about something else Luk. 14.18 19 20. indeed will not come Joh. 5.40 And ye will not come to me that ye may have life But then 't is all Lord Lord. Oh how fain would they own Christ and be owned by him But alas their Repentance cometh too late their desires too late their tears too late 't is all forced by their extremity Job 27.9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him An Hypocrite would not much care if he were heard in the times of peace and the affluence of outward enjoyments but then when he would fain flatter God into an hearing God rejecteth him In extremity they prize mercy above a thousand Worlds but all will not do the Door is shut 3. The Matter of the Petition Open to us That is the Door of the Nuptial Chamber None but desire Happiness This Petition as set here noteth two things 1. The innate desire of Happiness that is in Man All desire to enter and to be saved at length however they neglect the Means for the present to get Oyl in their Vessels or to keep in their Lamps 2. How deeply leavened with self-confidence and self-conceit the Hearts of men are so that they are not easily dispossessed of it When the door is shut the foolish Virgins make full account to enter The most sottish think they shall do well enough Deut. 29.19 I shall have peace though I walk in the Imagination of my own heart and add drunkenness to thirst Especially the Temporary who is the refined Hypocrite Many shall say to me in that day Lord Lord we have prophesied in thy name c. make full account to go to Heaven that shall never come there They trust to false Evidences use negligent endeavours please themselves with uncertain and deceitful hopes But all vain and false pretences shall then be confuted and those that have an high and false opinion of their interest in Christ shall then be disproved by him Secondly I now come to the Bridegrooms Reply Where note 1. The Vehemency and Asseveration Verily I say unto you To cut off all further hope his Answer is peremptory and decisive 2. The Reply it self I know you not There is a twofold knowledge Intuitive and Approbative 1. By an Intuitive Knowledge known unto the Lord from the beginning are all his Works Act. 15.18 God had an Idea of all things in himself before he gave them actual Being He knoweth all whom he conserves by his Providence Every wise man knoweth what he hath Christ knew that virtue went from him in the throng 2. But this Knowledge is here meant of the knowledge of Approbation as we find it often in Scripture Now Christs knowledge of his own people is threefold First As they fall under the purposes of his Grace So 't is said 2 Tim. 2.12 The Lord knoweth them that are his This is also in Scripture called his Fore-knowledge Rom. 8.29 Whom he did foreknow them he did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father God the Father having all persons that ever should be in the World under his all-seeing eye he did out of his free love single and choose out some to be the Objects of his Grace designing them by the Redemption of Christ and the Sanctification of the Spirit to come unto Glory He particularly treated with Christ about them Joh. 17.6 put them into his hands to be justified sanctified and finally saved This is the foundation of the Lord that standeth sure Secondly As they are under the care of his Special Providence when they are in actual being to supply them with all things necessary and good for them So t is said Psal. 1.6 The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked shall perish Joh. 10.14 I am the good Shepherd and know my Sheep and am known of mine Christ knoweth them man by man person by person and all their safety cometh from his particular care over them Gal. 4.9 But now after that ye have known God or rather are known of God He assigneth the work of Conversion to Gods preventing Grace Sinners in an unconverted Estate are such of whom God taketh no notice and knowledge so as to be familiar with them and to communicate his special and saving blessings to them Thirdly 'T is put for his Rewarding Grace and so he is said to know or not to know To know his People 1 Cor. 8.3 If any man love God the same is known of him Those that choose God for their portion and cleave to him and serve him faithfully Christ will own them or confess them before his Father in Heaven Luk. 12.8 but others he will not own See Mat. 7.21 And then will I profess unto them I never knew you He will not own them in judgment that will not own and obey him now So Luk. 13.25.26.27 When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut the door and ye begin to stand without and knock at the door saying Lord Lord open to us and he shall answer and say unto you I know you not whence you are Then shall ye begin to say we have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets But he shall say I tell ye I know you not Here is no entertainment for such as you who have by your sloth negligence and improvidence forfeited the advantages offered you I never approved you for my Disciples and Servants 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. saith Chrisostome These words are more cutting and grievous than Hell it self I know you not Well these three sorts of knowing must be distinguished The first is this That Christ hath a particular and exact knowledge of all the Elect and who they are that shall be saved wherein he will not be disappointed Joh. 13.18 I know whom I have chosen The second is the ground of our present comfort and support He hath a special affection to them taketh special notice and care of them and will bring them to know love and acknowledge him as he doth also them He beareth a suitable Impression thereto The third is matter of our hope and will be our honour at the last day that Christ will come to us and own us and reward us for all that we have done or suffered for him here When others have the entertainment of Strangers and are rejected as no true Believers and Professors of the Gospel then shall we be owned and admitted into Heaven by him Here is a large Field of Matter I shall single out those things that are most obvious and worthy of our remark and Observation First That they came afterwards I shall take occasion to shew the Necessity of hastening our Preparation for the day of our Accounts Secondly From their passionate desire to have the door opened to them here is a strong insinuation and vehement desire Lord Lord
