nature to us Eph. 4.7.8 11. Heb. 12.25 2. It s needful for us that there be a place for us to worship and meet with God in as of old he appointed a Sanctuary for himself to dwell in among his People a Tabernacle and after that a Temple an holy and honourable Place set apart and sanctified for his Name where they might wait upon him bring their Offerings present their services to him and worship him and where He would meet with them and bless them Exod. 24.20 and 25.9 and 29.34 35. An house of prayer for all People wherein he would accept their Offerings and Oblations 1 King 8. 9. 2 Chron. 6. 7.12 15 16. Isa 56.7 Ezek. 20.40 And these were tipes of better things which being now come God injoyns not any such observation of such places but instead thereof Christ himself is the true Temple the great and glorious Temple in whom dwells all the fulness of the God-head bodily Col. 2.9 with Joh. 2.19 21. where God will be worshipped and will accept and bless us and by faith in him all that are united to and with him in union with him become his holy Temple also as is said Eph. 2.20 21 22. 2 Cor. 6.16 Yea in him every of our bodies become a Temple for the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.18 19. 3. Needful it is that there be some time for Worship And as the body of all those New-moons Sabbaths and holy days appointed under the Law was of Christ Col. 2.16 So He it is that makes a day wherein we may rejoyce before God and unto him and be glad binding with cords the sacrifices to the horns of the Altar confessing and praising God in and by him Psal 118.24 27 28. both the day of grace the accepted time and time of finding now and the everlasting Rest Sabbath or holy day hereafter we have in and by him Yea He is the Sabbath or Rest for the Soul which gives it rest in its believing on him and makes us ceasing from our own works attend on him and rest on him to be made an holy sanctified People to God in and by him the rest wherewith the weary Soul may be made to rest Isa 28.12 with 58.13 Heb. 4.2 3. with Matth. 11.28 29. Exod 31 13. 4. It appertained to Godliness or the right worshipping of God that Men entred into Covenant with him and gave up themselves to be his People avouching him for their God and receiving the Token and Seal thereof in being circumcized to him Gen. 17.7 10 11 Deut. 26. And Christ the Seed of Abraham the Son of Man is given for a Covenant to the People and they that close with and cleave to him are therein spiritually circumcised with the circumcision made without hands Philip. 3.3 and are taken into nighness with God to be his Children Heires of the World being accepted and accounted righteous and blessed of him for in him we are compleat circumcised c. Col. 2.10 11. Isa 42.6 and 49.8 and 55.3 Rom. 4.13 1 Cor. 3.21 22. 5. There were also Sacrifices and Offerings required to make atonement for the sins of the Worshippers and to testify their acknowledgment of his Soveraignty and giving admission into his favourable presence whence that Bring an Offering and come into his Courts Psal 96.8 But alas we have nothing clean and fit to offer unto him that may make us acceptable we being unclean our selves and all our righteousness like a filthy ragg Isa 64 6. and the inferiour Creatures are of a small value and he needs them not Psal 50.9 12. much less can we by any service of ours or offering of them make atonement for or any expiation of our sins against him Christ therefore answers both to Sacrifices and Offerings or Gifts being the great propitiatory atoning Sacrifice for us besides which there is none other the perpetual abiding propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole World Heb. 1.3 and 9.26 and 10.5 10. 1 Joh. 2.1.2 And he hath offered up himself a Sacrifice and an Offering of a sweet smelling savour unto God for us Eph. 5.2 That by him and the vertues of his blood and offering for us we in our going to God might find acceptance our sins being there-through forgiven us and liberty of approach given us to the Holy of Holies Heb. 10.10 14 19 20 22. 6. There needed a Priest to offer the Sacrifices and Oblations of the People and make the atonement and both to obtain and pronounce the blessing of the Lord for and upon them and to that purpose God chose Aaron and his Sons Numb 6.6 23. Deut. 10.8 1 Chron. 23.13 Levit. 1.3.8 But that Priesthood is gone and Christ the Son of man is the Priest in and great High Priest over the House of God for ever called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchisedeck and consecrated by the Word of Gods oath thereto as we shewed before such a Priest as we need having both perfect power with God and pity and compassion towards us and faithfulness towards both yea and He makes those that cleave unto him Priests to God too a royal and holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by him Rev. 5.10 1 Pet. 2.5 9. But He is over and among them the Great High Priest his are the holy Vestments the Breast-plate of judgment is upon his heart whence all his actings with God for us and from God with us as the great high Priest and Mediator are with exact judgment He gives both to God and us exactly what is right and shews to us faithfully the mind and judgment of God the Vrim and the Thummim Light and perfection are in his heart and in what proceeds there-from there are also ingraven the precious Stones with the Names of the several Tribes even all the Saints are in his heart to judg them and their causes exactly presenting them to God according to their several needs and dispensing supplies suitable to them The Ephod also hangs upon his shoulders on which the Government is laid Isa 9.6 and covers his Body as a Robe the exact righteousness in all his walkâ—ngs performing punctually all his undertakings towards both God and man as also the inner Robe of the Ephod that was down to the feet He being in his inward Intentions too and Purposes Righteous as well as in his Outward and most Appearing performances and both pleasant as Pomgranates and melodious as the Bells the preciousness whereof is also signified in that the Bells were of pure Gold He also is girt about the Paps with a golden Girdle of which we spake before And the Miter or Crown is upon his head the supreme Authority in the Service of God and in all holiness to the Lord. Yea he is the whole Orderer and Offerer of the Sacrifice that is acceptable to the Lord Of which I shall not add to speak 7. There needed an Altar to offer the Sacrifice upon
