still the enemy and avenger THE scope of this Psalm is to glorifie God for the singular Dignity he hath put upon Man above all his works The expressions literally and apparently refer to Gods works of Creation and Providence about him but in a Divine and more Spiritual sense the Misteries of Redemption are intended and secretly couched under them as appeareth by the frequent quotations of this Psalm in the New Testament There is a double Honour put upon Mankind 1. That God hath ordained Man that feeble and weak Creature to subdue and conquer his Enemies 2. That God hath made him Lord of all his other Creatures Both which concerne not only Man in general but especially Jesus Christ. God made Man and therefore both are applyed to him The first when the Children welcome him with the acclamations proper to the Messiah Matth 21.15 16. When the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did and the children crying in the Temple Hâ—sanna to the son of David they were sore displeased and said unto him hearest thou what these say and Iesus saith unto them yea have ye never read out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise The other in many places especially Heb. 2.6 7 8. But one in a certain place testified saying what is man that thou art mindful of him or the Son of man that thou visitest him Thou hast made him little lower than the angels thou crownedst him with glory and honour and didst set him over the works of thy hands Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet For in that he put all in subjection under him he left nothing that is not put under him So that Man is both his Champion and his Deputy He is his Deputy verse 6. Thou hast made him to have dominion over the works of thy hands thou hast put all things under his feet His Champion in the Text Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength c. In explaining these words I shall enquire 1. Who are these Babes and Sucklings 2. Who is the Enemy and Avenger 3. What is the Miracle and Wonder that raised the Prophets admiraration and moved him to praise God for this I. Who are these Babes and Sucklings 1. Man in general who springeth from so weak and poor a beginning as that of Babes and Sucklings yet is at length advanced to such power as to grapple with and overâ—ome the Enemy and the Avenger 2. David in particular who being but a ruddy youth God used him as an Instrument to discomfit Goliah of Gath. 3. More especially our Lord Jesus Christ who assuming our Nature and all the sinless infirmities of it and submitting to the weakness of an Infant and after dying is gone in the same Nature to reign in Heaven till he hath brought all his Enemies under his feet Psalm 110.1 And 1 Cor. 15.27 For he hath put all things under his feet but when he saith he hath put all things under him it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him Then was our Humane Nature exalted above all other Creatures when the Son of God was made of a Woman carried in the Womb as long a time as other Infants are Luke 2.6 Sucked as a Babe and afterwards dyed and was received unto Glory 4. The Apostles who to outward appearance were despicable in a manner Children and Sucklings in comparison of the great ones of the World poor despised Creatures yet principal Instruments of Gods Service and Glory Therefore 't is notbale that when Christ glorifieth his Father for the wise and free Dispensation of his Saving Grace Matth. 11.25 He saith I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid those things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes So called from the meanness of their Condition Compare the parallel places Luke 10.21 And you shall see it was spoken when the Disciples were sent abroad and had power given them over unclean Spirits In that hour Iesus rejoyced in spirit and said I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes This he acknowledged to be an Act of Infinite Condescension in God 5. Those Children that cryed Hosanna to Christ make up part of the sense Matth. 2â— 16 for Christ defendeth their practice by this Scripture when he was condemned by the wisest and greatest and proudest Men in the World such as were the Scribes and Pharisees at that time he was praised and welcomed as the Messiah or Son of David by the Children 6. Not only the Apostles but all those that fight under Christs Banner and are listed into his Confederacy may be called Babes and Sucklings First Because of their Condition Secondly Their Disposition 1. Because of their Condition God is pleased often to make choice of the meanest and lowest 1 Cor. 1.27 28. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty And the base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are That is God in the Government of the World is pleased to subdue the Enemies of his Kingdom by weak and despised Instruments 2. Because of their disposition They are most humble spirited We are told Matth. 18.3 Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of God As if he had said you strive for preheminence and worldly greatness in my Kingdom I tell you my Kingdom is a Kingdom of Babes and containeth none but the humble and such as are little in their own Eyes and are contented to be small and despised in the Eyes of others and so do not seek after great Matters in the World A young Child knoweth not what striving or state meaneth and therefore by an Emblem and visible Representation of a Child set in the midst of them Christ would take them off from the expectation of a Carnal Kingdom II. Who is the Enemy and the Avenger In the Letter Goliah in the Mistery the Devil and his Agents and Instruments He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Enemy of God and Man Matth. 13.39 The enemy that soweth them is the Devil and with him all the Seed of the Serpent Gen. 3.15 These are Wicked Men Iohn 8.44 For ye are of your father the Devil and the lusts of your father ye will do 1 Iohn 4.4 Ye are of God little children and have overcome them because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world The War is carried on between two Heads and two Seeds III. What is the Miracle and Wonder that raised the Heart of the Psalmist to praise
be had at Mr. Nathaniel Manton's at the 3 Pigeons in the Poultrey A TABLE of the Texts treated on in this Fourth Volume Part I. TITUS 2.11 For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men Ver. 12. Teaching us that denying Vngodliness and worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Ver. 13. Looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Iesus Christ Ver. 14. Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works In 22 Sermons pag. 1. Heb. 6.18 That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong Consolation who have fled for Refuge to lay hold upon the Hope set before us In 5 Sermons p. 195 John 14.1 Let not your Heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me In 2 Sermons p. 235 Luke 12.48 For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required and to whom Men have committed much of him they will ask the more In 2 Sermons p. 249 Deut. 32.51 Because ye trespassed against me among the Children of Israel at the Waters of Meribah-Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the Children of Israel In 1 Sermon p. 267 Acts 17.30 And the times of this Ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all Men every where to repent Ver. 31. Because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judg the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given Assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead In 1 Sermon p. 275 Mark 10.17 And when he was gone forth into the way there came one running and kneeled to him and asked him Good Master what shall I do that I may inherit eternal Life Ver. 18. And Iesus said unto him Why callest thou me