Intimacy with Jesus Christ than when he was in the barren Island of Patmos stript of the Confluence of earthly Comforts Elijah never made a better Meal than when he was driven into the Wilderness and the Angel was his Cook 1 Kin. 19. 8. Ah Believers you have never better Allowance of God than when you are cut short in outward things if you be faithful therefore you should be quiet under all Straits and Necessities in the world The day we live in is full of Tryals to many a gracious Soul the wants of many may be more than many think of and 't is now a time to expect more Maintainings from the hand of God and from the Spirit of Grace when outward things are removed when Israel was brought into the Wilderness where was no sowing nor reaping they had their Bread from Heaven and 't is God's usual way to send Meat from his own Table when the Tables of his Children are empty I mean more spiritual Communications from himself if they murmur not but patiently and quietly wait for God's Salvation Lastly Consider Believers 'T is not long you shall be in the way of Wants or Sufferings the time is hastning that will set you beyond the reach of offending Providences nothing shall offend you when you get home to your own Country O! the time is hastning when Moth and Rust cannot consume nor Thieves break thorough and steal Matth. 6. 20. And when afflictive Providences cannot injure your Treasure if the Lord be your Treasure 't is not long you will be open to the Injury of time and to those Casualties that pass upon your Comforts every day Christians brings you farther through the Briars and Thickets of this World and through the barren Wilderness that leads to your Canaan you are travelling apace towards a period of all your Tryals every new hour brings you a step nearer to the Sight and Fruition of your blessed Inheritance Christian Think every Evening now I have a day less to wade through the deep Troubles and Red-sea of this World and to be kept at such strait Allowances and Supplies in this Life O a real Faith of this how should it patient and quiet Believers under present Straits and short Allowances here O! Think upon the coming of the Lord Jam. 5. 7. Be patienâ— therefore Brethren unto the coming of the Lord behold the Husband-man waiteth for a precious Fruit of the Earth and hath long patience for it He waits a long time before Harvest comes and bears many a wet-day and shall not a Believer wait with more Quietness and hope for a far better Treasure O! Christians if you feel some Difficulties and Straits through want of Supplies Comfort Credit Strength Ease Peace Rest for a little time know Eternity is coming that will make amends for all 7 Duty Seaventhly Live upon your Treasure these unsearchable Riches in Christ for this end hath the Father provided those rich Treasures to satisfie you here and to solace you hereafter 't is laid up in Christ for you not lockt up from you Christians the Lord Jesus is a Fountain sealed to not from you there 's no Bolt between you and your Treasures you may go and fetch supply at all times of need Heb. 4. 16. It hath pleased the Father that in Christ should all Fullness dwell Col. 1. 19. For the use of Believers that he might give eternal Life to all that come to him and be the head of the Body the Fullness that filleth all in all Eph. 1. 23. This is the work he hath undertaken to do and invited all his people to come to him that they might have Life and have it more abundantly he bids them ask and ask again that their Joy might be full Joh. 16. 23 24 26. This is the Will of God that Believers should eat their own Bread with Quietness 2 Thes 3. 12. And make use of this Inheritance for all their Supply and Comfort Christians you cannot make too bold with your own Christ and all his Fullness is your Interest you may wear out your Welcome with men and beg too often at fellow-Creatures doors but you cannot ask too often of free Grace or take too much of Redemption-treasures if you be sure to refer the Measures and time to divine pleasure In all your need come to Christ for whatever you want for the Life that now is and that which is to come this answers the end of the everlasting Covenant and the Fathers placing this store in Christ and Christ's undertaking the Care Conduct and Salvation of all that come to him and this wonderfully pleaseth Christ and advanceth his mediatory Glory this also keeps up the credit and Reputation of the ways of God in the World when Strangers see Believers rich fare and what a Sufficiency is laid up in Christ for them that Christ maintains his own poor that they need not go a begging this commends that State and Government where care is taken to prevent wandring Beggers Besides otherwise the Promises are useless if you come not to Christ for all your Supplies These full Breasts will be injured if you milk them not out Promises are the Bags in which this Treasure is carried out to believers which will wax old if you use them not Christ gets nothing Christians by your Savingness this way the more he lays out upon you the more he lays up for you 8 Duty Eighthly Improve your Interest in these vast Treasures to the enriching of your own Souls are there such Riches in Christ and is this Jesus yours O then labour to be rich also There are two things which I should press you to be rich in 1. In Grace 2. In good Works First You that have Interest in these Treasures of Christ labour to be rich in Grace be not content with the Truth of Grace with little Measures of Grace but strive to abound in Grace 1 Thes 3. 