lattice 3. Other Prophets spake only to the ears of men but Christ spake and still speaks to the heart Revel 3.7 He hath the Keyes of David that openeth and no man shutteth that shutteth and no man openeth it is a similitude taken from them that keep the Keyes of a City or Castle without whom none can open or shut no more can any man open the heart or break in upon the Spirit but Christ he only is able to open the eyes of the mind by the secret kindly and powerful working of his own Spirit 4. Other Prophets preached wisdom unto men but only Christ preacheth men wise other Prophets warned men by telling them of their sins and denouncing the judgments of God but Christ reclaimed them and turned them from sin hence it is said that he taught as one having Authority and not as the Scribes John 5.25 it came daily and coldly from them but it came from him as being full of conviction and reproof 1 Cor. 2.4 full of the evident demonstration of the Spirit and of power 5. Other Prophets might not preach themselves the Apostle inveighs against self-commenders We dare not saith he make our selves of the number 2 Cor. 10.12 or compare our selves with some that commend themselves Yea Christ himself relating to himself as a meer man saith that his witness is not true if he bear witness of himself John 5.31 But in another place relating to himself as Mediator he speaks clean contrary John 8.14 Though I do bear record of my self yet my record is true Here then is a wide difference betwixt other Prophets in respect of their Office and Christs they might not preach themselves but he bears witness of himself because he hath not a greater in the point of our Justification Sanctification and Salvation to bear witness of them himself And hence are those self-predications of his which we find in Scriptures as Look unto me Isa 45.22 Mat. 11.28 Luke 24.27 and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden And conferring with the two Disciples it is said that beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself Surely it commends to us the Prophesie of Christ that he might preach and commend himself without any blot of Arrogancy or taking too much upon him 6. Other Prophets had their Commission and Authority from him Eccles 12.11 The words of the wise are as goads and as nails fastened by the Masters of the Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd i.e. the words of the wise are divine and Heavenly instructions the Masters of Assemblies are Gospel-Ministers and Christ is that one Shepherd from whom these words are given and from whom these Masters have their Authority 2 Cor. 5.20 Ezek. 20.46 are they not called Embassadours for Christ and doth not Ezekiel tell us that he must drop his words towards the South Now what is the meaning of that dropping It is a phrase borrowed from rain as the clouds from whence the rain descends have not their water Originally and natively in themselves but from the Sea so have not the Prophets a spirit of Prophesie of themselves but all is drawn up out of Christ as out of a full Sea of all excellent Wisdom and knowledge In him are all the Treasures a Sea an Ocean of knowledge and from him all the Prophets derived whatsoever they had SECT IV. Of Christs Miracles 2. THe Miracles of Christ this year were many now what were these Miracles but a pursuance of the Doctrines delivered in Christs Sermons One calls them A verification of Christs Doctrine a signal of Christs Sermons If we observe we shall find him to work most of his Miracles in actions of mercy indeed once he turned water into wine and sometimes he walked upon the waters but all the rest were actions of relief according to the design of God who would have him manifest his power in shewing mercy and relief to men Amongst all his Miracles done this year now was it that at Cana where he wrought the first Miracle he does a second a certain Noble man or Courtier or little King as some would have it came to Jesus and besought him to come down to his house John 4.47 and to heal his Son who was at the point of Death We do not find Christ often attended with Nobility but here he is Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty 1 Cor. 1.26 not many noble are called yet God forbid but that some are and may be this noble Ruler listens after Christ in his necessity happy was it for him that his Son was sick for else he had not been so well acquainted with his Saviour O we are loth to come to Christ till we see a need a necessity for it and hence it is that Christ sends weakness sicknesses infirmities oppositions and many afflictions that he may be sought unto Come then are we afflicted whither should we go but to Cana to seek Christ whither should we go but to that Cana of Heaven where our water will be turned into wine where our Physitian lives that knows how to cure souls and bodies and all that we may once say It is good for me that I was afflicted The first answer Christ gives this Nobleman is a word of reproof John 4.48 Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe Incredulity was the common disease of the