therefore this never came from the nature of man besides it is a strong argument that the Scriptures came not originally from man but from God because they are no whit agreeable to our natures hence it is worth observing that we naturally choose and delight to reade any Booke rather then the Scriptures as we see by experience that those that read much reade little in the Scriptures 4. Because the Scriptures require that which is beyond the power of man to doe as that he should deny himselfe which to doe requires a divine power as the Scriptures and experience teach selfe is for it selfe how then can selfe deny it selfe nature doth not require nor desire any such thing therefore it 's required by some other which must needs be God also it affirmes that which is impossible to the reason nature and wisdome of man as that a Virgin should conceive a Son this is beyond the reach of nature and therefore it is from God 5. The Scriptures are not from men because the more any are ruled by it and obey it the more they are hated and persecuted by men which shewes it was never the will of man and therefore it came not from nature but from God 6. The Scriptures came from God because they tend to God this is a rule in nature every thing tends to it's center a stone to the earth the waters to the Sea from whence they came So the Scriptures tend to God they run to God they shew God in his goodnesse wisdome power love in the Scriptures there is a divine wisdome they speak for God they call men to God and to be for God which is the center of the Scriptures 7. The Scriptures are not from men because the way of bringing them forth into the world is quite contrary to the wisdome and expectation of man who in great matters imply persons that are wise great and honorable but they came forth in a quite contrary way in that meane and contemptible silly tradesmen fisher-men and Tent-makers c. were the publishers and pen-men of the Scriptures although at the same time there were men naturally wise learned at Athens 8. The Scriptures are from God because God hath wonderfully strangely preserved them in making the Jewes who were enemies to Christ and his words preservers of the Scriptures also in preserving them when the greatest men have sought their destruction by searching for them and burning them c. The like preservation cannot be declared of any other writings that have had so great opposition 9. The miracles which were wrought at the first publishing of the Scriptures prove them to be from God and that there were such miracles wee have the testimony of those who were enemies to Christ and the Scriptures those Jewes who did not own Christ nor his doctrine who lived in Christs time saying There was a man one Jesus if I may call him a man who did great miracles c. as Josephus others in their writings testifie Now what reason can be given that the enemies to Christ and his doctrine should confesse such things of Christ if they were not true 10. Lastly We know the Scriptures to be from God because we see in our dayes some of those things the Scriptures have foretold come to passe which things came not to passe in the course of nature nor in the eye of reason as Mat. 24. 5. 24. Luk. 12. 52 53. 1 Tim. 4. 1. c. 2 Tim. 3. To beleeve the Scriptures are of divine inspiration is a work of faith and unlesse the holy Spirit perswade the soule of the truth of them there will be doubting the Lord perswade his of the truth of them and of their interest in them Seeing the Scriptures came from God by divine inspiration they must needs be truth therefore we ought to beleeve what it saith and rest upon it whether there be reason to satisfie reason or no our reason is blinde and corrupt 2. Seeing they are the inspirations of God it should cause us to prize and love the Word of the Lord David did so Psal 119. 97. he loved it vehemently exceedingly unspeakeably the Saints love the Word and they are not ashamed to declare their love to it they love it for the excellency that is in it they see love wisdome truth purity c. The Word is very pure therefore thy servants love it Psal 119. 105 151. It 's a light to our feete the rule of our life it tends to perfection it cures all distempers it 's the ground of our confidence it keeps us from perishing in affliction 92. It quickeneth us 93. It rejoyceth the heart 111. It 's lovely and such as love the Lord love his word Job 23. 12. Love to the Word is a holy and strong inclination of soule or affection of heart arising from the apprehension of the Author of it and the excellency and sutablenesse of it which causeth the soule to desire prise it above all things Psal 119. 