coming and sending hath a peculiar season therefore it is said the Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified and Joh. 7. 39. Christ saith If I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I Joh. 16. 7. depart I will send him unto you This season began on the day of Pentecost next after the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead the History whereof we have in Acts 2. And this season of his presence and power hath continued and doth continue all the time of the New Testament Ministery and the glory of the season is according to the power plenty and purity of the preaching of the everlasting Gospel for seeing the Spirit accompanieth the Word look as the Gospel had its time when it began to be preached in all the world so the Spirit also was sent and as the Gospel goeth forth so is the Spirit given the Holy Ghost came upon the Apostles and endued them with power from on High that they might be able to deliver the whole Counsel of God all the secrets and mysteries of salvation that they might preach it to all the world to all Nations and it might bring forth fruit in the conversion of multitudes and in the planting of Churches every where and that they might leave the same in writing giving us the New Testament and perfecting the whole Canon of the Scripture and all this infallibly And in and with this Gospel to which never one line more shall be added the Holy Ghost is present and worketh and ruleth in the place of Jesus Christ untill this second coming to judgment Under the Old Testament the Spirit was as a Spirit of bondage because the Law was clearly delivered but the Gospel darkly Rom. 8. 14 15. under the whole form of shadowy Ceremonies under the New Testament the Spirit is as the Spirit of Adoption for the Gospel openly delivered the things themselves that were prophesied of shadowed out and promised are given and the great mysteries of the Gospel and all that concerneth them are fully and perfectly made manifest Now also are Converts born of water and the Holy Ghost that is of the Holy Ghost whose working was 2 Tim. 4. 1 2 4. 1 Joh. 4. 4 5. foretold to be like the pouring out of water and like the opening of springs in dry ground now are they baptized washed plunged dipped with the Holy Ghost and with fire that is with zeal answering the glory of the light The godly under the Old Testament had Gods holy and free Spirit but then agreeable to that Ministery Gal. 1. 8 9. and now as is agreeable to this And thus the Apostle teacheth in Gal. 4. 1 2 3 4. And as there is but one Gospel and but one Spirit and never any other coming of the Spirit so it is as sure there shall never be any other dispensation or ministration but this of the New Testament which is that which remaineth unless you could look for another Christ or that Jesus Christ had not fully accomplished the 7. This work of the Spirit is peculiar to the Elect work of Renemption and is not for ever set on the right hand of Majesty but must come again to do somewhat which he left undone and so must to the Tree and Crosse again there is now no coming of any Spirit but the coming of Antichrist and of the spirit of Antichrist the spirit of errour of whose coming the Holy Ghost by the Apostles speaketh expressely therâ—fore all Pastors and Teachers are bound up to the Word to the Scripture and to turn from that is to be turned after fables to teach any other than what they hear from the Apostles writings is to sheak of the world and not of God to receive any other is to run to another Gospel to pervert the Gospel of Christ to runne from the blessing the holy Spirit of promise and to runne under the Gospels curse SECT 8. 7. The peculiarity and appropriation of the saving work of the Spirit unto the Elect and Redeemed That which commends this work of the Spirit yet further is this that is is peculiar and appropriated unto the Elect of God the Father and to the Redeemed of Christ the Lord. The Spirit of truth is the Comforter his work under the New Testament as Comforter is such a work as none but the chosen of God the Redeemed 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. of Christ to whom he was promised do partake of There is another work of the Spirit of truth the Comforter which is conviction not conversion and that Joh. 16. 8 9 10 11. he worketh on the world as well as on the chosen of God This conviction is such illightning by the Word of the Gospel that thereby the world that is the men that are yet still under the power of sinne possess 't with the love of the world and whom God leaveth to their own reason lusts stands clearly fully resolved and perswaded of the matter in hand and set down and concluded under it so that they are self-condemned if they do ought against that light This conviction by the Spirit is of three things first of sinne even of unbelief and disobedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that that unbelief and disobedience is a sinne Secondly of righteousnesse that the civil righteousnesse of men the righteousnesse of mens own works is no garment to cover mans nakednesse to hide his sinnes and shame it is too short it is too filthy like a menstruous ragge it is tattered and full of holes no web no texture which can hang together to make a garment or any cloth of it to wear in the sight of God but it is Christs righteousness consisting of his obedience and suffering to the death of the Crosse performed by him as the second Adam the Surety of a sinner it is this righteousnesse alone which is a perfect righteousnesse or righteousnesse which God accepts as appeareth in that Jesus Christ ascendeth to heaven and goeth to the Father the Father receiving him to highest glory as he that hath done and accomplished perfectly the work for which he sent him into the world and he shall never come more to be seen of the world in that form of humiliation in which he came before Thirdly of judgment that Satan the Serpent and his seed are condemned or sentenced and are going irrecoverably to perdition but Jesus Christ and his seed justified by his knowledge are certainly blessed yea of judgment upon the world Idols and all false religions and of judgment found in the true Christian Religion alone and in the judicious orderly government of Christ set up in his Gospel and thereby in the hearts and lives of true believers that imbrace the same unfeignedly in and by which the power of Satan is broken and his works dissolved This work of conviction is an excellent work of the Holy Ghost it is also wrought
contrariety of things that stands out in these Gospel-dayes and rises so stoutly for one against another amazes the best heads and staggers yea confounds the stoutest hearts that are by place and office to manage them here are with us in one womb the old revived strugglings of the holiest and profanest the purest and the subtlest the most for power and the most denying of the power of godlinesse the most zealous and the most formal and richly goodly luke-warme the weightiest grain and the lightest chaffe the deepliest poor in spirit and the loftiest proud in the flesh the heaven-born Sons of marvelous light and the hell-born brats of thickest darknesse these cause difficulty to rule so as to foster the gracious and discountenance the wicked severing the precious and the vile Faith an active faith the faith of the Lords Heroes is the one only helpe this keeps with God in his Word for principles of Policy for upright wayes for support and courage in both against carnal counsels courses confidences and fears the worst of Counsellors These Considerations possesse whil'st with joy in God through Jesus Christ glorying in his works all honourable and glorious and in his wayes all righteous and holy with fears sorrows and prayers because of judgements impendent for the wickednesses of errors divisions profanenesse abounding and for the Magistrates sake and their concernments and for Common-weals and Kingdomes the Innes of the Church for as for the Ministers sackcloth cannot hinder the efficacy of their Prophesying and Witnesse-bearing salutiferous and destructive nor their slaughter do any more than issue forth their resurrection to the fall of the tenth part of the City to be visited and the ruine of seven thousand of men of name let the earth-dwellers the merry world of them beware For the Publishing of this Treatise besides the Importunity of many of the Commissioners of Surrey for the ejection of ignorant and scandalous Ministers who heard part of it delivered in Sermons which wrested from me a concession to their desires two things swayed with me First that in this sleight age tossed to and fro with puffes of windy vaporings which blow high and big and take with many the wholsome old everlasting and absolutely necessary truths of saving doctrine might be laid again before all mens sight to cure if the Lord will this giddinesse of head and secondly that in this notional high-flown conceited age wherein nothing is esteemed but that which goes under the name of Mysterious of a more spiritual dispensation and above Scriptural and the plain truthes of the Scripture are overlook't called low carnal and fit for none but Saints under the lowest dispensation It might be manifest that these truths only are truly heavenly spiritual Gospel-mysteries of the highest dispensation that ever shall be in this world and that upon the review and Christian-experience all might see that the other Novel speakings are low carnal beggarly things belly-breaths the issues of fleshly tumors indigested waterish tympanies and crackes of clouds without rain That I prefix your Highnesses name is an act of boldnesse for which pardon is humbly craved I adventured on it that I might acknowledge the encouragement given to my Ministery two years since at a needful time by your Renowned father now with Christ who openly and really owned it almost opprest by willing my labours at Kingston of which poor labours as they are mine these are some of the fruits presented to your most serene aspect and offered to the service of your faith What remains but prayers promised that your life may be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord your God your person may abide in the secrets of the most High hid there even in his bosome-love in Christ your heart may remain large wise holy humble and believing your eyes may see the great Council in Parliament assembled full of grace and peace the Lords and yours to his glory and your abundant joy for the good of these Nations and of the people of Christ in all the world In you also through the advice of that your great Council it may be manifest that God doth and will still bless these Nations and make them instrumental to the ruine of Romish Babylon with all that belongs thereto and that out of illuminated zeal for the Gospels the Saints injuries and blood till the vengeance and recompence be rendred to her double which work shall be fulfilled in its time by the Lamb and his called and faithful and chosen On which work your heart set you have the Hosanna of him that waits for the mighty thunderings of the Hallelujahs and is Your Highnesses most obliged for the Gospels and the Publique good Richard Byfield The CONTENTS Chap. 1. AN Explication of the Text in its dependance and manner of laying down with three special observations giving further light to the words and with the foure great truths of doctrine three of them expressed and the fourth strongly implied in the Coherence Chap. 2. The first great truth which is this that there is no salvation by the Law or by any other means save by Jesus Christ Chap. 3. The second great truth The fulnesse of salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ and that set forth by many choice truths which the Apostle in this Text takes for granted Chap. 4. The fulness of salvation by Jesus Christ expressed in the person who is the first efficient cause he that provides this salvation God even God the Father Chap. 5. The fulnesse of this salvation in the Person who undertakes to work it out even Gods own Son Chap. 6. The fulnesse of salvation manifested in the way God taketh to save sinners by his Son Chap. 7. The fulness of a sinners salvation evinced in the outward cause moving God to give his own Sonne and to take such away to save which was the impotency and impossibility of the Law to save and the lost estate of the sinner Chap. 8. The fulnesse of this salvation in the end of Christs mission intended and attained which was the expiation of sin and the fulfilling of the righteousness of the law for and in the sinners that shall be saved Chap. 9 The fulnesse of salvation shines in the person who maketh saving application thereof dethroning corruption of nature and ruling the whole man even the Spirit the holy Ghost the Spirit of the Father and of the Son Chap. 10. The third great truth the lively description of the persons that shall be saved and do partake of this salvation by Jesus Christ viz. They are such who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Chap. 11. The fourth and last great truth which is The fulnesse of the assurance and of the consolation of those who are in Christ and walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit THE Gospels GLORY ROM 8. 3 4. Ver. 3. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own
