after Christ's death was on the first day of the week and the second Church assembly that we read of was again on the first day of the week and after eight days a sign that the Lord's-day Sabbath was on the first day instituted and that the more solemn assemblies of God 's people were henceforth to be on the Lords days Aug. de verb. Aposto Serm 15. It is an usual observation that things and persons which are named the Lords are sacred and venerable in an high degree as the grace of our Lord Rom. 16.24 the spirit of the Lord 2. Cor. 3.17 the beloved of the Lord Rom 16.8 the glory of the Lord 2. Cor. 3.18 the word of the Lord 1 Tim. 6.3 the cup of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.27 Augustine tells us that the Lords resurrection promised us an eternal day that it consecrated unto us the Lords day Surely then this day must needs be venerable a solemn day among us Christians Now it was that as the rising of the Sun dispelleth darkness so Christ the Son of righteousness shined forth unto the world by the light of his resurrection and hence we read of the Apostles observation of this very day above all others The first day of the week the Disciples being come together to break bread Paul preached unto them and concerning the collection for the Saints Act. 20.7 as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God had prospered him Charitable contributions 1 Cor. 16.1 2. and Church-assemblies were in use and practise on the first day of the week i.e. on the Lord's day An argument sufficient to me against all the opposers of this sacred truth that the first day of the week is our Christian Sabboth why then Christ arose and at sundry times appeared before his ascention and after his ascention Christ sent down the holy Ghost on that very day and after the sending of the holy Ghost the Apostles then preached the Churches then assembled Charities were then gathered the Lord's Supper was then celebrated Christ's first apparition was on that day and after that day finished not any other apparition before this time And after Eight days 2. For the place it is said to be within probably it was the same house wherein the former apparition was the house wherein Christ celebrated the Passover and instituted the Lord's Supper wherein was the large upper room made ready for Christ In this upper room immediately after Christ's ascension Mark 14.15 was that famous assembly of all the Apostles as we have heard And in this upper room was that other famous assembly of all the twelve when the holy Ghost came down upon them in cloven tongues of fire at the feast of Pentecost and if we may believe tradition Act. 2.1 in this upper room the seven Deacons whereof Stephen was one were elected and ordained And in this upper room the Apostles and Elders of the Church at Jerusalem held that councel the pattern of all councels for the decision of that question whether the Gentiles that believed were to be circumcised Acts 6. in this upper room the Apostles and Disciples frequently assembled for prayer and supplications Yea they continued there with one accord in prayer and supplication And hence Cyril who was Bishop of the place calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the upper Church of the Apostles Acts 15. But of this upper room and of the doors of it being shut we have spoken before 3. For the persons they were his ten Disciples to whom he had appeared formerly only now Thomas was with them and so the number is compleat Acts 1.14 which before was not his Disciples were within and Thomas with them and Why Thomas with them was not Thomas one of them was not Thomas a Disciple of Christ Cyr. Jerus Cat. 16. as well as the rest I grant but Thomas is added because Thomas was not present at the last apparition and this apparition was more especially for Thomas's sake O the admirable love of Christ towards poor sinners observe in Christ are bowels of mercy to his straying sheep the Disciples in danger had fled away from Christ but he will not fly away from them no no he seeks them he stands in the midst of them and he comes again with an Olive branch of peace saying peace be unto you Of all these we have touched before but here is something new a new mercy breaking out on faithless Thomas Christ proves it by lively examples and strong arguments Isa 42.3 that He will not quench the smoaking flax nor break the bruised reed that he came to seek and to save that which was lost Luk. 19.10 that he was sent to bind up the broken hearted and to heal the sick to reduce the abject and to bring to the fold the straying sheep for the sake of one Thomas Christ appears again that to him as well as the rest he might communicate his goodness bequeath his peace and confirm him in this necessary point of faith that he was risen again O the goodness of Christ like as a Father pityeth his children so the Lord pityeth them that fear him Psal 103.13 he that left the ninety and nine in the wilderness to go after that sheep that was lost declares his desire to save sinners Of all that thou hast given me I have not lost one not one of his sheep John 17.12 he may suffer them a while to stray as this one Disciple who continued incredulous for one whole week but a Lord's day comes and then Christ appears in the midst of the candlesticks The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but he is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Humbled sinners that despaire in themselves may here find encouragement it is their usual cry O my sins 1 Pet. 3.9 these sins are hainous these sins will damn me Oh but consider hath not the Lord pardoned as great sins if thou art wicked consider the Publican if thou art unclean remember Magdalen if thou art a thief a man-slayer muse on that thief that was crucified with Jesus Christ if thou art a blasphemer call to mind the Apostle Paul who was first a Wolf and then a Shepheard first lead and then gold first a Saul and then a Paul if thou art faithless dâ—ffident an unbeliever one that hast turned thy back on Christ fled away from thy colours look on Thomas he fled away from Christ as soon as any and he is longest from Christ after his Resurrection of all the rest and though his fellow Disciples say They have seen the Lord and that he was risen indeed yet this will not sink into his head he will not acknowledge it Joh. 20.25 but is
stepped in he will not leave man without hope he tells the Devil who begun this mischief I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel At the very instant when God was pronouncing judgment upon the several delinquents in the fall nay before judgment was pronounced on the persons tempted Jesus is hinred the Covenant of grace is proclaimed O the infinite riches of the mercy of God in Christ But you will say how comes Jesus in how carried he on the great work of our salvation in this dark time I answer 1. By assuming and taking upon him the form and shape of man and so discharging some special offices in that respect We read often of Christs apparition before his Incarnation and then especially when he had to do with this great Negoâ—iation of mans Eternal happiness Some think it not improbable that Christ assumed the form of man when he first created man and so he made man not only in his own image which he had as God In holiness and true righteousness but in respect of that form which he had assumed Howsoever this we find that after man had sinned Christ then appeared first to Adam then to Abraham then to Isaac then to Jacob then to Moses c. first he appeared to Adam in the garden and they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day God as he is God hath neither voice to speak nor seet to walk but assuming the form and shape of a man he exercised both and so he was the first that published that first promise to the World It shall bruise thy head 2. He appeared to Abraham in the plain of Mamre where the Lord talked with Abraham and Abraham calls him the Judge of all the Earth which can be ascribed to none but Christ the Judge of quick and dead Some from that saying of Christ your Father Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad do gather that Abraham saw Christ not only with the eyes of faith as all the rest of the Patriarchs and Prophets did but also in a visible shape which he assumed like unto that whereunto he was afterwards to be united And so it was Christ that renewed the Covenant with Abraham saying I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee 3. He appeared to Isaac Gen. 26.2 and to Jacob Gen. 32.24 30. and to Moses Exod. 20.1 2 3. and to many others of which I shall comment in order And these apparitions of Christ were as praeludiums of his Incarnation But this is not the way I shall insist upon 2. Christ carried on the great work of our salvation in that dark time not by himself exhibited as when he was Incarnate but onely promised The great King would first have his Harbingers to lead the way before he himself would come in person As the Lord had observed this method in creating the World that first he would have darkness and then light and as still he observes this method in upholding the world that first he will have dawning and then clear day so in the framing and upholding of his Church he will first have Christ held forth in Ceremonies Rites Figures Types Promises Covenants and then like a glorious Sun or like the day-spring from on high he would visit the world to give light to them that sit in darkness To this purpose we read that as Christ so the Covenant of grace which applies Christ to us was first promised and then promulgated the Covenant of promise was that Covenant which God made with Adam and Abraham and Moses and David and all Israel in Jesus Christ to be Incarnate crucified and risen from the dead and it was meet that the promise should go before the Gospel and be fulfilled in the Gospel that so a great good might earnestly be desired before it was bestowed In a time of darkness men desire light as the morning-watch watcheth and longeth for the morning so the obscure revelation of Christ in a promise raised the hearts of the Patriarchs to an earnest desire of Christ his coming in the flesh But in this obscurity we may observe some degrees before the Law given by Moses the promise was more obscure the Law being given even to the time of the Prophets the promise was a little more clear in the time of the Prophets even to John the Baptist it was clearer yet as the coming of the messias did approach nearer and nearer so was the promise clearer and clearer still Just as the approach of the Sun is nearer or further off so is the light that goes before it greater or lesser In like manner was the Revelation that went before Christ more dim or clear as the rising of the Sun of righteousness was more remote or nigh at hand It was the good pleasure of God to manifest the riches of his grace by degrees and not all at once we see to this very day that God in his several approaches of mercy and goodness draws nearer and nearer to his Church Even now in this marvellous light of the Gospel we have our divine Ceremonies and Sacraments we see him afar off we know but in part but time shall come even before his second coming that we or our children shall see him more clearly perfectly immediatly My present businesse is to hold forth Jesus in the Covenant of grace as promised and because the promise receives distinction of degrees according to the several breakings out of it to the dark world we will consider it as it was manifested 1. From Adam till Abraham 2. From Abraham till Moses 3. From Moses till David 4. From David till the Babylonish Captivity or thereabout 5. From the Captivity or thereabout till Christ In every of these periods will appear some further and further discoveries of Gods mercy in Christ of the Covenant of grace of our Jesus carrying on the great work of mans Eternal salvation in that dark time You heard before of the Covenant betwixt God and Christ concerning our salvation but that was not the Covenant of grace which God immediately made with man as fallen but a particular Covenant with Christ to be the Mediator Or so far as it was a Covenant of grace it was then made betwixt God and Christ and after to be made betwixt God and us for a time we were hid in the womb of Gods Election and not being then capable to enter into Covenant with God Christ undertook for us but yet so that when we come to be regenerate we are then to strike Covenant our selves And hence we read expresly of Gods Covenanting with sundry particular persons as with Adam and Abraham and Moses and David c. Of which in
continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood and the work of his Priesthood is interpreted ver 25. To make intercession for ever The meaning of this is that God would not have him continue to be a Priest in title only or in respect onely of a service past and so to have only the honour of Priesthood perpetuated to him out of the remembrance of what he once had done But God would have him to enjoy as the renown of the old to a perpetual spring of honour by this new work of intercession and so to preserve the verdure of his glory ever fresh and green and the sum of the Apostles reasoning is this that seeing himself was to be for ever so his work of Priesthood should be for ever that so his honour might be preserved and continued for ever also 5. It is Christ's love to his Saints his heart is so inamoured with his Saints that therefore he intercedes for them for ever Love is as strong as death it is never weary of doing good for the party beloved now Christ's Saints are Christ's love My sister my love Cant. 5.2 Mal. 3.17 John 15.19 Isa 43.20 my dove the Saints in Christ's books are so many jewels And they shall be mine saith the Lord of hoasts in that day when I make up my jewels the Saints are Christ's only choyce the very flower of the Earth You have I chosen out of the world and ye are my people my chosen All the World is Christ's refuge and Kings are but morter to him onely the Saints are Christ's chosen they are they whom the Lord in his eternal councels hath set a part for himself But know saith the Psalmist that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly psalm 4.3 The Saints are Christ's image i.e. the resemblance of Christ in all that which is his chief excellency I mean in his righteousness and holiness as if I would take the picture of a man I would not draw it to resemble his back-parts but as near as I could I would draw it to life the very face and countenance so are the Saints the very picture the image the draught of God in his top excellency The Saints are in covenant with Jesus Christ and therefore in nearer relation than any others hence it is that they are called the portion of God the treasure of God the peculiar people of God those that God and Christ satisfie themselves in those that God and Christ have set their hearts on the children of God the Father the very Spouse and bride of God the Son in some respect nearer than the Angels themselves for the Angels are not so married to Christ in a mystical union as God's people are now is it any wonder that those who are so very dear to Christ should be in the prayers of Christ if they were so much in his heart that sometimes be shed his blood for them will he not now intercede for O yes to this end he carries them on his breast or heart as near as near may be that they may be in a continual remembrace before the Lord for ever his very love compels him to this office to intercede for them 6. It is Christ's delight to intercede for his Saints before the world was Prov. 8.31 Psalm 40 7 8. His delights were with the sons of men and when the fulness of time came then said he Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me I delight to do thy Will O my God and what was that but to be with the sons of men he knew that was his Fathers pleasure and in respect of himself he had a delight to live with them and to dye for them and no sooner he entred into Heaven but there he delights to officiate still in behalf of the sons of men he carries their names on his heart there and though some of their persons be on earth and he in his bodily presence is in Heaven yet distance of place cannot deaden his delights in the remembrance of them he is ever minding his Father of his people in the neather world he tells him that they are his all in all upon the earth all his joy and all his delight and all his portion as men use to give portions to their children so God having but one Son by eternal generation he hath given the Elect unto him as his portion and hence he makes it his great business in Heaven to provide mansions for his portion to take up God's heart for his portion to beg favour and love for his portion Here 't is the joy of Christ in Heaven in going to his Father and telling him Why Father I have a small portion yet on earth and because they are on earth they are still sinning against thy Majesty but I have suffered and satisfied for their sins and hither am I come to mind Thee of it and contiunally to get out fresh pardons for new sins come look on my old satisfaction didst Thou not promise Isa 53.11 12. is it not in the Articles of agreement betwixt Thee and me that I should see of the travel of my soul and should be satisfied didst Thou not say that because I poured out my soul therefore Thou wouldst divide me a portion with the great and the spoyle with the strong O my Father now I make intercession for the transgressors give me out pardons for an hundred thousand millions of sins Thou hast said and sworn that Thou hast no pleasure in the death of sinners and it is my pleasure my joy my infinite delight to save sinners these are my seed my portion my redeemed ones and therefore let them be saved Thus Christ intercedes and his delight in his Saints as knowing it to be his Fathers mind draws him on to this intercession indeed this reason hangs upon that primary and first reason it is God's will that Christ should intercede as it is Christ's delight to do the will of his Father in Heaven I delight to do thy Will O my God 7. It is Christs compassion that causeth intercession Christ is such an high Priest Heb. 4.15 saith the Apostle as cannot but be touched with the feeling of our infirmities He was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin When he was on earth he felt our infirmities frailties miseries and as a man that hath felt the Stone or Gout or Fever or especially that hath felt soul-troubles cannot but compassionate those that are in the like condition so Christ having had the experience of our outward and inward sufferings he cannot but compassionate us and hence it is his very compassion's moving that he intercedes to his Father in our behalf It is observed that the very office or work of the High-Priest was to sympathize with the people of God onely in the case of the death of his kindred he was not as others to sympathize or mourn but Jesus Christ goes beyond all
alledge that this priviledge was granted to Peter as an Apostle but we say that if it was granted to Peter as an Apostle then it was common to Peter and Judas in that both were Apostles They alledge further that Christ prayes not for the absolute perseverance of Believers but after a sort and upon condition But we say the Prayer of Christ is certain and not suspended in this Prayer his desire is not for Peter that would presevere but his desire is for Peter that he should persevere the object of the thing for which Christ prayes is distinct from the thing it self prayed for 9. That we might have the salvation of our souls in the day of Jesus John 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they might behold my glory Why this is the main end in respect of us our glory and indeed herein is the main piece of our glory to behold this glory Oh to see the Lord Jesus Christ glorified as he shall be glorified must be a glorious thing What is it to see his glory but to behold the lustre of his Divinity through his humanity In this respect our very eyes shall come to see God as much as is possible for any creature to see him we may be sure God shall appear through the humanity of Christ as much as is possible for the Divinity to appear in a creature and therefore Men and Angels will be continually viewing of Christ I know there is another glory of Christ which the Father will put upon him Because he humbled himself therefore God will exalt him Rev. 14.4 and give him a name above every name and we shall see him in this glory O the ravishing sight of Saints Christ is so lovely that the Saints cannot leave but they must and will follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes there shall be no moment to all eternity wherein Christ shall be out of sight to so many thousand thousands of Saints now this is the glory of the Saints above as a Queen that sees the Prince in his glory she delights in it because it is her glory so the Church when she shall see Christ her Husband in his glory she shall rejoyce in it because she looks upon it as her own Is not this a blessed end of Christ's intercession why hither tend all the rest all the other ends end in this and for this above all Christ intercedes to his Father Father Cant. 3.11 I would have my Saints with me O that all the daughters of Zion may behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith thou hast crowned him in the day of his Espousals and in the day of the gladness of his heart Only one Question and I have done how should I set my faith on work to act on Christ's intercession for these ends I answer 1. Faith must perswade it self that here is a vertue in Christ's intercession Certainly every passage and acting of Christ hath its efficacy and therefore there is vertue in this it is full of juyce it hath a strong influence in it 2. Faith must consider that it is the design of God and the intendment of Christ that this intercession should be for the good of those that are given to Christ O there 's enough in Christ enough in Christ's intercession to convey communion the Spirit protection free access to the Throne of Grace a Spirit of prayer pardon of sins continuance in grace salvation of souls to the Saints and people of God through all the world and this is the design of God that Christ's intercession should be as the fountain whence all these streams must run and be conveyed unto us 3. Faith must act dependantly upon the intercession of Christ for these very ends this is the very nature of Faith it relyes upon God in Christ and upon all the actings of Christ and upon all the promises of Christ so then Is there a desirable end in Christ's intercession which we aim at O let us act our Faith dependantly let us rely stay or lean upon Christ to that same end let us roul our selves or cast our selves upon the very intercession of Jesus Christ Saying O my Christ there is enough in thee and in this glorious intercession of thine and therefore there will I stick and abide for ever 4. Faith must ever and anon be trying improving wrestling with God that vertue may go out of Christ's intercession into our hearts I have heard Lord that there is an Office erected in heaven that Christ as Priest should be ever praying and interceding for his people O that I may feel the efficacy of Christ's intercession am I now in prayer O that I