Law might be fulfilled in us In the Law there is the righteousnesse of the commands and the righteous just damnatory sentence of threatnings against the transgressors of those holy commands Now God sent his Sonne and held the fore-mentioned course in laying our sinnes upon him that the whole righteousnesse which the Law requireth of us might be fulfilled in us who are in Christ by faith whiles by Jesus Christ it is fulfilled for us and for our sakes in our roome and stead and so the Law is while fulfilled for us fulfilled in us who are in Christ by faith And then secondly the holinesse and righteousnesse of the precepts is fulfilled in us whiles by this faith which unites us to Christ receiveth his Spirit draweth from Christ sanctifying grace and purifieth the heart a new obedience in all uprightnesse and integrity respecting the whole Law is begun and more and more encreaseth in us in this life is of that growing nature that it will go forwards hold on fight out its way persevere and overcome and at last be perfected in glory thus the righteousnesse of the Law is in us by faith Christs righteousnesse in obedience and sufferings for us reckoned to us as ours and by the same faith holinesse in truth begunne and growing up to perfection in us See here the Gospel fights not against the Law as the Law is not against the Gospel The Gospel acquits those whom the Law pronounceth guilty but not as considered nakedly in their guilt that were against the Jus the right of the Law but by the intervening of and the guilty considered in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price and satisfaction of the Sonne of God and this is agreeable to the jus the right of the Law The Gospel sets them free from condemnation notwithstanding their sinnes because it brings in God condemning their sinnes in the flesh of his Sonne and the Sonne bearing the condemnation of sinne laid on him of God in his own flesh The Gospel while it acquits from the Law purifieth the sinner and gives him an heart and power to judge himself to love the holinesse and righteousnesse which the Law requireth and in this work upholds him with delight in the inward man till holiness be perfected So the Gospel fulfills the Law every way in Christ and in us fulfills the righteousness of the Law for us and in us and while for us in us 6. The person applying and the manner of application of this salvation even the Spirit the Spirit of Jesus Christ who in all those that are delivered from condemnation by Jesus Christ is uniting them to Christ and regenerating and sanctifying them This Spirit sets himself up in the throne and pulls the flesh out of the throne and he reignes in them and orders their lives This person even the holy Ghost and his work making this salvation to come home with saving efficacy is mentioned implyedly in these words In us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thus the Apostle hath set out lively the second great Doctrine The third is a description of those for The third whom God sent his Sonne to become flesh to condemn their sin in his flesh and to fulfill the righteousness of the Law in them these persons are plainly and lively described thus they are those who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit They are known by their walks that is by the tenour and course of their lives in which they deliberately set themselves with continuance and progress which course of life is framed after the guidance and rule not of the flesh that is of their corrupted nature but of the Spirit that is the Spirit of Christ which by the Word ingraffed in them dwells in them and orders their conversation 4. We have also a fourth point of excellent worth for the comfort of sin-burdened and mortified souls which the word of connexion for leadeth us unto There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ though there be much sin in them for the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and from him coming into them is as a Law that hath delivered them from the Law of sin and so from the Law of death and all this is most evident for in Christ their sins are condemned and they justified and sanctified for see they as men set at liberty do walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh This then is the precious truth which lyeth in the coherence concerning the riches of their assurance and consolation who are in Jesus Christ The sins of those that walk after the Spâ—râ—t shall never be to their condemnation neither shall hinder from them the benefit of all the salvation that cometh by Christ nor â—et ought they in the least kind to hinder their full assurance their comfortable walking in their obedience their constant combating against the flesh nor their full dedition to the Law of the Spirit of life as to that which will give them full deliverance from the Law of sinne and death CHAP. II Containing the first great truth which is this that there is no salvation for any man by the Law or by any other means save onely by Jesus Christ. SECT 1. Having drawn up four choice truths of saving knowledge absolutely necessary to everlasting blessedness and sound comfort compactly delivered by the holy Apostle in this portion of Scripture I 1. Doct. No salvation but by Christ Gal. 3. 21 22. come now to handle those four truths at large the first of them is this There is no salvation for any man by the Law or by any other meanes whatsoever but onely by Jesus Christ. If there had been a Law given which could have given life Verily righteousnesse should have been by the Law but the Scripture hath concluded all under sinne saith this Apostle that the promise of faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that beleeve These are opposite the Law and the Promise the concluding of all under sin and the giving of life and righteousness the faith of Jesus Christ whereby we believe and the works of the Law the giving of the promise which is a reward reckoned of grace to him that believeth Rom. 4. 3 4 5 and the paying of a debt which is a reward to him that worketh If then the Law could save there had been no need of the Promise the Promise were in vain nevertheless the Law is not against the Promise but it shuts all men up to the Promise where life and righteousness is alone to be had by believing in Iesus Christ But may there not be found some other name besides or together with Iesus Christ by which a sinner may be saved for answer hear the Apostle Peter as the mouth all the rest of the Apostles saâ—ing to all men and to all the people oâ— Israel Jesus Christ Acts 4. 10 11 12 of Nazareth whom ye crucified whom God raised from the dead
on the judgment to come but in this way nothing so delightful as the presence of God and the light of his countenance gives peace and joy against which is no Law and which no death nor guilt of sin can destroy The Law is delightful death desirable and sinne it self made humbling and profitable because now hateful and abominable to us by how much the more we believe and know that thus God is love 3. All here is kid untill God reveal All here is mysterious 1 Cor. 2. 7. All James 1. 17 18. is heavenly all from above from above Creation from God under another notion 1 Cor. 2. 12 14. then as a Creator The animal or natural man cannot receive these things when told him cannot finde them out till they be told him but the spiritual only who hath received the Spirit of God and not the spirit which is of the world Nothing suits with these things of the Gospel but what is from above the born from above can alone close with these things They are too high for the unregenerate man who is the fool under the power of folly and values them as the Swine doth Pearls A double revelation of the Spirit is absolutely necessary to the discerning of the things of this salvation the one of the Holy Ghost inspiring the Prophets and Apostles to preach and write them the other of the same Holy Ghost as he is the Spirit of Wisdome and Revelation inlightning the eyes of our understandings to know them when in and by the Word they are declared to us 1 Cor. 2. 10. Ephes 1. 17 18. 