gives power against this cursed fruit of the flesh in some measure there is a disposition of nature even in the Saints to be exalted and that above measure not onely in their own personall excellencie but in those graces received from Christ The Apostle Paul was sensible of both in 1 Cor. 9.27 where the Apostle sayth he beats down his body c. There was a lifting up the Apostle was sensible of it he found that in him that which was enough had not God let him see it helped him in it as he apprehended notwithstanding his preaching to others to make him a cast away so also a Cor. 12.7 Least I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations the Lord sent me a prick in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet me that was to pull him down that he might not be exalted in himselfe there is in every childe of God a naturall disposition to spirituall pride he that knows any thing knows it The Lord teach you and I to search our own hearts in this particular and give us power against it see 2 Cor. 6.1 Having such promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit c. This is the filthinesse of spirit that the Saints are lyable unto truly we have little cause to glory in any thing except in Christ Jesus What hast thou sayth the Apostle that thou hast not received and if thou hast received it why dost thou yet boast 1 Cor. 4.7 therefore the Prophet sayth Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome nor the strong man in his strength but let him that gloryeth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth the Lord. It is the exhortation of Christ to his Disciples Luk. 10.20 Rejoyce not that the Devils are made subject to you but rejoyce rather that your nanaes are written in heaven and this lesson the Apostle Paul learned and every Christian in some measure must learn Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world 5 There is selfe profit which every man naturally is apt to looke after O how hard is it for a poore creature to deny himselfe How hard is it for a rich man sayth Christ to enter into the Kingdom of heaven The world is a common baite wherewith the Devill inticeth man to sin as Iudas Ananias and Saphyra Act. 5. Nay Christ lumselfe is set upon with this temptation Mat. 4. O this profit the love of money is the root of all evill But where Christ comes teaching effectually he teacheth the soule to deny it selfe to look upon the world as a very empty thing he gives power to overcome the world Whosoever is borne of God over commeth the world and this is the victory that over commeth the world even our faith 1 Ioh. 5.4 Now the soule sees that it is his duty not to looke onely on his own things but every one on the things of another Phil. 2.4 Now hee hath learned to sympathize with the body every member he looks not upon himselfe at a distance from the meanest member making himselfe equall to them of the lower sort 6 There is self pleasure also and this of two sorts 1 In delighting in pleasures of these the Apostle speaks of 2 Tim. 3.4 They shall be lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God Beloved it is much unbeseeming Christians to be lovers of pleasure see 1 Tim. 5.6 But shee that liveth in pleasure or shee that liveth delicately is dead while shee liveth Now beloved Christ takes off his people from these pleasures by presenting better pleasures to them he makes them drinke of the river of his pleasures Psalme 36.8 so that the Saints are not without pleasures spirituall and that abundantly and eternally Psal 16.11 At his right hand are pleasures for ever more But God takes off his from those earthly carnall pleasnres which is indeed dangerous and destructive Prov. 21.17 Hee that loveth pleasure shall be a poore man it is true spiritually as well as temporally carnall carthly pleasures and profits are two great enemies to the power and being of god linesse Luk. 8.14 cares and riches and pleasures is that which choaketh the Word that men bring forth no fruite to perfection A second sort of Self-pleasure is when men resolve to please themselves O sad word that men should have such a disposition to please themselves but where Christ teacheth hee teacheth men in this case to deny themselves Now this may be considered under a twofold relation eyther to God or our brethren 1 To God where Christ teacheth effectually there the soule will rather deny it selfe then God It will rather please God then it selfe Christ who is the Saints pattern did always so walk as to please God John 8.29 For I do always those things that please him to wit the Father Now Christ as hee was man in our flesh pleasing the Father alwayes in all things and so was our pattern so he teacheth his the same lesson This is a Maxime in Religion That whosoever chuseth to please himself rather then