could feel in this prayer the warmth and heat and spiritual fire which usually falls down from Christ's intercession into the hearts of his Lord warm my spirit in this duty give me the kisses of thy mouth O that I may now have communion with thee thy Spirit upon me thy protection over me O that my pardon may be sealed my grace confirmed my soul saved in the day of Jesus In this method O my soul follow on and who knows but God may appear e're thou art aware howsoever be thou in the use of the means and leave the issue with God SECT VI. Of loving Jesus in that Respect 6. LEt us love Jesus as carrying on this great work of our salvation in his intercession Now two things more especially will excite our love 1. Christ's love to us 2. Our propriety in Christ For the first many acts of Christ's love have appeared before and every one is sufficient to draw our loves to him again As 1. He had an eternal love to man he feasted himself on the thoughts of love delight and free-grace to man from all eternity since God was God O boundless duration the Lord Jesus in a manner was loving and longing for the dawning of the day of the Creation he was as it were with child of infinite love to man before he made the world Some observe that the first words which ever Christ wrote were Love to Believers and these were written with glory for it was before gold was and they were written upon his bosom for then other books were not 2. In the beginning of time he loved man above all creatures for after he had made them all he then speaks as he never did before Let us make man in our image after our likeness Gen. 1.26 and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattel and over all the earth and though man at that very instant unmade himself by sins Christ's love yet was not broken off but held forth in a promise till the day of performance The seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head and in thy seed shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed 3. In the fulness of time his
quo tellus ardeat A time shall come when Sea and earth and all the frame of this great World shall be consumed in flame 3. The Sybills grant this to which the Roman missal seems to allude joyning them with the Prophet David though I know not by what warrant Dies ira dies illa solvet saeculum in favilla teste David cum Sybilla A day of Wrath a day of fire So David with the Sybills doth conspire But to wave all these one Text of Scripture is to me more than all these 2 Pet. 3.10 The Heavens shall pass away with a great noise 2 Pet. 3.10 and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up Hence all our Divines agree that a fire shall seaze on the Universe only some difference is amongst Divines whether the World shall be wholly annihilated or renewed by fire Jerome and Augustin and many after them say the end of this fire is for purifying and refining of the Heaven and Earth for all corruptible qualities shall be burnt out of them but they in their substance shall remain still if we ask them to what end shall this neather world be renewed some say for an habitacle of the restored Beasts others for a fitter accommodation of men †Mundus in melius immutatus aperte accommodabitur hominibus in melius immutatis August de civit Dei l. 20. c. 16. and the glorified Saints others for a perpetual Monument of God's Power and Glory Polanus and some of our Moderns are of Opinion that * Polan Syntag l. 6. c. 70. These Heavens and this Earth when purified with those fires and super-invested with new endowments they shall be the everlasting habitations of the blessed Saints But on the contrary others are of the other opinion that all the World with all the parts and works except Men Angles and Devils Heaven and Hell the two mansions for the saved and damned shall be totally and finally dissolved and annihilated And of this opinion were Hilary Clement and all the ancients before Jerome and of our Moderns not a few For my part I rather incline this way because of the many Scriptures that are so express I shall only mention these Job 14.12 Psal 102.25 26. Isa 34.4 Man lyeth down and riseth not till the heavens be no more Of old thou hast laid the foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the works of thy hands they shall perish but thou shalt endure All the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved and the heaven shall be rolled together as a scroll and all the host shall fall down as the leaf falleth from the Vine Rev. 6.14 and as a falling fig from the fig-tree To which prophesie John seems to allude And the heavens departed as a scrowl when it is rolled together and every Mountain and Island were moved out of their places Again Mat. 24.36 2 Pet. 3.10 heaven and earth shall pass away saith Christ but my Word shall not pass away The day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the night in the which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein 1 John 2.17 shall be burnt up And the world passeth away and the lusts thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever and I saw a great white Throne Rev. 20.11 and him that sate on it from whose face the earth and heaven fled away and they was found no place for them Now I would demand whether being no more as Job and perishing as David and rolling together and falling down like a withered leaf as Isay and passing away as our Saviour and Peter and flying away as John do not include to utter abolition If to these Scriptures I should add one reason I would argue from the end of the Worlds Creation was it not partly for the glory of God and partly for the use of man now for the glory of God the manifestation of it is occasioned by the manifestation of the world unto man if man therefore should be removed out of the world and no creature in it be capable of such a manifestation what would become of his glory And for the use of man that is either to supply his necessity in matter of dyet physick building apparel or for his instruction direction recreation comfort delight now when he shall attain that blessed estate of enjoying God and seeing God face to face these ends or the like must needs be frustrate This argument is weighty and we need no more Only we shall hear an Antagonist's objections and give them their answers and so conclude The Texts more especially objected against this opinion are two the first is that in Rom. 8.21 Rom. 8.21 The creature it self shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God here say the◠is an earnest expectation attributed to brute Creatures that they shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God But I answer that no immortal being of the brute creatures is here promised but only a simple deliverance and dismission from the servitude they were in to ungrateful men The Birds Beasts and Fishes do now suffer for our dyet Horses Mules and beasts of that nature do now groan under the burthens of our pleasures or necessities their annihilation therefore to them must needs be a kind of deliverance and at last they shall be delivered at the time of the glorious liberty of the Sons of God the Text will bear it thus †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 10.2 as sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 4.11 1 Cor. 2.15 So Chrysostome expounds it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Creature shall be delivered by the glorious liberty of the Sons of God i.e. When such a deliverance comes to men these shall be freed from their servitude by being not at all having done all the business for which they were ordained or created The second Text is that in 2 Pet. 3.13 2 Pet 3.13 We look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness These words say some imply a purging rather than abolishing a taking off the corrupt qualities only not the substance But I am of another mind and if I must give my sense of the place I say 1. Negatively that by new heavens and new earth is not meant renewed heavens and earth 2 Pet. 3.7 10 is it not punctually in the seventh verse that the heavens and the earth which are now are reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and doth he not descend unto particulars in the tenth verse that the heavens which are
all the World what a thing will this be when Christ shall pass a sentence of death on others and speak words of life unto thee when thou shalt see him frowning upon the world and oh those frowns will break the heart and shalt behold him smiling in the fulness of his love upon thy self that Christ at such a time should be delighting-thee with all the imbraces of love and with this sweet invitation to Heaven Come thou blessed inherite the Kingdom it were enough to a spirit a soul half dead the very meditation of this must needs be sweet 6. Consider Christ and the Saints Judging the rest of the world no sooner are the Saints sentenced but Christ turns to the wicked and bids them go into everlasting fire in which sentence the Saints shall joyn with Christ himself Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the World 1 Cor. 6.2 when the Saints appear it is not only by a Summons but with commission not only to be judged but to judge not only shall they stand at Christs right hand but they shall sit down on the Throne of the Son of God to judge the wicked Angels and the World O the torment O the vexation of wicked men and Devils when they shall see those very men whom they scorned oppressed persecuted to be now advanced not onely to glory but to be their judges it is as if some Noble man had wronged some Poor man and that the King should therefore deliver the Noble man into the power of the poor man Psal 112.10 to take his own revenge Surely The ungodly shall see this and be grieved he shall gnash with his teeth for indignation and melt away but on the contrary Psal 58.10 The righteous shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance he shall wash his foot-steps in the blood of the ungodly O my soul dost thou believe this truth and art thou confident that thou shalt sit with Christ on his very Throne to judge the World why then be joyfull in afflictions exercise thou patience in the censures and judgments of the World know thou for thy comfort that there is a turn and time of judging and therefore say 1 Cor. 4. â— With me it is a small matter that I should be judged of you or of man's Judgment as the original hath it of man's day Is it not enough to command patience if God's day be at hand when I shall judge my unjust judges hark what the Apostle saith Jam. 5.7 8 9. Be patient Brethren unto the coming of the Lord behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it untill he receive the early and latter rain be ye also patient stablish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh behold the judge standeth before the door Come exercise patience let the World be judging if they will needs slander reproach and persecute thy soul they had better abuse any judge on earth than thee though thou art the poorest weakest meanest of God's Saints upon the earth they will know one day that they have abused their own judge in abusing thee And therefore be thou quiet silent patient Say as David let him alone and let him curse yea let him judge for the Lord hath bidden him it may be the Lord will look on mine affliction and will requite good for his Judging this day this is his day but the day of the Lord is my day and then shall I sit with Christ on his Throne to judge the World Oh the sweet that I may suck from this hony-comb of Christ and his Saints judging the World 7. Consider Christ and his Saints going up into Heaven No sooner hath he done his work with the World and