Good there is none Good but one that is God Ver. 19. Thou knowest the Commandments Do not commit Adultery Do not kill Do not steal Do not bear false Witness Defraud not Honour thy Father and Mother Ver. 20. And he answered and said unto him Master all these have I observed from my Youth Ver. 21. Then Iesus beholding him loved him and said unto him One thing thou lackest go thy way sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come take up the Cross and follow me Ver. 22. And he was sad at the Saying and went away grieved for he had great Possessions Ver. 23. And Iesus looked round about and saith unto his Disciples How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God Ver. 24. And the Disciples were astonished at his Words but Iesus answereth again and saith unto them Children how hard is it for them that trust in Riches to enter into the Kingdom of God Ver. 25. It is easier for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle than for a rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God Ver. 26. And they were astonished out of Measure saying among themselves Who then can be saved Ver. 27. And Iesus looking upon them saith With Men it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible In 15 Sermons p. 284 2 Thess. 1.3 We are bound to thank God always for you Brethren as it is meet because that your Faith groweth exceedingly and the Charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth In 5 Sermons p. 420 Matth. 8.5 And when Iesus was entred into Capernaum there came unto him a Centurion beseeching him Ver. 6. And saying unto him Lord my Servant lieth at home sick of the Pâ—lsie grievously tormented Ver. 7. And Iesus saith unto him I will come and heal him Ver. 8. The Centurion answered and said Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my Roof but speak the Word only and my Servant shall be healed Ver. 9. For I am a Man under Authority having Souldiers under me and I say unto this Man Go and be goeth and to another Come and he cometh and to my Servant Do this and he doth it Ver. 10. When Iesus heard it he marvelled and said to them that followed Verily I say unto you I have not found so great Faith no not in Israel In 1 Sermon p. 459 Matth. 15.21 Then Iesus went thence and departed into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon Ver. 22. And behold a Woman of Canaan came out of the same Coasts and cried unto him saying Have Mercy on me O Lord thou Son of David my Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil Ver. 23. But he answered her not a Word and his Disciples came and besought him saying Send her away for she crieth after us Ver. 24. But he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost Sheep of the House of Israel Ver. 25. Then came she and worshipped him saying Lord help me Ver. 26. But he answered and said It is not meet to take the Childrens Bread and to cast it to Dogs Ver. 27. And she said Truth Lord yet the Dogs eat of the Crumbs which fall from their Master's Table Ver. 28. Then Iesus answered and said unto her O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt and her Daughter was made whole from that very Hour In 1 Sermon p. 466 John 8.56 Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my Day and he saw it and was glad In 1 Sermon p. 474 Rom. 4.18 Who against Hope believed in Hope that he might become the Father of many Nations according to that which was spoken So shall thy Seed be Ver. 19. And being not weak in Faith he considered not his own Body now dead when he was about an hundred Years old neither yet the Deadness of Sarah's Womb. Ver. 20. He staggered not at the Promise of God through Vnbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God Ver. 21. And being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform In 1 Sermon p. 482 Mark 3.5 And Iesus looked round about on them with Anger being grieved for the Hardness of their Hearts In 3 Sermons p. 497 Exod. 4.21 I will harden his Heart that he shall not let my People go In 2 Sermons p. 519 Gen. 3.15 It i. e. the Seed of the Woman shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel In 2 Sermons p. 533 Gen. 24.63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the Field at the Even-tide In 10 Sermons p. 601 Part II. LUKE 16.30 And he said Nay Father Abraham but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent Ver. 31. And he said unto him If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead In 2 Sermons p. 671 Heb. 13.20 Now the
a Religion to talk of but not to live by therefore they are cold and indifferent and when the Children of God offer a holy Violence to the Kingdom of Heaven they become a Matter of Scorn and Opposition to them And besides formal Men cannot endure to be outstripp'd and therefore malign what they will not imitate as those that are at the Bottom of the Hill fret at those that are at the Top and Men of a lazy and slow Pace envy them that are more zealous strict and holy but they have little Cause to envy them for Christ died to make us zealous of good Works 3. It informs us if we would expect any Benefit by Christ's Death we must be zealous of good Works and more warm in the Service of God A cold Christian will have but cold Comfort For whom did Christ die for those that are zealous of good Works Matth. 11.12 The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the Violent take it by Force It is an Allusion to Exod. 19.23 24. where there was a Rail about the Mount of God that the People might not break through but when Iohn the Baptist began to discover the Grace of God and pointed to the Lamb of God then the Kingdom of God suffered Violence Men began to break through and press upon God there is a free Access to God and Men are earnest and will not be denied Entrance Matth. 5.20 Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no Case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven It is not cold Prayers and yawning Devotions and drowzy Wishes when Men are half asleep that will serve in this Case Heaven is gotten by Force and surprized by On-set and Storm it signifies breaking through the Rail and all Restraints that are set to keep us off from God Vse 2. To stir us up to this Zeal of good Works In a dead and drowzy Age we need an Alarum Knowledg hath now devoured Practice in these decaying times Seneca complains Men are altogether studious for filling their Brains not warming their Hearts And when once Men became more learned they were less good The World is altogether for storing the Head with Notions empty and airy Strains so that if Christ should come amongst us he would find few zealous but a Company of lazy Christians that live at a low cheap Rate of Christianity High-flown we are indeed in our Fancies in Notions and Pretences but low and flat in Practice and Conversation Usually thus it is in the time of the Church's Prosperity like a River it loseth in Depth what it gains in Breadth then it hath many Friends but their Love is not so strong nor so hot as at other times Salvian complains Multiplicatis fidei populis fides diminuta est crescentibus filiis mater aegrotat c. When Professors were multiplied their Faith was lessened and as a Mother grows the weaker the more Children she bears so doth Religion grow weaker and weaker when every one takes up a cold Profession they learn Formality one of another And he goes on Quantum copiae accessit tantum disciplinae recessit as a large Body is less active In audito genere processus recessus crescens simul decrescens When the Church increaseth in Multitude and decreaseth in Vigour and Strength it loseth in Spirit what it injoyeth in temporal Felicity Thus it often falls out with the Church of God that when Religion is fair many take up the Profession but alas it is but weak and spiritless without any Life and Vigor Therefore in such a drowzy Age