hard Times of the hard Dealings of Men of hard Duties Durus est hic Sermo this is a hard Saying and who can hear it But we seldom complain of that which we should most complain of hardness of Heart The Lord is pleased with these Complaints Ier. 31.18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoke Spiritual Distempers must be most laid to heart God's Children in some degree are inflexible and unsensible there is too great Touchiness and Impatiency to be admonished too much Disobedience to the Spirit 's sanctifying Motions they are too often benummed with the Delights of the Flesh and Cares of the World 2. Hasten your Repentance and Return to God Psal. 119 6â— I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments Gal. 1.16 Immediately I conferred not with Flesh and Blood To press thiâ— let us consider these things 1. How soon God may take an advantage against us we cannot tell He hath not told us at what number of Calls he will depart and give us over to our own Hearts but he hath bid us not to delay and lose the present Season Heb. 3.7 8. To day if you will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts The Command is as express for the Time as for the Duty there is no Season like the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the present Season It is but a flattering Presumption to think that God will always stand waiting Felix had but one Call that we hear of and he fooled it away to a more convenient Season 2. Every Day spent in an unregenerate Condition brings us nearer to Destruction and puts us upon a greater Disadvantage Rom. 13.11 Now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed A pari we may say Now is our Damnation and final Impenitency nearer 3. Every Call sets us yet nearer still Sins are ripened by every Call as Iron oft heated and oft quenched is the harder When Men are often Sermon-scorched they prove at length Sermon-proof The holy God will not cast his Pearls before Swinâ— Isa. 55.6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near 4. A presumptuous going on in Sin upon a Supposition that we shall repent at last is the very next Door and Step to Hell You wittingly continue under the Devil's Power Life is uncertain God may take you away in the Act of Sin as he did Zimri and Cosbi Corah and his Accomplices or he may deny that Space to call for Mercy that you think of for Death doth not always give warning or by an Apoplexy or Lethargy or some stupifying Distemper he may deprive you of the use of your Reason Let this rouze and awaken you out of your fond Presumptions 3. Beware of Tendencies to it when the Heart begins to harden As 1. When you are not sensible of God's Withdrawings when there are any Suspensions of his Grace the Comfort and Conduct of his Spirit and the Soul is stupid It is sad not to be sensible of the Accesses and Recesses of the Spirit Mat. 9.25 The Days shall come when the Bridegroom shall be taken from them and then shall they fast Grace stands in a continual Watchfulness and Observation of all God's Dealings Felt Desertions are grievous but not so dangerous as those that are unfelt It is some good degree of Grace not to be quiet without God 2. When you scorn at Reproof when you are not only Actors but Defenders of Sin and bear up your selves impudently and stubbornly in your ransgressions Jer. 6.10 To whom shall speak and give warning that they may hear Behold their Ear is uncircumcised and they cannot hearâ—en behold the Word of the Lord is unto them a Reproach They are of an unteachable untractakble Disposition they think we rail when we do reprove The Devil hath then two Victories one by the Scorn and Opposition that is cast on the Reprover and the other by the hardning of the Heart of the fretting and reproved Sinner that Anger that should be turned upon the Sin is turned upon the Reproof 3. When Ordinances grow powerless You live under Ordinances and receive no Profit by them you have much Means and can see no Fruit Isa. 6.9 10. Hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not Make the Heart of this People fat and make their Ears heavy and shut their Eyes lest they see with their Eyes and hear with their Ears and understand with their Heart and convert and be healed The Word is powerful if it softens not it hardens 4. When our worldly Comforts are apt to prove a Snare to us Mal. 2.2 I will curse your Blessings yea I have cursed them already because ye do not lay it to Heart When your Table is made your Snare your Meat becomes your Poison your Estate is but as golden Fetters to bind and chain your Heart to the World your Honours blow you up When you do not take Comforts as the Mercies and Blessings of God to praise him for them and to devote your selves in the Strength of them to his Service 5. When Corrections go away without Fruit. Jer. 5.3 Thou hast stricken them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive Correction they have made their Faces harder than a Rock they have refused to return God will have an account of every Dispensation Afflictions are upon the Register as well as Mercies Christians should never advance more in Christianity than under the Cross. 6. When we are lazy and loth to admit Christ into the Heart It being thronged with Creature-Comforts we keep him at the Door knocking and will not open to him Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the Door and knock Cant. 5.3 I have put off my Coat how shall I put it on I have washed my Feet how shall I defile them This Laziness and spiritual Security is a Cause and Beginning of hardness of Heart 7. When trivial and slight Temptations prevail against the sense of our Duty when for a piece of Bread and handfuls of Barley they will transgress and sell the Righteous for a pair of Shoes when they are as a Stone to God's Counsels but as Wax to all other things 8. When the Heart grows vain and frothy for a slight Heart will be an hard Heart or God gives Men over to a reprobate Sense and an injudicious Mind These are the Fore-runners of hardness of Heart which we should beware of and carefully watch against A SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15 It i. e. the Seed of the Woman shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel THese Words are a part of the Gospel preached in Paradise or the first Promise of Grace and Life made to Mankind now fallen and dead in Sin As God was cursing the Serpent he draweth out this Comfort to our first Parents who were confounded with the