Jews which no receipt could cure but wonders A wicked and Adulterous generation seeks after signs the Doctrine of Christ and all the Divine words that he spake must be made up with Miracles or they will not believe it was a soul fault and a dangerous one Ye will not believe What is it that condemns the world but unbelief Here 's a Noble Capernaite that probably had heard many a Sermon of Jesus Christ and yet here is Taxed with unbelief if such as we that live under the clear Sun-shine of the Gospel shall not believe O what a sin is this Christs next answer to this Nobleman is a word of comfort Ver. 50. Go thy way thy Son liveth Oh the meekness and mercy of Jesus Christ when we would have looked that he should have punished this Suitor for not believing he condescends to him that he may believe as some tender mothers that give the breast to their unquiet children instead of the rod so usually deals Christ with our perversness Go thy way thy Son liveth with one word doth Christ heal two Patients the Son and the Father the Sons feaver and the Fathers unbelief we cannot but observe here the steps of Faith he that believed somewhat ere he came and more when he went he grew to more and more saith in the way and when he came home he enlarged his faith to all the skirts of his family And the
me 10. Now he discovered his obedience to his Father in preaching the Gospel up and down He foresaw that the night drew on in which no man could work and therefore now he hastned to do his Fathers business now he pours out whole Cataracts of holy Lessons and still the people drew water from this Fountain which streamed out in continual emanations he added wave to wave and line to line and precept to precept and at last he gave them his farewel Sermon which is the most spiritual and comfortable piece that ever was uttered it comprehends the intentions of his departure to prepare places for his Saints in Heaven and in the mean while he would send them the holy Ghost to supply his room to furnish them with proportionable comforts to enable them with gifts to lead them into all truth and to abide with them for ever In conclusion of all he gave them his blessing and prayed for them and then having sung an hymn he goes away and prepares for his sufferings Rom. 5.19 2. Hitherto of the obedience of Christ what was it but a visible commentary of Gods Law but now for its influence on us By the obedience of one many shall be made righteous Observe The righteousness of the Law fulfilled and fully accomplished in the person of Christ is as truly ours if we believe in Christ as if it were in our selves or as if the Law had been fulfilled in our own persons Rom. 10.4 Thus Christ is the end of the Law saith the Apostle for righteousness to every one that believeth Christ hath not only determined and put an end to the Ceremonial Law but he is also the end of the moral Law he hath perfectly in his own person accomplished the Moral Law and that not for himself but for righteousness to every one that truly believes in him Rom. 8.4 And God sent his Son that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us These words in us much trouble Interpreters for though we believe yet are we imperfectly holy how then should the Law be fulfilled in us But 't is answered that the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us not by inhesion or sanctification but by imputation and application i.e. in our nature which Christ took upon him it was in Christ and is imputed unto us and so the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us It is well observed of Beza that the Apostle saith not That the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled by us or of us or by any Righteousness inherent in our own persons but in us because it is to be found in Christ whose members we are who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit The point is sweet but I cannot stay on it In reference to what I have spoken of the righteousness of Christ habitual and actual a great controversie is risen in our dayes of which in the next Section SECT V. Of the great controversie whether we are not justified by the passive righteousness of Christ only without any consideration had to the righteousness of Christ either inherent in him or performed by him FOr my part I am for the negative upon these well known grounds Argu. 1 1. By what alone the Law is not fully satisfied by that alone we are not justified but by the passive obedience of Christ alone the Law is not fully satisfied therefore by his passive obedience only we are not justified Thus far I grant that the Law is fully satisfied by his passive obedience in respect of the penalty therein threatned but not in respect of the Commandment for the obtaining of the blessedness therein promised and the righteousness of the Law is thus described Rom. 10.5 that the man which doth these things shall live by them Against this are divers exceptions of the Adversaries As 1. That the Law is satisfied either by doing that which is commanded or by sufferring the punishment which is threatned Answ It is true