necessity of ceasing from a mans own works that he may attain righteousnesse yea that this cessation is in and with that believing that is imputed for righteousnesse The working here mentioned and the believing on him that justifies the ungodly cannot stand together There is then in this believing with the heart which is unto righteousness A ceasing from a mans own works an entring into rest as Hebr. 4. which also answers to that instruction in the verses before the Text shewing the hearing his word and believing on him that sent him to be such as in which the Son is honoured and so the Father in him who is not truly honoured or gloryed in without this ceasing from our own works in which is a relinquishing all glorying in the flesh and not suffering it to glory or lift up it self in his presence Phil. 3. 3-10 1 Cor. 1. 29-31 with Jer. 9. 23 24. 1. The hearing his word Joh. 5. 24. The believing God Rom. 4. 3. in his testimony or record that he hath already given of his Son as 1 Joh. 5. 9-12 This is the first and fundamentall act in this faith of the opperation of God where this is with the heart and unfeined there is equally the other act or acts in it produced by the power of the word of truth so believed Therefore this alone is given as a description of that whole faith of the opperation of God wherwith a man believes to righteousnesse Rom. 10. 9 10. with ch 4. 3. Such it is as in which a man being enlightened and made to hear by the preventing grace of God in which the voyce of the Son of God in the witnesses of Gods goodnesse that is in and through him or in the preaching of peace by him comes to him even to his spirit by Gods spirit in and through the meanes vouchsated opening the eyes and eares of his mind with which grace God in and by Christ prevents every man in due time and alwayes before he require any hearing or receiving of them Such I say as in which a man in that enlightening and perswasion that is in that evidence and demonstration of the spirit in which his testimony that he hath already given comes to them Falls down before it gives glory to it as to the word of the Lord ceasing from his own thoughts words and works on Gods holy day even in the day of Gods power or powerfull word coming to him he is in that evidence and demonstration of the spirit in it perswaded of the truth goodnesse and faithfullnesse of it in it selfe and in all it saith and embraceth it esteemes loves receiveth and reverenceth it as the word of God and not of man As a good word a faithfull saying worthy to be received with all acceptation as the truth which teacheth all things and of which is no lye And accordingly rejoyeeth in it as having found all riches and that which answers all needs and is worthy to be submitted too and that all reproved by it should be parted with for it and so with meeknesse receives the ingrafted word that is able to save the soul without inward wrath murmurings or disputeings against it Ceasing from the workings of their own thoughts reasonings or Imaginations and so from consulting with the Doctrines and traditions of men that life up themselves against the knowledge of God suffering them to fall before it as the weapons thereof are mighty through God to cast them down they let God be true and themselves and every man lyars Neither seeking to measure or comprehend this light or word of truth brought to them by the darknesse of their reason or Imagination or by Philosophy and vain deceite after the traditions of men But perceiving in this light every man to be brutish in his knowledge as Jer. 10. 14 23. with Prov. 30. 2 3 4. They fall down in the sence and acknowledgment of their inabillity by any wisedome or strength of man to receive and comprehend what is discovered and brought to them That so they may be made wise in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit that brings it attending to receive all their demonstrations of truth and light and power to receive and embrace them in and from Gods testimony in a silent adhearing to it as fooles in themselves And so in believing the truth goodnesse and faithfullnesse of the word in its own sayings though they be never so short in understanding what is contained and plainly expressed in it yet believeing they waite for all further wisedome understanding and strength seeking it in the Lord and not in man or the things of man that no flesh may glory in his presence Likewise in this receiving his word with the heart there is a ceasing from the workings of the carnall mind in its inclinations affections and lusts which are set upon the riches of this World the praise of men the pleasures of this life or some exaltation or lifting up himselfe in some selfe sufficiency and that not only before men but before God or in his presence A ceasing from these 1. In their lifting up themselves in direct opposiâ—ion to the testimony or word of truth And to hinder the receiving and acknowledgment of it 2. In their seeking to get seeret service and satisfaction to themselves in mens receiving and closeing with it Either of which wayes the flesh with its affections and lusts will hinder mens hearty and unfeined receiving the word of truth the Gospell of their salvation if they suffer it not to be crucified and themselves to be brought of from it in the light and power of that word Therefore those that are Christs are said to