sense of Sin and their Defection from God Satan's Condemnation is our Salvation He did the first Mischief therefore the crushing of his Head giveth hope of our Deliverance out of that State of Misery into which he hath plunged us The Words are dark in comparison of the larger Explications of the Grace of God by Jesus Christ which were after delivered to the Church Who would look for a great Tree in a little Seed Yet the seminal Virtue doth afterward diffuse and dilate it self into all those stately and lofty Branches in which the Fowls of the Air do take up their Lodging and Shelter So do these few Words contain all the Articles and Mysteries of the Christian Faith which are the Fountains of our solid Peace and Consolation In the Seed of the Woman is contained all the Doctrine concerning the Incarnation of the Son of God in the bruising of his Heel his Death and Sufferings in the crushing of the Serpent's Head his glorious Victory and Conquest As obscure as the Words are an Eagle-eyed and discerning Faith could pick a great deal of Comfort out of them The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Elders mentioned Heb. 11.2 the Antidiluvian Fathers so famous throughout all Ages for their Faith and Confidence in God had no other Gospel to live upon Abel that offered a better Sacrifice than Cain Enoch that walked with God Noah that prepared the Ark did all that they did in the Strength and upon the Incouragement of this Promise The Words are considerable 1. For the Person who speaketh them the Lord God himself who was the first Preacher of the Gospel in Paradise The Draught and Plot was in his Bosom long before but now it cometh out of his Mouth 2. For the Occasion when they were spoken When God hath been but newly provoked and offended by Sin and Man from his Creature and Subject was become his Enemy and Rebel the offended God comes with a Promise in his Mouth Adam could look for nothing but that God should repeat to him the whole Beadroll of Curses wherein he had involved himself but God maketh known the great Design of his Grace Once more the Lord God was now cursing the Serpent and in the midst of the Curses promiseth the great Blessing of the Messiah Thus doth God in Wrath remember Mercy Hab. 3.2 Yea Man's Sentence was not yet pronounced The Lord God had examined him ver 8 9 10. but before the Doom there breaketh out a Promise of Mercy Thus Mercy gets the start of Justice and triumpheth and rejoiceth over it in our behalf James 2.13 Mercy rejoiceth against Iudgment 3. They are considerable for their Matter for they intimate a Victory over Satan and that in the Nature which was foiled so lately Man by Sin had not only incurred God's Wrath but put himself under the Power of the Devil who had a â—egal Power over fallen Man such as the Executioner hath from the Judg over the condemned Person And a tyrannical Power by Conquest Man being seduced by him from God Therefore it is good News to hear of a Victory over Satan and that his Power shall be destroyed In the former part of the Verse you have the Combate in the Text the Success 1. The Conflict and Combate And I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed It cannot be understood of the Hatred and Antipathy between Men and Serpents though that be alluded unto To what end should God thunder Curses and Condemnation upon the Serpent a brute Creature that understood them not Therefore it is meant of the War between the Devil and Mankind Satan and his Instruments for wicked Men are called his Seed Iohn 8.44 Ye are of your Father the Devil And Ignatius calleth Menander and Basilides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Spawn of the old Serpent And on the other side the Seed of the Woman by way of Eminency Christ and his Confederates But I shall not consider the Conflict now as carried on between the two Seeds but between the two Heads Christ the Prince of Life and the Devil who hath the Power of Death Heb. 2.14 It was begun between the Serpent and the Woman it is carried on between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent but the Conflict is ended by the Destruction of one of the Heads the Prince of Death is destroyed by the Prince of Life 2. The Success and Issue of the Combate Where observe 1. What the Seed of the Woman doth against the Serpent He shall bruise thy Head 2. What the Serpent doth against the Seed of the Woman Thou shalt bruise his Heel 1. There is something common to both for the word bruised is used promiscuously both of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman In this War as usually in all others there are Wounds given on both sides The Devil bruiseth Christ and Christ bruiseth Satan 2. There is a Disparity of the Event He shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Where there is a plain Allusion to treading upon a Serpent Wounds on the Head are deadly to