the spirituall Israel page 95 Knowledge of Christ brings men to the knowledge of themselves page 117 L LIve by saith what 165. How the soule doth live in the want of the full enioyment of him page 103 Love of God to be admired 45 It is free Ibid. Full 45. Everlasting 47. What love is 170. Properties and effects of it 172. It is quieted in the single enioyment of Christ 174. It slights all hardships 175. Love among the Saints the excellencie of it 176. It covers a multitude of infirmities 178. It is an everlasting grace 179. How it is manifested page 193 M MAns righteousnesse what page 10 Marter of Christs Kingdom spirituall page 223 Miracles How Christ Works them at this day page 199 N NEw Why Christs commandement called new page 169 Naturall conscience and the Law have a conflict 217. How to know it page 228 O OBedience the fruit of faith page 123 Offering of Christ what 16. The offering of the High-priest what page 16 17 Offices of Christ 15. Priestly Office of Christ wherein it consists 32. Office of Christ as Prophet page 82 P PEace with God the ground of a Christians ioy page 77 Power of God to be admired page 50 Priests Christ hath made the Saints Priests page 71 Priviledges of the Iews and of Christians their difference 101. Priviledges under the Gospel what page 101 Propheticall office of Christ page 82 R REconciliation wrought by Christ page 32 33 Remedies against corruption oppressing the soule 64 65. against temptations page 71 Resting in any thing beneath Christ what an evill page 57 58 59 Righteousnesse if Christ onely iustifies 11. Righteousnesse of man what page 10 15 Rule for Baptisme not one with the rule for Circumcision 97. The Scripture the rule by which Christ teacheth his people page 92 S SAints Why oftentimes sorrowfull 20. They are made Priests 78. God hath nothing against them 78. Their estate happy in the world to come page 80 Selfe-denyall 124 125. Selfe-sinfull 125. Selfe-righteous 127. Selfe-wisdom 131. Selfe-profit 134. Selfe-pleasure 135. Selfe-love 141. Selfe-will page 142 Selfe-sufficiencie 144. Selfe-ends page 145 T TEach Christ teacheth those whom he teacheth to know themselves 109. To believe 121. How wee may know when Christ teacheth the soule page 156. seq Type The Iewish Church a Type of the Christian Church 94. Kingly power put in Israel after the flesh a Type of the spirituall power Christ hath in his Church page 95 V VIrgins Mat. 25. Why called foolish page 57 W WIsdom of God to be admired 42. Christ the wisdom of the Father page 43 Word The Word is the rule by which Christ teacheth his people page 86 World to come what benefit to the Saints page 80 Worke of the Devill Christ destroys two wayes page 205 Errata Pag. 14. l. 7. for her 1 He p. 23. l. 11 your thou p. 26. l. 3. for hear no pray r. hear nor pray p. 66. l. 7 as r. us p. 67. l. 19. two r. few p. 76. l. 8. the r. thou P 79. l. 14. stay r. way p. 88 l. 4. walk r. work l. 15. to r. too p. 89. l. 10. That is mentioned is the first r. The first that is mentioned is p. 100. l. 10. once should the type r. once come the type should p. 103. l. ult or r. are p. 118. l. 25. dele o p. 132. l 22. put in not p. 140. l. 17 was not so r. was so p. 186. l. 1. for freed r. frets p. 187. l. 24. fire r. fiery p. 198. l. 14. add r. and p. 219. l. 10. enow r. ere now p. 225. l. 26. professe r. proceed p. 233. l. 4. dele It. THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST The alone High-priest of SAINTS CHAP. I. JOHN 3.14 And as Moses lift up the Serpent in the wildernesse so it behoves the Son of man to be lift up c. THis text presents you with the exaltation of the Lord Jesus and the manner of it Occasioned by a discourse between Christ Iesus and Nicodemus from the beginning of the Chapter these words being a part of that discourse and they are the words of Christ who is truth it self and cannot lie the faithfull and true witnesse the Alpha and Omega the first and the last of all truths and heavenly mysteries of the Gospel The text divided in two parts In this Scripture you may be pleased to take notice of two particulars first an act to be done Christ lifted up Secondly how it must be done even as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wildernesse c. I shall not meddle with that title by which Christ is pleased to describe himself the sonne of man I might note that Christ is the sonne of man and so true and perfect man as well as God Romans 3.4 But I shall rather pitch upon the mayne glorious Gospell truth held forth in this Scripture and the truth or conclusion is this Doct. That the Lord Jesus Christ now in the dayes of the Gospel is to be lifted up even as Moses lifted up these pent in the wildernesse Christ is to be lifted up now in the dayes of the Gospel Note 1 Christ is to bee lifted up in the preaching of the Gospel 2 In the soule of believers 1 In the preaching of the Gospell and that first for justification and life as the alone Priest Attonement and peace maker between God and his people 2 He is to be lifted up as the alone Prophet to teach as the alone King and Law-giver to his Church and people And this is to be done both in the preaching of the Gospel and in the hearts of believers 1 In the preaching of the Gospel Christ is to be lifted up for justification and life this was the end for which Christ came into the world John 10.10 I am come that yee might have life and that yee might have yet more abundantly ô beloved Christ came to give life to dead soules John 5.25 The dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare shall live and this life Christ communicates to his in giving his life to purchase life for his own who were dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2.1 And so freely and fully ustifies all whom he intends to save Rom. 3.24 And this justification although free through the redernption that is in Christ yet we come to participate of that justification by faith Rom. 3.26 27 28. And the preaching of the Gospell is the Instrumentall means in the hand of God working faith Rom. 10. from ver 14. to 17. Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the Word of God therfore Christ is to be exalted in the preaching of the Gospel for justification and life that men beholding him may have life by him See this truth confirmed Mat. 10.27 What I tell you in darknesse speak yee in the light and what ye hear in the eare that preach yee on the house tops Note what Christ doth tell his servants in the darke he
to 23. For ye are not come to the mount that might not be touched and that burned with fire nor unto blacknesse and darknesse and tempest c. ver 23. but unto mount Sion c. Believers are not come to mount Sinay to burnings blacknesse and darknesse they are not called to a covenant wherein is the administration of condemnation that is done away to believers 2 Cor. 3.7 11. But they are come in deed to mount Sion to the city of the living God to the covenant of Grace where is mercy and pardon in its administration Heb. 8.12 To the bloud of sprinkling which speaketh better things then that of Abel where is nothing but cause of joy and gladnesse joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 All which many a poore soule is deprived of for want of a right understanding between the covenants of Law and Gospel Thus have I plainly though very briefly endevoured to lay open the grounds or true causes why many men and women though otherwise godly yet come short of walking up with God according to Scripture rules I must leave it to the great Prophet Christ to reach your souls The second sort of people that comes here to be reproved are those that pretend to be for Scripture yet indeed doe make the prescriptions of men their rule that resolve what ever the Magistrate requires or commands they will do a very sad thing and as much to be lamented that ever men that would be counted Christians should set up man in the room of God see what a dreadfull curse is pronounced upon such Jer. 17.5 6. Thus sayth the Lord note it is the word of God cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme whose heart departeth from the Lord What is the curse ver 7. He shall be like the hearth in the desart he shall not see good when it commeth he shall inhabit the parched places in the wildernesse Note The curse consists in two particulars 1 He shall be barren like the hearth in the desarts dry empty poore nothing of God in him O this is it that is the cause men grow so barren dry empty because they rest upon man they durst not entertain thoughts of going farther then they conceive the Magistrate intends ministers admire why so many gracious people leave them they see they are grown barren through their dependencie upon men the curse of God is come upon them they are like the barren hearth in the wildernesse Professours wonder why they are left of their companions many of them why they are barren empty they cannot profit by them and all because they trust upon men they dare not entertain thoughts of submitting to Scripture farther then the Magistrate goes along with them and therefore it is that they leave them A second curse is They shall not see when good commeth this is the reason why so many choice lerned men see not that good which is comming that truth that grace that glory that God le ts shine through the Gospel into the soules of many of his people but they oppose it and persecute it the curse of God being upon them blinding them because they trust upon man and make flesh their arme and their strong confidence and had