and dead times we need Alarms and quickning Excitations to awaken our Zeal again for solid Piety for those good Works that are commended to us in the Scripture Therefore let us inquire what kind of Enforcements and Considerations are likely to be most operative to press us to this Zeal and Care of good Works 1. Consider how violent and earnest carnal Men are in the Ways of Sin and shall they serve Satan better than you serve God O consider you have a better Master better Work and better Wages their Master is the Devil their Work is the basest Drudgery being Slaves to their own Lusts and their Wages are sutable their Reward is everlasting Damnation and a Separation from the Presence of the Lord. How active are wicked Men for the Kingdom of Darkness How zealous and earnest to ruine themselves as if they could not be damned soon enough Isa. 5.19 They draw Iniquity with Cords of Vanity and sin as it were with a Cart-rope The meaning is they would sin though it cost them a great deal of Pains and Sorrow and though they could not sin at a cheap rate The Prophet doth not say they were drawn into Sin as into a Gin and Snare but they themselves did draw on Sin it is horrid Work yet they delight in it toiling and tiring themselves as Beasts at a Plough they were sinful though it cost them Sorrow and Pain There is no Corruption but it puts you to some Self-denial Luxury is costly and he that loves Wine and Oil saith Solomon will be poor Pride we say will endure the cold and Vain-glory will expose a Man to Danger and Ruine Worldliness incroacheth upon Pleasantness and the Comforts of Life a Worldling will rise early sit up late and eat the Bread of Sorrows Psal. 127.2 With what Earnestness and unwearied Diligence do carnal Men pursue after a few Trifles How do they lay out all their Wisdom and all their Sagacity about worldly things Luke 16.8 The Children of this World are wiser in their Generation than the Children of Light As Children are busy about Toys and Puppets so they cumber themselves about much Serving and all their Life is but Care and Disquiet and a constant Self-denial Psal. 39.6 Surely every Man walketh in a vain Shew surely they disquiet themselves in vain They make a great deal of Stir and Bustle and many times when all is got what is it A sorry Comfort and that which must be left on this side the Grave Thus wicked Men are active and restless in their way So for Idolatry with what Cost and Diligence do Men promote false Worship and compass Sea and Land to make a Proselyte they will give Rivers of Oil and thousands of Rams they do not stand at Pains and Cost God bids the Prophet look upon this Sight as indeed it is worthy of a Christian Consideration Ier. 7.17 18. Seest thou what they do in the Cities of Judah and in the Streets of Jerusalem The Children gather Wood and the Fathers kindle the Fire and the Women kneed the Dough to make Cakes to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out Drink-Offerings unto other Gods What a busy Diligence is here to promote their false Worship Fathers Children Husbands Wives they all put their helping Hands to the Work and find some Imployment or other Where will you have a Family
great stay to the Souls of true Believers to cause them with Comfort to trust themselves and all their Affairs in the hands of Christ. We have no reason to doubt of his Care Protection and Merciful Disposal of us and if poor sick and desolate you may go to him it is in the power of his hands to help you 1. There is no want but he can easily supply it Psal. 23.1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want 2. There is no pain or suffering but he can easily mitigate or remove it Mat. 8.2 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean 3. There is no danger so great from which he is not able to deliver thee Dan. 3.17 18. If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King But if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the golden Image which thou hast set up 2 Cor. 1.10 Who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us Where can we be so safe as in the Love and Covenant of such an Almighty Saviour Get but this imprinted upon your Hearts and it will beget a strong and stedfast Confidence in him 6. He reasoneth from the strict Discipline observed in the Roman Armies where there was no disputing of Commands or questioning Why and Wherefore I am a man under Authority having Soldiers under me and I say to this man go and he goeth and to another come and he cometh and to my Servant do this and he doth it Verse 9 th Where he compareth Person with Person I am a Man thou a God Condition with Condition a subordinate Officer with Christ the Supream Lord He knew what it was to obey and to have Power over others Power with Power his Power over Soldiers and Servants with Christ's Command over all Events Health and Sickness Life and Death Reasoning for God and his Promises is a great advantage We are Naturally acute in reasoning against Faith but when the Understanding is quick and ready to invent Arguments to encourage Faith it is a good sign VSE Go you and do likewise From the Example of the Centurion let me encourage you 1. To readiness of Believing Iames 3.17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated This is opposite to that slowness of Heart to believe which we read of Luke 24.25 Oh Fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken These are more receptive and easie to entertain a Doctrine than others Iohn 7.17 If any Man do his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God The Sincere and Renewed need less ado to convince them There is a light Credulity Prov. 14.15 The Simple believeth every word and there is the readiness of a Sincere Mind to embrace the Truth We are to captivate our Understandings to the Obedience of Faith but not every Fancy lest we be like Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4.14 No a Christian must not be like a Reed shaken with the Wind nor believe every Spirit but yet where the Truth is sufficiently evidenced we must embrace it Most of our Hesitancy in Religion comes not so much from the Conflict between our Light and the Doubts of our Mind as from the Conflict between our Light and Lusts which maketh us irresolute but a sincere Heart soon overcometh the difficulty 2. To represent our Necessity to Christ and referr the Event to him to commit and submit all to him There is an Alsufficiency of Power and Infinite Pity and Goodness that we need not trouble our selves about the Event Submission before the Event is Faith as after it is Patience This is true Faith in such Cases as the Centurion came about to referr all to Christ. 3. To be Humble In all our Commerce with Christ Faith must produce a real Humility Faith is most high when the Heart is most low Luke 18.11 12 13 14. The Pâ—arisee stood and prayed saying God! I thank thee I am not as other men are c. I fast twice a week I give tithes of all that I possess And the Publican standing afar off would not so much as lift up his eyes to Heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a Sinner I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted The one changelled a Debt the other begged a Favour Humble Supplications to God become us better than proud Expostulations 4. To meditate often on the Soveraign Dominion of Christ and his Power over all things that fall out in the World To keep us from warping and running to unlawful shifts God propoundeth his Alsufficiency to our Faith when we enter into Covenant with him Gen. 17.1 I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect He hath Power enough to help defend and reward us we need not seek elsewhere for a Protector or Paymaster the Word of his Providence is enough he can heal our Diseases supply our Necessities or bless a little as he did the Pulse to the captive Children Dan. 1.15 Their Countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the Children which did eat the portion of the Kings meat A SERMON ON MATTH XV. v. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. Then Iesus went thence and departed into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon And behold a Woman of Canaan came out of the same Coasts and cryed unto him saying Have mercy on me O Lord thou Son of David my Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil But he answered her not a word and his Disciples came and besought him saying Send her away for she cryeth after us But he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost Sheep of the House of Israel Then came she and worshipped him saying Lord help me But he answered and said It is not meet to take the Childrens bread and cast it to Dogs And she saith Truth Lord yet the Dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Masters Table And Iesus answered and said unto her O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt And her Daughter was made whole from that very hour WE come now to the Second Instance of a Great and Grown Faith This ought to be considered by us In the Centurion me had an Instance of a reasoning Faith now of a wrestling Faith Faith wrestling with grievous Temptations but at length obtaining help from God We ought to consider this for these Reasons 1. Because Christ pronounceth it to be great Faith and so proper for our Imitation O Woman great is thy Faith It is the Faith of a Woman a
eminent of all the Stock appeareth by the Dignity of his Person God made Flesh Iohn 1.14 The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us Or God manifested in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 As also by his miraculous Conception Luke 1.35 The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the Power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God So Mat. 1.23 A Virgin shall be with Child and shall bring forth a Son and they shall call his Name Emanuel which being interpreted is God with us He that was God-Man in one Person and thus wonderfully conceived without a Male or Company of Man might well be looked upon as the Seed of the Woman here spoken of Now if you ask what necessity there was that the Conqueror should be the Seed of the Woman because the Flesh of Christ is the Bread of Life and the Food of our Faith I shall a little insist upon the Conveniency and Agreeableness of it 1. That thereby he might be made under the Law which was given to the whole Nature of Man Gal. 4.4 God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law He that came to repair our lost Condition needed to subject himself to the Precepts of God's Law that by Obedience he might recover what by Disobedience was lost and might be to us a Fountain and Pattern of Holiness in our Nature And therefore Christ in our Nature truly subjected himself and conformed himself to the Law of God that general and moral Law which all Men are obliged unto He performed the Duties of the first Table Luke 2.49 Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's Business He took all Occasions to glorify God And the Duties of the second Table as to his natural and reputed Parents Luke 2.51 He went down with them and was subject to them 2. That he might in the same Nature suffer the Penalty and Curse of the Law as well as fulfil the Duty of it and so make Satisfaction for our Sins which as God he could not do He was made Sin for us 2 Cor. 5.21 and was made a Curse for us Gal. 3.13 Phil. 2.8 He became obedient to Death even the Death of the Cross. There was a Curse denounced against those who yielded not personal Obedience and he came in the Sinners room to undergo it that the Justice of God might be eminently demonstrated the Law-giver vindicated and the Breach that was made in the Frame of Government repaired and God manifested to be holy and an hater of Sin and yet the Sinner saved from Destruction 3. That in the same Nature which was foiled he might conquer Satan As a Tempter he conquered him hand to hand in a personal Conflict repelling his Temptations Mat. 4. As a Tormentor and one that had the Power of Death so he conquered him by his Death on the Cross Heb. 2.14 Forasmuch as the Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil Christ would stoop to the greatest Indignities to free us from this Enemy and to put Mankind again into a Condition of Safety and Happiness that he having conquered they might also conquer 4. That he might take Compassion of our Infirmities having experimented them in his own Person Therefore he assumed humane Nature that he might have assurance of this Heb. 2.17 18. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining â—nto God to make Reconciliation for the Sins of the People For in that he himself haâ—h suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted We have now Assurance that he will pity us more than one who is a Stranger to our Blood He hath had trial of our Nature and our Miseries and Temptations and will be more sensible of the Heart of a tempted Man and will mind and attend upon our Business as his own 5. That he might take possession of Heaven for us in our Nature Iohn 14.2 3. I go to prepare a Place for you and if I go and prepare a Place for you I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also The Devil comes to depress our Nature and Christ came to exalt it he endeavoured to make us lose Paradise and Christ gave us Heaven Man fallen is strangely haunted with Doubts about the other World Now he that came to save us and heal us did himself in our Nature rise from the Dead that he might give us a visible Demonstration of the Life to come which he had promised to us that we might more regard the Offer He himself hath seized upon it that the rest of the Seed may be possessed of it and hath carried our Nature thither that in time our Persons may be translated 6. That after he had been a Sacrifice for Sin and conquered Death by his Resurrection he might also triumph over the Devil and lead Captivity captive and give Gifts to Men in the very Act of his Ascension into Heaven Eph. 4.8 Wherefore he saith When he ascended on high he led Captivity captive and gave Gifts unto Men. Having foiled his Enemies on the Cross it is fit he should triumph over them to assure the World of his Conquest and give such a Measure of his Gifts and Graces to his Church as might help them to scatter the Ranks of the Battel His Victory is shewn to be compleat as to the Head and as to the rest of the Seed of the Woman who are all willing to enter into Confederacy with him he hath left Ordinances and an Almighty Spirit that they may get to Heaven after him II. That Christ is at Enmity with Satan and hath entred into the Conflict with him 1 st We must state the Enmity between Christ and his Confederates and Satan and his Instruments For it is said in the beginning of the Verse I will put Enmity between thy Seed and her Seed which is principally to be understood of the Lord Christ and of his Confederates in the second place against Satan in the first place and his Instruments on the other side There is a double Enmity which Christ hath against Satan and so he undertakes the War against him as contrary to his Nature and Office 1. There is a perfect Enmity between the Nature of Christ and the Nature of the Devil The Nature of Satan is sinful murderous and destructive for it is said he was a Liar and Murderer from the beginning John 8.44 And 1 Iohn 3.8 He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil Again ver 12. Not as Cain