of the living Creatures but Christ not only knoweth what is in them and in men also yea all men Joh. 2.24 25. but also he knows his own name and his Father and Fathers name which none else doth Joh. 7.29 Rev. 19.12 Matth. 11.27 Adam then had provision made for him that he might in standing live and been immortal a Garden planted furnished with all variety of Trees and Fruits pleasant to the sight and good for food and a River of Water running therein to water it and a Tree of Life in the midst of it And surely Christ as he had delight in God and fulness of glory and satisfaction in and with him before his Incarnation it being the same glory he had with him before the World was that now he hath Joh. 17.5 So now also he lives in God yea when in the flesh he lived by his Father as he that eats him lives by him Joh. 6.57 and it was and surely is his meat and drink to do his Fathers will Joh. 4.34 and He also hath planted a pleasant Garden and an Orchard of Pomegranates with pleasant Fruits Camphire Nard Spikenard Saffron and Calamus and Cinnamon and all the Trees of Frankincense Myrrh and Aloes with all the chief Spices and there is or rather he is the fountain of Gardens a Well of living waters and streams from Lebanon Cant. 4.15 And he exercises himself to dress this as the first Adam his and he eats of his pleasant fruits which it brings forth to him Gathers his Myrrh with his Spices eats his honey-comb with his honey The fruits brought forth by his spirit in his People are the joy of his heart and as his pleasant meat and he drinks his Wine with his milk even the love of his Spouse and of his Children to him which he hath begot in them by his spirit and the expressions of it Cant. 4.11 13 14. and 5.1 Joh. 15.11 And he is all this to us and for us Adam again had a Sabbath to rest in and surely Christ rested in the Father and in his love even before the foundations of the World and rests in his love to his People Zeph. 3.17 Yea and having offered one perfect Sacrifice now to God for us is set down and rests for ever from all his sufferings and toilsome work and service in his Priestly ministration at his Fathers right hand there expecting till all his foes be made his foot-stool Heb. 10.11 12 13. And is the Rest and Sabbath for us to rest in Heb. 4.3 4. Mat. 11.28 Adam was made in Gods Image and Christ is the Image of the invisible Majesty the brightness of his glory and express Character of his Person Col. 1.15 Heb. 1.3 Adam was Male and Female as Adam is the common name of both Gen. 5.1 and Christ takes on him both formes often He is the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 Yet sometime he is represented in the Feminine forme as Wisdom hath built her house and hewed out her seven Pillars Prov. 9.1 2. And as he is the everlasting Father that begets Children to himself and to his Father So he brings them forth too through the travail of his Soul Isa 9.6 and 53.10 Yet as God see it good for Adam not to be alone and therefore he made him an help-meet for him out of his side while he was cast by him into a deep sleep and so formed the woman for him and brought her to him that leaving Father and Mother Man might cleave to his Wife even so Christ also hath a Spouse formed out of his side out of his flesh and out of his bone through his sleeping in death which he hath left Father and Mother to cleave unto and in her is his delight Eph. 5.30 Isa 62.4 5. Adam and Eve were naked and were not ashamed in their innocent state or as the words may be read they behaved themselves prudently and did not shame themselves Gen. 2.25 and did not see themselves naked till they had sinned for till then they were comely through the beauty and glory of God upon them and their integrity and innocency and Gods favour and protection was their defence and cover from any thing that might harm them but after they had sinned and Christ was interposed to be their Saviour God clothed them with Coats So Christ also and his Spouse are represented as naked sometimes one to the other and there is no shame therein So Christ is nakedly represented in Cant. 5.12 16. and so we find the Spouse his Church set forth as exceeding comely lovely and beautiful without any Ornaments or clothing mentioned save upon her feet to keep her clean and safe in her walking with him Cant. 7.1 7. Yet at other times we find Christ represented as clothed not as having any thing of shame to be hid and covered but as Adam before he see himself naked was covered with the glorious Ornaments of his own virtues and the glory of God upon him So it is said The Lord reigneth he is clothed with Majesty the Lord is clothed with strength he hath girded himself c. Psal 93.1 and in Dan. 10. we find him clothed with linen his own innocency and purity as the high Priest that was to offer the atoneing Sacrifice