The sufficiency of this Knowledg For understanding of this you must know that all Breviats where Religion is reduced to a few Heads must be inlarged according to the just extent of the Rule of Faith As in the Commandments where all moral Duties are reduced to ten words so in the Summaries of the Gospel far more is intended than is expressed As for instance There are two things in the Text the Means and the Object The Means know the Object Thee and Jesus Christ. 1. The Means Know It implieth Acknowledgment Faith Fear Reverence Love Worship and the glorifying God in our Conversations For it is easy to prove out of Scripture the necessary concurrence of all these things in their Order and Place For if I know God to be the only true God I must fear reverence and obey him or else I do not glorify him as God as it is said of the Heathens Rom. 1.21 When they knew God they glorified him not as God It is not a naked sight of his Essence that will save a Man I must know him for a practical End to chuse him and carry my self to him as an Allsufficient Portion I must honour him as the Giver of all things revere and worship him as the just Governor of the World and live purely as he is pure and worship him in a way suitable to the Infiniteness Perfectness and Simplicity of his Nature A Man is not saved by holding a right Opinion of God A Man may be a Christian in Opinion and a Pagan in Life So if I know Jesus Christ to be sent of God as Mediator I am to close with him receive him as such by an active Faith Acts 4.12 There is no Salvation in any other not only by no other but in him it noteth Union and close Adherence and not only that I should be of this Opinion As when a Man is ready to perish in the Floods it is not enough to see Land but he must reach it stand upon it if he would be safe so we must get into the Ark many saw it and scoffed but all others were drowned in that general Wrack that were not in it There was no security for the Man-slayer till he got into the City of Refuge Phil. 3.9 That I may be found in him It is not enough to cry Lord Lord to have a naked Opinion or general and loose Desires 2. For the Object To know thee the only true God There are many Articles comprized that are necessary to Salvation as that God is but one Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is one Lord. One in three Persons 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. This God is a Spirit John 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth He is Holy Just Infinite the Creator of all things that he upholdeth all things in his Eternal Decree raising some to Glory leaving others by their Sins to come to Judgment Rom. 9.22 23. What if God willing to shew his Wrath and to make his Power known endured with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath futed to destruction and that he might make known the Riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy which he had afore prepared unto Glory All these Articles concerning God So concerning Christ that he is the Second Person incarnate anointed to be a Saviour to convince the World of Sin of Righteousness of Judgment John 16.8 Of Man's misery by Nature Redemption by Christ necessity of Holiness as a Foundation of Glory All the Articles of the practical Catechism It is a pestilent Opinion to think that every Man may be saved if he do in the general acknowledg Christ. It is said Acts 2.21 Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved not on the Lord but on the Name of the Lord by the Name of the Lord is meant all that which shall be revealed to us of the Lord Jesus in the Scriptures The meaning is whosoever doth receive acknowledg and worship Christ according to what the Scriptures do reveal and testify of him shall be saved Many think the differences of Christendom vain and this general Faith enough but if a general Acknowledgment were enough why hath God revealed so many things and given us such an ample Rule if with safety to Salvation we may be ignorant whether he were true God and true Man whether he redeemed us by Satisfaction or justified us by Works yea or no They seem to tax the Scriptures of Redundances and the Apostles of rash Zeal for disputing with such earnestness for the Faith of the Saints as Paul against Justitiaries James against the Antinomists and Libertines if a general Profession of Christ was enough So they tax the Martyrs of Folly that would shed their Blood for less-concerning Articles So all be resolved into Christ Men think it is enough we need not inquire into the manner of the Application of his Righteousness the Efficacy and Merit of his Passion as if it were enough to hold a few Generals and the more implicit our Faith the better Whereas the Lord would have us to abound in Knowledg and if we persist in any particular Error against Light or do not search it out our Case is dangerous if not damnable I shall not take upon me to determine what Articles are absolutely necessary to Salvation it will be hard to define and we know not by what rule to proceed In the general it is exceeding dangerous to lessen the Misery of Man's Nature the Merit and Satisfaction of Christ or the care of good Works these are contrary to that Doctrine which the Spirit teacheth and urgeth in the Church John 16.8 When he is come he will convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment All that can be certain is that those Opinions which are irreconcilable with the Covenant of Grace or do overturn the Pillar upon which it standeth are irreconcilable with Salvation Vse 1. To confute them that say that every Man shall be saved in his own Religion if he be devout therein Turks Jews Heathens and among Christians Papists Socinians c. You see this is Life Eternal this and nothing else no Religion but that which teacheth rightly to believe in Christ is a way of Salvation There is no Salvation but by Christ. 1 Cor. 3.11 For other Foundation can no Man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ. Acts 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is no other Name under Heaven given among Men whereby we must be saved There is no Salvation by Christ but by Faith and Knowledg they cannot have benefit by him as some say if they live only according to the Law and Light of Nature Heb. 11.6 Without Faith it is impossible to please God And here it is said This is Life Eternal
if they were not accepted in and for Christ. Nothing can be acceptable to infinite Purity but what is pure Habbak 1.13 Thou art of purer Eyes than to behold Evil and canst not look on Iniquity We should not have one good look from God were it not for Christ. To salve this Attribute was Jesus Christ sent into the World We think that Christ was only sent to satisfy Justice God hateth Sin out of Holiness punisheth it out of Justice and executeth that Punishment by his Majesty and Power so that we dread God for his Wrath Power and Justice but all these are awakened by his Holiness there is the Root of all So that consideration of God's Holiness maketh us to prize Christ. Alas what should vile Creatures do before an Holy God out of Christ 3. It is God's principal Glory Exod. 15.11 Thou art glorious in Holiness God is mighty in Power rich in Grace glorious in Holiness It is good to mark the distinctness of Expression in all the Attributes God that he might shew us how much we should prize Grace would be glorious in nothing so much as in Holiness This is Seraphical Divinity the Angels would teach us no other Divinity and Notions of God but Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts Isa. 6.3 this is most pleasing to God profitable to Men. Christ taught us to pray first of all Hallowed by thy Name This should be the chiefest thing that we should think of in our Addresses to God So when the Angel Gabriel came to give notice of Christ Luke 1.35 That Holy Thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Priùs sanctum quà m Dei Filium nominavit saith one of the Fathers You cannot call God nor Christ by a better Title it is his darling Attribute So the Saints in Heaven Rev. 4.8 They rest not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty it is nine times in Plantius's Edition as if they were delighted with the mention of it they take a sweet content in the Work Holy Father Holy Son Holy Spirit In Heaven they bless and praise God praise him for his Excellencies bless him for his Benefits We praise him for his Holiness we bless him for his Mercy in Christ this will be our Employment in Heaven Psal. 99.5 Exalt ye the Lord our God and worship at his Footstool for he is Holy God counteth it his chiefest Glory that he might teach the Creature that Moral Perfections are to be preferred before Natural it is better to be Wise than Strong to be Holy than Wise. III. Why especially must we thus look upon him when we deal with him for Grace and Sanctification 1. Because it is a Relief to Faith when we represent God to our selves as the Fountain of Holiness He is the Holy One of Israel and Christ calls him Holy Father Jude 1. To them that are sanctified by God the Father There is enough in God when we come for Pardon he is rich in Mercy when we come for Holiness he is glorious in Holiness he is the God of Grace you may have enough if you be not wanting to your selves Men are willing to spare out of their Fulness the Holy God is as able as willing to sanctify you it is a Work that he delighteth in Joab interceded for Absalom when he perceived the King's Heart was towards Absalom 2 Sam. 14.1 2. It may be a means to enlarge your Spiritual Desires You are to be holy as he is holy 1 Pet. 1.15 The Children if they be of the right Stock they should have some Resemblance of their Father Now you ask Holiness of God that you may be as God in some degree of Conformity tho not in exact Equality Assequi non possuâ—â—â— saltem nanquam sequi desinamus we cannot overtake God but we should never cease to follow him We have an high Patern that we might not be content with any low measures of Grace When you are asking it is good to be thinking of your Patern that you may inlarge your Spiritual Desires Lord wash me throughly Lord make me holy as thou art holy I forget the things that are behind it is nothing that I have already Vse 1. Information It informeth us 1. How greatly they sin that deride Men for their Holiness which is the express Image of the glorious God God is glorious in Holiness therefore they that despise Holiness they despise God himself Holy Brethren should no more be a Disgrace than Holy Father That is your Scorn which is the Divine Glory one of the chiefest Excellencies in the Godhead You hate God more than you do the Saints Holiness in them shineth with a faint Lustre 2. How much we should prize Holiness It is the Glory of God and the Glory of holy Angels the Devils also excel in Strength and the Glory of the Saints Ephes. 5.27 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without Blemish This is the Glory of the Church the Church that are are a distinct People from all the World should have a distinct Excellency Other Societies are made glorious by their Policy their Pomp their Trade the Church is a Society for Holiness and therefore it is called The fairest among Women the best of all Societies though it hath little of worldly Pomp and Splendor Psalm 93. ult Holiness becometh thy House O Lord for ever Some Ordinances became God's House for a time Ceremonies and Sprinklings and the Vail and the covering of Badgers Skins c. but Holiness is a standing Ordinance So private Christians are changed from Glory to Glory 2. Cor. 3.18 it is from Grace to Grace for the Apostle speaketh of our being changed into the Likeness of Christ. The World counteth Purity and Strictness a base thing Religio ignobilem facit but the Word is quit with the World and calls a wicked Man a vile Person Psal. 15.4 and the basest of Men Dan. 4.17 Vse 2. It presseth us to draw nigh to God as unto an Holy Father Worship must always be proportioned to the Object of it Conformity maketh way for Communion John 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth As he is a God of Peace he will not be worshipped with wrathful Affections 1 Tim. 2.8 I will that Men pray every where lifting up holy Hands without Wrath and Doubting A living God must have a lively Service so a holy God should have a holy Worship this doth make us fit to enjoy God in the way of a sweet and gracious Communion 1. We must be in an holy State If we be accepted by God we must be like him holy as he is holy Partakers of a Divine Nature The Majesty and Glory of God we are not capable of God would not have us to imitate his Power and Majesty but his Holiness We enjoy him
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
that followed Christ in his Life-time for the Loaves Joh. 6.26 when Honours and Conveniences and Interests look that way But to own him then when the Powers of the World the Heads and Rulers of the Church are against him when the Stone is refused by the Builders this is Praise-worthy Now the Reasons are two It is a sign God hath a great Love to them and it is a sign of their great Love to God of his choice and their sincerity There are two things hinder us from the sight of Truth Prejudices and Interests now it is a sign of the special Direction of God's Spirit when we can overlook Prejudices and it is a sign of our unfeigned Zeal when we can deny Interests 1. It is an Argument of God's Love to us This looketh like Election Mat. 24.24 If it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. There are some Favorites whom God taketh into his special Care that he may shew them his Counsel and lead them into all Truth In Times when Error is so countenanced and appeareth with a plausible Face it is a matter of great skill to find out the Truth There are some choice Ones to whom God manifests himself when others are left to perish in their own ways So it is said Psal. 25.14 The Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him By the â—â—cret of the Lord is not meant the Counsels of his Providence they are revealed but to a few to the Prophets this is a Promise common to all that fear him therefore by it is intended the Counsels of the Word those that are his Favourites that lie in his Bosom they shall know his Secrets as the Disciples when they would know any thing of Christ pointed to the Disciple whom Jesus loved John 13.23 24. Now there was leaning on Jesus Bosom one of the Disciples whom Jesus loved Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake 2. It is an Argument of our Sincerity to own God in Times of publick Contest when it is dangerous to own him There are some times when God crieth Who is on my side Exod. 32.26 when he calleth upon us to manifest our selves and Providence calleth for a Publick Acknowledgment Errors by God's Permission are sent into the World to try us The Lord trieth you to see if you will be led by every Fancy and swim with the Stream Many times the Delusion is very strong that our Trial may be the greater so 1 Cor. 11.19 There must be Heresies that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they which are approved may be made manifest among you Winds are let loose to try who are Chaff who are solid Grain especially an Error backed with Power as when the Tree is shaken rotten Apples fall down such Times discover Hypocrites Prov. 26.26 Whose Hatred is covered by Deceit his Wickedness shall be shewed before the whole Congregation But now it is a great Argument of Sincerity to own the Truth when the Error is so plausible and the Inconvenience is great 1 Kings 19.10 I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts because the Children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant thrown down thine Altars and slain thy Prophets with the Sword and I even I only am left and they seek my Life to take it away When we are left alone to Contest that is a great trial Vse 1. Information 1. That true Zeal is not seen so much in fighting with antiquated Errors as in being established in the present Truth 2 Pet. 1.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The present Truth of that Age was to acknowledg Christ to be the Messiah When Truths are upon the Stage then to give our Testimony to them this is to be God's Witnesses To declaim against the Errors of former Ages is but a safe and wary Zeal The Jews that opposed Christ yet pleaded for the Prophets slain by their Fathers Corah Dathan and Abiram were as hateful to them as Judas to us but they had no Eyes to see for the present Christ taxeth the Hypocrisy of them that maligned the living Prophets and garnished the Tombs of the Dead Mat. 23.29 It is no thank to own Christ in the Day of his Exaltation as when he is opposed and slighted Old Truths are only opposed by Natural Prejudices but present Truths by carnal Interests 2. That it is a great Folly in them that will profess nothing till the World be agreed Laziuess is apt to pretend want of Certainty This is the old Prejudice Chrysostome bringeth in an Heathen disputing I would fain become a Christian but there are so many Divisions among you that I know not what to chuse Men are loth to put themselves to the trouble of Prayer and search and would have all fitted to their Hands and therefore till all be agreed keep themselves in a wary reservation Should a Traveller stand still because he meeteth with many Ways Jer. 6.16 Thus saith the Lord Stand ye in the way and see and ask for the old Paths Where is the good Way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your Souls Or should a Man that is sick refuse Physick till all Physicians be of one Mind It is your Duty to search and it is praise-worthy to own Christ in Times of Contest 3. It informeth us that a Multitude is no excuse because all went that way We should own Christ tho the World know him not tho it hate him tho it persecute him We should have an Eagle-Eye The old World was not spared for the Multitude there were but eight Persons of another Judgment We often presume that many Eyes see more than one and so spare the labour of Examination but one Man that hath the use of his Eyes seeth more than a thousand blind Men and often-times it falleth out that a few find the true way Mat. 7.14 Strait is the Gâ—â—e and narrow is the Way that leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it Therefore it is brutish to follow the Track We should examine because mostly the World is out and the Maltitude followeth that which is Evil nay it is rather a ground of suspicion the most are not the best Vse 2. It presseth us to be more earnest to get a clear and satisfactory Knowledg in the Controversies of the Age in the Truths that are now upon the Stage To that end 1. Desire the direction of Christ and consult with him As the Woman of Samaria John 4.20 Our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where Men ought to worship Whether Zion or Geâ—â—zâ—m Present it often to Christ. Prayer is the best way to get Satisfaction and our Doubts are best solved by consulting with the Oracle You can have no certain Light from Men without his Illumination 2. Search and prove all things 1 Thess. 5.21 Prove all things hold fast that which is good We should stand in