rather deny truth then suffer affliction with the people of God but blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord whose hope is the Lord ver 7. He shall be fruitfull as a tree planted by the rivers of water c. O take heed of receiving or at least of resolving to receive rules from man in matter of worship without an exact tryall of it by the word of God If ever men should again as I trust it shall not be but I say if it should be so that men should as those Mat. 15.9 teach for doctrines the traditions of men yet that you would not receive those traditions for your Scripture for in so doing you can doe no lesse then incur that curse of being made like unto a barren hearth in the wildernesse c. The third thing propounded concerning Christ as he is a Prophet is the manner how he teacheth his people now he is in heaven and that is 1 Ministerially 2 Spiritually 3 Powerfully 1 Ministerially by his Ministers yet ever according to the rule viz the Scriptures thus Christ when he ascended to heaven sent forth his Disciples Mat. 28.19 20. and promised to be with them to the end of the world and you shall ever finde Christ teaching by this means Act. 2. Peter preaches the Jews are converted Chap. 5. and so the 8.12 Philip preaches the things concerning Jesus and they believed and in the churches Christ hath appointed Ministers with their gifts sed Ephes 4.11 and all for the edifying of the body of Christ so that this is the first means by which he teaches Rom. 10.14 17. How then shall they call on him on whom they have believed How shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard How shall they learn without a Preacher ver 17. Faith commeth by hearing c. 1 Cor. 5.19 He hath put in us the word of reconciliation 2 Christ teacheth Spiritually The Word and the Spirit goe both together the word is but a dead letter in it selfe farther then the Spirit goes along with it therefore Joh. 6.36 It is the Spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I speak are Spirit and life but if the spirit goes with the word then the word proves Spirit and life the Spirit worketh freely in the preaching of the Gospel the word is but an instrument in the hand of the Spirit by which it works see Iohn 3.8 The winde bloweth where it listeth so is every one that is borne of the Spirit so it is the Spirit that worketh in the word and by the word 3 He teacheth powerfully where Christ comes he teacheth powerfully therefore the Gospel is called The power of God unto salvation Rom. 1.16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes 1 Thes 1.3 For our Gospel came not to you in word onely but in power and in much assurance c. So that the Gospel it is the power of God you see that it is that wherein Christ manifests his power in teaching poor ignorant unknowing creatures therefore it is said Mat. 7.29 that He taught them as one having authority and not as the Scribes that is his Word had a commanding power and authority over their spirits beloved if Christ once comes to teach your spirits he will come with power with authority he will make a separation between thy soul and thy sins he will pluck thee off from thy base lusts and cursed practises as once he did Saul Christ came with power and great authority upon him and took him off from his persecution and makes him a preacher of that truth which before he
it is the preaching of the Gospel that discovers it I give you these grounds 1 A man never savingly sees his evill condition without a Christ but it is the spirit of God that discovers it unto him this all that are sound in the faith agree unto then the preaching of the Law brings not this spirit see Gal. 3.2 This onely would I learn of you sayth the Apostle speak out of your experience received yee the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith Beloved God hath appointed his spirit to be the means in the preaching of the Gospel to convince the world of sin Iohn 16.9 It is the spirit of God that convinceth the world of sin and that in the preaching of faith the Apostle was once alive without the Law that is without the spirituall understanding of the Law but when the commandement came sin reigned and I dyed that is when Christ had opened his eyes to see into the spirit of the Law for you may see Act. 9.4 5 c. the ministry by which Paul comes to see himselfe is the voyce of Christ I am Iesus of Nazereth then Paul comes trembling c. so that it is Christ in the preaching of the Gospel which is glad tydings for sinners remission of sins for believers and this Gospel this glad tydings cannot be rightly held forth to the world but with all men must be shewed that they are sinners and the emptinesse of duties all other foundations must be discovered the danger of not accepting Christ c. this preaching of Christ and faith in opposition to all legall works and duties is the means Christ hath appointed to bring men to the knowledge both of himselfe and themselves it is true every man and woman without faith is bitten with the fiery serpent the fiery Law but are not sensible of it till Jesus come in the preaching of the Gospel to discover it unto them So that this is the reason why Christ is to be lifted up in the dayes of the Gospel that sinners who behold him may live This is the reason following my Text That whosoever believeth in him may not perish but have everlasting life this is the main reason of the exaltation of Christ that men believing may have life this is ever annexed to the preaching of the Gospel Mar. 16.16 Goe preach the Gospel to every creature he that believeth and is baptized that is whose faith produceth obedience shall be saved This is the reason of the Gospel preaching you see and this is the reason why Christ came into the world that men might have life through him John 10.10 for this end God gave him Ioh. 3.16 God had never sent his Son into the world had it not been that men by believing in him might have life and therefore hath Christ left this Ordinance of preaching in the world that men might be brought to believe and therefore those men are me thinks much beside the truth and the Gospel who pretend to hold forth Christ dying for all alike and yet deny the preaching of the Gospel the means by which God brings over the soules of men and women to believe Rom. 10.17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Those who deny the preaching of the Gospel deny the meanes of working faith Quest But may every one that will believe Answ Every one to whom God gives faith to believe may and shall believe for faith is the gift of God Ephes 2.8 and God works faith by the preaching of the Gospel and this is the maine end of the exalting and lifting up of Christ in the Gospel that men by believing in him may have life and therefore is he to be lifted up as the serpent upon a pole above all things all duties creatures legall performances any thing that the creature may rest upon beneath him Thus you see beloved the truth cleered that Christ is to be exalted in the dayes of the Gospel Use Generally three 1 A word of Examination 2 Of Exhortation 3 Of Consolation 1 A word of Examination and that is double 1 For our selves in particular what say you to this Hath Christ been lifted up in your soules above all things hath he had the preheminence above all he who is indeed above all and in all and through all Have your souls seen Christ the chiefe among ten thousand and is it still so with you are you satisfied with him as the wife with her husband lying down in the bosom of love content with him and him alone seeing and enjoying all comfort and consolation in him Is Christ exalted in your soules as your alone Priest and atonement your peace-maker with God or else doe you look upon any thing beneath Christ as the ground of your peace I feare me the Saints live too much below Christ and that is the cause of so much sadnesse of spirit resting upon duties and legall performances they deprive themselves of much comfort they might otherwise enjoy 2 Is Christ exalted as your alone Prophet to teach you are your eyes upon the Lord Jesus in all his dispensations expecting teaching from him Is Christ exalted as King in thy soule submitting to him in all things yielding uniuersall obedience to him and that out of love submitting to all his laws and statutes 2 Examination Whether Christ have been thus exalted in the Kingdom in the Nation as they desire to stand to him under the relation of a Church as their Priest Prophet and King and in all these it would easily appear that he hath not been thus exalted he hath not been exalted the alone Priest and atonement indeed and in truth but in word and shew but duties preparations and qualifications have been held forth with him and that none but those thus fitted and qualified might in any case believe First bringing men to the Law and then to Christ which is a legall way and not evangelicall it is true the Jews were first brought to the Law and then to Christ but under the Gospel men are first to bee brought to the Gospel to Christ and then to duties of the Gospel for all preparations and qualifications whatsoever which is not of faith is sin and I am sure faith comes by preaching of the Gospel not of the Law Mar. 16.16 17. Therefore the preaching of qualifications and preparations before faith is sin for all things before or without faith is sinne 2 Hath Christ been received as the alone Prophet to teach hath his Word been made the rule of all actions submitting to him in all things Act. 3.22 23. any way Judge of the truth of it 3 Hath Christ been exalted as King to submit to him as the alone law giver of his Church of his people hath not man been submitted unto hath not man sate in the feare of God making laws and constitutions of their own compelling all thereunto as once Darius made a Decree Dan. 6. That all that should
