thing able to it and above it though never so great Almightinesse in God cannot be fully expressed by man Almightinesse in a Christian hath so much of the Almighttinesse of God in it that this neither cannot be fully expressed 'T is the same power which made Christ Almighty exceeding richly made knowne in a Christian no otherwise did the Apostle know how to expresse it that yee may know what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Ephes 1.19 20. and set him at his owne right Hand in heavenly places Almightinesse in a Christian 't is the exceeding great power of Christ made knowne exceedingly whereby a great similitude to Christ is made in obeying him as hee did obey his Father Thus onely the Apostle expresses this power because he knew not how more fully to reach it therefore you may not expect a deeper fathoming of it from me and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward c. 'T is an indefinite expression of an unmeasurable thing we must word it as well as we can when things are too big for words 3. Quedammodò omnipotens ad extraordinarie Almightinesse in a Christian 't is one in strength above ordinary worke t is one all able to extraordnary duties as able to hard as to light worke 't is one able not onely to impart the Gospell but his owne soule too for the Gospell So being affectionatly desireous we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospell of God onely but also our owne soules 1 Thess 2.8 'T is one able to give his heart to God and his life too his affection to Christ and his bloud too with much willingnesse So being affectionately desirous we were willing c. Covetously or lustfully desirous as the originall words signify which notes the most taking and swaying heart-passion Almightinesse in a Christian 't is divine power extended and received to the utmost as you have such a Scripture phrase to the utmost of what God is communicable and man capable to the utmost of what an infinite God can give and a finite nature can receive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the utmost of what is promised and a Christians calling can call for T is a Steven one full of the Holy Ghost and of power able to stand it out in a storme of stones to see Heaven in Hell 'T is a Shadrach a triumpher in the Almighty in the face of fiery cruelty a triumpher in an Almighty God before the frowning face of an Almighty man 't is a man able to obey God Agendo patiendo in perpetuum to the utmost to the last breath Modus communicandi Almightinesse in a Christian 't is the same in nature with that which was in Christ whereby hee did all those Almighty things for our saluation Modus communicandi The Apostle wishing this power to the Ephesians sayes 't is that which wrought in Christ when hee raised him from the dead According to the working of his mighty power which wrought in Christ when he raised him c. Ephes 1.19 Christ had his power by which hee did great things for us by unction so have we hee by unction from his Father we by unction from him God anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power Acts 10.38 Christ hath his unction immediatly from the Father we immediatly from the Son 't is he that most immeditatly gives the Holy Ghost to us Hee shall glorify me saith Christ of the spirit for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you The power the Holy Ghost gives 't is the power of Christ the truth hee reveales 't is the truth of Christ Whatsoever excellency he inspires 't is the excellency of Christ and to make similitude to him 1. Impertiendi discrimen Christ had his unction according to his capacity of infinite capacity and therefore his power the power of a God All power of God in man comes to but finite power the Subject is capable of no more Almightinesse in a christian is but finite power infinite power working finitly according to the capacity of the Subject Christ had a more full unction then we being a vaster continent and he had a more free unction that is power more absolutely conferred and made over very personall to him He had his power as the first Adam wholly at his owne dispose so hee spake of it and so hee wrought by it I have power to lay downe my life and J have power to take it up He could doe this as of and from himselfe The most Almighty Christian cannot say thus without blasphemy Infinite power workes in us but not infinitely nor personally as a thing wholly and altogether at our dispose Vse Christians are yee Almighty men and women 'T is a seasonable question an Almighty strength is comming against us God is armed deadly worke is in the Land can yee suffer unto death Our glory will be great quickly or our shame obedience to bloud and death is comming into use againe Is my strength the strength of stones Saith Iob. The strength of stones and rockes a kinde of Almightinesse is like to be needed all the strength of God to carry us out well what power of God works in you Divine Justice is throughly awake but ah Lord we are not Full executions working full preparations asleep all will be ours with a wet finger no Christians 't will not 't will be with a wet heart too wet with bloud and 't is well if not with the bloud of some of you 'T is a remarkable expression that of the Prophet Ezek. When he had foretold sad things hee concludes thus Then said I ah Lord God Ezek. 20. v. ult they say of mee doth he not speake parables We are to many as those that preach our owne melancholly fancies when we please not their fancies I have often sadly said it and with as much humility as I could that England's mercie would be bloudy mercies but I doubt what use was made of it The Sword you now all see is drawen when 't will be put up again what bleeding yet is behind the Lord onely knowes 't will be our wisdome to get strength for the worst All might all the power of God working in us to beare up under all that can come To have serv'd Christ with our hearts would have serv'd-turne very well these fourescore or these hundred yeeres past but now t will not it must be with our heart-bloud what strength and power have yee in your hearts to this can you bleed out your soules in your Fields in your Streets at your Dooâ—es in your Houses for Christ Tell me all of you I beseech you what strength have you to this I have but little I have none this is the generall vote