I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ All is nothing to this 3. It weaneth the heart from outward observances and bodily exercises to solid Godliness or looking after the life and power of them The Ordinances of the Law though of God's own Institution are called Carnal Heb. 7.16 Not after the law of a carnal commandment the Worship of the Gospel Spirit and Truth John 4.23 24. The hour is coming and now is when the true Worshippers shall Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to Worship him God is a Spirit and they that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and in Truth The more true knowledge of the Gospel the more of this As the Apostle distinguisheth the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 3.2 3. and the Apostle speaketh of the Jew Rom. 2.28 29. For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God So it is with better reason true of the Christian the Worship of the Gospel consisting little of Externals but being Rational Spiritual Worship 1 Pet. 3.21 The like figure whereunto even Baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Col. 2.6 As ye have received the Lord Jesus Christ so walk ye in him We receive his Spirit That is a sorry zeal and hath little of a Christian Spirit that runneth altogether upon outward things Christianity first degenerated by this means and the life and power of it was extinguished when it began to run out altogether in Form and men out of a natural Devotion grew excessive that way A Christian in obedience to God is to use his instituted Externals but his Heart is upon the Spirit and Soul of Duties Multiplying Rites and Ceremonies has eat out the life and heart of Religion The more spiritual and substantial Worship is the better if there be humble and affectionate reverence a ready subjection and submission to him flowing from grace engaging the heart to God and animated by the influence and breathing of his Spirit SERMON XXXII 2 Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new THis is an inference out of the former Doctrine Two things the Apostle had said Henceforth we no more live to our selves verse 15th And Henceforth know we him no more verse 16th There is a change wrought in us a change of life and a change of Judgment a new Life because there is a new Judgment Now in the Text he sheweth a reason why he changed his Judgment and Life and lived and judged otherwise than he did before because there is such a change wrought in all that belong to Christ that they are as it were other persons than they were As when Saul prophesied 1 Kings 10.6 The Spirit of the Lord shall come upon thee and thou shalt be turned into another man Not in respect of person or in regard of substance but some gifts and graces So these should be as other creatures as new creatures Now these things should only be in esteem with Christians which belong to the new creature or regeneration Therefore if any man be in Christ c. In the words we have a Proposition 1. Asserted 2. Explained 1. The Proposition asserted is hypothetical in which there is 1. An hypothesis or Proposition If any man be in Christ. 2. The assertion built thereon He is a new Creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A new creation The act of creation is signified by this form of speech as well as the thing created 2. The Proposition explained For there is First A destructive work or a pulling down of the old house Old things are passed away 2dly An adstructive work or raising of the new fabrick All things are become new The words are originally taken out of Isa. 65.17 and Isa. 66.22 Where God promiseth a new Heaven and a new Earth That is a new World or a new state of things Which promises had a threefold accomplishment 1. These promises should have some accomplishment at their return from Babylon which was a new World to the ruined and exiled state of the Church of the Jews 2. These promises were fulfilled to all believers in their regeneration which is as a new World to sinners 3. They shall be accomplished most fully in the life to come for the Apostle telleth us 2 Pet. 3.19 We look for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness Here it signifieth then that all things which belong to the old man shall be abolished and the new man and its interests and inclinations cherished Doct. All those that are united to Christ are and ought to be new creatures Here I shall enquire 1. What it is to be new creatures 2. In what sense we are said to be united to Christ. 3. How the new creation floweth from our union with Christ. 1. What it is to be new creatures It implieth 1. That there must be a change wrought in us so that we are as it were other Men and Women than we were before As if another Soul came to dwell in our Body This change is represented in such terms in Scriptures as do imply such a broad and sensible difference as is between light and darkness Eph. 5.8 Life and Death 1 John 3.14 The new man and the old Eph. 4.22 and 24. The vitious Qualities must be subdued and mortified and contrary Qualities and graces planted in their stead A man is so changed in his nature as if a Lion were turned into a lamb as the Prophet says when he sets forth the strange effects of Christs powerful government over the Souls of those who by the Ministry of the Word are subdued to him Isa. 11.6 7 8. The Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lye down with the Kid and the Calf and the young Lion and the Fatling together and a young Child shall lead them And the Cow and the Bear shall feed their young ones shall lye down together and the Lion shall eat straw with the Ox. And the sucking Child shall play on the hole of the Asp and the weaned Child shall put his hand on the Cockatrice Den. They shall be so inwardly and thoroughly changed that they shall seem new creatures transformed out of Beasts into men and instead of an hurtful they should have an innocent and harmless disposition Without a Metaphor this is represented 1 Cor 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are
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 the same Nature with them that sinned 4. It implieth the Quality of Christ's Office he is the Messenger of Heaven and therefore called the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 He is sent by God after lost Sinners He is called the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Heb. 3.1 God sendeth out a Messenger to bring Sinners to himself as Wisdom sent out her Maids but Christ is the chief Messenger and Apostle And mark he is called there not only the Apostle but High Priest partly to shew that in all Ages of the Church Christ is the chief Officer therefore the highest Calling both in the Jewish and Christian Church is ascribed to him but chiefly to shew that Christ as he is the Ambassador to treat with us from God so the High Priest to treat with God and appease his Wrath for us Christ is the Messenger that goeth from Party to Party if he had not been sent to us we should neither know God nor enjoy him he came from God to Men that he might bring Men to God There was no knowing of the Father without him Mat. 11.27 No Man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any Man the Father save the Son and â—e to whomsoever the Son shall reveal him There is no coming to the Father without him John 14.6 I am the Way the Truth and the Life no Man cometh to the Father but by me He came from Heaven on purpose to shew us the Way and to remove all Obstacles This is Christ's Office 5. It implieth the Authority of his Office Jesus Christ had a lawful Call He was designed in the Council of the Trinity his Holiness Miracles and Divine Power are his Commission Him hath God the Father sealed John 6.27 As every Ambassador hath Letters of Credence under the Hand and Seal of him from whom he is sent Christ is the Plenipotentiary of Heaven he hath his Commission under the Seal of Heaven all is valid that he doth in the Father's Name he hath authorized the Redeemer Which is not only for the Comfort of our Faith Christ entred upon his Calling by Authority which I shall improve by and by but for moral Instruction to look to our Mission Christ came not till he was sent It is not good to cast our selves upon Offices and Places without a lawful Call and Designation of God In Ordinary Functions Education and Abilities are Call enough and there we must keep It is a tempting of Providence to think God will bless us out of our way A desire of change usually proceedeth from Disdain or Distrust or a thirst of Gain all which are sinful But now in higher Callings there must be a solemn Mission Rom. 10.15 How shall they preach except they be sent they must be authorized by God the Rules he hath left in the Church Our Lord Jesus Christ did not glorify himself by Intrusion He had a Patent from the Council of the Trinity indited by the Father accepted by himself and sealed by the Holy Ghost Vse It sheweth three Things 1. The Love of God Here are many Circumstances to heighten it in your Thoughts that he would not trust an Angel with your Salvation but send his Son he is to come in Person 1 John 4.10 Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins He thought nothing too near and too dear for us Usually Man's Love descendeth and all his Happiness is laid up in his Children Again God had no Reasons he was moved by his own Goodness he had Reasons to the contrary we were Enemies but he sent his Son for Enemies Rom. 5.10 If when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son c. What was his Son sent for not to treat with us in Majesty but to take our Nature to be substituted into our Room and Place Oh praise the Father 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. 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 2. Christ's Condescension He submitteth to be sent Psal. 40.7 8. 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 We could never have asked so much as God hath given He would not only borrow our Tongue to speak to us but our Bowels to mourn for us and our Bodies to die for us He layeth aside his Majesty and taketh on himself the condition of a Servant It is irksome to us to go back ten degrees in Pomp or Pleasure upon just and convenient Reasons Oh the wonderful self-denial of Christ he laid aside the Majesty of God and submitted to the greatest Abasement and Suffering 3. The value of Souls and Spiritual Privileges If we despise them we put an Affront upon the Wisdom of Heaven and undervalue Christ's Purchase Freedom from Sin Justification Holiness they are the only things Christ was sent from Heaven to purchase them Gold and Silver would not buy them Mony is not currant in Heaven though it doth all things in the World 1 Pet. 1.18 We are not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from our vain Conversations but with the precious Blood of the Son of God as of a Lamb without spot and blemish Christ must come from Heaven and take a Body and shed his Blood Scourge your Hearts with that Question Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Sure we should be more serious and think that worthy of our best Endeavours and greatest Earnestness which Christ thought worthy a Journey from Heaven and all the pains and shame he suffered Secondly The next thing in the Text is That he is Jesus Mat. 1.21 Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his People from their Sins It is there interpreted to signify a Saviour an Angel himself is the Expositor so here Christ is sent to be a Saviour that is a principal Object of Faith to look upon Christ as the Saviour of the World A Saviour properly is one that delivereth from Evil Now Christ doth not only deliver us from Evil from Sin the Wrath of God the Accusations of the Law and Eternal Death but positively he giveth us Grace and Righteousness and Eternal Life He is a Saviour to defend us and a Saviour to bless us Psal. 84.11 The Lord God is a Sun and a Shield he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly The Mercies of the Covenant are Privative and Positive Many enter into a League that they will not hurt one another but God is in Covenant with us to bless us If Christ had only procured some place for us
sent From Christ's suing for Glory upon this Argument I might note That we may plead Promises God saith Put me in remembrance There is difference between a Plea and a Challenge Hypocrites challenge God upon the Merit of their Works Believers humbly urge him with his own Promises Not as if God did need excitement to make good his Word but we need grounds of Hope and Confidence Again Because Christ asketh nothing but what God will give I might observe That when we have done our Work we may expect our portion of Glory But I rather come to the particular discussion of the Words The words may be considered in a Mediatory or in a Moral Sence In a Mediatory sence so they are proper to Christ he prayed to the Father that thy Son may glorify thee Vers. 1. Now he saith I have glorified thee meaning in the days of his Flesh. By a Moral Accommodation they may be applied to every Christian every Christian should say as Christ I have glorified thee on the Earth I have finished the Work which thou gavest me to do First And which is most proper Let us consider them in the Mystical and Mediatory sense The first Phrase is I have glorified thee Christ glorified God many ways by his Person as being the express Image of his Father's Glory Heb. 1.3 By his Life and perfect Obedience John 8.46 Which of you convinceth me of Sin And Vers. 49. I have not a Devil but I honour my Father By discovering his Mercy John 1.14 We beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth By his Miracles then the sick of the Palsy was cured it is said the multitude glorified God Mat. 9.8 Mark 15.31 at other Miracles they glorified the God of Israel Mark 2.12 So his Passion exceedingly glorified God's Justice In his Doctrine by discovering his glorious Essence and the Purity of his Worship The System of Divinity was much perfected and advanced by the coming of Christ. Doct. That God was much glorified in Christ. God was much glorified in the Creation of the World Psal. 19.1 The Heavens declare the Glory of the Lord and the Firmament sheweth his handy-work The Fabrick of the whole World especially of the Heavens declares his Goodness Wisdom and Power His Goodness in communicating Being to all Creatures Life and Motion to some His Wisdom in making the Creatures so various and so excellent in their general kinds His Power in educing all things out of the Womb of Mother Nothing God was glorified in his Providences especially in the great Deliverances of the Church from Egypt and from the North but mostly in Christ Redemption being the most noble Work with which he was ever acquainted It is notable that the Spirit of God in Scripture often varieth the Expression at first it was Blessed be God that made Heaven and Earth then I am the God that brought thee out of the Land of Egypt then it is Jer. 16.14 15. It shall no more be said The Lord liveth that brought up the Children of Israel out of the Land of Egypt But the Lord liveth that brought up the Children of Israel from the Land of the North then it is Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephes. 1.3 In Creation the Wisdom Goodness and Power of God appeared there was no need of other Attributes In Providence the Justice Mercy and Truth of God appears but these in Christ in a more raised degree In Creation the Object was pure Nothing as there was no help so no hindrance but now in Redemption Sin hinders so that here is shown not only Goodness but Mercy In Creation we deserve nothing now we deserve the contrary There was more Wisdom seen in our Redemption The Quarrel taken up between Justice and Mercy Mercy would pity and Justice could not spare In Redemption there is more Power in Creation Man is taken out of the Earth in Redemption out of Hell God's Justice opposed Redemption Christ must be sent to satisfy Justice and the Spirit sent to take away Unbelief God made all with a Word he saved all with a Plot of Grace In Creation Man was made like God in Redemption God is made like Man No Deliverance like this Babylon was nothing to Hell and the Brick-kilns of Egypt to the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone When God delivered his People out of Babylon he had to do with Creatures when he delivered them from the Wrath to come he had to do with Himself Justice put in high Demands against the compassions of Mercy his own Son must die with the Wrath of God and his own Spirit must be grieved in wrestling with the Denials of Men. Instead of our own Obedience we have the Merit of Christ. Oh here are depths of Mystery and Wonder Vse God loseth no honour by Christ. God hath more Glory and we have larger Demesnes of Comfort and Grace to live upon All Parties are satisfied we have a better Portion Adam had Paradise we have Heaven God hath more Glory the Creatures are more acquainted with the infiniteness of Mercy Power and Wisdom Innocence continued had been a great benefit but now it is more gracious and free and it is not the greatness of a Benefit that worketh on Gratitude so much as the graciousness and freeness of it Our Heaven costeth a greater price and it is not given to God's Friends but those that were once his Enemies On Earth This Phrase signifieth that Christ did not increase God's Essential Glory for that is uncapable of any addition his Nature is infinite and cannot be made more glorious and excellent but only that Christ manifested his Glory more fully to the World Observe Christ came down from Heaven to make Men glorify God We had Lesson enough before us in Creation and Providence but Men were stupid Things to which we are accustomed do not work upon us in the Gospel God would set his Praise to a new Tune God needeth us not and our Respects are due and yet at what cost is God to purchase the Praise of the Creature Blind and unthankful Men to dethrone the great God and set up every paltry Creature Therefore God sent his Son to revive the Notions of the Godhead and to give us further manifestations of his Glory That was Christ's Errand to glorify him on the Earth I have finished the Work Christ's Work was to manifest the Gospel and to redeem Sinners and how can he say I have finished the Work seeing the chief Work of Redemption was yet to come the offering up himself to Divine Justice upon the Cross I Answer He had determined to undergo Death and it was now at hand in the consent and full determination of his Will it was done So upon the Cross just before his Death he crieth It was finished John 19.30 It implieth 1. The Submission Faithfulness and Diligence of Christ he never left doing of
more that he would be our Husband and yet further that he would be our Head He counted it an Honour and bought it at a dear rate 1. We are given to him to be Subjects of his Kingdom Christ is Lord of all the World but he prizeth to Title like that of King of Saints Rev. 15.3 to rule as Lord in the Church No Throne like the Conscience of an humbled Sinner The Heart is Christ's best Presence-Chamber he loveth to have his Chair of State set there He had an eternal Right together with the Father and the Holy Ghost but he would come and suffer and be crowned with a Crown of Thorns that he might have a new Right as Mediator and have the Crown of Glory put upon his Head in the Church Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour The Father promised it long before upon Bargain and Contract There is never a Subject that Christ hath but is bought and with the dearest Price his Soveraign's own Blood Mat. 20.28 He gave himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a ransome for many Many Subjects die in other Kingdoms that the Prince may be seated in the Throne but here the Prince dieth for the Subjects that he may govern his Spiritual Realm with more Peace and Quietness As the Price was great so the Father hath made him a large Grant 1. Christ's Empire is Universal and spread throughout the World He properly is the Catholick King there are no Bounds and Limits of his Empire Isa. 53.12 Therefore will I divide him a Portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong Some of all Nations are given to him Isa. 49.12 Behold these shall come from far and lo these from the North and from the West and these from the Land of Sinim North West South Jews and Gentiles The Jews that are now his Enemies shall appoint to themselves a Head as the Tribes flocked to Hebron to crown David Hos. 1.11 Then shall the Children of Judah and the Children of Israel be gathered together and appoint themselves one Head and they shall come up out of the Land There is no King like Christ for largeness of Command and Territory All Monarchs have certain Bounds and Limits by which their Empire is terminated Christ's Empire runneth throughout the whole Circuit of Nature he hath a Multitude of Subjects 2. Christ's Empire is Eternal Of the increase of his Government there shall be no end Isa. 9.7 Kings must die and then their Favourites may be counted Offenders So Bathsheba said to David who yet was a Type of the Reign of Christ 1 Kings 1.21 When my Lord the King shall sleep with his Fathers I and my Son Solomon shall be counted Offenders But Christ liveth and reigneth for evermore But you will say Christ doth not reign for ever but till he hath put all Enemies under his Feet when he shall resign up the Kingdom to the Father 1 Cor. 15.24 I Answer In Kingly Dignity there are two things Regia Cura and Regius Honor Kingly Care and Kingly Honour Kingly Care by which he ordereth and defendeth his Subjects and Kingly Honour which he receiveth from his Subjects Certainly Christ shall be King for ever and ever Luke 1.33 And he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end because he shall always be honoured and adored as King and Mediator He shall resign the Kingdom that is that way of Administration for when the Elect are fully converted and sanctified and their Enemies destroyed there will be no need of this Care Now thus we are given to Christ that he might be a King Universally and Eternally He ruleth us by a sweet Covenant he might rule us by Power Other Kings find Subjects he maketh them He might rule us for he bought us he hath an absolute right over us As there was a Covenant between the Father and Christ so between Christ and the Church He propoundeth no less than a Kingdom Isa. 10.8 Are not my Princes altogether Kings Christ's Title is by Purchase Conquest and Consent All Christ's Subjects were Vessels of Wrath Vessels of Hell in their natural Estate he recovered us from the Devil by Power and Conquest he bought us out of his Father's Hands by Merit and Price In short concerning this Kingdom which belongeth to the second Person The Father appoints it the Son merits it the Holy Ghost as Christ's Vice-Roy governs it The Father chuseth a certain number of Men giveth them to Christ the Son dieth for these Men ransometh them from the Grave and Hell and committeth them to be ruled and governed to the Spirit as Christ's Vicar the Spirit useth the Ministry of Men we are the Holy-Ghost's Overseers Acts 20.28 by which Grace is wrought and so we are united to Christ. Our Work by the Power of the Spirit is to bring them to Christ and Christ bringeth us to God the Father by his Intercession and by final Tradition which is the last Act of Christ's Mediatory Kingdom 1 Cor. 15.24 Then shall he deliver up the Kingdom to the Father God giveth us to Christ Christ to the Spirit the Spirit uniteth us to Christ and Christ bringeth us to God So that if we would enter into this Kingdom we must go to God the Father confess thou art a Traitor and Rebel desire him not to enter into Judgment with thee but seek to be reconciled If thou thus comest to the Father he will send thee to the Son as Job 42.8 God biddeth the Friends of Job to seek his Intercession I will not be pleased with you but in Christ. If I did not regard the presence of Jehoshaphat I would not look to thee nor see thee 2 King 3.14 Go to the Son reflect upon Christ's Merit and Intercession say Lord appear for us before thy Father were it not for thee he would not regard my Face The Son will send you to the Spirit I cannot bring you to God in your Impurity and Rebellion go to the Spirit of my Father that he may wash you and purge you Plead the promise of the Spirit John 16.13 14. Howbeit when he that is the Spirit of Truth shall come he will guide you into all Truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come He shall glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it to you When we come to the Spirit he will send us to Moses and the Prophets hear them The Word is the Rod of his Strength By the Word we are gained by the Sacraments we take an Oath of Allegiance in Prayer we perform our Homages in Alms and Acts of Charity we pay him Tribute Praise and Honour are the Revenues of this Crown Thus I have shewed the Title the largeness of the Grant and the manner of Administration 2. We are