Serpents but Wounds in the Body are not so grievous and dangerous And a Serpent trod upon seeketh to do all the Mischief it can to the Foot by which it is crushed The Wound given to the Head is mortal but the Wound given to the Heel may be healed The Seed of the Woman may be cured but Satan's Power cannot be restored The Devil cannot reach to the Head but the Heel only which is far from any vital Part. 1. For the first Clause It shall bruise thy Head The Seed of the Woman crushed the Serpent's Head whereby is meant the Overthrow and Destruction of his Power and Works John 12.31 Now shall the Prince of this World be cast out 1 John 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil The Head being bruised Strength and Life is perished His Kingdom and Strength is his Head that is gone that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Power of Death Heb. 2.14 the Power to deceive and detain captive Souls Col. 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the Power of Darkness 2. For the other Clause Thou shalt bruise his Heel Where 1. Note the Intention of the Serpent who would destroy the Kingdom of the Redeemer if he could but he can only reach the Heel not the Head 2. The Greatness of Christ's Sufferings his Heel was bruised as he endured the painful shameful accursed Death of the Cross. Doct. That Iesus Christ the Seed of the Woman is at enmity with Satan and hath entred the Lists with him and though bruised in the Conflict yet he finally overcometh him and subverteth his Kingdom 1. That Jesus Christ is the Seed of the Woman That he is one of her Seed is past doubt since he was born of the Virgin a Daughter of Eve That he is The Seed the most
Father of the Wicked and Christ on the other the Captain of our Salvation Heb. 2.10 Or between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent Gen. 3.15 I will put enmity between thy seed and her seed and it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel The Seeds are concerned in this enmity as well as the Chiefs 2. The Nature of this Enmity 't is double as on Sathans part both of Nature and Design so on Christs part both of Nature and Office 1. There is a perfect enmity between the Nature of Christ and the Nature of the Devil The Nature of Sathan is sinful Murtherous and destructive for t is said he was a Lyar and Murtherer from the beginning as before So 1 Iohn 3.8 He that committeth sin is from the divel and the devil sinneth from the beginning verse 12. Cain was of that wicked one who slew his brother 'T is the Devils work to do all the hurt and mischief that he can to the Bodies and Souls of Men. But the Nature of Christ is quite contrary 'T is his work to do good and only good Acts 10.38 God anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with him Christ did nothing by way of Malice and Revenge he used not the power that he had to make Men Blind or Lame or to kill any no not his worst Enemies But he went up and down doing good giving Sight to the Blind Limbs to the Lame Health to the Sick Life to the Dead he rebuked his Disciples when they called for fire from Heaven to consume those that despised them telling them they knew not what Spirit they were of Luke 9.55 56. No all his Miracles were Acts of Relief and Succour not pompous and destructive bating only the blasting of the unfruitful Fig-tree which was an emblematical warning to the Iews and his permitting the Devil to enter into the Herd of Swine which was a necessary demonstration of the Devils Malice and destructive Cruelty who if he could not afflict Men would destroy Swine 2. An Enmity of design For Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil 1 Iohn 3.8 as the Devil seeketh to oppose the Kingdom of Christ Christ was set up to dissolve that Sin and Misery which Sathan had brought upon the World and the Devil sought to keep it up and hinder our Salvation The Devil is the disturber of the Creation and Christ the repairer of it and therefore Salvation and Destruction are perfectly opposite Now such an Enmity as there is between Christ and Sathan such there is also between the Confederates on either side 1. An Enmity or contrariety of Nature The Seed of the Serpent inherit his venemous qualities For as they are an Estate opposite to God so they are to the People of God All People of a false Religion whether Infidels or Idolaters or Hereticks are of bloody and desperate Principles Partly by the influence of their great Guide and Leader partly because their false Religion efferateth their Minds and stirreth them up into a blind bitter Zeal These go in the way of Cain Iude 11. On the other side Christ conveyeth his Holy Meek and Lamb-like Nature to his sincere Worshippers and Followers Their Righteous Souls are vexed indeed with the impure Conversations of the Wicked but so as to stir them up not to passion but compassion They are grieved to see People go by droves to Hell and would â—ain rescue them out of the Snares of the Devil but aim not at their destruction Iude 22 23. And of some have compassion making a difference And others save with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted with the flesh 2. There is an enmity of design Seeking to pull down what Sathan would set up all that Sin Idolatry Errour and Superstition whereby the World is corrupted 2 Cor. 10.4 5. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds and casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. That is to bring down all the disputings and reasonings and prejudices which are raised up against the power of the Gospel and hinder the acknowledgment and practice of the Truth Sathans end is to draw Men into Sin and Damnation and to dishonour God Theirs to glorifie God in the World and save their own Souls and the Souls of all about them 3. This Enmity of Sathan and his Instruments is carried on both against Christ and his People with much rage and fury I will put enmity between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel Gen. 3.15 There is something common to both for the word bruised is used mutually both of the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent In this War as usually in all other there are Wounds given on both sides The Devil bruiseth Christ and Christ bruiseth Sathan Only Christs heel is bruised but the Devils Head is crushed that is he is finally destroyed 1. Certain it is that Christ himself was bruised in the enterprize of redeeming poor Captive Souls which sheweth how much we should value our Salvation since it cost so dear The Lord Jesus thought not his whole Humiliation from first to last too much nor any price too dear for overthrowing the Devils Kingdom and rescuing us into the liberty of Gods Children But how was he bruised by the Serpent Certain it is on the one side that Christs sufferings were the effects of Mans Sin and a demonstration of Gods Holiness and governing Justice Therefore it is said Isa. 53.10 11. It pleased the father to bruise him Unless it had pleased the Lord to bruise him Sathan could never have bruised him But on the otherside they were also the effects of the Malice and rage of the Devil and his Instruments In his whole Life he was tempted by Sathan often vexed with his Instruments Therefore he saith ye are of your father the devil but the closing stroke was at his Death Sathan then doing the worst he could against him When Iudas contrived the Plot 't is said the Devil entred into him Luke 22.3 When the High Priests Servants came to take him verse 53. He telleth them This is your hour and the power of darkness They did prevail at last to cause his shameful Death this was all they could do this was the time the Devil and they were permitted to work their wills upon him 2. No Christians are exempted from Tryals of their sincerity God will have all Obedience to be tryed and honoured by opposition and sometimes by grievous and sharp opposition Rev. 2.10 The Devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tryed Thus Iob was permitted to
A Fourth Volume Containing One hundred and fifty SERMONS ON Several Texts of Scripture By the Late Reverend and Learned Thomas Manton D. D. In Two PARTS PART the First Containing LXXIV Sermons PART the Second Containing LXXVI Sermons WITH AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE To the Whole LONDON Printed by I. D. and are to be sold by Ionathan Robinson at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard MDCXCIII AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE OF THE Principal Matters Contained in this VOLUME A Page ABraham's Faith opened 1. In his clear sight of Christ to come 474 The Grounds of this Faith 475 The Strength of it 476 2. In overlooking the Difficulties that lay in the way of the Promise 482 The Grounds of this Faith 483 The Strength of it ibid. The Effects of it 488 Acceptance with God for the pardon of Sin the highest matter in the World 945 Account There are Books of Account kept between God and the Creature 261 At the Day of Iudgment these Books of Account shall be opened 262 All shall be called to an Account ibid. Iudgment shall pass upon all Men according to the Account then given 263 The Advantage of calling our selves often to Account ibid. Mens Account shall be answerable to their Mercies ibid. Adherence Resolute Adherence of Faith how seen 471 The Grounds of this resolute Adherence 472 Adoption How the Spirit witnesses of our Adoption 1135 Afflictions should not make us question our Adoption 1136 1139 Afflictions come from God 1133 Afflictions and Miseries may befal Gods ' People 1210 Bearing Afflictions becomes God's People 1137 We must not faint under Afflictions 765 Afflictions of the Righteous prove a Life to come 1215 Angels look into the Mystery of Redemption by Christ 918 What of this Mystery Angels look into ibid. The manner how Angels look into it 920 The Reasons why Angels look into it ibid. Angels fallen Why God would not save fallen Angels but fallen Men 658 Page Anger of God God may be angry with his own People 273 Anointing what it signifies 712 Christ was anointed by God 716 Why Christ was anointed 717 Who were anointed first Christ then Believers his Fellows ibid. Apparel Sobriety to be used in it 75 How to judg of Excess in Apparel 76 Helps and Motives to Sobriety in Apparel ib. We must not envy the Apparel of others 75 Appearing of Christ. Vid. Coming Assurance to be laboured after 114 What Application there must be when Assurance is wanting 115 B BAckslider in Heart what he is 1109 The Backslider in Heart shall be filled with his own Ways Vid. Filled Balaam's Plot to destroy Israel 802 Observations from hence 804 Believing what is necessary to it 723 Believing in God and Christ how they differ 235 Why believing in Christ is specially required besides believing in God 245 Believing in Hope against Hope opened with the Reasons of it 484 Better We are not only to be good but to grow better 429 Blessedness True Blessedness not to be sought on this side Heaven 129 Blessedness eternal wherein it consists Vid. Heaven 116 Duties of those that have an Interest in this Blessedness 130 Blessings spiritual we are to be much affected with them 426 We are to be in a capacity to praise God for spiritual Blessings 425 In Thanksgiving spiritual Blessings to be owned 424 Body The Qualities of a glorified Body 119 Brazen Serpent the History of it 747 The Typical