17. 25. If yee love the word then yee will highly esteeme it above gold above fiâ—e gold above thousands of gold and silver Psal 119. 72. Secondly then you desire it love works by desire great love is attended with great desire and longing to injoy it Thirdly then you will take paines to injoy it and obey it love and labour goe together Psal 27. 4. Fourthly then you thinke often upon it for so wee doe what wee love Psal 1. Fiftly then it shall rule you I have refrained from every evill way that I might keepe thy word Psal 119. 101. To obey it is a fruit of love so contrary Psal 81. 11. Sixthly then it 's a griefe to you that others contemne reject the word I was grieved because men kept not thy word Psal 119. 158. Rivers of waters run downe mine eyes because men keepe not thy law 135. see 139. v. Seventhly then you hate every thing that is contrary to the word love works by detestation of that which is contrary to that they love I hate every false way Psal 119. 104. Eightly then you rejoyce in the Word as one that findeth great spoyle Psal 119. 162. Ninthly then you will rest on what the Word saith I trust in thy Word 42. Tenthly then you will part with your sweet sin for the Word Psal 119. with 2 Cor. 5. 14. We have cause to be ashamed for our want of love to the Word our seldome meditation on it might convince us of our want herein To love the word 1. Pray that thou maist see the beauty and excellency of the Word 2. Reade and meditate on it 3. Practise it and you shall better know it Joh. 7. 17. 4. Abate in carnall affections for they are enemies to holy love 5. Consider the Word deserves thy love 6. Consider it 's thine and those good things contained in it the more we beleeve the interest in the word the more we love it Great peace have they that
love thy law and nothing shall offend them Psal 119. 169. 3. Seeing they are the inspirations of God it should cause us to cleave to the Scriptures heare nothing against it prove all things by the Scriptures it will be a speciall means against errors and heresies Christ made use of the Scriptures Luk. 4. 17. to 22. and directed others to doe so Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them yee thinke to have eternall life for they testifie of me Some deny that Jesus Christ is God The Scriptures prove that Christ is God 1. Because as the Father hath life in himselfe so hath the Sonne Joh. 5. 26. 2. Because the Angels ought to worship him Heb. 1. 6. 3. Because he laid the foundation of the earth Psal 102. Heb. 1. 3. He created all things Col. 1. 6. He made the worlds Heb. 1. 2. 4. He upholds all things by the word of his power Heb. 1. 3. 5. He is the first and the last Rev. 1. 8. 6. He was before the world Joh. 17. 5. 7. He is the everlasting Father Isa 6. 9. 8. The Scripture saith expresly He is God Christ is God The mighty God Isa 6. 9. Very God Joh. 5. 20. The Word was God Joh. 1. 1. 14. Christ who is God over all Rom. 9. 5. Unto the Sonne he saith Thy throne O God is for ever and ever Heb. 1. 8. That the holy Spirit is God the Scriptures declare the Spirit is eternall Gen. 1. 2. 1. Because God is a Spirit therefore the Spirit is God Joh. 4. 24. 1 Cor. 12. 4. God is truth the Spirit is truth 1 Joh. 5. 6. The Lord is that Spirit 2. We are baptized in the Name of the Spirit Mat. 28. 19. We are equally baptized in the name of the three therefore they are one equall in authority 3. The Spirit creats Joâ— 35. 10. Ps 104. 30. God the Spirit are one inseparably God creats 4. To be the Temple of God and to be filled with the Spirit are all one 1 Cor. 13. 16. with 1 Cor. 9. 19. Luk. 1. 67. 1 Cor. 6. 19. 5. To lie to God and to lie to the Spirit is all one Acts 5. 1. To lie unto the holy Spirit 3. v. Thou hast lied unto God v. 5. 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. with Acts 16. 6. The Spirit anointed Christ and sent him to preach Isa 16. 1. Luk. 4. 18. see Isa 48. 17. 7. If the holy Spirit were not God whence is it that a sin against him shall not be forgiven Mat. 12. 32. Shall a sin against God be forgiven and not a sinne against a creature therefore the Spirit of God is God 1 Cor. 3. 6. So for those that deny the Resurrection of the body try it by the Scriptures of them there are two sorts some deny the Resurrection because they beleeve it is past already and there is no Resurrection but that which is in us Ans Christ saith in the Resurrection there is neither marriage nor giving in marriage but are as the Angels in Heaven Mat. 22. 