on the judgment to come but in this way nothing so delightful as the presence of God and the light of his countenance gives peace and joy against which is no Law and which no death nor guilt of sin can destroy The Law is delightful death desirable and sinne it self made humbling and profitable because now hateful and abominable to us by how much the more we believe and know that thus God is love 3. All here is kid untill God reveal All here is mysterious 1 Cor. 2. 7. All James 1. 17 18. is heavenly all from above from above Creation from God under another notion 1 Cor. 2. 12 14. then as a Creator The animal or natural man cannot receive these things when told him cannot finde them out till they be told him but the spiritual only who hath received the Spirit of God and not the spirit which is of the world Nothing suits with these things of the Gospel but what is from above the born from above can alone close with these things They are too high for the unregenerate man who is the fool under the power of folly and values them as the Swine doth Pearls A double revelation of the Spirit is absolutely necessary to the discerning of the things of this salvation the one of the Holy Ghost inspiring the Prophets and Apostles to preach and write them the other of the same Holy Ghost as he is the Spirit of Wisdome and Revelation inlightning the eyes of our understandings to know them when in and by the Word they are declared to us 1 Cor. 2. 10. Ephes 1. 17 18. 4. Here is truth of salvation and here is strength of salvation truth of salvation for God is the rock his work is perfect all his wayes are judgment A God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32. 4. And strength of salvation when he giveth quietnesse who then can make trouble and when he hideth his face who then can behold him whether it be done against a Nation or against a man only Job 34. 29. 5. Here is satisfaction and assurance to the soul satisfaction for the Lord laid on his Sonne our iniquities the Lord bruised him God gave his Son nothing can satisfie the awakened soul nothing can set down the doubting soul but God who is above the soul and above the Law above sin and Satan And assurance is here it is no venture but a state in which we may glory to cast our selves on God we Ps 62. 7. 56. 10. Rom. 8. 31 33 36. may say every one for himself in God is my glory in God will I praise his Word in God we are more than Conquerors 6. Here is irreversiblenesse God cannot lie God cannot deny himself God is not as man that he should repent he hath blessed and who shall curse Tit. 1. 2. Numb 23. 8 19. His gifts and calling are without repentance he will never repent of them Rom. 11. 29. 7. God is in Christ in Christ and in him alone is God reconciling the world to 2 Cor. 5. 19. himself he is not nor can be found in the whole work of Creation reconciling a sinner and not imputing trespasses no science of the nature of the creatures no knowledge of the connexion and rational mutual chaining of the several creatures in this whole globe as so many parts of the universe having dependence one upon another and influence into each other by way of cause and effect no knowledge of the Deity that made all and rules all no principles and seeds of virtue and righteousnesse there learned and thence gathered by all the strength of the principles of reason and light in man and improved to the utmost for the framing of thoughts desires gestures words and deeds none of these nor all these nor whatever other manifestations of the infinite invisible eternal God-head as the invisible world of Angelical spirits be they Thrones Dominions Principalities or Powers none none of them have God in them reconciling a sinful man to himself not imputing trespasses In none of these nor in all these layed together hath God set forth a ransome for a sinner a price of a redemption for a soul that hath sinned a sacrifice and sin-offering or himself appeased propitious and merciful forgiving sins and receiving the sinner into his favour or any of them set forth as a propitiation or in them as on a mercy seat as upon a throne of grace no no but God is in Christ merciful reconciling pardoning accepting into a state of grace and favour Christ Jesus God hath set forth a ransome a price of redemption a sin-offering and a propitiation for our sins Christ is the Lamb of God God hath provided the Lamb for sacrifice as Abraham answered his son Gen. 22. 7 8. Isaac who said to him My Father behold the fire and the wood but where is the Lamb for a burnt-offering to whom Abraham said My son God will provide himself a Lamb for a burnt-offering Behold the Lamb of God as John the Baptist Joh. 1. 29. cryed 8. All things are of God 2 Cor. 5. 17 18. that is all things in the regeneration in the Kingdome of Christ in the businesse of Redemption in the Church of Christ as it is his Church are of God of God not in the way and the putting forth of his power and the manifestation of his glory as he is the faithful Creator but they are of God as he is the God and Father of Jesus Christ oâ—r Lord as he is pleased to set forth himself his power and glory in the way of Redemption here they are all of God and nothing of Angels or Men or of any other whatsoever Whatever is not of God in this work but of men or any other is altogether disagreeable to be rejected unprofitable and shall be rooted out 9. Here we see it makes nothing at all neither is it a pin to choose what or which of the twain befall us to be blessed of the world or to be cursed to be blessed of evil Ministers of Balaams or to be cursed to blesse our selves or to have misgiving thoughts of our selves We stand or fall to God and not to man or to our selves Heark what God saith of thee and to thee and not what man or thine own heart saith as David said of old I will hear what God the Lord Psal 85. 8. will speak 10. Here we see believing is the work that God would have of us He findes out in his own wisdome of his love and good pleasure within himself all that concerns this work it is the mystery of his will his bosome secret and counsel Ephes 1. 10. his Spirit must reveal and tell it if he speak not if he give not out his Word none can dive into it now then he testifyeth and we are to receive his testimony and to believe his Word he that believeth sets to his seal that God
who speaketh is true John 3. 33. He that believeth not maketh God a liar 1 Joh. 5. 10. Because he receiveth not his testimony or witnesse he that receiveth Christ Jesus receiveth God that sent him he that rejecteth Christ rejecteth God All respect or neglect in this great businesse runs up so high as to God himself SECT 3. The use of this point is to call upon us to entertain these thoughts digest this The use hereof truth and it will work warme it and rub it in by meditation and it will enter into thy soul First believe this truth in the general that GOD doth thus tender the everlasting salvation of poor sinners great sinners and then bring it home unto thy self that GOD offers life to thee a sinner Dwell awhile on these if we lay away the principles of sound doctrine and care not to know them if we stick in an overlie knowledge and do not believe them with the heart receiving them as the saving truths revealed by the Spirit of God and testified to the children of men as Gods own Record and Testimony there is no talking of the application of faith upon them to our own souls Quest But some may say how may one know that he hath apprehended aright this truth that it is GOD that hath provided the way of salvation Answ In general thus if rightly apprehended then every word of this salvation will come to the soul as the Word of God not as the word of a man though never so worthy credit not as the word of a King yet power goes with the word of a King not as the word of an Angel it is more than so when it comes to thy heart as the Word of God It 1 Thes 2. 13. will come to thee in the power of God in divine life and strength it will work effectually in thee Gods Word-runneth very swiftly he commandeth and the thing is done Again it will come to thy soul as the good Word of God the Word and Message in which thy good thy everlasting good doth lie to such a r Thes 1. heart the Gospel comes in much assurance and in the joy of the Holy Ghost the Gospel now stands to thee as an undoubted unmovable truth now it is the best news that ever came into the world the glad tydings of great joy the onely light and life of thy heart In special attend that God the Lord is the first and principal Agent or Worker here 1. It layes down in the heart of a sinner a possibility of his salvation That which to the Law to man whiles he stands to the Law is impossible that GOD will yet do it it becomes very possible with God all things are possible say to thy self before the Lord it is possible that such a sinner as I am or as thou art mayest be saved for GOD sends a Saviour for sinners you this layes down a possibility above all difficulties the difficulties are great our innumerable sinnes the bortomlesse depth of the deceitfulnesse and the desperatenesse of the wickednesse of our hearts the impenitency of an hard heart that cannot repent the death in sâ—n and trespasses the alienations withdrawings and gain-sayings of an heart that cannot believe the cursed barrennesse in the heart and life of all grace and good fruit the defilement and contagion of sinne as a leprofie and as the plague of pestilence the guilt and condemning power of sinne the distance and separation yea the enmity between God and man which sinne hath made the great enemies such are the Law the Curse Mortality Death the Grave Hell Satan Tentations Persecutions the world with all its lusts and errours the body of sinne called the body of this death Rom. 7. 24. the Back-slidings and Apostasies which we are subject unto Satans strong holds within in false principles high thoughts and devised devotions depths carnal reasonings foolish and snarling objections besides the wisdome of a conceited the pride of a presuming and the dejections of a despairing heart If these Armies of difficulties and of impossibilities to created means should beset thee yet that GOD should reveale himself in a saving way stayes the heart and renders all of them Conquerable 2. It awakens it shakes the carelesse soul and fills with trembling It saith with Jacob God is here in this Word of the Gospel and I was not aware little thought I of such a presence in this contemned Word 3. It layeth a basis a foundation unmovable thus we have him to believe on who supports Heaven and Earth who is the Rock of Ages 4. It sets another face on God and on all things God is in Christ reconciling the world God at peace and all things become full of peace Behold all 's new there is now a new face of 2 Cor. 5. 18. things In this light we see light and have life there is a blessing in all through Gods blessing the worst and most deadly are not onely harmlesse but medicinal and helpful the heart begins to live at this presence a heavenly calme passeth bespreadeth and dwelleth upon the soul Tranqâ—illus Deus tranquillat omnia 5. It heals the heart of hard thoughts of God and of alienations from God then I perceive saith the soul the holy God will yet look after me 6. It sets the heart on God is there hope yet for such a one as I am surely it is good for me to draw near to God 7. It prevents and allayes the over-much grief for sinne or for afflictions and miseries our own or the Churches overmuch in both is hurtful to our soules dishonourable to God scandalous to men this delivers I even I am he that comforteth you saith the Lord Isa 49. 14 15. I blot out your transgessions Isa 43. 25. 8. It makes to cry to God out of the depth of our hellish filth and guilt Psalme 130. 1. It boiles up the spirit to fervency in Prayer 9. It puts an Awful Reverential Uniting feare into the soul Psalme 130. 3. There is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared 10. It enclines the soul to believe hope wait and love Psalme 130. 4 5. 11. It comforteth with comforrs rational and real from grounds in God from the presence of God 2 Cor. 6. 17. I will dwell in them I will walke in them I will be their GOD and they shall be my People 12. It devotes it assures it raiseth to Triumph What shall we say to these things If GOD be for Rom. 8. 31. Eph. 1. 3. 1 Pet. 1. 3. us who can be against us What shall separate us from the love of GOD it fills with praise and with gloryings and humble boastings in God This GOD is our GOD GOD is become my salvation Thus of the person who is the first mover in the great work of a sinners salvation CHAP. V. Treateth of the fulnesse of the salvation of a sinner in the person who undertakes to work it out even Gods