and girded with the fine gold of Vphaz that is with his truth more precious then the finest gold as in Isa 11.5 Righteousness the girdle of his loynes and faithfulness the girdle of his reines in Rev. 1.12 we find him clothed with a Garment down to his Feet The Robe of Righteousness wherewith he covereth his whole Body the Church even to his lowest and meanest Members and girt about the paps with a golden girdle his heart girt with love and charity or strengthned therewith the bond of all perfection as it s called Col. 3.14 He hath as Princes use to have changes of Raiment in which is much preciousness We may find him sometimes among his People in Garments of Salvation and Praise Isa 61.10 And sometimes clothed with Garments of Vengeance against his and their Enemies So in Rev. 10.1 We find him clothed with a Cloud as threatning tryal to his Church or vengeance to his Enemies and with a Rain-bow about his head as mindful of his Covenant with them that fear him in Isa 59.17 He is clad as a Man of War having righteousness on as a Brest-plate and the Helmet of Salvation on his Head which he hath for his Body the Church also Eph. 6.14 15 and he put on the Garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal as a cloak And in Isa 63.1 2. He is represented red in his Aapparel and his Garments dyed and stained with blood because of the vengeance executed by him on his Enemies as also in Rev. 19.12 But when he is clad as a Bridegroom or Suitor to our Souls all his Garments smell of Myrrh Aloes and Cassia sweet healthful and purging Spices and Perfumes out of the Ivory
Pet. 3.18 As it follows here That whosoever believes ◠him might not perish but have Eternal Life 3. As to his abundant Love Charity Goodness and Grace in all this such as passeth Knowledge Eph. 7.18 19. And therein the love of God the Father in appointing preparing sanctifying and furnishing him to all this great business and undertaking John 3.16 1 John 4.9 10 14. It was by the grace of God that He tasted Death for every one Heb. 2.9 And his own grace even The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ it was to abase himself And when rich to become poor for our sakes th◠we through his poverty might be made rich 2 Cor. 8.9 And so to lay down his life for us even when and though ungodly and enemies worthy of no love at all much less of such and so great love 1 John 3.16 17. Rom. 5.6 7 8. John 3.16 Love worthy admiration acceptation and imitation by us Eph. 5.1 2 3.18 19. Stronger then death such as many waters could not quench it nor the flouds drown it Cant. 8.6 7. Fourthly In the preciousness of his Abasement Obedience Bloud Death Sufferings and Sacrifice for us That however he was therein made low and despicable among men and became an offence to the worldly-wise and honourable yet He in and by them was a most acceptable Sacrifice to God an offering of a sweet smelling savour 1 Cor. 1.22 23. Eph. 5.2 That for which we all have great cause to love and admire him and flee for refuge and sanctuary to him He having therein made peace for us slain the enmity broken down the wull of partition between God and man and between Jew and Gentile wrought Reconciliation or that where-through we may be reconciled or made at one with God Col. 1.20 Eph. 2.14 15 16. 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. having therein given himself a Ransome for all 1 Tim. 2.6 and being become there through the Propitiation for our sins yea for the sins of the whole world 1 John 2.1 2. and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propitiatory or Mercy-seat through faith in his bloud for remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God and for the declaration of his righteousness therein that he is just and the justifier of those that believe in Jesus Rom. 3.25 26. There being therein Redemption and through that Redemption a free Justification 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to or for all and upon all that believe v. 22.24 There-through the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us being blotted out and what was contrary to us taken out of the way and nailed to his Cross and Principalities and powers thereby spoiled and triumphed over by him Col. 2.14 15. So that great is the power and vertue of that his despised and reproched Cross So as that it 's accepted of God far before and above all the Sacrifices and Services ordained by him in the Law of Moses they being not able to take away sin But this one Sacrifice is so powerful and prevalent a purgation and expiation of it that Christ hath by that one Sacrifice once offered perfected for ever those that are sanctified So that the Consciences of the comers to God there-through are purged from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 1.3 9.14 10.2 3 4 5 10 14. So as that there-through we may have access to God in the holy of holies and may draw nigh to him and call upon him with full assurance of faith and confidence Heb. 10.19 22. His precious Bloud being the Bloud of sprinkling for sprinkling the heart from an evil conscience and speaking better things then the bloud of Abel Heb. 12.24 Therefore also the Cross of Christ the onely thing to be gloried in by us Gal. 6.14 Fifthly In the exceeding greatness of that Glory that God hath given him as a reward of his sufferings and hard service sustained against the World and Sathan for us Wherein also is further evidenced the exceeding preciousness of his Bloud and Sufferings the infinite value of them and the force and vertue they have in them with him They set forth his Glory to be far above all the glory of the world yea or the glory of Moses or any of the former glorious ones then the Glory of Solomon and the Glory of his Ministration Far transcending that of the Law as being more powerful in the discoveries of it for transforming the beholders of it into his likeness so as when we see him as he is we shall there-through be made like him 2 Corinthians 3.3 8 9 18. 