30. If you be in this Resurrection why doe you marry c. or will you lay marriage waste make it needlesse to you and know who you please Gen. 4. 1. Heb. 13. 4. Are you like the Angels in Heaven Sort 2. Are those that deny the Resurrection of the body because they cannot see reason for it Ans The Scripture doth fully and clearly prove the Resurrection of our bodies after this life Marvell not at this all they in the gravâ— shall heare his voice Joh. 5. 28 29. At the 〈◊〉 of God the dead shall rise 1 Thes 4. 16. that sleep in the dust shall awake Dan. 12. 12 And the Sea gave up the dead that were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them Rev. 20. 13. Christ is risen from the dead 1 Cor. 15. 20. I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 6. 44. Thy dead men shall live Isa 26. 19. 2. The dead shall rise because he that hath said it is able to doe it There is nothing impossible with God Luk. 1. 37. 3. The Saints have beleeved the Resurrection of the body Job saith Though worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Job 19. 26. I know my brother shall rise againe at the last day Joh. 12. 24. Our vile body shall be like his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. 4. If the dead rise not then is not Christ raised and if Christ be not raised your faith is vaine then they also which are fallen asleepe are perished 1 Cor. 15. 16 17 18. But Christ is risen therefore the dead shall rise Acts 3. 15. 1 Cor. 6. 14. 5. If the dead rise not and in this life onely we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. It 's our comfort death cannot dissolve the union between Christ and a beleever Rom. 8. 38 39. If not any thing shall separate us from the love of God with then death shall not Whether we live or dye 1 Cor. 9. are the Lords Rom. 14. 8. 5. To Consider Acts 26. 8. 2 Tim. 2. 18. Mat. 22. is all one 31 32. Marâ— 12. 18. 26 27. Though it be incredible to reason yet we ought to beleeve it because God hath said it But some will say this is but the letter the mystery of it is no such thing I answer 1. The mystery was revealed to the Apostles Eph. 1. 9. Eph. 3. 4 5. Eph. 6. 19. 2. Christ is a mystery Col. 4. 3. Col. 1. 27. Christ in us by his Spirit Col. 2. 27. Col. 2. 2. Gal. 1. 16. 3. They speake the mystery of Christ Col. 4. 3. and made it knowne by the Scriptures Rom. 16. 25 26. Behold I tell you a mystery and 〈◊〉 written 1 Cor. 15. 51. c. Eph. 3. 7. Eph 〈◊〉 â—2 The mystery is made manifest to the 〈…〉 Rom. 1. 26 27. And seeing the myâ—◠〈…〉 â—clared in the Scriptures we are not 〈…〉 another mystery of the mystery 〈…〉 â—erstand the Scriptures They worâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—in the Spirit Phil. 3. 3. They were 〈…〉 of the mystery yea they knew 〈…〉 â—â—ese last times many would depart from the faith and bring in a mystery of iniquitie and call it the mystery of God and of Christ and the Spirit and so should deceive many Wee are forewarned and commanded to hold the forme of sound words and seeing the Scriptures are able to make the man of God perfect and to furnish him for every good work 2 Tim. 3. We neither may nor need presume above what is written Rev. 22. 18. And so for other things bring them to the Scriptures to be tryed and beleeve nothing but what God faith in his Word and expect not to satisfie Reason in matters of Religion We beleeve God is without beginning and present in every place who knoweth and ordereth all things but what reason can be given that God is so is it not
God that nothing below should move us Phil. 4. 11. 13. Our spirits should rule the things below and not be ruled by them we should rejoyce in tryalls temptations conflicts disertions and outward troubles death it selfe is to make us capable of a fuller injoyment and communion with God James 1. 2. c. If wee should rejoyce how much more should we be content and patient 1 Thes 4. 18. One said Lord I will beare any thing because my sins are forgiven a conscience set at liberty can with ease undergoe a great burden Bees gather honey from bitter flowers as well as sweet so should wee from bitter conditions Crosses are Christs servants they come and goe at his command they are sent to doe us good all is sent in love and best for me God will supply all our wants with his all-sufficiency we should not looke so much â—t freedome from trouble as to profit by it to injoy God by it and strength to beare it looking upon all that befalls-us as appointed and ordered by God in his wisdome and love for our good c. 1 Thes 3. 