Vse of the brazen Serpent 748 The Resemblance between Christ and the brazen Serpent 749 The Excellency of Christ above the brazen Serpent 751 Breasts Naked Breasts condemned 78 Brethren Christ having taken our Nature is not ashamed to call us Brethren 1083 Comforts from being Christ's Brethren 1088 Whether Believers may call Christ Brother ibid. Bruised Christ bruised by the Serpent and bow 538 Burden What a Burden Sin is 1125 None can take off the Burden of Sin but Christ 1126 C CAlamities In all Calamities we must look to God 1132 Vid. Afflictions Calling of Christ twofold outward and inward 784 Canaan The Woman of Canaan that she was a Believer 467 The Greatness of her Faith ibid. Her Temptations and Trials 468 Her Victory over them 470 Captives To whom we were Captives 164 The way of redeeming Captives 165 Care of the World What that Care is that is to be moderated 79 How sinful Care may be discovered ib. Whence it ariseth 80 Arguments against distrustful Care 1099 The Cure of sinful Care 80 Carnal Things Men are addicted to them more than to spiritual things 1111 Cause When we do not honour God as the first Cause 33 Centurion's Faith opened 460 The Greatness of his Faith 459 How it discovered it self 462 How this Faith was bred or begotten in him 461 Certainty conditional and actual what 1104 Charitable We must be charitable to others according to our Power 87 Reasons why we must be charitable 336 Charity or Love to the Brethren the Properties of it 995 Children are a Blessing 833 834 Much of the Providence of God exercised in and about Children 834 How far Parents may procure a Blessing or a Curse to their Children 836 How far godly Parents are blessed in their Posterity 837 Motives to Parents to take care of their Childrens Education 839 Christ. That Christ was God proved 152 Why Christ was called the Great God 150 Why Christ must be God ibid. Christ to be honoured and praised by Saints 1175 1183 Christ's Growth stated and proved 855 856 How Christ grew in Wisdom and Knowledg 855 Coming second of Christ the Preparations of it 139 Second Coming of Christ will be glorious 138 Why Christ's second Coming will be glorious 144 Inferences from Christ's glorious Coming 146 The Personal Glory of Christ at his second Coming 140 His Attendants then 141 His Work then 142 The Consequents of Christ's second Coming 143 Belâ—evers to look for Christ's second Coming 131 Objections answered 135 Reasons of it 132 The Advantage of looking for Christ's second Coming 135 How we are to prepare for Christ's second Coming 138 The Privilege of the Saints at Christ's second Coming 133 Coming to God How we are said to come to God by Christ 965 Who they are that come to God by Christ 964 Common Work not to be rested in 291 Comparison fourfold between this Life and the next 1211 Conceit Why Men are apt to conceit well of themselves 316 Arguments to press you against this Self-conceit 320 Conditions of the Gospel Man cannot perform them of himself 405 Confession with the Mouth what it is 953 The Matter to be confessed 954 The Way by which it is to be made ibid. The Necessity of it to Salvation 957 The Respect that Believing with the Heart and Confession with the Mouth have to one another 955 Conflict with Sin in the Regenerate and Vnregenerate the difference between them 365 Conflict spiritual we are to arm our selves for it 1101 The use of Faith Hope and Love in the spiritual Conflict 1105 Conscience the Nature of it
Ambition and Aspiring thought but Man sinned by the Devils suggestion certainly it is more to be a Tempter than a Sinner and he that sinneth himself doth not offend God himself so much as he that made Israel to Sin However it be we have cause to bless God that he hath revealed his Justice against them and his Mercy to us 2. Observe Gods Wisdom fetched a large compass and circuit and those things which we count the ruine of Man were through the Wisdom of Providence his Preservation The fall of Angels the fall of Man those crooked things which seemed to be the destruction of the Creature through the over-ruling of God made for the manifestation of his Glory Gregory called the Sin of Adam Foelix Scelus because it occasioned the coming of Christ. Providence hath many creeks and turnings but all concur to the Beauty of the whole Frame The Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the manifold wisdom of God Ephes. 3.10 Therefore we are not to judge by present Sense Gods mending is better than his making he would have all fall to pieces to discover more of his Mercy Man must commit a shameful Act and Christ must suffer a shameful Death and all this to advance his own Glory As a Vessel that is crackt and sodered is the stronger there or a Legg that has been broken and set again by a skilful hand is the stronger so the Lord would first have Man to fall and ruine himself that he might be the better established by his own Grace 3. Observe again that God should pitch upon this way of sending his Son God was not limited or bound up he could have done it by an Angel or of his own will have released the Creature of his offence but it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Col. 1.19 it was Gods Will that Salvation should be brought about this way In the whole business of Salvation God would proceed by choice not necessity I confess supposing the determination of the Divine Decrees no Creature was qualified to do us good the Angels do but their work they could not so fitly super-erogate for us But if God would send his own Son he might have come as a King in Glory and Triumph and wrestled with Satan and rescued all the Elect out of his hands but the Lord would not now discover Power