creatures and so are subject to change we should have found so much weaknesse and changeablenesse The holy Angels stand before God through Christ as their Mediator of Confirmation who need no Mediator of Reconciliation and Redemption because they never sinned 9. This raiseth the heart to an exclusive 2 King 7. 34. resolution like the Lepers in the book of the Kings in this manner If we stay in our natural estate we are sure to perish if we come into Christ we can but perish perhaps we may finde favour and grace for there is enough in him yea and it begets in the soul the positive resolution of the Prodigal there is bread enough in my Fathers house and I perish Luk. 15. 15 16 17 18. here and starve with hunger I will arise and go to my father and say father I have sinned 10. Lastly The blessednesse of a sinner consisteth and cannot possibly consist in any Rom. 4. 6 7 8. other thing than in forgivenesse and in a non-imputation of sinne in the merciâ—ul covering of iniquity for what shall become of him that hath sinned if hiâ— sinne be charged upon him he must passe under the eternity of the wrath to come which sinne hath justly subjected him unto and then where will be the time and place for blessednesse what can be beyond everlasting if forgivenesse of sinnes be the blessednesse of a sinner then here is nothing in man to move God but this here is a sinner a man undone by his own sin but I will be his God and will be Heb. 8. 10 12. merciful to his transgressions and I will remember his sinnes no more This this is the Covenant by which we sinners can live and stand in the sight of God SECT 2. But wherein may it be made to appear Illustrated six wayes that the weaknesse of the Law made weak through the sinfulnesse of man moved God to give his Son Answ 1. Because this is the main reason why God left the Gentiles to themselves for above two thousand years upholding them neverthelesse in the utmost of natural abilities which are in man since the fall and giving them all the blessings of Creation continued in his Providence with goodnesse and long-suffering that all the world might see man cannot by his wisdome finde out the true God finde out the way of reconciliation and salvation man cannot do ought but wander from God he understands not and will not ask after Christ and then God will say Behold me to them that asked not Isa 65. 1. after him and that shall be verified I Isa 41. 27. Junius in locum 1 Cor. 1. 21. am found of them that sought me not then God giveth Christ the first that saith to Zion behold behold the things which none could tell of he that is the one the only one that bringeth good tydings Paul to the Corinths opens this saying After that in the wisdome of God who wisely disposeth of all things in his providence governing the ages of the world and the generations of men upon the earth the world by wisdome their wisdome of the light of nature with which they came into the world indued of God the Creatour having the book of the creature open before them and time afforded to improve it to the utmost of which wisdome even in the things of God they grew conceited professing themselves to be wise neverthelesse the truth is they by wisdome know not God much lesse could ever so much as dream of Christ It pleased God in his infinite eudoky or good pleasure by the foolishnesse so esteemed by the wise of the world of the preaching of Christ crucified for the Redemption of a sinner to save them that believe 3. The reason why the Jewes were left of God to doat about the establishing of their own righteousnesse to which thing all men by nature stand enclined neither can they by the utmost abilities of reason in man arise higher or seek any thing else that the Jews I say went about Rom. 9. 31 32. this to their cutting off was this that all men being concluded in unbelief from the Reign of which they cannot deliver themselves when the Gospel of Christ is told them never so plainly and all that they will drive that Gospel unto is but this to seek the more to establish thereby their own righteousnesse It might appear that salvation cometh only then unto men when the Lord will of his own free-grace take hence the occasion to have mercy upon them all whether they be Jews or Gentiles and there the Gentiles sooner attained the righteousnesse which is by faith in Christ Jesus than the Jews who had the Scripture which the Gentiles had not and the Jews cannot get over this evil of going about to establish their own righteousnesse and do make to themselves Christ Jesus A stumbling Rom. 11. 3â— 33. stone and a Rock of offence to this day nor will it ever be otherwise untill God glorifie the riches and power of his grace to have mercy upon them When Paul that heaven-measuring soul knowing in Gospel-mysteries through the Revelations which Christ gave unto him entred into the discourse of these wayes of God he is rap't in admiration and breaks out thus Oh the depths of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out 3. This was the reason why the Law was given that the Jews having the Law in a perfect draught from God himself by the glorious ministery of the holy Angels in the hand of a Mediator Moses might Gal. 3. 19. 20 21 22 find that thereby they could not have life given them because they could not get righteousnesse thereby but were all concluded under sinne that so the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe and not to them that would stand by their works by which with the help of the holy Law to the uttermost they could never attain to righteousnesse although they sought it zealously thereby 4. The first proposing of the Gospel to Adam fallen proveth that mans destruction by disobedience was the rise and ground of the exhibiting of the Messiah It was proposed in a threatening to the Tempter when Satan had through subtlety destroyed Gods workmanship and in these words was it first Preached It shall break thine head that is the womans sâ—ed shall break thine head she that brought in sin upon mankind by thy seducement shall be the instrument to bring forth that man that seed that shall dissolve the Devils works the ruined workmanship of God shall be reared and restored by flesh of the woman by which it was ruined 5. The manner of disposing of the Covenant of grace teacheth this for therein Ezek. 36. 25 31. God promiseth to work all the work even by a new Creation out of worse then nothing against all impossibilities to any created strength that
waiting for Christ So Ambr. l. 3. de spir sancto c. 15 The same Father urgeth also that place in 1 Thes 3. 12 13. patrem dixit filium dixit quem ergo cumpatre filio praeter Spiritum junxit Mark 3. 29. Heb. 10. 29. Here are three distinct persons God to be beloved Christ to be waited for with patience and the Lord to whom the prayer is made that he would direct the hearts of believers into that love and patient waiting Now this Lord is the Lord the Spirit who directs the hearts of those whom he sanctifieth and enableth to believe Against the holy Ghost sinne may be committed and to great height and men may commit such sin against him as may become unpardonable because they wilfully and maliciously oppose and despight him in the manifestations of his presence and gracious workings in the Gospel for the Application of this salvation therefore he is very God he is the Spirit of grace 2. He is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son the Spirit of God and the Spirit Rom. 8. 9. Isa 61. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 11. Gal. 4. 6. of Christ He proceedeth * Joh. 15. 26. from the Father and the Sonne and according to this his existing about the work of saving application of Redemption he is sent forth of the Father as he is the Spirit of his Sonne into the hearts * Gal. 4. 6. of those that are priviledged with the Adoption of children God the Father sendeth him as he is the Comforter and the Son Jesus Christ sendeth him and therefore he is Joh. 15. 26 Alius non aliud Joh. 14. 16 another a distinct person not another thing he is another Comforter the Lord Jesus the Bridegroome he is one Comforter the holy Spirit in the Bridegroome and the Bride one and the same he is another Comforter he is the Spirit who knoweth the whole heart and the most hid councels and secrets of the Father and the Son these Gospel Mysteries the 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. secrets of this bosome-love into which no Angels of light could dive no more than a man can know what is in another man unlesse he reveale it This is he who works in us to bring home this salvation therefore it is done most effectually and most comfortably SECT 3. 2. What is his saving work In the Elect of God the Father and in The saving work of the Spirit made up of 14. works the Redeemed of Jesus Christ his Son the Redeemer The holy Ghost hath his saving work and it is made up of these several works following 1. Renovation or regeneration In which the holy Ghost by the word of Christ as water as a laver of water washing a sinner as floods of waters poured out upon the dry and barren heart doth clense and wash and in the washing change and make a new the sinner The word of the Gospel is as pure water and water fructifying The Lord Jesus Christ is a fountain opened for sin and uncleanenesse who came both by blood and water all sorts of clensings and washings are found in him and the holy Ghost in the work of his grace by the Record by making the sinner to know his own foulnesse and uncleanenesse by sin and the fulnesse of clensing away sin by a bathe of that water and by a Sacrifice in that blood which is in Jesus Christ the only Sonne of God crucified and by taking the basin of the Word which sets forth Christ into his own hands to sprinkle and rinse the sinner so enlightened and by taking hold also of such a sinner to put him into this laver and under this sprinkling he makes the heart to feel Christs love and the flinty rockinesse of it to melt and flow down before the Lord God and all the abilities of his soul to flow together and rise up towards the Lord Jesus with strong and fixed desires and then the holy Spirit is as water water that catrieth with it and in it the virtue of Christs blood set Joh. 3. 5 6 8. forth in the Gospel all to the washing and renewing and begetting again in such wise that this sinner is born from above Tit. 3. 5 6. born of the Spirit born of God and Christ is formed in him The party came into this laver a sinful man all leprous a dead man but he comes out of it a new man a living changed man quite another man than he was before Behold the laver of regeneration the renewing of the holy Ghost shed on a poor humbled sinner abundantly and richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour this work is of absolute necessity for old and young for learned and unlearned for Jew and Gentile And as that which is born of the flesh is carnal corrupt earthly low and weak so that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit spiritual pure heavenly high and powerful and discerning the holy Mysteries of the Gospel of the high and holy God 2. Sanctification the Apostle Peter describeth a true member of the Church a subject of grace and peace by the work of the three persons in the undivided Godhead about his salvation so that the Spirits work is that which singleth out the individual person from among all other the children of men and seateth the Fathers love and the Sonnes grace of Redemption upon him particularly This is the Description He is one Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ Sanctification is we see the saving work of the Spirit Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 1 Thes 2. 13 14. is the way through which God calling sinners thereunto by the Gospel ministred by the ministry of the New Testament doth bring those whom he hath chosen from the beginning to salvation unto the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ as this Apostle Paul teacheth in another place Now the sanctifying work of the Spirit is this 1. He illightens and this illumination is accompanied 1. With wisdome that knows things as they are and values them as they are worth that knows the worth of the things of God in Christ discovered according to their excelling nature and difference and prefers them above all other things and it is 2. With Râ—velation also bringing Ephes 1. 17 18. the things of Christ unto the mind in Gods own light in a light above the light of mans reason And it is thirdly with rectifying or rather making anew the Organe the eyes of our understandings which were covered with blindnesse and Mat. 16. 17 that blindnesse was in and from our birth so that we were born blind they are opened that we may know All this is beyond the illumination which is of common grace and which may be found in the best of hypocrites 2. He quickens he causeth the dead in sins and trespasses to
