own particular persons they can never over-come and without suffering they can have no remission Heb. 9 22. Now to remedy this misery and take away this enmity in the state and condition of mankind Jesus Christ by the will of God even the will of his Father and his own free-will it being one and the same with the will of his Father hath taken the nature of mankind subjected to infirmities and the cause of mankind upon him and in their stead being made under the Law under which they were fallen hath borne all their sins and suffered all their curse and so dyed for All That all were dead and hath risen again just and free from all their sins imputed to him And a victâ—rer over all their curse and death imposed on him and so ascended and offered up himself to God a spotlesse sacrifice and a ransome to God for all men and God hath accepted it so that for mankind in him mercy and truth are met righteousnesse and peace have kified Psul 85 10. And he is become the propitiation for the sins of the whole world 1 Iohn 2.2 having slaine the enmity Ephes 2.10 Having taken out of the way All that was onely between God and us and so was contrary to us Col 2.14 And so hath given himself aransome for All to God and bought all men of God 1 Tim â— 6. 2 Pet. 2.1 And here is the infinite wisedome and great love of God in finding out this remedy for mankind which from the beginning was in himself hidden in his own Bosome And this he brought to passe so putting all to death in the death of his Son and setting them in heavenly places in him That he might shew forth the riches of his grace Ephes 2.5 6 7. And so war God in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses to them 2 Cor. 5.14 19. And so hath made a way for himself to shew mercy to whom hee will And opened the doore to life and immortality for mankind 2 Tim. 1.10 And thus hath Iesus Christ by shedding his blood and presenting it to his Father redeemed all men of God and taken the enmity out of their stateand condition and is become their Lord Having wrought redemption and salvation in his own body for them even for all men 1 Tim. 2. 5. Sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Vngodly and his enemies And that while they were such Roan 5.6 That he might bring them to God 1 Pet. 2.24 and 3.18 And yet unlesse he proceed to do more for men then all this none of them will come into God Iohn 6.44 45. For 2 There is a misery and enmity in the nature of mankind through which he is so averse to God That though the enmity in the state and condition be slain And all that which was between God and Mankind contrary to them taken out of the way Ephes 2.16 Col. 2.14 yet will not mankind come into God but remain sinners and ungodly still foolish disobedient and deceived living to themselves and after their own lusts and so in enmity against God Rom. 3.10 19. Ephes 2.1 2 3. Tit. 3 2 3. And such however ransomed by Christ neither can nor shall enter his Kingdom nor have any inheritance with Christ 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 15.19 20 21. But if not brought out of this enmity which is as impossible to them to do of themselves as to have ransomed themselves their condemnation will bee more fearfull 2 Thes 1.8 Now to remedy this misery and take this enmity out of the nature of man Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and with the vertue of that bloud he shed for mankind having offered up himself a spotlesse Sacrifice to God and obtained eternall redemption and received all fulnesse of Power Authority and Spirit as the publike person in the humane nature glorified Act. 2.31.32 Psalm 68.18 Doth send forth of that Spirit in the meanes he useth at one time or other to enlighten and move at the hearts of men Iohn 1.9 To reprove and convince them of the sinfulnesse in themselves the vanity of all their Idols and all righteousnesse of their own working and of the fulnesse of that righteousnesse and life in him Iohn 16.8 9 10. And so calleth them Prov. 8.4.5 6. Isa 45.22 and 55.1 2. That in their turning at his reproofe he may power out his Spirit and make known his words to them Prov. 1.23 That so through him they might believe and be saved Iohn 1.5 7. and 3.7 And though all resist and go out of the way Rom. 3.10 19. And that this is the great condemnation when light comes to love or chuse darknesse rather Iohn 3.19 And he might justly give them all up and be righteous Rom 3.5 6. yet for a time he useth patience and striveth with them Gen. 6.3 That they might repent Rom 2.4 And to some he giveth more abundance of his grace and overcomes them as Bullocks unaccustomed to the yoke Ier. 31.18 20. Isa 30.18 And brings them in to believe Ephes 2.7 8 9 10. Phil 1.29 And these he redeemeth with his precious blood by presenting and applying it close to their heart sprinkling it thereon and discovering such free and infinite riches of grace therethrough that