God Christ hath not taught him 1 Thes 4.1 We beseech you brethren and exhort you by the Lord Iesus that as ye have received of us how yeought to walk and please God so ye would abound more and more As if the Apostle had sayd that which ye have received of us is that ye ought to walke according to the example of Christ to please God This is the doctrine that wee have taught you we beseech and exhort you by the Lord Jesus That ye abound more and more in this grace This is an excellent choice grace to please the Lord ever to have that in thine eye to please God though thou displease thy selfe that is thy fleshly carnall selfe Col. 1.10 O this is a soule taught indeed by the spirit of God when he prefers the pleasing of the Lord before himself or carnall friends or any thing see Prov. 16.7 When a man ways please the Lord hee maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him when a man seeks to please God in walking answerable to the rule of God though hee displease his enemies God will make those enemies to be at peace with him 1 This being rightly learned is that which would carry you along through all oppositions in a way of truth perhaps somethings yea some truths may seeme hard to a poore creature to be submitted unto perhaps the poore creature resolving with flesh and bloud which will have its bouts even in the Saints Rom. 7.21 may be ready to conclude sometimes if I submit to this way to this truth I must expect reproach persecution perhaps losse of liberty estate yea life and all now it would wonderfully please carnall reason to deny such a truth to hide and conceal such a truth in unrighteousness but
have very briefly hinted upon some particulars much more might be said in this particular but I desire not to be tedious in this place I might branch forth in many other particular Gospel commands which would be too tedious only thus where the love of Christ is indeed shed abroad by the holy spirit there love cōstrains the soul to yeeld itself up wholly to the Lord Jesus all his comands whatsoever things are of good report whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are warranted and required in Gospel the soule that truly loves the Lord Iesus is ready in the peace and strength of Jesus to walk up unto it it will not consult with flesh and bloud it will not stand upon carnall arguments but as the Lord Jesus hath glorified mercy grace and love in doing unto the soule so it will now look what it is may conduce to the exaltation of his name then the soule that truly loves the Lord Jesus is satisfied let the name of Iesus have the glory and the soul that truly loves him hath its end and and rests satisfied Use It concernes every one to looke if Christ hath been their Prophet hath Christ given thee a heart willing to submit unto him in all things ready in his power to yeeld universall obedience to all his commands ô it neerly concerns you to try your selves and if so then whether your obedience flows from love It is possible there may be externall obedience from base and by-ends and then all is nothing Love is the fulfilling of the Law whatsoever is done in love that is from the love of Christ shed abroad in the heart is well done but all done without love is nothing preaching praying professing communicating it is all nothing without love it is one thing to preach and pray and professe it is another thing to doe it out of love to Christ then it is a fruit of faith Faith worketh by love and all works done without this are not acceptable 1 Cor. 13.1 2. Though I speak with the tongue of men and angels and have not love it is nothing it is but as a sounding brasse or tinkling eymball a man may have excellent words fine composed sentences admirable expressions all flowing from a notionall knowledge that may much affect the eares and hearts of the people and yet all be but a sound of words attained by art as a sounding brasse or a tinkling cymball which seems to make a sweet sound to the eare when there is nothing in it indeed but a composure of humane art and so being brought out of that frame there is nothing indeed worth looking after or harkning unto even so are those persons who seemingly do glorious actions and yet indeed have not the love of God in them But to proceed the third thing that Christ usually teacheth his people as to beleeve which faith you have heard produceth its effects so in the third place he teacheth them to live by faith that is to act and exercise this faith upon all occasions in all times according as they have need to make use of it and indeed this is a great Gospel mystery which the Saints are too much ignorant of It is one thing to have faith and another to live by faith it is one thing to have legs and another thing to make use of them to goe with them Quest What is it to live