Business in Heaven and he is not unmindful of it 3. The Spirit prepareth us without which all the rest would come to no effect For it is the Wisdom of God to dispose all things into their apt and proper Places Therefore the Persons are prepared as well as the Place Rom. 9.23 Vessels of Mercy which he hath aforehand prepared unto Glory He worketh Faith in their Hearts giveth them a Title and by sanctifying prepareth them for the Possession and Enjoyment of it He that worketh us for this self-same thing is God 2 Cor. 5.5 Thirdly The Application or Appropriation of this Preparation to the Persons that shall now enjoy it For You Which respects not only the Qualification but the Persons 1. Not only for such as you but for you particularly In the general Heaven was prepared for Believers God never intended Unbelievers should have such a Glorious Estate Such as love the world do not prize nor long for this Happiness and therefore 't is fit they should never enjoy it for though the preparation be a work of abundant Mercy yet that mercy is so tempered and limited by his Wisdom and Justice that it will not permit him to give such holy things to Dogs or cast Pearl before Swine No 't was prepared to be enjoyed only by Believers and holy ones 2. For you personally and determinatively This is most agreeable to Christs scope and sense for all the Conditions were also prepared for them God did elect us to Faith and Holiness as well as to eternal Life Faith is the fruit of Election not a cause he did not choose us because we were holy or because he did foresee that we would be holy but that we might be holy Eph. 1.4 That being sanctified and renewed by the Spirit we might be placed in the new Jerusalem For you in Person that is Christs meaning Fourthly The Antiquity or ancientness of this preparation From the foundation of the world that is from all Eternity for the Scripture goeth to the highest point of time unto which we can ascend in our thoughts so that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As 't is expresly said Eph. 1.4 Before the foundation of the world The Phrase is ordinary in Scripture and is as much as to say From all Eternity or before any time was for Gods purposes are as he is eternal and without beginning therefore if we speak of Gods intention and purpose it was before all worlds Those that understand this For you that is for persons so qualified will deny the meaning of the Phrase to be That the dignities of the Kingdom of Heaven were designed to be the reward of all the faithful Servants of Jesus Christ before all worlds and they that know the Scriptures cannot but conclude that from all Eternity he made choice of us to be justified sanctified and glorified The Elective Love of God is of an ancient standing even from all Eternity and therefore most free there being nothing in the Elect before they had a being to move his Love towards them and this will be the glory of his Grace at that day that we are invited into that Estate that was prepared for us long before and who are we that the thoughts of God should be taken up about us so long since Tit. 3.2 Which God that cannot lie promised before the world began So 2 Tim. 1.9 Who saved us and called us with an holy Calling according to his purpose and Grace which was given to us in Christ before the world began He Indented then with Christ to bring us to what we shall at last enjoy but if any morosely insist upon the Phrase because it doth not necessarily signifie Eternity we must then understand that though the Purpose of God were from everlasting yet the things designed and acted by him they take their beginning in time or with time and so the words must be understood 1. Of preparing the place which shall be the state of the Blessed The third Heaven is the dwelling place of the Saints which was framed about the beginning of the Creation so good and gracious was our God that he did not make Man or Angel 'till he prepared a place convenient for them Or 2. To the Promise presently made upon Adam's fall but the former Exposition is more simple Well then you have heard what Entertainment the faithful shall have from Christ at his Coming so far as our dull Minds can conceive of it and with weak and Imperfect words can express it to you Now let us see what Use we may make of all this VSE 1. Let us be convinced that there is such an Estate and will be such a Time and that there is no true Blessedness but this enjoyment of God in the Kingdom of Heaven that we shall then have The World hath been much puzled about disputes of Happiness and the way to it The Philosophers some placed it in Knowledge some in that Vertue which they knew some in Pleasure some in this some in that Austin out of Varro reckoneth up two hundred eighty six Opinions about the chief good They erred thus because they sought it in so many things whereas it consists in one The enjoyment of God and because they sought it in this World where all things are mortal and frail and we can find not one thing that can make us compleatly happy This discovery was left for the Scriptures which teach us that our Happiness lyeth in God alone and that our perfect enjoyment of him in Body and Soul is reserved for Christs coming when there is a perfect Conformity to God and Communion with him 1 Joh. 3.2 Beloved we are now the Children of God but it doth not appear what we shall be but we know when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is The Lord revealeth his Truth to us in the Word but before we can be convinced of it we must be enlightned by the Spirit for spiritual things can only be spirtually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 We may talk of these things by rote one to another and have an assent to them which is call'd a Non-contradiction though not a positive understanding and Conviction of the truth of them Believest thou this Joh. 11.26 2. When we believe it let us look for it and long for it and live in the hopefull expectation of this blessed time when all these things shall be accomplished Therefore if we believe such a thing we must long for it and live in the hope of it Titus 2.13 Looking for the blessed hope Hope sheweth its self 1. Partly by frequent and serious thoughts and delightful Meditations of the thing hoped for Thoughts are the Spies and Messengers of Hope it sendeth them into the Land of Promise to bring the Soul tydings thence 'T is impossible a man can hope for any thing but he will be thinking of it for 't is the nature