sent them away but then he shall conduct all his flock like a faithful shepherd to their fold then shall he go with all his troops following him into Heaven Hath not Christ said so If I go away I will come again John 14.3 and receive you unto my self that where I am there you may be also O those songs of joy and shouts of praise that will fill the World at that day And thus as they go along Heaven opens unto them and they enter in what welcomes they have there is past my telling if we may imagine and guess O the welcome that Christ will give Come my spouse and come my dear come all my Saints here be those Mansions that I went before to prepare and make ready for you here be those everlasting habitations wherein you and I will dwell together here is your Fathers house the building of the wall is all of Jasper Rev. 21 18. and the worst piece of it is all of pure Gold like unto clear Glass why this is your home your house made without hands here you and I will spend our time eternity it self in joying enjoying and beholding of each other And as thus Christ salutes them so will the Angels those Created Citizens of Heaven salute them too for if joy be in Heaven at the conversion of one sinner what joy will there be at the glorification of all these Saints what welcome entertainment will the Angels give to these new guests at their first enterance into Heaven O my soul if thou art one of them that shalt have this welcome what wilt thou say when thou art admitted in thither if weeping were in Heaven wouldst thou not weep for joy sure these things are no fictions of man's brain but truths and realities and as they are true and real so they are exceeding full of joy all the excellencies of this World are but a dream in comparison of them even the Sun in its brightness is but darkness to this glory that shall then be seen Come think over these things and be so enlarged in thy thoughts that before they go thou mayest feel the sweet and taste of this goodness of the Lord. 8. Consider all the several transactions that will follow in Heaven then will Christ present all his elect to God his Father then will he give in all his commissions which he hath received from his Father Then will the Son himself be subject to the Father that God may be all in all I cannot stay to enlarge on these Onely remember though God may be all in all that excludes not Christ for he also is All in all to all his Saints even to all eternity Immediate visions and fruitions of Christ as God is the very top of Heavens joy Christ is all and in all Christ is the center of Heavens happiness Christ is the well-spring that fills the capacities of Saints and Angels Christ is the object of happiness it self there is as much happiness in Christ as happiness is what ever belongs to glory is in Christ In him dwels all the fulness whatever excellency is in Heaven it is in Christ not onely in perfection but connexion for all those
black as jet and the Moon red as blood when the Stars of heaven shall fall and when the heavens themselves shall depart as a scroll when the Trumpet shall sound that will shake the Earth and every Mountain and Island shall be moved out of their places when the Kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and every bonds-man and every free-man shall hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the Mountains and shall say to the rocks and to the mountains fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Will it not be terrible if the people were so afraid when the Lord came without such attendants to give the Law upon Mount Sinai certainly much more terrible must such a coming in this manner be when he shall come like a revenging judge to take an account of the world for the keeping or for the breaking of that Law In this respect I wonder not at some weak Christians that cry out O Lord thou knowest that I have not desired this woful day A wise Jew was wont to say from a deep foresight of terror of this day The Messiah will come but Lord let me not live to see his coming Now to conquer this fear and to abate such slavish terror in such souls oh that they would consider it in the whole notion of it not onely as it shall be a day of blackness and of terror but as it shall also be a day of rest and of release Some are apt to take it up in the half notion of it they look on it only as a day of judgment and a day of condemnation and so they fly from it as from a Serpent but if they would take it up again and look on the other side the Serpent would be turned into a Rod. The day which will be so dreadful to the ungodly and the beginning of their misery it will be as joyful to the Saints and the beginning of their glory But in what respect is this day of Christ so desirable a day I answer in these particulars 1. It is a day of refreshing Here the Saints work in a furnace his fire is in Zion Acts 3.19 Isa 31.9 and his furnace in Jerusalem but Christ in his second coming when all the world shall be on fire shall fan wind as I may say on his Saints to cool them to the wicked it is an hot day a day of everlasting burnings but to the Saints it is a day of cooling quickning reviving and refreshing 2. It is a day of restoring of all things Acts. 3.21 Every creature is now in it's work-work-day dressed all defiled with sin but at that day there shall be a restitution of all things all the disorders and ruins which sin hath brought into the world shall then be repaired and man himself whose sin is the cause of all shall then be restored to his original glory 3. It is a day of the manifestation of the Sons of God Rom. 8.19 Then shall it be known who are true Saints and who are Reprobates here we live inconfusion and in our most refined Churches if we have none scandalous yet we may have many hypocrites and we cannot discern them but in that day it shall be known who are the Lords and who are not the hypocrite shall then be unmantled and the Sons of God shall shine and glitter as the Sun that all may run and read These are God's Elect these are the Sons and Daughters of the Almighty Rom. 8.23 4. It is the day of adoption and of the redemption of our bodyes It is the day of our Sonship and deliverance I deny not but that the Saints are adopted and redeemed before this day but this adoption and redemption is not consummate nor declared before Christ come again to judgment then it is that he takes his Saints home to his house and all the Angels and Men of the World shall understand the love wherewith he loves them then shall Christ say These are my sons whom I have redeemed and as I have set them free so now shall they live and reign with me for ever and ever 5. It is The day of Christ's coming He was here not long since travailing about the Earth and about our business which done he went away to Heaven upon a special errand for his Saints and there now he is to intercede for them to attend the court to be their Advocate and to agitate the business of their souls and withal thâ—re now he is to take up lodgings for them and to prepare them mansions for eternity And no sooner shall he have dispatcht his business there but he will come for earth again he will bow the Heavens and come down to give a report of his transactions there hath he not left us a letter to that effect John 14.3 I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there you may be also O why are his Chariots so long a coming why tarry the wheels of his Chariots 2 Thes 1.7 6. It is the day of Christs revealing Christ to many of his Saints here is hidden and withdrawn it is true he may be in them yea certainly he is in them by his spirit but no man knows it no nor themselves neither which makes them cry O where is he whom my soul loveth but at this day of Christ's revealing all curtains shall be drawn aside Christ shall be unhid and the Saints shall see him face to face they shall never lose him more for without any intermission they shall stare and gaze and be ever looking unto Jesus Colos 3.4 7. It is the day of Christ's bright and glorious appearing When he was upon the Earth he appeared in our dress many then saw him who then said of him There is no beauty in him that we should desire him Oh it was a sad sight to see him crowned with thorns and scourged with whips and nailed to the cross but in his next appearing we shall see him in his best attire arrayed in white attended with the retinue of glory riding in his Chariot of light and smiling upon all his Saints Now is not this desirable The Apostle tells us of the Saints Tit. 2.13 Looking for the glorious appearing of the great God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ therefore surely they desire it Isa 53.11 8. It is the day of Christs joy Then he shall see of the travail of his soul and he shall be satisfied Now what is the travail of his soul is it not the perfection of his redeemed ones oh when Christ seeth this when he seeth his spouse as without spot or wrinkle then shall be fulfilled that prophesie Isa 62.5 As the Bridegroom rejoyceth over the Bride so
In his mercy or free grace 1. His justice will be glorified especially in punishing the wicked here on Earth litle justice is done on most offenders though some publick crimes are sometimes punished yet the actions of closets and chambers the designs and thoughts of men the businesses of retirements and of the night escape the hand of justice and therefore God hath so ordained it that there shall be a day of doom wherein all that are let alone by men shall be questioned by God Shall not the judge of all the world do right Gen. 18.25 then all thoughts shall be examined and secret actions viewed on each side and the infinite number of those sins which escaped here shall be blazoned there all shall have justice and the justice of the judge shall be so exact that he will account with men by minutes and that justice may reign entirely God shall open his treasure I mean the wicked man's treasure and tell the sums and weigh the grains and scruples Deut. 32.34 Is not this laid up in store with me and sealed up among my treasures I will restore it in the day of vengeance saith the Lord. Oh how will God glorifie his justice at that day surely his justice shall shine and be eminently glorious in every passage 2. His mercy or free grace will be glorified in rewarding the Saints And this is the main the supreme end of his coming to judgment 2 Thes 1.10 He shall come saith the Apostle to be glorified in his Saints not but that the Angels shall glorifie the riches of his grace as well as Saints but because the Angels never sinned they have now kept their Robes of innocency their cloth of Gold above five thousand years without one spark of dirt or change of colour therefore the glory of his grace is more especially fastened on Saints that sometimes were sinners Oh what stories will be told at this day of graces acts I was a blasphemer 1 Tim. 1.13 and a persecutor and an injurious person said Paul but I obtained mercy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I was be-mercied as if he had been dipt in a River in a Sea of mercy it may be he will make the same acknowledgment at the day of judgment I was a sinner but the grace of the Lord Jesus to me was abundant superabundant I obtained as much grace as would have saved a world Certainly free grace shall then be discovered in some purpose Rom. 5.20 then it shall be known That where sin abounded grace far more it over-abounded or more than over-bounded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is a word borrowed from Fountains and Rivers which have over-flowed with Waters ever since the Creation then all the Saints shall exalt and magnifie and with loud voyces praise the