12. For First Grace is the best Treasure and most rationally desirable for it's self All other created Beings are conditionally good so far as God sees them best for us and so far as they conduce to the great end of Gods Glory and our Salvation but Grace is absolutely good because 't is part of the divine Nature and Image of God 2 Pet. 1. 4. Which divine Nature he tells us ver 5. 6. Lies in Faith Vertue Knowledge Temperance Patience Godliness and Charity 'T is absolutely necessary to the glorifying of God and being glorified with God Heb. 11. 6. Without Faith 't is impossible to please God and without Holiness no man can see God Heb. 12. 14. Grace is the best Treasure because the most enduring Treasure the most potent Treasure it can procure more than all the World can Mark 9. 23. All things are possible to him that believeth Indeed created grace cannot by way of Merit or Purchase procure any thing but by way of Appropriation and Meekness it brings that which all the World cannot Grace
There could be no Redemption of them that were bound an I cast by the Statute of the first Covenant but by Christs Sufferings therefore Christ did actually lay down his Life a Ransom for all his Seed 1 Pet. 3. 18. For Christ also hath once suffered for Sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us unto God 2 Cor. 5. 21. He hath made him to be Sin for us By way of Stipulation and Agreement he was made a Sin-offering he did actually undergo all those Sufferings while he was on Earth which was a full sufficient equal just valuable and proportionable Satisfaction to divine Justice all that it could demand in foro judicii Justice hath nothing more to charge the Extremity and Rigour of the Law was fulfillled and whatever the Believer should have suffered in his own person was all born by Christ 1 Tim. 2. 6. Who gave himself a Ransom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Gomarus observes signifies an equal-price of Redemption an Eye for an Eye a Tooth for a Tooth caput capite redimo saith Arist So full is this Satisfaction made by Christ that God declares himself well pleased Math. 3 17. So great was the delight and Pleasure that God took in his Sons Satisfaction as that by an audible Voice from Heaven in the Presence of men and Angels he discharges him and gives him an Acquittance Again This Satisfaction must needs be full because upon the very Promise of this Ransom when the Conclusion was made between the Father and the Son did the Lord let his Prisoner free and give the purchased Possession to the Seed of Christ before ever Christ did fully pay the Debt as much as to say assoon as ever the Lord Jesus Christ gave Bond for the payment of this Debt the Father gives out the Fruit of it and so all the Saints that were saved before Christ came were saved by Virtue of this Promise of Christ to the Father fully to pay the Debt and the Spirits of just men were made perfect with God before Christ came into the World upon the account of this compleat Satisfaction afterwards to be made Again A Proclamation is sent out from Heaven upon the Death and Resurrection of Christ that now Peace is made for fallen man upon the terms of Sinners coming to and receiving of the Lord Jesus Christ now God would never have sent forth this Proclamation from Heaven had not the Satisfaction Christ made been compleat and full Matt. 11. 28. Come unto me whoever you be let your Burdens be never so great your Wearyness never so much your Dangers never so many come unto me and I will give you rest thus he proclaims in the great Feast Joh. 7. 27. If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink be he what he will here 's enough to satiate his Soul if he comes here 's Redemption procur'd And upon this by the joynt Agreement of the Father and Son a Commission is given to a certain number of men to preach the Gospel and tender Reconciliation to lost Sinners Luke 24. 47. And that Repentance and Remission of Sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations Mark 16. 15. And he said unto them go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature O Friends These are glorious things if they be but believed Tenders of Life must be made to all the perishing World that all may know that this was a full and sufficient Ransom which Christ gave and that the Father was compleatly satisfied with it Again Upon the Fathers actual Acceptance of Christs Redemption and Mediation he doth give out begun Salvation to Believers they are admitted to the actual Enjoyment of this purchase so all Believers upon their Reception of Christ have the Spirit of Christ given them which to them is begun Salvation a Seal of Glory the first fruits of Heaven 2 Cor. 1. 22. Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts Now seeing the Father upon the receiving of this Payment made by Christ delivers out Grace and therein the Begiâ—nings of Glory to all that savingly close with Christ therefore this price paid by Jesus Christ must needs be compleat and full That 's the second thing that this Mediator doth he doth actually pay down the price the Father demands and this becomes a full Satisfaction to divine Justice for every Soul that doth savingly close with Jesus Christ Thirdly Another thing the Lord Jesus Christ doth as Mediator is this By his shed blood he seals to and engages with the Father in the Behalf of Believers that they shall abide with God in his Covenant and shall no more wickedly depart from him we have shewn before that this was one of those Terms agreed upon between the Father and the Son that Jesus Christ should be the Surety of another and better Covenant and here the Lord Jesus Christ stands actually bound for the Preservation of all the Saints to Glory O if Souls had this Truth let into their Hearts it would wonderfully prevent many stumbling Blocks by reason of their Unbelief he stands bound to the Father as a Sponsor or Surety in the Behalf of Believers that he will work all in them and for them that tends to the Salvation of their Souls for in this new Covenant God doth not deal with man but by a Surety mans single Bond will never pass more in the Court of Heaven no it was broken in Adam's Fall and God made no more Covenant with man upon these Terms there must be a Surety hence he is said to be the Surety of a better Testament Heb. 7. 22. So that that which is to be wrought in and by Believers the Lord Jesus Christ undertakes to do Rom. 8. 4. That the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfill'd in us That is that Righteousness which the Law requires even a perfect Conformity to the will of God might be fully found in Christ our Head for us and in us by way of Imputation and Application through Faith by vertue of the Union between Christ and his Members all the Righteousness and Obedience which was wrought in Christ's own person as their Head Redeemer and Mediator of this new Covenant is imputed to them as their Obedience and Righteousness and accepted of God the Father as if it were done by them and so it is fulfilled in Believers so that the Lord Jesus Christ stands engaged to the Father for the Obedience of all his Seed that it shall be wrought in them and for them in Truth and Sincerity And he begins to place this inward Conformity to God in the Soul when he doth new create it in the Image of God there is something in every part and Faculty of the believing Soul that corresponds and answers to the Holiness of God though but in Part and Degrees in their Understandings something of the true Light of God in their Wills something of real
the Spirit too for Christ is not divided He that hath Christ hath the Father and the Spirit for these three are one Now a Soul that hath the Spirit of Christ may know it by the effects of it The Spirit of Christ is a quickening Spirit it begets a principle of Life The Soul that was dead to God and holiness now hath a new life a heart to move after God it works from other motives even from love to God Dost thou find thy heart always dead to every act of Grace No heart to pray hear c. and is this habitual O then here 's no fruit of Christs Spirit The Spirit of Christ is a sin-opposing spirit always quarrelling with Lust always convincing troubling humbling the Soul for sin Gal. 5. 17. Tit. 2. 11 12. It gives no peaceable possession to it but always opposes it as fire doth water Where the Spirit of Christ is 't is a leading guiding Spirit Rom. 8. 14. Christians what is it leads you Is it your own Spirits if you have received the Spirit of God you may know it by those Scripture ways it takes to put you upon duty such a one is coâ—vinced by the word and perswaded and help'd by the word to this and the other duty Again The Spirit of Christ is a praying Spirit A Soul that is in Christ cannot live without prayer though no eye see it and no good come by it yet he cannot omit secret prayer Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 8. 15. 'T is not enlargement of affections parts abilities and expressions in prayer but the inditings of the Spirit inward breathings sighs and groans of the Spirit A man may pray like a Saint or an Angel and yet not have a jot of the Spirit of prayer but it is the encouragement of the Spirit to wrestle with God by Christ the inward suggestions of hope when a Soul can go to God as to a Father when the very heart goes out to God in prayer and when prayer is wing'd with Faith and Love These are the effects of a Spirit of prayer and the fruit of a Souls reception of Christ Thirdly They that have obtain'd an interest in Christ have crucified the flesh with the lusts there of Gal. 5. 