not without Success and Fruit. This Phrase Kept thy Word is very significant it implieth not only outward Hearing but Knowledg Mat. 13.23 He that receiveth the Seed into good Ground is he that heareth the Word and understandeth it c. Nay not only Knowledg but Assent and Believing embracing the Promises of the Gospel Luke 8.15 Having heard the Word keep it and bring forth Fruit with Patience Not only Assent but the Fruits of Love and Obedience 1 John 2.4 He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Liar and the Truth is not in him Not only single Obedience but constant Profession and Perseverance Prov. 16.20 My Son keep thy Father's Commandments and forsake not the Law of thy Mother They have not failed as Judas Now there is a twofold keeping of the Word a Legal keeping and Evangelical The Legal keeping is absolute and perfect Obedience if there be but the least failing Moses accuseth and condemneth you The Evangelical keeping is filial and sincere Obedience Those Imperfections Christ pardoneth when he looketh back and seeth many Errors and Defects in Life as long as we bewail Sin seek Remission strive to attain Perfection All the Commandments are accounted kept when that which is not done is pardoned Thy Word He doth not say my Word but thine He elsewhere referreth his Doctrine to the Father John 7.16 My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me So here he mentioneth the Divine Authority of his Doctrine 1. Observ. Christ speaketh good of his People to his Father Satan is an Accuser he loveth to speak ill of Believers but Christ telleth his Father how his Lambs thrive It is a grief to your Advocate when he cannot speak well of you in Heaven and say They have kept thy Word I am glorified in them How grievous is it when your very Advocate is forced to be an Accuser Isa. 49.4 I have laboured in vain and spent my Strength for nought I have sent my Gospel and it doth no good it is Christ's complaint against the Obstinacy of the Jews Again whom will you imitate Christ or Satan To slander and accuse is the Devil's Property we should be more tender in divulging the Infirmities of the Saints it is the Devil's work Christ when he prayeth for his Enemies he mollifieth their Crime and softneth it with a gentle Interpretation Luke 23.34 Father forgive them they know not what they do Christ excuseth Satan accuseth 2. Observ. Again They have kept thy Word Christ speaketh good of them tho they had many failings The Disciples often miscarried were of weak Faith passionate when when they met with Disrepect Luke 9.54 Lord wilt thou that we command Fire to come down from Heaven and consume them But Christ returneth this general Issue They have kept thy Word So James 5.11 Ye have heard of the Patience of Job Yea and of his Impatience too when he cursed the Day of his Birth but the Spirit of God putteth a Finger on the Scar. It is a ground of Hope notwithstanding many Weaknesses and Failings Christ loveth not to upbraid us with Infirmities We commend with Exceptions and when we seem to praise we come in with a But like a Stab under the fifth Rib Yea we blast much Good with a little Evil as Flies only go to a sore place 3. Observ. It is the Duty of God's People to keep his Word It is the greatest Commendation Christ could give his Disciples They have kept thy Word Mark Christians It is not your Duty to hear the Word only but to keep it not to know the Word only but to keep it Rickets cause great Heads and weak Feet We are not only to dispute of the Word and talk of it but to keep it We must neither be all Ear nor all Head nor all Tongue but the Feet must be exercised Now what is it to keep the Word We are said to keep it when we watch over it that it be not lost by our selves nor taken away by others It noteth three things that it must be impressed on our Hearts expressed in our Lives retained in our Conversations 1. To keep the Word is to feel the Force of it in our Hearts that our Hearts may be more bent and set towards God for else the Word is lost to our selves A Man may better his Knowledg by the Word but yet he doth not keep it nor feel the Virtue and Force of it The Brains may be warmed when the Heart is not and we may keep the Notion when the Motion is gone and lost Oh consider We know God as we love him we know him aright when we know him as we are known he knoweth us to love us to chuse us to gain us to himself and to Christ. So should we know him for our Portion to have no rest till we have an Interest in Christ. 2. It must be expressed in our Life Luke 11.28 Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it To keep the Law is to live according to the Prescript of it 3. There must be a Perseverance to retain it in our Conversations Rev. 3.18 Thou hast kept my Word and hast not denied my Name Do we thus keep the Word all dependeth on it John 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments Christ conjureth us by all the Love we bear to him Vers. 23. If any Man love me he will keep my Words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him If there be any Faith in the Heart by which we esteem Christ we must not only keep it in Memory but keep it in Faith Do you honour him in your Lives Can we venture any thing to keep the Word when the World would take out Crown from us Vse We may know when Christ will speak good of us not when we hear and when we are taught but when we keep the Word yet this we must do understand and keep his Word not Customs not Traditions of Ancestors nor Fancies we must receive his Word as his Word 1 Thess. 2.13 For this cause thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the Word of Men but as it is in Truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe SERMON X. JOHN XVII 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee IN this Verse there is another Argument why he should be heard for the Apostles which may be taken either from the Towardliness of the Disciples or the Fidelity of Christ The one is implied in the other the Towardliness of the Apostles in discerning the Divine Nature and Mission of Christ the Fidelity of Christ in referring all to his Father they know it and I have taught it them for he urgeth not only their Proficiency they have known but his own Faithfulness he had glorified his
