him Psal 73.27 The consideration then of the certain danger of loss and misery yea of the greatest loss because of the greatest and longest abiding good and of the greatest misery because of the greatest and longest continued evill may move us all with all earnestness to hold fast the profession of the faith and the exercise thereof And that is one consideration often urged by the Apostles So in Heb. 10.23 24 25 26 29 39. Let us hold fast the profession of the faith without wavering not forsaking the Assembling our selves together as the manner of some is For if we sin wilfully after the knowledge of the truth received there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearfull looking for of fiery indignation which shall devour the Adversary For if they that sinned against so as they despised Moses Law dyed without mercy under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy that hath troden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace It is a fearfull or terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God And if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him As also the Consideration of Consid 2. The exceeding profit and benefit accruing from the holding fast the faith and believing on him and the great incouragements we have thereunto These may more powerfully move us to it What is there better than safety from destruction and the injoyment of Eternal life in which there is an everlasting injoyment of God and Christ and of all that is or can be good and desirable and what have we to incourage to it and assure us of it To that consider Encouragement 1. We have to encourage us to this believing and holding fast the faith all the Trinity for us God the Father gave his Son to that end that we might believe on him and be saved and live for ever Joh. 3.16 And he fills strengthens and upholds his Son in and unto all his undertakings for us in order to the bringing us to that safety and eternal life and happiness Isa 42.1 5 6. Psal 89.20 21 22. And gives his holy Spirit in and through him to strengthen and help us therein against all that would harm us or pull us from it The Son himself or Word is for us in all he hath done and suffered and in all he now doth in heaven or earth in his mediation and intercession with God for us and in his government of the World in the name and power of God about us and his ordering of his providences to us Joh. 14 2 3 18. and 16.33 and dispences his Word and Spirit to that purpose to animate and hearten us thereunto and therein is working in us the works of God for us even what he requires of us Joh. 14.16 17 26. and 16.13 14 15. And the holy spirit encourages us by his word and by his heavenly and powerful working in us therewith and gives us all motives and inducements that may be with exhortations counsells promises c. to perswade and strengthen us And what shall we say to these things If God be for us herein who is he that is against us Or what is there that can be presented to our view that may so much discourage us as the consideration that God both Father Son and Spirit are for us may encourage us and hearten us Rom. 8.31 32 33. 1 Joh 5.6 9. Encour 2. Having God for us we have his creatures the best of them and all that are on Gods side to encourage us too We have the holy Angels to protect and defend us therein Psal 34.7 and 91.11 12. Heb. 1.13 14. This they will do for us while we are here and when we go hence they will carry us up to Christ or into Abrahams bosome to be at rest with Christ and his holy ones Luk. 16.22 We have the holy Apostles and Prophets and so the Spirits of just men made perfect for us both to encourage us by their testimonies instructions provocations and all means used in their writings left on Record for us animating and heartning us in believing on the Son of man and by their own practice and examples in all ages we have in them a cloud of witnesses going before us as a guide to us all witnessing to this That the just shall live by faith and shewing us by their examples how to exercise it and live by it Heb. 10.38 with 11 throughout and 12.1 and we have the living Saints the holy men led by the spirit of God to encourage and hearten us on For whatsoever difference there may be among such in any by-opinions or apprehensions yet they all agree in this That he that believeth on the Son of man the Son of God is in a good and right way in the certain way to happiness and shall in holding
subsistence here withdrawing from oâ— not singly depending on Christ and God in him 1 Tim. 6.17 Ier. 9.23 24. Psal 62.9 10. and 146.3 4. Prov. 3.5 5. In a word by taking any relyance on God and Christ wherein the heart is not from the belief of Gods testimony carried up to Christ and God in Christ to depend on him and to be guided and governed by him to be that believing on him Such a relyance and staying upon God without that dependance on submission for guidance to him the Prophets sometimes tax Israel with as a false deceitful trust and confidence Isai 48.1 Mich. 3.10 11. Ier. 7.4 5 c. And all such relyance is false though it look back to what God hath done in and by Christ formerly or to any present testimony of his mercy and goodness which lead to love and submit to him as well as and not without them to expect help from him For this believing on the Son of man is a single hearty belief of Gods Testimony concerning Christ so as to like come and seek to rest and depend upon him as the sole full compleat and perfect Saviour in all things and in all cases and conditions in listening to and obeying him in his wholesome counsels and instructions and as the full ground and foundation of our expectation of Gods help and salvation in such a way of obeying him And so He and He only and upon his own account that is upon account of what He is hath done is doingâ— and is become with God for us and is made of God to us is to be believed on 1. For all forgiveness pardon of sin and justification therefrom as it 's said