moved with fear prepared an Ark to the saving of his Family whereby be condemned the World Your Life is a Reproof that maketh them ashamed John 7.7 The World hateth me because I testify of it that the Works thereof are evil Every wicked Man loveth another velut fautorem adjutatorem excusatorem sui criminis One wicked Man doth not put another to the Blush It is no shame to be black in a Country of Negroes where all are black Their Conversation is a living Reproof Thy Guilt is upbraided by their righteous Works their Conversation upbraideth thy Conscience the sense of thy Guilt and Negligence is revived by their righteous Works and serious Diligence in Heaven's Way We are impatient of a verbal Reproof much more of a real Their holy Lives beget a Fear and Awe Mark 6.20 Herod feared John knowing that he was a just Man and holy and observed him Christ saith here not only I have given them thy Word but They are not of the World They do not only teach things contrary to the World but live contrary to the World Many a strict Preacher may be a carnal Man and the World and he may agree well enough They look upon Sermons as Words spoken of course it is the holy Conversation that enrageth most as Elephants are enraged with gorgeous Apparel They have no Vail and Cloak for their Sins Thieves rob in the Night they would fain extinguish the Light The World cannot endure to be condemned from that Light that shineth from the Godly as the Sun is burdensom to the Owl and other Night-Birds John 3.19 20. This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men loved Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds were Evil. For every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh he to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved 2. Envy at God's Favours bestowed on them 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 Cain was not only upbraided by Abel's better Sacrifice but envied God's acceptance of him Gen. 4.4 5. Joseph's party-coloured Coat and his Father's Favour stirred up envy in his Brethren This is the difference between Envy and Emulation Envy is accompanied with Laziness as Emulation with Industry There is between the Good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a good contention Heb. 10.24 who shall be most forward Emulation is good if separated from Carnal Aims but Envy which is accompanied with Sloth maketh a Man malign that Good which is in others Envy hath an evil Eye it cannot look upon Goodness without grief When others are at the top of the Hill and they lie lazily at the bottom they fret at those which are at the top they will not put in for the Privileges of Christianity and therefore are troubled with those that do so Divine Grace hath made a distinction and those whom God blesseth to be Objects of his Love the World chuseth to be Objects of Hatred Vse 1. If the Children of God have the World's respect at any time they have need to look to their Consciences Do not you symbolize with them in Carnal Practices Luke 6.26 Cursed are you when all Men speak well of you for so they did to the false Prophets Phocion upon a general applause went home and said Quid mali feci Do not you at least let fall the Majesty of your Conversation A Child of God may find external Favour as the three Children did in Babylon by God's over-ruling Power on Men's Spirits Prov. 16.7 When a Man's ways please the Lord he maketh his Enemies to be at peace with him The World may do it in design as Hannibal abstained from Fabius his Fields to render him suspected or else to oblige by Courtesies and gain them to their Faction and Party However you have cause to look to your selves it is ill to be sollicited as a chast Matron is troubled to be sollicited to Lust. Have not you given them some advantage Do not you share with them in their Wickedness When the World's Respects run out so fairly and smoothly towards you you have cause to suspect your selves At least take the more heed that you do not seek to make your Conversation more pleasing by suiting your self to the Customs and sinful Courses of Carnal Men. Vse 2. To press all to avoid this Sin and Snare of Death especially in these Times of Dissention Oh take heed whatever you do whatever Differences you cherish or whatever Party you stick to that you be not guilty of Hatred against the Power of Godliness Let not the Saints act the Wickeds part The spirit of Enmity seeketh other Pretences Hold not Communion with the wicked World in their malignity and spight against God's Children 1. It is a mark of a Child of the Devil the express Image of Satan Thereby our Saviour convinced the Jews to be of their Father the Devil because they hated him that came from God John 8.40 41. But now ye seek to kill me a Man that have told you the truth which I have heard of God this did not Abraham Ye do the Deeds of your Father And Vers. 44. Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father ye will do he was a Murderer from the beginning and abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him And St. John 1 Epist. 3.10 In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother This manifests Men to be the Children of Satan because they love not their Brethren as Cain loved not Abel You express the Image of Satan to the Life when this is the ground of your hatred 2. It is very provoking Sin and it is the more provoking because we enjoy so many Benefits by them It is sad to hate Men for their Godliness for Christ's Names sake Look as it is a commendation of Kindness on the one side so it is an aggravation of Injury on the other Mat. 10.42 Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little Ones a Cup of cold Water only in the name of a Disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his Reward The height of this Sin is the Sin against the Holy Ghost the wilful persecuting of the known Truth therefore take heed that you be not guilty of any spice and degree of it 3. It is possible for them that profess Religion to hate one another for their strictness in that Religion Pseudo-Christians may be hot and violent the Beast pusheth with the Lamb's Horns Rev. 13. Isa. 66.5 Your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my Names sake said Let the Lord be glorified Men that are Brethren that had great pretences of Zeal hate you for my Name 's sake
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
a Person by it self and can subsist of it self the other is only taken into the Communion of his Person The Humane Nature communicates nothing to the Divine but only serveth it as an Instrument So we communicate nothing to Christ but receive all from him Both are wrought by the Spirit the Body natural of Christ was begotten by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost So this Union is wrought by God's Spirit By the first Christ is Bone of our Bone and Flesh of our Flesh by the second we are Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh. There cometh in the Kindred by Grace Heb. 2.11 For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of One for which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren He is of the same Stock with all Men but he calleth none Brethren but those that are sanctified none else can claim Kindred of Christ he will own no others The Hypostatical Union is indissoluble it was never laid aside not in Death it was the Lord of Glory that was crucified it was the Body of Christ in the Grave So it is in the Mystical Union Christ and we shall never be parted In Death the Union is dissolved between the Body and the Soul but not between us and Christ our Dust and Bones are Members of Christ. In the Hypostatical Union the Natures are not equal the Humane Nature is but a Creature tho advanced to the highest Privileges that a Creature is capable of the Divine Nature assumed the Humane by a voluntary Condescension and gracious Dispensation and being assumed it always upholdeth it and sustaineth it So there is a mighty difference between us and Christ between the Persons united Christ as Head and Prince is pleased to call us into Communion with himself and to sustain us being united In the Hypostatical Union the Humane Nature can do nothing apart from the Divine No more can we out of Christ. John 15.5 I am the Vine ye are the Branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same 〈◊〉 forth much Fruit for without me ye can do nothing In the Hypostatical Union God dwelleth in Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 2.9 In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily In the Mystical Union God dwelleth in us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 John 4.4 Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the World The Hypostatical Union is the Ground of all that Grace and Glory that was bestowed on the Humane Nature without which as a meer Creature it would not be capable of this Exaltation So the Mystical Union is the Ground of all that Grace and Glory which we receive By the Hypostatical Union Christ is made our Brother he contracted affinity with the Humane Nature by the Mystical Union he is made our Head and Husband he weddeth our Persons As by the Hypostatical Union there is a Communion of Properties So here is a kind of Exchange between us and Christ 2 Cor. 5.21 For he hath made him to be Sin for us who knew no Sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him As the Honour of the Divinity redoundeth to the Humane Nature so we have a Communion of all those good Things which are in Christ. Vse 1. Let us strive to imitate the Trinity in our Respects both to the Head and our Fellow-members that you may neither dishonour the Head nor dissolve the Union between the Members Christ useth this Expression to draw us up to the highest and closest Union with himself and one another 1. In your Respects to the Head 1. Let your Union with him be more close and sensible that you may ly in the Bosom of Christ as Christ doth in the Bosom of God Is Christ in us as God is in Christ are we made Partakers of the Divine Nature as he is of ours that you may say to him as Laban to Jacob Gen. 29.14 Surely thou art my Bone and my Flesh. That you may feel Christ in you Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life which I live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me This Mystery is not only to be believed but felt 2. In your care not to dishonour your Head 1 Cor. 6.15 Know ye not that your Bodies are the Members of Christ Shall I then take the Members of Christ and make them the Members of an Harlot God forbid 3. By your Delight and Complacency You should make more of the Person of Christ Cant. 1.13 A Bundle of Myrrh is my Beloved unto me he shall ly all night between my Breasts Keep Christ close to the Heart delight in his Company and in frequent Thoughts of him This should be the holy Solace of the Soul 4. By your Aims to glorify him The Father studieth the Honour of Christ so doth the Spirit Thou art his and all thine is his Christ hath a title to thy Wit Wealth Estate Strength to all thou hast or canst do in the World Dost thou spend thy Estate as if it were not thine but Christ's Use thy Parts as if they were not thine but Christ's Use thy Parts as Christ's 2. To your Fellow-members Walk as those that are one as Christ and the Father are one seeking one another's Welfare rejoicing in one another's Graces and Gifts as if they were our own contributing Counsel Assistance Sympathy Prayers for the common Good as if thy own Case were in hazard living as if we had but one Interest This is somewhat like the Trinity Vse 2. Let it put us upon Thanksgiving No other Union with us would content Christ but such as carrieth some Resemblance with the Trinity the highest Union that can be In love to our Friends we wear their Pictures about our Necks Christ assumed our Nature espouseth our Persons How should we be ravished with the Thought of the Honour done us We were separated by the Fall and became base Creatures yet we are not only restored to Favour but united to him Thirdly The Ground of this Union one with us By the Mystical Union we are united to the whole Trinity Our Communion with the Father is spoken of 1 John 1.3 That ye also may have Fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. Communion with the Son 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful by whom we are called unto the Fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And Communion with the Spirit 2 Cor. 13.14 The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen To distinguish them accurately 〈◊〉 very hard only thus in general We must have Communion with all or none There is no coming to the Father but by the Son John 14.6 I am the Way the Truth and the
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
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
own personal eternal interest have an undoubted evidence of their love to Christ but we cannot say that none love Christ but those which arrive at that height and degree But this is both exclusive and inclusive The Text sheweth it to be exclusive he that hath not the spirit is none of his That is not grafted as a living member into Christs mystical body for the present nor will he be accepted or approved as a true Christian at last at the day of Christs appearing to be none of Christs is to be disowned and disclaimed by Christ Depart from me I know you not How grievous is the thought of it to any good Christian Secondly 'T is inclusive 1 John 2.13 Hereby we know that we dwell in God and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit These are magnificent Words and such as we should not have used if God had not used them before us 'T is much nearness to dwell one with another 't is more nearness to dwell one in another this is mutual and reciprocal between God and a believer if we have his Spirit we may safely conclude it To prove this let us see 1. What it is to have the spirit 2. Why this is the Evidence that we are true Christians For the first Question take these Explanations 1. By the spirit of Christ is not meant any created habit and gift For the new nature is sometimes called the Spirit John 3.6 But the third person in the Trinity called the Holy Ghost is here meant For he is spoken of as a person that dwelleth in Believers in the former part of the verse and dwelleth in them as in his Temple as one that leadeth guideth and sanctifieth them yea as one that will at length quicken their Mortal bodies v. 11. Which no created habit and Quality can do Yea he is called the spirit of God and the spirit of Christ. If so be the spirit of God dwell in you And in the words of the Text if any man have not the spirit of Christ Because he proceedeth from the Father and the Son John 15.26 When the comforter is come whom I will send to you from the Father even the spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father This is the spirit which is spoken of in this place 2. This spirit is had or said to be in us We have not only the Fruit but the Tree But how have we him We have a right to his person he is given to us in the Covenant of Grace as our sanctifyer as God is ours by Covenant so is the spirit ours as well as the Father and the Son and he is present in our hearts as the immediate Agent of Christ and worker of all grace 'T is true in respect of his essence and some kind of operation he is present in all Creatures Psal. 139.7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit Whither shall I fly from thy presence God filleth all things with his spirit and presence And therefore when some are said to have him and others not to have him 't is understood of his peculiar presence with respect to those Eminent operations and effects which he produceth in the hearts of the faithful and no where else For he is such an Agent no where as he is in their hearts Therefore they are called Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 3.16 and 1 Cor. 6.19 Because he buildeth them up for an Holy use and also dwelleth and resideth there maintaining Gods Interest in their Souls 3. These Eminent Operations of the Holy Ghost are either in a way of common gifts or special graces as to common gifts Reprobates and Hypocrites may be said to be partakers of the Holy Ghost Heb. 6.4 Balaam had the gift of Prophesie and Judas the gift of Miracles as well as the rest of the Apostles so 1 Cor. 12. The Apostle discourseth at large of the Gifts of the Spirit and concludeth but I shew you a more excellent way verse 31. And then taketh it up again 1 Cor. 13.1 2. Though I speak with the tongue of men and angels and have not charity I am become as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal and though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all Knowledge and though I have all Faith so that I could remove Mountains and have no Charity I am nothing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There are dona ministrantia gifts for the Service of the Church such as profound knowledge utterance in Preaching or Praying or any other Ministeral acts and Dona Sanctificantia such as Faith Hope and Love the former may render us useful to the Church but not acceptable to the Lord. The superficial Christianity is rewarded with common gifts but the real Christianity with Special Graces all that profess the Faith are visibly adopted by God into his Family and under a visible Administration of the Covenant of Grace so far as they are Adopted into Gods Family so far they are made partakers of the Spirit Christ giveth to common Christians those common gifts of the Spirit which he giveth not to the heathen world as knowledg of the mysteries of Godliness abilities of utterance and speech about Heavenly things some affection also to Spiritual and Heavenly things called a tasting of the good Word the Heavenly gift and the powers of the world to come these will not prove us true Christians or really in Gods special favour but only visible professed Christians 4. The spirit as to Sanctifying and saving effects may be considered as spiritus assistens aut in formans either as moving warning or exciting by transient motions so the wicked may be wrought upon by him as to be convinced warned excited how else can they be said to resist the Holyghost Acts 7.51 and the Lord telleth the Old World Gen. 6.3 That his spirit should not always strive with them Surely besides the Counsels and Exhortations of the Word the Spirit doth rebuke warn and excite them and moveth and stirreth and striveth in the Hearts of all carnal creatures or else these expressions could not be used 5. There are such effects of his sanctifying grace as are wrought in us per modum habitus permanentis to renew and change us so as a man from carnal doth become spiritual the Spirit of God doth so dwell in us as to frame heart and life unto holiness this work is sometimes called the new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 And sometimes the divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 It differeth from gifts because they are for outward service but this conduceth to change the heart it differeth from actual motions and inspirations because they may vanish and die away without any saving impression left upon the heart it differeth from those slighter dispositions to Godliness which are many times in temporaries because they are but a light tincture soon worn off and have no power and mastery over sensual affections if they restrain them a little they do not