carnally politick temper of the soul and be in us the Spirit of power of love and of a sound minde and by giving suffering 2 Tim. 1. 6 7. graces and comforts fitted to the present suffering condition whatsoever it be Lastly by enabling â—o come to God in prayer when the extremities of sufferings the darknesse of Gods wayes in that dispensation and the difficulties of the times in which we are placed and the perplexednesse of our and the Lords cause we are to stand for by mens subtleties or otherwise is such that we know not what or how to ask as we ought yet even in this case the Spirit it self maketh intercession in us with sighs and groans that cannot be expressed this is the proper sense of the Apostle in that place to the Romans Chap. 8. verse 26. 11. The making us Gods habitation he makes first his own way into the sinful Eph. 2. 22. secure proud hard stony and dead heart and then he prepares for God an habitation there he makes us a spiritual house and an holy Priesthood in that spiritual house he builds us to be a Temple to God that he may walk in them and 1 Pet. 2. 5. 2 Cor. 6. 16 dwell in them this he doth by building us as lively stones on Christ the choicest foundation stone by furnishing us with the Temple-furniture through the doctrine of Christ received and by consecration And he maketh believers Priests by consecâ—ation with the anointing and by the besprinkling of the blood of Christ by cloathing with the Priestly Robes of justification and sanctification and by bestowing on them the hearts and dispositions of consecrated Priests 12. Mansion or abode for ever in Gods people This work is most comfortable the world cannot receive the Spirit they know him not Christs true Disciples John 14. 16 17. know him and receive him and he comes and not as a guest for a night or so but as the inhabitant that dwells in them as in his house and Temple and abides therefor ever he dwells in them as the Comforter and the Spirit of truth he supplies Christs room and presence therefore they are not Orphans here is the anointing the Chrisme that abideth in them teaching 1 Joh. 2. 27. with ver 20. 24. them of all things that are delivered in the Scripture in which doctrine of the Word of truth the true Christian maketh conscience to abide and continue as ever they would continue in the Sonne and in the Father 13. The uniting them to Jesus Christ the husband of the Church and to all true 1 Cor. 16. 17. Christians as all of them make up one body and Bride of such a Lord the only Sonne of the living God and God blessed Rev. 22. 17. for ever in uniting true believers to Jesus Christ as Bridegroome he raiseth in them espoused conjugal love and fidelity vehement desires after his love-tokens the kisses of his mouth familiar talkings and confabulations walks together feastings mutual and imbraces these are set forth in that most spiritual book the Song of Solomon and the more they enjoy this hidden communion with Christ the more the Spirit raiseth in them desires unfeigned and fervent after with love of and waiting for the presence of Christ in his second coming which is the marriage-day the nearness of this union is such that it is thus expressed he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit and that is far nearer and more excellent than to be one flesh as man and wife are one the work of the Spirit is also to unite to Christians in such wise that they are all one body this is called the fellowship of the Spirit and the unity of Ephes 4. 4 Phil. 2. 1. Ephes 4. 3 the Spirit union with Christ and with Christians is the glorious work of the Spirit the ground of communion of communication and of sympathy or fellow-feeling These are the saving works of the Spirit in the Elect and Redeemed thus enumerated Arrha docet renevat juvat obsignatque salutem Spiritus ecce docet renovat copulatque regitque consolatur Arrha salutifera for the help of memory but not determining that they are wrought in this order there is an old received verse a pair of verses which name some of them but I hope none that are judicious will either say that there are none else or that these above-named so fully described in plain Scripture and so comfortably experienced by the Saints are not the saving workings of the Spirit but how lively quick significant and discriminating of this saving work are the Scripture expressions and praises attributed to the Holy 2 Cor. 4. 13 Zach. 11. 10. Isa 4. 4. Ghost they are these the Spirit of faith the Spirit of grace and supplications the Spirit of judgment and of burning the Spirit of holiness or of sanctification Rom. 1. 4. 8. 5. Rev. 11. 11 Rom. 8. 2. Eph. 1. 17 Isa 11. 2 3 2 Tim. 1. 7. Joh. 14. 17 Ps 51. 11 12. Eph. 1. 13. Psal 45. 7. 1 Joh. 2. 20 27. Joh. 14. 16 1 Joh. 5. 6 10. Eph. 1. 14. 4. 30. Rom. 8. 23 Ezek. 36. 25. Joh. 4. 10 14. 7. 38 39. Cant. 4. 16 Hos 14. 4. Mal. 3. 11. Tit. 3. 5. 2 Thess 2. 13. Ro. 8. 26. Joh. 14. 26 1 Joh. 3. 9. Joh. 15. 26 27. the Spirit of adoption the Spirit of life the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus the Spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of Christ the Spirit of wisdome and understanding the Spirit of counsel and might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord the Spirit of love power and of a sound minde the Spirit of truth Gods holy Spirit Gods free or princely Spiâ—it the holy Spirit of promise the oyle of gladnesse the anointing the comforter the witness the earnest the seal sealing for the Saints are the seal sealed the first fruits clean water water of life a well-spring of living water the North and South wind that blowes upon the gardâ—n the dew and fire the renewing of the Holy Ghost the sanctification of the Spirit he that maketh intercession in the Saints he that brings all to their remembrance the seed that abideth in them he that enableth the belieer to bear witnesse to the truth of the Gospel with the spirit of a Martyr All this glory manifested in these saving works the children of God do feel and have the joyful experience of it in this life 14. The last saving work is for and in another world to be done at the last Rom. 8. 11 day and that is The quickening of their bodies out of the grave they shall be raised by the Spirits quickening of them as members of the body of which Christ is the head this is peculiar to the Saints who are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ the Spirit which now dwells in them will in
the Resurrection at the last day quicken their mortal bodies These are great things but most sure and certain for the Holy Ghost who is the power of the Highest undertaketh this work as his Office which is the third thing proposed to be unfolded SECT 4. 2. That the Holy Ghost is in Office to do all this saving work and is faithful in this his Office Here are two things to be considered 3. He is in Office to do this work the office of the Holy Ghost and his faithfulnesse 1. The holy Ghost is in office to make good this work this is manifest first because he is sent sent of the Father sent of Christ sent into the hearts of believers Joh. 14. 26 15. 26. 16. 7. Gal. 4. 6. 1 Joh. 2. 1. Rom. 8. 26. sent upon these works Secondly He hath names which denote this his Office He is called the Comforter Another Comforter Jesus Christ he is one Comforter an Advocate with the Father now in heaven appearing for us And the holy Spirit he is not Christ he is Another he is another Comforter An Advocate in us he encourageth backeth us exhorts helps to hand over and puts into us desires and makes intercession ayding with groans unspeakable He is called The unction the anointing or Chrisme 1 Joh. 2. 20 Joh. 16. 13 Rom. 8. 15. He is called The Spirit of truth the Spirit of Adoption 2. The holy Ghost is faithful in this his Office this fidelity is many wayes expressed first in actual performance in Joh. 16. 13 14 15. us of those works for which he is sent and in regard whereof he bears his names He the Spirit of truth he will guide into all truth as in John 16. 13. in like manner is it true of every other work he is the Spirit of Adoption and he enables to cry in prayer Abba-father that is to call on God with fervency of faith so as to expresse the heart of a child towards God as to a father in Christ promised in the Old Testament an t sent accordingly in the New Testament In both Testaments together is set forth the glory of the Father and of Jesus Christ his Sonne to the full written in the Old Testament in Hebrew and in the New Testament in Greek and the Spirit frames the heart of a child and fills with the cryes of a child in prayer answerable to both Testaments manifestations and therefore it is said the Spirit causes them to cry Abba ho Pater Father Father Secondly In speaking nothing of himself he took on him nothing apart from or otherwise than what he had in charge from the Father and the Lord Jesus but what he hears of the Father and the Sonne that he speaks Even as Jesus Christ shewed his faithfulnesse to the Father that sent him in that he spake nothing but what he had heard of the Father he spake altogether what was agreeable to the old Testament Doctrine ver 13. Thirdly in glorifying Jesus Christ He shall receive and take of that which is Jesus Christs and shew it unto us John 16. 14 15. and hereby we may know the Spirit of truth from the 1 Joh. 4. 3 4 5 6. spirit of errour as the Apostle John gives the rule to try the spirits by SECT 5. 4. The peculiar works of the Spirit in order to the saving work Moreover great must needs that 4. Peculiar works of the Spirit in order to the saving work work be which hath marvelous works of the holy Ghost to be wrought and wrought every day and perfected long agoe that it may be performed now in order to the great saving work there are peculiar and wonderful works and they are manifold some respect Jesus Christ some the Scriptures some the Church and some the Ordinances take a brief of them under these four heads 1. Such works of the Spirit as respect 1. Respecting Jesus Christ Jesus Christ And so 1. The holy Ghost formed Christs humane nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary and of her seed this the Angel Gabriel declared in his answer to her enquiry the holy Ghost shall come upon thee Luk. 1. 35 36. and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God 2. The holy Ghost anointed Jesus Isa 61. 1. 11. 2 3. Act. 10. 38 Joh. 3. 34. Luk. 4. 14 18. Joh. 1. 31 32 33. Mat. 3. 16. Christ as he was man with gifts and graces so that he had the Spirit not by measure And having thus consecrated him and furnished him for the great office and work of Mediatour he with God the Father sent him 3. The holy Ghost by descending from heaven and resting upon him visibly in the shape of a Dove did publiquely shew him and seal him in his Baptism 4. The holy Ghost witnesseth that Jesus Christ who was crucified is the Sonne Act. 5. 31 32. Rom. 1. 4. of God the true Messiah he also witnesseth to the doctrine of Christs resurrection in which the deity of Jesus Christ is declared with power and likewise to the doctrine of his exaltation at the right hand of God the Father 2. Such as respect the Holy Scriptures 2. Respecting the written word 2 Pet. 1. 20 21. Act. 1. 16. Mark 12. 36. as 1. He inspired the holy men of God and infallibly dictated unto them and guided them in committing the Word of God unto writing No Scripture is of private motion the holy Ghost spake by David by Moses that faithful servant of God in all his house by Isaiah and by all the Prophets of the Old Testament Heb. 9. 8. Act. 28. 25 1 Pet. 1. 12 Luk. 1. 41 67. Act. 2. 1 Cor. 2. 10 13. the holy Ghost speaks by them so he inspired Elizabeth the Mother of John the Baptist and Zachary his father the holy Ghost came down from heaven upon the holy Apostles on the day of Pentecost the fiftieth day after Christs Resurrection induing them with power from on High and revealed to them all the deep things of God all the mystery of his will the Spirit both revealed to them the things of the Gospel and gave unto them the words in which they should speak them and leave them in writing and these words from his own teaching 2. He quickens the Word so that the Word is Spirit and life the Word is his Joh. 6. 63. Ephes 6. 17. Heb. 4. 12 13. 1 Cor. 2. 4. sword he puts an edge upon the Word making it quick and lively in operation to the dividing between the soul and spirit of man and to the searching of all the secrets of his heart that all may be naked and bare before him with whom he hath to do in the Word 3. He maketh the word to be with demonstration of the Spirit and of power that is with such power and efficacy in