Through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins and by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Act. 13 38 39. And he is set forth for a propitiatory through faith in his blood for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God Rom. 3.25 and being justified through his blood much more shall we be saved from wrath Chap. 5.9 And in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of our sins Eph. 1.7 Col. 1.14 2. For all acceptance with God in our access to and service of him as also all our liberty thereto we have through him He hath made us accepted in his beloved Eph. 1.6 And having liberty or boldness to the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus by a new living way which he hath consecrated through the vail his flesh and having an High Priest over the House of God Let us draw nigh with true hearts and full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water let us draw nigh as believing our welcome and with full assurance of faith as in respect of the truth of the faith believed so also in respect of confident expectation of acceptance coming with such truth of heart sprinkling of conscience and washing of our body as grace requireth and worketh Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. And so our Spiritual sacrifices are acceptable through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 For Christ is made to us of God righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 3. For all spiritual blessings in heavenly things for our comfortable and acceptable walking with God here in this life and usefulnesse towards men As for instance 1. For all light and knowledge of God and understanding in all things He being come a light into the World that whosoever believeth on him might not walk in darkness but see the light of life Joh. 8.12 and 12.46 Psal 34.5 He will teach us his ways Isa 2.3 2. For all wisdom for making a right and profitable construction and use of Gods truths and providences and for chusing the good and refusing the evil and ordering our conversations aright before him and towards others improving all providences mercies chastisements and occurrences to the right and best advantage and acting wisely in all things Jam. 1.5 Col. 4.3 and 2 3. Psal 144.1 He being made of God wisdome to us 1 Cor. 1.30 3. For all sanctification and holiness The subduing of corruptions renewing of our minds hearts and spirits and conforming us unto God Christ is made unto us of God holiness or sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 Ye are sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Sanctified by the faith that is me said Christ Act. 26.18 4. For all strength to walk with God and in his ways against all discouragements and difficulties and to bear and indure all troubles and exercises that he orders to us I am able to do all things through Christ that strengthneth me Phil. 4.13 He shall strengthen them in the Lord and they shall walk up and down in his name Zach. 10.12 Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2.1 who is made unto us of God redemption 5. For all peace of conscience and quiet of mind and spirit He is our peace Eph. 2.24 and being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 And these things have I spoken saith Christ that in me ye might have peace Joh. 16.33 6. For all joy and consolation in our hearts and spirits from and in God That ye may be filled with joy and peace in believing Rom. 15.13 By Christ we have accesse into the grace of God in which we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Yea we joy also in tribulations and not only so but we joy also in God through Jesus Christ by whom also we have received the atonement Rom. 5.2.3.11 And so 7. For all hope in and confidence toward God and for the performances of his gracious promises Thence he is called our hope 1 Tim. 1.1 Iesus Christ our hope and Christ in you the hope of Glory Col. 1.27 in believing ye may be filled with hope through the power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 15.13 8. For all useful gifts by which we may be fitted to be useful and profitable in our Generation in that place of the body of Christ in which he sets us For it is he who being ascended up on high gives gifts unto men distributing to every one according as he will Ephes 4.7 8 11. 4. For all supplies also of outward mercies necessary for our present subsistance here so as we may seek after wait upon and walk with God cheerfully and comfortably and be useful to and among men My God will supply all your needs according to the riches of his glory by Jesus Christ Philip 4.19 All the promises of God are in Christ yea and in him Amen to the glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 And the promises of God are some of them for the life that now is 1 Tim. 4.8 Therefore the living God is to be trusted in through Jesus Christ
to us to lead us into his truth Joh. 16.7 14 16 17. Heb. 9.24 25 26. Act. 2.33 And so as the great Lord and King command deliverances honours and blessings to us we could not have him as an Object to look to to forgive us our sins to give us the holy spirit to support our spirits renew our natures guide us to death raise us up from death and give us the Kingdom if he were not impowered to do all these things and all things else for us our faith in him for all these things would be otherwise in vain But now being in all things before-mentioned lifted up made the Son of God in the nature of man delivered up to death for our sins as a ransom and attonement for us and therein supported and accepted and therefrom raised and revived exalted to Gods right hand and there glorified He is a compleat Object of faith to be believed on being every way able to help and save us One who in his death and Resurrection hath delivered us from perishing in the first death or judgment for the first offence and as exalted at Gods right hand able to save us also from the wrath to come and so from the second Death and so he will all