by faith Ans 1 It is to exercise faith that is to make use of it as need requires or 2 It is a living upon Christ in the want of all things Or 3 It is a living by believing of what the soul shall one day enjoy 1 It is to exercise faith as occasion calls for it that is to exercise it upon the object for faith hath ever an object and if it be right and true the object is Christ now it is true there is occasion for the Christian to exercise faith in every condition either Internally or Externally for the Christian hath many enemies to encounter with all the flesh and the Devill and the World all these comes in a mayn upon the soul Now faith overcomes 1 The flesh that will be ever lusting against the spirit Satan comming in working by it self will be in every action self wisdom self priding and self boasting this is contrary to the mind of the spirit and now the spirit is troubled and freed so that many times there is a hot conflict in the soule of the Saint but how comes the Christian to overcome it by cying and applying Christ it can say as Paul I haue a body of sin a proud cursed self seeking nature but thanks to God through Jesus Christ c. and there is no condemnation to them in Christ It is true I have a base nature a wicked cursed deceitfull proud self-seeking heart yet the Lord hath let forth a glimpse of his glory to my soul hee hath let mee see and hath sealed this by his spirit unto me that I am in Christ and there is no condemnation for me and so by faith seeking to Christ the soul overcomes this enemy flesh and then secondly it ever lives in believing that this fleshly corrupt part shall be every day more and more subdued and so is ever cying a crucified Christ for the killing and crucifying of this body of sin 2 The Devill hee will come in with his darts daying hard and heavy things to the charge of the soul although the Apostle faith Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth although God himself pronounce a man cleet and just yet the Devill will come in and endevour to make work in the godly justified soule O sayth the Devill thou art a vile cursed creature thou hast a base earthly carnall heart thou art able to performe no duty but it is full of sin and as good never a whit as never the better Thy services hadst thou no other sin to be accountable for are enough to condemne thee and besides all the rest of thy sins of thy basenesse in performing duty this is that is worst of all thou hast a wicked proud heart of thine owne thou art ready when ever God hath assisted thee to take the honour to thy selfe and to pride thy selfe in those weak duties thou performest What sayst thou to this Christian hast any experience of this try all in thy soule I dare say thou hast if Christ dwell there but what course will you take to over come in this combat see Ephes 6.16 There are the enemies the Saints are to encounter with they are no small no mean enemies see Verse 12. and the armour the Christians armour it s all armour of proof but above all take the sheeld of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fire darts of the wicked the Devill will come and come againe hee will have one dart and another dart now the way to overcome is
that the name of God be not blasphemed among the Gentiles And likewise how doth it concern you who are members in the kingdom the Church of Christ to carry on the kingly office of Christ in his Church with majesty that so all things may be done in order that so confusion and disorders may be avoided and that every member in particular submit to order and for that end to ordaine officers according to rule the want whereof I conceive is one means of confusion in the Churches and causeth some to breake from all order so much briefly concerning the offices of Christ In all these he is to be exalted now in the dayes of the Gospel Mat. 28.18 19 20. Acts 3.22 23. Now I come to my text for the manner how he is to be exalted as in the preaching of the Gospel and in the hearts of his people in his offices so in my text Hee is to be exalted and lifted up even as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wildernesse Now it is true this might have some relation to his lifting up upon the crosse John 12.32 33. and I if I be lifted up will draw all men unto mee now John interprets it in the next verse this hee spake signifying what death hee should dye so that Christ was lifted up upon the crosse chap. 8.28 so hee is still to be lifted up a dying a crucified Christ for sin But he then was and still is to be lifted up as the Serpent was lifted up in the wildernesse First there was the lifting up of the Serpent with the manner of it above all the people 2 The cause of it that whosoever was bitten with the fiery Serpent might look to this brazen Serpent and be cured 1 The lifting