with wisdome irresistible to witnesse to the truth with courage undaunted yet attended with love meeknesse and soundnesse of mind and to suffer for the truth with patience invincible of which it may be said Here is tâ—e patience of the Saints These are victors Renowned Conquerors the Churches Heroes the Lords Worthies the noble Army of the Lamb. 4. Such works of the holy Ghost as respect the Ordinances as The Word In the Word the Spirit speaketh to the Churches he gave the Rev. 2. 7. 3. 22. 1 Tim. 4. 1 Act. 11. 2 Rev. 14. â—â— Word by breathing it at first into the holy men of God he by Covenant goeth along with it breaths and works in it speaks in it writes it in the fleshly Tables of the heart every part of the Word is the speaking of the Spirit even that wherein he warnes of seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils And he saith yea to Gospel sentences The Sacraments Baptisme and the 1 Cor. 12. Lords Supper The Spirit accompanieth both as the band of union he maketh the partakers to be one body together of one head By one Spirit are all believers Baptized into one body and in the Lords Supper they all drink into one Spirit All these mighty works the Holy Spirit doth in order to the work of saving application of the grace of the Son our Lord Jesus Christ and of the love of â—od the Father This is the fourth thing proposed for explication The fifth followeth which also doth greatly commend the saving work and that is SECT 6. 5. The Inhabitation of the Holy Ghost Where the Holy Ghost is given manifesting his presence in his saving working 5. The inhabitation of the Spirit where he is thus given Rom. 8. 9 11. 1 Joh. 4. 13 3. 24. there he inhabiteth or dwelleth in them the Apostle distinguishingly and searchingly putting all believers upon the trial of their estates saith Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you and this is so Characteristical that he adjoyneth now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his He that hath the Spirit hath him dwelling in him hereby also we know that God dwelleth in us and that we dwel in God and they that have the Spirit given and dwelling in them they know it 1 Cor. 3. 16 Know ye not that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you And for this condescension of exceeding grace how great is it for he dwelleth in them first as in his Temple his holy consecrated house and habitation he knowes no Temple or house on earth but the broken and contrite heart the poor in spirit and when he had a Temple at Jerusalem it was to signifie this and not owned of God but with respect to this Temple The regenerate Isa 57. 15. 66. 1 2 3. are his Temples the Holy Ghost makes himself an habitation and then dwels in the Temple which he hath made the glory of the work is heavenly and excellent for this Temple is an house not made with hands no nor of this building 1 Cor. 6. 19. of this kinde of make of which is this fabrick of soul and body in this visible creation although it be reared and set up in this building Again The very bodies of the regenerate are the Temples of the Holy Ghost though they be houses of clay and the leprosie of sin is not clean washed and scraped out while they live in this world Secondly he dwelleth in them as in the living members of Christs Rom. 8. 2. mystical body he is the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ their Head and from him as from their Head floweth into each of them Thirdly he dwelleth in them as he is the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus Rom. 8. 11 from the dead even in the exceeding greatnesse of that power according to the working of the might of that power which he wrought and put forth in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the above-heavenlies Ephes 1. 19 20 21 22 23. far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name of Renown that is named and Renowned not only in this world but also in that which is to come and put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all Fourthly he dwelleth in them as the Spirit of the Father and as the Spirit of the â—onne he who taketh them to be his Sonnes by Adoption he sends the Spirit of his Sonne into their Gal. 4. 6. 1 Joh. 4. 8 9 10 13. hearts God is love here is love God the Father sends his Sonne into the world God the Father and God the Sonne send the Spirit into the hearts of those that shall be saved God the holy Ghost given unto them sheds abroad upon their hearts this love he dwels in them doing this work and by him the Father and the Son dwell in them from hence they cannot but say with the beloved Disciple Here is love that God through Christ by his Spirit should dwell in them that by the Spirit through Christ they should have accesse unto the Father Fifthly he dwelleth in them in all the fâ—re-named eminent and peculiar works of saving application in the presence efficacy of all his glorious salvifical Epithetes and Appellations Names and Titles he is in them the Spirit of faith the Spirit of truth the Spirit of grace and prayer the comforted the anointing the earnest and so of the rest and in this glory the Spirit dwelleth in them the Holy Ghost delighteth to fill his house with his glory and to rest there this is his in-dwelling which raiseth and advanceth all which hath been hitherto delivered SECT 7. 6. The time of the coming of the Holy Ghost Now for this great work there is a season 6. The special season of his coming in which the Spirit hath his day for as the Son came down from heaven in the fulnesse of time sent of God the Father according to the promises in the Old Testament delivered and had his day with the Church of God on earth so the Holy Ghost he came down from heaven in his proper time according to promise sent of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ And although the Spirit of God was given and wrought by the Word savingly in the times of the Old Testament and from the first preaching of the Gospel to our fallen first Parents in Paradise and down-wards in the old world and from the flood till the giving of the Law by Moses yet in respect of the promised effusion or pourings out of the Spirit and in regard of the clearnesse eminency and ample largenesse of his presence and workings as such his giving
the senses Secondly this pollution is innate and connate it is born in us and born with us It is as old as we are It was in us in our very conception it is bred up with us It discovers it self as we discover the use of our reason and it will be in us while we are in this frame and building Thirdly because we are as tender of it as we are of our very flesh Fourthly because there is a body of it a whole consisting of many members joynted together and ministring nourishment to every part for the encrease of the whole A whole composed heap not only spreading it self through the whole man and discovering it self in every member of the body but having also all the several wickednesses which ever were committed in it in the seed and spawn of them It is not some one transgression but many as the body is not one member but many and these many are knit together in an hellish order Fifthly because this is propagated as our bodies and flesh is propagated but our souls are not God is the Father of our spirits but men the fathers of our bodies therefore it may well be called flesh Sixthly because the motions of this original pollution are in the members of our bodies By spirit is meant not the soul nor the mind or understanding faculty the highest that is in man nor conscience the Character of the reasonable creature But by spirit is meant the Spirit of Christ sanctifying the man and dwelling in him through the Word of God engraffed and the regenerate part the Divine nature or disposition wrought by the Spirit of God the holy Ghost and conformable to the Image of Jesus Christ Iâ— this work there is the seed first of all grace and that under the New Testament in a largenesse Secondly it is in the whole man in soul spirit and body Thirdly and that too in truth or sincerity Fourthly it is of God in Christ for its original And fifthly for its continuance it is of incorruptible seed and abideth for ever Sixthly for its piercing effectualnesse in operation it leavens the whole man It is deepest and chiefest in the soul It is spreading and thorow in what it works It is active according to its own sphere which is supernatural and celestial yea supercelestial and according to its rise which is from the Spirit for whatsoever is of the Spirit is Spirit After notes the rule and guide and from that rule the force which swaies and carries out the man in his actions Walking notes 1. The course taken upon choice and 2. The progresse in that course or way with 3. Pressing on still forwards and 4. With perseverance and constancy till we come to the end Not after the flesh but after the Spirit That is refusing that and choosing this for guide and removing from the wayes and walks of the flesh to go in these that are after the Spirit Walking after the flesh is mentioned to shew that Original sinne is the sinne that reigns every actual sinne hath its strength in the corruption of nature Thither we must ascend in the work of mortification if we would kill sinne dead the root Crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof The lopping of a tree destroyes not the tree he that would not serve any sinne must destroy the body of sinne and not some one or two members only and he that would destroy the body of sinne must crucifie the old man Walking after the Spirit sheweth that all grace is brought into us from without from above from the holy Ghost It is not from a seed in us which is born with us and lyeth as the seed of Corn doth awhile buried in the earth It is not from any power or spirit that is in the Creature or in this visible Globe or in the Creatures Angelical It is from the Spirit of the Father and of the Sonne Again this sheweth that all grace is yet truely in us from the holy Ghost dwelling in us through the Word engraffed or the revealed truth of the Gospel from the holy Ghost thus dwelling in us and renewing sanctifying acting and leading of us And lastly that we are born anew of the Spirit are in the Spirit do live in the Spirit and are after the Spirit and then we walk after the Spirit We must first be and live and afterwards walk Thus you have the force of the words SECT 2. The particular truths or doctrines which 2. The words taken asunderin nine doctrines are wrapped in this description are these 1. In those that are in Christ in them there is the Spirit of Christ The Spirit in renewing unites to Christ their union with Christ is spiritual not physical not moral alone not personal at all The Spirit of Christ is in them and uniteth them to Christ and Christ and they are one Spirit as Man and Wife are one flesh this truth ariseth from this description as it is referred to the words before in ver 1. of this Chapter To them that are in Christ there is no condemnation Now this is to be understood of the holy Ghost as he is the Anointing wherewith Christ is anointed even Jesus Christ not considered as he is the Sonne of God simply and absolutely but as he is the Christ God-man and wherewith from Christ that Holy One they are anointed the work is the work of the third Person but not a work that makes a personal union of them to the Holy Ghost 2. Where the Spirit of Christ is in any there is also flesh whiles they are in this life where there is grace there is corruption though it holds not on the contrary where ever there is corruption there is grace also Nay it is far otherwise untill regeneration there is nothing but corruption in any or all the men in the world no not in the elect of God but where the Spirit is there is flesh although not walked after This is gathered from the description as made up of a negative first and then of an affirmative which sheweth a nature or disposition in the described here which is declining and renouncing one principle and cleaving to and following sweetly another principle Therefore with the regenerate it is thus their works are mixed their actings of their graces are mixt and maimed All their best duties smell strong of the flesh therefore the Regenerate ought to be watchful and jealous over themselves humble to God-ward meek towards man and making use of Christ and faith in him in all doing all in his name or mediation and looking for acceptation of all in him alone 3. That flesh even in the regenerate and spiritual is so sinful that if it were followed it would destroy them therefore it is sinne in it self and in the lusts of it even in the regenerate for if it were not sinful why should it be renounced why should it not at some times and in some cases be allowed 4.