that come to God by him through his exercise of his glorious Office of High Priest with God for us and of his Prophetical and Kingly Offices towards all men and especially those that believe and of his Lordly authority over all Creatures in Heaven Earth and Hell for our behoof and benefit and to give Eternal Life to all of us that believe on him being a person also both willing and faithful as his ready undertakings and sufferings of such things for us evince and as his glorious Offices to such purposes put upon him and received by him in a sense enjoyne or require of him I might add hereto that as all this exaltation and lifting up of the Son of Man was necessary to render him an Object to be believed on So was it also necessary for the discovering him to be such an Object which is necessary also to the begetting belief on him for God being true and one that could not lie could not nor would not have discovered that as an Object to be believed on that were not such his making peace was the ground as well as the matter of his preaching in preaching Peace Nor could there therefore have been any sending forth of the Spirit with such a discovery to inable and move to believe it His personal lifting up in those ways and particular being the foundation of all the rest nothing of the rest could have been without that but I only hint it and pass to the second Branch Branch 2. That his being so lifted up and exalted in those real Acts done to himself as is before mentioned was necessary for his saving us from perishing and for his giving us Eternal Life in believing on him and this is evidenced both in what is said before in the fifth Observation about the way of his saving us from perishing and our having Eternal Life and also in what is said on the former Branch And indeed this evinces it in general and as to all the particulars included therein that that being Gods grand design in giving him as the next Verses shew God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him mtght be saved yea and of his lifting him up as this Verse saith That whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have Eternal Life it follows that either these things before mentioned were necessary to be ordered and done to him to those ends or else those ends might have been otherwise brought about and so they were ordered and done to him needlesly and in vain which would impose upon the infinite wisdom or goodness of God and imply that which neither may be conceived nor conceded or granted For if there had saith he been a Law and by consequence any other way that could have given life doubtless Righteousness should have been by it Gal. 3.21 But besides that all these things were necessary to be ordered and done to him for his saving us from perishing and giving us Eternal Life may be seen also by induction For his being taken into unity of person in the Divine nature that was necessary to his saving us from perishing in the first Death for otherwise his power and ability his worth and excellency would have been too small to have done and suffered what was needful for our Redemption therefrom and for Gods acceptance as sufficient thereunto It was the work of an Infinite and boundless strength such as the finiteness of a Creature or meer man could not reach unto to stand under and bear upon himself the weight of mans Sin and Death and by bearing to overcome them and to satisfie Gods justice for the sin and abolish the death required a Sacrifice of an infinite merit and worth no meer man had either strength or worth enough for such a thing not strength to endure and overcome such agonies and death nor worth to be taken for a sufficient ransom or price of Redemption for all men no nor for any one man for no man that is but a man can give to God a ransom for his Brother a price to God sufficient for him that he may not see death Psal 49.6 7 8. But the Lord Jehovah He that is God also will Redeem my Soul saith David from the hand or power of Hell or of the Grave for he will receive me Verse 15. Nor can any meer man or Creature be able either to raise up the body out of the first death and Grave or to deliver or preserve us from the second death that we should not perish in that for he that would preserve from that must have virtue in his Sacrifice to take away by obtaining for us and dispensing to us the pardon of our following sins committed by us in our own proper persons against the light and truth of God and prevail with God for Grace and Spirit to be given to us and give it to us too to inlighten inliven and raise from Spiritual death discover the evil of sin and the deceits of Sathan so as to enable the Soul to see and avoid them and obtain and give grace for repenting of any such sins and forgiveness of them thereupon and for renewing the Heart yea he must be able to deliver from the power of Sathan and his policy or else he cannot deliver from perishing either from the way to life or in the second death in the end as the issue of perishing from the way Much less can any meer Man or Creature be able to give to us or possess us of Eternal Life because to that it 's