4. Here is truth of salvation and here is strength of salvation truth of salvation for God is the rock his work is perfect all his wayes are judgment A God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32. 4. And strength of salvation when he giveth quietnesse who then can make trouble and when he hideth his face who then can behold him whether it be done against a Nation or against a man only Job 34. 29. 5. Here is satisfaction and assurance to the soul satisfaction for the Lord laid on his Sonne our iniquities the Lord bruised him God gave his Son nothing can satisfie the awakened soul nothing can set down the doubting soul but God who is above the soul and above the Law above sin and Satan And assurance is here it is no venture but a state in which we may glory to cast our selves on God we Ps 62. 7. 56. 10. Rom. 8. 31 33 36. may say every one for himself in God is my glory in God will I praise his Word in God we are more than Conquerors 6. Here is irreversiblenesse God cannot lie God cannot deny himself God is not as man that he should repent he hath blessed and who shall curse Tit. 1. 2. Numb 23. 8 19. His gifts and calling are without repentance he will never repent of them Rom. 11. 29. 7. God is in Christ in Christ and in him alone is God reconciling the world to 2 Cor. 5. 19. himself he is not nor can be found in the whole work of Creation reconciling a sinner and not imputing trespasses no science of the nature of the creatures no knowledge of the connexion and rational mutual chaining of the several creatures in this whole globe as so many parts of the universe having dependence one upon another and influence into each other by way of cause and effect no knowledge of the Deity that made all and rules all no principles and seeds of virtue and righteousnesse there learned and thence gathered by all the strength of the principles of reason and light in man and improved to the utmost for the framing of thoughts desires gestures words and deeds none of these nor all these nor whatever other manifestations of the infinite invisible eternal God-head as the invisible world of Angelical spirits be they Thrones Dominions Principalities or Powers none none of them have God in them reconciling a sinful man to himself not imputing trespasses In none of these nor in all these layed together hath God set forth a ransome for a sinner a price of a redemption for a soul that hath sinned a sacrifice and sin-offering or himself appeased propitious and merciful forgiving sins and receiving the sinner into his favour or any of them set forth as a propitiation or in them as on a mercy seat as upon a throne of grace no no but God is in Christ merciful reconciling pardoning accepting into a state of grace and favour Christ Jesus God hath set forth a ransome a price of redemption a sin-offering and a propitiation for our sins Christ is the Lamb of God God hath provided the Lamb for sacrifice as Abraham answered his son Gen. 22. 7 8. Isaac who said to him My Father behold the fire and the wood but where is the Lamb for a burnt-offering to whom Abraham said My son God will provide himself a Lamb for a burnt-offering Behold the Lamb of God as John the Baptist Joh. 1. 29. cryed 8. All things are of God 2 Cor. 5. 17 18. that is all things in the regeneration in the Kingdome of Christ in the businesse of Redemption in the Church of Christ as it is his Church are of God of God not in the way and the putting forth of his power and the manifestation of his glory as he is the faithful Creator but they are of God as he is the God and Father of Jesus Christ oâ—r Lord as he is pleased to set forth himself his power and glory in the way of Redemption here they are all of God and nothing of Angels or Men or of any other whatsoever Whatever is not of God in this work but of men or any other is altogether disagreeable to be rejected unprofitable and shall be rooted out 9. Here we see it makes nothing at all neither is it a pin to choose what or which of the twain befall us to be blessed of the world or to be cursed to be blessed of evil Ministers of Balaams or to be cursed to blesse our selves or to have misgiving thoughts of our selves We stand or fall to God and not to man or to our selves Heark what God saith of thee and to thee and not what man or thine own heart saith as David said of old I will hear what God the Lord Psal 85. 8. will speak 10. Here we see believing is the work that God would have of us He findes out in his own wisdome of his love and good pleasure within himself all that concerns this work it is the mystery of his will his bosome secret and counsel Ephes 1. 10. his Spirit must reveal and tell it if he speak not if he give not out his Word none can dive into it now then he testifyeth and we are to receive his testimony and to believe his Word he that believeth sets to his seal that God
work sutable to Gods dealing with us he sends his Sonne we are to receive him whom God hath sent and believing is receiving he tells and testifies this unto the world we are to believe his Word and Testimony there is no other work left Christ hath done and suffered all for us believing is the acceptable work it gives glory to God and destroyes boasting utterly this faith doth all the work by faith Christ is revealed conceived formed born lives and dwells in the heart faith makes the sinner mourn pray wait at wisdomes gates confesse Christ contemn and overcome the world deny himself exalt God lay under the creature resist the Divel live holily and heavenly and dye in hope peace and joy faith purifieth the heart worketh by love circumciseth the heart to love God makes to fear the Lord and his goodnesse frames to the life of a pilgrim and stranger on earth and enables to do and suffer and labour and grow vigorous in the midst and strength of all that opposeth like men heaven-born born from above as men heaven-aspiring as bound for and tending to the Countrey above This is the will of God the Father that sent Jesus Christ his Sonne that every one that seeth Joh. 6. 40. Joh. 17. 3. the Sonne and believeth on him should have everlasting life This is Eternal life 2. Meditate Say with thy self Lord what is sinne what is man who art thou sinne it is the mischief that which destroyes the work of Gods own hand and that which ruines the choicest creature which no holy Law can abolish which no sacrifice but that of Gods own Sonne can expiate that which condemns the Sonne of God and can never be condemned in it self and in the heart of the sinner but by such a way and as for man what is he even dust and clay at his first and best raised out of the dust of the earth a very rebellious lump a masse of rebellion a lump of rebellious clay a leprous heap a putrified sore a hateful and hating enmity proud conceited brutish foolish sinful flesh that is not subject to the Law of God nor can be unlesse mortified crucified and created again but as for Thee O Lord God what is this name of Father what is this thy Sonne what is thy Sonnes name Oh that we could tell dost thou make thine own Sonne to be sin and condemn him as a sinner and condemn sin in his flesh is this the manner and Law of thy love to the sonnes of men to sinful man what manner of love is this Now stay make up what is wanting in thy conceiving of these things in admiration in the administration of faith which makes us draw near to God which transforms us into the image of Gods love 3. Fasten thy thoughts know thy self and God in Christ more behold his glory to make thee like him in this his love Take the Gospel glasse and while in the glasse of the Law thou seest thy self to just detestation and shame of face with open face behold the glory of God in his grace in Christ his Sonne crucified in that mitrour view it freely to transform thee into the image of this his love and grace from one degree of glory to another degree of glory Let Gods love work in thee such love to thy own soul first and then such love to the souls of others their salvation dearer to thee then thy own things temporal than thy temporal life A pure love sinne the enemy and the sinner the object of thy love sinnes against thee not hindering thee seeking of their good Love that is in deed and in truth love to die for the brethren love making willing to part with lay down lay out expose to the utmost of sufferings whatever is dearest willing to be counselled appointed and sent no envy no ambition nothing of self The greatest and lowest service proves the greatest love love bearing one anothers infirmities and temptations Behold this love to the espousing of thy soul to Christ for ever and adjure all not to disquiet him who is the love Cant. 2. 