all things else though never so fore-thought of as gainfull appeares to them as losse in comparison of this grace allureing to win Christ and be found in him And soe as we by of our Children from their vanities to their bookes Phil. 3.7 8 9. c. with gifts he buyeth and purchaseth us with his blood from our vaine lusts hopes and conversations and from among men unto God 1 Pet. 1.18.19 Reu. 5.9 And then by the spirituall application of the vertue of his blood purgeth the conscience from dead workes to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 And so in his love washeth us from our sins in his own blood Reu. 1.5 And those whom he hath not onely bought of God as he hath done all men 1 Tim. 2.6 but also purchased them unto God from among men and washed them in his love from their sinns 2 Pet. 2.1 Reu. 5.9 and 1.5 Iohn 13.8 These and these onely are his Church and pecular people Act. 20.28 Ephes 5.27 In whose soule and body he worketh salvation through the application of that salvation which the hath wrought in his own body And in this consideration of the double enmity to God into which man fell and the reâ—â—â—cy in Christ appeares three ends of the Sufferings Blood Death and Sacrifice of Christ namely two ends of the presentation and offering it to God one to take away the enmity that was in the State and condition of mankinde Ephes 2.16 The other to receive spirit to send forth in the declaration of this grace to reconcile men to God that the enmity in there nature might be removed Ephes 2.7 2 Cor. 5.20 and one end of the spirituall presentation and applycation of it to the heart and conscience
occasion their submission to Christ and so their high prizeing of the grace and righteousnesse and lyfe in him that they may fall downe before him and be quickned and made alive by him Rom. 5.20 Gal. 2.19 who by sprinkling his blood and giving in his grace by his spirit enliveneth them Heb. 9.14 Tit. 3.4.5 And so Rom. 10.3 Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth Gal. 2.20 3.22.24 which also sheweth the necessity of the pretious Blood of Christ which he shead and presented to his Father for men to be by his spirit applyed to men without which they can have no true peace and freedome with God Iohn 13.8 and 8 32-36 3 The power this law hath in the consciences of men in this lyfe till they know and believe in Christ and be set free by him Iohn 8 34-36 this holy spirituall and righteous law in respect of the spirituall affections and services therein required was once in the heart of mankind when God made man in his own Image And made him and all men in him as in the first publike person righteous then was it the naturall bent of man to love God and his neighbour and to walke in that love uprightly Gen. 1.26 27 28. and 2.7 Ecles 7.29 And then while these righteous affections and services were naturally springing and streaming in men man was not under the power of the Commandements thereof with the promises and threats But when man sinned and fell He lost these righteous affections and services out of his heart and inward and naturall bent And became corrupt averse and full of enmity against God Gen. 3 10-13 Eccles 7.29 Rom. 5.12.18.19 And then fell under the power of this law with its Commands Threats and Promises And the effect of this law as a spirit of Bondage entred into him for such the power of the work of God in his grace both shewn in the creation and procured for men by the Redemption and extended to men for the redeemers sake that it still proclaimeth to men and testifieth that it is mans duty and that he is hereby bound to love God with all his heart soule and strength and his neighbour as himselfe and to walke in that love And the least short coming hereof is sinn Ioh. 35.10.11 and 37.24 Deut. 5.6.7 1 Iohn 3.4 For though man by sinn lost his interest in God yet God lost not his right and Authority over man But when man by sinn lost the inward and living principle of the law out of his heart Then through the Authority of God over man and the power of God in his works man fell under the power of the law And the effect of the law as a spirit of bondage entred into his heart and that with such force that according to the knowledge given him whether by the works of God in creation and providence or the law declared and written that it bindeth downe and embondageth a man that he can no otherwise have hope or looke to God for acceptance and life then as he conceives himselfe to keepe this law nor avoyd the feares of wrath and Death as he discernes himselfe a transgressor of it and as their conscience witnesse so doe their thoughts accuse or excuse one another Rom. 2.15 And so from the law sin takes occasion to become oft more violent in its motions to sin Rom. 7.5.8 And from the law sinn hath its strength to accuse and terifie Rom. 7.11 1 Cor. 15.56 And in desires of avoiding danger this spirit of bondage so