up of the Serpent with the manner of it Numb 21 8 9. And the Lord said unto Moses make thee a fiery Serpent and set it upon a pole and it shall come to passe that every one that is bitten when hee looketh upon it hee shall live verse 9. And Moses made a Serpent of brasse and put it upon a pole and it came to passe that if a Serpent had bitten any man he beheld the Serpent of brasse and lived Here was the lifting up of the Serpent in the wilderness he was lifted up upon a pole above all the people to the end that all that were bitten might behold him so Christ is to be lifted up he is to be exalted above all as the Serpent in the wildernesse and that either in the world or in the Church in the World so hee is to be exalted in the preaching of the Gospel in the view of all above all that so men may come to the view of him and in the Church that so Christ may still have the preheminence 1 He is to be exalted above the world or any creature O how doth the world prevail amongst men nay too much amongst Christians but where Christ comes hee sets the soul above the creature 1 John 5.4 5. Whosoever is borne of God overcommeth the world and this is the victory that overcommeth the world even your faith who is he that overcommeth the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God It is the cleere sight and apprehension of the Lord Jesus that sets the soule above the world the more the soule enjoys of Christ the more it slights things below thus Christ is to be lifted up both in the preaching of the Gospel and in the hearts of the Saints 2 Christ is to be lifted up above duties and all legall righteousnesse thus the Apostle lifts up Christ both in preaching and in his own soule he preached Christ and him onely 1 Cor. 1.1 2. I desire to know that is to make known nothing but Christ and him crucified Christ as the alone justifier of all that believe Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ so that he is just and the justifier of all that believe in Jesus ver 26. Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to all that believe Rom. 10.4 Christ justifying believers from all things from which they could not have been justified by the Law of Moses act 13.39 and thus is Christ to be lifted up in the view of all Mar. 16.16 God preach the Gospel to every creature and thus is Christ to be lifted up above all and every name that is or may be named under heaven wherein men usually rest and deceive themselves for There is none other name given under heaven among men whereby we may be saved Act. 4.12 2 In the hearts of the Saints Christ is to be lifted up above all duties legall righteousnesse or any thing that may be named all in the soule of the Christian is laid down as emptinesse nay as dung and drosse at the feet of Christ and the soule glories in nothing else but Christ and him crucified thus Christ is to be exalted and lifted up as upon a pole as the brazen Serpent above every thing or name that may be named under heaven Quest What is the reason that Christ is thus to be exalted Answ 1 Because God hath exalted him and lifted him up for that end and purpose Phil. 2.9 God hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name c. God hath given to Christ a high transcendent name a name above every name the name of a Saviour and there is no salvation to be attained without him The desire of all Nations Hag. 2.7 That the desire of all his people in every Nation might be to him as the desire of the wife to the husband The King of his people men may come and bow and fall down and worship before him God the Father hath set him up as the ensigne to whom the Nations must come Esay 11.10 as the common Saviour and Gouernour of all Gods elect 2 Christ is to be lifted up that so men may have life by him the serpent was lifted up that whosoever was bit with the fiery serpent might live for the Lord sent fiery serpents amongst the Jews in the wilderness for their sins as you may see Numb 2.6 7. who bit them that they dyed and this was the end that whosoever was bit with the fiery serpent might looke to the brazen Serpent and live Now I am apt to conceive that the fiery serpent holds forth the Law for I finde the Law called a fiery Law Deut. 33.2 From his right hand went a firy Law and the brazen Serpent holds forth Christ Now as the fiery serpent did bite the children of Israel for their sin in the wildernesse so the Law who hath nothing but fire in it bites men and when they are bitten of the Law they are to look to Jesus Object It seems then that the preaching of the Law is that prepares for Iesus Answ Nay it is not so for although all men are under the law by nature yet
THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST In the dayes of the Gospel As the alone High-Priest Prophet and King Of Saints By THOMAS COLLIER somtimes Teacher to the Church in Yorke 1 Cor. 2.2 For I determined not to know any thing among you save Iesus Christ and him crucified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LONDON Printed by R. L. for Giles Calvert at the black Spred-Eagle at the West end of Pauls MDCXLVI The Epistle to the Reader PIous Reader such is the transcendent Excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ that we may say of it as the a Arist Anima Phylosopher somtimes spake concerning the Soule of Man Praestat paucula exmeliora scientia degust âsse quà m de ignobiliore multa that is A small dim understanding of it is to be valued farre above any other science And the Apostle esteemed all things losse and dung 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus Phil. 3.8 Now that thou mayst grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ here is offered to thy diligent perusal a little Treatise wherein Christ Is exalted in all his Offices It contains three parts the first treats of his High-Priests Office the second contains his Propheticall Office and the third handles his Kingly Office Thou must not expect Excellencie of speech and the enticing words of mans wisdom but thou maist by Gods blessing learn somthing more of the excellencie of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus and mayest finde the tongue of the Learned speaking a word in season to thy weary soule in the plain and powerfull evidence and demonstration of the Spirit and such is the excellencie of Scripture learning which contains in it florem delibatum the flower quintescence of soul-saving-knowledge that it will abundantly satisfie the hungry soule A man may have excellent knowledge in other things and yet perish but this is life eternall to know God and Jesus Christ John 17.3 There are some shinings forth of the eternall Power godhead in the creatures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that the invisible things of him from the creation of the World are cleerly seen being understood by the things that are made we know the diffused brightnesse of the Sun-beams is not so pleasant in large windows nor can the bright shinings of him who is invisible be so cleerly sweetly pleasantly discerned in the creatures as in the face of Jesus Christ in whom dwels the fulnesse of the God-head bodily Col. 3.9 And in whose face the light of the knowledge of the glory of God hath shined in the hearts of his Justified-sanctified ones 2 Cor. 4.6 and therefore by way of eminencie Jesus Christ is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Brightnesse of his glory and the expresse Image of his substance Heb. 1.3 O how excellent then is the true knowledge of Jesus Christ and how acceptable will this little Treatise be unto those who with a spirituall appetite are enquiring after the true knowledge of Christ in all his Offices The Author being far distant from the City could not see to the correcting of his Book and it is an usuall thing for some faults to escape the Presse un-corrected in such a case which thou maist amend with thy pen as thou readest and for any materiall thing which thou apprehendest not sound carry it to the Touch-stone of the Word Try all things and hold fast that which is good And as we would have others moderate in censuring us Hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim go and do thou likewise if but a mite of knowledge shall be through Gods blessing by this his labour added to thy understanding let God have the glory and the Author hath his end Thy friend and the Truths servant Hanserd Knollys The Table A ADmire We are to admire the Wisdome of God page 42. The love of God 45. The iustice of God 48. And the power of God page 50 Agreement betweene Christ and the Iewish High-priests page 16 B BAptism and Circumcision are not one 96. proved ibid. Baptisme is not come in the place of Circumcision page 100 Believers the iustice of God as well as his mercy pleads for them page 50 Bloud of Christ makes peace page 19 C CHrist to be lifted up how 2 3. When he is exalted 10 12 13. He is the Saints righteousnesse 11. He is meat and drink to them 14. He is their cloathing 15. Sin laid upon him 35. He bare the sins of his people ibid. Hee is the wisdom of the Father 43. His offering what 16. He excels the Iewish High-priest 27 Wherein he doth it 18 19. How he bears the names of the Saints upon his heart 21 22 23. How hee taught his people before hee came in the flesh 84. Hee is the Teacher of his people now he is in heaven 85. How be teacheth his people 114. His Kingdome in this world is twofold 203. Why be rules in it page 237 Circumcision and Baptisme not the same 96. Proved page 97 Church of the Iews under the Law and of Christ under the Gospell how they differ 94. The Iewish Church Typicall page 