glory of his grace they shall look on their debts written in graces book and then shall they sing and say O the mystery of grace O the gold-mines and the depts of Christs free love why this was the great design of our salvation at the first when God was willing to communicate himself out of his aloneness everlasting he laid this plot that all he would do should be to the praise of the glory of his grace Eph. 1.6 and now at his second coming having done all he will do the Saints for whom he hath done all admire esteem honour and sound forth the praises of his grace Is not this their everlasting song which they begin at this day Glory to the Lamb and glory to his grace that sitteth on the Throne for ever more not but that they glorifie him in his wisdom power holiness and his other attributes ay but especially in this it is his Grace in which he most delighteth even as vertuous Kings affect above all their other Vertues to be had in honour for their Clemency and Bounty so Jesus Christ the King of Kings affects above all the glory of his grace And to this purpose Heaven it self is an house full of broken men who have borrowed millions from Christ but can never repay more than to read and sing the praises of Free-grace Glory to the Lamb and glory to the riches of his grace for evermore Thus for directions one word of Application or a few motives to work Faith in you in this respect 1. Christ in his word invites you to believe these are his Letters from Heaven Come all to the marriage-supper of the Lamb Ho every one that thirsts come in Heaven-gate is open to all that knock but fools foolish Virgins foolish souls which have no Faith nor will have any to render them fit for Heaven This meets with some that scruple what will Christ come again to receive me to himself shall I enter with him into glory alas no unclean thing shall enter into that holy City and shall such a sinner as I am be admitted Oh believe believe thy part in this coming of Christ to receive thee to himself and no sin that thou feelest a burthen shall keep thee out of Heaven There is Rahab the Harlot and Manasseh the Murtherer and Mary that had so many Devils a man that hath many Devils may come where there is not one Luke 14.22 Lame and Blind and Halt may enter into Heaven and yet still there is room there is a great variety of guests above and yet one Table large enough for all no crouding and yet thousands and thousands of thousands sitting together Ah poor soul why dost thou make ecceptions where God makes none why shouldst thou exclude thy self out of these golden gates when God doth not believe onely believe in the Lord Jesus and the promise is sure and without all controversie thou shalt be saved 2. Christ by his Ministry intreats you to believe come say they we beseech you believe in your judge it may be you startle at this what to believe in him who is a coming to be your judge but if your judge be Jesus if the same person who dyed for you shall come to judge you why should you fear indeed if your judge were your enemy you might fear but if he who is your Lord and who loves your souls shall judge you there is no such cause will a man fear to be judged by his dearest friends a brother by a brother a child by a father or a wife by her husband consider is not he your Judge who came down from Heaven and who being on earth was judged condemned and executed in your stead and yet are ye fearful O ye of little faith Oh what an unreasonable sin is unbelief nay say the scrupulous if I were assured of this if I knew that my judge were my friend I should not fear but is he not my enemy have not I provoked him to enmity against my soul do I not stand it out in arms against my judge am not I daily sinning against him who justly may condemn me for my sin give this
the flames of God and do we not yet love him hath Christ all this while opened his brest and heart to us saying Friends Doves come in and dwell in the holes of this rock And do we scratch his brest do we turn our backs upon him and requite his love with hatred surely this is more than sin for what is sin but a transgression of the law but this sin is both a transgression of Law and Gospel What to spurn against the warm bowels of love to spit on grace to disdain him who is the white and ruddy the fairest of Heaven Oh the aggravation of this sin ' its an heart of flint and adamant that spits at Evangelick love Law-love is love but Evangelick love is more than love it s the gold the flower of Christ's wheat and of his finest love Oh the many Gospel-passages of love that we have heard Oh the sweet streams of love that we have followed till now that we are come to a Sea of love to an heaven of love to an infinite eternal everlasting love in heaven I want words to express this love of Jesus a Sea of love is nothing it hath a bottom an Heaven of love is nothing it hath a brim but infinite eternal everlasting love hath no bottom no brim no bounds and do we not yet love him do we not yet feel the fire of love break forth if not it is time to turn our Preaching into Praying O thou who art the Element or Sun of love come with thy power let out â—ne beam one ray one gleam of love upon my soul shine hot upon my heart cast my soul into a love-transe remember thy promise to circumcise my heart Deut 30.6 that I may love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul Surely the great Marriage of the Lamb is coming on he will come and welcome all his Saints into his presence he will bid them inherite the Kingdom and put them in a possession of the inheritance and then we cannot choose but love our Jesus with all our hearts and with all our souls onely begin we it here let us now be sick of love that we may then be well with love let us now rub and chase our hearts our dead cold hearts before this fire till we say with Peter Why Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee SECT VII Of joying in Jesus in that respect 7. LET us joy in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his second coming Christ delights to have his People look upon him with delight for a soul to be always under a spirit of bondage and so to look upon Christ as a Judge a Lyon or an offended God it doth not please God the Lord Jesus is tender of the joy of his Saints Rejoyce and be exceeding glad saith Christ rejoyce evermore rejoyce in the Lord alwayes Mat. 5.12 1 Thes 5.16 Phil. 4.4 Psal 68.3 and again I say rejoyce Let the righteous be glad let them rejoyce before God yea let them exceedingly rejoyce All that Christ doth to his Saints tends to this joy as the upshot or end of all if he cast down it is but to raise them up if he humble it is but to exalt if he kill it is but to make alive in every dispensation still he hath a tender care to preserve their joy This is the Benjamin about which Christ's bowels beat Let my Children suffer any thing but nothing in their joy I would have all that love my Name to be joyfall in me Oh say some but Christ's day is a terrible day when Christ appears he will make the Heavens and Earth and Hell to shake and tremble Our God shall come and shall not keep silence Psal 50.3 a fire shall devour before him and it shall be very tempestuous round about him True but what 's all this terror but an argument of my Father's power and justice against sinners if thou art Christ's and hast thy part in him not one jot of all this terror belongs to thee The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished 2 Pet. 2.9 He knows how to make the same day a terror to his foes and a joy to his people he ever intended it for the great distinguishing and separating day wherein both joy and sorrow should be manifested to the highest O then let the heavens rejoyce the sea the earth the floods the hills for the Lord cometh to Judge the earth Psal 97.7 8 9. with righteousness shall he judge the World and the people with equity If you find it an hard thing to joy in Jesus as in reference to his second coming think of these motives 1. Christ's coming is the Christians encouragement so Christ himself layes it down You shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory and when these things begin to come to pass Luk. 21.27 28. then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh The signs of his coming are the hopes of your approaching introduction into glory and what should you do then but prepare for your approaching with exceeding joy many evils do now surround you every where Satan hath his snares and the World his baits and your own hearts are apt to betray you into your enemies hands but when Christ comes you shall have full deliverance and perfect redemption and therefore look up and lift up your heads The Apostle speaks the very same encouragement 1 Thes 4.16 71 18. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air wherefore comfort one another with these words Christ's coming is a comfortable doctrine to all believers and therefore all the Elect that hear these words should be comforted by them Comfort ye comfort ye my people 2. Christ our Saviour must be our Judge the same Jesus that was born for us and lived for us and dyed for us and doth now pray for us will come at last to judge us is not this comfortable you that have heard all his transactions can you ever foget the unweariness of Christ's love in his constant and continual actings for your souls how long hath he been interceding for his Saints how long hath he been knocking at their hearts for entrance it is now above a thousand six hundred years that he hath been praying and knocking and he resolves not to give over till all be his till all the Tribes in ones and twos be over Jordan and up with him in the heavenly Canaan And if this be he that must be our Judge if he that loves our
made Page 345 Sect. 5. Of the Dolours and Agonies that Christ there suffered Page 348 Sect. 6. Of Judas Treason Christ's Apprehension Binding Leading unto Annas Page 350 Sect. 7. Of Christ's Examination and Condemnation with their Appendices Page 354 Chap. 2. Sect. 1. Of Christ's Indictment and Judas fearful End Page 359 Sect. 2. Of Christ's Mission to Herod and the Transactions there Page 362 Sect. 3. Of Christ and Barabbas compared and of the Question debated betwixt Pilate and the Jews Page 364 Sect. 4. Of Christ stripped whipped cloathed with Purple crowned with Thorns Page 367 Sect. 5. Of Christ brought forth and sentenced Page 370 Sect. 6. Of Christ's Crucifying with its Appendices Page 373 Sect. 7. Of the Consequents after Christ's Crucifying Page 376 Chap. 3. Sect. 1. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the Great Work of our Salvation in His Death Page 378 Sect. 2. Of Considering Jesus in that respect ibid. Sect. 3. Of Desiring Jesus in that respect Page 383 Sect. 4. Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect Page 386 Sect. 5. Of Believing in Jesus in that respect Page 391 Sect. 6. Of Loving Jesus in that respect Page 397 Sect. 7. Of Joying in Jesus in that respect Page 399 Sect. 8. Of Calling on Jesus in that respect Page 401 Sect. 9. Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect Page 402 BOOK VII PART IV. Chap. 1. Sect. 1. Of the Time of Christ's Resurrection Page 411 Sect. 2. Of the Reasons of Christ's Resurrection Page 413 Sect. 3. Of the Manner of Christ's Resurrection Page 415 Sect. 4. Of the Arguments of Christ's Resurrection Page 419 Sect. 5. Of Christ's Apparition to Mary Magdalen Page 421 Sect. 6. Of Christ's Apparition to His Ten Disciples Page 431 Sect. 7. Of Christ's Apparition to all His Apostles Page 436 Sect. 8. Of Christ's Apparition to all the Apostles at the Sea of Tiberias Page 442 Chap. 2. Sect. 1. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the Great Work of our Salvation in His Resurrection Page 443 Sect. 2. Of Considering Jesus in that Respect Page 444 Sect. 3. Of Desiring after Jesus in that respect Page 449 Sect. 4. Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect Page 452 Sect. 5. Of Believing in Jesus in that respect Page 458 Sect. 6. Of Loving Jesus in that respect Page 462 Sect. 7. Of Joying in Jesus in that respect Page 464 Sect. 8. Of Calling on Jesus in that respect Page 466 Sect. 9. Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect Page 467 BOOK VIII PART V. Chap. 1. Sect. 1. Of Christ's Ascension and of the Manner how Page 475 Sect. 2. Of the Place where He Ascended Page 477 Sect. 3. Of the Reasons why He Ascended ibid. Sect. 4. Of God's Right Hand and of Christ's Session There Page 480 Sect. 5. Of the Two Natures wherein Christ sits at God's Right Hand Page 482 Sect. 6. Of the Reasons why Christ doth sit at God's Right Hand ibid. Sect. 7. Of the Time when the Holy-Ghost was sent Page 485 Sect. 8. Of the Persons to whom the Holy-Ghost was sent Page 486 Sect. 9. Of the Manner how the Holy-Ghost was sent Page 487 Sect. 10. Of the Measure of the Holy-Ghost now given p. 490. Sect. 11. Of the Reasons why the Holy-Ghost was sent Page 491 Chap. 2. Sect. 1. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the Great Work of our Salvation in His Ascension Session and Mission of the Spirit Page 499 Sect. 2. Of Considering Jesus in that respect Page 500 Sect. 3. Of Desiring after Jesus in that respect Page 503 Sect. 4. Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect Page 505 Sect. 5. Of Believing in Jesus in that respect Page 511 Sect. 6. Of Loving Jesus in that respect Page 517 Sect. 7. Of Joying in Jesus in that respect Page 519 Sect. 8. Of Calling on Jesus in that respect Page 521 Sect. 9. Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect Page 522 BOOK IX PART VI. Chap. 1. Sect. 1. What the Intercession of Christ is Page 527 Sect. 2. According to what Nature Christ doth Intercede Page 528 Sect. 3. To whom Christ's Intercession is directed Page 529 Sect. 4. For whom this Intercession is made Page 530 Sect. 5. What Agreement there is betwixt Christ's Intercessions and the Intercessions of the High-Priests of Old ibid. Sect. 6. What the Difference is betwixt Christ's Intercessions and the Intercessions of the High-Priests of Old Page 538 Sect. 7. What the Properties of this Intercession of Christ are Page 539 Sect. 8. Wherein the Intercession of Christ consists Page 540 Sect. 9. How powerful and prevailing Christ's Intercession are with His Father Page 546 Sect. 10. Of the Reasons of Christ's Intercession Page 549 Chap. 2. Sect. 1. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the Great Work of our Salvation in His Intercession Page 552 Sect. 2. Of Considering Jesus in that respect ibid. Sect. 3. Of Desiring after Jesus in that respect Page 555 Sect. 4. Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect Page 557 Sect. 5. Of Believing in Jesus in that respect Page 500 Sect. 6. Of Loving Jesus in that respect Page 564 Sect. 7. Of Joying in Jesus in that respect Page 566 Sect. 8. Of Praying to and Praising of Jesus in that respect Page 568 Sect. 9. Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect Page 569 BOOK X. Chap. 1. Sect. 1. Of Christ's Preparing for Judgment Page 573 Sect. 2. Of Christ's Coming to Judgment Page 576 Sect. 3. Of Christ's Summoning the Elect to come under Judgment Page 578 Sect. 4. Of Christ and the Saints Meeting at the judgment-Judgment-Day Page 583 Sect. 5. Of Christ's Sentencing or Judging the Saints for Eternal Glory Page 586 Sect. 6. Of Christ and the Saints judging the rest of the World Page 589 Sect. 7. Of Christ and His Saints going up into Heaven when shall be the End of the World Page 600. Sect. 8. Of Christ's surrendring and delivering up the Kingdom to God even the Father Page 603 Sect. 9. Of Christ's Subjection to the Father that God may be All in All Page 606 Sect. 10. Of Christ's being All in All to His Redeemed Saints to all Eternity Page 609 Chap. 2. Sect. 1. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on Man's Salvation in His Second Coming to Judgment Page 616 Sect. 2. Of Considering Jesus in that respect ibid Sect. 3. Of Desiring after Jesus in that respect Page 620 Sect. 4. Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect Page 623 Sect. 5. Of Believing in Jesus in that respect Page 628 Sect. 6. Of Loving Jesus in that respect Page 634 Sect. 7. Of Joying in Jesus in that respect Page 636 Sect. 8. Of Praying to and Praising of Jesus in that respect Page 638 Sect. 9. Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect ibid. LOOKING UNTO JESUS The first Book HEBR. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the beginner and finisher of our Faith CHAP. I. The Proem Division and opening of the Words THE most excellent subject to discourse or write of is Jesus Christ Augustine having read Cicero's works Dulces non
and loyal to Jesus Christ what adultery is this Ye cannot serve God and Mammon Matth. 6.24 that woman that is not contented with one husband must needs be an harlot 3. The preferring of the world before Christ himself This is the height of covetousness and the height of this adultery what to make the members of Christ the members of an harlot Why worldlings those admiring thoughts are Christs those pains are Christs that love is Christs that time that care that earnestness is Christs they are all Christs and will you give that which is Christs unto the world and prefer the world before Christ with his own What live as professed prostitutes that prefer every one before their husbands how will this expose you to the scorn of men and Angels at the last day thy will come pointing and say This is the man that made not God his strength but trusted in the abundance of his riches Psal 52.7 this is the Gadaren that loved his swine more than Christ Jesus Love not the world said John 1 John 2.15 Christ is never precious in mans apprehension so long as the world seems glorious to him As we begin to relish sweetness in Christ so the world begins to be bitter to us Cui Christus incipit dulcâ—ssâ—â—e necess esto marescere mundum Bern. the more sweetness we taste in the one the more bitterness we taste in the other 3. We must look off the world in respect of its sinful honours what is this honour but a certain inordinate desire to be well thought of or well spoken of to be praised or glorified of men as if a man should run up and down streets after a feather flying in the aire and tossed hither and thither with the gusts and blasts of infinite mens mouths it is a question whether ever he get it but if he do it is but a feather such is this pride of life honour vain-glory it is hard to obtaine it but if obtained it is but the breath of a few mens mouths that alter upon every light occasion but that which is worst of all it hinders our sight of Jesus Christ not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called 1 Cor. 1.26 Heb 11.24 26. wordly honour keeps many back from Christ and therefore Moses when he was come to years refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter esteeming the reproaches of Christ greater riches than all the Treasures of Egypt If the blind Man in the way to Jerico had depended on the breath or liking or approbation of the multitude he had never received the benefit of his sight Luke 18.39 for they saith the text which went before rebuked him that he should hold his peace they disswaded him from running crying so vehemently after Christ experience tells us how these things pull and draw us off from Jesus Christ the lusts of the eyes the lusts of the flesh and pride of life Question 2 But why must we look off every thing that diverts our looking unto Jesus 1. Because we cannot look fixedly on Christ and such things together and at once the eye cannot look upwards downwards at once in a direct line we cannot seriously mind heaven earth in one thought no man can serve two masters saith Christ especially such as jar Mat. 6.24 and who have contrary imployments as Christ and Mammon have 2. Because whiles we look on these things we cannot see the beauty that is in Christ suppose a squint look on Christ whilst we have a direct look on other things alas Christ will be of no esteem that while this was the voice of sinners concerning Christ he hath no form Isa 53.2 nor comeliness and when we see him there is no beauty that we should desire him Indeed beauty is the attractive of the soul the soul must see a beauty in that which it lets out it self to in desiring but our wishing looks on other things makes Christ but mean and contemptible in our eyes 3. Because all other things in comparison of Christ are not worthy a look they are but as vile things as under-things as poor low and mean and base things in comparison of Christ I count all things but loss saith Paul for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Phil 3.8 I count them but dung that I may win Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some translate it chaffe others dogs-meat others excrements dung all agree it is such a thing as men usually cast away from them with some indignation 4. Because it is according to the very law of marriage therefore shall a man forsake father Gen. 2.24 and mother and cleave to his wife the Lord Christ marries himself to the souls of his Saints Hos 2.19 I will betroth thee unto me for ever I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgement and in loving kindness and in mercies and for this cause the soul must forsake all and cleave unto Christ as married wives use to do we must leave all for our husband the Lord Jesus Harken O daughter and consider and encline thine ear forget also thy own people Pâ—al 45.10 and thy fathers House 5. Because Christ is a jealous Christ now jealousie is a passion in the soul that will not endure any sharing in the object beloved the woman that hath a jealous husband must leave all her old companions if she cast any amorous looks or glances after them the husband will be jealous and Jealousie is cruel as the Grave Christians Cant. 8.6 Exod. 20.5 our God is a jealous God our Christ is a jealous Christ He cannot endure that we should look on any other things so as to lust after them 6. Because all other things can never satisfie the eye Eccles 1.8 all things are full of labour saith Solomon man cannot utter it the eye is not satisfied with seeing it is but wearied with looking on divers objects yet still desires new ones but once admit it to behold that glorious sight of Christ and then it rests fully satisfied Hence it is that the Daughters of Zion are called to come forth Go forth O ye daughters of Zion Cant. 3.11 and behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his Mother hath crowned him in the day of his espousals and in the day of the gladness of his heart Go forth O ye daughters of Zion lay aside all private and earthly affections and look upon this glory of Christ As the daughters of Jerusalem sitting or remaining in their chambers closets houses could not behold the glory of King Solomon passing by therefore they were willed to come forth of their doors even so if we will behold the great King Jesus Christ in his most excellent glory a sight able to satisfie the Eye to ravish the Heart we must come out of our Doors we must come