7. 3. To convince 3. Suffering the Word of exhortation Consider also how this doctrine is full of conviction It convinceth of the great sinne and misery of all men yea of all Christians that refuse Jesus Christ their refusal is of the onely remedy of a poor guilty sinner it 's the refusal of the Son manifesting the greatest love 't is the refusal of God the Father coming to undone man in a way of salvation as mysterious as salvifical as full of glory as of grace the more exalted in lofty height the more it is matchlesse in lowest condescensions of free grace their refusal is a Prov. 8. 36 degree of hatred of Christ and this hatred of the Sonne is the hatred of the Father they love death they love to be damned they love to go to hell they love that which will bring them thither they passe not for that which would deliver them thence they have not the Word nor the love of the Father abiding Joh. 5. 38 42. 8. 41 42. in them for then they would receive him whom the Father hath sent and all this hath the greater aggravation in that every one so knows his sicknesse and seels his wound that he will go out for some or other and any one that comes in his own name whom God the Father never sent nor sealed him he will receive every one will have his way of Religion but this way of God he will not own 4. This doctrine also giveth ground of 4. To humble deep humiliation even to the godly who do believe yet are guilty of much neglect of three things 1. Of the riches of assurance both of full assurance of understanding to the acknowledging of this mystery of God even Col. 2. 2. of the Father and of Christ and of the full assurance of faith that they might in God all day long and night glory in the Lord Christ alone and rejoyce in him for evermore 2. Of enjoying God in Christ in all other their enjoyments 3. Of the high valuations of Jesus Christ when you hear these reproofs say Is not this a part of that love in Christ to the Elect Vessels of mercy that God condemns my sinne but yet he condemns not me he condemns my sinne that he might save me 5. Lastly This ministers strong consolation to the humbled every one that 5. To comfort desires to be found in Christ that seeks his righteousnesse that owns his own want of all righteousnesse and takes his own sins as the detestable and deadly thing to thee is this Saviour sent for thee did he come into the world to thee doth God come in every step of this way to thee belongs this grace of God bringing salvation Go over the whole of this truth and put in thy self thy name thou art the man or woman for whom God took all
creatures and so are subject to change we should have found so much weaknesse and changeablenesse The holy Angels stand before God through Christ as their Mediator of Confirmation who need no Mediator of Reconciliation and Redemption because they never sinned 9. This raiseth the heart to an exclusive 2 King 7. 34. resolution like the Lepers in the book of the Kings in this manner If we stay in our natural estate we are sure to perish if we come into Christ we can but perish perhaps we may finde favour and grace for there is enough in him yea and it begets in the soul the positive resolution of the Prodigal there is bread enough in my Fathers house and I perish Luk. 15. 15 16 17 18. here and starve with hunger I will arise and go to my father and say father I have sinned 10. Lastly The blessednesse of a sinner consisteth and cannot possibly consist in any Rom. 4. 6 7 8. other thing than in forgivenesse and in a non-imputation of sinne in the merciâ—ul covering of iniquity for what shall become of him that hath sinned if hiâ— sinne be charged upon him he must passe under the eternity of the wrath to come which sinne hath justly subjected him unto and then where will be the time and place for blessednesse what can be beyond everlasting if forgivenesse of sinnes be the blessednesse of a sinner then here is nothing in man to move God but this here is a sinner a man undone by his own sin but I will be his God and will be Heb. 8. 10 12. merciful to his transgressions and I will remember his sinnes no more This this is the Covenant by which we sinners can live and stand in the sight of God SECT 2. But wherein may it be made to appear Illustrated six wayes that the weaknesse of the Law made weak through the sinfulnesse of man moved God to give his Son Answ 1. Because this is the main reason why God left the Gentiles to themselves for above two thousand years upholding them neverthelesse in the utmost of natural abilities which are in man since the fall and giving them all the blessings of Creation continued in his Providence with goodnesse and long-suffering that all the world might see man cannot by his wisdome finde out the true God finde out the way of reconciliation and salvation man cannot do ought but wander from God he understands not and will not ask after Christ and then God will say Behold me to them that asked not Isa 65. 1. after him and that shall be verified I Isa 41. 27. Junius in locum 1 Cor. 1. 21. am found of them that sought me not then God giveth Christ the first that saith to Zion behold behold the things which none could tell of he that is the one the only one that bringeth good tydings Paul to the Corinths opens this saying After that in the wisdome of God who wisely disposeth of all things in his providence governing the ages of the world and the generations of men upon the earth the world by wisdome their wisdome of the light of nature with which they came into the world indued of God the Creatour having the book of the creature open before them and time afforded to improve it to the utmost of which wisdome even in the things of God they grew conceited professing themselves to be wise neverthelesse the truth is they by wisdome know not God much lesse could ever so much as dream of Christ It pleased God in his infinite eudoky or good pleasure by the foolishnesse so esteemed by the wise of the world of the preaching of Christ crucified for the Redemption of a sinner to save them that believe 3. The reason why the Jewes were left of God to doat about the establishing of their own righteousnesse to which thing all men by nature stand enclined neither can they by the utmost abilities of reason in man arise higher or seek any thing else that the Jews I say went about Rom. 9. 31 32. this to their cutting off was this that all men being concluded in unbelief from the Reign of which they cannot deliver themselves when the Gospel of Christ is told them never so plainly and all that they will drive that Gospel unto is but this to seek the more to establish thereby their own righteousnesse It might appear that salvation cometh only then unto men when the Lord will of his own free-grace take hence the occasion to have mercy upon them all whether they be Jews or Gentiles and there the Gentiles sooner attained the righteousnesse which is by faith in Christ Jesus than the Jews who had the Scripture which the Gentiles had not and the Jews cannot get over this evil of going about to establish their own righteousnesse and do make to themselves Christ Jesus A stumbling Rom. 11. 3â— 33. stone and a Rock of offence to this day nor will it ever be otherwise untill God glorifie the riches and power of his grace to have mercy upon them When Paul that heaven-measuring soul knowing in Gospel-mysteries through the Revelations which Christ gave unto him entred into the discourse of these wayes of God he is rap't in admiration and breaks out thus Oh the depths of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out 3. This was the reason why the Law was given that the Jews having the Law in a perfect draught from God himself by the glorious ministery of the holy Angels in the hand of a Mediator Moses might Gal. 3. 