1 John 3.2 Col. 3.4 For they declare that God hath glorified him with his own self filled him with all his fulness so as all the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily and so as that in him we are compleat Col. 1.19 2.9 Oh let us go out and see this King Solomon this excellent Prince of Peace the Peace and Peace-maker of whom and of whose Glory Solomon of old was but a type and figure and the glory and lustre of his Kingdom but a type and figure of the the Glory of his which passeth all our conceptions and expressions let us go forth I say and behold him with the Crown wherewith his Mother the infinite Wisdom Love and Grace of God as also his Disciples who have heard and received the Word of God and kept it who are to him as his Mother Brethren and Sisters Matth. 12.49 50 have crowned him in the day of his espousals and of the gladness of his heart When being espoused to the nature of man he received the holy Spirit and poured it forth upon them Cant. 3.13 Matth. 22.1 Acts 2.33 But indeed it is not to be fully seen and known till the great day of his appearance the time of the appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2.13 1 John 3.2 Sixthly In his perfect and compleat Furniture wherewith he is furnished for executing and performing the works of his glorious Offices and bringing about the end of them the salvation of man the eternal salvation of all that obey him in which they present us as compleatly provided for of all things pertaining to life and godliness as given to him and dwelling in him for us I shall here onely touch upon something thereof in some few Particulars As First They declare him to be the great Prophet and as such fully and perfectly accomplished with ability fitness and faithfulness for teaching us the knowledge of himself and of God and of all things As being filled to that purpose with the fulness of God the gift of the Holy Ghost being so immeasurably received by him that he hath the seven spirits that are before the Throne Rev. 1.4 3.1 The fulness of the Holy Ghost and of all spiritual gifts for both giving forth to men and enabling and moving men to receive the exact and perfect knowledge of God and for gifting whom
said He that abideth in him sinneth not He that sinneth wandreth from the way hath neither seen him nor known him 1 Joh. 3.6 Thus the believing on him preserves from perishing from the way whereas they that believe not are apt to perish So 1. Either by running out of the Doctrine and way of truth into false Doctrines and Heresies of Damnation being with specious pretences and appearances presented to them as through want of stable rootedness in Christ and dependance on him the Galatians were in the way to have done and as God oft hath left them to do who believed not the truth but have had pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. Either fear of men or desire of their favour or will to be rich or the appearing probability of falshood cause those that believe not in Christ to erre from the faith into by-ways of Judgment 1. Tim. 6.10 2. Or else by running into ways of worldiness uncleanness covetousness discontents and unrighteous practices as the Israelites into lusting after evil things Idolatries Fornication and as Demas that forsook Paul having loved this present World 2 Tim. 4 10. And of both these ways of perishing out of the way the Apostle John warnes the believers in 1 John 2.15 16 17 18 19 c. First of perishing from the way by loving the world or the things of the world the lust of the eyes the lust of the flesh or the pride of life ver 15.16 And then of the Deceivers 〈◊〉 and Antichrists when he saith ver 18. Little Children it is the last times and as ye have heard that Antichrist should come even now there are many Antichrists c. Of whom also he warnes 2 Joh. 8. Look to your selves that we loose not the things that we have wrought And as a preservative against both prescribes the faith of Christ or the believing on him 1 Joh. 2.24 25 28. Let that therefore which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you if that which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you ye also shall continue in the Father and in the Son namely so as neither by the love of the world nor by the Antichrists to be drawn out from them and this is the promise which he hath promised eternal life And in 1 John 5.13 These things have I written to you that believe that ye may know that ye have everlasting life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God 2. There is also a perishing in the end and that 's a sad perishing indeed its sad to perish from the way for that also leads to perishing in the end and will end in it unless rich and marvellous grace and mercy prevent but yet by mercy it may be prevented the lost may be found again as is implied and signified in the parables of the lost Sheep and the lost Groat and the lost child found Luk. 15. The last of which though he lay and perisht with hunger yet came to himself again and being made sensible of it and remembring his Fathers house arose and returned to it So as it 's said of him This my Son was dead but is alive again was lost but is found Namely he was perisht out of the way to happiness but is now brought back into it and found in it again But they that perish in the end are lost for ever as it