and Conscience saith the contrary Or are we innocent Or hath God provided another way than Christ 2 Obedience Every thing is written and must be reviewed If things were forgotten assoon as we forget them we need not revise our Acts or be so careful of our Conversations Oh but we must come to an account Iames 2.12 So speak ye and so do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty Psalm 1.5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous What a shameful story will there be produced against careless Sinners All the business of our lives is to stand in the great Congregation and to appear with confidence Would a Man give way to vain thoughts if he knew he were to give an account or to vain Discourse if he thought every idle word would be brought to Judgment or to Carnal Actions though never so secret if he thought that all these would come to a review or neglect the Duties of his Calling if he knew he were to give an account of his Stewardship or be unmerciful to the Poor if he did think of Have you fed Have you cloathed Or that he should be examined upon these questions 3. The Consideration of Hell or the Dreadful Punishment of Sin For this is the matter in this Text. This is useful to think of Hell that we may shun it presumption is a Coward Matth. 3.7 8. O generation of vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance There is a forced Repentance they that do not weep for their Sins for a while here shall there mourn for ever with a fruitless Repentance It is peace upon Earth What is Hell 1. There is poena damni the Punishment of loss a separation from the presence of God and Everlasting Exile Depart from me ye cursed Matth. 25.41 Luke 13.25 26. When once the master of the house is risen and hath shut the door and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying Lord Lord open to us and he shall answer and say unto you I know ye not whence ye are and verse 28. When ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out When God turned Adam out of Paradise it was sad but then he cloathed him made him Coats of skins Adam was a Rebellious Child and was turned out of Doors but God had a care of him would not turn him out of Doors without his Garments gave him the promise of the Seed of the Woman hopes of a better Paradise This is the worst part of Hell to have a glimpse of God the remembrance of which shall remain with them for ever and then to be shut out Thou shalt see it with thine eyes but not taste it As a Prodigal reduced to Rags goeth by the Lands and Houses he hath sold with a sad Heart 2. The poena sensus The Punishments of Sense the Worm of Conscience and the Fire of Gods VVrath The worm of Conscience the Sting of Conscience when we think of our folly and imprudence A Man may run away from his Conscience now by sleeping reading working drinking sporting as Cain built Cities and Saul called for Musick But in Hell there are no such Diversions not a Thought free Day nor Night but Memoria praeteritorum the remembrance of what is past slighted Means abused Comforts wasted Time and Sensus praesentium a Sense of what is present the understanding maketh Heaven or Hell and metus futurorum a fear of what is to come for ever and ever Oh blind Fools that we did not think of these things aforehand The pleasures of the VVorld for a Thousand years will not countervail one minutes torment And then the Fire shall never be quenched Heb. 10.31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the the living God Do but make tryal and put your finger in the Candle and see how you can bear it Isa. 33.14 Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings III. How to improve the Scriptures to Repentance 1. Believe them as you would an Oracle or one from the dead Consider the Authority and Veracity of God The Authority of God God Commandeth Men to repent charge the heart in the Name of God as it will answer to him another day If God had bidden thee do some greater thing wouldst not thou have done it VVill you contradict your Maker The Veracity of God these things are true If you had heard a voice from Heaven as Abraham or had a Vision or a Messenger sent out of the other VVorld you would believe you would think him to have a very hard heart that is not warned by an Oracle or frighted by an Apparition God himself hath spoken in his VVord and is not he of Credit You would fly in the face of him that should give you the lye and will you give the lye to the God of Truth VVe should be ashamed that the VVord which is a greater and surer Revelation than Oracles or Apparitions should prevail no more with us and that all those Arts of Grace which are used in the Scriptures do not perswade us to Obedience and Amendment of Life There is more Reason to perswade a Rational Man that the Scriptures are true and worth the heeding than to perswade him of the Truth of any voice from Heaven or Message by one from the Dead There you are warned that if you are un-believing un-holy or un-charitable you shall go to Hell and as Lot seemed to his Sons in law as one that mocked e n. 19.14 so we are looked on as if we were in jest and it were a matter of course to make one another sad by repeating of Matters mournful and lamentable If thou hadst seen a Ghost this last Night or a Devil had appeared to thee in Mans shape thou wouldst have been terrified and shall not the threatnings of the word startle thee So when you are spoken to concerning the joyes of Heaven it should not seem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as an idle tale as it is said Luke 24.11 And their words seemed unto them as idle tales and they believed them not The Report of Christ's Resurrection was an idle tale If an Angel had told you that within such a compass of years you should be in another world he would have been credited but you have a more sure word of Prophesie we tell you the same from Gods word and yet we are not regarded as the Israelites did not believe the Spies 2. Urge thy Heart with it Recollect your selves Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things Come to your selves Luke 15.17 And when he came to himself The Prodigal came to himself before he thought of returning to his Father Psalm 22.27 All the ends of the
divers from all People neither keep they the Kings Laws therefore it is not for the Kings profit to suffer them Thus whisperers make Princes conceive an ill opinion of Religious men But the Devil will Soar an higher flight yet to divide between them and God and to disengage him from the protection of his People What else is the meaning of all his Temptations But most eminently this was the Plot now in hand The Israelites could not be overcome as long as God was with them and how shall they do to get away God from them God was not as the God of the Heathens to be called out by sacrifices and inchantments as they used before they warred against any People to endeavour by certain Charms and Rites to get away their Tutelar Gods from them Macrobius hath a Chapter De ritu evocandi Deos And if they conquered any Country they ascribed it to the departure of their Gods Excessere omnes adytis arisque relictis Dii quibus imperium hoc steterat Balak according to the custom of the Nations would try this but they were now to deal with the God of Israel who could not be charmed away from his People And though Balaam were of great repute and esteem among that People and though it was misery enough to be blasted with his curse and happiness enough to be blessed by his mouth Numb 22.6 He whom thou blessest is blessed and he whom thou cursest is cursed indeed Even as Simon Magus was esteemed the great power of God Act. 8.10 Yet this would not take effect Therefore 2. Let us see what Balaam Answered him 1. By way of prediction He came to curse them but he uttereth many Prophesies concerning the happiness of Israel Numb 23.8 How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed or how shall I defie whom the Lord hath not defied He sheweth that no inferiour power is able to hurt without leave from God yea he pronounceth a great blessing upon Israel as those that were happy both in life and death vers 10. Let me dye the Death of the righteous and let my last end be like his And farther sheweth the stableness of Gods love to his People vers 19 20. God is not a man that he should lie nor the Son of man that he should repent hath he said and shall he not do it or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good Behold I have received commandment to bless and he hath blessed and I cannot reverse it All the powers of the world are not able to separate them from his love and blessings in Christ. And then prophesieth of Christ Insomuch that Balak intreateth him to give over vers 25. Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all Since he could do no evil to Israel he would hinder him from doing good But yet he would make another tryal but still it pleased the Lord to over-rule his Tongue to bless Israel and the truth and constancy of his love appeared against whose will the more he strugleth the stronger he is resisted Numb 24.3 He taketh up a new parable blessing Israel once again which puts Balak all into a rage and indignation and he driveth away the false Prophet from his sight who sought after honour and riches as the wages of his unrighteousness but is sent home with ignominy and shame But Balaam's mind is still hankering after the reward and therefore when he could not hurt them by any prophetical curse he seeketh to do it by his Pestilent counsel 2. What he answered him by way of advice Numb 24.4 Come now and I will advertise thee what thou shalt do Moses doth not express the counsel given because it was whispered secretly into Balaks ear you see the sense is imperfect in that place And what it was may be known by the effect and by other places By the effect Numb 25. Balaam gave counsel to Balak and the Princes of Midian to put a stumbling block before the Israelites to see if they could withdraw the People from the Love â—ear and Obedience of the Lord their God that so God might be provoked to withdraw his favour and blessing from them and so Israels Sinning might bring themselves into the curse which Balaam with all his Inchantments could not bring upon them By this wicked counsel they prevailed against many to the Death of Twenty four Thousand Israelites That Balaam was the Author of all this mischief appeareth Numb 31.16 Behold these that is the Midianitish Women caused the Children of Israel through the Counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor And it is said Rev. 2.14 That Balaam taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the Children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to Idols and to commit fornication This was the plot to send some Beautiful Women of the Midianites to wander about the Camp of Israel to Tempt their Lusty-Youth and Martial Men first to uncleanness and then to Idolatry that so God might be provoked against them a design pernitious and full of refined malice 3. What befel them between Shittim and Gilgal 1. In Shittim they miscarryed fowlly by the effect of Balaams Counsel The intended War of Moab against Israel was turned into a pretended Peace and fained Amity and their fair Women were sent about the Camp to defile the Bodies and Souls of Men with Whoredom and Idolatry And so a People that had such experience of Gods Power and Goodness in the wilderness and were just now ready to enter into the Promised Land are here prevented and overthrown in the wilderness and Gods Anger was kindled against them and Twenty four Thousand were destroyed among the People Numb 25.9 It seems one Thousand slain by the Judges and Twenty three Thousand by Gods own hand that is by a Plague 1 Cor. 10.8 Neither commit fornication as some of them also committed and fell in one day three and twenty Thousand But after that God was atoned to them and his judgment was executed upon the Malefactours and the plague ceased 2. They are sent against the Midianites who had vexed them with their wiles that is with their Deceits and feigned Amity and there they light on Balaam and slew him Numb 31.8 This wretch died not the death of the righteous as he seemed to desire but his iniquity found him out for among others he was slain with the Sword 3. After this God appears among them again and they are led into Canaan with a miracle an argument of a great favour on Gods part and an awe of those things that befel them at Shittim and now they are very tender of provoking God again Iosh. 22.17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us from which we are not cleansed until this day They had tasted of the bitter Waters 4. Gods Covenant is renewed at Gilgal to shew that he would still be their God and bless them as formerly Iosh. 5.2 3. II. The observations
I will give them an Everlasting Name that shall not be cut off 2. In Framing the Child in the Womb. It is not the Parents but God The Parents cannot tell whether it be Male or Female Beautiful or deformed they know not the number of the Veins and Arteries Bones and Muscles See Psal. 139.13 14 15 16. For thou hast possessed my Reins thou hast covered me in my Mothers Womb. I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my Soul knoweth right well My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Larth Thine Eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy Book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them There is a great deal of Work-man ship in the Body of Man it is a curious piece of Embroidery Angels sang at Mans Creation Iob 38.7 When the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy and they admire at his Resurrection What is God about to do 3. In giving Strength to bring forth The Heathens had a Goddess which presided over this work His Providence reacheth to the Beasts It is by the Lord that Hinds do calve Psal. 29.9 The Voice of the Lord maketh the Hinds to calve and there is a Promise to them that fear him 1 Tim. 2.15 She shall be saved in Child-bearing if they continue in Faith and Charity and Holiness with Sobriety It must be understood as all temporal Promises are with the exception of his Will but thus much we gather that it is a Blessing which falleth under the care of his Providence and that by Promise so far as God seeth fit to make it good Rachel died in this Case every godly Woman hath not this deliverance So did Phinehas his Wife 1 Sam. 4. latter end God might have taken this advantage against you to have cut you off If deliverance were not so ordinary it would be accounted miraculous The Sorrows and Pains of Travel are a Monument of Gods displeasure Gen. 3.16 Vnto the Woman he said I will greatly multiply thy Sorrow and thy Conception in Sorrow shalt thou bring forth Children Womens Pains are more grievous than the Females of any kind to preserve a weak Vessel in great danger and for the Child a Sentence of Death way-laid it as it was coming into the World 4 The Circumstances of Deliverance In every Birth there are some new Circumstances to awaken our Stupid Thoughts to consider the Work of God For God doth all his works with some variety lest we should be cloyed with the commonness of them 2. They are a great Blessing in themselves and the more of them the greater Blessing and therefore should they be acknowledged and improved as Blessings Certainly there is a more special favour shewed us in our Relations than in our Possessions Prov. 19.14 House and Riches are the Inheritance of Fathers â—ut a good Wife is from the Lord. So for Children By them the Parent is continued and multiplied They are a part of himself and in them he liveth when â—e is dead and gone It is a shadow of Eternity nodosa Eternitas therefore the outward appurtenances of Life are not so valuable as Children Besides they are capable of the Image of God By them the World is Replenished the Church multiplied a people continued to know