but Love he had discovered Power in Creation Rom. 1.20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead but in Redemption he discovered his Wisdom every Attribute of God was to be discovered in its season Again the Lord would meet with the Sin of Men and Angels The Angels had lost their Holyness out of a desire of greatness they would be over all and under none And Man was sick of the same Disease and did desire to be rather great than good Adam would be as God Adam fell by Pride and to counter-work this Christ was to restore Mankind by Humility When he cometh to save Mankind he layes aside his Majesty and puts on a humble garb he would not save Mankind by Power but by Suffering the Lords design was by the quality of the Remedy to shew the Nature of the Disease 4. Observe Man or Angel could not have found out such an excellent Plot or Design as this is It could not have come into our heads or hearts and therefore it came meerly from the Breast of God it was devised by Father Son and Holy Ghost Rom. 11.34 Who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his counsellor What Creature did prescribe to God or direct him to such a way The Apostle sheweth it could not enter into the Creatures thoughts 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 You will find by the Context he speaks of the Doctrine and Contrivance of Christ crucified neither Sense nor Fancy nor Reason could suggest such a thing to the Creature There are some seeds of the Law in Nature but not the least seeds of the Gospel We see in other Nations they cannot so much as think of a way of a Recovery Isa. 56.19 He saw that there was no man and wondred that there was no Intercessor therefore his arm brought salvation unto him it is chiefly understood of the Everlasting Salvation by Christ. If the Lord had tarryed till Man had devised a way for his own Comfort we had been miserable to all Eternity 5. Observe God discovered this design before it was accomplished in the fullness of time Isa. 42.9 Before they spring forth I tell you of them This Love was too big to be contained in his Heart but he must open his Mind the Prophecies and Promises of the Old Testament were the Eruptions and Overflows of Gods Love his Heart was so full of Love that it could not be contained within the bounds of secrecy he openeth his Heart and gives vent to his Love in the midst of Anger Assoon as Man had displeased him God drops out the Promise That the Seed of the Woman should break the Serpents Head 6. Observe again God discovered this by Degrees first in Types then in Truths first in Promises then in Performances God spake to his People formerly not so much by Words as by Things We teach Children to fight with Puppets and in the Oriental Nations it is their genius to be taken with Allegories and Figures God would prepare the World by degrees as the day groweth till it cometh to high Noon to us he hath opened all his good Treasure And further it was for our instruction that wickedness should be perfectly discovered And besides the former Ages needed Restraints more than Comforts Every Age had sufficient Revelation for what God required of them 2. Follow this Meditation by Arguments There could not have been a better way to save the Creature whether we respect Gods Glory or the Creatures Comfort and Profit 1. If we consider Gods Glory It was the best way to commend his Love Rom. 5.8 But God commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Herein was the commendation of the Divine Love that God would give up the Son of his own Love and Bosom to dy for us that were Sinners As the Apostle saith Heb. 6.13 When God made promise to Abraham because he could swear by no greater he sware by himself So when the Lord could give us no greater gifts he gave us his Son David seems to be amazed with wonder when he considers the Power of God in making such Creatures as the Moon and Stars much more when he considers the Love of God in framing of Man Psal. 8.3 4. When I consider the heavens the work of thy fingers the moon and the stars which
which he hath prepared for us This is the Salvation from whence Christ is chiefly denominated our Saviour and that which we are to endeavour and look after throughout our whole life Sermon II. on Luke Xix. 10 For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost Secondly I AM to prove that this was Christ's great end and business 1. It is certain that Christ was sent to Man in a lapsed and fallen estate not to preserve us as innocent but to recover us as fallen The good Angels are preserved and confirmed in their first estate they are kept from perishing and being lost And so would Adam have been saved if God had kept him still in a state of Innocency but our Salvation is a recovery and restauration being lost and undone by the fall Rom. 3.23 For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God That is lost the perfection of our natures and the consequent priviledges 2. Out of this misery Man is unable to deliver and recover himself Not able to reconcile or propitiate God to himself by giving a sufficient ransom to provoked justice Psal. 49.8 For the Redemption of the Soul is precious and it ceaseth for ever that is if it should lie upon our Hands And Man cannot change his own Heart Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Not one Iob 14.4 There is no sound part left in us to mend the rest this is a work for the Spiritual Physician We have need of a Saviour to help us to Repentance as well as to help us to pardon 3. We being utterly unable God in pity to us that the Creation of Man for his glory might not be frustrated hath sent us Christ. First he was from the Love of God