have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Implying that they could never have so received and retained his word in their heart as to draw and unite them to Christ if they had still lived in the flesh or suffered that to live and rule in their spirit or minded the things of it and made provision for it for they that are in the flesh cannot please God Some by working in the wisedome and Imaginations of the flesh seeking and professing to be wise consulting with Philosophy and vain deceite their own thoughts and the traditions of men and so by murmuring among themselves close the eyes and eares of their mind against the truth when opened by it break his bands by which he is drawing them in his Doctrine And so keep out the light of his knowledge and themselves from acknowledging or understanding the truth of his sayings Joh. 6. 41 42 43 44. 12. 34 35 Rom. 2. 21 22 23. 1 Cor. 1. 21 22 23. 1 Tim. 6. 20 21. Others when convinced of truth yet still seeking after wisedome in themselves to find out and comprehend the truth of Gods sayings by their Imaginations or by the same wisedome and reason of man with which before they did or others yet do oppose it And to build their faith
unto him even to the man Christ Jesus He is the Mediator between God and men who gave himselfe a ransome for all to be testified in due time And this that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father that they should acknowledge his right of Lordship by purchase and redemption and by the Fathers gift to be as large and full as is the Fathers right of Lordship by Creation and absolute propriety in And liberty to dispose of them as his Creatures for the Father hath committed all judgment to him as the Son of Man whence also his ability and fitnesse to judge is the same with the Fathers for the Father hath now actually glorified him in mans nature with his own selfe the glory he had with him before the World was haveing finished the works the Father gave him to doe on Earth which were also so accepted as finished with the Father from the beginning of the World He hath put his spirit on him to bring forth judgment to the Gentiles so that he stands in the strength of the Lord and in the Majesty of the name of the Lord his God Joh. 11. 4 5. Math. 28. 18. Isa 42. 1 6. with ch 11. 1 2. Mich. 5. 4. That Men in honouring him might honour the Father in him and that in hearing his word and through and according to it believing on the Father that sent him and whosoever so doth the Father through that word and according to it justifies them and makes them partakers of eternall life and the rest he holds under condemnation by and according to the same word doctrine law and rule of the Son of Man so bearing witnesse of him yea that men might honour him The glory the Father hath given him is such as in which he is infinitely strengthened fitted and appointed to call all the ends of the Earth as Isa 55. 4 5. 45. 22. Psal 50. 1. Math. 28. 18 19 20. Mark 16. 15 Luk. 24. 47. Act. 3. 22 26. And that in the name and power of God his Father in such wise as to make the dead to hear to open the blinde eyes and awaken those dead in sins or make his word so powerfull to the awakening them that they might in hearing hear even in the light and power of his voyce in the Gospell as that is by any meanes of his appointment witnessed preached to them and that they that in hearing doe heare may be quickned and made alive by it For as the Father hath life in himselfe so he hath given to the Son to have life in himselfe and hath given him authority to execute judgment also both here and hereafter because he is the Son of Man 3 In the verses under consideration he compleates the discovery of the excellency of his person and works and his singular one-nesse with the Father in declarâ—ng those greater and more glorious works which the Father will after shew and bring forth by him in the generall Resurrection and judgment And with this also corrects their sinfull marvelling at what he had before declared Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth c. The end and scope of our Saviour then in the text appeares to be to discover the excellency of his person and works as he is God-man the word made flesh the son of God the son of man and therein to teach and lead into the understanding and usefulnesse of things to come even of the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all And ended this is the prime end and scope of all Scriptures to bear witnesse of Christ Joh. 5. 39 as the Son of God the Saviour of the world the Lord by purchase and so the Judge also of quick and dead 1 Joh. 4. 14. Act. 10. 36 42. yea this is the way of the holy Ghost in them to teach all things and lead into all truth and so to shew even things to come in the demonstration of him or by glorifying him and that in taking of his things and shewing them Therein he commends and displayes the compassionate love mercifull kindnesse and pitty of God to sinners Joh. 3. 16 17. Rom. 5. 5 6 7 8. his faithfulnesse and readinesse in giving all things with him Rom. 8. 32. And to accept all comers into delightfull love and favour without upb ayding or respect of persons 2 Cor. 5. 17. with verses 14 15. Act. 10. 34 35 43. As also his unspeakable terror against scorners that will break forth afterward if while it is to day they receive not the love of the truth to save them 2 Cor. 5. 11. 14 15. Hebr. 10. 