3. 31. To shew mercy and pitie to others in their misery and supply their necessities according as we are able freely and willingly and be more industrious and sparing in expences to supply others necessities especially the Saints above our ability let thy heart house and hand be open joyfully and compassionately supply their necessities consider Luk. 3. 10 11. 12. 33. Mat. 5. 42. 7. 12. Gal. 5. 10. Ease as many mens burdens as we can be helpfull have mercy compassion love goodnesse and such like vertues 32. Watch that wee grieve not the holy Spirit Eph. 4. 3. We quench and grieve the Spirit when we neglect the motions of it and slight the comforts of it seeke comfort from the flesh feed upon lusts and spend our thoughts and time upon the outward man and use spirituall things for carnall ends and father the work of the flesh upon the Spirit slight that which is good and allow of evill or plot for sin or cavill against the truth or omit duties or slight them or doe them in our own strength or slight the fruits of the Spirit or slight any Saint c. 33. Every day to take notice of Gods goodnesse and mercy to us and others and acknowledge it in all things give thankes 1 Thes 5. 14. 34. Every day will I blesse and praise thy Name Psal 145. 2. 35. Every day to grow in grace and knowledge 2 Pet. 3. 18. 36. Every day to beleeve the present state and condition best for me Rom. 8. 28. if any thing oppresse thee use the meanes to remove it then be content 37. Every day to cast my care upon God Phil. 4. 6. 38. Every day to be willing to be dissolvâ—d and to looke for death All the dayes of my appointed time wâ—ll I waite till my change come Job 14. 14. 39. Every day to observe my profiting in Religion 2 〈◊〉 3. 18. Heb. 6. 1 2. 40. Every day to view my actions and take notice of my failings omissions and commissions to be more watchfull against them and to live by faith in all infirmities above infirmities as if I had never sinned living in the sweet injoyment of the love of God and so lie downe in the consideration of it Saints subject to fall from their first love Thou hast left thy first love c. Rev. 2. 4 5. CHrist commends this Church in vers 2 3. and informes and reproves them in these words and vers 5. containes the meanes to recover them from their evill In the first verse he saith He knowes their workes He would have them to know that he did know and observe all their actions what their actions were and with what affections they did them how they exercised the fruits of the Spirit and how they decayed in their love to him which should teach us to observe all our actions and to walke circumspectly as becometh so holy a presence The Saints first love is the best God will be served with the best with the fullest measure and highest pitch of love The Saints Church of Christ need to be informed of their decayes of their love to him To leave their first love is to abate in the degree and measure of love which they have to God Gods own people are subject to decline or leave their first love this the Scripture and experience testifie The causes of our pronenesse to decline in our love to God are many 1. Our natures are prone to it we have an apostatizing spirit and we know it not or consider it not Heb. 10. 2. Security in us causeth us to thinke wee are well and need not feare no danger and so we fall before we are aware 3. Is from the insensiblenesse of this sin it secretly steales upon us wee fall so easily and by small degrees that we perceive it not till we are downe nor hardly then we need be told we are fallen 4. Because wee doe not meditate on the love of God and rest satisfied in it causeth us to seeke satisfaction elsewhere and resting satisfied in that we are happy and what affections actions we formerly have had for God thinke wee have done enough this is a base frame of spirit that causeth us to turne the grace of God into wantonnesse such need forget what is behinde and presse forward as knowing they can never doe enough for him who hath done so much for them 5. Because of the sloathfulnesse of spirit causeth us to have no minde to stirre to goe to God or to doe any thing for him â—loathfulnesse casteth into a deepe sleepe and then we neglect or abate in the use of means in which we have had communion with God when we leave our first workes then wee decline and fall asleepe God absents himselfe While the bridgegroome â—arried men slumbered and slept Mat. 25. 5. 