but be raised up from the grave and their vile bodies be changed like unto the Glorious Body of their Redeemer SERMON XIV ROM VIII 11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you THE Apostle is answering a doubt How there is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ since death which is the fruit of sin yet remaineth on the Godly Answer 1. By concession that sin is indeed the seed and original of mortality the body is dead because of sin Not only the carnal undergo it but the justified tho the guilt of sin be taken away by a pardon and the dominion and power of it be broken by the Spirit of Christ yet the being of it is not quite abolished and as long as sin remaineth in us in the least degree it maketh us subject to the power of death 2. By way of correction He opposeth a double comfort against it Destruction by sin is neither total nor final First Not total 't is but an half death v. 10. The spirit is life because of righteousness Secondly Nor final it hath a limit of time set which when it is expired the body shall have an happy Resurrection and that by vertue of the same spirit by which the soul is now quickned so that mark both parts receive their happiness by the spirit the soul and the body the soul tho it be immortal in its self yet the blessed immortality it hath from the spirit the spirit is life because of righteousness and the dead body shall not finally perish but be sure to be raised again by the same spirit If the spirit of him c. In the Words we have 1. The condition upon which the Resurrection is promised if the Spirit 2. The certainty of performance set forth 1. By the Author or efficient cause he that raised up Jesus from the dead 2. By his spirit that dwelleth in you the way and manner of working 1. The condition A Resurrection is necessary but an happy Resurrection is limited by a condition Phil. 3.11 If by any means 2. The certainty of performance 1. From the Author of God described by his eminent and powerful work he that raised up Jesus from the dead This is mentioned partly as an instance of his power and partly as an assurance of his will first an instance of his power Eph. 1.18 19. According to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Our Resurrection is a work of the same Omnipotency with that which he first evidenced in raising Christ from the dead the same power is still imployed to bring us to a glorious Eternity Secondly 'T is an assurance of his will for Christs Resurrection is a pattern of ours 1 Cor. 6.14 God hath both raised the Lord and will also raise up us by his own power 2 Cor. 4.14 Knowing that he that raised up Jesus shall also raise us up by Jesus 2. For the way and manner of bringing it about by his spirit that dwelleth in us Where take notice 1. Of the Relation of the Holy Spirit to God Secondly His interest in and nearness to us 1. His relation to God He is called his Spirit and the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead That is of God the Father The Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Fathers Spirit and sometimes Christs Spirit because he proceedeth both from the Father and the Son the Fathers Spirit John 15.26 When the Comforter is come whom I will send to you from the Father even the spirit of truth he is also called Acts 11.4 The promise of the Father and Christs Spirit Rom. 8.9 If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his and Gal. 4.6 God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts Now the Spirit being one in essence and undivided in Will and Essence with the Father and the Son surely the Father will by or because of the Spirit dwelling in us raise us again for Father Son and Holy Spirit are one and the same God 2. His interest in and nearness to us he dwelleth in us All dependeth upon that mark he doth not say he worketh in us per modum actionis transeuntis so he worketh in those that resist his work and shall perish for ever but per modum habitus permanentis as we are regenerated and sanctified and the effects of his powerful Resurrection remain in those habits which constitute the new nature so the Spirit is said to dwell in us and in the former verse Christ to be in us if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin verse 10. Doct. That the bodies of Believers shall be raised at the last day by the spirit of holiness which now dwelleth in them 1. I shall a little open this inhabitation of the spirit 2. Shew you why 't is the ground and cause of our happy Resurrection 1. For the first the inhabitation of the Spirit Dwelling may relate to a double Metaphor either to the dwelling of a man in his house or of God in his Temple of a man in his house 1 John 3.24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and be in him so it noteth his constant familiar presence or of God in his Temple 1 Cor. 6.16 Know ye not that you are the Temple of God and the spirit of God dwelleth in you Which noteth a sacred presence that presence as a God to bless and sanctifie the spirit buildeth us up for so holy an use and then dwelleth in us as our Sanctifier Guide and Comforter the one maketh way for the other first a Sanctifier and then a guide as a ship is first well-rigg'd and then a Pilot and by both he comforts us he hath regenerated and guided us in the way of holiness first he sanctifieth and reneweth us Tit. 3.5 But according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and the renewing of the Holy ghost and John 3.6 That which is born of spirit is spirit First he buildeth his House or Temple and then cometh and dwelleth in it Secondly He guideth and leadeth us in the ways of holiness Rom. 15.14 And my self also am perswaded of you my brethren that you also are full of godliness filled with all knowledg If we live in the spirit let us also walk in the spirit Gal. 5.25 Before we were influenced by Satan Eph. 2.2 Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air that now worketh in the children of disobedience He put us upon anger malice envy unclean lusts and noisome and filthy ways and we readily obeyed 2 Tim. 2.28 And that they may recover themselves out of the snares of the devil who are taken captive
he loveth them more than a mother loveth her tender infant Isa. 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget but I will not forget thee If the mother be so tenderly affected to the child whom she carried in her womb for some few months will not God much more He is as tender of them as the apple of his eye Zech. 2.8 He hath secured his Covenant-love by promise 1 Cor. 10.13 But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able he will never leave you to insupportable difficulties Secondly To give a more general state of the case 1. This good is not to be determined by our fancies and conceits but by the wisdom of God for God knoweth what is better for us than we do for our selves we judg according to present appearance but he hath a sight or inspection of our hearts and a prospect or foresight of all future events And therefore his divine choices are to be preferred before our foolish fancies what he sendeth or permitteth to fall out is fitter for our turn than any thing else could we once be perswaded of this a Christian would be prepared for a cheerful entertainment of all that should come upon him Besides he is a God of bowels and loveth us more dearly than we do our selves Therefore we should be satisfied with his dispensations whatever they are Should the shepherd or the sheep chuse his pastures The child be governed by his own fancy or the Fathers discretion The sick man by his own appetite or the physitians skill 'T is necessary sometimes that God should displease his people for their advantage John 16.6 7. Because I have said these things to you sorrow hath filled your heart nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I go away We are too much addicted to our own conceits Christs dealing is expedient and useful yet very unsatisfactory to his people He is to be judge of what is good for us his going or tarrying not we our selves who are short-sighted distempered with passions whose requests many times are but ravings and ask of God we know not what Peter said Matth. 17.4 Master it is good for us to be here He was well pleased to be upon Mount Tabor but little thought what work God had to do by him elsewhere so Jer. 24.5 The basket of good figs were sent into the land of the Chaldeans for their good What good in a dispersion but God foresaw worse evil would befall the place where they then lived The selling of Joseph for a slave was to appearance evil but God meant it for good Gen. 50.20 God may keep us low and bare expose us to difficulties prejudices reproaches bitter sufferings yet all is for good 2. Good is to be determined by its respect to the chief good or true happiness Now what is our chief happiness but the vision and fruition of God it consists not in outward comforts riches liberty health honour or comfortable relations but our acceptance with God other things are but appendages to our felicity Matth. 6.33 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But first seek the kingdom of God and these things shall be added unto you Affliction taketh nothing from our solid and essential happiness rather helpeth us to the injoymenâ— of it as we increase in grace and holiness That 's evil that separateth us from God that 's good which bringeth us nearer to him Sin separateth us from God therefore always evil Isa. 59.2 But affliction are not always evil but make us more earnestly to seek after him Hosea 5.16 And so to be trained up under the cross in a constant course of obedience and subjection to God is good Lam. 3.27 It is good that a man bear the yoke from his youth because it keepeth him modest humble and sober 3. This good is not always the good of the body or of outward prosperity and therefore our condition is not to be determined by the interest of the flesh but the welfare of our soul. If we had the world at will we cannot be said to be in a good condition if the Lord should deny us spiritual blessings We are more concerned as a soul than a body Heb. 12.10 He verily for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness He doth not call the good things of this world that pelf which all desire profit but the participiation of the divine nature Affliction is good if it be sanctified Holiness wrought by affliction should be more to us than all our outward comforts 4. 'T is not good presently injoyed and felt but waited for and therefore our condition must not be determined by sense but faith Heb. 12.11 Affliction for the present is not pleasing to natural sense nor is the fruit for the present evident to spiritual sense but 't is good because in the issue it turneth to spiritual good While under the affliction we feel the smart but do not presently find the benefit Physick must have time to work that which is not good may be good though it be not good in its nature 't is good in its use Faith should determine so though we feel it not Psal. 73.1 Yâ—t God is good to Israel 5. A particular good must give way to a general good and our personal benefit to the glory of God and the advancement of Christs Kingdom 'T was good yea much better for Paul to be in Heaven yet if it was needful for the Saints to continue in the flesh he submitteth Phil. 1.24 We must not so desire good to our selvâ—s as to hinder the good of others All Elements will act contrary to their particular nature for the conservation of the Universe That may be good for the glory of God which is not good for our personal contentment and ease John 12.27 28. The sense of our duty and the desire of glorifying God should overcome our natural inclination 6. In bringing about this good we must not be idle spectators but assisi under God When we are diligent to exercise our selves unto godliness then evil is turned into good and all crosses and afflictions into means of salvation besides the elective love of God at the bottom of all there is the actual power and influence of the Spirit and prayer on our part Phil. 1.19 Through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus and Heb. 12.11 Now no chastning for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby 'T is not the bare nature of the Cross doth it we must labour for that we look for the Saints are not only passive objects but active instruments of Providence there is an exercise on our parts we are to make use of all things then God will bless us 7. If it be true
their integrity and safety have miscarryed for ever yea that have had a great name in the Church Matth. 7.22 Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord we have prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out Devils And in thy name done wonderful things Yet Christ saith I know you not in the next verse And Luke 13.25 26. When once the master of the House is risen up and hath shut to the door and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying Lord Lord open to us and he shall say unto you I know you not whence ye are Then shall ye begin to say we have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught us in our streets So Prov. 14.12 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of Death The Foolish Virgins Matth. 25. Made full account to enter into the Nuptial Chamber but were shut out Many now in Hell little thought of coming thither those not only of the bruitish multitude but of great note that have lived in the light of the Gospel and heard the difference between the wicked and the Godly 2. There is no true confidence but what groweth out of a constant uniform self denying obedience Matth. 7.21 Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven But he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven And 1 John 3.18 My little Children let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth And Rom. 8.5 6 7. SERMON XII 2 Cor. 5.9 Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of the Lord. THis verse containeth a practical Inference out of the whole foregoing discourse That which was before spoken may be reduced to these three heads 1. A certain knowledge and confidence of a Blessed estate We know and we are always confident 2. An earnest desire expressed by groans and vehement longings after it 3. A willingness and holy boldness to venture upon Death its self upon this Hope Now these do infer one another Because we know we desire because we desire this happy estate we are willing rather c. So they all infer this effect mentioned in the Text. We labour because we know we labour because we desire we labour because we are willing rather yea this effect feedeth and maintaineth all the former dispositions in life and vigour and also evidenceth the sincerity of them Surely we know we desire we are willing rather if in life in Death we study to approve our selves to God wherefore we labour that whether present or absent c. This verse containeth a Christians scope and a Christians work 1. His scope to be accepted with God 2. His work we labour that whether present or absent 1. His Scope The scope of the Christian life is to approve our selves to God while we are present in the Body to do things pleasing in his sight Col. 1.10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing And 1 Thes. 4.1 As we have learned how to walk and how to please God so abound therein more and more when absent or gone out of the Body that we may be found in a state of well pleasedness and acceptation 2 Pet. 3.14 Be found of him in peace Heb. 11.5 He had this Testimony that he pleased God Our great inquiry is whether our state be pleasing or displeasing to him and our great aim is that it may be pleasing 2. A Christians work we labour that whether present or absent There take notice of two things 1. Their Earnest and assiduous diligence In the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are ambitious of this Honour the Word is used in two other Scriptures Rom. 15.20 Striving to preach the Gospel where Christ was not named And 1 Thes. 4.11 Study to be quiet Affect this honour or pursue after it as men do after preferment honours and dignities in the World So that this word is three ways rendred labour strive study Ambition mightily prevaileth with sensual men and maketh them restless and unwearyed in their pursuits till they get at top This is the holy and laudable ambition of a Christian to stand right in the favour of God and be accepted with him at the last 2. The Several states in which this design must be carryed on whether present or absent Whether we be at home and continue in this Earthly Body of ours or whether we be gone out of the Body the Happiness of this World and the next lyeth in our acceptance with God Living and dying a Christian must see that he be in a state of well pleasing Rom. 14.7 8. Our hearts are pretty well at ease while we are in the body if we may know that we are accepted of God However that must be our Scope Now it must be the design of our obedience and hereafter it will be the grounds of our reward 'T will be our Solace in our Pilgrimage and it will be our happiness when we die and go out of the body if Christ will own us at the last Doct. The great ambition design and endeavour of a true Christian is that living and dying he may be such as God may like and well approve of 1. I shall give you the Emphasis of this point as it lyeth in the Text. 2. Some reasons of the point 1. Let me illustrate this point as it lyeth in this Scripture Mark this must be our great design and Scope we must not only do things which are Deograta acceptable to God for the matter but this must be our fixed end and Scope which we must propound to our selves Christianity and true Godliness is set forth in Scripture by three things Sometimes by the Internal Principle of it the Spirit of God or the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 or the seed of God abiding in us 1 John 3.9 Sometimes by the intention of the true end which is the pleasing of God and the fruition of God with Christ and his Blessed ones for ever in Heaven when the heart is set upon that Mat. 6.20 21. But lay up for your selves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal For where your treasure is there will your heart be also And 2. Cor. 4.18 While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal Sometimes by the reception of the true rule when that is ingrafted in our hearts and so impressed upon our hearts that it cannot be defaced Heb. 8.10 I will put my Laws into their mind and write them in their Hearts and Psa. 37.31 The Law of God is in my Heart I now am to speak of the Second which is the true aim scope and tendency of the life of
But why not of the Angels in Heaven Who are sent forth for the good of the Elect and observe our behaviour and who stop us in our sins as the Angel did Balaam who said it is an errour See Numb 22.34 So 1 Tim. 5.21 I charge thee before the Elect Angels Surely the Angels observe our actions they are sent abroad in the World as the spies and intelligencers of Heaven So they attend upon congregations 1 Cor. 11.10 For this cause ought a Woman to have power on her head because of the Angels In assemblies for worship more Company meeteth then is visible Devils and Angels meet there Devils to divert your minds assoon as you begin to be Serious to Snatch the good word out of your hearts Angels observe you therefore there should be no undecency 3. Devils may accuse men in that day The Devil is called The accuser of the Brethren The Fathers bring him in pleading thus against the Sinner Domine sit meus per culpam qui tuus esse noluit per gratiam I never dyed for him could promise him no heavenly Kingdom but a little sensitive pleasure Ostende tuos tales numerarios O Christe c. 4. Sometimes the Word of God is made to be our accuser John 5.45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust That is Moses his Law would accuse and Condemn them Christ needeth not to bring his complaint and inditement against them And it teacheth us this truth That where men remain in their Impenitency and unbelief both Law and Gospel Gods justice and mercy our own consciences the Spirit resisted by them in his moral swasions Messengers means pains taken on them will all contribute to make up an accusation against a sinner before the Tribunal of Christ. So John 12.48 He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that Judgeth him the word that I have spoken shall Judge him at the last day The word of the Gospel delivered by Christ that will Judge them Though there were no other witnesses yet the grace of God in the word will shew their Condemnation to be just because of their contempt and neglect Believers or unbelievers may know their doom aforehand by the word So Matth. 12.41 42. The men of Niniveh shall rise in Judgment against this Generation and condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonas and behold a greater than Jonas is here So the Queen of the South shall rise up in the Judgment with this Generation and shall condemn it for she came from the uttermost parts of the Earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold a greater then Solomon is here The means that we have injoyed shall be produced and aggravate the Judgment against the neglecters and despisers of the Lords grace There was a greater manifestation of God in Christ than Solomon A greater confirmation in Christs resurrection and Infusion of the Spirit than in Jonahs being delivered out of the Whales belly 5. The ministers of the Gospel Their diligence and faithful inculcation of the doctrine of life maketh up a part of the Evidence which is produced to convince sinners Mat. 24.14 And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the World for a witness unto all Nations First to them and then against them compared with Mark 13.9 The preaching of the Word will be a witness that men had warning enough but that they unthankfully neglected their opportunity and did cast away their own mercies So Mark 6.11 Shake off the dust of your feet for a testimony against them That signified what a crying sin and what a punishment did attend them that contemned the Messages of Salvation sent them by God 'T is not only a Testimony before God for the present but compare Mat. 10.14 15. Shake off the dust of your feet And it shall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gomorra in the day of Judgment This sheweth you are free of their blood and if there be no other witnesses this dust shall witness it 6. Conscience its self shall witness against them and God will discover our selves to our selves that we shall see the Judgment is just As long as men have any Tenderness conscience speaketh now but by custom in sinning men stop the mouth of it But when it speaketh not it writeth many times for the present it is silent and seemeth to take no notice of the sins we commit but they are all registred and they appear legible The sad story of our lives is all engraven upon the heart and when God awakneth the Conscience 't is all sin God will open our eyes not by an holy illumination but by a forced Conviction Rev. 20.12 The Books were opened and one of these Books is conscience and though it be in the sinners keeping yet it cannot be so blurred and defaced but our story will be legible enough and forgotten sins will stare us in the face Numb 32.23 And be sure your sins shall find you out We forget them now think we shall never hear of them more But God can make all occur to memory as fresh as if newly committed and in an Instant represent the story of an ill spent life and shew us all the thoughts words and actions that ever we have been guilty of The Paper goeth white into the Printing-house but within one instant 't is Marked within and without and cometh forth stamped with words and lines and sentences Which were no way legible there before 7. It will be made Evident by the confession of Offenders themselves As their Consciences will convince them so their own tongues will accuse them then As men now in the ravings of despair will vomit up their own shame as Judas Mat. 27.4 I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood And Jer. 17.9 At his latter end he shall be a fool Crying out Oh fool Oh mad man So much more then God can easily and without other Evidence convince men by themselves and make them accuse themselves he can Judge them out of their own mouths Luke 19.12 Produce evidence against them out of their own thoughts and pronounce sentence against them out of their own Consciences Rom. 2.15 Make mens tongues to fall upon them Psal. 64.8 He can indeed make use of us and all that is in us for his own Glory as having power to do with us what he will and 't is much for his honour when he maketh us witnesses against our selves 8. Wicked men shall accuse one another In the arraignment of Adam and Eve which I take for a notable presignification of the general Judgment they transfer it upon one another the man upon the Woman Gen. 3.12 The woman whom thou gavest to be with me And The Woman upon the Serpent The Serpent beguiled me ver 13. So those that draw one another into sin or are drawn by them will impeach one another 9.