Teachers for perfecting the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the Edifying the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and acknowledgment of the Son of God to a perfect man c. Ephes 4.7 8.11 12. And it was needful he should give such Gifts to men to the end that he might be Lifted up by men in the Exercise of them Yea and that they be faithful to men therein making it the great Business Work and end of all their exercise of their Gifts and so of all their Ministry and Conversation to Lift up and Magnifie the Son of Man to glorifie Jesus Christ our Lord by and from whom they have all their said Gifts and all their Mercies and Injoyments bestowed upon them Heb. 13.7 8. 2 Thes 1.12 Yea and of all that know and believe in him to confess him with their Mouth and magnifie him both in Word and Work calling in others to him And so it 's said The Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come Rev. 22.17 And this Witnessing to him and Lifting him up as the Son of God the Christ the Saviour of the World the Lord the Ransom of our Souls who hath given himself the Ransom or Price of Redemption for all the Testimony in due time the Reconciliation and Reconciler the Propitiatory or Mercy Seat through whom God doth cover the Sins of men through Faith in his Blood and the Propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole World The Peace-maker and Peace between God and man and between men and men The great Prophet and Apostle Light and Leader of men into the Truth true Knowledg Faith and Worship of Cod the great High Priest over the House of God the Mediator of God and man that makes Intercession for Transgressors and for all that come to God by him the great King of Saints and Nations the Procurer and Giver of Remission of sins and of the Holy Ghost and of all Spiritual Grace and Blessing the great God and our Saviour who hath the Fulness of God yea all the Fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him Bodily and hath the Government of all things committed to him so as he hath all Power and Authority over all things in Heaven and Earth and hath the dispose of all Mercies for this Life and that to come Spiritual and Corporal the only Way to the Father to be worshipped by us and from the Father to Convey all Grace and Blessing to us the Resurrection and the Life yea the All I say the lifting him up as such a one is exceeding useful and behoveful yea necessary for begetting in mens hearts an exceeding high apprehension of him so as to render him precious to them more precious then the fine Gold of Ophir or the Mountains of Prey and to lead them to account all things loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledg of him and so to come to and believe on him And though in all Ages nor in all Places there hath not been given forth a like Express and full Testimony of and to him as there is given in these Ages and these Places wherein we live having the Testimony of the Apostles and of the holy Spirit by them nor where we have that is there in every one the same fulness of understanding firmness of belief and clearness of declaration of what is said and contained therein Yet this in the fulness of it and all that is in it is very needful and behoveful for bringing men in to believe on him explicitly and firmly against and because of all the oppositions of the Devil and evil Spirits and of the reason and wisdom and stubbornness of the Flesh and carnal Heart and the course and principles of the world tending to keep men therefrom as to mens more distinct full and comfortable exercise of Faith in him Indeed as it is not of absolute necessity to Salvation and Eternal life that every one have the same fulness and comfortable exercise of believing so also neither is it of absolute necessity that they have every one the same clearness and fulness of understanding and perswasion of the commendations pertaining to him Yea as to Gods power to save men through him I cannot assert a necessity of a distinct knowledg of the Name and particular Acts of Christ at all for doubtless many who died before his Incarnation and had no distinct knowledg of his Person and personal Acts in the flesh were saved as well as many Infants and others since But yet generally needful it is that he be so far Lifted up and made known and there-through that the heart be so far perswaded of his Being Fulness Power Excellency Sufficiency as that the heart see him the only excellent and sufficient Object of Faith and Confidence the only powerful One to be looked to and hoped in by us or else he cannot be distinctly believed on to Salvation and Life everlasting Where there is no Vision the people perish but where there is so much as that people may see the Law and Doctrine of Christ or the Mind of God concerning them through him he that keeps the Law is happy Even that of the Law that concerning him or by and through him is made known Prov. 29.18 with Rom. 2.26 Acts 10.34 And where men have the clear knowledg of him to declare to others for their helpfulness in believing on him and they conceal it from men woe to them for so doing 1 Cor. 9.16 Br. 2. As the Exalting and Lifting up of Christ by way of Declaration of him as aforesaid is necessary for mens believing on him for Life and Salvation at the first and further then he is made known in his Being and Excellency no man can have any Faith in or belief on him So this is necessary also to the abiding and growth in him and recovery of the Back-sliders to Faith in him again that he be still and always Lifted up and Magnified in the Eyes of men even of those that have begun to believe or have formerly believed on him For if by any means the Lifting of him up and the Preaching and praises of him being with-held or neglected the Serpent foist in high thoughts of some other thing or things as better and fuller then he or as necessary besides him and the Grace in and by him for our Life and Salvation or for our Welfare and Happiness either here or hereafter so as the thoughts or mind be corrupted from the simplicity in him And he begin to appear or be looked upon as less Full Precious and Desirable the soul is in present danger to be withdrawn from him and be gone ceasing to believe and depend on him or to do so singly and rightly for the Salvation and Life that is in and by him which occasioned the Apostles godly jealousie of the Corinthians least by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve their minds should