tells them that he is their life and their light their justification reconciliation and peace and hee tells them in the dark in secret that there is no light or life to be attained in any creature or thing beneath the Lord Jesus and Christ having called them to it this they are to speak in the light and to preach it upon the house tops that is publikely to make it known to all that men through the blessing of God may come to the sight of it This was the commission Christ gave to his Disciples to lift up Christ for justification and life in the preaching of the Gospel see Luke 24.47 compared with Mar. 16.16 17 In Luke the Text sayes And that repent once and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all Nations And in Marke Goe preach the Gospel to every creature hee that believeth and is baptized shall be saved c. Note In the first remission of sins is to be preached in the second salvation through believing and both these in Christ remission of sins in the name of Christ salvation and life through believing in Christ who is the alone justification of believers so that justification remission of sins c. through Christ is to be held forth to the view of the soule that the soule who is a sinner may by the power of God come to see the Sonne that is to see that remission of sins that justification that is held forth in Christ and so come to be made partakers of it This you shall see farther confirmed by a second word from heaven Act. 5.20 Goe stand speak in the Temple all the words of this life that is all the words of the Gospel of Christ the means God hath appointed by the workings of his Spirit to discover life unto the soules of men And secondly as Christ thus requires it so likewise the Apostles practice it you shal ever finde them exalting Christ so the Apostle Peter Act. 4.12 exalts Christ to the heavens above all Neither is there salvation in any others for there is none other name given under heaven among men whereby we may be saved but by the name of Jesus Harke you beloved friends here is Christ exalted his name above every name for the remission of sins salvation and thus is Christ to be exalted above all duties creatures every thing Act. 5.42 and daily in the Temple and every house they ceased not to preach and teach Iesus What did they teach and preach of Jesus they preach justification by Jesus in opposition to all legall righteousnesse Act. 13.39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which yee could not be justified by the law of Moses This is the Sermon beloved the Apostles preached Iesus Christ dying and rising again 1 Cor. 15.3 4. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures And that he was buried and rose againe the third day according to the Scriptures this the Apostle Paul preached first of all unto them justification and life by Christ Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification that he dyed for sin and was raised again for justification this is the first Sermon you see the Apostle preaches and it is that he is ever indeavouring to make it more abundantly clear to the soules of the Saints Rom. 10.4 He is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to all them that believe Rom. 3.20 And that by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Iesus for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified Thus beloved you see the Disciples of Christ they cease not to teach and preach Iesus that Christ is indeed the Mesiah promised Act. 9.22 the very Christ that he died and rose again for our justification that the Saints participate of this justification and life by faith in his bloud thus the Apostle Peter came preaching and exalting Christ for remission of sins Act. 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance and remission of sins according to Christs commission Luke 24 47. so is the Apostles practice preaching peace by Jesus Christ Act. 10.36 Who is Lord of all Note And this they preached as the command of Christ beloved and not as the idle fancie of their own brain as the servants of Christ are now charged by those ignorant of the righteousnesse of God going about to establish a righteousnesse of their own Rom. 10.3 but beloved they and so we that are the Ministers of Christ thus exalt Christ preach justification and peace by Christ by the command of God so Act. 10.42 43. And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it was he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead and to him all the Prophets give witnesse that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall have remission of sins Note beloved this is the command of God where is it commanded why Mar. 16.16 17. he that believeth shall be saved that is shall have his sins pardoned his person justified and so be everlastingly saved that is by faith the soule comes to eye it and apply it to see it and to hand it for beloved the word saved implies all that free and full salvation held forth in Christ to believers which is a salvation from all their enemies Luke 1.71 That wee should be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us but especially and in the first place that wee shall be saved from sin that we might through faith in his bloud receive remission of sins be saved from sin for this Jesus signifies a Saviour see a blessed word Mat. 1.21 Thou shalt call his name Iesus for he shall save his people from their sins and this salvation God hath commanded to be preached this remission and salvation the Prophet witnesseth Ier. 31.34 speaking of the Covenant of grace the Gospel Covenant he sayth For I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sins no more c. and this remission of sin is to be preached among all Nations beginning at Ierusalem and Luke 4.47 and in some measure this hath and shal be performed Act. 13.46 47 48 2 Christ is to be exalted and lifted as in the preaching of the Gospel so in the hearts of believers which I shall indeavour to speak a word unto before I come to speak of Christs exaltation in his offices I say he is highly exalted and lifted up in the hearts of all that rightly believe in him so the Apostle Paul desires to know nothing but Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 and indeed beloved hee that rightly knows Christ crucified knows enough therefore the same
to reconcile and save sinners Iohn 3.16 2 Cor. 5.19 such was the love of God from all eternity that nothing could hinder their design of grace The Jews that had a hand in putting Christ to death shall have a part in that mercy and grace purchased by his death Acts 2.37 38. For they did nothing but what God in his counsell had determined Acts 4.28 Now as the mercy of God was herein admirably exalted to men so is his justice his severity also Rom. 11.12 Behold therefore the goodnesse and severity of God c. Behold here is goodnesse and severity mercy and justice to be admired First the mercy of God is here admirably manifested In freely chusing some and secondly his justice in leaving others First His mercy in chusing some in his Son to life and glory Rom. 9.23 24. That he might make knowne the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory even us whom he hath called c. here is the mercy of God wonderfully made known unto the sons of men and note that this mercy was never manifested but in a way of justice justice must be sarisfied for mans transgression now that God may shew mercy without any wrong to his justice hee gives his Son to take upon him mans sin and to suffer for the sins of his people that so mercy and justice might meet together An admirable worke of grace where God shews mercy and his justice is satisfied Never any mercy to be expected but where justice is satisfied it is in vain for thee ô man to expect mercy out of Christ there justice is satisfied if ever thou hast mercy it must be there therefore Christ calls Matth. 