he is ascended into Heaven he is to be known in Faith and worshipped in Spirit his body is above all kindness and his memory is to be respected not as the memory of an honourable man but as one who is Lord of the Church and governeth it by his Spirit to the end of the World Phil. 2.10 11. Not Lord Lord but obedience Matth. 7.22 1 USE is reproof of those that please themselves with that deceit of heart that if they had lived in the days of Christ conversed with our Saviour and heard his Doctrine and seen his Miracles and holy life they would not have used him as the Jews did but expressed kindness and love to his person Now to these let me say First That 't is an old deceit of heart We usually translate the scene of our duty to former times and lay aside at the present that work and expression of love which God hath called us to God knoweth in what age to cast you and what means and dispensations are fittest for you he that doth not improve present means will not improve any 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen we love in whom though now you see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory If ye receive his Doctrine obey his Laws believe in him love him rejoyce in the midst of afflictions you express your love to Christ. 2. It is not likely you would do otherwise having the same temper and constitution of Soul which they had that opposed Christ the same root of bitterness in you You hate those in whom there is the Image of Christ and some representation of his Holiness and Meekness We read of those Mat. 23.29 30. Who build the Tombs of the Prophets and garnish the Sepulchers of the Righteous and say if we had been in the days of our Fathers we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets who yet persecuted Christ as many will condemn the former Adversaries of the Martyrs Bonner and Gardiner Christ taught no other Doctrine than that which the Prophets and Martyrs had done but dead Saints do not exasperate And what entertainment would a rude dissolute sort of people give to such a mean but holy Person as Christ was that was so free in his Reproofs Ye are of your Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do John 8.44 He that now sheweth a spightful and malicious mind against the Truth and Servants of God shall never make me think otherwise but if he had lived in Christs days he would have been as ready and forward to persecute him as the worst Certainly an Herod and an Herodias to John Baptist would have been an Ahab and a Jezabel to Elijah ask them what they thought of Ahab and Jezabel they would have made many great Protestations that they would have done far otherwise but they did the same things to him that came in the Spirit and Power of Elias No miscreant but will cry out on the treachery of Judas the envy and malice of the High-Priests the fury of the Jews yet the same thing is done by them whilest Godliness is Persecuted they are still desirous to break this Vessel where this Treasure lyeth Dead Saints are out of sight no Eye sore to them no way offensive to their Ears 3. If you should this would not save you without Conversion to God The same Laws were in force then that are now knowing Christ after the flesh would do you no good but a spiritual and true affection to him The Reward was still promised to true Disciples John 12.26 If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be if any man serve me him will my Father honour When some came to see him he exhorted to imitation of his Example and subjection to his Laws It is not an outside appearance unless we humbly engage in his Service and have a desire to please him in all things Oh therefore let us make this use of the love of Christ and the sense of our engagements to him as to know Christ not after the flesh but so as to love him and serve him and subject our selves to his Laws Use 2. Have we a better knowledge of Christ Do we know him after the flesh or after the Spirit 1. The ground of our Knowledge what is it common Tradition Human Credulity or the illumination of the Holy Ghost The same Truths work differently as represented in a different light Common Report begets a cold Christianity Mat. 16.16 17. 1 John 5 4 5. 1 Cor. 2.4 Hear-say is an advantage yet not to be rested in We stand upon higher ground than Heathens yet are not taller men John 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the World We our selves should be acquainted with Christ then we know the Truth with more efficacy John 8.32 Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free with more clearness and certainty John 17.8 They have known surely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that I came out from thee Acts 2.36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have Crucified both Lord and Christ You may venture safely upon it build on it as a sure Foundation the other is but a dead and weak thing it vanquisheth no Temptations subdueth no carnal Affections 2. The fruits and effects of our Knowledge 1. It is a transforming Knowledge 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory Such a Knowledge as begets Union with Christ and a thorow change so as to be converted to him For it follows in the next verse to the Text Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature Christ liveth a new kind of life in Heaven so should we upon Earth he hath laid aside his mortal life so should we our carnal life live to God in the Spirit Know him and the power of his Resurrection Phil. 2.10 Christians are to be esteemed by their profiting in Godliness that is knowing him after the Spirit When we know that Spiritual Power which is in him and feel it in our selves renewing and changing the heart we find the power of his Resurrection raising us from the death of Sin to the life of Grace if we are planted into Christ as living Members of his Mystical Body 2. It is a knowledge that obscureth the splendor of all outward excellencies in our Opinion Estimation and Affection 1 Cor. 2.2 For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him Crucifyed Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom
other must complement Antiquity at a great rate if himself hath any judgment and doth not say that Multitudes in the last Age have been as to Preaching greater than they In the former are to be found many judicious Explications of Scripture many honest and spiritual Discourses In the latter not these things only but a pleasantness of Wit and Fancy but for plenty of Matter clearness of Iudgment Orderliness of Method and many other things they have not been a little exceeded by men of this last age Nor is it any disparagement to them more than it was to John the Baptist that the least in the Kingdom of Heaven was to be greater than he or to Christ that the Apostles Joh. 14.12 were to do greater things than he had done In the middle Ages of the Church Preaching generally was turn'd into trifling about Scholastick nicetyes and to the very dawning of the Reformation the Priests Texts were out of Scotus or Aquinas and we remember they were not ashamed when Luther Melancton c. restored in some degree the true kind of Preaching to petition Magistrates for the suppression of it and a liberty to trifle still in that great work of God with discourses upon Scotus and Aquinas Thô Luther Zuinglius and others in Germany and Mr. Calvin Farellus and Viret and Beza in France about a hundred and fifty years since mended this matter in a great degree yet we all know how ill their Examples were followed So as Mr. Perkins who began to flourish about the year 1580. is generally judged to have been the first who amongst us restored Preaching to its true use and taught us the true manner of it whose Piety was followed by many but as their Number hath vastly increased since that time especially in the fifty or sixty years last past so God hath seemed to pour out his Spirit upon Ministers as to spiritual Gifts in a more plentiful measure Yet in very different proportions that he might have some to feed his Lambs as well as others to feed his Sheep The Generality of good Preachers have made it their business to preach Christ and the exceeding Riches of his Grace and to study matter rather than words upon Mr. Perkins his old Principle Verba sequentur res But all have not had alike ferâ—ile Invention or solid Judgment or alike Skill and Learning in Languages and Arts c. Some particular Persons have been blessed with them all by which they have made Stars of the first Magnitude in the Church of God Such Reader we take the Reverend Author of these Sermons to have been in all whose Writings thou shalt find a quick and fertile Invention governed with a grave and solid Iudgment and the Issue of both expressed in a grave and decent Style so as it is not easie to say what one would desire in a Divine that was wanting in him He had an Heart full of Love and Zeal for God and his Glory and out of the abundance of his Heart his Mouth continually spake So frequent yet so learned and solid Preaching by the same person was little less than miraculous But he was a Scribe fully instructed in the things of the Kingdom of God and like a good Housholder was continually fetching out of the Store-house of his knowing and judicious Soul things both old and new He was no studyer of Words and Phrases he abhorred such a Pedantry and debasing the Authority of Gospel Propositions but a grave and serious Soul fitted with his skill in Arts and Languages neither ever did nor could want Expressions above the scorn of the most wanton Word-dressers thó beneath the expectations of such as can be pleased with the timeableness of Paranomasiaes or the rollings of six-footed words He was a good and learned a grave and judicious person and his Auditory never failed thô he laboured more than the most Preachers his constant course of Preaching being for many years Five times and till near his End three times a Week to hear from him a pious learned and most judicious Discourse This those who never heard him may easily believe by his printed Commentaries and Sermons in which we never met with any that complained for want of any thing fit for a Divine So that he is one of those Authors upon the credit of whose Name not only the plainer and less intelligent sort of people but even Scholars may adventure to buy any Book that was his and be assured they will see no cause to repent of the expence of their Money His late large Folio upon the 119 th Psalm is a plentiful Evidence of this and a great part of our English World hath given their suffrage to this by making it so scarce in so short a time as the Price of it is inhanced above a fifth part We here offer a 2 d Volume of a greater Bulk thô no greater price which contains his Discourses upon the 25 th of Matth. the 17 th Chapt. of John the 6th and 8th Chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans and the 5th Chapt. of his 2 d Epistle to the Corinthians five Chapters than which possibly in the whole New Testament there will not be found five others more full of Gospel Doctrine in the Knowledge of which Gods People are more concerned In the first under the Parable of the Ten Virgins five of which were wise five foolish our Lord represents to us the state of the Members of the Church waiting for Christs Second coming to Iudgment Amongst whom some are sincere some are Hypocrites the different actions and issues of whom are excellently represented to us and most worthy to be learned and considered 2. Vnder the Parable of the Talents we are instructed in Gods different dispensation of his Gifts to men their different use of them and the Account they are like to be called to about them To which is subjoyned an Hypotuposis of the day of Judgment fit to be continually in our Eyes and Ears In the second we have our Saviours last Prayer for his Elect as well those that to the end of the World should believe as those who at that time did believe It was our Lords Legacy what good Christian desireth not a full understanding of it that he may know what to hope and pray in Faith for at being first secured to him 〈…〉 Prayer of him whom the Father heareth alwayes In the 6th and 8th of the Romans are contained great Treasuries of Gospel Truth Vpon both the 〈…〉 many learned men have spent their labours to great advantage But the Scripture is such a Book 〈…〉 never know when we fully comprehend it and if he may judge to whose share it fell to peruse some of those 〈…〉 the Reader will find some things here discovered which he will hardly meet with elsewhere His way of 〈…〉 it is rather Dogmatical and Practical than Polemical yet he now and then judiciously resolveth a 〈…〉 But all along in the handling of it
't is a more blessed thing to give than to receive It cometh nearest the Nature of God So Christ himself went about doing Good and healing all that were oppressed And by Helpfulness to others we do very much resemble Christ. I cannot exclude this since Mercy is mentioned only IV. A Fourth Doubt is this That all cannot express their Love and Self-denyal this way some are so very poor and miserable I Answer 1. All must have that Faith which will work by Love Gal. 5.6 For in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love And Self-denyal which some way or other must be expressed Matth. 16.24 Then said Jesus unto his Disciples If any Man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me By denying the Ease of the Flesh if not the Interests of it to be serviceable in their Place whatsoever it be 2. Though some be so needy themselves that they cannot cloath the Naked or feed the Hungry yet they may visit the Sick resort to such as are in Prison Every one in some kind or other may be the Object of his Neighbours Charity so may every one be either the Instrument or Agent in the doing of it The Rich may stand in need of the Help or Prayers of the Poor and the Poor of the Bounty of the Rich. If we have an Heart to part with all for Christ we have that Faith which will carry away the Price of Gospel-Priviledges All must have such a Value for Christ see such an Excellency in the World to come that they have an Heart and Disposition to part with all rather than quit the Profession of the Gospel or neglect the Duties thereof Matth. 13.44 45. These things premised I come now to observe these Points First That at the General Iudgment all Men shall receive their Doom or Iudgment shall be pronounced according to their Works For Christ produceth Works both in the Sentence of Absolution and Condemnation Secondly That Christ hath so ordered his Providence about his Members that some of them are exposed to Necessities and Wants others in a Capacity to relieve them Thirdly That Works of Charity done out of Faith and Love to Christ are of greater weight and consequence than the World usually taketh them to be Other Points may be raised but to these Three all the rest may be reduced 1. That at the general Iudgment all Men shall receive their Doom or Iudgment shall be pronounced according to their Works Of the Wicked there is no doubt but that they shall receive according to their Works they stand on their own Bottom their Works deserve Punishment their Doom and Sentence is justified by their Works But for the Godly 't is also true that Life Everlasting shall be awarded Secundum opera non propter Opera Not that this Kingdom is by Right due to us for our Works but the Righteousness of the Sentence is manifested by producing our Works This will appear if we consider 1. The Business Scope or End of the Day of Judgment 2. The Respect of Good Works and how far they are considered First The Business of that Day is not only to glorifie God's free Love and Mercy but also his Holiness rewarding Justice and Truth Then God will not only glorifie the Riches of his Glorious Grace in the Electing of his People out of his Love and Favour to them without any thing considered in them Come ye Blessed of my Father The first Cause of our Salvation is made the Blessing of the Father But also his Remunerating Justice Veracity or Truth This maketh for our purpose now 1. His Holiness The Holy God delighteth in Holiness He will now manifest it in the Sun the Estimation he hath of the Holiness of his People The Veil is taken away Now 't is made matter of Sense 'T is a Delight to him Christ mentions their Graces and Services as things which are pleasing and acceptable to him Psal. 5.4 Thou art not a God that hast pleasure in Wickedness But he hath pleasure in the Holiness of his People The Upright are his Delight and as such will he speak of them and commend them and represent them to the World 2. His Remunerating Justice The Justice of God requireth that there should be different Proceeding with them that differ among themselves that it should be well with them that do well and ill with them that do evil That every Man should reap according to what he hath sown whether he hath sown according to the Flesh or the Spirit and the Fruit of his Doings be given into his Bosom Therefore those whom Christ will receive into Everlasting Life must appear Faithful and Obedient For then Christ will Judge the World in Righteousness Act. 17.31 3. That he may shew his Veracity and Faithfulness The Faithful God will make good his Promises and reward all the Labours and Patience and Faithfulness of his Servants according to his Promises to them If his Promises take notice of Works his Justice will God is not unfaithful or unrighteous to forget your Work and Labour of Love which you have shewed to his Name Heb. 6.10 Secondly The respect of Good Works and how far they are considered 1. They are Perfectional Accomplishments Those that have done them are lovely Objects in his Sight as being conformed to his Nature and Pattern Can we imagine that God should bid the Saints love one another for their Holiness and count them the Excellent Ones of the Earth Psal. 16.3 how poor and despicable soever they be as to their outward Condition and that he himself should not love them the more We that have but a drop of the Divine Nature hate impure Sinners Lot's righteous Soul was vexed with the filthy Conversation of the Wicked 2 Pet. 2.8 And we find a Complacency and Delight in the Good And can we imagine without a manifest Reproach to him that God should be so indifferent to Good and Evil and that the Saints should not be more lovely in his Sight for their Holiness Therefore the more lovely the more endeared Objects to their Redeemer 2. They are Qualifications to make them capable of his Remunerating Justice There is in God a threefold Justice First His strict Justice Secondly His Justice of Bounty or free Beneficâ—nce and Thirdly As Judging according to his Gospel-Law of Promise 1. He may be said to be strictly Just when he rewardeth Man according to his perfect Obedience yet no Obedience though never so perfect can bind him to reward Man or Angel 2. He is Just by way of Bounty when he rewardeth a Man capable of Reward though not in respect of his perfect Righteousness in himself yet because he is some way righteous in respect of others that are unrighteous So 't is said 2 Thess. 1.6 7. 'T is a righteous thing with God to recompense Tribulation to them that trouble his Saints And to
that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him whose Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Rev. 21.27 None shall enter in who are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life The Book of Life is there attributed to Christ because he took this solemn Charge upon himself to conduct the Heirs of Salvation to Glory He is to see they come to him John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me He knoweth them by Head and Poll Isa. 49.12 Behold these shall come from far and lo these from the Land of the North and from the West and these from the Land of Sinim Man by Man they are told out to him 2. He is to keep them and look after them Though there be many thousands yet every single Believer falleth under the care of Christ and accordingly he knoweth their Names and their Necessities John 10.3 He calleth his own Sheep by Name and leadeth them out He knoweth his Sheep by Name John Anna Thomas As the High Priest carried the Names of the Tribes upon his Bosom so Christ knows the Names of all the Flock of God There is not a poor Servant or Scullion who are despicable Creatures in the World but Christ looks after him Psal. 34.6 This poor Man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his Troubles Poor Soul he is under such Temptations encumbred with such Troubles in such a Task or Service my Father gave me a charge of him I must look to him So many Lambs as there are in the Flock of Christ there is not one forgotten 3. Christ is to give an account of them unto God He doth it by his constant Intercession of which this Prayer is a Copy They have kept thy Word I am glorified in them Christ is speaking good words of them to the Father He giveth you a good Report behind your back Satan is an Accuser he loveth to report ill of Believers but Christ telleth the Father how his Lambs thrive It is a grief to your Advocate when he cannot speak well of you in Heaven But solemnly he will do it at the last Day when he is to present the Elect to the Tribunal of God Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the Children which God hath given me Oh it is a goodly sight to see Christ and all his little Ones come together to the Throne of Grace There is not one forgotten in the presence of Christ and all his Angels Christ will not be ashamed to own a poor despicable Boy a Man-Servant or a Maid-Servant so they be faithful Luke 12.8 Whosoever shall confess me before Men him shall the son of Man also confess before the Angels of God I died for this poor Creature and shed my Blood for him This is intended 1 Cor. 15.24 Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father A Kingdom is sometimes put for the Form of Government sometimes for Subjects governed the Kingdom that is the Church is solemnly presented as a Prey snatched out of the Teeth of Lions Ephes. 5.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Christ will present his Bride in triumph Vse 1. Comfort to Believers 1. Concerning the safety of their eternal Estate Christ bargained for thee by Name That the Father and the Son should pitch upon such a forlorn and wretched piece of the Creation as thou art and they should talk together of thy Heaven Son this is one for whom thou must die that thy Name should be in the Eternal Register written with the Lamb's Blood in his own Book of Life I must have a care of him Ay you will say this were an excellent Comfort if I were sure I were one of them that is given to Christ. I Answer If he hath given Christ to you he hath given you to Christ. God maketh an offer in the Gospel Are you willing to receive him for Lord and Saviour then you put it out of question To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Children of God You are Fellow-Heirs with Christ Christ is given to you in time 2. In your particular straits Christ hath a care of you Do you think he will break his Engagement Christ hath plighted his Truth to God the Father Our groundless Jealousies question the truth of Christ's Word and Solemn Agreement When we say the Lord hath forgotten me this is in effect to say Christ is not faithful in his Charge The Prophet chideth them Isa. 40.27 Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel my Way is hid from the Lord and my Judgment is passed over from my God God doth not take notice of my Case such mistrust is a lie against the care of Christ. Vse 2. To press us especially humble Sinners you that walk in darkness to come under these sweet Hopes God hath laid Souls to Pledg in the Hand of Christ Why should we be scupulous All the Father's Acts are ratified in time by Believers He ordaineth we consent he chuseth Christ for Lord and King They shall appoint themselves one Head Hosea 1.11 So he hath given Souls to Christ so should you 1. Commit your Souls to him by Faith this answereth to Christ's receiving the Elect by way of Charge 1 Pet. 4.19 Let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator A Man ventureth upon Duty and trusteth God with his Soul Psalm 31.5 Into thy Hands do I commit my Spirit Paul knew Christ was an able and trusty Friend 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day Committing the Soul to God is a Notion often used in the matter of Faith and doth most formally express the nature of Trust and Adherence He is willing to receive your Souls and he is able to make good the Trust. Therefore in all Times of Distress and Danger when all things are dark to us upon the Warrant of the Gospel let us commit the Soul to Christ to be kept to Salvation Refer your selves to his care for Pardon Defence Support and Glory 2. Consecrate your selves to Christ. Committing noteth Trust Consecrating Obedience You commit your selves to his Care you resign and yield up your selves to his Discipline Committing answereth the Charge but Consecration the Grant Rom. 12.1 I beseech you therefore Brethren by the Mercies of God that you present your Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable Service By full consent a Man imbarketh with Christ and is resolved no longer to be at his own keeping and disposal Psalm 119.94 I am thine save me for I have