is said of Amalek His latter end is that he shall perish forever Num. 24.20 There is indeed a perishing in the end in a sence which may be of less mischief yea for mercy Viz. When men perish in the end of their designs and undertakings for that may be in order to their being led to Repentance of such a perishing diverse passages may be understood in which the holy Ghost led his people to pray against their enemies as Let the wicked perish at the presence of God Psal 68.2 Let them be put to shame and perish Psal 83.17 And diverse the like which may possibly be taken in such a charitable as well as in some cases in a harsher sense but to perish in a proper sense as to mens persons in the end is horrible and inconceivably miserable Whether it be 1. At the end of their lives so as their hopes become as the giving up of the Ghost and when they part with their breath their hopes utterly fail them and they go from this life to the dreadful prison to be there reserved against the day of Wrath and then to be brought forth to a worser state of misery and destruction As it is said The Hypocrites hope shall perish whose hope shall be cut off and whose trust shall be as a Spiders web Job 8.13 14. As it was with the rich man who fâ—red deliciously every day but at his death was carried into Hell there to be tormented till Death and Hell give up their Dead to be judged at the great day as it is said Rev. 20.13 14. Luk. 16.21 26. Or whether it be at the end of the World at the great Judgment when Christ shall sit upon his Throne or Tribunal seat and pass that dreadful Sentence upon the unbelieving Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Whereupon they shall go into everlasting punishment and perish with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his Power Mat. 25.41 46. 2 Thes 1.7 8 9. To either of which those sentences of the Psalmes about the wickeds perishing may be also applied especially those perishings from their hopes and designes here not awakning them to timely Repentance Indeed it may seem that some that shall perish in that great end of the World the Day of the Lord may not be quite perished from all hope till then by that saying of our Saviour That many shall say at that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out Devils and done many wonderful works to whom he shall say Depart from me c. As if they should plead at that day with some hope of finding mercy but plain it is that they who believe not on Christ but live and dye in their unbelief shall dye in their sins John 8.24 Their sins unpardoned and fast bound upon them and they bound over to suffer the punishment of them and that in the final Judgment in Soul and Body reunited The fearful and unbelieving shall be cast into the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second Death An horrible end decreed to the workers of iniquity and such as cannot be expressed and therefore the Apostle Peter saith What shall their end be that obey not the Gospel As implying it to be unutterably miserable 1 Pet. 4.17 But in none of these senses shall the believer on the Son of Man perish Neither in that which is his hope and design as a believer which is the glorifying of God
saith is of hearing and hearing is of the word of God not of every hearing nor of every word but of hearing the word of God From which word hearing or the hearing Ear also is effected and proceeds Rom. 10.17 For no man can come unto Christ this Son of Man unless it be given to him of God unless he draws him and he draws by his teaching men the knowledge of him whence it is said every one that heareth and learneth of the Father comes unto him Joh. 6.44 45 65. It is of his own good will that he begets men through the word of truth to be of a contemptible vile worthless creature as man hath made himself by his sin a kind of first-fruits of his creatures a more noble and prime creature to him a new creature a first-fruits of his future new creation therefore it behooves men every one to be swift to hear slow to speak slow to wrath slow to murmur and be angry at the word of truth and the instructions reproofs and counsels of it because clashing with the wisdom and will of the flesh the principles thoughts and practices of the world and of the wise men thereof but with meekness to receive the ingraffed word the word as God puts and ingraffs it into the heart which is able to save the Soul being not only hearers of the word but doers of it as it is working and so God in and with it to will and to do of good pleasure Jam. 1.18 19 21. Phil. 2.12 13. turning at Gods reproofs therein given from whatsoever in conceit apprehension or opinion we hold or imagine that clashes with the truth discovered in the word and its instructions that we may so conceive judge and believe as that declares and informs us of all things and from whatsoever in affection desire purpose or practice we naturally or through evil principles or customs affect desire purpose or practice disagreeing with and reproved by the light and instruction of that blessed word that so we may obey its counsel and instruction and affect desire purpose and practice what it commends and leads us to seeking after that and so the wisdom of God will pour out his spirit to us and make known his words Prov. 1.22 23. and so hearing the Soul shall live Isa 55.3 there through attaining to know the name of the Lord the Son of Man we shall be strengthened framed and have the will set to trust in him Psal 9.10 in meditating in the law and doctrine of the Lord and exercising our selves in it day and night the heart will be fixed to trust in the Lord and to make him its hope Yea and therein to be rooted grounded and fixed like a Tree planted by the water side so as to abide in the blasts of temptations and be fruitful in every good work increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all might according to his glorious power to all patience and long suffering with joyfulness Psal 1.1 2 3. Jer. 17.7 8. Col. 1.10 11. for the Gospel of Christ the preaching of the cross is the power of God to salvation even from unbelief and all the power of darkness to every one that believes it Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. 