and Glory all those that submit to and serve him and everlastingly destroying all their enemies so as they never be able more to oppose or trouble theâ— A merciful High-Priest that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities and temptations while yet we are under the vexations of Enemies and one that will most faithfully see to us and accomplish all things for and about us that may conduce to our preservation and safety here while under tryals and to our eternal happiness when fully freed from them The considering and minding him and the testimony of God concerning him as also what it it says and testifies of us ouâ— vileness sinfulness helplesness and misery in our-selves and of our welfare and happiness in him as founded in him and what it testifies of the world of sin of righteousness life death c. with all the Heavenly instructions reproofs and consolations of it is one yea the chief way of edifying our selves on our most holy faith while we therein and therethrough draw vertue from Christ as the poor woman by touching his garments to the nourishing and strengthning our Soules to trust in him love him cleave to him and obey him and so to oppose and stand against the assaults of Sathan evils of the world lusts of the flesh or whatsoever might endeavour to allure or affright us from him yea and derive all Heavenly Grace and vertue from him to the inlarging our Souls towards him and fitting them for and filling them with every good thing Therefore the Holy Ghost in the Scripture is so frequent in commending to us and provoking us to the study mindfulness and meditation of the Law and Doctrine of the Lord the Gospel of our salvaâ—â—n pronouncing that man happy and blessed that delights himself therein and gives up himself thereto As also the minding others of it and of the instructions reproofs and consolations of it is the way to edifie them also both by removing the rubbish that hinders their close cleaving to Christ the foundation and more firmly cementing them to and uniting them with Christ through his love and goodness discovered to them and put to their mindes and more firmely joyning them through the same love one to another and furthering their hope in and conformity to God and Christ in which they are edified and built up for him And as furtherance also hereto a further means and way is 2. A diligent and faithful exercise of their spiritual gifts for the helpfulness of each other for the manifestation of the Spirit some useful gift or other in which the Holy Spirit manifests his presence and influence and whereby he fits each member of Christ for the good of the whole Body is given to every one namely of the Members of Christ to profit with 1 Cor. 12.7 that is to do good too and edifie the Church or body of Christ with as to one is given by the Spirit a word of wisdome for directing and counselling what is best in doubtful matters to another a word of knowledge to inform mens minds of the things of God and nature of his Creatures works Providences c. To another faith a gift of believing and trusting in God more eminently or of incouraging to faith and confidence or also of faithfulness in keeping secret things committed to them not divulging the temptations failings and miscarriages of others imparted to them To another the gifts of healings either of the inward wounds and distempers of the Spirit or of bodily diseases by a miraculous way To another the working of Miracles or operations and efficacies of powers or powerful things such as the inflicting diseases deaths or such sad punishments upon men as when the Apostle Peter inflicted death upon Ananias and Saphirah at his word Act. 5 and Paul blindness on Barâ—Jesus the Sorcerer in Act. 13.10 11. as also the casting out Devils or the like To another prophecie either the fore-telling things to come as Agabus did Acts 11.28 or the opening and unfolding Doctrine and speaking out of the Scriptures to exhortation edification and comfort 1 Cor. 14.3 To another the discerning of Spirits the discerning the Doctrines of men though never so craftily counterfaiting the truth or discerning mens tempers and dispositions whereby they are fit to admonish and warn their Brethren of what may harm them or of persons not safe for them to trust To another diversity of Tongues To another a gift of Interpreting Languages Divers gifts from one and the same spirit of Christ distributing to every one according as he pleases but all given for the helpfulness and profit of the Church and therefore also to be to that purpose exercised as the Apostles also instruct and teach as in 1 Pet. 4.10 every one as he hath received the gift so let him minister one towards another as good stewards of the manifold or various Graces of God So in Rom. 12.6 7. Having gifts differing according to the Grace that is given unto us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of saith or ministry let us wait on our ministry as Joshuah on his ministring to Moses Exod. 24.13 and John to Paul and Barnabas Act. 13.5 or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation c. surely in such exercising their spiritual gifts and imploying and improving their Talents they may be useful and helpful for edifying themselves and one another for while they are faithful in doing good with what they have received and are betrusted with God gives his blessing with them and increases them themselves the liberal Soul here shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself and he shall profit and edifie others also as the Apostle exhorting Timothy to take heed to himself and his ministry and to continue in them tells him so should be save himself and them that heard him adde 3. A walking in Charity for knowledge without that puffs up but Charity edifies 1 Cor 8.2 3. that's the most profitable way the Grace or vertue that will lead us to be most useful and edifying to others for that will lead us to be ready at all times to exercise our gifts and improve our Talents for the good of others and to mind their concernments and what may further their happiness and not to look on our own things onely Charity suffers long from others before it will be tired out or suffer him in whom it is to turn away from seeking their good and is kind in the mean time free to do good to others while it suffers great indignities and abuses long from them It envies not others good nor the imparting our gifts to others for their good Doth not vaunt it self nor is puffed up to the grieving and discouraging the neighbour or dispising his meaner condition and worth Doth not behave it self unseemly to offend and stumble the weak Brother and to turn him out from God Seeketh not her own but