19. 20 21 22 find that thereby they could not have life given them because they could not get righteousnesse thereby but were all concluded under sinne that so the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe and not to them that would stand by their works by which with the help of the holy Law to the uttermost they could never attain to righteousnesse although they sought it zealously thereby 4. The first proposing of the Gospel to Adam fallen proveth that mans destruction by disobedience was the rise and ground of the exhibiting of the Messiah It was proposed in a threatening to the Tempter when Satan had through subtlety destroyed Gods workmanship and in these words was it first Preached It shall break thine head that is the womans sâ—ed shall break thine head she that brought in sin upon mankind by thy seducement shall be the instrument to bring forth that man that seed that shall dissolve the Devils works the ruined workmanship of God shall be reared and restored by flesh of the woman by which it was ruined 5. The manner of disposing of the Covenant of grace teacheth this for therein Ezek. 36. 25 31. God promiseth to work all the work even by a new Creation out of worse then nothing against all impossibilities to any created strength that
of Gods appointing ordained for thee it is the righteousnesse of faith thine by believing not by working thou hast not a righteousnesse of works for thou art a sinner but here is a righteousnesse provided for a sinner believe and it is thine it is an everlasting righteousnesse live ever by believing and all thy sinnes are covered thou art clothed for ever The Sonne of God Jesus Christ is the Lord our righteousnesse 3. But man is yet a creature and though he be not under the curse and be acquitted of his sin yet is he bound to obedience and not the lesse bound but the more because God so loveth as to give Christ his own Son my bonds of obedience are greater and yet I sin daily my sin is the more aggravated because they are against such a gracious God and Father and against such a Lord Redeemer it is answered The Son of God is sent to fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law in us how may you say 1. By setting out to the world and to the heart of a sinner sinne more vile and the more condemned in and by the heart of the sinner which is one point of righteousness to hate judge sin And God most holy while most of love and most just while most of mercy now this heals us of profaness whilst it allures draws with cords of love whiles it fills with holy fear sin is hated and God loved the name of the Lord Christ is named with an heart departing with a blessed Apostasie from iniquity as love abounds just abomination of sin encreaseth with self-loathing and self-abhorrency 2. By shewing a crucified Christ which sight wounâ—s to the quick perswades to Zach. 12. 10. Joh. 12. 32 33. Joh. 3. 14 15 16. Gal. 2. 19 20. believe in God so loving as not to spare but to deliver up his own for us so faithful of his word performing in due time the greatest unlikeliest and ancientest promise he ever spake to believe in Christ so gracious to believe his promises threatnings commandments and all his words This sight crucifies us with Christ yeâ— causes to live to God and to live in and through crucifyings 3. By this faith the sinner is united to Christ not by a moral union as love uniteth but by a mystical receiving his Spirit not by a Physical or natural union but by a supernatural Christ of whom the Word the Spirit do therein testifie faith receiveth faith receiveth Christ in the Word justifieth and Christ is formed in the heart faith brings home the love of God in Christ as the Holy Ghost in the Word of the Gospel revealeth and by that Word reveals the Sonne in the sinners heart believing this faith works love this faith works by love which is the fulfilling of the Law 4. By this faith Christ is received not only as satisfying Gods justice punishing and commanding but as purchasing grace glory and all good things else yea as purchasing the blessing of the promise even the Holy Ghost who reneweth after Gal. 3. 12. the image of God and sets the heart on high in hope of the glory to come eternal life 5. Christ coming into the believer breaks down sinnes dominion and sets up his own government in the soul the Rom. 6. 14 authority of the Law-giver the spiritualnesse of the Law and his delight in all this 6. By his Spirit he creates us anew he confers all principles of obedience he comes and dwells there in the new creature he is in the seed abiding in them he enables he excites that ability he imparts to them the promises he puts life into the Word and Ordinances that they may be in power 7. By his exemplary life in holinesse both in doing and suffering he beats out before us the way of righteousnesse as our pattern which draws out imitation man being a creature prone to be led by examples and his imitating inclination in his new Creation sanctified now we would walk as Christ walked the heart is set on high and perfect patterns even on Gods holinesse and on Christs purity 8. Here is the image of God to be beheld in a mirrour in liberty and in great 1 Cor. 3. 17 18. glory the image of God lost but in Christ found again begetting in us the very same image we see and are transformed we see are assimilated made like unto it All this work is in true and powerful beginnings which tend to and are growing towards perfection and shall be perfect with perfection of degrees and fulnesse as here it is of parts and of uprightnesse SECT 2. This Doctrine is of singular use to wipe Uses 1. To vindicate the Gospel Gal. 2. 17 18 19. off all aspersion cast upon the Doctrine of justification of a sinner by faith in Jesus Christ without the works of the Law as if it were a Doctrine of loosnesse for see here Christ is not the minister of sin he destroyeth sinne in believers he by faith purifieth them to the very heart the preaching of this Gospel of forgivenesse of sinnes out of free-grace by faith in Jesus Christ destroyeth sin it makes the believer to live to God through a double death and the latter of them which this Gospel by faith puts the sinner unto is no less than crucifying yet a death to the believer most desirable because it is a crucifying of him with Christ And now this believer cannot but abhor the thought of being such a transgressor as to go about to build again that which by receiving and professing and preaching if he be a Minister this Gospel he destroyed was there ever the like effectual way of destroying sin and fulfilling the Law in a sinner as this here sin is made hateful in the heart of the sinner profanesse of heart healed the heart formerly alienated now drawn to God the old man crucified which Christ and the believer lives yet or rather Christ lives in him faith uniting to Christ and receiving Christ works by love love constraining to live to him that dyed for them the Holy Ghost is received the Son of God revealed in the soul Christs government is set up and sins dominion is broken down the heart is created anew and the sinner enabled to walk in Gods statutes to do his commandments with delight in the spiritualness and purity of the Law he would be holy as his heavenly Father is holy and pure as Christ is pure and walk he would as Christ walked by faith beholding God in Christ all of love he suffers a change from glory unto glory which shall be perfected in both body and soul in glory Was there ever such a fulfilling of the righteousness of the Law by weak sinful man as this which is wrought by faith in the Sonne of God sent into the world to take away sin by one offering and sacrifice once for ever Jesus Christ was a curse for sinne not a cloak for sinne he fulfilled