predestinated to this end from all Eternity to remedy our lapsed estate Iohn 3.16 God so loved the World that he sent his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life He was from all Eternity appointed by the Father to save sinners Secondly He was spoken of and promised for this end in Paradise presently after the fall Gen. 3.15 The Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents Head Thirdly He was shaddowed forth in the Sacrifices and the other Figures of the Law therefore said to be the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 Fourthly He was prophesied of by the Prophets as one that should Make his Soul an offering for sin Isa. 53.10 As the Anointed one that should be cut off not for himself but to make an end of Sins and make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness Dan. 9.27 28 29. Fifthly He was waited for by all the Faithful before his coming as the consolation of Israel Luke 2.25 And behold there was a Man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and the same man was Iust and Devout waiting for the Consolation of Israel Iohn 8.56 Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad 1 Pet. 1.10 Of which Salvation the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the Grace that should come unto you Sixthly In the fulness of time the Son of Man came not at first to judge or sentence any but to save the lost World Luke 9.56 For the Son of Man is not come to destroy Mens Lives but to save them John 3.17 God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved The erraâ—d of his first coming was to offer Salvation to the lost World and not only to offer it but to purchase it for them Iohn 12.47 I came not to Iudge the World but to save the World All these places shew that at his first coming he laid aside the quality of a Judge and took the Office of a Saviour and a Mediator As a Prophet to reveal the way of Salvation As a Priest to procure it for us by the merit of his Sacrifice As a king powerfully to bring us to the injoyment of it He did not come down to punish the ungodly World as Gen. 18.21 I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of all it which come up unto me And so to put an end to transgression But he would come with an offer of Peace and Salvation and during this whole dispensation leaves room for Faith and Repentance Seventhly When he was upon Earth you find him conversing with sinners as the Physician with the sick to heal their Souls and when the Pharisees excepted against this familiarity as if it were against decency that so great a Prophet should converse with the poorest and worst he sheweth it was needful for their cure When they objected Luke 15.2 This Man receiveth Sinners and eateth with them He defendeth himself by the Parable of the lost Sheep and lost groat and lost Son So here when they murmur at him for being Zaccheus his Guest he pleadeth his Commission and great Errand into the World So when a Woman that was a sinner washed his Feet with her Tears he preferreth her before Simon a Pharisee Luke 7.44 45 46 47. He pleadeth his being a Physician of Souls When he sate at Meat with Matthew a Publican Mat. 9.12 So those that would have the Adulteress Stoned he said to them Iohn 8.7 He that is without sin among you let him cast the first Stone at her He spake many Parables against those that were conceited of their Righteousness and despised sinners Luk. 18.9 The Parable of the two Sons Mat. 21.28 29 30 31. Now all these shew that his great work was to bring lost sinners to Repentance that they might be saved Eighthly After he had offered himself through the Eternal Spirit that he might purge our Consciences from dead works he went to Heaven and sate down at the Right Hand of God that he might powerfully apply his Salvation Therefore it is said Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to Israel and Remission of Sins So that still he is upon the saving dispensation till he come to Judgment then all are in termino in their final estate where they shall remain for ever Ninthly The Ministry and Gospel was appointed to give notice of this 1 Iohn 4.14 And we have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World Well then If Christ had not been willing to save us he would never have laid down his Life to open a way for our Salvation nor would he have sent his Ambassadours to pray and beseech us to accept of his help Vse 1. Information 1. How contrary to the temper of Christ they are who are careless of Souls We should learn of Christ to be diligent and industrious to reduce the meanest person upon Earth that is in a course
Anger of God God may be angry with his own People 273 Anointing what it signifies 712 Christ was anointed by God 716 Why Christ was anointed 717 Who were anointed first Christ then Believers his Fellows ibid. Apparel Sobriety to be used in it 75 How to judg of Excess in Apparel 76 Helps and Motives to Sobriety in Apparel ib. We must not envy the Apparel of others 75 Appearing of Christ. Vid. Coming Assurance to be laboured after 114 What Application there must be when Assurance is wanting 115 B BAckslider in Heart what he is 1109 The Backslider in Heart shall be filled with his own Ways Vid. Filled Balaam's Plot to destroy Israel 802 Observations from hence 804 Believing what is necessary to it 723 Believing in God and Christ how they differ 235 Why believing in Christ is specially required besides believing in God 245 Believing in Hope against Hope opened with the Reasons of it 484 Better We are not only to be good but to grow better 429 Blessedness True Blessedness not to be sought on this side Heaven 129 Blessedness eternal wherein it