us as in the Text. There was no possible way to recover Holiness unless a Price and no less a Price than the Blood of the Son of God had been paid to provoked Justice for us He must sanctify himself give himself before we can be sanctified and cleansed 3. That they do not aright improve the Death of Christ that seek Comfort by it and not Holiness He died not only for our Justification but Sanctification also There are two Reasons why the Death of Christ hath so little effect upon us either he is a forgotten Christ or a mistaken Christ a forgotten Christ Men do not consider the Ends for which he came 1 John 3.5 Ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sins And Vers. 8. To this purpose was the Son of God manifested to destroy the Works of the Devil to give his Spirit to sinful miserable Man Now Things that we mind not do not work upon us The Work of Redemption Christ hath performed without our minding or asking he took our Nature fulfilled the Law satisfied the Law-giver merited Grace without our asking or thinking but in applying this Grace he requireth our Consideration Heb. 3.1 Wherefore Holy Brethren partakers of the Heavenly Calling consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Our Faith Believest thou that I am able to do this for thee Our Acceptance John 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God But the other Evil is greater a mistaken Christ when we use him to increase our carnal Security and Boldness in sinning and are possessed with an ill thought that God is more reconcilable to Sin than he was before and by reason of Christ's coming there were less evil and malignity in Sin for then you make Christ a Minister and Encourager of Sin Gal. 2.17 For if we seek to be justified by Christ we our selves also are found Sinners Is Christ therefore the Minister of Sin God forbid You set up Christ against Christ his Merit against his Doctrine and Spirit yea rather you set up the Devil against Christ and varnish his Cause with Christ's Name and so it is but an Idol-Christ you doat upon The true Christ came by Water and Blood 1 John 5.6 Bore our Sins in his Body on the Tree that we being dead unto Sin should live unto Righteousness 1 Pet. 2.24 And will you set his Death against the Ends of his Death and run from and rebel against God because Christ came to redeem and recover you to God Certainly those weak Christians that only make use of Christ to seek Comfort seek him out of Self-love but those that seek Holiness from the Redeemer have a more spiritual Affection to him The Guilt of Sin is against our Interest but the Power of Sin is against God's Glory He came to sanctify us by his Holiness not only to free our Consciences from Bondage but our Hearts that we may serve God with more liberty and delight This was the great aim of his Death Tit. 2.14 He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purify to himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Thus did Christ that the Plaister might be as broad as the Sore we lost in Adam the purity of our Natures as well as the Favour of God and therefore he is made Sanctification to us as well as Righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 4. With what confidence we may use the Means of Grace because they are sprinkled with the Blood of Christ. Christ hath purchased Grace such a Treasure of Grace as cannot be wasted and this is dispensed to us by the Word and Sacraments The Apostle doth not say barely he died to cleanse us but to cleanse us by the washing of Water through the Word and here that we might be sanctified through the Truth Christ hath established the Merits but the Actual Influence is from the Spirit Titus 3.5 6. According to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ. And the Means are the Word and Sacraments whereby the Spirit dispenseth the Grace in Christ's Name ordinarily the Gospel which is the Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 If we come to the Father we need his grant Rev. 19.8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine Linen clean and white for the fine Linen is the Righteousness of Saints All cometh originally from his merciful Grant but God would not look towards us but for Christ's sake If we look to the Father he sendeth us to the Son whose Blood cleanseth us from all our Sins 1 John 1.7 If we look to the Son he referreth us to the Spirit therefore we read of the sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thess. 2.14 If we wait for the Spirit 's Efficacy he sendeth us to Moses and the Prophets where we shall hear of him Therefore we may with encouragement pray read hear meditate that all these Duties may be sanctified to us 5. If Holiness be the Fruit of Christ's Death it maketh his Love to be more gratuitous and free For all the worth that we can conceive to be in our selves to commend us to God is in our Holiness Now this is meerly the Fruit of Grace and the Merit of Christ and the Gift of his Spirit in us We wallow in our own filthiness till he of his Grace for Christ's sake doth sanctify us by his Spirit Both the Love of God and the Merit of Christ is antecedent to our Holiness He hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood and made us Kings and Priests to God and to the Father Rev. 1.5 6. And the Spirit 's Work is not lessened as if it were no great Matter 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that appertain unto Life and Godliness through the knowledg of him that hath called us to Glory and Vertue 6. We learn hence the preciousness of Holiness it is a Thing dearly bought and the great Blessing which Christ intended for us We do not value the Blessings of the Covenant so much as we should Christ was devising what he should do for his Church to make it honourable and glorious and this way he took to make it Holy 1. It is the Beauty of God for God himself is glorious in Holiness Exod. 15.11 and we are created after his Image in Righteousness and true Holiness Ephes. 4.24 The Perfection of the Divine Nature lieth chiefly in his immaculate Holiness and Purity 2. It is that which maketh us amiable in the sight of God for he delighteth not in us as justified so much as sanctified Psal. 11.7 For the Righteous Lord loveth Righteousness his Countenance doth behold the Vpright When upon the account of Christ's Merits and Satisfaction he hath created a clean Heart in us and renewed a right Spirit then he