6. Want of watching our hearts and lives did we watch wee might observe our coldnesse and on what our love is set and so our consciences might smite us for our divided love 7. Wâ—nt of faithfull friends to observe and informe us of our declinings from God and their not using meanes to helpe 〈◊〉 8. Comparing our selves with those who are fallen and because wee are like them we thinke our selves well enough and so rest satisfied and thus we teach and cause others to be as cold as our selves 9. Because iniquity abounds the love of many waxeth cold This should teach those that stand to take heed least they fall to watch narrowly against all occasions which tend to draw us from our first love for God will have his to know that it is a great evill for to decay in their love to him The greatnesse of this sin appeares in these particulars 1. Because our love is Gods and he calls for it My sonne give me thy heart He calls for his own and it 's unreasonable
lovers and rest content in Christ alone The soules answer to Christ 16. Behold thou art all faire my beloved My beauty is not mine but thine it all belongs to thee take thee the praise thereof for thou art onely beautifull I desire to see the King in his beauty for thou art glorious in thy beauty Psal 45. 2 3. Psal 115. 1. Psal 90. 17. Isa 30. 18. Psal 27. 4. thou art my glory Isa 45. 24. Yea pleasant Christ is very pleasant comfortable amiable and delightfull in him is all pleasantnesse Song 7. 6. 4. 16. Pro. 16. 24. I sat downe under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet unto my taste Song 2. 3. Christ is that tree under which we have protection and defence and dwell safely and quietly no heat can scorch us sit we rest in Christ we goe no further the fruits of his death are sweet unto my taste they not onely smeell sweet Song 4. 11. but taste sweet there are no fruits so sweet as the fruits of his death Song 5. 1. Also our bed is greene Viz. fruitfull and flourishing communion with Christ in the bed of love causeth spirituallnesse fruitfulnesse they increase in good workes inward and outward to God and man such cannot be barren Psal 92. 13 14. 2 King 6. 2. 5. Song 4. 2. 〈◊〉 is none barreâ— among them Song 6. 6. See Song 8. 12. 1â— The beameâ— of 〈◊〉 house The rafters of our house which is the Church of Christ 1 Tiâ— 3. 15. Heb. 3. 6. 〈…〉 A Cedar is a tall tree full of sap Psal 104. 16. It s a tree that grows well it s a tree of worth and of great use and a rare and excellent tree Excellent as Cedars Song 5. 15. It s a sound tree it s no pâ—thy nor rotten tree it holds forth what the matter of the Church of God should be choice matter excellent Saints the Candlesticks were made of pure gold 1 King 1. 49. See Rev. 1. 20. Cedars many Cedars make an house Our galeries The galeries are â—igher then other parts of the house so are those that are the Teachers above the rest in honour c. the King is held in his galery Song 7. 5. Christ is most seene in his galeries they are his galeries where he walkes the galeries are on the outside of the house and seene by those abroad they declare the truth to them that are without Are brutaine trees or fit tree Psal 104. 17. The brutaine trees are of a sweet and pleasant smell it holds forth that those that teach the truth should smell best their conversations holy and sweet not of those whose practise make them stinke The smell of thy garments is like Lebanon Song 4. 11. It holds forth their sweet gifts and excellent knowledge in the truth of Christ who teach Christ they are to teach truth with speech comely Song 4. 3. and comfortably to the beloved of the Lord. Psalme 16. THis Psalme is a Prophesie of Christ David speaks concerning him see Acts. 25. to 35. 13 35. This Psalme is a golden Jewell it declares the riches of love to the sonnes and daughters of Christ their exceeding safe and happy estate in which is great consolation Vers 1. Preserve me O God There is no preservation in any thing but in God Preserve me Christ in the dayes of his flesh put up strong cryes and supplications to his Father Joâ— 17. For in thee doe I put my trust There is no trust to be put in any thing but in God 2. I put my trust Christ as he was man had faith and it was in God Gal. 2. Thou art my Lord Christ in acknowledging him honoureth the Father yea Christ is equall with him My goodnesse Christs goodnesse was of and from himselfe therefore his own Goodnesse Jesus Christ is full of goodnesse Col. 2. 3. therefore all that Christ hath done must needs be exceeding good and excellent in this is our happinesse and comfort Extendeth not to thee Appertaineth not to God God is perfect and infinite therefore he is not capable of any addition of goodnesse this is his perfection 3. But to the Saints Those that are made so by me they had no goodnesse of themselves their rigâ—tâ—ousnesse is of me Isa 45. 