1.22 23. So as that in taking diligent heed thereto and yeilding up our selves to the power that worketh therein we shall be helped and framed to believe on the Son of God it s through his name that men receive power to believe on him Acts 10.43 and therefore it behooves all men as they would avoid the perishing from Gods way and the everlasting misery and destruction at the end and as they would obtain the everlasting life and happiness propounded and promised to give serious and diligent heed and obedience thereto who would willingly incur pain grief and affliction here or to perish by hunger cold prison gallows or the like and yet these things are infinitely short of the evil of perishing from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power for ever Yea who that is travelling to some remote place where if he go right on to it he shall find great riches honours or gain would be willing or through carefulness expose himself to loose and be lost out of the way and to wander in a Wilderness among bryers and thorns boggs and lakes yea among wild and savage creatures as serpents lyons tygers c. when in a diligent careful inquiry after and attendance to some faithful direction and guide he might go right and safe and attain the good proposed and miss that perishing by hunger cold the teeth of the wild beasts that he is otherwise in danger off and yet that perishing from the way and danger of finally perishing by the ways or means forementioned are little evils in comparison of perishing from Gods way and by what that perishing exposes to who again that hath proffer and opportunity of being made rich honourable living pleasantly and delightfully for a long time so long suppose as was the life of Methuselah would willingly refuse and loose such enjoyments and incur answerable miseries and yet this eternal life which God hath promised to give to them that believe on and follow after the Son of Man is infinitely more excellent then all the honours riches pleasures and most excellent enjoyments of this world though they might be enjoyed safely not only so long as the life of Methusalah but also so long as from the beginning of this world to the end thereof without interruption Oh therefore how concerns it all men to come and believe on the Son of Man and to that purpose to listen to and receive the teachings of God concerning him that such miseries may be missed and such mercies enjoyed that they may not perish in the way and from the end but may have everlasting life Vse 2. How doth this then reprove the vanity folly pride and wickedness of the world which rejects and puts from them and matter not to believe on this most excellent one whom God to such glorious ends hath raised up for us If it be folly and madness in men who may in hearing their Fathers and freinds good instructions in matters of this world live well and comfortably have and get yet more of the good things of this world to maintain them and preserve them from want and beggery and make them live in credit and repute to turn their backs upon such good counsels and thereby willingly and wilfully through their pride folly slothfulness love of bad company or the like bring themselves into debt poverty prisons and nothing but a Series of miseries How much more is it folly and madness for the world or any of us to neglect Gods word and Gods Son and that great Salvation wrought and preached and brought to us by so great and glorious a hand as that of this Son of Man being also the Son of God the mighty God and our Saviour and thereby to
happinesse as without whom the best are too bad to be saved from wrath and admitted into the Kingdom of God There being no other name given under heaven either of thing or person whereby we must be saved but only his Act 4.11.12 and in and by whom the poorest and meanest sinfulnesse and unworthiâ—est may and shall be saved believing on him And indeed this Phrase That whosoever believeth on him may or should not perish c. Shews both a necessity for the best to believe on him as implying that none is sufficient to keep himself from hell and destruction or to climb and ascend up to heaven and happinesse but need to be saved from the one and advanced to the other by him in taking heed to leaving and relying on him and so only and no other way the wisest strongest and most righteous even by his wisdom righteousness mercy and grace may be saved and also that by him the worst and unworthiest believing on him may be saved and live such the sufficiency and perfection of grace that is in him through his sufferings sacrifice mediation Therefore I say neither are we to lift up our selves in our selves or in any thing of or after the flesh to the neglecting him as if we were therein or therfore Lords and need not come or be beholden unto him or as if we had lesse need of living in or depending on him nor yet so to grieve over or discourage our selves by our unworthiness or any poverty or sinfulness in or of our selves as if the grace in him was too scantâ—y to help or save us But knowing his sufficiency for all and freeness and openness