11.28 Come unto me c. Now beloved the Saints may admire of and rejoyce in the justice of God for the justice of God is for every believer and is as ready to plead for them as the mercy of God A creditour that is honest hee will be ready to acquit and cleer the principall when the surety hath paid the debt and made full satrsfaction and to declare that he hath nothing against him it is true the surety may pay the debt and the principall not know it and hee may be affraid and troubled but when the surety shall come and tell him that the debt is paid and the creditour satisfied and when the creditor shall send his bond and discharge under his hand and seal now this satisfies the man and now he is cleer and comforted now he walks boldly So it may be with the poore soule Christ hath paid thy debt he hath satisfied the justice of his Father but perhaps thou wantest the assurance of it beloved to whomsoever the Lord hath or shall give faith there it is sure the Lord hath sent his Ministers to proclaime it to your souls That whosoever believeth shall be saved and here hee hath sent his word to confirme it unto you and if that will not satisfie thou shalt have his seal too Ephes 1.13 And justice is now ready to plead for such a soule to acquit him I am satis fied I have nothing against him and so justice is thine and for thee who indeed believest 2 The Instice of God is manifested in leaving others in a lost condition herein is the severity of God admirably manifested especially of the Saints see Rom. 9.22 What if God willing to shew his wrath and make his power known endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath made up to destruction see Chap. 11. the elect obtained mercie the rest were hardened ô how should the Saints admire at this justice what God to leave so many in a hardened-blinde-perishing-condition and shew mercie to me O wonderfull what should God see in me more then in such and such hardened ones what God shew mercie perhaps to one and leave twenty a hundred in a hardened lost condition and shall I bee one of the small number O beloved how will the due consideration of this mercie and justice this goodnesse and severity of God set your selves work to admire God and to praise him this is the new song of the Saints Rev. 5.9 And they sung a new song saying thou art worthie to take the booke and to open the seale thereof for thou hast redeemed us to God by thy bloud out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation O this is that which will set thy soule a praysing God indeed when thou shalt see people tongues nations left and thou taken out of them some taken perhaps one or two out of a family others left one or two out of a generation others left some few out of a City a Nation and others left O beloved the due consideration of this one thing will occasion your fouls to sing that song that none else could ever learn Rev. 14.3 They sung a new song and no man could learn that song but they which were redeemed from the earth called out from earthly men from Nations peoples tongues c. 4 The Saints have cause also to admire the power the almighty power of God working salvation for them he doth declare himselfe to be the Al-mighty God able to doe whatsoever he pleaseth he is able to save he is able to work salvation for his people which way he pleaseth and the power of God is manifested in Christ working salvation for his people see Esay 63.1 I that speak in righteousnesse mighty to save behold the Lord Jesus is called the mighty God Esay 9.6 and a mighty redeemer Prov. 23.11 and their redeemer is mighty he shall plead their cause c. and truly beloved hee had need bee mighty for he hath undertaken a mighty work the redemption and salvation of sinners and this appears to be a mighty work 1 Because none else could do it beloved God hath done such a work for his people that no creature nor created power in heaven or earth could doe it Esay 45.21 There is no God besides me a just God and a Saviour there is none beside me none can save beside God Hos 13.4 There is no Saviour besides me therefore in vain is salvation hoped for from the mount ains truly in the Lordour God is the salvation of Israel Jer. 3.23 Beloved it is in vain to look for salvation from the hills and mountains from creatures or any thing beneath the Lord Jesus There is none other name given under heaven whereby wee may be saved but by the name of Jesus Act 4.12 O beloved how should the Saints praise God and admire him for that great and glorious salvation he hath wrought for his people this is the song the Saints sing unto his praise Rev. 7.10 11 12. And they cryed with a loud voyce salvation to our God c. blessing and glory and wisdome and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be unto our God for ever and ever c. They sing forth Gods saving power Who is
will have much against thee the world that is the men of the world will have much against thee for thy religion as once those against Daniel 6.10 11 12. nay thou mayst have much against thy selfe yet God hath nothing against thee he is at peace with thee Christ hath made peace for thee and secondly thou hast nothing now against God perhaps when thou wast in a naturall condition before faith came the mightiest have some hard thoughts of God like the evill servant in the Gospell Luke 19.20 21. thou thoughtest God to be a hard master time was perhaps that thou thoughtest do what thou couldest yet thou shouldest be damned but now thou seest that God hath given Christ to do all for thee to bear all thy sins to performe all righteousnesse to make true and perfect peace thou canst say or at least mayst say it God hath given al faith as the Apostle Ephes 2.14 He is my peace O blessed word what comfort may this afford your souls I speak to you believers it is your portion what ever men may do unto thee yet God is thy friend hee is at peace with thee what ever man or Devill hath against thee there is nothing in heaven against thee a high priviledge for poore christians that can look upon Christ as their peace The second spring that flows forth from hence is joy and consolation peace is a fruit of justification joy a fruit of peace and all flows from Christ our High-priest the fountain received by faith here lyes the ground of a Christians joy Peace with God Rom. 15.13 The God of hope fill you with joy and peace through believing through believing of what that our peace is made with God through Christ This is the alone ground of joy I mean in the first place it is true that when once a soul attains to this he then shall have cause to rejoyce in every good thing of God wherein God is honoured or the Saints benefited as Acts 15.3 But this is the first fundamentall ground of joy Rom. 5.11 And not only so but wee also joy in God through our Lord Jesus by whom wee have now received the attonement when once your souls come to receive the attonement the peace that is Christ who is our peace then your souls will rejoyce indeed with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 What do your souls say to this now is your peace made with God and cannot yee rejoyce Is God become thy friend thy true friend thine everlasting friend and can ye not rejoce Mee thinks your hearts should leap for joy What if thou hast corruption stirring in thee What if thou art persecuted for the name and sake of Christ yet rejoyce See Luke 6.22.23 Blessed are ye when men shall hate you and shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out you name as evill for the Son of mans sake rejoyce in that day and leap for joy and this the Apostle Paul doth 2 Cor. 12.9 10. Most gladly therefore will I glory in mine infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake Mee thinks your soules should rejoyce in the Lord always as Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always and again I say rejoyce that soule that hath fled to the Lord Jesus who is the alone hope set before us may have strong consolation Heb. 6.18 The third ground of consolation is that the Saints are made Priests to the Lord and so can now through Christ have accesse with boldnesse to the throne of grace every believer is made a Priest in Christ and note this by the way that those that dare attribute that name to themselves by way of office it is no lesse then blasphemy against the Lord Jesus but every believer is made a spirituall Priest to the Lord and so the Church a holy Priesthood to offer up acceptable Sacrifice to God by Jesus Christ not propitiatory sacrifice that belonged to Christ alone but yet acceptable sacrifice 1 Pet. 2.5 Yee also as living stones are built up a spirituall house an holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Beloved here is your priviledge let it be your comfort that now you are made a holy priesthood unto God you may come boldly to the throne of grace Heb. 4.16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace through that new and living stay which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh Beloved is not this a mercie that God should make way for sinners to come unto his presence and to have accesse unto him Ephes 2.18 Chap. 3.12 and that with confidence of acceptance Now thou maist goe to thy Father and make all thy wants known unto him and lay open all thy wrongs before him as those Act. 4. from the 24. to the 30 verse The fourth ground of cōsideration that flows from Christ thy High-Priest it is that assurance of in joying everlasting peace joy and glory with himselfe in another world after the resurrection of the just there shall be a fredome from sin and a freedome from sorrow a time will come when there shall be a deliverance from those miseries that the best of the Saints are now incident unto Note beloved you shall be freed from sin O thou hast a body of sin now and thou couldest be contented to part with any thing to be rid of sin why thou shalt be rid of it one day and thy vile body shall be changed and made like the glorious body of Christ Phil. 3.21 1 John 3.2 Then thou shalt be rid of the Devill and wicked men there shall be no Devill to torment thee the accuser of the Brethren shall be cast down there shall be no wicked men to persecute thee here will be a glorious deliverance for the Saints when there shall be no bad thing to them no bad person amongst them hence it is that there shall be no more death nor crying nor sorrow for the former things are passed away Rev. 21.4 and they shall not onely be freed of those former things but they shall possesse the same glory with Christ Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in glory and Rom. 8.17 If so be that we suffer together with him that we may be glorified together and this glory is conferred on the Saints by Christ Jesus John 17.24 Father I will that they which thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my glory Note here 1 They were given to Christ to the end that hee might redeeme them and save them John 6.39 And secondly those whom Christ hath redeemed he will not leave them till hee bring them into his presence to behold and to be made partakers of his glory THE EXALTATION OF