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
shall speak unto them all that I shall command him Christ saith his Father gave it him Christ was consecrated Prophet of the Church by the Trinity Mat. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased There was the Father's Voice the Holy Ghost as a Dove and the Son was there in Person Vse Which should stablish us the more in the Truth and is a Patern to Ministers It is excellent when we can say My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me Or as Paul That which I received of the Lord I have delivered to you 1 Cor. 11.24 3. Observe Among the Things which the Father gave to the Son one of the chiefest is the Doctrine of the Gospel Let us look upon it as a Gift the Father gave it the Son gave it here is a double Gift it was a Gift from the Father to Christ and from Christ to the Apostles I have given them the Word which thou gavest me Next to Christ the Gospel is the greatest Benefit which God hath given to Men He that despiseth the Gospel despiseth the very bounty of God and Men cannot endure to have their Love and Bounty despised As when David sent a courteous Message to Nabal and he was refused he threatned to cut off from Nabal every one that pisseth against the Wall Take heed you despise not God's special Gifts The preaching of the Word it was Christ's largess in the day of his Royalty Ephes. 4 8 11. When he ascended up on high he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers As Princes when crowned have their Royal Donatives Those that grudg at the Ministry and count it a burden they do in effect upbraid Christ with his Gift as if it were not worth the giving Those that labour in the Ministry are his especial Gift to us They are but sottish Swine that trample such Pearls under Feet We should think of them as the special Favours of Christ. I do not speak of the Persons but the Calling This Disposition sheweth no love to Christ. Secondly The next Thing is the Nature of Faith There are two Things spoken of in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they have received them and have known surely I. I begin with the latter in order of Words as first in order of Nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they have known surely The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth truly surely is used to exclude that literal historical Knowledg which may be in carnal Men. I. Observe Faith cannot be without Knowledg It is not a blind Assent Rom. 10. 14. How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard We must know what Christ is before we can trust him with our Souls 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed we must see the Stay and Prop before we lean upon it otherwise we shall neither be satisfied in our selves nor be able to plead with Satan nor answer Doubts of Conscience He that is impleaded in Court and doth not know the Privileges of the Law how shall he be able to purge himself Fears are in the Dark The blind Man spoke Reason in that Conference between Christ and him when Christ asked him Dost thou believe on the Son of God He answered and said Who is he Lord that I might believe on him John 9.35 36. We must know what God is Till we have a distinct Knowledg of the Nature of God and the Tenor of the Covenant we shall be full of Scruples Well then Vse 1. It discovereth the wretched Condition of Ignorant Persons We are not so sensible of the Danger of Ignorance as we should be God will render Vengeance to them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel 2 Thess. 1.8 Poor Wretches they live sinfully and die sottishly they live sinfully they are under no aw of Conscience because they have no Knowledg and when they come to die they die sottishly like Men that leap over a deep Gulph blindfold they know not where their Feet shall light In their Life-time at best they live but by guess and some devout Aims and when they come to die they die by guess in a doubtful uncertain way Vse 2. To press Christians to gain more distinct Knowledg if you would settle your Souls in a certainty of Salvation God may lay trouble of Conscience upon a knowing Person but usually Persons Ignorant are full of Scruples which vanish before the Light as Mists do before the Sun 2. Observe They know surely In the Knowledg of Faith there is an undoubted certain Light It dependeth upon two things that cannot deceive us the Revelation of the Word and the illumination of the Spirit The Knowledg of Faith is less than the Light of Glory for Clearness but equal for Certainty it hath as much assurance from God's Word though not so much evidence as ariseth from Injoyment 3. Observe They know 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 truly indeed Every kind of Knowledg is not enough for Faith but a true sound Knowledg There is a Form of Knowledg as well as a Form of Godliness Rom. 2.20 compared with 2 Tim. 3.5 A Form of Knowledg is nothing else but an artificial Speculation a naked Model of Truth in the Brain which like a Winter Sun shineth but warmeth not But let us a little state the Differences 1. The Light of Faith is serious and considerate Faith is a Spiritual Prudence it is opposed to Folly as well as Ignorance Luke 24.25 Oh Fools and â—low of Heart to believe all that the Prophets have said Faith always draweth to use and practice It is a Knowledg with Consideration Ephes. 1.17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory would give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledg of him Many have Parts but they have not Wisdom to make the best choice for their Souls There is a great deal of difference between Knowledg and Prudence it is excellent when both are joined together I Wisdom dwell with Prudence Prov. 8.12 Wisdom is the Knowledg of Principles Prudence is an Ability to use them to our Comfort Knowledg is setled in the Brain not the Heart When Wisdom entreth into thy Heart Prov. 2.10 it stirreth up Esteem Affiance Love A Carnal Man may have a Model of Truth a traditional disciplinary Knowledg such as lieth in Generals not Particulars and is rather for Discourse than Life A Vintner's Cellar may be better stored than a Noble Man's he hath Wines not to taste but sell a Carnal Man hath a great deal of Knowledg for Discourse not to warm his own Heart 2. The Light of Faith is a realizing Light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faith is the Evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 it maketh absent things present to the Soul But the Light of Parts is a naked abstract Speculation it is without feeling there is no sense and feeling
in them Secondly Actively by their Faith by their Ministry by their Life and Conversation 1. By their Faith To glorify any one is to have a good Esteem of him Those that did not believe did as it were obscure the Dignity of his Person rejecting him as a contemptible Man now the Apostles do every where express their Faith in his Godhead and their Sense of the Dignity of his Person and Office as I cleared in opening the 7 th and 8 th Verses 2. By their Ministry Christ was by them made known and was yet to be further manifested After the Resurrection they were his Heralds to proclaim his Triumphs for him over Death and Hell and his Ambassadors to go out into the World and gather Subjects for his Kingdom 3. By their Life and so by the Constancy of their Profession when others shrink in the wetting John 6.66 67 68. From that time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him Then said Jesus unto the Twelve Will ye also go away Then Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the Words of Eternal Life By their Self-denial Mat. 19.27 Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee Fathers Mothers Nets Trades c. So by their Holiness and Fruitfulness of Conversation they were such a Company of which Christ was not ashamed This is a new Argument that Christ urgeth for their respect with the Father Whence I observe Doct. That the more we desire to glorify Christ the more Confidence we may have of his Intercession for us 1. It is the Evidence of our Interest in the Father and the Son and Spirit Interest is the ground of Audience none can hope to speed with the Father but his own those that are God's and Christ's 1. It is an Evidence that we have an Interest in the Father he acknowledges them for his that glorify his Son them and no other John 16.27 The Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God God's Love can have no cause but it self our Love to Christ is a certain sign of God's Love to us It is not the principal Reason why he loved them but the Argument whereby Christ would prove that his Father loved them So that this is the Evidence if we would have any Confidence of our Interest in God and speeding at the Throne of Grace Do you glorify Christ by Love and Faith Christ is his Beloved and he loves all them that love Christ. So again John 5.23 That all Men should honour the Son as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him Every Man naturally is touched with a Reverence towards the Godhead Now God the Father commandeth we should yield a like Reverence to the Son who is his living and perfect Image He that doth not worship Christ and honour Christ doth but worship and serve an Idol for he doth not honour God in that way wherein he will be honoured and hath revealed himself because they are in the Unity of the Godhead neither of them can be worshipped without the other There is a noted Story of Amphilochius Bishop of Iconium when the Arrians who denied the Godhead of Christ had Freedom of their Meetings and Lectures and Disputes under Theodosius the Great to the great disturbance of the Church and the Emperor could by no means be drawn to suppress them Amphilochius after he had tried all other means without Effect found out a way worthy of Record saith Theodoret whereby to make the Emperor sensible of the Evil of his Toleration One day as he came into the Palace and the Emperor and his Son Arcadius were standing together whom he had lately made Joynt Emperor with himself Amphilochius saluteth the Father with accustomed Reverence and Humility but when he cometh to the Son he speaketh to him as to a private Child and stroaking his Head saith How dost thou my Child without other Expression of Civil Honour and Reverence The Emperor was exceeding angry at the Contempt and that he had not given his Son equal Honour with himself and therefore after many Rebukes causeth him to be dragged out of the Palace with Disgrace and as they were pulling and haling him he turning to the Emperor said O Emperor after this manner and infinitely more is God the Father angry with those that do not honour his Son equal with the Father but make him less in Nature and Dignity By this sensible Conviction the Emperor was touched in Conscience and with Tears embraceth the good old Man and presently maketh a Law against the Arrians in which under a great Penalty he forbiddeth their publick Meetings and Lectures against the Godhead of Christ and by the Blessing of God was confirmed in the true Religion in which before he staggered and wavered All this is brought to shew that God will not own us unless we honour Christ and glorify him as we glorify the Father 2. It is the Evidence of our Interest in the Son Those that mind Christ's Glory he mindeth their Salvation He is interceding for you in Heaven when you are glorifying him on Earth he is doing your Business in Heaven when you are doing his Business in the World he is your Advocate and you are his Bayliffs and Factors Mat. 10.32 Whosoever shall confess me before Men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven When you own Christ in the World and avow his Name and Truth in the World you shall lose nothing When you come to pray Christ will own you Father hear him this is own of mine You cannot honour Christ so much as he will honour you When carnal Men come to pray Christ saith I know them not Oh it is sad to be disowned in the Court of Heaven When Christ disclaimeth any Interest or Intendment in his Purchase for us they are nothing a-kin to me are none of mine When we do all things for by-Ends we disclaim God for a Pay-master and therefore must look for our Reward elsewhere 3. It is a sign of your Interest in the Spirit John 16.14 He shall glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you that enlightning quickning Comfort and Refreshing which we have when it is used to the Glory of Christ it is a sign the Spirit dwelleth in us 2. Because the glorifying of God in Christ is the great Condition of the Covenant of Grace God hath made a bargain with Believers to give them Grace and by way of return he expecteth Glory All the Priviledges of the Covenant are leased out to the Heirs of the Promise and this is the Rent and Acknowledgment which God hath reserved to himself See the form of this Contract Psal. 50.15 Call upon me in the day of Trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me In all Experiences of Grace God will be glorified Glory and
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
without Purse and Scrip and Shoes lacked ye any thing And they said Nothing God sendeth abroad his Servants many times to make experiments of the care of his Providence they are helpless and shiftless but did ye lack any thing The Lord can wonderfully incline the Hearts of Men and dispose of the Creatures for the Supply of his People he cometh in by wonderful and unexpected ways of Supply It were easy to give Instances if my intended Brevity would permit Merlin was hid in a Hay-mow in the Massacre of Paris and an Hen came constantly and laid an Egg every day for a Fortnight 4. Observe That Christ's keeping extendeth to corporal Safety So it is quoted John 18.8 9. If ye seek me let these go their way that the Saying might be fulfilled which he spake Of those which thou gavest me have I lost none God is in Covenant with both Body and Soul and he looketh after both for the Body as far as it is necessary for his Service and for our Profit and Salvation as well as for the Soul therefore it is but reason we should depend upon him for both It is a pretty Question Which is more difficult to believe in Christ for Temporals or Spirituals The Reason of doubting is because Promises for Temporals are not so express and so exactly accomplished in the Letter as they are in Spirituals But certainly Heaven and Pardon of Sins are greater Mercies and if Conscience were opened and the Heart serious we should see the difficulty to obtain them to be greater There are greater and more plausible Prejudices against Pardon of Sins than against daily Bread God feedeth all his Creatures even the young Ravens but he pardoneth but a few and blesseth them with all spiritual Blessings But here is the Mistake Bodily Wants are more pressing and here Faith is presently to be exercised with Difficulties and Men are careless of their Souls and so content themselves with some general desires and loose hopes of Ease and eternal Welfare which Hopes import their Security and Presumption not their Gospel-Faith But certainly he that durst venture his Estate into Christ's hands by a genuine Act of Faith doth a less thing than he that by a genuine Act of Faith ventures his Soul They say they find no difficulty in believing in Christ for Salvation and Pardon of Sins and yet cannot trust him for daily Bread for Maintenance which God giveth to the Ravens and bestowed upon them when they were Children of Wrath. Well then trust Christ for these common Mercies You shall have temporal Safety as long as God hath a mind to employ you in his Service and as much as is necessary to glorify him and keep your Hearts good In other things we must moderate our desires God is a better Judg than we are our selves and then by an undisturbed Faith without doubts and carkings wait upon him When you cark and run to unlawful Means you take Christ's Work out of his hands and put it into your own yea you put your selves out of Christ's keeping and put your Safety into the Devil's hands O the Children of God should consider this Do you expect God should give you spiritual and eternal Safety and not temporal Shall he give the greater and not the less Martha was of this Temper John 11.23 24. Jesus saith to her Thy Brother shall rise again O saith she I know he shall rise again at the last Day as if it were an easier matter to raise him up after so many Years than after four Days If you put your Souls which are the more excellent part into Christ's hands will you not put your Bodies Will you not trust him with all that you have You should make Experiments this way How are you temporally kept It is good to be acquainted with God by little and little to trust him with smaller Matters and then with greater And what is this Trust Leave all to God's disposal having served Providence in the use of Means It is a shame to see Christians prole and shift as if they had no Father in Heaven no Mediator to take care of them Secondly Now I come to the Success and Fruit of Christ's Care I. As to the Elect. II. As to Judas I. As to the Elect I have kept those whom thou hast given to me and none of them is lost None of the Elect can be lost God's Election cannot be weakned by the falling of Hypocrites Christ may lose Members as he is Head of a Visible Church but not as he is Head of a Mystical Body One of you shall betray me but I know whom I have chosen John 13.18 As if he had said this will not defeat my purposes of Grace So Rom. 11.7 The Election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded God's Election worketh through all Prejudices wicked Parents bad Education a dumb Ministry and others are hardned notwithstanding all Advantages as Judas tho of the Seed of Abraham tho an Apostle tho under Christ's Inspection The Fathers compared Paul and Judas Paul an open Enemy Judas a seeming Friend 1 Tim. 2.18 19. Who concerning the Truth have erred saying that the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the Faith of some Nevertheless the Foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his As those that build a Palace are wont to lay a firm Foundation so God in building a heavenly City he hath laid a Foundation by which is meant God's Election which is the great Ground-work of Salvation whoever fall God's Elect stand sure Vse Let us not be troubled at the Defection of Hypocrites let it not shake our Belief of the Doctrine of Perseverance be not offended as if the Salvation of the Elect were not sure Tho glorious Luminaries are quenched and those that seemed to be Stars leave their Orb and Station God's Election standeth sure When a Tree is shaken rotten and unsound Fruit comes clattering down The Devil never had such a season to set Men on work to broach the Doctrine of the Apostacy of the Saints because of the general Defection and Miscarriage of eminent Professors In this case let us run to the Scriptures The Defection of one from the College of the Apostles was a great Scandal but Christ saith That it might be fulfilled which was written So when any Scandal falleth out thus should we run unto the Scriptures II. As to Judas who is here called the Son of Perdition 1. Observ. In the General That there are some Persons that are so wilfully set to destroy and damn themselves that they may be called Sons of Perdition As here is one that perisheth in Christ's own Company a Prey taken out of his Hands one that was never the better for all the care of Christ for seeing his Holy Life and for the excellent Discourses that he heard from him for all the Kindness that he had shewed to him in taking him into a near Office and