29. Yea there he shewes mans sinfulnesse vilenesse and deadnesse in shewing him in whom his help is 2 Cor. 5. 14. And so the unprofitablenesse of all his works and therewith also the greatnesse of the evill of unbeliefe and unthankfulnesse of loving and chusing darknesse when light comes Joh. 16. 8 9 10. yea thereby he leades into all truth and so shewes things to come vers 13 14. The word of the beginning of Christ being the Doctrinall foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God and of the Doctrine of Baptismes and of laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and eternall judgement Hebr. 6. 1 2. Called therefore the great things of his Law the vision of all Hose 8. 12. Isa 29. 11. with ch 28. 12 16. The key of knowledge Luk. 11. 42. 52. That by an exercise of faith in him according thereto we might reape the profit and use of all Scriptures 2 Tim. 3. 15. The way in which our Saviour proceeds in pursuance of the forementioned scope and end in these verses is 1 By warning or admonishing them against sinfull marvelling such as is the proper fruit and issue of unbeliefe and an impediment to faith for there is a marvelling that 's good and commendable such as is of faith an esteeming reverencing and so admiring the unsearchable depth and excellency of the truth wisdome and goodnesse of the things believed and perceived as passing all understanding and knowledge such as that Rom. 11. 31. with Eph. 3 18 19. Phil. 4. 7. Psal 40. 5. and 71. 15 17. But that marvelling that 's not of faith but an impediment to it such as in which a man lookes upon the things set before him in thy testimony of God concerning Christ as strange absurd and incredible because he cannot comprehend it by reason such as that in Nicodemus how can this thing be Joh. 3. 9. like that Joh. 12. 34. with Hosea 8. 12. and Isa 29. 9 12. Against this our Saviour admonisheth them marvell not at this namely that which he had already declared of the present power of the voyce of the son of God by reason of the glory which the Father had given him
and effectuall with the Father as that through Christ in the name and grace of the Father they might have been saved in due time They could not be righteously judged for denying him that bought them and not receiving the love of the truth that they might be saved His judgment therefore from such demonstrations is and shall be evidenced to be according to truth against them that commit such things see Rom. 2. 2. 4. 5. 10-16 3. 3 4. Act. 17. 30 31. 2 Thess 2. 10. 11 12. Though the spirit that dwelleth in us as of us Justeth to envy and pride yet God giveth more grace and because he doth so therefore he saith He resisteth the proud that still persist in their pride and stubbornnesse notwithstanding his grace bringing salvation did abound and was more then their naturall filthinesse and corruption and would have overcome all for them and in them had it not been willfully again and again rejected by them This is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men loved darknesse Jam. 4. 5 6. Joh. 3. 19. Therefore also in the right understanding of the greatnesse and truth of this love of God in Christs dying for all and through it to manward the Apostles did discern and know the unspeakable greatnesse of his terror against Scorners in that Day of his judging all men by Jesus Christ according to their Gospell 2 Car. 5. 10. 11-14 15. Hebr. 2. 3. 10. 29. And the truth is whatever is said to the lessening or taking off from either the greatnesse or truth of Gods grace in and through Christ to manward tends every whit so much to the extenuating of their evill that sin against it and to the abating or taking off from the clear discoveries of the terror of the Lord and the greatnesse and equity of his severity that shall be against Scorners persisting such and so to the blunting the edge and taking away the force of all Gospell admonitions and warnings for according to his fear or grace and glory in Christ to manward that he might be feared by them now even such so infinite and unspeakable will be his wrath against Scorners then Psal 90. 10 11. 2 This Resurrection and Judgment shall be effected by his mighty power In the immediate and wonderfull putting forth of his voyce even the same powerfull voyce or spirit that now breathes in the Gospell to the awakening the dead or making them to hear and to the making partakers of life them that in hearing hear That it shall be by the same voyce is clear in the 25. and 28. verses compared This more wonderfull efficacy of his voyce in raising the dead and bringing them in judgment is here declared to correct and silence their sinfull marvelling at the 〈◊〉 power and efficacy of the same voyce on the spirits of men before 〈…〉 â—uch is asserted by the Apostle Rom. 8. 11. If the spirit of him that 〈…〉 the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead 〈…〉 also quicken your mortall Bodies that is Raise them in the first Resurrection and to life by the same spirit that now dwels in you And in such wise also the generall Resurrection of all the rest of the dead shall be effected by him in the last day as is signified Joh. 6. 