sinne a body of death a body of sinne 5. The Law the strength of sinne 6. The Laws weaknesse to deliver the sinner 7. God offended these are the seven cords of man distresse answerably here is 1. The Sonne of God made man and so man punished sinne punished in the nature that sinned as God is holy he is an adversary to sinne as just he punisheth sinne as true his threatning before the fall could not be made void it must fall on man for to man was the Law given to man was death threatned to man as the first Adam on man must the punishment light now here is a man an Adam the Sonne of God taking to him mans nature of Adam though not by him hath somewhat to offer and God through his Christ the second Adam and through him crucified receiveth a sinner into favour remaineth holy just and true 2. The Sonne of God made man sent for sinne so that here is in this Christ in his low humiliation a propitiation a mercy-seat here is the Lamb of God in whose flesh sinne was damned the sufferings due to sinne he bears GOD suffers the Sonne of God doth all in the flesh for actions are of the person therefore here justice is satisfied sinne is taken away and death is unstinged 3. In the flesh the humane nature of the Sonne of God sinne is condemned and a perfect conformity to the Law in original and actual righteousnesse is performed and brought in before the Lord therefore here is the sinner justified and healed health and soundnesse restored by curing the disease in the very cause and the flesh is delivered and recovered thorowly Here are the Priestly Robes and the Royal change of rayment to cloath a poor naked sinner withal 4. In this Jesus Christ the flesh and sinne are separated Adams sinne and Adams nature divided and mans nature made a Fountain of holinesse and life wonderful high and heavenly things 5. Here is the Law answered in the Comminations and in the Commandments by Christs obedience passive and active 6. Here God by his Son doth that in weak flesh which the eternal Law could not ever be able to do 7. Here is â—od in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to himself God provides the Lamb God condemns sinne God prepares a righteousnesse fulfilling the Laws righteousnesse and if God be thus for us who can be against us if God justifie who shall condemn SECT 3. For the use of this 1. This precious truth in viteth us to behold Use 1 again the love of God to man Here To invite to contemplation 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. Tit. 3. 4. Eph. 2 4 7. Eph. 1. 7. Tit. 2. 11. is love here is love manifested here is bountifulnesse of love shining never the like love manifested never did God manifest the like love to this that appeared in redeeming in mankinde It is exceeding kindnesse Gods great love wherewith he who is rich in mercy loved us the riches of his grace the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse the glory of his grace abounding the grace of God that bringeth salvation Our blessed Saviour speaks of it with emphasis and admiration God so loved the world Paul speaks of it as alone peerlesse God commended Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 5. 8. love to us and John with an index in this was manifested the love of God herein is love All other manifestations of love are not comparable to this great was Gods love to man in the Creation to place him Lord of the visible world to indue him with a soul bearing on it his Gen. 1. 2. own image and likenesse to seat and plant him in a Paradise to provide him a Sabbath to give him Sacraments the Sacrament of life to establish him and of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil to warn him where his danger lay and to blesse him with conjugal society great is his love in his daily providence over him great in the Covenant made to all Nations in Noah great in the particular experiments Psal 36. Gen. 8. 21 22. Ps 107. 8 c. Psal 104. 27 34. men feel in sicknesse and health at Sea and Land great to all creatures his mercy reacheth to the heavens all wait on him for seasonable food David saith hereupon my meditation of him shall be sweet Great was his love to the Elect Angels whom he hath established about his Throne who alwayes behold his face but to whom gave he his own Son what nature did he ever unite so near to himself where or when did he ever such works for any as in earth to condemn in hell to dissolve all the Divels works in heaven to provide Mansions and all in by and through the flesh the flesh of his own Sonne the similitude of sinful flesh flesh indeed but like sinful flesh for a sinful childe of disobedient Adam justly a childe of wrath All creatures here below are for this ransomed captive sinners rightful new and pure use Angels that fell are reserved in chains of darknesse to the judgment Jude â— of the great day no Saviour afforded them but they are set forth to warn us to flee the wrath to come the blessed holy and elect Angels the innumerable company of them are made ministring spirits sent forth for the good of the heirs Heb. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 8. Rom. 8. 16 of this salvation the world to come is put in subjection to man in Christ we are joint heirs with him of all things This love decâ—ared is the powerful way to work on a sinner Hell and wrath the Law and sinne without this proposed do terrifie and vex but the heart flees God and loaths All other love of God is abused by the deceitful wicked hard heart but let this love be set forth and now sin and all the deserts of it wound stab and gore pierce and tear to pieces and yet the heart draws near and drawing near melts down dissolves desires pants after longs for Christ and God in Christ judges it self justifies God while he judges him trusts though God kill him cannot think or say any thing is ill that this God sayes or does This love is the fatnesse of Gods house the River of Gods pleasures the light the life better than life it self this love fills with love this love makes gracious zealous tender of heart noble of spirit and truly lovely this sweetens the crosses sanctifies afflictions and makes out blessings to be blessings 2. Hast thou informed thy judgment 2. To exhort and taken a view of Gods love in this way of salvation Now then let this doctrine come in the power of it to perswade exhort thee to believe to meditate with admiration and to ascend to fixed contemplation 1. Believe this truth this is the work Joh. 6. 29. of God the work that God requireth since we cannot work the righteousnesse of his holy Law that we believe there is no other
were conceived and born with all the cursed brats thereof inward and outward in which actual transgressions she hath been and is prodigiously fruitful To be purifying the soul in obeying the truth unto more and more unfeignednesse in faith love meeknesse patience and in every other 1 Pet. 1. 22 Ezek. 36. 27. 2 Tim. 1. 14 grace to walk in Gods statutes to keep his judgments and to do them and to keep the faith committed to our trust as a thing deposited In all these the actions are ours the ability is the Spirits these are the works of the Spirit sanctifying us 3. Manuduction or leading by the Rom. 8. 14. hand the new born and sanctified are at first weak as children and ever after in this life stand in need of a guide such a guide as might inwardly act sweetly and powerfully draw graciously support and gently lead all this the Spirit doth for the children of God this work is accompanied with familiar sense of love and faithfulnesse taking and holding us by the right hand that our souls might follow hard after him these mighty dawnings Psal 63. 8. and sustentations the more they are felt the more are they prayed for that they might run after Christ and the more the soul is powerfully enabled in these pursuits the right hand and dexrous power of the Holy Ghost is put forth to uphold us so much the more and this work is expressed further with counsel as David Ps 73. 23 24. said thou wilt guide me with thy counsel and with inward prompting and whisprings as of a voyce behind them saying this is the way walk in it when ye turn to the Isa 30. 21. right hand and when ye turn to the left 4. Teachings as the anointing this teaching is with sweet and piercing efficacy as oyle that suppleth and entereth soakingly into flesh and bone and it is 1 â—oh 2. 