in respect of the penal Statutes of men but not in respect of the Commandments of God in which there is not only a penalty threatned but a blessedness promised if man had continued in his integrity the Law might have been satisfied by obedience only but being fallen into a state of disobedience two things are necessarily required to the fulfilling of the Law i.e. the bearing of the penalty and the performing of the Command the one to escape Hell and the other to obtain Heaven 2. They except that whosoever are freed from Hell are also admitted to Heaven Answ The reason thereof is because Christ who did bear the punishment to free us from Hell did also fulfil the Commands to bring us to Heaven but howsoever these two benefits of Christ do alwayes concur in the party justified as the causes thereof concurred in Christ who not only did both obey and suffer but in obeying suffered and in suffering obeyed yet both the causes between themselves and the effects between themselves are carefully to be distinguished for as it is one thing to obey the Commandment and another thing to suffer the punishment so it is one thing to be freed from Hell by Christ his suffering the penalty and another thing to be intitled to Heaven by Christ his fulfilling the Commandments 3. They except that God is a most free Agent and therefore he may if he will justifie men by the passive righteousness of Christ only without fulfilling of the Law Answ What God may do if he will I will not dispute but sure I am that he justifieth men according to his will revealed in his Word and there we find that as we are justified from our sins by the Blood of Christ so also we are made just by the active though not only by the active obedience of Christ For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous And if when we were enemies Rom. 5.19 we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Rom. 5.10 by his life which he lived before his death and by his life which he lived and doth live after his death by the acts of his life before his death meritoriously and by the acts of his life after his death as by his resurrection ascension session and intercession effectually Christ is made unto us of God saith the Apostle both redemption and righteousness redemption to deliver us from sin 1 Cor. 1.30 Dan. 9.24 and righteousness to bring in everlasting righteousness 4. They except that if we are justified by Christ his fulfilling the Law then we are justified by a legal righteousness but we are not justified by a legal righteousness but by such a righteousness as without the Law is revealed in the Gospel Answ The same righteousness by which we are justified is both legal and evangelical in divers respects
Question and therefore I shall not amuse my self in giving any account of it only these remain as sure truths 1. That the things communicated to our inward man I mean those inward motions and suggestions to holiness and obedience are frequently and usually by the administration of Angels 2. That the same things communicated to our inward man are ever originally and primarily from the Spirit of Christ and hence it is that commonly we put them all on that score we give them all to Christs Spirit 3. That 't is proper to the spirit to enlighten the understanding and to determine the will effectually the Angels are but Cisterns the spirit is the fountain the Angels may speak and move us to our duties but the blessing the efficacy is of the Spirit and in this respect we leave to Christ and his Spirit the all in all Well then O my soul consider especially in Church assemblies and in the enjoyment of Ordinances the especial presence of Christ in the presence of his spirit and in the presence of his Angels What dost thou feel any stirrings actings movings in thy spirit dost thou feel any quickening warming feeding cherishing healing Gen. 28.16 17 mollifying melting comforting strengthening in thy inward parts say then Surely the Lord is in this place this is none other but the House of God this is the gate of Heaven O here is the Spirit and here are the Angels ascending and descending and therefore avoid Sathan avoid all prophane thoughts and earthly-mindedness avoid dulness deadness drousiness avoid looseness lasciviousness and all irreverence 1 Cor. 11.10 because of the Angels and because of the Spirit and because of the especial presence of Christ which encauses them both 6. Consider the the Preaching of Christ O the admirable Sermons of this great Prophet the Spouse tells us His Lips like Lillies dropped sweet smelling Myrrh his Doctrine was sweet as the Lillies and sound as the Myrrh His Lipps were like Lillies Cant. 5.13 as certain odoriserous Lillies that cast forth a sweet smelling savour they were full of Heavenly Grace and sweetness Grace saith the Psalmist was poured into his lips Psal 45.2 and they dropped sweet-smelling Myrrh the nature of this Herb is to keep from putrefaction as it is sound it self so it makes other things sound Error is of a putrifying nature corrupting and defiling the soul but the Doctrine of Christ keeps the soul sound it is the souls preservative it keeps the soul free from all corruption and defilement See here the prophetical office of Christ held forth in similitudes his lips were ever dropping distilling publishing sweet and sound truths Read and peruse those Sermons he hath left on record yea ruminate and meditate on them in order to piety and an holy life How sweet was the first Sermon of Christ Repent Matth. 