39-44 where he not only saith that he will raise them up at the last day But clearly signifies that he will doe it by the same power by which he was now sent to draw them and was drawing them even by that eternall spirit by which he was raised and with which he is filled and cloathed without measure in that Body in mans nature by vertue of his sufferings and by which he is now striving with and working on the spirits of men to the drawing and quickening them yea that word that he hath now spoken to them and preached by his spirit to their spirits shall judge them at the last Day Joh. 12. 48. By the power now graciously breathing in it to make them willing they shall then be brought to his judgment Seat whether they will or no And be judged by and according to it God hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised Him from the dead by whom in the mighty putting forth of the same power and spirit he will judge discern discover and bring to light and judgment every secret thing whether it be good or bad And so judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to Paul's Gospell This Instruction is used in Scripture for consolation to those that now receive and retain this voyce of the Son of man This word and spirit in it by which he was raised to dwell in them He shall raise and judge them by the same word and spirit that now dwels in them speaking peace and giving healing to their spirits through his bloud and the love of God therein displayed so that it must needs be to them a resurrection to life and the compleating of that joy to which they are now quickened in their spirits by the first fruites of the same spirit while yet the body is dead because of sin as Rom. 8. 10-11 12. 24-25 so Job 11. 25 26. I am saith our Saviour the Resurrection and the life not only as the procuring Cause but also as the effecter and worker of it And that by the same spirit by which he was raised and with which he is immeasurably filled in mans nature And by which he now accompanies his word that through him men might believe and dwels in the hearts of the receivers in a first fruites of it as is shewed before Therefore says he because I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth on me though he were dead yet shall he live And he that liveth and believeth on me shall never dye he shall not dye or be separated from God or cut off from his hope in that first death or shadow of death which he must passe through And the second death shall have no power on him yea the first fruites of the spirit being to the quickening their spirits that now receive it what can the harvest or fullnesse of the same be to them when it shall be poured out upon them but still more even to fullnesse of efficacy of the same nature life from the dead The totall quickening of soul and body together So likewise the same Doctrine is used for admonition and warning to the rejectors while it s to day to take heed of murmuring against that power by which he is now striving with them drawing and working upon their hearts For by the same power spirit voyce or word of the Son of man they shall be raised and judged in the last day And therefore it must needs be a terrible resurrection and Judgment to those
power of the same voyce to the Resurrection of Damnation 1 To the first of these who they are that have done good and who they are that have done evill after the Gospell Rule according to which all must be judged To this we shall speak distinctly in the severall parts of it and most fully to the first part God assisting That we may therein answer the desire of our deceased Sister whose being taken from us occasioned the publishing this discourse as her said desire was expressed by her on her death bed which was that some such Instruction might be delivered And opened to the people as we shall have further occasion to speak to in the opening of this point For so I was informed by those that were with her And those such as had good understanding of and acquaintance with the grace of God and experience of the truth of the things discoursed by her That she earnestly desired that those great branches of the Doctrine of Christ that were then much upon her own spirit in a feeling apprehension of the truth of them to her abundant refreshing and consolation and to the enlargement of her heart for the good of others should be made known and opened to the people And that those parts of the Doctrine of Christ which were so much upon her spirit then and to the understanding of such as forementioned excellently discussed by her to the last though in broken expressions as her end approached were in effect as followes I may ranck them under these three heads 1 The way of attaining Gods righteousnesse for the remission of sins and justifying our persons before God And for the cleansing us from all unrighteousnesse and making us partakers of his holinesse even to the perfecting all that concerns us That it is by faith in Christ without the deeds of the Law and that faith and all the justification saving and healing by it not of our selves but the gift of God and that not of or according to works of righteousnesse that we have done or doe But of his free grace in Christ to manward according to that his mercy and through the discoveries and displayings of it in Christ that none may boast according to those Scriptures then much with her To him that worketh not namely for righteousnesse or seekes that way to attain righteousnesse as Rom. 9. 30. 33. 10. 1 2 3. But believeth on him that justifyeth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse even as David also describeth the blessednesse of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without works c. Rom. 4. 