to all cleave we with purpose of heart to him believing on him and not fearing But again 2. From the description given in the former Observation of this believing on the Son of man we may further admonish and be admonished To take heed of resting in a false and pretended believing on him which is not indeed and in truth the believing on him here signified A man may think himself to be something therein when he is nothing and so deceive himself And many so deceive themselves the heart being deceitfull above all things 1. By taking an external profession of the faith or of believing in God and on Jesus Christ his Son for a real and hearty believing on him Many professe themselves to know God who yet indeed deny him And many professe to believe on Jesus Christ who yet in their lives proclaim that they neither know him nor regard him much lesse have their faith in and dependance on him Tit. 1.16 Not every one that saith to or of Christ Lord Lord is such a one as believes on him so as to be saved from perishing and to have or obtain eternal life or enter into Gods Kingdome But they that do the will of God that sent him that so believe the Testimony of God concerning him as indeed to receive him for their Lord and depend on and obey him Matth. 7.21 22. Many this way deceive themselves indeed no evill liver no fornicator no blasphemer no drunkard no coveteous person or the like believe on Jesus Christ however they may say They believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord for if they did they might have eternal life and so enter Gods Kingdom whereas the Scripture saith and often assures us that no such ill liver shall do so 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19 20 21. Ephes 5.3 4 5 6. Rev. 21.8 22.15 2. By taking every such profession of the faith of him and of believing on him as in which men preach and professe him and find some good effects follow thereupon among men to be the believing on him here spoken of Whereas many shall say in that day when Christ comes Have we not preached in thy name and in thy name cast out devils and done many wonderful works To whom yet Christ shall say and professe I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity Matth. 7.22 23. Many may see and say many excellent things of him as Balaam did of Israel and do many things in his name as Judas did and yet not be believers on him because not obeyers and followers of his heavenly Counsels and instructions 3. By taking any zealous way of profession of Religion and care to perform and practice duties for a believing on Christ whereas there may be much zeal and strictness in profession and for performing duties when yet Christ is not known or understood and his grace not perceived or received but opposed much lesse lived and depended on but the life of mens own hands found and lived upon As it 's said Isai 57.10 As the Jews who were Zealous for the Ordinances of Moses and the external and and lighter matters of the law were yet ignorant of and neglected faith judgement mercy and the love of God and such like greater and weightier matters of the Law Matth. 23.23 Luk. 11.42 So may it be and is with many Christians by profession Many of them that are strict and zealous for outward Observations Ordinances Fastings Prayers Walkings Sabbaths Yea as Paul in his Pharaisisme was blamelesness of conversation in things commanded for matter of practice among men and in Religious exercises yet are void of the true knowledge and faith of Christ and the great things of his grace so as not to live thereupon Many in whom their zeal and frames and works spring not from faith in Christ but from other principles as a desire to be saved with a thought that they must be so upon the merit or account of their own good works as is to be seen among many Papists and others and such may be said to be of works rather then of faith and so far from being heirs of eternal life that they are under the curse Gal. 3.10 11 12. Rom. 4.4 4. By taking a faith or dependance partly on Christ and partly on other things or objects joyned with Christ as grounds of their hope and confidence to be this believing on him to which the promise is made as Christ and the Law Christ and the Pope or other men Christ and riches Christ and our own wisdome and policy c. Thus was it with the Galathians in their perverted state they joyned Moses and Christ together law and faith together as the ground of their hope and expectation Gal. 1.6.7 and 3.2 3. and 4.9 10 11. And such is the evil of men when they make their own righteousness good frames and doings a ground of their confidence with Christ and not Christ only the root and spring of all their goodness and ground of their confidence And so it 's an evil of like nature to trust in uncertain riches the friendship of this World the authority and power of man or our own policies yea it s a sin when but for a comfortable livelihood or