to rellish temporal things only or chiefly and to have no rellish of spiritual things the things of Jesus Christ or to savour spiritual things no otherwayes than carnally as when our Saviour spake of the gift of the Spirit that living water to the woman of Samaria she said Lord give me of this water that I may not thirst nor come to this Well to draw Job 4. 15. And when he said to the Jewes that there was bread of life of the which whosoever should eate he should never dye some cryed out Lord evermore give us this bread Good words but arising Joh. 6. 33 34. wholly from earthly apprehensions of the things of which Christ spake 7. In the reign of some particular lust Gal. 5. 19 20. or known sinne as uncleannesse covetousnesse malice pride profane swearing railing drunkennesse gluttony when we live in any manifest work of the flesh 8. In the power of carnal princâ—ples 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. reasonings and objections against faith and holinesâ—e these are strong holds these are the flesh's fortifications which while they stand undemolished the flesh reigns these be the in-works when they are taken and sleighted the flesh is dismantled and led Captive but not till then 9. In the hatred of the godly the hatred of the brethren which is the not loving Gal. 4. 29. 1 Joh. 3. 14 1. of them we cannot know them to love them but can finde them out to reproach to shoot out the mouth at them a strange perversenesse when we can quickly discern them to slander them and call them hypocrites who though they will not swear yet will lye when we cannot see who are godly Do not all offend in many things yet can privily Psal 11. 2. shoot at the upright in heart when we can see them well enough to shoot at them but we cannot see Christ in them to do them offices of love brethren Mat. 25. 43 45. we cannot love this brotherhood what is this communion of Saints well said here is flesh all over 10. In the speaking evil of the Gospel and of Christs name or way and in an heart alienated from the life of God 1 Tim. 5. 14 Eph. 4. 18. from a godly life a life in which God is seen and in which it is evident that the man hath seen and known God as he hath revealed himself in his Word he is an adversary that is glad of an occasion to speak reproachfully of Gods way he is in the power of Heathenisme whose heart cannot close with the power of godlinesse Thus far for a more general discovery of the reign of the flesh SECT 4. In particular the flesh being a close enemy and in the times of the Gospel it And in matters of Religion its reign discovered as standing with the State policy of this Queen Regent to have somewhat of God and of Christ seemingly and for a colour that she might sit fast in the chaire and reign still indeed let me shew you her in the Throne and descry the Regency of the flesh in the choicest works and means of Religion And here we lay down this for a certain truth that There is not any outward duty profession or priviledge of Gods people which the flesh will not take to and suck to her self advantage out of it she is such an hypocrite and in her wickednesse hath wit at will Therefore see her Regency 1. In prayer they that live and walk 1. In prayer Prov. 28. 9 Isa 1. 15. in sinne and disobedience to the Word of God may make many prayers but an abomination to the Lord are all their prayers and the Lord saith I will not heare when ye multiply prayers for the flesh hath the rule in them while they pray and it is thus discovered First if an Heathenish spirit act them Seven wayes Mat. 6. 5. which thinketh God is well-pleased with the work done or the cries of a natural heart with a few good and holy words with much speaking or with the number and tale of our prayers a touch and outside of the duty Secondly if a Pharisaical spirit act Mat. 6 5. them which thinks to merit at the hands of God and prayes to be seen of men and to be accounted for devout Thirdly if things spiritual be asked as savoured onely under carnal notions and for carnal and worldly ends chiefly Fourthly if the things of this life be asked onely as there are multitudes who never offered any desires to God that were the desires of their hearts but what were for health when they were sick or for successe in their earthly Affairs or for deliverance when they were in distresse and dangers or for a plentiful Harvest and good Crop with such like or if the things of this life be asked chiefly if God should give us Solomons priviledge and then we have not Solomons heart nor Davids one thing nor Agurs discerning feare of sinne and temptations with preferring of contentation with food and rayment if the requests we offer up in the words of prayer be never so spiritual and in the work the affections stir and are jogging and make a great noise but it is all but for the time of prayer when the constant bent of the heart is for covetousnesse and the heart is set upon riches or the things of this life or if the things of life be asked as temporals and not that they may be spiritualized and sanctified to us in their use they cry as the young Ravens cry and pray as rhe Lyon hungry roars and seeks his meat of God Fifthly if temporal afflictions and judgments make us pray and cry but not sinne nor spiritual judgments such prayers have not the heart to God in them they are the howlings of wolves and God Hos 7. 14 so reckons of them Travellers captives sick folks sea-men and all under extremities will cry unto God in their troubles and the Lord hears so as to deliver them out of these distresses but if when they are delivered sinne be still their Idol and spiritual plagues are not felt lamented nor prayed against but rather danced under their prayers are but the cries of swine when they are pinched and the cryes of nature to the Lord of nature Sixthly if sinne and the wrath of God because of guilt and consciences gripes and sentence or if the Laws threatnings and denunciations of judgments out of the word and the work of the spirit of bondage which is upon us if these do cause us to pray cry out and repent but yet there be no workings of the Spirit of grace and of Adoption nor sinnes filthinesse and offence do put us to grief and be a burden and heavy load further then it is abominable to the light of nature and is cryed shame on in the world this kinde of sorrow for sinne is no more than what may be found in a Cain or in a Judas Seventhly if we pray and
they shall reap in joy they shall doubtlesse come again and bring their sheaves with them they shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting SECT 9. Come hither all you to whom the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ is come The uses 1. Of information in foure things and inform your judgments in these following truths which arise from this comfortable doctrine 1. Consider what is wrought for and in a poor sinful creature before he can attain to this to walk after the Spirit First the Word of Gods grace the Gospel of salvation is preached by the Apostles with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven and by Pastours and Teachers sent of Christ who in his exaltation to glory in heaven hath received and given these gifts for men this Gospel is brought even unto thee in its truth and purity in these latter difficult times although false teachers have and do abound It is the first step of Gods approach in his way of saving mercy coming down from heaven to bring thee to glory Then secondly God by his Spirit through the Gospel preached which is his testimony illightens thee and reveals the things of salvation the mysteries of hidden wisdome unto thy soul Thirdly he enables thee to choose Christ Jesus and his Gospel above all other Religions whatsoever abominating them and above thine own carnal thoughts inventions lusts and ways and above thine own reason and thine own righteousnesse and the righteousnesse which is of the Law Fourthly the Spirit in and by the Gospel coming into thee sets thee free from the reign and dominion of the flesh of its mindings of its wisdome and of its wills desiâ—es affections and lusts and turns thee from its walks in which thou didst before walk and live and in which still the world lives and walks Fifthly the Spirit quickens the and gives thee life a new life life from above the life of grace which will be glory a life which is eternal in the beginning of it and being quickned and raised together with Christ sets thee on thy feet takes thee by the hand and teaches thee to go Sixthly the Spirit gives thee an heart to order thy conversation aright acording to the holy Commandments as becometh the Gospel from the power of faith and hope which set thee on high even to sit together with Christ in the heavenly places from whence thou lookest for him insomuch that thy conversation is in heaven Seventhly he gives thee power to walk after him going before thee in the Gospel engrafting the Word on thy heart and thereby counselling teaching exciting and inclining or bowing thy will as powerfully as sweetly drawing and making thee to runne in Gods ways Eighthly and with this power he gives a quick discerning and sense of the flesh and of its motions counsels and ways with resolutions mighty and prevailing to the framing of the course of the life not to walk after the flesh but to hold on thy walk after the Spiâ—it though the flesh be still contrarily lusting and working plotting and warring Thus the regenerate and spiritual though hampered and toyled with his corrupt nature walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit Doth so much go to make thee a holy liver and is not the work very great oh have not any low thoughts of this high mercy for which thou canst never sufficiently blesse the Lord nor canst retain the thankful sense thereof further nor longer than thou keepest up the thoughts of thine own and all mens alienations by nature from the life of God Believe it brethren it is not a mean despicable work to frame the conversation or walk according to the Word of Christ It is not little in it self although it seemeth to thee a small and little thing through vehement desires and longings in thee after greater progresse in the way called holy in which thy soul finds such pleasures that thou art impatient of contrary workings and of interruptions let me tell thee who thus walkest the work is so great that it carries the heart to the leadings of the Spirit and the heart is powerfully wrought upon and changed which none can bow and turn but God that made it or else it could not so powerfully order the conversation This is more then to delight in Gods Word and ways and yet that is a mighty work of grace observe for this Davids prayer Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments for therein do I delight Ps 119. 35. Ro. 7. 22 18. To will is of Gods gracious work To delight in Gods Commandments is the top and that which shews and proves the truth of the work of grace upon the soul enabling to will but to do to performe is more by farre God and Christ by the Holy Spirit have the last Phil. 2. 13. hand put to the work of salvation as farre as agreeth to his Saints in this life when the Spirit rules thy walk 2. Behold here the worth of such a Christian He is Gods workmanship in Christ Jesus created again unto good works which God hath fore-ordained that he should walk in In this walk see the man come out of Gods hands in the regeneration This is a choice creature made up to and by the will of the Spirit and his walk speaks it Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile God hath set out two admirable sights once in this sinful wicked world unto which all eyes should be turned the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinne of the world and the Israel of God delivered from this evil world redeemed from all iniquity purified to be a peculiar people to himself zealous of good works This a choice creature as for priviledges and dignity so for heavenly qualifications 3. Take here the maine reason why many under the Gospel attain not to a holy life which is this they take up with that light and with those gifts which will not subdue mortifie and crucifie the flesh they professe the Gospel but the Gospel is not the principle they live by and no other no lower will destroy the reign of sinne the holy Law will not therefore no other Religion no Institutions of Philosophy no light of the Law within man can subdue the flesh the Gospel alone if received into the heart will do it because it gives the Spirit now they by the Gospel never received the Holy Ghost the Spirit of renovation of Sanctification and of Adoption Untill this be had none can attain to an holy life 4. Take hence also the main reasons why the regenerate attain unto so little comfort for first they place not as they should the ground-work of their comfort in this That they are in Christ which this their walk doth evidence but they seek it in their walking which accompanied with sinnes and contrary lustings will beare no higher than to the power of an evidence and to a begunne work which is true but yet but in a part and