5. 6-9 Like as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousnesse now that was not written for his sake alone but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our Justification Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ By whom also we have accesse by faith into this Grace namely for perfecting all that concernes us c. see Rom. 4. 3. 9 22. 23. 24. 25. with chap. 5. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse For it is written cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to doe them But that no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God it is evident For the just shall live by faith And the Law is not of faith But the man that doth them shall live in them Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith Gall. 3. 6-14 For by grace are ye saved though faith And that not of your selves it is the gift of God not of workes least any man should boast For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus not only through or by meanes of the worth vertue and preciousnesse of him but also in the evidence and demonstration of him unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them And if by grace in Christ Jesus then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace but if it be of works then it is no more grace otherwise work is no more work Eph. 2. 8 9 10. Rom. 11. 6. 2 The infinite riches and freenesse of this grace of God in Christ towards all sinners both in the preparation and bringing in of everlasting righteousnesse in Christ for them by making Him to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him And also in the bringing it forth to them in and by him whom he hath raised from the dead and set on his own right hand a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance and forgivenesse of sins a testimony to men in due time Gods light to the Gentiles his salvation to the ends of the Earth and the glory of his people Israell the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe as 2 Cor. 5. 21. Act. 5. 31. Isa 42. 49. with ch 55. 4 5. 1 Tim. 2. 4 5 6. Luk. 2. 32. 1 Tim. 4. 10. According to that Scripture Rom. 3. 20 27. by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God for by the Law is the knowledge of sin But now the righteousnesse of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets even the righteousnesse of God not of man It is now manifested by the faith or Doctrine of Christ the preaching of peace that is by him And it is as before witnessed and now manifested unto all namely in the redundancies discoveries and reall tenders yea in the gift of it in and with Christ that in the light and power of his givings he and so it might be received that through him men might believe and believing through the same name be saved And it is upon all that believe namely in the imputation and application of it to them in their particular persons through his name making them through faith in it The righteousnesse of God in him that was made sin and a curse for them And all this without difference or respect of persons For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Being justifyed all men in that one that dyed for them and rose again in their stead as in a publique person And all that believe in their particular persons by him and through faith in him And this both these Freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud to declare
had been holden of Death or the Grave and not been taken from the prison and from the judgment If he after the same consideration of him in which he was delivered for our offences even Jesus of the seed of David after the flesh be not raised again and so mightily declared to be the Son of God by the Resurrection from the Dead we are yet in our sins and must needs perish in them we can have no justification from them by him if he himselfe in that his own personall Body in which he bore our sins to the tree and gave himselfe for our sins be not raised and exalted in the name and Glory of the Father by the power of the eternall Spirit now no more to returne to corruption If there were any truth in such Imaginations as that there is some quickening or translateing work that is or may be effected upon the soule or spirit as Distinct from and without its body that may properly be called the Resurrection of that person on whom it passeth from the Dead yet that truth would doe us no good as to a word of saith Such a Resurrection here would not help us nor any thing lesse or besides the resurrection and exaltation of the same Body in which he was delivered if the same flesh or body be not raised exalted and glorified with God we can have no faith or hope in him For this also we finde that that Body was prepared for him as absolutely necessary to doe the whole will of God in for mans salvation and that through him they might be saved as well as also that by him they might be judged in Righteousnesse according to the Gospell And so not only that he might therein suffer our Death and Curse But also that he might have it as through sufferings made perfect to offer up in Sacrifice to God as the Ransome or price of redemption in which God might smell a savour of Rest for fallen mankind and likewise to appear in in the presence of God as the Mediator between God and men and as the Great Apostle and High Priest of our profession that all fullnesse dwelling in him bodily we also of his fullnesse might receive c. yea that it is through the offering up of the Body of Christ once for all that we are sanctified 'T is through this man and because God hath raised him from the Dead that repentance and remission of sins is preached to us and by him all that believe are justified c. Yea because this man continueth ever therefore he is able to save to the utmost them that come to God by him and therefore also all judgement committed to him see Hebr. 10. 