4.17 John 3.3 for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand And how Spiritual was that Sermon of Christ Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God It may be thou art a Doctor a Master of Israel thou art a learned Schollar thou art a man of parts and abilities in other things it may be thou hast read so long in the Bible thou hast heard so many and so many Sermons c. but ah miserable soul it may be all the work is to do still within Come say this Sermon of Christ to thine own soul Vnless I be born again I cannot enter into Heaven born again O Lord what is that was ever such a thing done upon me was ever I cast into the pangs of a new birth and continued I in those pangs untill Christ Jesus was formed in me are old things done away and are all things now become new is the old man the old lusts the old conversation quite abandoned and left are my principles new my aims and ends new my life and conversation new Thus might I paraphrase on all the Sermons but I intend brevity only consider O my soul as if this Sermon and all the rest had been preached to thee Reallize Christ standing by thee Heb. 12.25 and opening his mouth and teaching thee thus and thus surely there is a speaking of Christ from Heaven See that ye refuse not him saith the Apostle that speaketh from Heaven And besides he hath his Ministers here on earth and they are daily Preaching over these Sermons of Christ again and again they Preach such things as were first spoken by the Lord himself Heb. 2.3 2 Cor. 5.20 1 Tim. 4.15 they beseech and pray thee in Christ's stead O then meditate on these things and give thy self wholly to them that thy profitting may appear to all 7. Consider the miracles of Christ in pursuance of the Doctrine delivered in his blessed Sermons Here 's a world of matter to run over such miracles are done by Christ as never man did before Moses indeed smote the Rock and the waters gushed out but he could not turn Water into Wine Elisha raised a Child that was dead to life but Jesus raised one who had been dead four days yea who was buried and corrupted Elias and Samuel and all the Prophets and the succession of the high Priests in both the Temples put all together never did so many and so great miracles as Jesus did he turned water into Wine he healed the Noble-mans Son even at the point of death he cured the Leaprous by his touch he made the lame man to walk and the crooked limbs to become straight he made habitual diseases and inveterate of eighteen years continuance and once of thirty eight years to disappear at his speaking even as darkness at the brightness of the Sun John 9.23 he fed thousands of People with two small fishes and five loaves he cast out Devils and commanded them whithersoever he pleased he restored sight to the blind in a word he did such miracles as no man else ever did and the poor blind man proved it by instance of himself It was never heard that any man opened the Eyes of one that was born blind O my Soul consider of these miracles and believe that Doctrine which was ratified with Arguments from above how shouldst thou but assent to all those mysterious truths which were so strongly confirmed by an Almighty hand What dost thou think a meditation needless in this respect art thou fully satisfied of the truth of Scriptures It is well I hope thou art and yet who knows how soon thou mayst be put to it by an enemy or a strong temptation One can tell us in print Some are now talking of a tolleration of all Religions and some desire that the Jews may have a free commerce amongst us it is good therefore to be well armed at this point and the best Argument to prove the verity of the Gospel next to the inward testimony of the Spirit is this demonstration or common place of the miracles of Christ Luke 6.13 Mat. 28.19
this day of the Lord we look for it and hasten unto it we are glad it is so near and we do what we can to have it nearer with an holy kind of impatience we beg of the Lord Rom 8.22 23 Come Lord Jesu come quickly This was Paul's character We know that the whole creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together until now and not onely they but our selves also which have the first-fruits of the spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our bodies God's children such as have the first-fruits of the spirit the beginnings of true saving grace in them they constantly look and long for the day of full deliverance or of the coming of Christ This the Apostle instanceth in his Corinthians ye come behind in no gift 1 Cor. 1.7 waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and in like manner he writes to his Philippians Phil. 3.20 Our Conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Tit. 2.13 And to Titus himself he writes the same things We look for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Now Christians lay this character to heart do you long pant and look for this glorious and second coming of Christ have you any such wishes and sayings of heart and mind as these are Oh that Christ would appear Oh that Christ would now break the Heavens and come to Judgment oh that I could see him in the Cloud and on his Throne oh that his enemies were ruined my sins subdued my soul saved that I might serve him without weariness for ever and ever Surely if these elongations of soul be in you it is a comfortable evidence that your hopes are sound and that Christ will come to receive you to himsâ—lf and to bring you to glory 3. If we love Christ's appearing then will he appear on our side 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also that love his appearing A true Christian loves Christ's appearing in ordinances and in all the means of grace how much more in his own person but how should we love that we see not O yes there 's a kind of an Idea of Christ and of his glorious appearing in every sanctified soul and in that respect we love him though we cannot see him Who having not seen ye love 1 Pet. 1.8 Verse 7. saith the Apostle and so your love and faith at the appearing of Jesus Christ shall be found unto praise and honour and glory Those that have not seen Christ and yet love the Idea of his sight even they shall appear at the appearing of Christ in praise and honour and glory Is not the Crown laid up for them that love the appearing of Christ is it not a sign of a good cause to love a day of hearing surely the love of Christ's coming cannot consist without some assurance that a soul shall stand upright in the Judgdment He that hath not a confidence in his cause loves not the coming of the Judge no guilty prisoner loves the Sessions or loves the judges presence it is the cry of Reprobates Rev. 6.16 O ye mountains and O ye Rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne But as for Christ and his Saints O the mutual loves and mutual longings in their breasts The last words that Christ speaks in the Bible and amongst us last words make deepest impressions are Surely I come quickly and the last answer that is made in our behalf is Amen even so come Lord Jesus I know this Character is near the former and therefore I shall pass it over 4. If our works be good then will he reward us according to our works At that great day this will be the trial works are no works Mat. 25.33 34 35 36. Then will he say to them on his right hand come ye blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdom prepared for you for I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in prison and ye came unto me Here were works Verse 46. upon which followed the rewards of Heaven for these went into eternal life I know Works are not meritorious and yet they are evidences I know works without Faith are but glisterrings sins and yet works done in faith are signs and fore-runners of eternal glory I know that if all the excellencies of all the moralities of all the men in the world were put together these could never reach glory and yet a cup of cold water given to one of Christ's little ones in the name of a Disciple of Christ shall not lose its reward Mat. 10.24 If a Christian doubt how should I know that my works are of a right stamp I answer 1. Look at the principle is there not something above nature do I not find some new light let out by God that shews a glory and excellency and beauty in good works is there not something in me that makes the same to be sweet or pleasant or agreeable to me 2. Look at the end natural works have no better end than self and creature-respects but in my works is there no aim at something higher than self whatever I do is not this in mine eye that all I do may tend to the honour and glory of God I had need take heed of vain-glory and self applause the Godly at the day of Judgment do not know the good works they did if my aim be at God I shall forget my self as if all I did were swallowed up in God 3. Look at the manner of my doing works Vzzah had a good intention but his work was not good because the manner was not good are my works according to the rule do they carry a conformity to the Law of God Let every man try his own work in this O my soul bring thy works to the touch-stone the Scripture the Rule of goodness is not all thy gold then discovered to be dross the Scripture doth not onely tell of works but tells us the manner of performing them as for instance if rightly done they must be done in zeal in fervency in activity thus Gods people are called a peculiar people zealous of good works a formal customary superficial performance of holy works fails in the manner of performing them what are my works performed in zeal is there not too much of coldness emptiness formality in all I do why thus may I know whether my works are of a right stamp certainly all works duties actings which are not done by a gracious heart through