20 27. with the perfume of the aromatical spicery of graces like the holy anointing oyle under the Law mentioned Exod. 30. 23 24 25. It is also with great establishment in our Royal Priest-hood and in the truth of the Gospel which we learn by this teaching therefore the Apostle John saith we have an unction from the holy one 2 Cor. 1. 21. we know all things the effect hereof is great peace of heart as it is said in prophecy concerning the true Church especially under the New Testament Ministry All thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy Isa 54. 13. children 5. Consolation he is the Comforter by leading into all truth by bringing all things unto our remembrance by filling Joh. 16. 13. 6. 14. 2 us with joy and peace in believing by making us to abound in hope of glory through his power for the work is of Rom. 13. 13. 8. 15 16. 1 Joh. 5. 6. Rom. 8. 26. 2 Cor. 1. 22. 5. 5. Eph. 1. 13. 4. 30. great and infinite power to set the heart of earthy man of sinful clay and keep it up stedfast so high as eternal life in the world to come and in the third heaven by being in us the Spirit of Adoption in his work upon the heart by witnesse-bearing by making intercession in us and for us by being the earnest in our bosomes and by sealing us up to the day of Redemption 6. Direction inward a most secret 2 Thes 3. 5. work which hath two branches or parts first the directing of the heart renewed and sanctified into every particular acting of every grace received especially of love and hope Secondly the directing of the heart into a very sensible taste and experience of comfort The words of the Apostle when he saith The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God this love of God may be understood actively of the love wherewith we love God or passively of the love wherewith God loveth us 7. Corroboration this renders the sanctifyed mighty in doing and in suffering enlarged to receive and hold the strong wine of Gospel mysteries and to walk at liberty in the wayes of Gods Commandments making their way through all impediments and oppositions confirmed in the truth and enabled to stand fight and overcome in the spiritual warfare This strengthens with might in the inner man the regenerate and no other have an inner man this is from the gracious free-gift of God as the Father of Christ according to riches of glory according to his Ephes 3. 14 16 20 19. Col. 1. 11. glorious power and from the energy the effectual working of the power of God working in us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think and this work is unto the dwelling of Christ in the heart by faith unto our rooting and grounding in love unto capacious comprehensions of the every way unmeasurable measures of the love of God and of Christ unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse in the profession of Christs name and Gospel and unto the filling with all the fulness of God even the fulnesse of his image 8. The giving of supplies which for the manner of the work is by influence from Phil. 1. 19 Eph. 4. 16. Col. 2. 19. Christ the head to believers as his members for measure it is in a proportion agreeable to the measure of every part for the things ministred grace and life spiritual and for the next end nourishment more firm knitting to the head and to every fellow-member and increase with the increase of God that is with a mighty increase an increase which beareth before it the work and blessing of no lesse nor of any other than of God himself 9. The shedding abroad of Gods love in Christ even the sense of that love in Rom. 5. 5. with the context from ver 1. to the 11. ver and upon the heart that lieth now next the heart nothing comes between this love and the heart it is plentifully poured on it this work strengtheneth hope patience experience joy in tribulations even unto glorying and holy humble boasting peace of conscience faith in Jesus Christ liberty of accesse into the favour and free-grace of God and standing in the same so that we joy in God against whom we have sinned this causeth all gladnesse more than that gladnesse of Psal 4. 7 8 corne and wine abounding more than all the comforts of this earthly Creation and it setleth the soul in holy safety and security 10. Assistance in persecutions this appears by special teachings of the Spirit to Mat. 10. 20 wisdome power and utterance which the Adversaries cannot gain-say or resist and by the resting of the Spirit on us as the Spirit of glory against the shame and as the Spirit of God against the pain of the Crosse by delivering also from the spirit of fear even a low pusillanimous slavish 1 Pet. 4. 14. base fearful perplexed selfish revengeful giddy turn-coat unsound
upon the Elect but it is common the world thus far feels the mighty power of Tit. 3. 4 5 6. Joh. 16. 13 14 15. the working of the Spirit in the Gospel but the work of the Spirit on the Church of the saved ones is conversion or regeneration as was said before in this work the light is the light of life the knowledge in renewing In this renewing there are two works of the Spirit the taking out of the sinner the heart of stone and the giving to them an heart of flesh the Spirit so applieth the love of God in Christ that it melts the flinty heart down to godly sorrow for sinne as against such a God so gracious it turns it quite about to God and centers it on God and Christ it cures the soul of three evils otherwise incurable alienations of minde and heart from Timor cultus culpa the life of God offence-taking at his Works and Word and Impenitency it puts into it the holy fear of reverence and to offend it raiseth high estimation of God in Christ as of our chief good with hungrings and thirstings out of poverty of spirit a meekned soul and contrite heart it raiseth appetite to the means sanctified of God and having the promise of the Spirit as after the Word the Sabbath the Ordinancâ—s of Ministery and Worship the Ordinances for fellowship and for the exercise of the power of the Keyes as to means of communion with God and Christ this making anew is with union and unction union to Christ and Christians by union with Christ they have union with the Father and this union is to Adoption and marriage-union and from this union cometh continual influences and for ever unction is to be Kings and Priests to God the Father of our Lord Jesus this first work of grace is wholly above the work of conviction and the Spirit worketh that and all the rest as an Agent within thus you have the seven things proposed for explication It is also profitable before we come to application of this Doctrine that we briefly shew thee why the grounds and reasons SECT 9. The Holy Ghost is the applier of salvation The reasons why the work of the Spirit is to apply 1. Because salvation is the work of God who is three in persons it is the work of the three persons in the manifestation of their distinct glory which is ad intra within the God-head mark that I say the manifestation of the distinct glory of each wherein each person being distinct and the works of each distinct the Father begets the Sonne the Sonne is begotten of the Father the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Sonne the glory of each distinctly is manifested as far as it can be communicable in this work of salvation the Father loves with the love wherewith he loves the Son and is Father to them in his Sonne this is the love of the Father the Sonne is the Mediator to bring them to the Father by redeeming them giving himself a ransome to his Fathers justice bringing in an everlasting righteousnesse to cloath them withall purchasing for them the Spirit and all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places wherewith his Father may blesse them this is the grace of the Sonne the Holy Ghost he communicates the love of the Father and the grace of the Sonne and is the Spirit of Regeneration the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of sanctification the Spirit of union and unction abiding in them for ever to their preservation in Christ Jesus and in the Father so that they are and continue in the Father and in the Sonne this is the communion of the Holy Ghost 2. Because this is the order of the working of the three persons in the God-head God the Father beginneth the work God the Son is the person through whom as his eternal wisdome he doth the work God the Holy Ghost is the person by whom as by the eternal power of the most High both the Father and the Sonne do compleat the work therefore in the work of salvation God willing and determining to imprint upon the saved ones the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost in their distinct glory to Mat. 28. 