are his in him by vertue of him known and owned by him as also in this that he allows not any in iniquity that name his Name though by vertue of Christ held forth in the Apostles Doctrine that also may secondarily be called the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles as in Ephes 2.20 Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone That Doctrine then or Christ himself as therein preached as the Son of God and Saviour of the World delivered up to death and crucified for our offences and raised again from the dead for our justification and glorified at ' Gods right hand for our salvation and that our faith and hope might be in God and so as appointed to be Lord and Christ the Judge of all who shall come again to judge both the quick and the dead is the faith here meant whereon Believers are to edifie and build up themselves and not their act acts or habit of believing which may be added to and builded up being imperfect upon this foundation so as this foundation cannot upon any thing else yea that Christ as so laid and held forth in the Cospel is the foundation to be built on is plain For 1. Christ was the first thing appointed or laid of God for fallen mankind as to his purpose and promise of him and he was the first thing preached to him in order to his return to God This was the Doctrine first preached in Paradise after our first Parents had sinned and were convicted thereof I will put enmity between thee the Serpent and the Woman and between thy seed and her seed He her Seed shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel Though Christ was not as then actually manifested in the flesh crucified dead buried and raised again yet all that was intimately preached from the beginning as a thing to be accomplished in its time and season 2. And as this was the first thing or Doctrine preached so it was the foundation and ground of all other dispensations of God after to fallen man It is upon that account of Christs having interposed between God and us as the bruiser of the Serpents head the destroyer of his work the taker away and abolisher of Death that God now deals mercifully and graciously with men is inviting and leading them to repentance by â—is goodness and forbearance and lades them with his benefits and sends forth his light and truth to men to call them back to himself and to his Kingdom to be under his government and protection from which they were banished for their iniquity and so it is the ground and foundation of his Ordinances witnessing of Christ and of himself in Christ unto men and appointed as mediums for mens approaching to him and seeking of him and of Gods raising up and judging all men according to their works hereafter for there would have been no resurrection from the first death to any new judgment much less to life if Christ had not come and dyed for all men and risen again 1 Cor. 15.12 17 18. Acts 10.42 and 17.30 31. The final rewards and recompencings of men then as also his present chastisements in mercy and measure now and accepting and justifying saving and honouring those that believe in him and serve him stand upon Christ and his death and sufferings for all men and rising again and being appointed Lord of all and Mediator of God and men the propitiation for our sins even for the sins of the whole world as their proper ground and foundation Yea 3. He as so set forth is the ground and foundation of all right repenting and turning to God from our our sins and of all right believing hoping and trusting in God for his mercy and blessing of all prayers and praises to be made to God and so of all true piety and religion in fallen men for had there not been such a Ransome found out and Sacrifice offered for us there could have been no approach for us to God or acquaintance with God God sent him that the world through him might be saved and raised him from the dead and gave him glory that our faith and hope might be in God John 3.17 1 Pet. 2.21 So that he and the Word of the Gospel as setting him forth is meant by the faith here on which Believers are built and to build up themselves and each other 2. Now this is called their faith not because it is of them of their invention broaching or preparing as a foundation for themselves or others but because it is owned received and confessed by them it is that that they have and believe in their hearts unto righteousness and with their mouths confess to the salvation of themselves and others as Paul sometimes calls the Gospel he preached his Gospel as in 2 Tim. 2.8 According to my Gospel And so Rom. 2.16 Not because it was of him found out or invented or set on foot by him as if he had preached any thing for Gospel that he had not received from God and Christ but because it was ministred and preached by him even so this faith after the same manner is called the Believers faith as elsewhere The faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1.2 because made known and delivered to his elected and chosen Servants such as he chose to be his Servants the holy Apostles and Prophets to be declared and published by them as accordingly it was published by them and as it is called The faith once delivered to the Saints in this Epistle of Jude ver 3. because it was delivered to them and preached by them it might be called their faith though otherwise it is the faith of God and Christ Yea and in calling it the faith of these believers the Apostle intimately distinguisheth it from the false saiths or false doctrines of the false Teachers and Seducers of whom he had been warning them as if he should say it is not their faith they have corrupted themselves and fallen away from it and have received or devised and broached another faith doctrine or foundation different from and repugnant to yours with which I would have you have nothing to do much less build your selves thereon for that would not render you an house or habitation for God and so objects of his favour but Synagogues of Satan and objects of Gods wrath and anger but build ye up your selves on your faith which he also the better to induce them thereto calls their most holy faith Which leads us to the third particular 3. Why it is called the most holy faith 1. It is holy that is it is pure faultless no falshood or corruption in it for so holiness is sometimes opposed to uncleanness or filthiness as We are not called to uncleanness but unto holiness 1 Thes 4.7 Cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord 2 Cor. 7.1 So this Doctrine delivered