laden with sinn pollutes the conscience to be dictating to seeke peace in workes of the law and to be speaking peace there from Rom. 9.32 and 10.3 which still genders to bondage and leaves under the curse Gal. 4.21.30 and 5.4 and 3.10 And this power hath law with its effect in the consciences of men in this lyfe till they be set free by Christ for the law can justifie none that have at all sinned nor gives any hope for any repentance after sinning nor any power or freedome for coming in to God againe this is the work of Jesus Christ the Sonne of God to justifie from sinn and give repentance and freedome to come in to God Iohn 8 34-36 Act. 5.31 So that onely by Christ by his spirit applying his preâ—ious blood to the heart and streaming in his rich grace there through the conscience is purged from the accusation of sinn and from speaking or seeking peace by dead works And gives in an inward living principle to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 And so washeth from sinn Reu. 1.5 Reneweth Tit. 3.4 And setteth them at Liberty for the things of the Kingdom Gal. 5.1 enduing them with the Spirit of adoption of love power and a sound minde Rom. 8.15 2 Tim. 1.7 And thus the law rightly understood in it selfe and the ends of giving it And the power it hath in the naturall conscience shews the necessity of the Pretious Blood of Christ to be by his spirit applyed to and sprinkled on the conscience CHAPTER VII Of the Excellency and dignity of this Precious Blood of Christ that is presented to the Father and his Sacrifice being also presented to the heart FOR the Excellency Dignity and worth of the Blood Death and Sacrifice of Christ presented and offered to God for men and presented tendered and applyed to men It is beyond comparison or expression yet we may understand a little thereof if we view and consider it in fowre respects 1. In respect of the Sacrifice it selfe 2. In respect of the appearance and Declaration thereof 3. In respect of the glorious and abundance of love herethrough appearing 4. In respect of the unvaluable and inexpressible hope it giveth to all that receive it besides the operation to be after spoke of 1 In respect of the Presentation and Sacrifice it selfe it appeareth to be of most excellent Dignitye and worth in many notable respects as to say 1 In respect of the Priest that offered this Sacrifice who was immediately called of God as Aron was Heb. 5.4.5 And infinitely above and greater then Aron and all the Priests of his Order for they had sinns of their own also first to offer for before they offered for the sins of the people But this our high Priest had no sinn of his own to satisfie for but his offering was wholly and altogether for us Heb. 7.26.27 And their High-Priests were men that had infirmities and so dyed But this High-Priest though the very man that dyed for us yet risen from the Dead and alive for ever-more to interceide for us Heb. 7 23-25 and 5.5.6 Yea they were made Priests according to the law of a carnall Commandement But this High-Priest after the power of an endlesse life Heb. 7.16.17 They without an Oath this with an Oath Heb. 7.21 They the Sonnes of men But this High-Priest is the Sonne of God even God-man Heb. 7.28 and 1 4-8 They went and presented
shall one day be brought so farr to the knowledge of the truth that they shall therein be brought to confesse Jesus the Lord to the glory of God 1. Tim. 2.4.6 Esa 45.23 Phil. 2.10.11 But now in this day of grace from the appearance and force of his loving kindnesse in beliefe of his goodnesse to submit to and acknowledge the Lordship and grace of Christ is the motion and string of this faith Hosea 3.5 2 An inward and hearty acceptance and receiving of Christ and this grace of God in Christ for Pardon Peace righteousnesse and life so Iohn 1.12 As many as received him c. Col. 2.6 Received Christ Jesus the Lord Act. 26.18 Receive forgivenesse of sinnes Rom. 5.1 We have Peace c. verse 11. We have received the Attonement verse 17. Receive the Abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousnesse 1 Iohn 5.12 He that hath the Sonne hath life And this accepting and receiving is another motion in this faith 3 An approach accesse in coming or nigh-drawing to Christ and this grace in him and for farther onenesse and enjoyment thereof he also herein building farther upon himselfe Rom. 5.2 By whom also we have accesse by faith into this grace c. Ephes 2.18 Through him we have both accesse by one spirit unto the Father 1 Pet. 2 3 4. Ye have tasted that the Lord is gratious to whom coming as unto a living stone c. And this approaching is another motion in this faith 4 A hearty content and well-pleasednesse takeing in and with Christ and this grace in him which is a feeding thereon Phil. 3.3 And rejoyce in Christ Jesus Col. 3.4 Christ who is our life Psal 16.5.6 I have a goodly heritage Iohn 6.56 57 58.68 69. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me c. And thus doth this faith move in a submission to and acknowledgement of Christ receite of the grace in him approaching to God through him and well-pleasednesse takeing in him our Portion Psal 15.5.9 Such the moveings in and of this faith 5 For the subject in which this faith is the Instrument with which it moveth and worketh in and to all this beholding assenting believing trusting acknowledgement receite approaching content-taking It is the heart the principall the choyce and inmost strength of the minde will and affection even the spirit of all which is usually called the heart in Scripture Rom. 10.9.10 And shalt believe in thine heart for with the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse Ephes 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith so that this faith is not in or with the minde or conception onely or with a light affection but in and with the whole heart Act. 8.37 And so it is with 1 The minde and understanding highly prizing Christ and this rich grace in him as the most excellent pretious and choice Pearle and Riches Phil. 3.7.8 1 Cor. 1.24 Col. 2.3.10 2 The will resolutely chusing receiving and accepting Christ and this grace in him as that which is most pleasing and welcome Psal 73.24.25 and 119.30.37 3 The affections closing therewith as that which is most desirable and satisfying Psal 16.5 6 7. Cant. 1 2 3 and 2 3 4 5. 4 A springing and reviving apprehension of truth and goodnesse of that believing however fainting before Psal 116.10.12 As old Iacob though before fainting at the newes yet when he believed the report of Iosephs being alive Gen. 45.27.28 His spirit revived he said it is enough my son Ioseph is yet alive c. And as Mary Luke 1.46.47 My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour and as David Psal 103.1.2 3. Thus is this faith in the heart and with the heart man believeth not only righteousnesse but unto righteousnesse and so with the heart moveth as aforesaid 6. For the strength power and principle in and of this faith It is the divine power and spirit of Christ entring with his motion or infusion effecting and spirituall seed or dispofition in the heart in which the divine power and spirit of Christ that wrought this faith operateth in and with this faith which faith is therefore rightly called Col. 2.12 The faith of the operation of God who hath raised Christ from the Dead and the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead is affirmed to worke in those that by it believe Ephes 1.19.20 And by reason of this spirituall disposition effected in the heart of the Believer it is called The spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 And by this spirit of faith it is that the believer in believing is enabled 1 To behold and discerne the object of faith Christ in his fulnesse and beauty and the rich grace of God in him Iohn 1.14.16.18 Mat. 16.17 1 Cor. 29. 1 Iohn 3.1 2 Moved and overcome in the appearance of this grace to believe 1 Pet. 1.21 Tit. 3 4 5. 3 Enabled to assent to and receive the Testimony 1 Thes 1.5 And to believe and accept the grace it selfe 2 Thes 2.13.14 And to depend on God for all the hope to come Rom. â— 5.10 Gal. 5.5 4 Prevailed with in the motions to the submission to and acknowledgement of Christ 1 Cor. 12.3 To receiving him Iohn 1.12.13 To approaching to God in and by him Ephes 2.18 and to Content-taking in him Col. 3.10.11 5 Hath the new minde spirit and heart effected Ezek. 36.27 1 Iohn 5.20 And the minde and law of Christ written therein 1 Cor. 2.16 2 Cor. 3.3.18 6 The springs fruits and operations of love joy peace c. Rise up Gal. 5.22.23 Diffusing the vertue and operation in all the powers and faculties of he man Mat 13.33 Purifying the heart unto unfained love of the Brethren 1 Pet. 2 22. Rasing up motions and so springing forth in prayer praise confession works of mercy c. 2 Cor. 4.13 And all notions about the Doctrine of faith and Profession of faith where this spirit of faith is wanting is but dead faith Iames 2.17.26 And all workes wrought by humane force not produced by this spirit of faith are but dead workes Heb. 6.1.2 Tim. 3.5 but this spirit of faith is the life of faith and that which makes faith lively in all that is said of it Rom. 8.2.4.14 7 For the one-nesse of this faith in the diversity of the Degrees and Acts of it the Scripture sheweth That there are divers degrees of this true and Divine faith the first Degree is little and small in comparison as a graine of Mustard-seede Mat. 13.31 Luke 17.6 And called little or weake in faith Mat. 6.30 Rom. 14.1 The second Degree is stable stedfast or strong faith abiding in Christ endeavouring temptations and tryalls Col. 1.23 and 2.5.1 Thes 3.7.8 The third degree is effectuall and victorious working faith and overcoming 1 Thes 1.3 1 Iohn 5.4 Though there are diversity of measures or Degrees and Growth therein in each