for us Luke 12.32 Fear not little flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom And 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Mat. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father inherit a kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world God prepared this Glory for us and by degrees traineth us up for it 2. The everlasting Merit of Christ Heb. 9.15 For this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance It is by his means that we are redeemed from the guilt and power of sin and have an eternal Inheritance stated upon us It behoved Christ for the honour of the Divine Government by the intervention of his Merit and Intercession to satisfie Gods Justice and acquire unto us those things which Love and Mercy had prepared for us and among other things that blessed and glorious estate which is to be enjoyed upon the Resurrection This is made sure to the Heirs of Promise by the Death of Christ which is of everlasting Merit called therefore v. 12. Everlasting redemption 3. The Almighty Power of the sanctifying Spirit both to change the Soul and raise the Body To change the Soul which is made an Act of Omnipotency 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue Therefore it is often compared to Creation which is a making things out of nothing To raise the Body as he did Christs Rom. 1.4 And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead and will raise the bodies of the Faithful in whom he once dwelled Rom. 8.11 He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Phil. 3.21 Who shall also change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the wonderful working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself 4. The immutable Covenant or Promises of the Gospel which always stand firm and stable 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen Heb. 6.18 That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope that is set before us Hope is put for the thing hoped for that is the glorious estate which is reserved in Heaven to be injoyed there this hope is set before us in the Promises as the Prize which we must seek after and the Blessedness we must aim at We lay hold upon it when we consent to Gods offer and we fly for refuge to take hold of this Hope for it is our Sanctuary and safety as the City of Refuge was to him that was pursued by the Avenger of blood this is ground of strong consolation in all fears troubles and sorrows in the midst of the infelicities of this life this consolation is secured by two immutable things Gods Promise and Oath which are as unchangeable as his Nature these cannot fail or frustrate our hopes these give us security of injoying what we hope or receiving the reward promised to us 5. The unquestionable right of the mortified or those that are dead with Christ There is nothing wanting but the clearing up of our right and title Now the Christian Faith proposeth and sheweth much good to them as real Members of Christs mystical Body Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live and till this be done the whole design of Grace is at a stand we cannot upon other terms expect everlasting Blessedness from Christ. 3. The profit of Believing 1. It strengthens our Reason and helps it to maintain its authority and government against Sense and Appetite Reason is a middle Faculty that standeth between things above and things below and it may be either debased by Sense or elevated by Faith The one is easie because corrupt Nature carrieth us to things pleasing to Sense which are near at hand and carry a great suitableness to our Fancies and Appetites The other is difficult because it dependeth on supernatural Grace for the Spirits illumination is necessary to Faith 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the Spirit which is of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God Therefore here lyeth the benefit we have by Faith to take us off from the life of sense and to mortifie the desires of the flesh which the nearness of things sensible is apt to irritate and stir up in us 2. The more we believe the stronger and greater is our Consolation As for instance our comfort under crosses is more abounding 2 Cor. 4.14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus 2 Cor. 4.18 While we look not to the things which are seen but to the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal Our courage against death is more strong 1 Thess. 4.18 We shall ever be with the Lord. Our diligence in duties is more unwearied 1 Cor. 15.58 Wherefore my beloved brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Vse Let us now improve these things that we have been delivering to you 1. Let us make great Conscience of the first part of our Duty If we be dead unto sin See that the work of Regeneration be once begun The first virtue we receive from Christ is the likeness of his Death that will make way for other things Christ is dead let us be dead with him that to us he may not dye in vain And when it is once begun let it be carried on to a further increase adhere still to Christs dying and persevere both in your diligence and your dependence Diligence do not give over your endeavours of mortifying sin till it be quite gone Dependence that you wait for the power of his Spirit which his Death merited for us 2. As to Life let us incourage our selves with the hope of it the same Grace that hath begun will also finish the work when we are prepared by living the life spiritual in the midst of conflicts and temptations Therefore while you are studying to please God wait for it 1. With Patience Christ after his Resurrection was not presently glorified there must be a time to