moved upon the Chaos It workes not in reference to any preceding worke or signe of enducement much lesse ingagement All are under sinne dead a Chaos and he quickens whom he will all inducement is onely from GOD and will An out roome here below hee would have and he sayd let there be this and let there be that and it was so and this was the manner of raising it so now a roome he will have here below more inward from the noise of the World and hee sayd Ephata let this window be opened and let there be light and 't is so Vessels hee will have for this low roome and he makes them al himselfe according to absolute will hee makes one to honour c. Terminus creandi est 't is a terme of Creation Synonimicall with this in my Text who hath made us meete i by his word and of his one free wil. Media gratiae ordinem creationis subeunt The meanes of grace have the order of Creation stamp'd upon them Christ the great wheele that turnes all other wheeles of our salvation is made unto us what he is and made of God Who of God is made unto us wisdome righteousnesse c. 1 Cor. 1.30 Christ is a full Sea indeed but not a drop to us but as made of God So we are made able Ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirit Could such a poore man as I by speaking a while to the eare turne the heart from sinne to Christ did not a creating blessing sit on my lips Divine institutions have the formality of a Creation in them because they have what they have and doe what they doe from supreame power onely above all cause and reason Other meanes have their reason in them as a cause Therefore are institutions and meanes of grace here not so much as mentioned onely the Father meanes are so beside likelyhood and reason to so noble an end as to make and fit soules for Heaven Giving thankes to the Father who hath made c. None else worthy to be so much as mention'd in this noble worke Grace is a Creation Creatio talis creatio ' and 't is such a Creation there is Creatio transiens continuans Grace is a continued Creation The Father workes hitherto and I worke hee speakes of Gods working grace under the motion of Creation and in that very phrase that wee should call the working of grace a Creation The Creation of the World ceased in so many dayes Transiens and God rested from that labour and doth still but the the Creation of grace lasts hithertoo 't is the worke of the Trinity to this day without resting and how long yet further 't will be whether to the end of the externall Creation I cannot say The Word of God is a lively word it hath a spirit in it this is the worke of the Trinity still to put spirit into the Word to make living words and so living soules So the workes of God are lively workes what God does ' has a voice the staffe a voice all that God sayes and does all his words and works they are made lively that is breathing and forming eternall life in man by a transcendent concurrence of Father Son and holy Ghost the first is here mention'd to wit the Father the rest are to be understood to wit the Sun the holy ghost the workes of the Trinity ad extra are not to be divided Giving thankes to the Father i to Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Who hath made us meete c. Under this terme made the Word of God and workes of God are meant as meanes for he speakes in the foregoing Verse of sufferings which attend truth which are al conducing to this noble end to fit man for God Grace 't is a new Creation Nova a Creation that makes old things passe away things as old as the old Creation and then things to become new 'Tas destruction in it and then erection and edification it takes away and then sets up it destroyes sinnes which are old things as old as the Devill and then sets up grace takes away the stone and then builds with flesh this is the fashion and manner of building within kils the old man and then makes a new new light new love this makes a new heart a new Creature a new man Who hath made us c. i who hath made us againe who hath made us anew Grace is a hid Creation Abscondita 't is formatio secreta our life is hid Know'st thou the way of the spirit in man 't is as the way of a Bird in the Aire 't is as the way of the wind in the Earth very unknowne Invisibles stellae A new name which none knowes but he that hath it 't is meate to eat which the World knows not of no which Christians know not of One Christian doth not know what meate another Christian hath at his Table nor how sweete not what guests nor how merry together J have meate to eate which yee know not of A Christian is bound in the spirit and cannot see the girdle raised high and cannot see the hand taught wisdome secretly and like Samuel cannot tell the voice warmed and cannot describe the fire the soule as in Heaven and yet in the body and then whether in the body or out of the body cannot tell As there is killing without hand so there is making alive without hand without any seene or to be discerned Trees have their sap and seed in them their sap and life is hid it creepes up under the barke and puts out gloriously but very secretly and unexspressibly beyond all demonstration so is the way of grace and the working of the spirit of God in man Interna Grace is an internall Creation it makes a new heart and a new spirit 't is glory within t is bones broken not flesh and set againe and made glad 't is a heart prickt wounded and heal'd not a head Grace 't is the foreskin of the heart taken away a Jew inwardly 't is great hammering yet no noyse heard 't is so inwardly a cry but none heard in the streetes t is in such inroomes 't is not onely the hand without put forward but the watch-wheeles within set right to the sun Grace 't is Anima indivisibilis the soule broken all to pieces by supreame power and curiously by the same power set together againe Grace is glory within a roome of royall repose private 't is Christ in the heart of the Earth the Kingdome of God is within us The words which Christ speakes they are spirit and life so are all his workes which now he workes they are spirit and life i of life upon the spirit hee hath done all his workes without doore all his worke now is within spirit upon spirit not a worke more should be wrought now were it not to make