consists Vid. Heaven 116 Duties of those that have an Interest in this Blessedness 130 Blessings spiritual we are to be much affected with them 426 We are to be in a capacity to praise God for spiritual Blessings 425 In Thanksgiving spiritual Blessings to be owned 424 Body The Qualities of a glorified Body 119 Brazen Serpent the History of it 747 The Typical Vse of the brazen Serpent 748 The Resemblance between Christ and the brazen Serpent 749 The Excellency of Christ above the brazen Serpent 751 Breasts Naked Breasts condemned 78 Brethren Christ having taken our Nature is not ashamed to call us Brethren 1083 Comforts from being Christ's Brethren 1088 Whether Believers may call Christ Brother ibid. Bruised Christ bruised by the Serpent and bow 538 Burden What a Burden Sin is 1125 None can take off the Burden of Sin but Christ 1126 C CAlamities In all Calamities we must look to God 1132 Vid. Afflictions Calling of Christ twofold outward and inward 784 Canaan The Woman of Canaan that she was a Believer 467 The Greatness of her Faith ibid. Her Temptations and Trials 468 Her Victory over them 470 Captives To whom we were Captives 164 The way of redeeming Captives 165 Care of the World What that Care is that is to be moderated 79 How sinful Care may be discovered ib. Whence it ariseth 80 Arguments against distrustful Care 1099 The Cure of sinful Care 80 Carnal Things Men are addicted to them more than to spiritual things 1111 Cause When we do not honour God as the first Cause 33 Centurion's Faith opened 460 The Greatness of his Faith 459 How it discovered it self 462 How this Faith was bred or begotten in him 461 Certainty conditional and actual what 1104 Charitable We must be charitable to others according to our Power 87 Reasons why we must be charitable 336 Charity or Love to the Brethren the Properties of it 995 Children are a Blessing 833 834 Much of the Providence of God exercised in and about Children 834 How far Parents may procure a Blessing or a Curse to their Children 836 How far godly Parents are blessed in their Posterity 837 Motives to Parents to take care of their Childrens Education 839 Christ. That Christ was God proved 152 Why Christ was called the Great God 150 Why Christ must be God ibid. Christ to be honoured and praised by Saints 1175 1183 Christ's Growth stated and proved 855 856 How Christ grew in Wisdom and Knowledg 855 Coming second of Christ the Preparations of it 139 Second Coming of Christ will be glorious 138 Why Christ's second Coming will be glorious 144 Inferences from Christ's glorious Coming 146 The Personal Glory of Christ at his second Coming 140 His Attendants then 141 His Work then 142 The Consequents of Christ's second Coming 143 Belâ—evers to look for Christ's second Coming 131 Objections answered 135 Reasons of it 132 The Advantage of looking for Christ's second Coming 135 How we are to prepare for Christ's second Coming 138 The Privilege of the Saints at Christ's second Coming 133 Coming to God How we are said to come to God by Christ 965 Who they are that come to God by Christ 964 Common Work not to be rested in 291 Comparison fourfold between this Life and the next 1211 Conceit Why Men are apt to conceit well of themselves 316 Arguments to press you against this Self-conceit 320 Conditions of the Gospel Man cannot perform them of himself 405 Confession with the Mouth what it is 953 The Matter to be confessed 954 The Way by which it is to be made ibid. The Necessity of it to Salvation 957 The Respect that Believing with the Heart and Confession with the Mouth have to one another 955 Conflict with Sin in the Regenerate and Vnregenerate the difference between them 365 Conflict spiritual we are to arm our selves for it 1101 The use of Faith Hope and Love in the spiritual Conflict 1105 Conscience the Nature of it 730 Conscience is God's Vicegerent or Deputy 731 Three Acts of Conscience to be an Accuser Witness and Iudg 736 Conscience to be your Guide 730 Why God hath given Man a Conscience ibid. The Properties of a good Conscience 725 Conscience void of Offence what it signifies ibid. Conscience easily offended but not easily appeased 732 Conscience the best Friend or worst Enemy ib. Conscience the Beginning of Heaven or Hell 733 When there is a Flaw in Conscience all our Trading for Heaven is at a stand ibid. When Conscience speaks not it writes ibid. The Stings of Conscience soon awakned 734 If Conscience do not speak to you you must speak to it ibid. No sound Conscience without sincere Obedience ibid. A man may do Good or Evil without Conscience or according to Conscience or against Conscience 734 Consolation Comfort Peace Ioy and Consolation opened 211 Comfort allowed to the Saints 217 God's People have not alike Comfort 214 Who they are the Lord gives most Comfort to 215 How Christians disparage their Comfort 219 False Comfort of wicked Men whence it ariseth 217 Strong Consolation why so called 212 How it ariseth from Assurance 213 How it is dispensed 214 Motives to look after it 220 The Advantages of it 221 Directions to keep it 226 Convincing Power of the Word whence it ariseth 1034 Correction Why God corrects his People for their Sins in this World 272 Covenant Why God makes a Covenant with his People 826 No Covenant can be made with God without the Interposition of a Sacrifice 828 What we should do to enter into Covenant with God 831 Covenant of God called the Foundation of God and why 1025 The Sureness of God's Covenant 1026 The Seal of the Covenant on God's part 1027 on Man's part 1029 Covenant of Grace why called an everlasting Covenant 691 Covenant of Works what it is 306 All Men by Nature are under this Covenant ibid. Natural Conscience