lifted up and looked to but as things through ignorance of Christ put in place of Christ which also usually or often springs from what is a fault in too many viz. 3. The not lifting him up to all as a remedy prepared for all sinners while it 's a day of Grace towards them as one who Died for all and is risen again and is the Propitiation for the sins of the whole World though it be so attested of concerning him clearly in the Scriptures as in 1 Tim 2.6 Heb. 2.9 1 John 2.2 And these also as all the rest be are very Injurious unto men because they rendring doubtful to men whether there be Virtue in him for them and so whether there be hope for them by taking away or rendring uncertain the hope of Success they unhinge them as it were in their endeavours Yea making them believe that if they be of the number of those he is set up for they must needs injoy the benefit of him inevitably not only if they seek but also if they would strive against it yet they cannot fail because by an irresistable power causing them they must be brought to it they render all eyeing him or striving to behold him needless Or if they withal contrary to their own principles tell them there is a need of seeking to him yet while they tell them it 's not for all but for some discriminated persons only in Gods secret purpose who may know that they are of that number by such marks and frames signs and differences they put them upon seeking for such differencing marks signs first and divert them from eyeing the Cross of Christ to which they should direct them and turn them to some other things which are nothing of him Just as if Moses should have perswaded the people or rather some other opposing Moses that God had not ordained the Serpent of Brass for a remedy for all the wounded people but for some such only as might know themselves to be the persons by some preparatory operations and partial healings effected by some other means first some Herbs Plaisters or the like and so should thereby have diverted their Eyes from the Serpent of Brass to other medicines which also might be so long in getting or so impossible to be gotten as no good sign of discriminative love is to be met with antecedent to the looking to Christ discovered in the Gospel that they might in the interim have died of their Wounds So that these also are exceedingly injurious to men herein through want of right understanding and that also through not believing as the Scripture hath said John 7.38 4. They also exalt or lift him not up rightly or are too much defective therein who do it not at all times in and unto every Matter and Service of their Ministration for the healing every Sting of the Serpents every Disease and Malady of the Soul Yea and for preserving it every where in health too when restored David a right exalter of him calling upon others to magnifie the Lord with him and that they would exalt his Name together saith I will bless the Lord at all times his praise shall be continually in my mouth Psal 34.1 2 3. And elsewhere My mouuh shall shew forth his Righteousness and his Salvation all the day long Psal 71.15 As signifying that what ever he had to do or say in the Service of God and of his Generation he would do it in the Name and Commendation of the Lord even of the Lord Jesus Psal 102.12 25 26 27. with Heb. 1.10 11 12. What ever he was to declare to any either of Sin or Duty to Reprove Comfort Incourage c. he would exalt and lift up the Lord therein and thereunto as that whereby his sayings might be rendred the more effectual And surely that 's the right good and profitable way of speaking unto men either for reproof of evil or instruction to good for humbling or lifting up To fetch the ground of all from Christ and shew how every one of Gods Words or his Word indefinitely is true from him as the beginning or as having their Foundation in him Psal 119.160 and their end to lead to him and glorifie him And it 's observable how the Apostle Paul in and unto every matter holds forth and lifts up the Lord even the Lord Jesus the Son of man making him and the Grace in him the bottom Ground and Foundation generally of all Doctrine and Duty Hope and Expectation rightly ordered Affection or Passion Love Fear Sorrow c. and so of the whole Conversation If he reprove of sin it is as it is a Deviation from or Dishonouring of him 1 Cor. 6.1.9 11 13 14 19. And if he endeavour the amendment of the sinner reproved he doth it in shewing the remedy in him 1 Cor. 5.8 9 c. And if he incourage in what is good he doth it proposing him and the Grace and Help in him for us Ephes 6.10 11. Rom. 12.1 2 Tim. 2.1.8 Heb. 3.1 2 7. and 12.1 2 3 c. If he Preacht Repentance from dead Works he Preached it in Christs Name as having opened a Door to it and Administring Grace for it and Acceptance in it Luc. 24.46 47. Act. 26.20 23. Heb. 9.14 If faith in the Lord Jesus He lifted him up and exalted Him as the object to be believed on and affording all encouragements thereunto Act. 16.31 32. If the Doctrine of Baptismes or of the laying on of hands or of the Resurrection or Judgment to come He fetched the ground of all from him as exalted of God to give forgiveness and the Holy Ghost and as become the Resurrection and the Life and the righteous Judge of quick and dead Heb. 6.1 2 3. Now they lift him not up rightly then or are much defective therein who in treating of these things or any other Doctrines or in pressing duties or reproving any evil ways or practices speak of those things as if they were irrelative to him and He had nothing to do in or about them as if there were any truth that had no dependance on him or conducement to his Glory or any good or duty that wanted motive ground and encouragement thereunto in and from him and the grace and glory in him or any sin or evil that was not against him or received not aggravation in its evil by and from the consideration of its being done notwithstanding him or the cure and healing of which is not to be sought for and found in him 5. They also who lift him not simply and nakedly but so garnished with the wisdom of words and eloquence that they lap him up in Lavender as it were or in things of an obscuring substance to the hindring of the naked appearance and the efficacy of his Cross and the enjoyments of the effects thereof which the Apostle supposes may be hindred by such kind of Preaching him it may make the Cross of Christ of none effect