thing in baptisme that holds forth Christ comming Washing away the sins of believers in his bloud Acts 22.16 2 To type forth Christ who being circumcised was to performe perfect obedience for all his elect and so bring in everlasting Spirituall circumcision that is Righteousnesse out baptisme holds forth a conformity in the believer to this Chrise in his suffering in his death and but all Rom. 6.4 5 6. 7 Circumcision was no type of baptisme because baptisme is but a type it selfe Now for one type to type forth another I conceive is very absurd for Christ was the substance of all types and therefore of this 8 Lastly Circumcision was no type of baptisme for they were both on foot many year together all the time Christ preached in the world baptisme was the substance of circumcision then when the substance is once should the type have been abolished Object But if it be objected that baptism came in the room of circumcision because that circumcision was the means by which the Jews were admitted into the Church and so is baptisme to us I Answer I suppose baptisme is not come in the room of it proved first it is true Baptisme is that which gives visible admittance after the manifestation of faith into the Church of Christ Act. 2.41 As many as gladly received the Word were baptized and added but circumcision did not admit the Jews into the Church for they were borne members of that Church and circumcised because members note this if circumcision gave admittance to the Iews into the Church estate then they were no members before they were circumcised and then the Iews when they came over Jordan into the land of Canaan were no Church of God for there was none circumcised but Joshua and Caleb as you may see Ios 5.2 where circumcision is renewed but it was an Ordinance God required of the children of Israel meerly ceremoniall and typicall as all the rest of the Iews ordinances were thus you see what a great mistake here lies in the not rightly dividing between Ordinance and Ordinance A third ground of mens ignorance is in not understanding the difference between the Iews priviledges and the priviledges of the Gospel hence it is that men are ready to argue for Gospel priviledges O say they it was the Iews priviledge that their children should bee circumcised and is the Gospel straiter have not Christians more priviledge under the Gospel then the Iews under the Law is there not more liberty grace and glory under the Gospel then under the Law Why then should not the infants of believers be baptized as well as Abrahams naturall seed circumcised Ans It is true there is indeed more liberty grace and glory under the Gospel then under the Law but wee are to understand what the Christians priviledge is The Iews Priviledges would be a christians bondege this you say was the Iews priviledge that their children were to be circumcised it was such a priviledge as bindes them over to the whole Law Rev. 2.25 Gal. 5.3 but perhaps you will say What advantage then had the Iews land what profit is there in circumcision Rom. 3.1 that is what benefit then had the Jews by circumcisions see verse the second much every way chiefely because that unto them were committed the Oracles of God the Oracles that is the Ordinances of God was amongst them namely circumcision and worships c. wherein Christ was typed forth to those which had faith the world being without those Ordinances wherein Christ was thus prefigued Quest But what are our priviledges under the Gospel Ans We have the substance they had but the shadow we have Christ indeed as a Church of Christ they had but the Type we have the righteousnesse typed forth to them in circumcision they had the Oracles of God amongst them these were priviledges unto them yet indeed were held under much bondage by those Oracles the Law ever ready to condemne them our priviledge is that Christ hath set us at liberty from these priviledges which would be to us indeed yoaks of bonlage Gal. 5.1 And he hath made the Law A Law of liberty to the Saints that they may rejoyce in that Law from which they are set it liberty by Christ In a word there is never a priviledge that can be mentioned that the Iew enjoyes but would be a Christians bondage The Christians priviledges under the Gospel they are all spirituall and so are their Ordinances Phil. 3.3 We are the circumcision that worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Iesus having no confidence in the flesh So that in a word the Christians priviledge is that they have received Christ the sum of all the Iews priviledges ceremonies and sacrifices all is in Christ which the Christian onely by faith enjoyes Tell mee what priviledge it is for a poore infant to have a little water sprinkled upon him will it confer grace or will it not will it regenerate as you have been taught O Ignorance the Lord cause it to vanish can the Infant if elected make any use of this orodinance or receive any thing held forth in it to the eye faith nay he cannot faith is required in those that participate of Gospell ordinances and indeed men and women or to be baptized because they are regenerate not to regenerate them God owned the Jews under a covenant of works and so indeed for the most part of them they were but a carnall people and they had carnall typicall ordinances and a worldly sanctuary Heb. 9.1 2. but God owning his church under the Gospell in a covenant of grace Acts 20.28 Heb. 8.10 11. hath given us more spirituall ordinances and these ordinances are always presented to the eye of faith in those that receive it our priviledge is that wee are freed from the covenant of works and bondage under which the Jews were held Gal. 5.1 2 3. vers 13. and so being free from that covenant Heb. 8.7 8. are freed also from those carnall and legall ordinances from all fleshly and carnall priviledges in the spirituall enjoyment of the substance of all Christ Jesus who is our light and life our All in all A fourth ground of mens comming short and not walking up according to the rules of Scripture is in not understanding the difference between Priest and Priest and this may be taken notice of under a twofold consideration First in not understanding the difference between the Iewish High-Priest the type and Christ our High-Priest the substance who hath in deed made present peace and reconciliation for all his people Hence it is that many agracious soule comes short of that peace of that consolation which otherwise they might enjoy and not eying Christ their Priest and Sacrifice they themselves are ever sacrificing for peace and yet no longer then they are offering sacrifice can they have peace and so they come short of walking up with God according to the Gospel being filled with joy and peace
through believing The second is in expecting that from those who indeed falsly have appropriated that title of Priest to themselves which they are to expect from Christ as namely Teaching O how have those men been and still are to this day set up as Christ amongst many people making their words their rule as if it were not possible such learned men might erre and I conceive it arises partly from the misunderderstanding of that Scripture Mal. 2.7 The Priests lips should preserve knowledge and they should seek the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts Now this usually is applyed to the Ministers who have given themselves the title of Priests and that the people should seeke the law at their mouthes and indeed they themselves have done what in them lyes not only to bring people into this errour this ignorance but to keep them in it whereas Christ is indeed the alone Priest the substance of the lews type And the people are to seek the Law at his mouth for hee is the messenger of the Lord of hoasts he is called the messenger of the covenant Mal. 3.1 the alone Prophet and Teacher of his people Object But Christ hath appointed Ministers to teach his people are not the people to seek the Law at their mouthes Answ 1. Not by vertue of that Scripture for Christ is the alone Priest and there is none in that office beside him though it is true all the Saints are Priests and the Church a holy Priesthood 2 Wee are to receive nothing from any man as truth but what hee brings from Christ and therefore our duty is to try all things and hold fast that which is good We are men subject to errour and it is our duty to try the truth of what is delivered and not receive any thing because another sayth it but see whether the Lord hath said it therefore the Apostle sayth Gal. 1.8 If I or an Angell from Heaven teach you any other dectrine then that you have received hold him accused And the Noble Bereans were commended for searching the Scriptures to try if those things preached were truth Acts 17.11 If the Bereuns try the truth of Pauls doctrine by the Scriptures who spake by divine inspiration from Christ much more should you search and try the truth of things delivered and not build your faith upon any others word but the word of Christ your High-Priest who keepeth knowledge for you and hath promised to teach you Esay 54.13 The fifth and last ground of mens I meane still those that have some knowledge of God comming short of answering the rules of the Gospel is their ignorance