5-10-12 with ch 9. 11. 12. 14. 23. 24. 25. 26. 28. and ch 8. 1-3 4. and 7. 23. 24. 25. c. 1 Tim. 2. 5. 6. Joh. 1. 14. 16. with Coll. 2. 9. Act. 13. 37. 38. 39. Ioh. 5. 27. Act. 17. 31. This therefore is mainly considerable in that testimony of Christ delivered as the Ground of all our faith and hope that God hath raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our offences even the same Jesus of Nazareth and in that his own personall Body in which he was to delivered Jesus Christ of the seed of David after the flesh Rom. 1. 3. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 8. This truth we have before sufficiently proved for confirmation of the hope of the Resurrection of our Bodies that dye in Adam Here we shall only farther shâ—w of how great weight and importance our Saviour and the holy Ghost by the Apostles signify it to be and the asserting and acknowledgement of it as one of the first and greatest things in the Word of faith on which the other things in it depend and in which they are included and therefore not to be passed over as a lighter matter or bieopinion to be so discoursed of or only to be of some lesser use To this it is very observable That our Saviour after his Resurrection In all those his appearances and instructions to his Apostles before his being taken up in which he was confirming and preparing them for that great work of giving forth the full preaching and revelation of the Word of faith to all Nations for the obedience of faith he then chiefly insisted on this to shew himselfe to them alive after his passion and that it was he himselfe the same that suffered and was hung on a Tree And that he had the selfe same body flesh and bones hands and feet really as a spirit without a body hath nor though it may sometimes assume such shapes that it was the same in which he sometime conversed with them in weaknesse that was nailed to the Crosse pierced with a speare c. And withall he instructed them that all this was necessary these things must needs be so fulfilled that repentance and remission of sins might be preached in his name Luk. 24. 36 48. Ioh. 20. 24. 27. with Act. 1. 3. Likewise the Apostle Iohn summing up the Word of faith The testimony of God concerning Christ they had received of him to declare unto us cals it a declaration of that which they had looked upon with their eyes and their hands had handled of the Word of life which being with such apt alusion to those words of our Saviour handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as yee see me to have Luk. 24. 39. with Ioh. 20. 24. 27. Must needs meane the Lords body raised from the dead The man Christ Jesus alive after his passion in the same body in which he bore our sins to the tree which other believers are said not so to have seen Ioh. 20. 29. 1 Pet. 1. 8. yet to believe and in the beliefe of it to rejoyce and be blessed 1 Ioh. 1. 12. Hence also we read in that whole story of the Acts of the Apostles as in all their Epistles that they in giving forth the Gospell of Christ the Word of faith after the holy Ghost was poured out upon them from on high doc chiefly insist on this as the first and fundamentall things of all Orracles of God as now come forth The foundation of all our faith hope as now declared and of the resurrection of the dead and eternall judgment that God had raised up and exalted the same Jesus of Nazareth of the fruit of David's loynes according to the flesh that was crucified that his soul was not left in Hell neither did his flesh see corruption that God had given him glory in that Body in which he bore our sins to the Tree that our faith and hope might be in God And from hence do evidence repentance and remission of sins to be therefore preached to us through this man and in his name as Act. 2. 22-36 3. 14-21 4. 10-12 5. 30-32 13. 23-37 38. 39. Rom. 1. 1-5 4. 24. 24. 10. 9. 1 Cor. 15.
up in the blessing Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from hence forth yea saith the spirit c. He that endureth to the end shall be saved Be thou faithfull unto death saith Christ and I will give thee the crowne of life Math. 24. 13. Rev. 2. 10. So James affirming the blessedness of the man that endureth temptation saith That when he is tryed namely to the end when that work of trying purging and making white through manifold temptations is finished he shall receive the crown of life Jam. 1. 