is able to Succour us because one with God the Son of God one in whom God and his Fulness gives forth himself to us Should we neglect and flight him and look to any other thing or person from him As that in Psal 121.1 may be read and is read in the Margin Should I look to the Hills and Mountains From whence then cometh my help My help cometh from the Lord who made the Heaven and the Earth Not from the Hills and Mountains but from the Lord Jehovah the Lord who made the Heavens and the Earth Should not a man look to his God Should a man seek for the Living to the Dead Isa 8.19 Is it not better to search and try our ways and turn to the Lord lifting up our heart with our hands yea our souls and our eyes to him in the Heavens Lam. 3.40 41. Psal 25.1.15 and 123.1 2. But Oh! How apt are we to look for help from trouble but not to consider that our sins are the causes of our troubles and so neglect to seek to be delivered from them Or if we seek deliverance from them then yet how many Thirdly Look to false ways for deliverance from sin and trouble too Running like the Heathens to false Gods or as some Jews to the true God by false ways not by Jesus Christ the Son of man and his Death and Sacrifice in and through which our way lies to God and access to and acceptance with him may be had of us But we men are apt either 1. With Israel of old to look to the Altars and Groves the works of their hands as in Isa 17.7 8. Where he saith in That day a man shall have respect to his Maker and his eyes shall have respect to the holy One of Israel and he shall not look to the Altars the works of his hands neither shall he respect that which his Fingers have made either the Groves or the Images Implying that that was now their way of sinning that they looked in a Religious way by Idolatrous and Superstitious sacrifices and observancies to pacifie Gods anger appease his wrath and obtain his favour as in all Nations generally the Heathen did by their Idolatrous Sacrifices and Ceremonies seek to please their gods and divert their anger and by such superstitious and heathenish ways too many yet conceit they may do it with the true God doing that to the Lord which the Heathen use to do to their gods contrary to the express Command of God Deut. 12.30 31. Or else 2. With Israel in latter times after that being punished for their gross Idolatries they were reformed from them For then they looked to the works of their own hands in another sense which they in those former times under any Reformation in their better Kings days were apt also to do they used to look to the Temple and to cry The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these And to their Sacrifices Oblations Burnt-offerings solemn Meetings many Prayers Sabbaths and the like And to hope for Deliverance from Sin and Judgments upon such accounts as these as in Isa 28.14 15. and 66.1 3. Jer. 7.4 5 6 c. Rom. 9.31 32. and 10.1 2 3 Luke 18.9 11 12. And are there not many now that look either to things as bad as the Idolatrous Sacrifices and superstitious Groves and Altars of the Gentiles and Gentilizing Jews Some that look for help pardon and deliverance from wrath from the Pope and his Ministers their Masses Dirges Pilgrimages Invocation of Saints and such like Fopperies And by things too much of Kindred to them where the Pope is rejected as by their saying their Prayers getting the Priests Absolution observing Church-orders c. And those who are reformed yet more from those things do they not come up too much to the zealous Jews and Pharisees in looking to their Orders Covenants Zeal Profession Ordinances Duties and many the like things never Crucified for them but to him who died for them and into whose Name they were Baptized they look not or look too little 3. So also they who look to one another but not to Jesus who think this or that Religious man or these or those good People shall help and succour them Like the foolish Virgins who neglecting Christ and the getting Oyl in their Vessels from him while they had opportunity looked that the wise Virgins in their defects should supply them Mat. 25.8 but their hope and expectation failed them verse 9. To such it may be said as old Jacob said to his Sons when they were like to famish for want of Bread corn Why look ye one upon another Behold I have heard that there is Corn in Egypt get ye up thither and buy that ye may live and not die Gen. 42.1 So may we say Behold we have heard that there is Grace in Christ Jesus there is Salvation in him Redemption in him Forgiveness of sins and Eternal life in him all things that we need in him c. Let us arise therefore and go up to him or look up to him and Buy of him Gold tried in the fire that we may be inriched and White Raiment that we may be clothed and our Nakedness may be covered and our Shame may not appear If we look to other things they will fail us and be like those deceiful Brooks whereof Job speaks and like to his Brethren compared to them Job 6.15 16 19 20 21. Streams which pass away what time they wax warm they vanish or are cut off in the heat they are extinguished out of their place the Troops of Teman looked the Companies of Sheba waited for them they were confounded because they had hoped they came thither they were ashamed Whereas Christ is the Fountain of living Waters and that Spring of Waters whose Waters fail not Jer. 2.13 John 4.14 The remedy of Gods providing for and commending to us the sure Foundation of Gods Laying on whom whosoever believeth shall not be ashamed Isa 28.16 4. They also who trust in themselves that they are Christs who trust in or look to their making mention of Christ their Preaching or Prophecying in his Name and having success therein so as to do many wonderful works and to have the Spirits subject to them thinking thence to find safety and deliverance from their sins and sorrows from wrath and judgment but look not to the Son of man so as to be healed of their sins by him It 's not any mans Acts about Christian Profession or Religion but Christ himself delivered up of God for our Sins raised again for our Justification and Exalted and Glorified of him and so that Grace in him that is to be Eyed Looked and Depended on by us for all Grace and Blessing yielding up to be Saved and Healed thereby as in believingly minded it worketh in us and so He that looketh into the perfect Law of Liberty and continues therein being not a