94 Commands of the Gospell what page 60 Covenant the misunderstanding of it what evill it brings page 109 D DEny why men should Deny themselves 147. Why Christ teacheth men so to do page 151 154 155 Difference betweene the Iewish High-priest and Christ 16 17 27. Between the Iewish Church and the Christian Churches 94 Between the Iews priviledges and the priviledges of Christians under the Gospel page 101 E EFfects of receiving Christ page 75 Effects of the Kingdom of Christ in the sule page 220 Eternity God loved his from Eternity how page 39 Evill the misunderstanding of the Covenant what Evill page 109 Exalted When Christ is Exalted 12 13. How be is to be Exalted 15. Why he is to be Exalted page 247 Excellency of the grace of love among the Saints page 176 F FAith Why God gives it to his people 66. What it is to live by Faith 165. How it overcomes the Devill 188. When we live by Faith page 190 Fiery Serpent what page 248 Foolish Why the Virgins Math. 25. called foolish page 57 G GOd laid sin upon Christ 35. Hee hath nothing against the Saints 57. His glory and the Saints good ioynd together page 146 Gospel faith what page 122 Grace man cannot fall away from Grace page 25 H HIghpriest Christ is the Highpriest of his people 15. The Iewish Highpriest and Christ the High priest their agreement 16. Their difference page 17. I INtercession of Christ 40. How hee Intercedes for the Saints 41. Whether it be part of his satisfaction page 41 Ioy peace with God the ground of it page 77 Iustice of God to be admired 48 49. It pleads for Believers page 50 K KIngdome of Christ in this World twofold 203 The effects of it page 220 Kingly Office of Christ 202. Kingly power in Israel after the flesh a Type of Christs Kingly power in
spirits are ever carryed forth against sin 2 The Saints cannot but deny sin as they stand related to Christ in relation to his glory Christ is holy and he will have a holy people that may be for his praise and honour 1 Pet. 2.9 But yee are a chosen generation a royall priesthood a holy Nation a peculiar people why That yee should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvelous light Christ hath made you and I holy that so we might shew forth his praise that is that so we might give occasion to praise God Are not the eyes of the world upon the Saints expecting much from them although it is true they doe not nay they cannot love holinesse yet they expect the Saints to be holy and to deny sin are they not ready to watch opportunities to scandall Saints and truth withall and would it not be a very sad and grievous thing if those that professe themselves to be for Christ should give just cause of offence would it not be very dishonourable to the name of the Gospel and profession of Christ therefore Christ teaches men and women where he comes to deny ungodlinesse and sin and to live soberly righteously and godly in this world It is his exhortation Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Let your light shine before the men of the world that they may have no cause to speak evill but rather cause to glorisie God Let your light so shine before the Saints that they may rejoyce and glorifie God A close walking with God is that which gives great cause of joy and rejoycing in each other and an occasion of praysing God one for another so the Apostle Rom. 1.8 I thank God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of through all the world How was their faith spoken of it was the fruit of their faith their obedience in walking up with God answerable to that faith they professed for by our works we manifest our faith so likewise Phil. 1.3 5. the Apostle thanks God for their constant fellowship in the Gospel from their first submitting to it This is a cause of joy But on the contrary for such as beare the name of Christians to live in and delight in sin to be vain and carnall and earthly this is a cause of sorrow and weeping amongst Saints Phil. 3.18 For many walke of whom I told you before and now tell you weeping they are enemies to the crosse of Christ they cause the crosse of Christ and the way of Christ to bee evill spoken of a cause of sadnesse indeed to the Saints 3 Reason Why Christ teacheth his to deny self wisdome self love self will and all of self is because they are to take up their crosse and to follow Christ that is they must expect reproaches afflictions tribulations for the name and sake of Christ John 16.33 In the world you shall have tribulations Now what wise man in the world can or will suffer reproch the losse of the world and the worlds reputation the losse of friends liberty ease it may be of life it selfe in a word all that is neer and deer to the carnall man what man but a foole thinks the wise men of the world is there that will lose all on such light terms as the gaining