injoyable by us and as that which is the fountain well-spring of all blessing and happiness But here let us view 1. What is meant by this Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. What that phrase or term of Mercy to be waited for signifies and hints to us 1. To the first Mercy is either an affect in the heart or An effect in its work to take in both of them Mercy is properly an affection or frame of heart in which it pities and compassionates anothers misery and affliction leading to spare one where there is power to harm him and to succour him in necessities and indigencies where there is power to help him And this is attributed to God and Christ that he is merciful and full of compassion ready to forgive offences and relieve in wants and miseries and do what is good for the Creatures deliverance from evils and conferring safety and happiness as may be abundantly seen in the Scriptures Psal 103.8 The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Yea this his Name The Lord Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands c. Exod. 34.6 7. And so it is said of Christ that he is a merciful and faithful High-Priest in Hebr. 2.16 17. And indeed God and Christ have abundantly manifested their merciful heart toward poor sinful afflicted Creatures many ways As 1. God hath manifested himself merciful 1. In taking pity on mankinde when fallen from him into a state of exceeding great sin and misery in that he did not then cast him off and destroy him but on the contrary devised a way and means for his redemption and recovery yea such a way of recovery as the translating our sin and misery upon his own onely begotten Son appointing in due time sending him forth into the world to be the propitiation for our sins bearing them on his own body on the tree that through his stripes we might be healed both abasing him thereto and exalting him to the height of Glory and Majesty therethrough at his own right hand that he might by the vertues of the former and in the exercise of the latter upon that account bring us back again to God Herein he hath shewed himself loving and merciful to us beyond all question or expression as it is said Through the tender mercy of our God the day spring Christ the bright and the Morning-Star from on high hath visited us c. Luke 1.78 2. God hath also manifested himself merciful to us in freely justifying us mankinde by his Grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ not imputing to the world their trespasses but preaching peace to us by him and through his blood and opening his Kingdom for us and to us with gracious calls and counsels and invitations to enter thereinto and be made partakers of the blessed priviledges thereof unto everlasting life and in freely admitting and accepting all that obey his calls and counsels therein however otherwise and formerly sinful and unworthy as may be seen in Mary Magdalene the Publicans harlots and prodigals whom upon their coming to him he hath freely pardoned and accepted and made partakers of his righteousness and blessing as if they never had been so vile and wretched Rom. 3.23 24. 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. Eph. 2.15 17. Mat. 22.4 8 9. and 9.12 13 Luk. 7.37 47. 15.1 2 15 16 c. 1 Cor. 6 9 10 11. 3. God hath shewed himself merciful to us Gentiles and Heathens in calling us so wonderfully to the knowledg of his Son and of his Grace in him when as formerly we were so gross and grievous sinners against all former dispensations of his goodness and manifestations of himself in his works and providences It was his great mercy through the blood of his Son to make peace and atonement for us blotting out all former trespasses admitting us to fellowship with the Saints and so with himself through Christ Jesus as Ephes 2.4 5 11 12 17 19 20. as it is said that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his Mercy Rom. 15 9. and who had not in times past obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2.10 whence I beseech you by the Mercies of God offer up your body a living Sacrifice c. Rom. 12.1 and the like he will shew forth to the Jews in calling them again and receiving them to favour after all their unbelief and stubbornesses against him as it is said He hath shut them all up in unbelief that he might have mercy upon them all Rom. 11.32 4. God hath doth dayly shew himself merciful unto men in passing by iniquities and extending helpfulness to them in their afflictions which they procure to themselves by their great follies and rebellions as is also frequently testified in the Scriptures as in Psal 78.38 when Israel oft and much â—â—oked him in the wilderness so as he therefore 〈◊〉 them sometimes with his Judgments yet 〈◊〉 â—eing full of compassion forgave their iniquity 〈◊〉 â—estroyed them not yea many a time he turned his anger away and did not stir up all his wrath So in Neh. 9.16 17 18 19. 5. So also in his patience towards sinners not willing they should perish but rather come to repentance and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9.15 Rom 2.4.5 1 Tim. 2.5 and to say no more 6. His readiness to hear the cries and prayers of the poor and afflicted and not to despise their prayers but to hear and help them as in Psal 22.24 yea to hear the cries of other Creatures as the young Ravens and provide food for all flesh Psal 136.25 and 147.9 much more doth he fulfil the desires of them that fear him yea he also hears their cries and saves them Psal 145.15 17 18. 2. So also Christ hath abundantly shewed forth his mercy toward us 1. In that being in the form of God not thinking it robbery to be equal with God yet for our sakes at the will and appointment of the Father he abased himself laid aside his Glory humbled himself to the Death the Death of the Cross and therein bare our sins in his own body on the tree and was made a curse for us to redeem us from sin and curse that so he might in the vertues of his sufferings and Sacrifice bring us back again to God Ye know saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 8.9 the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that he being rich became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich He is merciful full of compassion and gracious Psal 145.8 2. In pitying poor miserable men in his personal converse with them and ministration to them while on the earth Going about and doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil curing their sicknesses and Diseases instructing their Souls in pity to them where ignorant and out of the way Mark 8.2 Act. 10.38 As also 3. In preaching peace by his