love and serve God when we are dead and gone We read of Christ's rejoicing in the habitable parts of the Earth and his delights were with the Sons of Men. Prov. 8.31 In the habitable parts of the World there are great Whales but Men were Christs delight Especially to Gods Confederates or Parents in Covenant with God are Children a greater Mercy David was such an one these are Sons and Daughters born to him Ezek. 16.20 These are visibly the Children of God and in a most proper sense an heritage from the Lord. It is said Gen. 6.12 The Sons of God saw the Daughters of men that they were fair and they took them Wives of all which they chose Seth begat Sons and Daughters to God See Gen. 10.21 Vnto Shem also the Father of the Children of Eber the Brother of Japhet the Elder even to him were born Children The Persians Lydians Assyrians Syrians these who were possessed of the Empire of the World and all the rich Spices and Treasures of the East he hath not his denomination from them but from the Children of Eber a people a long time kept under before they could grow into a Nation but they were the People of God who retained his true Worship Their's were the Promises the Adoption and the Glory See that place 1 Cor. 7.14 For the unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband else were your Children unholy but now are they holy Reasons are à notioribus from some things plainer than the things they are to prove The scope of it is to hold forth some priviledge to Believers not common to others who are Infidels for it is for the Believers sake that the other is sanctified If it were a common priviledge the unbelieving Husband had been as much sanctified in himself as in his Wife Well then it is some special priviledge not common to the Marriage of an unbelieving couple Agaâ—n whatever this priviledge be it is something of importance for therefore is it mentioned negatively and positively which the Holy Ghost useth not to do but in weighty cases negatively they are not as other Children unclean but positively they are holy Again mark the gradation The unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband else were your Children unholy but now are they Holy To be sanctified is more than to be lawful and to be holy is more than to be sanctified All things as Meats Drink Marriage Estate are lawful to an Infidel but not sanctified for they are sanctified by the Word and Prayer and many things are sanctified which are not holy as Gold Silver Goats Hair when they were dedicated to God they were changed in use not in nature The unbelieving Husband to whom all things are impure he is sanctified that is set apart to serve God's providence to this holy end and use that the believing Wife may bring forth Children to God As a Nobleman Marrying a Begger conveyeth Nobility to the Children Now having laid this foundation let us see what is the meaning of not being unclean but holy The unclean under the Law were those that might not come into the Sanctuary or into the Temple Holiness qualified for worship and made capable of Ordinances What God hath cleansed call not thou common or unclean Act. 10.15 saith God to Peter speaking of the Gentiles as capable of Gospel Priviledges And so we have found out the sense the Children
the same Covenant It is a common Charter Acts 2.39 For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even to as many as the Lord our God shall call 3. They have the same Redeemer 1 Cor. 1.2 Iesus Christ both theirs and ours Rich and Poor gave the same Ransom Exod. 30.15 Half a shekel One has not a more worthy Christ than another Rom. 3.22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Iesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference 4. The Faith of the one is as acceptable to God as the other 2 Pet. 1.1 Simon Peter a servant and an Apostle of Iesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our saviour Iesus Christ. The same for kind though not for degree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A jewel held by a Child's hand is a Jewel as well as that held by a Man's Well then the Expressions of God's love to his People of old have their use for the establishment of our Comfort and Hope Rom. 15.4 Whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 4.23 It was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also As Judgments on the Wicked are for our Admonition 1 Cor. 10.6 These things were our examples So Promises are for our Consolation The Word is not only an History but a Book of Precedents As a Painter hangeth forth his Master-Pieces to draw Custom so here God's kindnesses to his People are advantageous to us only let us take heed that we have the same Spirit 2. I observe that it is a capacious Promise applicable to several purposes To Ioshua to imbolden him against Dangers To Iacob to make him patient under Crosses To Salomon to quicken him against coldness in God's Service To Israel to hearten them against Enemies To all Believers to support them under Family-wants and Straights One Promise hath several Uses it is good for Wants good for Wars This one Promise well observed will teach us to live well and dye well for still God is with us To live without carking for then God is with us and to dye without discomfort for then we are with God If one Promise yield so much Comfort what will all It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a common Remedy for every Disease As the Scripture saith in another case Mark well her Bulworks tell her Towers There is no Case to which God hath not spoken no Blessing but it is adopted into the Covenant 3. I observe that it is a Promise emphatically delivered 1. For the Matter I will not leave thee nor forsake thee That is I will be so far from forsaking or casting thee off that I will not so much as leave thee for a time It is such another as that Psal. 121.4 Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep There is no time that his People are left to shift for themselves but they are under the Care of his Providence continually 2. For the Form 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will not not leave thee neither not not forsake thee Five Negatives He will not yea he will not surely he will not forsake his Servants or neglect them and withdraw his Presence and Providence from them 3 For the Duplication I will not leave thee nor forsake thee Ioseph told Pharaoh the Dream was doubled because it was established by God Gen. 41.32 All this is to shew how dull and stupid we are in conceiving of God's Promises O ye fools and slow of heart to believe Luke 24.21 We are backward to every thing but especially to Faith or dependance on God for something that lyeth not in our own power Before we are serious and put to tryal nothing seemeth more easie than dependance upon God but when it cometh to the push it is evinced Now it is God's condescention that he will press these things again and again that we may not lose the comfort of the Promise The Expression is universal to awaken our attention to engage our Hearts to believe that he will not forsake us in our streights 4. I observe that it is a promise that every one must particularly apply to his own case God doth not say I will not leave you nor forsake you as speaking to his People collectively but distributively thee And that not only to Ioshua but to Israel Deut. 31.6 8. Be strong and of a good courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the Lord thy God he it is that doth go with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee As in the Decalogue that every one might look upon himself as concerned God speaketh in the singular number to every individual Person Thou shalt have no other Gods So here Thou as if spoken to by name Thou Peter Andrew Thomas I will not forsake thee Oh that we had this Spirit of Application and could read our Names in Christ's Testament Omnis operatio fit per contactum the closer the touch upon our Hearts the greater the Efficacy Break out your own Portion of the Bread of Life Iob 5.27 Loe this we have searched it so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good Christian how many Promises dost thou know for thy good Canst thou say Here is my Portion blessed be God for this comfortable Promise to me Doctr. That God never utterly forsaketh or leaveth his People destitute to utter and insupportable Difficulties Why 1. The tenderness of his Love will not permit it Isa. 