out of our selves otherwise we cannot see his Glory we are in our selves shut up in a dark dungeon and therefore we are called upon to come forth into the clear light of faith and with the Eyes of Faith to behold in daily meditation the Glory of Christ Jesus SECT II. An Exhortation to look off all other things ONe word of Exhortation Christians I beseech you look off all other things especially all evil things I know I am pleading with you for an hard thing I had need of the Rhetorick of an Angel to perswade you to turn your Eyes from off these things nay if I had all were too little it is God only must perswade Japhet to dwell in the tents of Shem and yet let me offer a few considerations venture at a perswading of you Gen. 9.17 and leave the issue with God 1. Consider that all other evil things are in Gods account as very nothing verily every man at his best estate is altogether vanity not only man but every man Psal 39.5 nor every man in his worst condition but every man at his best estate nor every man man at his best estate is little worth but every man at his best estate is vanity emptiness nothing it may be so in part nay but in every part he is wholly totally altogether vanity would any man think that a great rich honourable Man whom we look upon with such high admiring thoughts should be laid thus low in Gods esteem O wonder wonder and yet 't is no such wonder but one day you shall find the experience of this truth your selves Rich men have slept their sleeps and none of the men of might have found their hands Psal 76.5 or as others render it they have found nothing in their hands that is rich men have passed over this life as men do pass over a sleep imagining themselves to have golden mountains and rocks of diamond but when they awake at the day of death they find themselves to have nothing Why Christian wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not Prov. 23.5 1. Observe that riches are not they are nothing those things that make men great in the eyes of the world are nothing in the eyes of God 2. Observe that God would not have us so much as set our eyos upon them they are not objects worth the looking on 3. Observe with what indignation he speaks against those that will set their eyes upon these vanities Wilt thou set thine eyes upon a thing which is not q. d. what a vain unreasonable sottish sensless thing is this 2. Consider that all such things if they are any thing they are but trifles deceits thornes miseries uncertain things this is an ordinary theme it is every mans object every mans subject a very easie thing it is to declaim up the vanity misery uncertainty of the creatures Ay but do you make it the matter of your meditation be you serious in it think of it deeply and desire God to be in your thoughts Oh what work will it then make in your breasts O how would it wean your loves and desires off all these things Christians consider all these adjuncts of all sublunary things when the creatures tempt you be not inticed by the beauty of them so as to forget their vanity say Here is a flower faire but fading here is a glass that 's bright but very brittle 3. Consider the difference of these objects Christ and all other things as thus all other things are vanities but Christ is a real solid substantial excellent glorious thing all other things are temporary fading things but Christ is an enduring substance the same yesterday Revel 1.4 and to day and for ever which is and which was and which is to come all other things are thorns vexation of spirit but Christ is full of joy and comfort a most ravishing object Cant. 5.16 all composed of loves or altogether lovely O who would make it his businesse to fill his coffers with pibbles when he may have pearls or gold or silver or precious things what must you look off your sins why see before you the graces of the Spirit of Christ must you look off your idel sinfull company see before you the fellowship of the Father 1 John 1.3 and the Son the Lord Jesus Christ must you look off your pomp and glory see before you the priviledge of adoption you shall be called the sons and daughters of God Rom. 8.13 heirs and co-heirs with Christ must you look off your worldly riches see before you the riches of the graces of Christ must you look off sinful pleasures see before you fulness of joy Psal 16.11 at Christs right hand are pleasures evermore must you look off your own righteousness see before you the righteousness of Christ Jesus O what a vast difference is there betwixt these objects Christ and all other things 4. Consider that Christ looked off heaven and heavenly things for you how much more should you look off the earth and earthly things the world and worldly things for him Christ left the glory the company the pleasures of Paradise for you and he made himself of no reputation he nothing'd himself as it were for you you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Cor 8.9 who though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that you through his poverty might be made rich O let that melting love win you to him and wean you off all other things 5. Consider that the rational soul of man is oft too high a birth to spend its strength upon other things the soul of man is of the same nature with Angels it is a kind of divine spark now if a man have a golden mill he would not use it to grind dirt straws and rotten sticks in the soul the mind the thinking faculty of man is too high to be exercised in the things of this earth the soul is of a most excellent capacious nature it is fit to converse not only with Angels but with the eternal God himself with Father Son and Holy Ghost it is of a transcendent being put all the world into the ballance with it and it is nothing in comparison the soul of the meanest gally-slave is more precious than heaven and earth than Sun and Moon and stars and all the hoast of heaven now if a mans soul be of such an high-born nature if the Lord hath put such a spirit into the bosome of man for him to bestow the strength of it upon low base mean and earthly things Oh what an evil is this 9. Consider how short is the time that you have here in this world this is the argument of the Apostle 1 Cor. 7.29.31 because the time is short therefore let us use the world as if we used it not therefore let our hearts be taken off these things yet a few days and you
shall be here no more time passeth on many hundred diseases are ready to assault you you that are reading hearing talking or walking you must very shortly be carried on mens shoulders laid in the dust and there left to the worms in darkness corruption you are almost there already it is but a few days or months or years and what is that when once thy are gone and past and Oh what is a man profited if he gain the whole world and then lose his soule Math. 16 26. 7. Consider the great account that you are to give of earthly things it is the sin of most of the sons of men to look on creature-comforts but they consider not the account thy must give for them Oh here 's a prevailing motive to take off your eyes Consider the last accounts what if you were now to die and to go the way of all flesh and then to make up your reckoning what good would it do you to remember all those contentments pleasures you once enjoyed upon the earth If the factor after many years spent in forreigne countries at last returns home with this bill of accounts thus much for singing so much for dancing this for courting that for feasting who would not blame him for so fond a reckoning oh it will be a sad reckoning if the bill come in that you have spent most of your time in looking and gazing upon earthly things SECT III. Directions how to look off all other things 1. STudy every day more more the vanity of the creature Read over the Book of Ecclesiastes well it is enough through the assistance of Christ to teach you that lesson A serious and fruitful meditation of that word Vanity of vanities Eccles 2.2 saith the Preacher vanity of vanities all is vanity what work might it make in your hearts men usually look on these things through some false glass or at a distance which makes them so admire them but if they could see them truly in themselves oh how uncomely would they be or if they could see them as compared to Christ oh how vain would they be honours and greatness in that respect would appear as bubbles pleasures and delights in that respect would appear as shadows 2. Converse but a little with any evil thing on this side Christ Have as little to do with the world the sinful pleasures profits riches manners of it as possibly you can the lesser the better things of this world have a glutinous quality if you let the heart lie any while amongst them it will cleave unto them and if it once cleave to them there will be no way but either Repentance or Hell fire must part them 3. Be more and better acquainted with Jesus Christ get nearer to him be more in communion with him get more tastes of Christ and heaven and earth will relish the worse for them Oh when I look on Christ and consider that he that was the Lord of heaven and earth put himself into so poor and low a condition meerly for the redeeming of his Elect how should this but deaden my heart to the world Phil. 3.8 I account all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord and account them but dung that I may win Christ If Christ be in view all the world then is but dung and dross and loss in comparison the Glory of Christ will darken all other things in the world 4. Set before you the examples of such Saints who accounted themselves pilgrims and strangers upon earth The Apostle gives you a Catalogue of such who confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth and see how they are used Heb. 11.12.37.38 they were stoned they were sawn asunder were tempted were slain with the sword they wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute afflicted tormented who were these they were they of whom the world was not worthy Oh when you read or hear how joyfully these servants of the most high went through their wilderness condition methinks this should take off your hearts from earthly things 5. Go in your meditations to heaven and keep there a while the mind that is in heaven cannot attend these earthly things would a man leave his plough harvest in the field to run with children a hunting after butter-flies no more will a soul that is taking a survey of heaven and heavenly things fix his eyes on such poor things below non vacat exiguis c. is the character of a truly prudent man the children of that Kingdom above have no while for trifles and especially when they are imployed in the affairs of the Kingdom Oh when a Christian hath but a glimpse of eternity and then looks down on the world again how doth he contemn and vilipend these things Eccles 2.2 How doth he say of laughter thou art mad and of mirth what is this thou doest whilst the Saints are tasting heaven they feel such sweet that they care not for other things Christians how would this meditation wean your hearts and make you laugh at the fooleries of the world and scorn to be cheated with such childish toyes If the devil had set upon Peter in the mount when he saw Christ in his transfiguration and Moses and Elias talking with him would he so easily have been drawn to deny his Lord what with all that glory in his eye so if the devil should set upon a beliveing soul and perswade his heart to profits or pleasures or honours of the world when he is taken up in the Mount with Christ what would such a soul say Get thee behind me Satan would'st thou perswade me from hence with many trifling toyes would'st thou have me sell these joys for nothing is there any honour or delight like this or can that be profit which loseth me this Some such answer would the soul return Oh if we could keep the taste of our souls continually delighted with the sweetness of Heaven as a man would spit out aloes after hony so should we spit out all these baits of the world with disdain 6. Cry mightily unto God that he would take off your hearts and eyes Psal 119.37 turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity prays David either God must do it or you will be wearied in the multitude of your endeavours but if the Lord draw off the eye it will be drawn indeed Psal 11â— 36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies and not to covetousness prays David again if the heart bend down-wards then go to God to erect it and to incline it heaven-wards if it be after covetousness then cry to God and say Lord not after covetousness but after thy testimonies incline my heart I have hitherto stood only at the door of the Text to call you in if now you will enter and be intent and fix your eyes I 'le shew you a blessed a most glorious sight But first I