communicate it to his Members he is not weak when we are weak but able to do above what we can ask or think 3. As concerning the Life of Glory we have it by Christ also 1 Joh. 5.11 This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son The door which is shut against us by our sins is opened by Christ. Let us follow his Precepts and Example and depend upon his Grace and you cannot miscarry Christ hath brought Life and Immortality to light assured us of an endless Happiness after Death Heathens had but a doubtful conjecture of another Life we have an undoubted assurance and that is some great stay to us 4. Concerning the troubles and afflictions that we meet withal As to the troubles of the Church of God he is alive and upon the Throne he can never cease to live and reign Psal. 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool The enemies of his Kingdom must bend or break first or last 5. Against Death Christ hath broken the power of it as it hath no dominion over him so it cannot totally seize upon his Members in their better part they still live to God assoon as they dye and as to their Bodies The body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is life because of righteousness Rom. 8.10.15 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Job 19.25 I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand the last day upon the earth c. But what is this to us As it hath no dominion over him so not over us the power is broken the sting is gone If our flesh must rot in the grave our Nature is in Heaven Christ once dyed and then rose again from the dead Now this doth mightily secure and support us against the power and fears of death that we have a Saviour in possession of Glory to whom we may commend our departing Souls at the time of death and who will receive them to himself one that hath himself been upon Earth in flesh then dyed and rose again and is now in possession of endless Blessedness He is Lord of that World we are going into All Creatures there do him Homage and we e're long are to be adjoyned to that dutiful happy Assembly and partake in the same work and felicity SERMON IX ROM VI. 11 Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord. THE Protasis or Foundation of the Similitude was laid down vers 9 10. the Apodosis or Application of it to the case in hand in this Verse The Foundation is Christs Example and Pattern dying and rising now after this double Example of Christs Death and Resurrection we must account our selves obliged both to dye unto sin and rise again to newness of life Likewise reckon ye also your selves c. In which words 1. Our Duty which is Conformity or Likeness to Christ dying and living 2. Grace to perform this Duty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through or in Jesus Christ by virtue of our Union with him we are both to resemble his Death and Resurrection 3. The means of inforcing this Duty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reckon Vulgar existimate Erasmus out of Tertullian reputate consider with your selves Others colligite statuite Doctrine That all who are baptized and profess Faith in Christ dying and rising from the dead are under a strong obligation of dying to sin and living to God through the Grace of the Redeemer Here I. I shall consider the Nature of the Duties of being dead to Sin and alive to God II. The Correspondency how they do answer the two States of Christ as Christ dyeth to sin for the Expiation of it and after Death reviveth and liveth to God so we III. The Order first Death then the Resurrection from the dead so first dying to sin then being alive to God IV. The certain Connexion of these things if we dye we shall live and we cannot live to God unless we be dead to sin neither can we dye to sin unless we live to God V. In the two Branches the Apostle opposeth God to Sin I. The Nature of the Work It consists of two Branches dying to Sin and living to God Mortification and Vivification 1. Mortification is the purifying â—â—d cleansing of the Soul or the freeing it from the slavery of the flesh which detaineth it from God and disableth it for all the duties of the holy and heavenly life The reign of sin was the punishment of the first Transgression and is taken away by the gift of the Spirit upon account of the Merit of Christ however it is our work to see that sin dye it dyeth as our love to it dyeth and our love to sin is not for its own sake but because of some pleasure contentment and satisfaction that we hope to find in it for no man would commit sin or transgress meerly for his minds sake meer evil apprehended as evil cannot be the object of our choice Now then our love to sin dyeth when our esteem of the advantages of the carnal life is abated when we have no other value of the pleasures honours and profits of the world than is fully consistent with our duty to God and may further us in it Therefore we are dead to fin when we endeavour more to please God than to please the flesh and mind more our eternal than our temporal interests Rom. 8.5 They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit What we mind and value most sheweth the Reign of either Principle the Flesh or the Spirit 2. Vivification or living to God is the changing of the Heart by Grace and the acting of those Graces we have received by the Spirit of Regeneration All that have received the gift of the spiritual Life are bound to exercise it and put it in act by loving serving and obeying God 2 Pet. 1.3 4 5. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust And besides this giving all diligence add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge c. They that have received Grace are not to fit down idle and satisfied but to be more active and diligent in the exercise of Grace and whatever remaineth of their lives must be devoted to