in not understanding the difference between covenant and covenant God owned the lews as they were a body a Church under a covenant of works but the church of the Gospel under a covenant of grace It is true the covenant God made with Abraham Gen. 17. from the first verse no the fifth is a covenant of grace and by vertue of that covenant he promised to be 2 God to Abrahams naturall seed but he never owned Abrahams naturall seed in a covenant of grace if so then they must all of them have been saved for the covenant of grace is sure to those that were under it see Esay 55.3 it is called An everlasting covenant even the sure mercies of David Ier. 32.40 I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turne away from them to doe them good but will put my feare in them and they shall not depart from me But God never made such a covenant with Abrahams naturall seed nay the truth is that God never intended such a thing neither to Abraham nor any man in the world to make a covenant of grace with their naturall seed for God himselfe sayth of the Iews the seed of Abraham Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea yet but a remnant of them shall be saved Esay 10.22 23. with Rom. 9.27 now the covenant under which God owns his church under the Gospel is an everlasting covenant Heb. 8.10 11 12. when God promiseth this covenant in Ier. 31.3 32. Behold that day is come sayth the Lord That I well make a new covenant not according to the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt which covenant they brake c. This covenant of works it was under which God owns the children of Israel as a church to which circumcision hath a relation therefore called a covenant Gen. 17.10 binding to to this covenant the Law Gal. 5.3 Rom. 2.25 Now there are two evils that usually flow from this misunderstanding of the covenant The first is this that seeing the covenants are one and the same under which God owned the church of the Iews under the Law and now owns the church 〈◊〉 Gentiles under the Gospel which 〈◊〉 is not so the conclusion is drawn that we must lay the foundation of Gospel churches and Gospel Ordinances in the Law and hence it is that men are so hardly drawn off from their legall principles we must have nationall Churches we must have infants baptized the ground ariseth from the Law because the Iews were a nation all church and their males were baptized O grosse legality Is not this to deny Christ to be come in the flesh 1 Iohn 4.3 Truly if it be not I confesse I am yet ignorant of what God intends in that Scripture O how hard it is to bring learned wise men to lay the foundation of their practice in the Gospel It is almost impossible nay I had almost sayd altogether impossible if God doe not mightily work to perswade them that Christ Jesus as a Son over his own house is faithfull in all things giving exact rules in every particular for the well ordering and governing of his house that is the Church 1 Tim. 3.15 and for the administration of every ordinance although Moses himselfe hath sayd Deut. 18.15 A Prophet shall the Lord thy God raise up unto thee of thy brethren like unto me him shall yee hear If the Lord 〈◊〉 you once to see that yee are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6.14 Then you will be contented to receive your rules from the hands of grace the Lord Jesus Christ A second evill that flows from hence is this many a poore soul for want of a cleer apprehending of the differēce between the covenān the one of works the other of grace are held under much slavish feare and legall bondage the poore creature lookes upon the law the covenant from Mount Sinay Exod. 19. 20. chapters Where is nothing but feare and dread and hence it is that no longer then the creature can worke can it have comfort and the reason is because it hath been ever set upon working out salvation not remembring that blessed word of truth Heb. 12.18
Iustification and Life 1 It is a believing of the report God hath given concerning his Son that is that he is the Son of God Mat. 3.17 the son of man God and man Rom. 1.3 4. Col. 2.9 That he is a mighty God the everlasting Father the prince of peace Esay 9.6 That he came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 To save them from their sins Mat. 1.23 and from all their enemies Luke 1.71 This is the record God hath in Scripture given concerning his Son and faith is required to believe it John 5.10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witnesse in himselfe he that believeth not God hath made him a lyar because he believed not the record God gave of his Son that is to believe that he is the Christ the Auointed sent of God and fitted for the work to save sinners ver 1. with ver 11. This is the record that God hath given to us eternall life and this life is in his Son 2 Faith is a dependancie upon this Christ for life flowing from a sensible apprehending of all that fulnesse that is in him John 6.68 When many Disciples went from Christ Jesus said to the twelve Will yee also goe away Simon Peter answered and said Lord to to whom shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ the Son of the living God marke here is the Apostles faith We believe thou art the Christ thou hast the words of eternall life therefore whether shall we goe but to thee If all forsake thee yet we cannot whether shall we goe Here is faith when a soule believes indeed Jesus to be the Christ the Sonne of the living God and there leaves it selfe sees no way or means else in the world of help but sticks close to the Lord Jesus in a way of dependancie and this none can doe but by the power of God see Mat. 16.17 Jesus answered and said unto him blessed art thou Simon flesh and bloud hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven and none can call Iesus the Lord but by the Holy Spirit c. 1 Cor. 12.3 Now the fruit of this faith is Obedience where ever Christ works this faith it produceth obedience Rom. 1.5 By whem we have received Grace and Apostleship to the obedience of faith so is the word in the Greeke Faith is a working grace it is not idle where it is it worketh by love Gal. 5.6 Circumcision availeth not nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh by love Christ is ever teaching a believer and hee receives this teaching by faith which worketh by love and constraineth the soule in whom it is to submit unto the teachings of Christ which still is according to Scripture as you have heard Quest What doth Christ teach a believer after he hath given him faith Ans Christ teacheth many things to his Disciples which they receive by faith and they may be called in some sort the fruits of faith because by faith we receive them and submit unto them but they are indeed the fruits of the spirit which Christ our Prophet giveth to his people Gal. 5.27 but I shall confine my selfe in the discovery of the teachings of Christ to the Saints under three heads The first is Selfe denyall 2 Universall obedience 3 To live by faith The first is self-denyall and this Christ teacheth in the first place where he comes I mean to a believer for self-denyall is a fruit of faith how can a man deny himselfe till hee sees somthing out of himselfe worthy thy of his love See Christ teaching this lesson Luk. 9.23 If any man will be my Disciple let him deny himself and take up the crosse and follow me Christ teacheth his Disciples to deny whatsoever is of flesh in the creature Now there are ten things in selfe which Christ teacheth his in some measure to deny and to lay all down at his feet There is 1 Selfe sinfull 2 Selfe righteous 3 Selfe wisdome 4 Selfe glorying and boasting 5 Selfe profit 6 Selfe pleasure 7 Selfe love 8 Selfe will 9 Selfe strength Selfe sufficiencie 10 Selfe ends First Self sinfull or sinfull self now it is true that it is in it self all very sinfull whatsoever is of self is sinfull But for the more cleer opening of this grace of self-deny-all I branch it forth under these heads the first is Sinfull self where Christ is hee teacheth men thus to deny themselves they cannot sin willingly see 1 John 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remayneth in him and he cannot sin that is he cannot sin with a mind to sin he denies his sin he loves not his sin therefore he is able to say It is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me as the Apostle Rom. 7.17 and therefore he is ever at enmity with his sin and lusts the grace of God teaching him to deny them Titus 2.11 12. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared teaching us that denying ungodlines and worldly lusts we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world The grace of God manifested in the Gospell teacheth men that rightly receive it to deny themselves to deny all ungodlines and worldly lusts believe it this is the grace of the Gospel it is not as some pretend a Gospell of liberty to sin but such grace as teacheth men to deny sin who-ever he be that takes liberty in sin under a pretence of grace certainly it is not that grace that brings salvation that teacheth men to deny ungodlinesse and sinfull lusts that teacheth them to live soberly in respect of themselves righteously towards men and godlily towards God This is the effect of the grace of the Gospels Saul a persecutor shall be so no more Zacheus an oppressor shall be so no more it makes a separation between a man and his lusts and between man and his sinfull courses as Job 40.4 5. Behold I am vile and what shall I answer the I will lay my hands upon my mouth once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I will proceed no farther So when once the grace of the Gospel comes then it makes a man lay down all sin and lust whatever it be as Saul Acts 9.4 5. once have I spoken but I will proceed no farther perhaps once I have been a persecutor yea twice but I will proceed no further once I have been light vain prodigall walked unbeseeming the Gospel of Christ yea twice but I will proceed no further this grace teacheth men to deny ungodlinesse 2 There is righteous selfe that is in selfe apprehension though it is true none can doe good and the best actions out of Christ are but filthinesse yet such a disposition there is in nature that is ever apt to have high thoughts of it selÃe they that know