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee There is no such Affection as God hath to his Children The Mother if she leave her sucking Child she doth not utterly forsake him but runneth to the cry So will God he is unchangable Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not He is immutable in his Grace and constant in his Promise as well as his Being He needs no after-thoughts his purpose of Love stands firm he willeth a Change but changeth not his Will Though he uses various contrary Means yet his Love altereth not as our Condition altereth We are full of Inconstancy but not he Death doth not make void Christ's Interest nor cause his Affection to cease when we are rotting in the Grave Where God has once fixed his Dwelling-place he will never leave it again Psal. 37.28 The Lord loveth judgment and forsaketh not his saints By Judgment is meant Righteousness or Holiness the Rule for conformity to the Rule that is the Ground His Truth is plighted in his Promises God hath ever stood upon his Credit especially when his Promise hath drawn forth the faith of his People Psal. 111.5 God will ever be mindful of
away The Party displeased and provoked is God and the Party defiled is the immortal Soul of Man which being subject to the Power of God and bound by his Laws upon Disobedience is conscious to it self of the Merit of Death and Punishment and debarred from all Communion with God And it cannot have any sound Peace till it knows that God is satisfied and that it shall be admitted again into terms of Grace and Favour with him That Sin hath made us filthy and loathsom to God that we cannot please him nor be accepted with him the Word doth not only assert it Psal. 14.2 3. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Children of Men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Job 15.14 What is Man that he should be clean and he that is born of a Woman that he should be righteous Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one But Conscience is in part sensible of it so that a Sinner hath a secret Dread and Shiness of God especially upon the commission of actual Sins 1 Iohn 3.20 21. For if our Heart condemn us God is greater than our Heart and knoweth all things Beloved if our Heart condemn us not then have we Confidence towards God I know generally Man looketh to the Foulness and Cleanness of the body but is insensible of the Stain of the Soul Yet we cannot always exempt no not the worst from a secret Sense of this However our Misery and Happiness dependeth upon God's Judgment not our own If in the Eye of God all of us are polluted and unclean lying in our Blood defiled with the Guilt of Sin already committed and the filthy Vileness of Sin yet in-dwelling This is evident we were miserable enough till God found out a Remedy And this Misery is the deeper because Man loveth what God loatheth as the Swine loveth wallowing in the Mire and therefore it is a Creature loathsom to us We count Sin a Bravery when it is the greatest Impurity a Filthiness deeply ingrained in our Natures and therefore not easily washed away both as to the Guilt as also to the Stain and â—lot 2. This being our Misery Christ came to wash us and with no other Laver than his own Blood as a Priest offering himself a Sacrifice for our Sins The Remedy for so great a Mischief must have a noble and excellent Cause That Blood was necessary appeareth by the Types of the Law for the typical Expiation was made by the Blood of Bulls and Goats offered in Sacrifice And that no Blood but the Blood of Jesus Christ would serve the turn is evident if you consider the Party displeased and provoked who was God the Party defiled the immortal Spirit of Man and the heinous Nature of the Offence which was a Breach of his righteous and eternal Law Therefore it is said 1 Iohn 1.7 The Blood of Iesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin Heb. 1.3 He by himself purged our Sins And Heb. 9.13 14. If the Blood of Bulls and of Goats and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the Flesh How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot to God purge your Conscience from dead Works to serve the living God There is Virtue and Efficacy enough in the Blood of Christ partly from the Institution of God and its own manifold Worth and Value as being the Blood of God partly by the way and manner in which it was offered by an Act done in our Nature of the greatest Obedience and Self-denial that ever was or can be and so God is fully repaired in point of Honour 3. This Sacrifice thus offered was accepted of God in the Behalf of sinful Man as a full Price and Merit to procure for us both Justification and Sanctification We needed both being polluted both with the Guilt and Stain of Sin Both are a Trouble to a sensible Conscience or an awakened Sinner who is in the next Capacity to receive this Sacrifice 1 Iohn 1.9 If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness As a Man that hath broken his Leg is not only troubled with the Pain but would have it set right again Both are implied in this Washing and both are effectually accomplished by virtue of his bloody Death and Sacrifice 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God And Christ hath obtained both by virtue of his bloody Death and Sacrifice for our Pardon and Restitution to God's Grace and Favour Rom. 5.1 Therefore being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ As also the Gift of the Spirit to sanctify and renew us to the Image of God Tit. 3.5 6. Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done but 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 Iesus Christ our Saviour 4. Besides the Impetration of this Benefit we must consider the Application The Sacrifice had Power to purge us and wash us from our Sins as soon as it was offered and accepted of God The procuring of the Power is the Impetration which was antecedent to actual Pardon and Sanctification Therefore it is said When he had by himself purged our Sins he sat down at the right Hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1.3 Then he interposed the Merit then was the first Grant made or Liberty given But then for the Application It is applied when we submit to those terms that are agreed upon between our Redeemer and God as our supream Judg and Lawgiver As when this Sacrifice is believed and depended on and pleaded in an humble and broken-hearted manner and improved to Thankfulness and Resolutions to return to the Obedience of our Creator then is Sin actually pardoned and our Hearts cleansed He did not pardon nor cleanse nor sanctify as soon as this Blood was shed upon the Cross until it be effectually applied to the filthy Soul by a lively Faith Acts 15.9 Purifying their Hearts by Faith and a serious and broken-hearted Repentance 1 Iohn 1.9 If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins We must bewail our Sins depend upon the Sacrifice of Christ sue out the Virtue of it by Prayer Psal. 51.2 VVash me throughly from mine Iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin Extinguish the Love of Sin by godly Sorrow and all holy means and mortify the Flesh by the Help of the Spirit Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit mortify the Deeds of the Body c.