the Law as to the point of life and righteousnesse of justification and salvation which is briefly delivered by Paul who in his own person gives us one that is taught of God thereby when he saith I through the Law am dead to the Law never more looking for righteousnesse and justification of life that way that I might live unto God Gal. 2. 19. No life but through this death never thus dead but through the Law when it comes the Law comes sinne revives and we dye and this dying is the way to life even to a living unto God SECT 3. Secondly No sinner can work his own 2. A sinner cannot save himself for six reasons deliverance for 1. We are weak and without strength Rom. 5. 6. There is no strength in us to fulfill the Law no strength to satisfie the justice and so turn away the wrath of God much lesse is there strength in us to recover our lost integrity nor to keep it if we had it again restored to us no strength to help our selves to meet the Lord in the wayes of his saving grace or to choose and walk in the way that is call'd holy no strength for any service unto God 2. We are flesh and in the flesh that is wholly corrupted with sin under the power and reign of sin the poyson of the Old Serpent hath run like water into our bowels and like oyle into our bones from the spirit of our mindes to all our outward members we are leprous all unclean and soaked in iniquity conceived in sinne and shapen in wickednesse we Rom. 5. 6 8. are sinners and ungodly when God in Christ by his death comes in love and â—ity to redeem us we lie in our blooâ— untill he saith to us Live we are dead in sin and trespasses till he qâ—icken us and how can such please God they cannot do Rom. 8. 8. it 3. We are enemies unto God our Rom. 5. 10. 8. 7. Col. 1. 21. 2 Cor. 10 3 4 5. wisdome our savour and smatch is enmity unto God We are enemies in our mindes because they are on evil works our principles our thoughts our reasonings our imaginations are high things lifted up in rebellion against the knowledg of God and the obedience of Christ and as strong holds fortified and kept in a desperate Warre against the Spirit of the Lord which in the Ministry even of the Gospel comes forth to bring us into a blessed captivity and subdue us and our very hearts the worst part of man unto himself and to his obedience the carnal minde of man is not subject to the Law of God neither can be there is no good to be done with it put it off Rom. 8. 7. mortifie it crucifie it crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof for that is all the good that can be done with it good it will never be but we must be in the Spirit and the Spirit of Christ dwell in us to enable us to such work or else we have no will no heart to it Rom. 8. 13. Oh then how farre are all men from any ability to work their own deliverance 4. We see not our sinfulnesse nor our misery nor can nor will be brought to see it by any other means than by the Scripture the written Law of God which is the only glasse in which we can truly see our selves James 1. 23. Rom. 7. 7. 5. Though the Law hath not lost it's rectitude yet our weaknesse to keep it maketh the Law by accident to be the more against us And 6. Notwithstanding all this that hath been spoken we yet are full of high thoughts of our selves we are proud and secure sinners and are naturally bent to seek to establish our own righteousnesse For the use of this The consideration The use of this hereof should take us wholly off our own legs and bring us to self-denial It should cause us to deliver up our selves to the Law that we might be throughly convinced of these things and that the Spirit might be in and through the Law a Spirit of bondage in us and we might be glad at heart of a Saviour that can deliver us SECT 4. Thirdly No meer creature can possibly 3. No meer creature can save a sinner for six reasons Matth. 16. 26. 1 Pet. 1. 18 deliver us for 1. No creature is above the Law If the Law of God cannot give life it is not in the power of the creature to do it The Creator alone is above the Law 2. No creature nor the whole Creation hath in it a worth to be a price of value for a soul All the treasures of both the Indies all things in this world because corruptible things are not so excellent as a soul and the price of the Redemption thereof at the hands of God is too high for men and Angels it ceaseth for ever in respect of the creature Psal 49 6 8. 3. Whatever any creature can do he owes it for himself and does but his duty 4. Grant yet that some creature could give help could there be any salvation for then for this very cause we should be servants unto the creature and this were to bring us into bondage and not into liberty they are not their own who are bought with a price if the creature did lay down the price we were the creatures servants which to be is absolute slavery 5. Our evils are greater than can be removed by creatures yet removed they must be if any of us be saved and our good that we may be happy is greater than can be by them communicated The evil is the infinite wrath of God the guilt and damning nature of sinne standing in force and confirmed by the strength of an eternal perfect Law the Empire of sin and death the power of the Divel that strong armed man of whom we read Luk. 11. 21 22. The good we stand in need of is a righteousnesse above the righteousnesse of the Law a Resurrection as well spiritual as corporal the communication of the divine nature eternal life and a blessednesse excelling the blessednesse of Adam in Paradise and a Kingdom which cannot be shaken All and every of these are beyond any created power to give or take away 6. No creature could ever think of the way manner or means whereby we might be delivered The world in the wisdome of God upheld for some thousands of years in its wisdome and abilities by its wisdome knew not God much lesse could finde out the way of peace and â—reconciliation for sinners with the God that made them 1 Cor. 1. 21. Markinde was continued and their rational power sustained and the work of the Law written in their hearts was apparent in them and yet with all the glory of God in his works of Creation and general providence preaching to them they perished in their vain imaginations and professing themselves wise in searching to finde out
God they became fools corrupted Gods glory and turned his truth into a lye unto themselves Rom. 1. 21. 2. 14. And as for the holy Angels they could not finde out the way of mans reconciliation for they come to know it by the Church Ephes 3. 10. SECT 5. And fourthly as for any other means what can enter into mans heart but the 4. Nor any other means offering of Sacrifices even to thousands of Rams or ten thousands of Rivers of oyle a thing impossible to be had or the giving of the sonnes of our bodies for the sinnes of our souls a bloody and as fond as desperate a course or the building of Temples to God but all these with such like God rejects Micah 6. 6 7. Isa 66. 1 2 3. Now these are the uses unto which we should put this Doctrine The use of this First to shew our lost estate by nature to put us all among the lost All men are helplesse and hopelesse in respect of themselves or any other creature Secondly To strip us of all fig-leaves lay us naked and to shut us up to Christ Thirdly To endear Jesus Christ unto us that we may say Give me Christ or else I dye And fourthly to form us to a readiness to be any thing that God would have us to be that Christ may be ours CHAP. III. Containing the second great Truth which is the fulnesse of the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ proved and set forth by many choice truths which the Apostle in this Text taketh for granted SECT 1. THe second Doctrine is this There is absolute fulnesse of salvation for sinners in Jesus Christ In Doct. 2 There is fulnesse of salvation in Christ for sinners Proved 1 Cor 1. 30. him there is a redemption plenteous Psa 130. 7. and eternal Heb. 9. 12. salvation to the utmost Heb. 7. 25. in him an everlasting righteousnesse Dan. 9. 24. in him righteousnesse and strength he is made to us of God wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption what can a sinner need and yet his needs are unspeakable but they are all exceeding abundantly in glory to be supplyed in Christ A sinner a most imperfect nothing yet if believing he is compleat in Christ in him it pleased the Father Col. 2. 9 10. Col. 1. 19. Joh. 1. 16. that all fulnesse should dwell that out of his fulnesse poor needy sinners might receive even grace for grace grace answerable to that which is in Christ the head of his body the Church grace upon grace more and more still he it is who came by water and blood all sorts of taking away sinne is in him the whole of legal ablutions 1 Joh. 5. 6. Joh. 3. 34. Rom. 5. 21. and cleansings and he hath the Spirit not by measure Grace reignes over sinne and death through righteousnesse unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. To open this that this fulnesse of salvation Opened may appear I shall follow our Apostle in this Text. Two wayes it may be set forth First In the most excellent truths intimated pre-supposed and taken for granted as bottome substrate and foundation or ground truths upon which his frame of declared Doctrine of the Gospel here delivered is built Secondly In the six special heads expressed which before were pointed out SECT 2. The Truths taken for granted and intimated are these First That even the Elect of God and 1. By five truths taken for granted here in the Apostles words the Redeemed by Christ are by nature in the same condemnation with all others of the children of Adam for they are flesh weak sinful flesh they are unable to keep the Law undeâ— sinne and under the curse for whom God sent his Sonne the Law being unable to help them and their deliverance being that thing which was impossible for the Law to do Although all men are not Reprobates yet all by reason of sinne are reprobable Man in himself hath no cause of glorying and as to God no cause of complaining To the Elect man is there undeserved grace and to the Reprobate is there deserved punishment The Elect and Redeemed remain till their effectual calling in themselves miserable carnal alienated from Ephes 2. 1 2 3. the life of God dead in sinne and trespasses the children of wrath even as othets In them are no propensions inclinations or fore-going dispositions to receive grace not one of them was ever able to raise up himself to meet God in the wayes of his grace God never gave Christ to any because he was better than others nor sent the Gospel to any because they would give it better entertainment This only may be said of him which is true of any other man that being a reasonable creature and not a stock or a brute beast he is a subject upon which the glory of God and his Image may be reestamped but for any goodnesse or lesse guilt God findes them all in their blood and wallowing in their filth none righteous no not one all altogether unprofitable and abominable Secondly That condemnation death and hell have their power from sinne and sinnes strength to condemn lyeth in the Law and in the righteousnesse thereof for mark here God to deliver from condemnation condemns sinne and sinne being the swerving from the righteousnesse of the Law for which the Law sentenceth the Transgressor thereof with the curse sin is then utterly gone when the righteousnesse of the Law is every way fulfilled God therefore purposing to deliver fetcheth out the very heart of sinne and taketh it quite away by providing that the Laws righteousnesse be fulfilled Hence it is manifest that this is an undoubted and first truth that the Laws righteousnesse is the strength of sinne The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law 1 Cor. 15. 56. Full salvation can no other way be wrought but by unstinging death and by fulfilling the Law which is the only way to pluck out deaths sting let this be done and the deliverance from sinne and death is full and compleat Thirdly That mercy in God cannot make him like of sinne or blinde him that he should not see it and the sinfulnesse of it or cause him to dislike the righteousnesse of the Law and of the just sentence thereof because God cannot forgo his holinesse justice and omniscience God condemned sinne that the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled he condemns sinne he provides that the Law be fulfilled and so he saves the sinner Fourthly That the benefit of Gods saving love and of the Redemption by Christ and of the Gospel is never to any man actually till it be in him and if never in him never was it to him intentionally God and Christ never intended life and righteousnesse to those in whom he never fulfills it This is taught in the words in us SECT 3. And fifthly As the ground of the whole work here declared and as the