his own way will please himself whoever be displeased O how sweetly might the Saints live if the Lord teach them to deny themselves 9 Christ teacheth to deny Self sufficiencie and selfe strength there is a naturall disposition in the creature to think that it hath power in it selfe to act to wards God and those that hold freewill make it a part of their faith that although in word they seem to deny freewill yet indeed they hold it and that the creature acts of his owne strength and may fall from grace or may stand if he will but where Christ comes in power he teaches men to deny this principle John 15.5 Without me you can do nothing and the Apostle that had experience of the workings of God consesseth it 1 Cor. 15.10 I laboured more then they all yet not I but the grace of God in me and Phil. 2 13. It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure 10 And lastly there are self ends also and these Christ teacheth his to deny There is a naturall disposition in the creature to seeke himselfe and his own ends in every thing Phil. 2.21 For all seeke their own and not the things that are Jesus Christs therefore the Apostle exhorts the Corinthians 1 Cor. 10.24 Let no man seeke his own but seeke yee one anothers wealth Christ teacheth his in some measure to lay downe all self ends at his feet and to seeke him and his honour so that now what ever the Christian doth it is for Christ if he preach it is Christ and for Christ 2 Cor. 4.5 We preach not our felves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your servants for Jesus sake All that ever the Saints doe they doe for the honour of Christ 2 Thes 1.11 and why they are not their own they are bought with a price therefore they are to glorifie God in their bodies and spirits 1 Cor. 6.19 20. Quest May not a Christian seeke himselfe in any case may he not seeke his own good Ans Is without question a man may seeke his own good but he may not seeke himselfe 1 He may not seeke himselfe alone but first the glory of God and in seeking to glorifie God he must of necessity seeke his own good for God hath so conjoyn'd his glory and the Saints good together that it is impossible to glorifie the Lord but the good of the Christian must be included in it for this is the Saints rule doe all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 this is the Saints priviledge All shall work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8.28 There are many base and selfe ends that professors may have in their actions as those John 6. that followed Christ for the loaves more then for love to him so it is possible that men may follow Christ for outward and by-ends although I confesse I see but little ground why men shall now turn Christians for the world for they are like to enjoy least of it as the Scribe that came to Christ and would follow him whither soever he went he thought to gain somthing by Christ Mat. 8.20 but Christ tels him that he was not like to gain what he expected The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests but the Sonne of man hath not where to rest his head and therefore he had no house of preferment for him It was a good resolution of the Scribe had his end been as good to follow Christ whither soever he went this is the noble resolution indeed of every one that rightly comes to Christ to follow him whither ever he leads him they follow him through good report and bad report through any tribulation to the Kingdome of heaven But those that come to Christ in expectation to gain the world they are likely for all that I know to misse of their ends Some come that they may get heaven and so they pray preach doe all to get heaven by it but they are like to misse of their end Mat. 7.22 Luke 13.26 Some professe that they may be counted Christians amongst others as the Scribes and Pharisees they did what they did to be seen of men Mat. 23.5 But these are not the Saints ends in their duties they seeke Jesus of Natereth a crucified Christ and his glory and therein they glory and rejoyce Gal. 6.14 Thus you see when Christ teacheth effectually he teacheth men to deny themselves and sindeed there is good reason for it that it should be so 1 There is great reason that man should deny his own righteousnesse or else he is like never to partake of Christs righteousnesse Christ will be the alone justifier or elsone justifier he will be all or none at all Gal. 2.16 21. Col. 3.11 Therefore the Apostle Paul who once had as much selfe-righteousnesse as another man he thought himselfe once alive but when Christ came he taught him to lay down all that was his own at the feet of Christ and to suffer the losse of all things that seemed gain to him before that he might win Christ Phil. 3.8 2 There is a necessity for Christians to deny sinful-selfe And that 1 As they stand in relation to Christ who is their justification for is it the naturall property of grace to subdue sin to purge forth iniquity Christ dwels in every justified believing soul and where Christ dwels there cannot be a love unto and a delight in sinne 1 John 3.9 Whosoever is borne of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is borne of God he doth not sin because his seed remaineth in him that is the spirit of grace and of Christ remaineth in him that now he cannot sinne because borne of God that is as he is a man born of grace he cannot sin he cannot sinwith a minde to sin with a delight in sin therefore the Apostle Paul sayth Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God that brings salvation teacheth men to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly and righteously and godly in this present evill world it is the property of grace to teach men to deny ungodlinesse 2 There is great reason why it should be thus and that 1 With relation to the great contrariety that is between Christ and sin Christ and Satan for all sin is of the devil 1 John 3.8 Hee that committeth sin is of the devill Christ and Satan Christ and sin which is Satans work are one of the effects of his work are open adversaries each to other and sin and Satan are absolute rebels against Christ so that they cannot possible dwell together in one and the same soule that is the reason Christ in the Saints is ever weakning and subduing sin and Satan he ever teacheth the Saints to deny sin it being so contrary to his holy and pure nature they being made partakers of the same divine nature 2 Tim. 1.4 their
have very briefly hinted upon some particulars much more might be said in this particular but I desire not to be tedious in this place I might branch forth in many other particular Gospel commands which would be too tedious only thus where the love of Christ is indeed shed abroad by the holy spirit there love cōstrains the soul to yeeld itself up wholly to the Lord Jesus all his comands whatsoever things are of good report whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are warranted and required in Gospel the soule that truly loves the Lord Iesus is ready in the peace and strength of Jesus to walk up unto it it will not consult with flesh and bloud it will not stand upon carnall arguments but as the Lord Jesus hath glorified mercy grace and love in doing unto the soule so it will now look what it is may conduce to the exaltation of his name then the soule that truly loves the Lord Jesus is satisfied let the name of Iesus have the glory and the soul that truly loves him hath its end and and rests satisfied Use It concernes every one to looke if Christ hath been their Prophet hath Christ given thee a heart willing to submit unto him in all things ready in his power to yeeld universall obedience to all his commands ô it neerly concerns you to try your selves and if so then whether your obedience flows from love It is possible there may be externall obedience from base and by-ends and then all is nothing Love is the fulfilling of the Law whatsoever is done in love that is from the love of Christ shed abroad in the heart is well done but all done without love is nothing preaching praying professing communicating it is all nothing without love it is one thing to preach and pray and professe it is another thing to doe it out of love to Christ then it is a fruit of faith Faith worketh by love and all works done without this are not acceptable 1 Cor. 13.1 2. Though I speak with the tongue of men and angels and have not love it is nothing it is but as a sounding brasse or tinkling eymball a man may have excellent words fine composed sentences admirable expressions all flowing from a notionall knowledge that may much affect the eares and hearts of the people and yet all be but a sound of words attained by art as a sounding brasse or a tinkling cymball which seems to make a sweet sound to the eare when there is