〈◊〉 Make no provision for the flesh they are provident in sin studied to please their Lusts. Surely such a like care should we have of Sanctity Providing things honest Rom. 12.17 Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1.17 When men are solicitous that the new Nature be not annoyed as they were formerly that the carnal Nature might be gratified it is a sign that serious Godliness possesseth their hearts Now men were careful heretofore that their lusts might want no satisfaction and shall they not be careful that the course of their obedience shall be carried on without interruption Secondly Industry and Diligence is notable in the servants of sin We read of some that do evil with both hands earnestly Micah 7.3 There is an eager disposition in many to sin Wicked men take a great deal of pains to go to Hell we all served sin with all our might and strength Now should there not be such an unwearied diligence in Holiness Rom. 12.11 Not slothful in business fervent in Spirit serving the Lord. As industrious as you were in obeying your base lusts and vile affections so industrious should you be in obeying the Precepts of Christ. Our vigor is turned into another chanel See Paul's instance Acts 26.11 I punished them ost in every Synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme and being exceedingly mad against them I persecuted them even unto strange Cities compared with 2 Cor. 5.13 For whether we be besides our selves it is to God or whether we be sober it is for your cause Thirdly With a like promptness and readiness of mind There need no great deal ado to draw men to evil as a stone runneth down hill of its own accord because of its natural tendency thereto and the smallest temptations seem to have an irresistible force in them Prov. 7.21 With the flattery of her lips she forced him Now after Grace received we should be as ready to obey the motions of the Spirit There is no greater evidence of the new Nature than that our obedience becometh more easie and even There needeth not much ado to perswade the new Creature to such things as belong unto and suit with the new Nature 1 Thess. 4.9 For as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write to you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another Inclination preventeth perswasion Others with much ado are brought to a sense of their Duty and after all they put off God with a little compulsory service which they have no mind unto and had rather forbear than do it Fourthly Resolution and Self-denial How firm are men to a purpose of sinning and go on still though it cost them dear much expence of time waste their Estate bring a blot on their Name yea many a wound in their Consciences and flesh and blood is consumed Prov. 5.11 O that we could thus deny our selves for Christ Every lesser hinderance is pleaded by way of hesitancy and bar to our Duty a little inconvenience in the Service of God seemeth irksom and grievous to us Those that do not take notice of the inconveniences of sin but will easily take notice of the troubles of afflicted Godliness What iniquity have you found in me Jer. 2.5 Alas that we cannot more deny our selves for God who gave us all that we have and can give us greater things than ever we lost for him Fifthly They stopped at no sin Ye yielded your members to uncleanness and to inequity unto iniquity from habitual sin they proceeded to actual from one kind to another rested not in the lust or purpose but were still accomplishing what their lusts craved at their hands So will you count your selves servants of Righteousness because you have some purpose to do good or have some wishes to be better though they never come into act and effect Alas a Christian is to be determined not by knowing or wishing and woulding but by doing He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Joh. 14.21 And whoso keepeth my words in him verily is the love of God perfected 1 Joh. 2.5 The carnal Nature venteth it self not in Lusts only but Practices so doth the new Nature it is an Habit and Principle that influenceth your daily course of life the same God that ruleth the Heart doth also rule the Life the root is for the fruit and the life within to inable us for action without so we have the root and life of Grace and Holiness that we may bring forth the fruit and do the works of Grace and Holiness Therefore whatever wishes and desires men have if they live as they did before neither God nor any wise man will judge that they are freed from sin and become the servants of Righteousness Sixthly The Progress they went forward from one sin to another and never stopped Now as they heaped up sin upon sin so should we add to Grace Grace 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7. Add to your faith vertue to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity You should always grow more pure and holy and aim at an higher degree of Sanctification till all be perfected in Heaven 2 Cor. 7.1 Perfecting holiness in the fear of God The more Grace overcometh Nature the more comfortable every day will your lives be and Religion will grow a more easie and delightful thing to you the compleat subjection of our will to the Will of God is the health ease and quietness of our wills therefore study to be perfect 2. The Reasons why it must be so 1. From the Love and Goodness of God shewed in our Change which should constrain us and awaken in us principles of gratitude towards him 2 Cor. 5.14 15. For the love of Christ constraineth us c. Luke 7.47 Her sins which are many are forgiven her for she loved much It is a trouble to them that God hath been so long detained out of his right that the Devil hath ingrossed so much of their choicest time and best strength and therefore now they would make some recompence as Travellers that set forth late ride the faster Especially doth this hold good of them that have been great sinners it is possible that some have stuck at no villany but have ingulphed themselves in all manner of dissoluteness O how zealous should they be for God for time to come and bestir themselves that they may shew forth the sacred influence of Grace as they have done the cursed rigour of Nature 2. By Grace we have received a new Principle and Power Now Principiata respondent suis principiis a new Heart sheweth it self by newness of Life therefore the power and effect of Grace must as much discover it self as formerly we bewrayed the power of sin otherwise why is this new Principle planted in our hearts It is dangerous to receive objective Grace in vain