19 the uttermost according to the distinct manner of subsisting or existing distinctly that each of them might be experimentally known believed in and worshipped of them he will save the work of application is proper to God the Holy Ghost 3. God the Holy Ghost must be the Applier the Comforter or else none could be saved none partake of the comfort of this salvation for all men are dead in sinne lie among the dead none can quicken their own souls they are from beneath under the power of sin and Satan and the Law they are in a state of enmity alienation impenitency and unbelief invincible to any created power or means there is a Christ there is a Father and let this be told us a thousand times over and we left to our best abilities to receive this declared love and grace this is all we can do we can draw back but cannot draw near to the saving of the soul we can behold with our rational abilities and wonder but then we despise and so perish we can discern it but under carnal notions and count it foolishnesse we can but receive it in vain we can but turn his grace into wantonnesse we will be establishing our own righteousnesse by all that is delivered in the Gospel and so become more stout proud formal and secure and Christ crucified who should be precious and our only glory and rejoycing will be to us a stumbling block and a Rock of offence and under the form we will be the more stiffe though perhaps the more secret sometimes and ever among men the more plausible deniers of the power of godlinesse Oh let the holy Spirit of life and power come by the Gospel and bring it home with much power and much assurance or else all perish we all perish for ever with Christ in our ears in our mouths in our best natural understandings with the Gospel preached in our streets with high and low applauding of the mercies of God 4. God the Holy Ghost must be the applier that all the love of God the Father and the grace of the Sonne set forth in the Gospel may be thorough and effectual even to one awakened to see his sinne and cursednesse and that we once brought to faith in Christ might be for ever safe An awakened sinner how will he runne from God runne into the gulf of despair or gad about to change his way or catcht at straws to save from sinking but when Christ is proposed he cannot lift up himself to draw near to meet him in the wayes of his grace No the Spirit of truth must come as the Comforter as the Arme and right hand of the Lord to bring Christ and the soul together to comfoâ—t
the first is justified by faith freely of free-grace through the righteousnesse and redemption which iâ— in Jesus Christ and in his blood this is most true the great truth of the Gospel and it is of the same Gospel-truth that the â—ust the justified sinner now made just and righteous by faith and whose heart God hath purified and sanctified by faith the just shall live by his faith for the righteousnesse â—phes 1 6 2. 8 9. whereby he stands righteous iâ— revealed from faith to faith and not first to faith and then afterwards to works and he is still by free-grace accepted in Christ the beloved and is what ever he is by the free-grace of God We are saved by grace through faith and that is not of our selves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast Salvation is by faith that it might be of grace were it of works it were no more of grace Will any say grace is not grace Why sayest thou I but I can do nothing I have done nothing I still sinne after forgivenesse I have upon me a very necessity oh my dayly sinnes and debts what will become of me for my sinnes since God hath graciously visited and called me Do we not see the Answer live by faith upon free-grace and upon the redemption which is in Christ as thou didst at first when thou wast nothing but sinne God hath begun thy salvation by faith and he will never turn thee over to the Law again to be perfected by it Wilt thou begin in the Spirit and then go to be made perfect by the flesh Fourthly That all that is required of us even repentance faith and uprightnesse as well as perseverance is promised given undertaken for and wrought by God the Father and by Jesus Christ the Sonne of the Father and by the Holy Ghost the Spirit of the Father and of the Sonne Why sayest thou despondingly I cannot repent I cannot believe I have a deceitful heart I cannot be rid of hypocrisie vain-glory and secret self-confidence art thou sensible of these condemn them judge thy self for them and go to him as a child to a father through Christ by the Spirit according to his Word for power to repent believe and to walk uprightly Owning thy disability look to him who whiles and in the bidding exhorting and promising giveth and worketh what he commands Say Turn thou me and I shall be turned Lord I desire to believe help thou mine unbelief accomplish in me all the good pleasure of thy goodnesse and the work of faith with power Take out of me the heart of stone and give me an heart of flesh give me a new heart and a new spirit and put thy holy Spirit into me which shall cause me to walk in thy Statutes and to do them Lift up thy drooping soul and say Let him command what he will who gives what he Commands and gives by commanding Fifthly That free-grace is the ground of all and abounds through all and reignes above all to eternal life Why sayest thou as one discouraged The sense of my sinne and guilt abounds how then can I have comfort In thy self thou canst not loath thy self upon the account of thine own righteousnesse thou canst not but in God in Christ upon the account of his free-grace thou mayest and mayest the more for all the mercy of this Covenant of loving kindnesse peace and salvation was and is for sinners guilty sinners chief sinners that were under sinne and death in their power and for no other that where sinne abounds grace might super-abound and was and is from free-grace above and against desert Sixthly That Jesus Christ is the second Adam and the Covenant is within and in him with us Why sayest thou How can it be that Christs righteousnesse should be mine how can any be perswaded of this Why sayest thou not How can the Rom. 5 12 and forwards to the end of the Chapter first Adam involve me in sinne and death is not the answer clear and full He is the first Adam and is not the answer as clear and full Jesus Christ is the second Adâ—m this he is to all who are in him thou findest the first Adam's disobedience hath made thee sinful and brought in death upon thee place thy self under the Word of faith receive what God there testifieth to be true and why not for God is true and thou shalt feele that the obedience of Christ will make thee righteous the fâ—ee-gift will come upon thee unto justification of life In this thing Adam was a fâ—gure of him that was to come even or the Lord Jesus Christ the second Adam SECT 4. In the third place Mark well The sinnes 3. Falls and backslidings though repeated shall not condemne the spiritual walker of those that walk after the Spirit shall not hinder the benefit of Christs salvation from them no not their falls in their walk not their back-slidings nor their relapses into the same iniquity again The Apostle boldly affirms there is ro condemnation to them tâ—ey are in Christ and to them that are in Christ there is no conâ—emnation They that are in Christ have the benefit of all the salvation which is in him salvation is full where there is no condemnation They sinne but Christ is their Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. Jer. 31. 