Eternity Moses with Plainness and yet with Majesty speaks of the Original of all Things the Propagation of Mankind c. There is no such ancient historical Monument for above the Funerals of Troy all is uncertain And all the rest of the Bible is but a Comment on Moses 5. The Prophecies of the Word future Contingencies are in it foretold many Years before the Event Isa. 41.22 23. Let them shew the former Things what they are that we may consider them and know the latter end of them or declare us things for to come Shew the things that are to come hereafter that we may know that ye are Gods Cyrus was mentioned by Name an hundred Years before he was born Isa. 45.1 Thus saith the Lord to his Anointed to Cyrus whose right Hand I have holden The Birth of Josiah three hundred Years before it came to pass 1 Kings 13.2 Behold a Child shall be born unto the House of David Josiah by Name c. The building of Jericho five hundred Years before it was reedified Joshua 6.26 Cursed be the Man before the Lord that raiseth up and buildeth this City Jericho he shall lay the Foundation thereof in his First-born and in his youngest Son shall he set up the Gates of it Which was fulfilled 1 Kings 16.34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho he laid the Foundation thereof in Abiram his First-born and set up the Gates thereof in his youngest Son Segub according to the Word of the Lord which he spake by Joshua the Son of Nun. The great Promise of Christ made in Paradise was accomplished some thousands of Years afterward Vse 1. It informeth us how to settle the Conscience in sore Temptations When we doubt of the Truth of the Scriptures take this course 1. There must be some Word and Rule from God to guide the Creatures how else shall he be served and worshipped The inward Rule of Reason is not enough as appears by the sad Experience of the Heathens Rom. 1.21 22. Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful but became vain in their Imaginations and their foolish Hearts were darkned Professing themselves to be Wise they became Fools There must be some second Edition of his Will Reason will teach us that God is to be worshipped and every Man's Heart will tell him that he must not be worshipped as we will but as he will for the Servant must not prescribe to the Master but the Master to the Servant Now we have no Rule of Worship but in the Scriptures The Alchoran is a silly Piece fit for Sots As for Revelation those that are ingenuous cannot speak of any such thing and we see how Men split themselves upon that Rock all is proved Lies at length 2. There is far more Reason to receive the Scriptures as the Word of God than to suspect them There is none more credulous than the Atheist he offereth violence to his own Heart The first Temptation to it ariseth from his Lusts he would not have them true and then afterward he is hardned and grown obstinate in his Prejudices If he would but hearken to the Books of Moses as to the Story of an ordinary Man as of Henry the Eighth there is enough to make him tremble Now there is no such History in the World of such a genuine native Style so free from weaknesses so likely even to a common Eye and if Moses be true so is all the rest the same Vein runneth through all Now the Cause being so weighty the Inducements so rational why should we not believe it at least we may say as of the blind Man if it be not he it is like him John 9.9 3. To what hath been alledged add only this Consider the Matter and Aim of the Scriptures The Scriptures seek to establish nothing but the Worship and Glory of the true God the Creator and Governor of the World they discover the God of Nature in a most worthy and glorious manner And for Precepts Deut. 4.8 What Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so Righteous as all this Law which I have set before thee this day Where are there such Precepts where such Promises such a manifestation of Happiness such Purity There have been Corruptions in the best things to which Man ever put his Hand mixtures of Falshood and Folly but here all is Pure and Divine Where are there such Comforts for afflicted Consciences Jer. 6.16 Stand ye in the Ways and see and ask for the old Paths Where is the good Way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your Souls Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and ye shall find rest for your Souls Go and survey all the Religions in the World whatever pretence they be of see where you can find such Rest for your Souls such Provision for the Comfort and everlasting Happiness of the Creature such rich Encouragements for afflicted Consciences That which all Religions aim at is here only accomplished 4. Beg the Light of the Spirit What will your Arguings reprove David saith Psal. 36.9 In thy Light we shall see Light We shall never else have any certainty 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 Vers. 15. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things The Spirit in the Heart discerns the Spirit in the Scriptures as the Sun is seen by its own Light 5. Till you have Certainty by the Light of the Spirit practise what the Scripture enjoins upon these rational Inducements John 7.17 If any Man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self You will say What is the meaning of this Promise before doing the Will of God we must of necessity know it Answ. It is true before you know it certainly There are degrees of Knowledg First we know the Scriptures to be the Word of God by rational Inducements and some foregoing Light of the Spirit as those that are bred in the Church They that would know not to wrangle but to practise shall have new Light till they grow up to a greater Certainty It concerneth chiefly weak and doubting Christians do that you may believe believe that you may do They that set their Hearts to fear and obey him shall be clearly resolved of the Christian Faith Vse 2. It teacheth us these Duties 1. To make the Word the Judg of all Controversies There God speaketh to us A Father having many Children while he lives he governeth them himself and needeth no Will and Testament but a little before he dieth that his Children may not fall out he calleth Witness maketh his Will Voluntatem suam de pectore morituro transfert in tabulas din duraturas If any Controversy happen Non itur
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
you to be careful to get and keep your Hearts clean to perform service acceptably to him to be in the exercise of Faith Love and other Graces that you may entertain as you ought your Heavenly King who comes to take up his continual abode and residence in your Hearts FINIS A TABLE of the principal Matters contained in this PART A. ABasement of Christ the truth of it Page 11 Aboad of Christ in us the fruit of it Page 333 Account all must be called to an Account Page 55 Actions all Actions and Employments have their Temptations Page 215 Afflictions why they befal God's People Page 132 God loves his People in Affliction Page 344 God is a Father to them in Afflictions Page 6 How to carry our selves in Afflictions towards God as a Father Page 7 Ambassadors Ministers Christ's Ambassadors and why Page 280 Angels entertain Christ at his Ascension Page 127 Anointed who were anointed Page 44 What Christ 's anointing implys Page 44 To what Christ was anointed Page 45 Antiscripturists have no true Holiness Page 237 Iudgments of God on them Page 254 Apostles and ordinary Ministers how they differ and wherein they agree Page 271 Arrian's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 confuted Page 306 Ascension of Christ what it includes Page 61 The History of it Page 121 The Time of it Page 121 The place from whence and to whence Page 121 The manner of it Page 122 Christ ascended as a Conqueror Page 122 Angels entertain Christ at his Ascension Page 122 Christ's welcome of the Father at his Ascension Page 123 The Reasons of it Page 123 The Fruits and Benefits of it Page 124 A Token of his Satisfaction Page 124 A Pledg of our Ascension Page 124 Comfort to Believers from hence Page 126 How shall a Man know he is ascended with Christ. Page 125 Authority of Christ as Mediator Page 267 B. BElievers their Felicity and Dignity Page 108 Comfort to Believers Page 295 Believing vid. Faith Believing in Christ what it is Page 296 Difference between believing Christ and believing in Christ. Page 296 Difference between believing in Christ and believing in God Page 296 Which is most difficult to believe in Christ for temporal or for spiritual things Page 172 Blessing Christ blessed his Disciples before his Ascension Page 122 Blessing and praising God how they differ Page 49 139 Body all the Saints make but one Body Page 335 And shall at last be all gathered together into one Body Page 336 C. CAll to the Ministry the necessity of it Page 274 Extraordinary what it is Page 271 Not to be expected now Page 271 Ordinary inward what Page 272 Outward what Page 272 The necessity of it Page 272 What Call the first Reformers had Page 277 What is to be done where no Call can be had Page 278 How to make out our Calling to the People Page 276 Calling civil the necessity of it Page 53 What Callings are unlawful Page 54 God hath a hand in appointing Mens Callings Page 54 Every Man to keep in his Calling Page 276 How a Man should glorify God in his Calling Page 54 Every Calling hath its Snare Page 215 Care of Christ over his People Page 171 The fruit and success of it Page 173 Carelessness whether God hates most the careless Person or the openly vitious Page 229 Caution to be used in the World and why Page 135 Censure the whole Body not to be censured for the Miscarriages of some Page 180 Certainty of the Salvation of the Elect Page 78 And of their future Hopes Page 350 Charge what was the Charge God gave Christ concerning the Elect. Page 77 The ground of this Charge vid. Covenant of Redemption Page 77 Christ hath a Charge of his People Page 134 Christ is loyal faithful tender of his Charge Page 171 Children of God their Priviledg Page 125 Believers Children of Christ's Family Page 74 157 Christ what the Word signifies vid. Anointed Page 42 True God Page 17 A distinct Person from the Father Page 40 Sent by the Father vid. sent That he came out from God what it signifies Page 98 Made known to the Church by degrees Page 259 The Holiness of his Life Page 288 Tender of his Servants and Truth Page 18 Is ready to take notice of the good in his People Page 96 Speaks good of his People to the Father Page 80 Tho they have many Failings vid. Gentleness of Christ. Page 80 All that he hath is for his Peoples good and Comfort Page 125 Christ in us what is not to be understood by it Page 387 What is to be understood by it Page 389 How he is said to be in Believers vid. Union Page 311 Christ is in us as God is in Christ. Page 330 What must we do that Christ may be in us Page 332 Arguments to press us to look after this Priviledg Page 331 How we may know whether Christ be in us Page 333 Christian Doctrine the certainty of it Page 89 A Gift of God Page 90 Church visible in it always some Mixture Page 179 The use of wicked Men in the visible Church Page 179 316. Claim false Claims to God and Christ disproved Page 108 Comfort the loss of the greatest Comforts may be supplied Page 125 Commensurableness of the Acts of the three Persons in the Trinity Page 110 Of the distinct propriety of the three Persons in Believers Page 110 Reasons of it Page 110 Committing the Soul to Christ what it is Page 79 159 When we should do it especially Page 79 How we should do it Page ibid. We should commit our Bodies to Christ. Page 80 Communion with Father Son and Holy Ghost Page 310 Communion with God constant and habitual or solemn and special Page 358 Difference between Communion with God here and in Heaven Page 326 Communion between Saints on Earth and Saints in Heaven what it is Page 336 Company Christ takes delight in his Peoples Company Page 355 Reasons of it Page 356 Condition every Condition of Life hath its Snares Page 214 Confidence in God to be used in Prayer Page 4 Confirmation of Ministers the Magistrates Right Page 274 Conformity to Christ wherein it consists Page 324 Conscience what keeps it quiet without Christ. Page 297 Consubstantiation of the Lutherans disproved Page 127 Contentment none in the World for the Heart of Man Page 334 Continuance of God's People in the World in a time of Danger consistent with the Wisdom and Goodness of God Page 210 We should be willing to continue in the World as long as God hath Work for us to do vid. Desire of Death Page 211 Why God's People are not continued but taken out of the World in time of danger Page 211 Conversation worldly vid. wordly Conviction of the World of the truth of Christianity the fruit of the Mystical Vnion Page 320 A great Blessing Page 311 318 What the Spirit convinceth the lost World of viz. Sin Righteousness and Iudgment Page 312 313. The fruit and
Church for this purpose Eph. 5.26 That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word For the same end he intercedeth now in Heaven Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them He that hath undertaken this work counteth it his honour and glory to perform it Eph. 5.27 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish And Jude 24. Now unto him that is able to keep ye from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding great joy It is matter of rejoycing not only to us but to him III. The value of the Benefit surely it is a great mercy to be freed from the power of sin and to have our enthralled Souls set at liberty 1. Because sin is the cause of all the controversie and variance between God and us Isa. 59.2 Your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear This is the abominable thing which he hateth Jer. 44.4 O do not that abominable thing which I hate It is sin that maketh the great distance between Man and God not in position of place for so he is every where present with bad and good but in disposition of mind and affection of heart it hath caused him in anger to withdraw his gracious Presence from you Would you not be glad to have the great difference between God and you compromised and taken up and all enmity to cease between you and Heaven It can never be till sin be mortified as well as pardoned For till man be converted as well as God satisfied for the breach of his Law there is no due provision made for our entring into fellowship with him we shall stand aloof from him as an Holy sin-hating and condemning God and so have no heart to Communion with him 2. It is a defacing Gods Image in us and a bringing in of a contrary image the image of the Devil Gods image is defaced while we live in sin Rom. 3.23 We have all sinned and are come short of the glory of God By the glory of God there is meant his image not his glorious reward but his glorious image as 1 Cor. 11.7 The man is the image and glory of God and the woman is the glory of the man that is hath some likeness of his Power and Majesty Similitude and likeness is often called Glory So 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Now this is lost which is the beauty as sin is the deformity of the Soul And on the contrary the image of the Devil is introduced into the Soul as we are proud envious revengeful Joh. 8.44 Ye are of your father the devil and the lusts of your father ye will do he was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him when he speaketh a lye he speaketh of his own for he is a lyar and the father of it The properties of the Devil like us much better than the Excellencies of God Now is it not a great mercy to be freed from this disposition and temper of heart especially since image favour and fellowship go together 3. It disableth us for Gods service While we live in sin we are not only weak but dead Let us take the softest notion Rom. 5.6 When we were yet without strength c. that is unable to perform any obedience to God sick and weak yea in a dangerous estate an heart under the power of sin is feeble and impotent Ezek. 16.30 How weak is thine heart seeing thou dost these things the work of an imperious whorish woman The strength of the disease is the weakness of the person that suffereth it so the strength of sin is the weakness of the Soul that cannot break the force of their own passions and affections but are easily led away by temptations have no strength left to do the will of their Creator to overcome temptations to sin to govern their own passions and affections but are at the beck of every foolish and hurtful lust pride sensuality wordliness carnal fear sorrow c. 4. It not only disableth us for our duty but setteth our hearts against it Rom. 8.7 The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be It disliketh his Government riseth up in defiance of his strict Laws so that Man is a perfect Rebel to God if this Law be inforced by external Messengers Hos. 4.4 Let no man strive nor reprove another for this people are as they that strive with the Priest It is to no purpose to seek to reclaim them for they would admit of no admonition for they opposed their Teachers urging not their own private suggestions but the Sentence of the Law of God slight all those that would oppose their growth and continuance in sin are enemies to them that tell them the truth So in the checks of their own Consciences Rom. 7.23 I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and leading me captive to the law of sin and death that is in my members Sin sets up a commanding power in direct opposition to the dictates of Conscience So for the Spirit Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Now to be freed from this enmity and opposition to God and averseness from all that is good is certainly a great mercy and this we have by a due improvement of the Death of Christ. 5. It is not a distant evil but in our bowels always present with us hindering that which is good Rom. 7.21 When I would do good evil is present with me urging us to that which is evil therefore called Heb. 12.1 Sin that doth so easily beset us This inbred corruption is ever with us lying down and rising up at home and abroad it is ready to open the door to all temptations Jam. 1.14 Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts and inticed It poysons all our comforts and mercies and strengthens it self against God by his own benefits while it useth them as an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5.13 It corrupts all our duties distracting us with vain thoughts in Prayer Mat. 15.8 This people draweth nigh to me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me It choaketh the good seed Luke 8.14 That which fell among thorns are
mercy and find grace to help in time of need 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adam had habitual Grace but he gave out at the first assault When a City is besieged the Prince who would defend it doth not leave it to its ordinary strength and the standing Provisions which it had before but sendeth in fresh Supplies of Soulders Victuals and Ammunition and such things as their present exigence calleth for So doth God deal with his people his Spirit cometh in with a new Supply that they may the better avoid sin and stand out in an hour of Tryal So from the World which is continually obtruding it self upon our embraces and it is hard to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust 2 Pet. 1.4 The new Nature was given us for that end and also the Spirit of God is necessary 1 Joh. 4.4 Ye are of God and have overcome the world for greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world The Spirit is necessary as against the Terrors so the Delights of it 1 Cor. 2.12 We have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God that so the World may not corrupt us nor intice us to affect its Riches Honours and Pleasures above God and the Conscience of our Duty to him 2. There is great incouragement to us to set upon the work of Mortification because it is carried on by the help and power of the Spirit if we were to grapple with sin in our own strength then we might sit down and despair and dye but the Spirit is appointed for this end and purchased for us by Jesus Christ for all that come to him with broken hearts and do not by their carelesness negligence or other sin provoke the Lord to withdraw his exciting Grace if you do humbly implore his assistance wait for his approaches attend and obey his motions you shall find what the Spirit is able and willing to do for you He is able surely though you are ready to say I shall never get rid of this naughty heart renounce these bewitching lusts there are none so carnal but he can change them and bend and incline their hearts to God and heavenly things 1 Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God He can turn Swine into Saints a Dunghil into a Bed of Spices none should give way to sottish despair God never made a Creature too hard for himself And when he hath begun an interest for God in our Souls he can maintain it notwithstanding oppositions and temptations Phil. 1.6 He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. God is willing to give the Spirit to them that ask it as a Father is to give a Child what is necessary for him Luke 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Be careful you do not grieve the Spirit and make your selves uncapable of his help Eph. 4.30 Grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption The Spirit of God will not forsake us unless we forsake him first The Spirit is grieved when Lust is obeyed before him when his Counsels and holy Inspirations are smothered and we yield easily to the requests of sin but are wholly deaf to his motions if so indeed he ceaseth to give us warning and to renew and continue the excitations of his Grace water once heated congealeth the sooner so they are most hardened who have been notably touched with his sacred Inspirations but go a quite contrary way But the Renewed need not doubt of his help for God hath promised the Spirit to them to cause them to walk in his ways Joh. 14.16 17. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforâ—er that he may abide with you for ever Even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you Well then do not complain but up and be doing against sin Laziness pretendeth want of power but is any thing too hard for the Spirit of the Lord It is a lamentable thing to see what a cowardly Spirit there is in most Christians how soon they are captivated and discouraged with every slender assault or petty temptation and their resolutions are shaken with the appearance of every difficulty This is affected weakness not so much want of strength as sluggishness and cowardize and want of care men spare their pains and then cry they are impotent like lazy Beggars who personate and act a Disease because they would not work Surely where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 Many are not able to stand before the slightest motion of sin because they do not stir up themselves and awaken that strength which they have or improve that which God continually vouchsafeth to them by the motions of his Spirit It would be more for your comfort to try what you can do in the resistance of sin than idlely to complain for want of strength The two Extremes are Pride and Sloth Pride is seen in self confidence or depending upon our endeavours and resolutions and Sloth in a neglect of the Grace given or help afforded to you Christians should improve present strength against sin and still labour to get more Every Conquest will increase your strength against the next assault and one limb of the body of death mortified is a means to cause the rest to languish by consent 4. The next incouragement is the Promises of the Gospel which secure this benefit to us and surely the watching and the striving Person may take comfort in them There are two sorts of Promises some that do assure of necessary assistance some that speak of arbitrary assistance as Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flâ—sh And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them Now such Promises must be improved for the Covenant of God is the ground of our stability Adam had a seed of Grace but it was not secured by Promise and therefore he sinned it away the Victory is assured to us by Promise Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly In ordinary Conflicts it is a good Rule Non aequè glorietur accinctus ac discinctus but a Christian may triumph before the