is tempted God is a Father who is so far from being angry Psa 103. 13 Mal. 3. 17. with his children for these meer infirmities that he pities them spares them and makes them up as his Jewels but as for their gâ—osse sinnes they are they for which their Father is angry with-holds his comforts his Spirit and their joy and no consolation to them in sinnes they indulge untill they be humbled deeply Again understand this aright These sins condemn not not as if lesser sinnes were not displeasing unto God their Father to Christ their Lord and to the Spirit their Leader nor as if they might not be so committed that they may become great sinnes through carelessenesse and security and so as they may be circumstanced Nay A failing may be so allowed so customary so malapertly and frowardly excused and pleaded for that it may have too much of presumption in it and so have much wickednesse in it and have much of the nature of a great transgression and therefore may have in it much provocation and that which calls for great humiliation before any comfort can flow into the soul of such a one Secondly these sinnes of infirmity ought not to hinder assurance that is the assurance of faith and the assâ—rance of evidence There is the assurance of faith Sins of infirmity hinder not assurance which is our duâ—y and ought to be held fast and maintained whiles uprightnesse is kept up in its constant course without interruptions although God do desert us although God do kill us There is the assurance of evidence which is not alone to have the promises for us and we rest thereon but to have our evidences of our interest in the promises speaking fully and our spirits clearely reading them and giving in their witnesse and thence the heart assured this also as the help of the assurance of faith is belonging to our duty but there is the assurance of feeling and of the Tâ—stimonâ— of the holy Spâ—rit of promise this is a blessing wholely this is in Gods hand and not in ours And it cannot be in a better hand Quâ—st If any say How can the assurance of faith be held fast How can we have our evidences fair and full when there is such quick sense of sinne in the sincere believer None so tender of Conscience none indeed truly affected with sinnes filthinesse and burden but he When also there is no lesse apprehension of Gods wrath and displeasure and of his forsasakings and withdrawings of the comforts of his Presence he only knowes what the shining of Gods face in Christ reconciled means and he only knows what the hiding away of his face means I answer Answ Understand well these six things in the Covenant of Grace which answer all the fears of the upright First That in this Covenant uprightnesse Gen. 17. 1. Pro. 11. 6 5. is required and not perfection The righteousnesse of the upright is the righteousnesse which God accepteth and he calls it the righteousnesse of the perfect that is of the sincere and entire who are sanctified throughout and in every part though they be not perfect already in any part in soul in spirit or in body they have in no part the perfection of degrees but they Phil. 3. 12. Phil. 3. 11 12 13 14. say with the Apostle I have not attained I am not already perfect Uprightnesse is the reaching forth to that which is before as not having yet attained as not already perfect untill we attain unto the blessed resurrection of the dead It is not to account ones self to have apprehended but to follow after and to be upon the pursuit if that we may apprehend that for which also we are apprehended of Christ Jesus It is forgetting what is behind and which we are brought to through grace to presse toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus that we may come to the Goale and receive the Crown of righteousnesse and consummate holinesse and glory 2 Cor. 7. 2. which is the hope of our calling It is to be on clensing from all filthinesse of flesh 2 Cor. 7. 1. and spirit of body and soul inward and outward and on perfecting our holinesse in the fear of God The Lord knoweth that thou believest but in part thou knowest but in part and thou doest all duties but in part Why sayest thou as one dejected Oh I have many failings many sinnes are upon me Say the same for it is very true say it as one deeply humbled and spare not say it as one confessing with godly sorrow with a spirit without guile My sinnes are more in number Psa 40. 12 than the haires of my head when I think on them they encrease and come so fast on that I am not able to look up my very heart faileth me Art thou kept in this frame to be a purifying to be a clensing to be a perfecting to be pressing on forwards still thou art upright Châ—ist is thy righteousnesse thou art absolutely perfect and compleat in him for it is in the first Psa 40. 12 with 6. 7 8 verses place spoken of him thy Mediatour and surety It is most true of him who came to bear the sâ—nnes of all the Elect Innumerable evils dâ—d câ—mpasse him about thy sinnes since calling and all thy sinnes before calling and all the sinnes of all that ever shall be saved were charged upon thy Lord Jesus Christ so that he saith Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up they are moe thâ—n the hairs of mine head therefore my heart faileth me Why sayest thou should I be of the number of Phil. 3. 15. the secure and luke-warme which my soul fears and hates hold fast the former frame and while thus minded art thou not minded as all the perfect are as the perfect in the Gospel-sense and in the language of the holy Ghost who ever gives right names to things Secondly that perseverance is promised and given to believers as well as required Jer. 32 40. 1 Joh. 2. 27 of them I will put my feare into their hearts that they shall not depart from me this is a Branch of Gods everlasting Covenant with his people in Christ The anointing which ye have received of Christ abideth in you and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him A precious promise Why then doest thou say I shall never hold out I shall one day fall by the hands of Saul by this or tother temptation or corruption Remember these promises and stay thy soul on them thy perseverance is from preservation even as thy spiritual life is from Regeneration Thirdly The Law of this Covenant which thou art under is the Law of fâ—â—th Rom 3. 27 28. Rom. 10. â— 6 8 9. Rom. 4. 5. Rom. 3. 24 25. Rom. 1. 17 and not the Law of works The unâ—odly and sinner at
the first is justified by faith freely of free-grace through the righteousnesse and redemption which iâ— in Jesus Christ and in his blood this is most true the great truth of the Gospel and it is of the same Gospel-truth that the â—ust the justified sinner now made just and righteous by faith and whose heart God hath purified and sanctified by faith the just shall live by his faith for the righteousnesse â—phes 1 6 2. 8 9. whereby he stands righteous iâ— revealed from faith to faith and not first to faith and then afterwards to works and he is still by free-grace accepted in Christ the beloved and is what ever he is by the free-grace of God We are saved by grace through faith and that is not of our selves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast Salvation is by faith that it might be of grace were it of works it were no more of grace Will any say grace is not grace Why sayest thou I but I can do nothing I have done nothing I still sinne after forgivenesse I have upon me a very necessity oh my dayly sinnes and debts what will become of me for my sinnes since God hath graciously visited and called me Do we not see the Answer live by faith upon free-grace and upon the redemption which is in Christ as thou didst at first when thou wast nothing but sinne God hath begun thy salvation by faith and he will never turn thee over to the Law again to be perfected by it Wilt thou begin in the Spirit and then go to be made perfect by the flesh Fourthly That all that is required of us even repentance faith and uprightnesse as well as perseverance is promised given undertaken for and wrought by God the Father and by Jesus Christ the Sonne of the Father and by the Holy Ghost the Spirit of the Father and of the Sonne Why sayest thou despondingly I cannot repent I cannot believe I have a deceitful heart I cannot be rid of hypocrisie vain-glory and secret self-confidence art thou sensible of these condemn them judge thy self for them and go to him as a child to a father through Christ by the Spirit according to his Word for power to repent believe and to walk uprightly Owning thy disability look to him who whiles and in the bidding exhorting and promising giveth and worketh what he commands Say Turn thou me and I shall be turned Lord I desire to believe help thou mine unbelief accomplish in me all the good pleasure of thy goodnesse and the work of faith with power Take out of me the heart of stone and give me an heart of flesh give me a new heart and a new spirit and put thy holy Spirit into me which shall cause me to walk in thy Statutes and to do them Lift up thy drooping soul and say Let him command what he will who gives what he Commands and gives by commanding Fifthly That free-grace is the ground of all and abounds through all and reignes above all to eternal life Why sayest thou as one discouraged The sense of my sinne and guilt abounds how then can I have comfort In thy self thou canst not loath thy self upon the account of thine own righteousnesse thou canst not but in God in Christ upon the account of his free-grace thou mayest and mayest the more for all the mercy of this Covenant of loving kindnesse peace and salvation was and is for sinners guilty sinners chief sinners that were under sinne and death in their power and for no other that where sinne abounds grace might super-abound and was and is from free-grace above and against desert Sixthly That Jesus Christ is the second Adam and the Covenant is within and in him with us Why sayest thou How can it be that Christs righteousnesse should be mine how can any be perswaded of this Why sayest thou not How can the Rom. 5 12 and forwards to the end of the Chapter first Adam involve me in sinne and death is not the answer clear and full He is the first Adam and is not the answer as clear and full Jesus Christ is the second Adâ—m this he is to all who are in him thou findest the first Adam's disobedience hath made thee sinful and brought in death upon thee place thy self under the Word of faith receive what God there testifieth to be true and why not for God is true and thou shalt feele that the obedience of Christ will make thee righteous the fâ—ee-gift will come upon thee unto justification of life In this thing Adam was a fâ—gure of him that was to come even or the Lord Jesus Christ the second Adam SECT 4. In the third place Mark well The sinnes 3. Falls and backslidings though repeated shall not condemne the spiritual walker of those that walk after the Spirit shall not hinder the benefit of Christs salvation from them no not their falls in their walk not their back-slidings nor their relapses into the same iniquity again The Apostle boldly affirms there is ro condemnation to them tâ—ey are in Christ and to them that are in Christ there is no conâ—emnation They that are in Christ have the benefit of all the salvation which is in him salvation is full where there is no condemnation They sinne but Christ is their Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. Jer. 31. 18 19 20. Christ is their propâ—tâ—atâ—on They bemoan themselves for their untractable hearts God owns them for children dear by Adoption in Christ Jesus he spares and pities with fatherly yearning bowels as Ps 103. 13 14. Their falls was said before And as for their falls their falls are with rising again with as it were another conversion with a new setting in joynt again They grow better by their falls as did David and Peter not that it is ere the better that they fall or that they are better than those that hold on their way and walk in uprightnesse without falls but thus they are better than they were before they fell they recover the fall and walk on with the more self-denial watchfulnesse holy jealousie speedy stedfastnesse and redoubled zeal and power they were over-taken in a fault and they run the faster tread the streighter and surer They did the Lord dishonour and disservice they now mind the more his honour and some higher service if none fall in their way they will make famous to his honour their own shame owned in repentings but nevet more come near the very appearance of commission or perpetration of such sin by their good will Their falls therefore shall not hinder their salvation No nor their back-sâ—idings I distinguish Their back-slidings them thus A fall into some particular sinne A back-sliding is a departing from the faith or from the holy way back-sliding is of the nature of Apostasie in doctrine or practice there is a new Religion and another frame of conversation in back-sliding As Apostasie is