24. They and only they that are in Christ have crucified the flesh that is the body of death original sin The general Nature of sin the universal extents of sin come under the workings of this Crucifixtion O try Souls â—ath the Axe been ever laid to the root of sin Have you ever found felling stroaks upon the bodie of your Corruptions are you baptiz'd into the death of Christ and as he died for sin so do you die to sin and by vertue of his death and wounds do you fetch power and strength from him to crucifie it There 's a difference between the curbing and the crucifying of sin sin may be chain'd up imprison'd and not crucified Hypocrites that are under a seeming change do restrain and confine sin yea they may punish sin but do not crucifie it The crucifying of sin is the giving it a deadly mortal wound fetch'd from the blood and death of Christ Faith fetches vertue from the Grave of Christ to destroy the power of sin nothing so mortally stabs this Leviathan as a believing reflection on our propriety in Christs Crucifixtion and a laying hold on promises by Faith in order to the application of the benefit of a crucified Christ Rom. 6. 4 6. Our old man is crucified with him The putting our lusts into the side wounds and grave of Christ A levelling the Ax to the body of sin doth strange work to the crucifying of it Trie then are your corruptions Pride Passions Earthliness as strong as ever deceive not your selves this will never assure your interest in Christ till sin be destroyed 't is true when the wound is given sin doth not immediately die but the bodie of sin is dying and the believing Soul finds his corruptions hath less strength every day as a man that loseth his blood weakens more and more so a Soul that crucifies Lust finds it to weaken day by day Fourthly Another effect of a Souls union with Christ is this There will be some resemblance of Christ 1 Joh. 4. 17. As he is so are we in this World As Christ was Crucified in the flesh so are his Crucified to the flesh And as Christ was risen and justified in the Spirit so are they sanctified by the Spirit and have the nature and Image of Christ Hence we are said to be made conformable to the Image of his Son Rom. 8. 29. They that are Christ's are in some measure of truth like him 1 Joh. 3. 3. They have something of Christ's Nature and Spirit Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2. 5. Christ's mind was off from and above the World and herein lies as great an evidence of interest in Christ as in any thing that Soul is dead to and wonderfully loose from the World Gal. 6. 14. Christ's mind was heavenly he favour'd the things above his meat and drink was to do his Fathers will If you are Christ's you will be of the same mind nothing in the World will so much delight you as to do something for God Christ's mind was heavenly to do his work and hasten home and if you are Christ's this will be your mind to dispatch your work and hasten home Christ was full of mercy humility meekness If you are interested in Christ so it will be with you Lastly They that are interested in Christ do interest Christ in themselves and in all that is theirs 2 Cor. 8. 5. They first gave themselves to the Lord Such do devote and make over themselves and all to Christ and glad they have any interest parts capacities that Christ will accept of they cannot keep back a part no were it a thousand times dearer Christ shall have all Can. 6. 3. I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine The keeping back of part lost Ananias and Saphira they were undone and damned for ever Act. 5. If Christ be yours you will entitle him to all you are and have And thus are we come to a Conclusion in this matter That Soul that can come to seal to those things is a happy Soul O blessed Soul indeed Then mayst thou boldly say The Lord is my helper God Christ the Spirit the Promises the Kingdom and glory is mine Thus much for the use of Examination CHAP. XXX Containing a Vse of Exhortion pressing Believers to several duties HAving already dispatch'd Motives Counsels and Directions to Sinners about their coming to this Christ I shall only apply this last use of Exhortation to those who are interested in this rich and glorious Jesus Christians you that are made happy in your Relation to Christ and invested with a Title to these glorious Treasures of all persons you are most obliged to duty Christians be you advis'd and exhorted to
grace if you once get your Hearts resolved for them Secondly Labour for a holy skill in managing Christianity to the greatest Advantage this makes men thrive when they have the Mystery of their Art and are their Crafts Masters and understand the Rules of their Trade unskillful persons are not like to thrive whatever their Employment be Prov. 4. 7 8. Prov. 3. 13. 14. Prov. 24. 3. Thirdly Be diligent in the use of all your helps and advantages to Soul-profit Prov. 10. 4. chap. 13. 4. 2 Pet. 1. 5. Take all Opportunities of waiting at the Pools side Isa 55. 1. They that will be rich in the World take all Opportunities of getting and ply Markets and Fairs and Seasons of Advantage for their Interest and so do Souls that thrive in Spirituals they are much in waiting on God they lose no Seasons that will bring them in some Soul-advantage Prov. 23. 23. Fourthly Be still getting in more and more grace from Christ 't is Christ's Treasures that enriches the Soul he that will be rich must buy tryed gold of Christ Rev. 3. 18. The graces of Christ are true gold they will bear the Fire and hold out in greatest Tryals counterfeit grace will be as reprobate Silver when it comes to melting it will be as Hay and Stubble that perish in the Fire but true grace will hold in time of Tryal 1 Pet. 1. 