17. Extendet to tâ—e Saints It reacheth to theâ— there is no sonne or daughter in any place to whom my goodnesse doth not reach they have interest in it it s theirs and they shall injoy the fruit of it Goodnesse The Saints goodnesse is in Christ This goodnesse of Christ was not for every person in the world but to the Saints that aâ—e in the earth Saints Christs goodnesse made them Saints Vse Oh Saint admire the riches of Christ and his love to thee rest satisfied in Christs goodnesse which is thine rejoyce in it admire at it be thankfull for it walke sutable to it and improve this goodnesse against all thy doubts and feares c. To the excellent The Saints are excellent to Christ yea all of them are alike excellent beautifull glorious unspeakeable infinite excellent with the excellency of Christ they are more excellent then the whole creation of heaven and earth Christ calls them excellent and esteemes them so Eph. 5. 27. Oh Saint esteeme thy selfe as Christ doth to be excellent in his excellency for thy beauty it is perfect through my comelinesse I have put upon thee saith the Lord Ezek. 16. 14. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soule shall be joyfull in my God for he hath clothed me with the garment of salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousnesse Isa 61. 10. Use Oh glorious Saint the world knowes not thy worth therefore it esteems thee not yet slight not thy selfe because Christ hath made thee excellent In whom is all my delight Jesus Christ is fully pleased and contented with his All my deligâ—t An infinite delight Christ takes in his All One Saint is more esteemed by Christ then the whole creation of heaven and earth for those things have not any of his delight the Saints have it all the quintessence of all fulnesse Use O precious Saint delight thy selfe in God rest satisfied in him in his love and the delight he takes in thee Vers 4. Their sorrowes shall be multiplied that hasten after another God those that have another God they shall have sorrow and increases in griefe those that are not mine their drink offering of bloud will I not offer nor take up their names into my lips they are not in so happy a condition they shall finde the contrary from Christ he will not once name their names to God I will not be made an offering for them their offerings of bloud their costly services shall be rejected they shall finde no acceptance they are in a miserable condition Vers 5. Mine inheritance and lot Given me of my Father alotted to me Christs lot and inheritance is his people The Lords portion is his people
manifest that he was dead indeed Mat. 27. 59 60. Acts 13. 29. Hâ—s humiliation went no further then his life his death was the last act of his obedience He humbled himselfe and became obedient unto the death even the death of the Crosse Phil. 2. 7 8. In his humiliation his life was taken from the earth Acts 8. 33. Death put a stop to his humiliation it went no further then his life His lying in the grave was no part of his obedience therefore no part of his humiliation and therefore no part of satisfaction he had a command to dye but none to lie in the grave Joh. 10. 18. 12. 49. Also how could Christ obey when he was dead or did he suffer when he was dead if he did not suffer when he was dead he did not satisfie then when he was dead his humiliation and satisfactâ—â—n consists in his suffering you should have alledged for proofe the Word of the Lord the thoughts of men are vaine The record and testimony of God is truth and the highest authority and only will beare sway in the hearts and consciences of those that love the Lord. For your generall Orthodox Divines we thought they were more divine then other men we fell downe at your feet we thought we could not worship you enough unlesse we shut our eyes and suffered our understandings to be led captive by you if you said to us stand we durst goe no further we were content to see by your eyes and to call things after your names when wee did see any light if you told us it was darknesse wee beleeved you till we found you deceived us Know you not that matters of Religion are to be tryed by the Scriptures onely If an Angel from heaven teach otherwise we reject and detest it It s a poore shift in the want of Scripture to alledge the saying of men in Religion we are to heare none but God Isa 8. 