a Christian all these sweet expressions aptly point out this in my Text to wit that strengthning and relieving power which carries along and finishes the first worke strengthened with all might c. Divine power as it workes towards a Christian works effectually The word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 1 Thess 2.13 An effectuall power subjected to worke for man works and works again and never leaves working till it hath effected its worke which is preservation unto salvation grace unto life This power works creando corroborando creating and strengthening it maks the soule passe from strength to strength till it be above all opposing strength and expired safe and compleat into that breast from whence it was first breathed This expression effectuall power is an expression of dreadfull importance it notes that divine power works sometimes by halves not effectually Something towards birth and towards a man-child some pangs and throwes but makes but an abortive at last some things towards reliefe but sinkes and dies and le ts that which seemed to be come to nothing but when it works effectually it makes grace and carries on that grace to glory it makes a Christian and then it strengthens him to abide so to death against deadly opposition Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Finally Divine power as it works about a Christian works perpetually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the utmost as you have it expressed which is very lively Heb. 7.25 it layes out it selfe to the furthest all vires Divinoe potentiae are stretcht and made to beare and carry to eternity to carry unto death thorough death beyond death above death as that mighty expression is Ps 48.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supra mortem To resolve it selfe into everlasting Armes that is a power subjected to use a Divine power subjected to humane use everlastingly so as to leave no place no possibility of miscarrying to a Christian let what will be or can be on this side death in death or beyond death so long as the soule is Divine power is so subjected to worke about a Christian as not to lose its worke no whit of its worke what ever losse he made otherwise upon the man as a man troubles may make losse upon a man as a farmer as a Gentleman as a Noble-man but not upon man as a Christian power is subjected so to worke as to carry up carry on carry out all its own works about the soule in perpetuum To all eternity Argumen ∣ tum Power subjected to worke about a Christian works from speciall love power which workes from such a love can never leave working till it has its end because love workes to the end and it works by power and all other attributes for the good of the beloved Upon this ground the Apostle Paul was confident of the Phillippians perseverance in the truth being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good worke in you will performe or finish it unto the day of Iesus Christ Phil. 1.6 Divine power as it workes strentheningly and relievingly Media explicandi is peculiar to Christians it s the same power which began a good worke continued working to finish it Where Divine power works not creatingly it works not relievingly hence 't is that one which is not a Christian indeed holds not out alwayes to be a Christian in shew hence 't is likewise that Christ saith I have lost none but a lost Creature one that was never found a child of perdition lost from the beginning a child of wrath unto wrath had he ever had grace in truth I would have strengthened it and kept it those which thou gavest me I have kept c. Ioh. 17.12 Keeping power waites about those that the Father hath given to the Son and none else all others are lost and to goe for lost Strengthening power works towards all Christians successively that is from Generation to Generation by act of solemne intercession Christ made it a solemne businesse to make free way in Heaven for a relieving and securing power to worke here on Earth as long as any Saints should be in it And now am I no more in the World but those are in the World and I come to thee Holy Father keepe through thine owne Name those whom thou hast given unto me that they may be one as we are c. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Ioh 11. 20. The state of a Christian is botom'd in bloud founded in Christs death made out by life by Prayer and intercession all is merited by Christs bloud particulars are drawne out and conferred upon solemne intercession Christs intercession ceased not when he was on Earth the requests above mentioned I conceive to be a continuation of solemne intercession which must last till all the Saints be above all wants Heb. 7.25 He ever lives to make intercession for them he that lived on Earth was an intercessor he that dyed lives againe and goes on with that worke which he began from the wombe of the morning from the beginning of love breathing upon fallen Adam he that lives prayes he has done so from the first Saints and will doe so to the last on Earth hee makes all Prayers of Christians Gods rest and mans relief pleasing to God and strengthening to man Strenegthned with all might c. Finally all powers which worke in man worke to an eternall end powers of darkenesse all powers judiciarie which worke in sinners are to finish sin and bring sinners to their place To a condition miserable as neere the Devill as may be So all the powers which work in Christians subduing power strengthening power leading keeping carrying bosoming power are to perfect grace and bring them to glory Holy Father keepe through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are the end of keeping power Ioh. 17.11 you see is a compleate state that they may be one as we are Divine powers worke shapingly to the highest and happiest similitude as their end and never leave working and shaping this way till they have made the felicity of the elect together the nearest and the liveliest emblem of the felicity of the Trinity which each person hath in and with each other Vse 1 Christians walke humbly this is the first thing that I would commend to you from this point your state needs reliefe your best state your graces need supporting and strengthening You had your being by grace so you have your standing by grace as strengthening and relieving mercy and compassion work towards you so will yee doe well as this declines so will yee faint and doe ill 2 Cor. 4.1 As we have received mercy we faint not saith our Apostle Our strength and supply