nothing in it indeed but a composure of humane art and so being brought out of that frame there is nothing indeed worth looking after or harkning unto even so are those persons who seemingly do glorious actions and yet indeed have not the love of God in them But to proceed the third thing that Christ usually teacheth his people as to beleeve which faith you have heard produceth its effects so in the third place he teacheth them to live by faith that is to act and exercise this faith upon all occasions in all times according as they have need to make use of it and indeed this is a great Gospel mystery which the Saints are too much ignorant of It is one thing to have faith and another to live by faith it is one thing to have legs and another thing to make use of them to goe with them Quest What is it to live by faith Ans 1 It is to exercise faith that is to make use of it as need requires or 2 It is a living upon Christ in the want of all things Or 3 It is a living by believing of what the soul shall one day enjoy 1 It is to exercise faith as occasion calls for it that is to exercise it upon the object for faith hath ever an object and if it be right and true the object is Christ now it is true there is occasion for the Christian to exercise faith in every condition either Internally or Externally for the Christian hath many enemies to encounter with all the flesh and the Devill and the World all these comes in a mayn upon the soul Now faith overcomes 1 The flesh that will be ever lusting against the spirit Satan comming in working by it self will be in every action self wisdom self priding and self boasting this is contrary to the mind of the spirit and now the spirit is troubled and freed so that many times there is a hot conflict in the soule of the Saint but how comes the Christian to overcome it by cying and applying Christ it can say as Paul I haue a body of sin a proud cursed self seeking nature but thanks to God through Jesus Christ c. and there is no condemnation to them in Christ It is true I have a base nature a wicked cursed deceitfull proud self-seeking heart yet the Lord hath let forth a glimpse of his glory to my soul hee hath let mee see and hath sealed this by his spirit unto me that I am in Christ and there is no condemnation for me and so by faith seeking to Christ the soul overcomes this enemy flesh and then secondly it ever lives in believing that this fleshly corrupt part shall be every day more and more subdued and so is ever cying a crucified Christ for the killing and crucifying of this body of sin 2 The Devill hee will come in with his darts daying hard and heavy things to the charge of the soul although the Apostle faith Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth although God himself pronounce a man cleet and just yet the Devill will come in and endevour to make work in the godly justified soule O sayth the Devill thou art a vile cursed creature thou hast a base earthly carnall heart thou art able to performe no duty but it is full of sin and as good never a whit as never the better Thy services hadst thou no other sin to be accountable for are enough to condemne thee and besides all the rest of thy sins of thy basenesse in performing duty this is that is worst of all thou hast a wicked proud heart of thine owne thou art ready when ever God hath assisted thee to take the honour to thy selfe and to pride thy selfe in those weak duties thou performest What sayst thou to this Christian hast any experience of this try all in thy soule I dare say thou hast if Christ dwell there but what course will you take to over come in this combat see Ephes 6.16 There are the enemies the Saints are to encounter with they are no small no mean enemies see Verse 12. and the armour the Christians armour it s all armour of proof but above all take the sheeld of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fire darts of the wicked the Devill will come and come againe hee will have one dart and another dart now the way to overcome is
aske any Petition of God or man for thirty dayes should be cast into the den of lyons so men set up themselves their own decrees and compell unto it this is not agreeable to the Kingly dominion of Christ Christ hath not been exalted King it is true there hath been a name of Christ but that is all the power of Christ in all his offices hath been rejected and the truth is that the generality have been wholy legall fetching rules from the Law from Moses and so denying Christ to be come in the flesh Legall churches Nationall as the Jews legall Covenant of works made with the Jews taken away to us that believe Heb. 10.9 legall preaching setting up of works with Christ when the Apostle sayth Hee that worketh not but believeth c. Rom. 4. 4 5. Legall Priests the very title and legall maintenance tythes but they that preach the Gospel live of the Gospel Legall administrations I mean after legall rules circumcision and the like legall prayers and duties to make peace and atone ment legall laws and institutions compelling all to one worship persecuting the contrary minded because the Iews did so thus beloved hath the men of this and former Generations both in this and other Nations raised up Moses from the dead and put his laws in execution under the name of Christ and so in deed and practice deny Christ to be come in the flesh although in word they acknowledge him the Lord open their eyes that they may see farther into the mystery of the Gospel In a word Christ hath not been exalted as the brazen serpent upon a pole above every thing all duties prayers ordinances in the hearts of men and that hath caused so many as I cannot but judge gracious soules to goe with sorrow to their graves ever kept in a way of working under a legall bondage no longer pray and be spirituall in duty no longer comfort as if a Christian lived by prayer preaching and ordinances no no beloved they live above these upon the Lord Jesus by faith not that the Saints should not make use of these but not live upon them Christ is the Christians life and so far as he communicates himselfe in these to the Christian he hath cause of joy but if he deny himselfe there for the tryall of the soule it is to let him see the emptinesse of all things without himselfe and to cause the Christian to live by faith for we live by faith and not by sense 2 Cor. 5.7 But enough of this here onely let the Saints who are delivered out of this bondage this spirituall Babylonish confused captivity give God the Glory Use 2 A word of Exhortation to the servants of Jesus in all things to exalt and lift him up to lift him up in preaching in their hearts in their obedience to him that Christ may be all and in all to your soules that you give up your selves a holy living acceptable sacrifice to God that you who have taken his name and truth upon you exalt him as your alone Priest Prophet King in your conversations that yee may be such as become the Gospel of Christ holy humble full of love to all as much as in you lyeth do good unto all but especially to the houshold of faith that so your light shining before men they may have cause to glorifie your father which is in heaven and that gain-sayers may be convinced by your godly converstion Beloved if you seeke the lifting up of Christ above all then certainly your care will be to live a Christ-like life while you are in this world 3 And lastly a word of Consolation for poor sinners Christ is to be lifted up in the dayes of the Gospel that men by beleeving in him might have life by him what doe you say to this is there ever a soule present that wants faith and is sensible of it that wants life Christ came to give life he is lifted up now in the days of the Gospel for that very end and purpose that dead men might have life by him O is not here mercy here is a way made whereby sinners may become Saints slayes may become sons Here is a fountaine opened for sin and for uncleannesse if the Lord help your soules to wash there What say your souls to this is there ever a poore creature bit with the fiery serpēt with the sense of the evill of sin O here is a Christ lifted up for that very end and purpose that poore self-destroying sinners may come to him and live Esay 45.22 looke to me and be yee saved all the ends of the earth O here is blessed newes a blessed word for sinners if the Lord give you hearts to make use of it Christ excludes none to whome he gives a heart to receive him is it not a mercy that God hath provided an object for dead soules to looke upon and live Truly beloved it is the richest mercy in the world where God gives a heart to accept it Here is discovered the blessed condition of the poore despised Saints O they are in a saved condition those to whom Christ hath given faith O they have cause to rejoyce overmore they have cause to be filled with Joy and peace Joy unspeakable and full of glory What if they are reproached and persecuted for the name and sake of CHRIST their Saviour their Husband their All in the delight of their soules yet they are happy and they shall never perish but they shall one day be freed from all these enemies and when Christ who is their life shall appeare they shall appeare with him in glory that Christ who is lifted up high in their hearts in their souls here will lift them up one day as high as himselfe in glory above devill above men above sin and set them with himself where they shall enjoy pleasure without sorrow felowship without mixture and sing prayses and Halelujahs without end FINIS