12. Many that have been going right on their way yea runing wel suffered many things yet afterward wickedly drawing back and departing from the living God by an evill heart of unbeliefe have not been found among the righteous nor shall be found among them when he appeareth they so persisting till sin be finished Therefore let us not be weary of well doing In due season we shall reap if we faint not Thus we have done with the first branch of the point under consideration namely who they are that have done good And what we have said in it leads into the understanding of the next branch namely who they are that in a like scripture-sence according to the rule of the Gospell have done evill To that therefore we shall ad but a few words The doing evill that is imputed to men and which brings under condemnation the wrath of God is clearly expressed according to what is also shewed before to be mens being contentious against and not obeying the truth when it is manifested to them in their minds by the evidencâ— demonstration of the spirit and powerfully leading to repentance They then like not to retain it in their knowledge or so to receive the love of the truth as to save them but are incensed against Christ and his gospell because he reprooves their deeds by the light and power of it Rom. 2. 6 7 8 9. with ch 1. 18 19 21 28. 2. 1-4 5. 2 Thess 1. 8. 2. 10 11 12. Isa 45. 24. Their willfull refusing to come in his drawings to â—imselfe for he is drawing all in due time even to himselfe for life And this is the condemnation that when light comes men love and chuse darkness Hose 11. Job 6. 47 with ch 12 31. 32. Psal 2. Joh. 12. 47. 48. 25. 22. 24. nor is any man under a state of condemnation or wrath but for such seeing hateing hearing and rejecting for the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son And so the time of their doing evill in this sence is in the very opportunity given them for doing good even when light comes when he is preaching peace and witnessing goodness to their spirits when his goodness is leading and drawing to repentance even when and as they are so called to the most high they goe back and willfully refuse to exalt or honour him in those discovery â—s and operations of his goodnesse and glory in and through him vouchsafed Hose 11. 1 Pet. 3. 19. Joh. 3. 19. Rom. 2 4 5. If light had not so come to them or he had not so spoken to them they had not known or been capable of sins of this nature as now charged upon them But yet mens evill or in quities of this nature though they are truly said to be Doers and workers of it while they continue in it yet are not in a full and proper sence said to be done or finished nor so reputed of God While yet the day of salvation lasteth to any man that is while God is yet calling his grace bringing salvation to them If yet they repent and seek him none of their former wickednesse shall be remembred to him that is joyned to all the living there is hope but when sin is finished it brings forth death In an utter separation of the person from Gods mercy and binding him over and sealing him up to the wrath to come They that have done evill to the resurrection of damnation 2. The next and last point to be considered in this last position propounded is where in the manifest difference that shall be made between them in the resurrection standeth or how it shall be made and made to appear in the coming forth of the one by the power of his voyce to the resurrection of life of the other by the power of the same voyce to the resurrection of damnation there is a reall difference between the doers of good and the doers of evill now in this day before either of them have finished their course And a very great one too see 1 Ioh. 5. 19. 20. The whole world lies in wickednesse even in the wicked one for while they willfully remaine in the state and condition or in the darknesse of this world in ignorance of God in Christ strangers to the life of God loveing and chusing their darknesse when light comes they consequently remaine under the Power Bondage and Dominion of Satan holding in captivity to sin the mind conscience and whole man So that they are in their uncleannesse and not washed from it in the flesh and under the wrath of God for not believing on him that came to save and deliver them is bringing that salvation to them through the power and in the grace of his truth But saith the Apostle speaking of themselves and other Believers or doers of truth God hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true namely as the fruit of the knowledge of him we are brought into him to have our hearts and mindes stayed there as a full object and foundation of rest and satisfaction to our soules a sure refuge and house of defence to save us from sin and Satan and hide us from the wrath of God we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ and so in God This is the true God this is eternall life Babes keep your selves from Idols They in whom the word of truth the things heard from the begining in the word of the truth of the Gospell remaines or abideth do continue in the Son and in the Father 1 Ioh. 2. 24 25. As the fruit of which knowledge of and union with God in Christ The righteous is more excellent or abundant then his neighbour But the way of the wicked seduceth them Prov. 12. 26. But this difference is not yet manifest or visible as to outward appearance or to be seen by the carnall mind nor otherwise then as faith is the evidence of things not seen while Christ doth not yet appear personally in his glory on the Earth and in his spirituall presence in through and according to the Gospell is hidden not discerned known or taken notice of by the World But under reproach his people also are in lâ—ke manner a hidden people and rendered as the filth and off-scouring of all things unto this day As he