18 19 20. Christ is their propâ—tâ—atâ—on They bemoan themselves for their untractable hearts God owns them for children dear by Adoption in Christ Jesus he spares and pities with fatherly yearning bowels as Ps 103. 13 14. Their falls was said before And as for their falls their falls are with rising again with as it were another conversion with a new setting in joynt again They grow better by their falls as did David and Peter not that it is ere the better that they fall or that they are better than those that hold on their way and walk in uprightnesse without falls but thus they are better than they were before they fell they recover the fall and walk on with the more self-denial watchfulnesse holy jealousie speedy stedfastnesse and redoubled zeal and power they were over-taken in a fault and they run the faster tread the streighter and surer They did the Lord dishonour and disservice they now mind the more his honour and some higher service if none fall in their way they will make famous to his honour their own shame owned in repentings but nevet more come near the very appearance of commission or perpetration of such sin by their good will Their falls therefore shall not hinder their salvation No nor their back-sâ—idings I distinguish Their back-slidings them thus A fall into some particular sinne A back-sliding is a departing from the faith or from the holy way back-sliding is of the nature of Apostasie in doctrine or practice there is a new Religion and another frame of conversation in back-sliding As Apostasie is
they shall reap in joy they shall doubtlesse come again and bring their sheaves with them they shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting SECT 9. Come hither all you to whom the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ is come The uses 1. Of information in foure things and inform your judgments in these following truths which arise from this comfortable doctrine 1. Consider what is wrought for and in a poor sinful creature before he can attain to this to walk after the Spirit First the Word of Gods grace the Gospel of salvation is preached by the Apostles with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven and by Pastours and Teachers sent of Christ who in his exaltation to glory in heaven hath received and given these gifts for men this Gospel is brought even unto thee in its truth and purity in these latter difficult times although false teachers have and do abound It is the first step of Gods approach in his way of saving mercy coming down from heaven to bring thee to glory Then secondly God by his Spirit through the Gospel preached which is his testimony illightens thee and reveals the things of salvation the mysteries of hidden wisdome unto thy soul Thirdly he enables thee to choose Christ Jesus and his Gospel above all other Religions whatsoever abominating them and above thine own carnal thoughts inventions lusts and ways and above thine own reason and thine own righteousnesse and the righteousnesse which is of the Law Fourthly the Spirit in and by the Gospel coming into thee sets thee free from the reign and dominion of the flesh of its mindings of its wisdome and of its wills desiâ—es affections and lusts and turns thee from its walks in which thou didst before walk and live and in which still the world lives and walks Fifthly the Spirit quickens the and gives thee life a new life life from above the life of grace which will be glory a life which is eternal in the beginning of it and being quickned and raised together with Christ sets thee on thy feet takes thee by the hand and teaches thee to go Sixthly the Spirit gives thee an heart to order thy conversation aright acording to the holy Commandments as becometh the Gospel from the power of faith and hope which set thee on high even to sit together with Christ in the heavenly places from whence thou lookest for him insomuch that thy conversation is in heaven Seventhly he gives thee power to walk after him going before thee in the Gospel engrafting the Word on thy heart and thereby counselling teaching exciting and inclining or bowing thy will as powerfully as sweetly drawing and making thee to runne in Gods ways Eighthly and with this power he gives a quick discerning and sense of the flesh and of its motions counsels and ways with resolutions mighty and prevailing to the framing of the course of the life not to walk after the flesh but to hold on thy walk after the Spiâ—it though the flesh be still contrarily lusting and working plotting and warring Thus the regenerate and spiritual though hampered and toyled with his corrupt nature walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit Doth so much go to make thee a holy liver and is not the work very great oh have not any low thoughts of this high mercy for which thou canst never sufficiently blesse the Lord nor canst retain the thankful sense thereof further nor longer than thou keepest up the thoughts of thine own and all mens alienations by nature from the life of God Believe it brethren it is not a mean despicable work to frame the conversation or walk according to the Word of Christ It is not little in it self although it seemeth to thee a small and little thing through vehement desires and longings in thee after greater progresse in the way called holy in which thy soul finds such pleasures that thou art impatient of contrary workings and of interruptions let me tell thee who thus walkest the work is so great that it carries the heart to the leadings of the Spirit and the heart is powerfully wrought upon and changed which none can bow and turn but God that made it or else it could not so powerfully order the conversation This is more then to delight in Gods Word and ways and yet that is a mighty work of grace observe for this Davids prayer Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments for therein do I delight Ps 119. 35. Ro. 7. 22 18. To will is of Gods gracious work To delight in Gods Commandments is the top and that which shews and proves the truth of the work of grace upon the soul enabling to will but to do to performe is more by farre God and Christ by the Holy Spirit have the last Phil. 2. 13. hand put to the work of salvation as farre as agreeth to his Saints in this life when the Spirit rules thy walk 2. Behold here the worth of such a Christian He is Gods workmanship in Christ Jesus created again unto good works which God hath fore-ordained that he should walk in In this walk see the man come out of Gods hands in the regeneration This is a choice creature made up to and by the will of the Spirit and his walk speaks it Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile God hath set out two admirable sights once in this sinful wicked world unto which all eyes should be turned the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinne of the world and the Israel of God delivered from this evil world redeemed from all iniquity purified to be a peculiar people to himself zealous of good works This a choice creature as for priviledges and dignity so for heavenly qualifications 3. Take here the maine reason why many under the Gospel attain not to a holy life which is this they take up with that light and with those gifts which will not subdue mortifie and crucifie the flesh they professe the Gospel but the Gospel is not the principle they live by and no other no lower will destroy the reign of sinne the holy Law will not therefore no other Religion no Institutions of Philosophy no light of the Law within man can subdue the flesh the Gospel alone if received into the heart will do it because it gives the Spirit now they by the Gospel never received the Holy Ghost the Spirit of renovation of Sanctification and of Adoption Untill this be had none can attain to an holy life 4. Take hence also the main reasons why the regenerate attain unto so little comfort for first they place not as they should the ground-work of their comfort in this That they are in Christ which this their walk doth evidence but they seek it in their walking which accompanied with sinnes and contrary lustings will beare no higher than to the power of an evidence and to a begunne work which is true but yet but in a part and