7. In this Gold differs from all other Mettals in that it loseth nothing by the Fire but comes forth the more pure so is the grace of Christ 't is as tryed Gold that doth not loose but get in the Fire of Affliction and Temptation Naturalists say that Gold is more warm in the night than in the day so true grace cheers the Heart more in the night of Tribulation than in the day of Prosperity O Christians if you will be rich get in grace from Christ every day for that is the true Cornucopia or the Souls plenty Joh. 1. 16. Of his Fullness have we received Grace for Grace Make some new Additions to your graces every day 2 Pet. 1. 5. What the Heathen said concerning Learning Nulla dies sine Linea Let the Christian say concerning Grace Nulla dies sine Gratia This would be a notable way to Soul-prosperity to be getting from Christ some more grace in every Approach to him as are your Receivings from Christ so will your Thrivings be put often the hand of Faith into Christs Treasury and grasp large Portions of Grace for thy Soul Faith is the only receiving grace Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God Joh. 7. 39. Therefore 't is called the Substance of things hoped for Heb. 11. 1. Faith appropriates to the Believer the Overtures and Promises of grace and by a secret magnetick Vertue derives in from the Fullness of grace needed Supplies Faith dips into the Fountain and fills the Soul with what it needs Fifthly They that will be rich in grace must be thrifty saving Souls choice of their time and careful that they do not wast their graces or loose the things that they have wrought 2 Joh. ve 8. So persons that are thriving in the World are saving of every thing that nothing be waste the same Care is needful to spiritual Enrichings Prodigality will soon consume great Estates he that is not saving will never be wealthy Christians do not consume your days as a Tale that is told Psal 90. 9. make the most of every hour do your proper work every day a wise and faithful Improvement of time would tend much to Soul-flourishings Eph. 5. 16. Spend no words in vain put Time and Talents to the greatest Advantage they got most for God and themselves who were most in the Improvement of their Talents hold fast also the Truths you have received Rev. 2. 25. That is keep and retain the Doctrine preserve and maintain the practice of those Truths you have received Sixthly Be much in begging grace be always asking some spiritual Blessing from God as Caleb's Daughter Achsah Judg. 1. 15. her Father had given her one Blessing and she asks another and 't is said he gave the upper and the nether Springs so be not content with what you have but still be craving for more grace like Princes Favourites who have their Lords Ear will be often begging now this place then that Preferment so Believers be suing hard for Grace ply the Throne of Grace daily loose no Opportunity wherein you may further your spiritual Interest by Supplication this is Gods appointed way to the obtaining of Mercy Ezek. 36. 37. Follow your Sutes till you obtain let your chiefest Requests be for Grace and be restless till you prevail like Jacob who would not let God go till he had blest him Isa 62. 7. Give him no rest till he establish and make Jerusalem the Praise of the Earth Never leave begging till the Lord Jesus hath left off giving and that will not be whilst he sits upon the Throne Eph. 4. 8. Lastly Maintain constant intimate and universal walks with God He is the most thriving Soul that keeps nearest to God as that is the fruitfullest ground that is nearest the warm Sun Isa 18. 4. Deut. 33. 14. so is it to keep near to God This was that which exalted Israel above all Nations they were a People near to God Psal 148. 14. This made Enoch so soon ripe for Heaven he was one that walkt with God Gen. 5. 24. Christians 't is not your sitting under God's shadow will make you thrive till there be a dew on your Souls Hos 14. 5. 7. Keep much in his presence with him is the Fountain of Life Psal 36. 9. Be also constant in thy walks with God not by sits and flashes but drive a steady Trade of godliness Let thy whole course of Life both in thy Civil and Religious Duties be as one constant Walk with God Gen. 17. 1. In your Callings Relation-Duties in every state change and undertaking keep close to God this is a notable way to spiritual prosperity Deut. 5. 33. 2 Chro. 17. from vers 3. to 7. Secondly Improve your Interest in Christ towards your inriching in good Works Labour to be rich towards God as well as in your own Souls Luke 12. 21. 1 Timothy 6. 18. Consider Christians the more you lay out for God the more are you like to God who giveth us richly all good things 1 Tim. 6. 17. And in being rich towards God you will inrich your own Souls also for he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 2 Cor. 9. 6. Acts of Mercy and Piety are as good Seed that shall not miscarry but shall bring forth a sure crop in glory Gal. 6. 8 9. 9. Duty Ninthly Live up to your Treasure Walk as becomes so high a Dignity and Relation to so rich a Jesus 2 Thes 2. 12. This is but reasonable if God hath changed your State that you should change