20. The testimonies of men are no proofe all men are lyers in them we do not beleeve Psal 116. 11. Cease from men Isa 2. 22. They doe or may deceive Wee cry nothing but the Word of God in matters of Religion the word we imbrace without men if the Word say it we beleeve it and not else therefore speake Scripture we pray you doe no more scare us with such great words wee know many call you Orthodox and others that differ from you Heretickes you call your selves Divines but why is it because you are exercised in matters divine or because you are made partakers of the divine nature if so then many tradesmen may be called Divines as well as you seeing the Reason is the same Gods being is onely divine Concerning the Intercession of Christ he saith Intercession is an act p. 204. In his intercession he intreateth p. 194. It s his praying for us in heaven p. 176. 179. 185. 189. Intercession is asking p. 339. Christ by his own prayers seconds the cry of his bloud p. 253. Jesus shall intercede for the pardon of them p. 246. The 17. of John is a pattern and instance of his intercession for us in heaven p. 24â— Ans The 17. of John declares Christ spake words in his own person and then the summe of that you say is this That Christ in his person now he is glorified speaks words to God for us c. 2. If it be so then there is no perfection in glory for where perfection is there needs no words God is perfect so is Christ in glory and must Christ speak words to God that God might know his minde and so prevaile is this sutable to a condition of glory in which is perfection 3. Your words imply that God the Father loveth us lesse then Christ that he need to be prayed and intreated c. But Christ is so far from needing any to pray and intreat him that he prayeth and intreateth God for us which cannot be because they are one 1 Joh. 5. 7. Therefore equall in love God the Father is said to Elect us give us to Christ and send Christ to dye for us God is as well pleased with us as Christ is and he loveth us as well as he loveth Christ Christ saith Thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Joh. 17. 23 24. The Father himselfe loveth you Joh 16. 26. 27. He of himselfe without intreaty loveth us God cannot love us more nor lesse then he doth his love is infinite without beginning or end that which is infinite is not capable of being greater or lesser and it s the more glorious because it is so his knowledge cannot be greater nor lesse then it is the same may be said of his love he never began to know to will to love they are one in God God is love it s his being 1 Joh. 4. 16. I can say in a holy reverence and confidence in the satisfaction of Christ in admiration and thankfulnesse if God can condemne me let him he cannot deny himselfe the eternity and certainty of the Saints happy estate lesseneth not his love when we conceive of him in the highest eminency we can still we come short we cannot reach it Such knowledge is too wonderfull for me it is so high I cannot attaine unto it Psal 139. 6. O the depth of his wisdome and wayes they are past finding out Rom. 11. 33. Christs bloud speaketh Rev. 6. 9. Heb. 11. 4. So the bloud of sprinkling speaketh within us better things then that of Abel Heb. 13. 24. It speaketh peace to the conscience But he saith Intercession is a praying for us in heaven p. 180. There be many heavens Deut. 10. 14. The kingdome of heaven is within you Luk. 17. 21. The Church is called Heaven Rev. 12. 7. Mat. 11. 12. The ayre is called heaven 1 Kings 18. 45. The heaven of heavens cannot containe God in him wee live move and have our beeing 2. Christ ever liveth to make intercession for us in us The Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for us Rom. 8. 26 27. Christ the Father and Spirit are one The Spirit of Christ which was in them 1 Pet. 1. 11. The Lord is that Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 17. The Spirit of your Father speaketh in you Mat. 10. 20. Rom. 8. 34. 3. Christ is our advocate and intercessor in respect of that which he did for us in his own person when he was upon the earth before he suffered when he poured out his soule unto death and made intercession for us Isa 53. 12. Holy Father I pray that thou keep them from evill I pray not for these alone but for them also which shall beleeve in me Father I will that they which thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my glory c. Joh. 17. 9. 11. 15. 19. to 26. 4. Christs intercession holds forth the continuation of the efficacy of the vertue and fruit of Christs sacrifice