of a crucified Christ A man not taught of Jesus as the truth is in Jesus can never suffer with comfort and joy these things the Saints are like to suffer for the name of Iesus Self wisdom and self love will come in O sayth wise selse when it eyes that persecution those hardships that are like to follow those that follow Christ May I not passe by such atruth and such a practice and it be a Christian and get to heaven what need I to adventure my selfe upon such hardships when perhaps for the neglecting of such or such an opinion or practice I may attain my liberty my good reputation Is it not a sad thing that men professing Christ should thus consult with flesh and bloud the Apostle Paul did not so when hee was converted to the faith of Iesus hee consulted not with flesh and bloud Gal. 1.16 It is self wisdom and self love that sets men to consulting with flesh and bloud but flesh and bloud cannot inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15.50 That is a man not taught of Christ not made partaker of his divine nature and grace bearing only the image of the earthly Adam cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven When a man shall come to submit to Gospell Ordinances which are contemptible in the eyes of the world for which hee is like to suffer shame and disgrace here is need of self deniall O sayth the self denying Christian Let mee submit to Christ to every truth to every ordinance although I suffer losse in the world reproch and shame from my friends and acquaintance though I loose the love of my best friends whether father mother husband wife c. yet sayth the self denying Christian Christ hath sayd that who so loveth father mother wife or children more then me is not worthy of me and the love that CHRIST hath shed abroad in my heart by his Spirit Rom. 5.5 constraineth me to deny my selfe and follow Christ in all conditions 2 Cor. 5.14 Thus you see the self denying soul and none else is meet to be a Diseiple a follower of Christ hee is ready to take up the crosse daily and to follow him 4 Christ teacheth his to deny self sufficiency and self strength that so they may be able to hold out in the evill day when a day of adversity comes when a man is put to it eyther by his spiritual or temporal enemy Blessed are they then that trust in the Lord Psal 2.12 Men standing upon their own strength are gone Esay 40.30 The youth shall faint and be we ary the young men shall utterly fail that is those that apprehend a power in themselves to stand but Verse 31. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint If men stand upon their own strength they are like to fall Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall But they that see an insufficiency in themselves and trust upon the name of the Lord shall be as mount Sion that shall never be moved Psal 125.1 but abideth for ever Christ would have his work to be a perfect and fair work his covenant a sure covenant Esay 55.3 Therefore hee undertakes not only to bring men and women intocovenant but to keep them there Ier. 32.40 I will not turn from them they shall not depart from me sayth the Lord. But if Christ had left the power of standing to man hee might
teacheth us all things that we rightly know we know nothing as we ought to know farther then Christ Jesus by his Spirit teacheth But I proceed to the next particular propounded in the office or work of a Prophet namely to work miracles this the Prophets before Christ did Moses a type of Christ and the great Prophet of Israel work't many miracles when the Lord sent him to deliver his people And this hath Christ our Prophet done and doth to this day this hee did when he was in the world turning water into wine raysing the dead to life restoring those borne blinde to sight c. and this be still doth Christ our Prophet is ever working miracles The conversion of a soule is a miracle it is the changing of the nature and it is above nature to doe it to raise a man from the dead to life is a miracle and this Christ doth to every soule who is indeed raised Ephes 2. the 1. and 5. verses compared ver 1. and you who were dead in trespasses and sins ver 5. Even when wee were dead in sins hath hee quickned us c. now to quicken to give life to a dead soule is a miracle and this Christ doth ordinarily and hee gives sight unto blinde men it was a miracle for Christ to give sight to the man that was borne blinde beloved every man and woman in the world is borne blinde spiritually blinde and this is a greater miracle to cure such yet this is the ordinary work of Christ and every man naturally is both blinde lame and deaf but Christ when he comes he opens the blinde eyes he un-stops the deaf eares he causeth the lame to walke and the tongue of the dumb to sing Esay 35.5 3 The Prophet did foretell of things to come Moses and the rest did fore-tell Christ c. and so did Christ in many particulars Mat 24. but I passe this also 2 Christ is to be exalted Prophet in the dayes of the Gospel see Act. 3.22 23. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you him shall you hear in all things Use 1. To examine if Christ have been thy Prophet When Christ comes first to the soule he findes men dead and gives life unto them he findes men blinde and gives sight unto them Hath the Lord discovered thy dead condition unto thee and given thee life art borne from above That which is borne of the flesh is flesh and thou wert borne flesh dead in trespasses and sins hath the Lord changed thee from a state of death to a state of life from a state of infidelity to a state of believing thou wert blinde thou wert borne blinde not able to see into spirituall things 1 Cor. 2.14 Hath the Lord opened thine eyes canst say I was blinde but now I see I was dumb but now I speak ô this is worth your consideration Use 2. A word of consolation to the Saints whom the Lord Jesus hath taught what is the comfort you will say 1 He will for ever be thy Prophet and will be ever teaching thee Thou shalt hear a voyce behinde thee saying this is the way walke yee in it when thou turnest to the right hand or to the left the Lord Jesus will be for ever thy Prophet he will never fail thee nor for sake thee his eye shall ever be over thee for good he will direct thee in all thy wayes and is not this a mercy 2 He hath made all the Saints Prophets he hath powred down a spirit of Prophesie upon them that now they are enabled by the spirit of prophesie to speake one to another for edification exhortation and consolation 1 Cor. 14.3 and therefore the men of the world might hence be warned to take heed how they meddle with the Saints to persecute them for they are the Lords Prophets 1 Chron. 16.22 Touch not mine anointed doe my Prophets no harme Christ takes every wrong done to them as done to himselfe therefore you had need look to it for it is that which will work your ruine in the end THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST The alone KING of SAINTS CHAP. III. I Come to the Kingly Office of Christ Christ is the alone King of his people believe it Christ is the alone King of his people Christ is a King and hee hath a Kindome Psal 45.6 His Kingdome is spirituall it is not of this world although it is in the world Christ hath a twofold kingdome here in this world there is the kingdome within the Saints and the kingdome without the one in the heart the other in the Church they are both spirituall 1 Christ rules and reignes in the Saints the kingdom of God is within you beloved Christ hath a kingdom within you if ye are his Christ is in you except yee be reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 And this is a priviledge more then all the Kings in the earth have they may reign here over their subjects but not in them but Christ first reigns in them then over them he reigns I mean spiritually over none but those in whom he reigns Now Christ reigns in the souls of the Saints first opposing all things that are contrary to himself there are other Lords that will seeke to rule in the hearts of the Saints if Christ subdue them not the Devill hee will seek to be Lord he that is the God of the world and rules and reigns in the hearts of the children of disobedience where Christ doth not rule but when the Lord Jesus coms he dispossesseth him and casts him out and so keeps him out The Devill will make many a strong assault throw many a fiery dart at the soule of the Christian endevouring if possible hee can to shake his hold but Christ he is the King hee is the watchman the keeper of Israel hee giveth in power to the weak fainting soul to overcome all those Laws and Edicts Satan shal endevour to set up in the soule so that now the Christian espyes all Satans plots and artificiall devices to trap and ensnare him rejects all his temptations and says as Christ Get thee behind me Satan when the Devill acts and works in others he hath no power over the soule where Christ reigns it is true hee may throw in his darts sometimes make assays eyther to tempt to some evill or to shake the faith of Christians but Christ the King reigns there still conquers him subdues him and so caries on his own work that the gates of hell cannot prevail against that soul where he dwels Thus Christ reigns keeping under Satan beleeve it beloved Christ and Satan cannot reign both in one soul 2 Christ opposes the power of sin in the soul where he reigns sin bears a strong sway in the soul now Christ he opposeth it sets himselfe against it hence it is there is such a strong opposition between the flesh and the spirit that is the spirit of Christ the spirit Iusting against the flesh the flesh