Conscience speaketh peace to them so that they have no inward trouble to damp their joy and their end is Eternal Life for the present they have some access to God their work is more easie and their comforts are more sweet 2. Let me now speak of the Honour that doth accompany an holy Life It will never be matter of shame to us as sin is to all that practise it first or last 1. Because Holiness is the very Image of God upon the Soul or that work by which he sets forth his Praise to the World If God be excellent it can be no disgrace or dishonour to us to be like God and nothing on this side Heaven so like him as an holy Soul This was the blessed Perfection in which we were created at first Gen. 1.26 And God said Let us make man in our image after our likeness and when it was lost for this end were we redeemed by Christ who came to set up Gods Image in our Nature Joh. 1.14 And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth That we may be renewed by the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of our God It is an Image not made by Painter or Carver but the Holy Ghost Now certainly that which was our primitive glory and excellency and is renewed and repaired with so much ado will never be matter of shame to us 2. They which have their fruit unto Holiness have the best temper and constitution of Soul of any men in the World they have a new and Divine Nature which inclineth them to the noblest Objects and Ends 2 Pet. 1.4 nothing below God can satisfie them their Ends are the glorifying of God and the eternal Enjoyment of him 2 Cor. 4.18 While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal Alas what a poor drossie Soul is an unsanctified Soul they that drive no higher a Trade than providing for the Flesh or accommodating a Life which shortly must expire When these are seeking after the World and scrambling for the Honours and Delights thereof they are seeking after Heaven and adorning the Soul while they are pampering the Flesh. Surely they which contemn the World are more honourable than they which injoy it and it is much better to please God that we may live with him in Heaven than to flatter men that we may rise in the World 3. Their way and course of Life as well as their Temper and disposition of Heart is more noble for when others live according to the vain course of this corrupt World they live according to the Will of God which is the highest Pattern of all Perfection The one live to the Lusts of men the other according to the Will of God 1 Pet. 4.2 That be no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God The one walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 2.2 According to the course of this world the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this rule c. Now which Course is better Let us refer this Question to the Sentiments of Nature Even though men be so much depraved by their slavery to their brutish Lusts that they might justly be refused as incompetent Judges yet natural Conscience in the worst doth homage to the Image of God shining in the Saints as Herod feared John because he was a strict and just man Mark 6.20 And Exod. 11.3 Moses was great in the land of Egypt in the sight of Pharaohs servants and in the sight of all the people his Person and Presence was awful to them Nature hath a secret sentiment of the Excellency of Holiness those that regard not to practise it wonder at it 1 Pet. 4.4 They think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot especially when they come to dye then do they approve a sober godly Life though they had an heart to embrace it before Numb 23.10 Let me dye the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his Though they chuse to live with the carnal yet they would dye with the righteous such an approbation is Conscience forced to give first or last to an holy course of Life 4. That is honourable and glorious which is most esteemed by God for he can best judge and the great Soveraign of the World is the Fountain of all Honour Now Holiness is most esteemed by him which he hath declared both by word and deed First By Word Isa. 43.4 Since thou was precious in my sight thou hast been honourable God that was refreshed in the review of the works of Creation is also delighted in the works that belong to Redemption yea more as these gifts are more worthy and brought about with greater expence and difficulty therefore he delights most in the holy and righteous any part of Holiness is an ornament o◠great price in the fight of God 1 Pet. 3.4 Let your adorning be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and of a quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price Secondly In Deed as they are taken into a nearness to himself and here injoy his favour and fellowship and hereafter shall live with him for ever Now they have his Favour and injoy Communion with him Psal. 11.7 For the righteous God loveth righteousness his countenance doth behold the upright hereafter they shall see his blessed Face Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see God They are capacitated for true Happiness This is so certain a Truth that all who are made partakers of a Divine Nature have the same disposition in them Psal. 15.4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. They look not to the outward pomp and prosperity of the World and therefore have an heart to honour and respect godly men as being beloved prized and set apart by God and as they are made partakers of these sute great and glorious things which are infinitely more worthy of our love than any thing below So again Psal. 16.3 To the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight When we think too highly and pleasingly of the condition of the rich and too meanly and contemptibly of the state of the holy and godly as if it were a better thing to be great in the
as we list without Law and Rule He came to restore us to obedience to bring us back again in heart and life to God Luke 1.75 He hath delivered us from the hands of our enemies that we might serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives To this end tended his Doctrine I came not to destroy the law but to fulfil it Matth. 5.17 His example He came to do what God had commanded and to teach us to do the same Matth. 3.15 For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness and Heb. 58.9 Tho he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered And being made perfect he became the Author of eternal salvation to them that obey him 2. Christ dispenseth by vertue of his merit regeneration or the spirit of holiness that all new creatures might voluntarily keep this law tho not in absolute perfection yet by sincere obedience This Grace is dispensed to put us into a capacity of loving pleasing and obeying God this is that he promiseth in the new covenant Ezek. 36.27 And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them so Jer. 31.33 I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts He doth not say I will prepare them another law as if the old law of God were to be abandoned and abolished and some other precepts substituted in their Room no but to make them conformable to it in heart and life the new man is created after God for this end and purpose Eph. 4.24 fitted to obey the law so that the great Blessing of the Gospel is Grace to keep the law 3. None enter into the Gospel State but those that intirely and readily give up themselves to do the will of God and therefore none can have benefit by the sin-offering and satifaction of Christ but those that consent to return to the duty of the law and live in obedience to God Surely God never pardoneth any while they are in Rebellion and live under the full power and dominion of sin no they must consent to forsake and return to the Allegiance due to their proper Lord. This is evident for the way of entring into the new covenant is by Faith and Repentance and Repentance is nothing else but a sincere purpose of new obedience or living according to the will and law of God 'T is defined to be a breaking off of sin Dan. 4.27 and therefore the Scripture runs in this strain Isa. 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to me saith the Lord and I will abundantly pardon and Isa. 1.16 Wash you make you clean and then tho your sins were as scarlet they shall be as white as snow The least that can be gathered from these places is That a serious vow and thorough resolution of new obedience is necessary to begin our interest in the Grace of the new covenant 4. The more we fulfill our covenant vow and resolution by obeying the law our right is the more clear and evident and more confirmed to us our participation of the blessings of the Gospel is more full and our comfort more strong Psal. 119.165 Great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them and Gal. 6.16 as many as walk according to this rule peace and mercy be upon them God loveth us the more the more we obey his law 'T is holiness maketh us more amiable in his eyes and the Objects of his delight God loveth us as sanctified rather than pardoned we love him as pardoning and forgiving so great a debt to us but he delights in holiness or the impress of his own image upon us Prov. 11.20 The upright in the way are his delight When the spirit hath renewed us according to the Image of God we are made objects of his complacency now we know Gods love by the effects and therefore the more we act and draw forth this grace the more God rewardeth our obedience with the sense of his love and the comforts of his Spirit The sum of all Religion is to love God and to be beloved of him to love him and obey him is our work and to be beloved of him is our reward and happiness Now the one followeth the other John 14.22 23. Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self to us and not unto the world Jesus answered and said unto him if a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him As we increase in Holiness and Obedience we increase in the Favour of God 1. VSE is Information it informeth us of several important truths 1. That the law is a law of perfect purity and holiness for he speaketh here of the righteousness of the law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so David Psal. 119.140 Thy law is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it and Psal. 19.8 The commandment of the Lord is pure inlightening the eyes It must needs be so if we consider the Author of it God himself and every thing that hath passed his hand hath his Character and Impress upon it 't is a law not only fit for us to receive but for God to give 't is the copy of his holiness It is all one with the image of God which man had in innocency now the image of God consisted in righteousness and true holiness Adams Principle of Obedience was also his law and rule he had that written upon his heart which was afterwards written upon tables of stone and therefore if a man would cleanse his heart and way he must study the Word of God Psal. 119.9 By what means may a young man cleanse his wâ—y by taking heed thereunto according to thy word 'T is not guide his way but cleanse his way for even the youngest are defiled Mans heart naturally is a sink of sin and there is no way to make his heart clean and his way clean but by taking Gods counsel in his Word A young man that is in the heat and strength of his lusts may learn there how to be purified and cleansed 2. That this law standeth in force We are freed from the condemning but not from the directing power thereof but it always remaineth as a rule of our new obedience Surely 't is in force now for there is no liberty given to men to live in sin God will not spare his people when they transgress it by scandalous or hainous sin Prov. 1.31 Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices Tho they be the dearly beloved of his soul the eternal punishment shall not be inflicted upon them yet they shall smart for the breaches of his law On the other side they find much incouragement comfort and peace when they set
'T is the property of love to long to be with Christ which is better for us Phil. 1.23 therefore we should be content to have the prison-door opened that those who have desired and longed to be with Christ may be admitted into his immediate presence and let out into liberty and joy 3. Hope We expect within a little while to have our desires accomplished Jude 21. Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life Will a soul that is at Heaven gate lose all that he hath waited for because the entrance is troublesome As those that are going to a Mask or Show when they come where it is exhibited must croud and will venture hard for what they hope to see now God will have graces tryed with difficulties the Crown of Victorry is not set on our heads if we fight not 4. Reason 'T is necessary to have this preparation of heart that we may the better deny other things Life is that which maketh us capable of all the contentments of the flesh and pleasures of the world and maketh them valuable to us now this is a blow at the root we are prepared for mortification when we can deny life its self we can deny all the appendages of life Therefore so much of Christianity being exercised in self-denial our Lord would have us once for all bring our selves to the highest point that we may do other things the more easily The Apostle's bonds and afflictions did not move him because he did not count his life dear to him Acts 20.24 And certainly a man is never dead to the world and the interests of the Animal life till he be dead to life its self and is willing to part with it when God pleaseth 5. This life must be quitted now God will have it quitted in obedience for things of meer necessity have no moral worth in them Now 't is a mighty help to die willingly and comfortably when we can once lay life at Christs feet USE To inform us 1. That Christianity wholly draweth us to another world for life its self is one of the interests that must be hazarded for Christs sake 1 Cor. 15.19 If in this life only we had hope we were of all men most miserable Christ would never profelite us to a Religion that should make us miserable now it would do so if only our happiness were in this life for it requireth us not only to deny the conveniences of life but life its self 2. Those that take Gods Word for the other world must expect to have the strength of their faith and love tryed all along this hath been Gods way God would not confirm Adam in innocency before he had let loose a tryal upon him wherein he failing brought misery upon himself and his posterity after the breach the Father of the faithful is tryed Gen. 22.1 with Heb. 11.17 By faith Abraham whâ—n he was tryed And still God continueth the same course to all believers Jam. 1.12 Blessed is he that endureth temptations for when he is tryed he shall reâ—eive a crown of life In the primitive times their Baptism was a presage of their slaughter 3. Those that expect to be tryed had need to be well prepared by a due knowledg of the cause and foresight of and resolution against all known dangers 1. By a due knowledg of their cause that it may be sure it can be said for Gods sake The cause is sometimes more clear and unquestionable as when it is for a great essential point and there our courage should be more clear for then there can be no doubt in the mind whether the cause be good or not and then all the comforts of Christianity do fall upon the soul directly and with great power and efficacy or else more dark when 't is for a particular truth or duty First it may be for the profession of a particular truth which we are to own in its season for we must be established in the present truth 2 Pet. 1.12 What is the present truth the Godly-wise will soon discern Whoever compiled the Creed yet the observation is in a great measure good that the controversies that have hapned in the Church have succeeded according to the method and order of the Articles therein contained The controversie with the Heathen was about the one only and true God with the Jews and afterwards with the Pseudo Christians about Christ his Person Natures Offices States then about the Holy Ghost his Personality and Operations in converting the elect Then about the Church Now in all such controverted truthâ— we must shew the same zeal the faithful did in former ages But to return tho it be out for a particular truth yet we must shew our fidelity to Christ For tâ—â—n we have an occasion to shew that our hearts be true to God and very sincere wâ—â—n we are willing to suffer any thing from man rather than renounce the smallest truths oâ— Goâ— for tho the matters for which we suffer be not great yet sinceriâ—y is a great point and tho profession thus be sorborn and of exceeding great moment to our peace in some points yet we can do nothing against the truth 2 Cor. 13.8 I am not bounâ— always to profess in lesser things yet if they will bind me against it I am to endure all manner of displeasures rather than yeild to the lusts and wills of men Eating of swines flâ—sh was no great matter but when they would compel them to it in affront to Gods institution Contempt of God is a great matter Heb. 11.25 36 37. I say the more of this because men are apt to translate the scene of their duty to former times or forreign plâ—ces if to turn Infidels and Turks as the Jews if they had lived in the Propheâ—s days Matth. 23.30 If we had been in our fathers days we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets How doth God try thee in thine own Age Secondly for particular duties as well as particular truths In the general there is less controversie about the Commandments than about the Creed the Agenda of Christianity are more evident by the light of Nature than the Credenda Yet because the Commandments are general and humane light is imperfect about the application as the Heathens were right in generals but became vain Rom. 1.20 21. Yet in particular duties we must not be wanting for that is a sincere heart that will run the greatest hazzards rather than commit the smallest sin or omit the smallest duty when it is a duty and I am called to perform it in omission there is a greater latitude than in commission for affirmativa non ligant ad semper In the general he that suffereth for a Commandment is as acceptable with God as he that suffereth for an Article of Faith tho the cause for which we suffer be civil yet obedience to God is concerned in it as if a man suffer
God with all the heart Page 163 How it is consistent with a Christian's defects Page 163 How far we are obliged to Love God with all the heart Page 164 How it is consistent with Love to Relations c. Page 165 Decay of Love incident to the people of God Page 156 What is not a Decay of Love Page 157 What it is Page 159 The greatness of the evil of it Page 158 The causes of it Page 160 The commonness of it Page 158 Many are surprized with it that are little sensible of it Page 158 How to prevent it Page 161 How to recover our Decayed Love Page 162 M MAdness Christianity accounted Madness by the men of the World Page 123 Reasons of it Page 124 What in Christianity is accounted Madness Page ib. The way of the wicked is properly Madness Page 125 Demonstrations of it Page 126 Mediator Christ a fit Mediator Page 220 What Christ was to do as Mediator Page 88 Men God dealeth with men by men and the reasons of it Page 238 Ministers are God's Ambassadors Page 240 Their duty as such Page 241 How to be received and entertained by us Page ib. The value and authority of their Office Page ib. Credit and respect to be given to their Message Page 241 242 They must treat with people with Love and sweetness and Meckness and Patience Page 242 Christ Spirit Ministry must not be separated Page 239 v. Men. Mortality swallowed up of Life in the other World Page 35 Mortifying sin how to improve the Death of Christ to the Mortifying of sin Page 182 N NEw Creature The necessity of the New Creation Page 204 What it is to be New Creatures Page 201 202 Why likeness to God is called the New Creature Page 203 God the Author of the New Creature Page 207 God the Author of the New Creature as reconciled in Christ. Page 213 How the New Creature flows from our Vnion with Christ Page 203 Why the New Câ—eature cannot be satisfied with the World Page 51 Evidences of being New Creatures v. Renovation Page 206 New Heart what it is Page 206 Non-Imputation of sin v. Imputation O OBedience the difficulties of obedience how sweetned Page 73 Obedience the great Evidence of Love Page 166 The properties of that Obedience that flows from Love Page 166 Marks of sincere Obedience Page 102 Odium abominationis inimicitiae explained Page 246 P Pain of sense in Hell twofold Page 105 Pauls Testimony of his sincerity Page 118 All Ministers and Christians may have the like Testimony of their Sincerity Page 119 How he commends himself to the Corinthians Page 118 Pardon of Sin the necessity of having Sin pardoned Page 231 The great difficulty of having Sin pardoned when once committed Page 230 God's readiness to pardon Sin Page 232 God pardons Sin not as the party offended only but as the Supream Iudge Page 227 The Excellency of this Priviledge Page 232 The good depending on pardon of Sin in this life and in the next Page 222 223 Pardon of Sin the proper Priviledge of the New Covenant Page 231 It 's a branch of our Reconciliation with God Page 225 Reasons to prove it so Page 227 They that are reconciled to God had need still to beg pardon of Sin Page 225 What those that are reconciled ask in asking a pardon Page 226 The design of pardon of Sin laid in God's Eternal Decree Page 223 It was purchased by Christ when he paid a Ransom for us Page ib. Pardon of Sin is chiefly eyed in the Death of Christ. Page 230 We are actually pardoned when we believe and repent v. Faith and Repentance Page 224 We are sensibly pardoned when God gives Peace and Ioy in believing Page 225 We are fully and compleatly pardoned at the Day of Iudgment Page ib. Pardoning Mercy breedeth and feedeth Love to God Page 230 Pardon of Sin an inviting Motive to Holiness Page 228 229 Perfection to be striven for Page 164 Persuasion Ministers to persuade men Page 115 What this Persuasion implies Page 114 People to persuade themselves Page 115 Pleasing God what makes us active in it Page 75 Why we should labour to please God Page 76 Pleasing God more to be regarded than pleasing of Men. Page 77 Pleasing of Men how far condemned Page ib. Pleasures of this Life to be used sparingly Page 70 Power of Man to convert himself the Absurdities that follow it Page 210 It is only in the Power of God to convert the sinner v. Conversion Not only the Power to will but to work when converted is of God Page 210 Preaching of the word necessary and the Reasons of it Page 237 The congruity and decency of this Dispensation Page 237 Presence with Christ in Heaven better than remaining in the Body Page 69 Our Happiness in another World lyes in presence with the Lord. Page 63 Reasons of it Page 64 To be desired by the Saints Page 68 Why the Saints desire it Page 54 Profession of the name of Christ without conformity to his Laws not valuable Page 197 Providence mercies of daily Providence declare much of the goodness of God Page 153 Punishment of sinners in Hell everlasting Page 106 Everlasting Punishment consistent with Gods Iustice. Page ib. Punishment of sense or Loss which is the greater Page 64 Q. QUalification of those that shall have a blessed Estate in Heaven Page 10 R. REcompence different Recompences at the day of Iudgment Page 114 Reconciliation What it is to Reconcile Page 215 The nature of this Reconciliation Page 217 The Revelation of the way of Reconciliation is a great blessing Page 235 How Reconciliation in Scripture is ascribed to God the Father to Christ and to believers themselves Page 216 How far Christ is concerned in it opened Page 219 God in the work of Reconciliation will keep up the honour of his Iustice Holiness and Truth Page 219 The Reconciliation is mutual between God and man and man and God Page 215.217 Why the Scriptures generally insist on our being Reconciled to God Page 215 The necessity of being Reconciled to God Page 244 VVhy God is said to Reconcile the world indefinitely to himself Page 214 Gods condescension in this matter Page 248 The greatness of the Mercy and Grace of God in our Reconciliation Page 220 The value of the Priviledges Page 249 The great dishonour we do to God in refusing it Page 249 The Priviledges and blessings that depend upon and accompany it Page 218 249 By Reconciliation our State is as good or better than it was in Innocency Page 217 Pardon of Sin a branch of our Reconciliation v. Pardon Page 225 God the Author of the New Creature as Reconciled to us in Christ. Page 213 The End of our Reconciliation is walking in a course of Holiness Page 229 Every thing in it implies Holiness Page 219 What is to be done on man's part that he may be Reconciled to God Page 243 Our Right to this Priviledge is begun as soon as