calumnies the people of God are represented as strange sort of people unto the World 2 Cor. 6.8 As deceivers and yet true They are reputed as a company of hypocrites and dissemblers all their experiences questioned and scoffed at prophane and wanton wits will be spitting out their venom in every age and Gods people will be Judged according to men in the flesh though they live to God in the Spirit 1 Pet. 4.6 God permitteth it reproach is the soil and dung whereby he maketh his heritage fruitful but yet this is an hiding and disguising the Spiritual life Lastly 'T is hidden under manifold weaknesses and infirmities the best have their blemishes and the most of Christians shew forth too much of Adam and too little of Jesus and so the Spiritual life is carryed on darkly and in a riddle Though the old man of corruption doth not bear sway in their hearts to command direct and order all their actions as formerly it did yet sin is not wholly gone they feel a Law warring in their members Rom. 7.33 And 't is not only warring but sometimes prevailing that they themselves can feel little of the holy life There are some question and life of grace others scorn and scoff at it yet believe it for 't is the great truth revealed in the Scriptures and 't is in some measure felt by sense yea the rays of this hidden and rejected life are often discovered to the World For there are some who by their practices condemn the World live in counter-motion to the corrupt sort of men walk as those that have another Spirit than the Spirit of the World 1 Cor. 2.12 and as those that look for an happiness else where Therefore believe that there is such a life 2. Value and esteem it according to its worth and excellency I mean with a practical esteem as Paul doth counting all things but dung and dross in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. What would he know in him Phil. 3.10 That I may know him and the power of his Resurrection Or the vertue of raising him out of sin to the life of grace Oh that is an excellent thing indeed 'T is more to be advanced to this life than to the highest honour in the World This is to live in God to God to have miracles of grace wrought in us every day 'T is the divine power that giveth us all things that pertain to life and godliness 2 Pet. 1.3 Not begun nor carryed on without a daily miracle or a work exceeding the power of nature or the force of the creature life ennobleth all things a living dog is better then a dead Lion to be alive to God when others are dead in sin what a great priviledge is that 3. Deal with Christ about it Come to him he purchased it by his death John 6.51 This is my flesh which I have given for the life of the World To God in sacrifice to us for food Look upon him as one that is possessed of the fulness of the Spirit to work it in all those that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 He is able to save to the uttermost all those that come to God by him for he liveth for ever to make intercession for them That is penitent believers for by faith and repentance we come to God by Christ. He is angry that we will not come to him for this benefit John 5.40 Ye will not come to me that ye may have life If you have a pressing need why should you keep away from him That 's his Quarrel against us that we will not make use of him for this benefit He is best pleased when we have most of it John 10.10 I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly He would have us not only living Christians but lively He hath appointed Ordinances to convey it to us The word Isa. 55.3 Hear and your Souls shall shall live The Sacraments Psa. 22.26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied they shall praise the Lord that seek him your heart shall live for ever Prayer that we cry earnestly and express our desires of this benefit Psa. 36.9 For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light David often calleth upon God as the God of his life Well when we go to God he remitteth us to Christ Christ to the Spirit and the Spirit to the Ordinances there we should observe his drawings and obey his sanctifying motions when he saith Arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Eph. 5.14 When more awakned than at another time 4 When we have this life let us Improve it and act grace in all holy obedience unto God Eph. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us walk in the Spirit If partakers of the new life of grace we must shew it in our conversations for newness of heart is seen in newness of life USE 3. is to put us upon self reflection and self examination Have we a new life communicated to us 1. If it be so then there is a great change wrought in us 'T is said of Christ he was dead and is alive Rev. 1.18 To him we are conformed Luke 15.24 This my Son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found So Eph. 2.1 You that were sometimes dead in trespasses and sins yet now hath he quickned Surely when a man is translated from death to life that should be a sensible change as if another Soul dwelt in the same body he is another man to God hath holy breathings after him delights frequently to converse with him in prayer Acts 9.11 Arise and go into the street called straight and enquire in the house of Judas for one Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth And Zach. 12.10 I will pour upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication He hath a child-like love to God as a Father Gal. 4 6. And because ye are Sons he hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your heart crying Abba Father Have a Child-like reverence to him Eph. 5.1 Be ye followers of God as dear Children Illustrate it by that Jer. 35.6 When they set pots of Wine before them to drink we dare not Jonadab our Father commanded us saying ye shall drink no Wine And a Child-like dependance upon him Matth. 6.32 Your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things A Child-like hope from him 1 Pet. 1.3 Who hath begotten us to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Zeal for him 2 Cor. 5.10 Knowing the terrour of the Lord we perswade men He is another man to his neighbour he carrieth it justly and righteously to all both as to person name and estate and this not by compulsion of conscience but inclination of heart which the Scripture expresseth by loving our neighbour as our selves seeking their good as our own