desire besides thee A right beholding of Christ in his eternal workings will cause a desire of Christ above all desires the heart now thirsts for nothing but him that is all all power all love all holiness all happiness tell such a soul of the world and gold and glory O what are these the soul will quickly tell you Phil. 3.8 the world is dung and gold is dung glory is dung all is but loss dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Give me God Christ saith the soul or I die Oh my desires are to him who hath done all this for me Is not this the period still of thy expression at the end of every discourse would Christ were mine thou hearest it may be some worldings talk such a one and such a one hath got so much in these times he that was yesterday as poor as Lazarus he is this day like that nameless rich man cloathed in purple Luk. 16.19 and fine linnen and faring sumptuously every day ay but dost not thou reply either in word or heart would Christ were mine and then I had got more then he Poor soul dost thou not gasp only after Christ when thou fetchest as I may say the very deepest breath canst thou read over the generation of Jesus the Son of God the time when he was begotten the manner of his begetting the mutual kindness and love of him that begets and of him that is begotten and dost not thou pant and breath and gasp after Jesus at every period canst thou read over Jesus his acts and decrees in reference to thy self canst thou turn over those many leaves in every of which is discovered those everlasting loves of God in his projects counsels foreknowledg purpose decree covenant for thy souls happiness and art thou not ready at every discovery to sing Davids Psalm Psa 42.1 2 as the hart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God my soul thirsteth for God for the living God O when shall I come and appear before God O my soul hadst thou but these pantings thirstings breathings after God and Christ thou mightest comfortably conclude these are the fruits of Gods Spirit it is the Spirit of the Lord Jesus which makes those sighs and groanes in thee Rom. 8.26 which cannot be expressed He and thee sigh together one in another and one after another O therefore look Look unto Jesus and sigh and desire after him 3. We may and must desire after the full and utmost execution whereby God effectually Workes in time according to all his workings or decrees before time God that purposed and decreed from all Eternity he will not have done the full execution of that purpose or decree till that after-Eternity in that world without end Indeed some part is a fulfilling now but the main the great part is yet to come why then as we see the Plot Phil. 1.23 let us desire after the full accomplishment let us desire after the glory without end to which we were predestinated before the beginning It was Pauls desire to be dissolved to be with Christ As men burthened so should we desire and groan after the enjoyments of God in the world to come O my soul that thou were but cast in the Apostles mould that they affections were but on the wing that they might take flight and steer their course towards heaven and thereupon that thou mightest say yond is the glorious house the goodly building made without hands which God from all Eternity decreed to be my home my rest my dwelling place to all Eternity and in yond stately Fabrick is many an heavenly Inhabitant before I come there are Angels and there are all the souls of Sainâ—s that from Adam to this day have had their pass out of this sinful world yea there is Jesus the Son of God and there is God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost and if I am predestinated to this fellowship Lord when shall I have run through the means that I may come to this end O my end where is my end where is my Lord my God my Comforter where is my rest where is my end I cannot be at rest without my end and therefore come Lord Jesus come quickly be like a Roe Cant. 8.14 or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Spices Christians why are not your Spirits alwayes breathing thus after the glory to which you are predestinated why do not you long after full enjoyment the utmost execution of Gods decree why are not your hearts your souls your spirits already in heaven Surely there be your relations your Father is there your elder brother is there and there are many I dare say most of your other younger brethren again there is your interest your estate is there if you believe and therefore Where should your hearts be but where your treasure is come then come set in tune those desires of your souls set your affections on things above especially on that one thing Jesus Christ Looking unto Jesus SECT IV. Of hoping in Jesus in that respect 4. WE must hope in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in that Eternity It is not enough to know and consider and desire but we must hope and maintain our hope as to our own interest Now hope is a passion whereby we expect probably or certainly some future good All the question is whether that salvation concerning which the great transaction was betwixt God and Christ belongs now to me and what are the grounds and foundations on which my hope is built I know some exceedingly abuse this Doctrine If God had before all worlds appointed me to salvation why then I may live as I list I need not hear or pray or confer or perform any holy Duty for I am sure I shall be saved And thus at once they take away all grounds of hope It is true Gods decrees are unchangeable but they do not afford any such inferences or deductions as these you might as well say the Lord hath appointed me to live to such a time and before that time I shall not cannot die and therefore I need no meat nor drink nor cloathes nor any other thing Ah silly foolish devilish arguing Gods decree is for the means as well as for the end whom God hath decreed to save them also hath he decreed to call to justifie to sanctifie before he save O my Soul look to the grounds whereon they hope is built if those be weak thy hope is weak but if those be strong thy hope will prove most strong and certain and prudent In the disquisition of these grounds say not in thine heart who shall ascend into Heaven Rom. 10.16 or who shall descend into the deep seek not above or below it is not possible for thee to go bodily into Heaven to see the Records of Eternity and to
answer the words either relate to the grounds of Religion and so in Gospel-times Christians need not to be taught in these fundamental points for now all know the Lord from the least to the greatest or else these words are an Hebraisme which deny positively when they intend it only comparatively or secundum quid as when God and men are compared together man is vanity lighter than vanity and a very nothing here is a comparison of knowledge in Gospel-times with the knowledge of Israel in those dark times when God brought them out of the Land of Egypt then all was dark and they were fain to teach one another the very Principles the Rudiments of Religion there was very little effusion of Gods Spirit in those times but in Gospel-times saith the Prophet the Spirit of grace and knowledge shall be so abundant that rather God himself shall be the teacher than one man shall teach another There shall be such exuberancy and seas of knowledge under the new Covenant above the Covenant made with his people when he brought them out of Egypt that men shall not need to teach one another comparatively for all shall know the Lord who are taught of God from the least to the greatest An high-way shall be there Isa 35.8 and it shall be called the way of holiness the wayfaring men though fools shall not err therein 7. How is God said to forgive iniquity and never more to remember Sin For the first God is said to forgive iniquity when guilt of sin is taken away and for the second God is said never more to remember Sin in that the Sinner after pardon is never more looked on as a Sinner Is not this the Covenant q. d. I will remove thy Sins and do them away as if they had never been I will blot them out of the Book of my Memory I will obliterate the Writing that none shall be able to read it But you will say If Sin remain still in the Regenerate How are they so forgiven as to be remembred no more Divines tell us of Two Things in every Sin there is macula reatus the Filth and the Guilt This Guilt some again distinguish into the Guilt of Sin which they call the Inward Dignity and Desert of Damnation and the Guilt of Punishment which is the Actual Ordination of a Sinner unto Damnation Now in different Respects we say That Sin remains still in Believers and Sin doth not remain in Believers First If we speak of the Filth of Sin or of the Desert of Damnation so it remains still but if we speak of the actual Obligation of a Sinner to Condemnation so it remains not after Pardon but the Sinner is as free as if he had never sinned But you will say Is not the Filth of Sin done away when Sin is remitted I answer The Filth of Sin is not done away by Remission but by Sanctification and Renovation and because in this Life we have not a perfect inherent Holiness Sanctification at best being but Imperfect and wrought in us by degrees therefore during this Life there is something of the Filth of Sin and especially of the Effects of Original Sin sticking and still cleaving to us But here is our Comfort and herein lies the sweet of the Promise that when God hath pardoned Sin He takes away the Guilt as to Condemnation He acquits the Sinner of that Obligation He now looks upon him not as a Sinner but as a Just Man and so in this Sense He will forgive and never more remember his Sin Ah Christians Take heed of their Doctrine who would have Justification an Abolition of Sin in its real Essence and Physical in-dwelling let us rather say with Scripture that all justified Saints must take down their Top-sail and go to Heaven halting and that they carry their Bolts and Fetters of in-dwelling sin through the Field of Free-Grace even to the Gates of Glory Christ daily Washing and we daily Defiling to the end that Grace may be Grace I have run through all the manifestations of the Covenant of Grace as we have them discovered in the Old-Testament And yet that we may see the better how these things concern us I shall only propound these Two Queries more and then we have done 1. Whether is the Covenant of Grace the same for Substance in all Ages of the World We answer Yea The Fathers before Christ had but one Covenant and we another but the same Covenant of Gracâ— belongs to us both This appears in that first they had the same Promise secondly they had it upon the same Grounds 1. They had the same Promise as I will be your God and you shall be My People Lev. 26.12 Deut. 33.20 And Happy art thou O Israel saved by the Lord. And The Lord is our King and He will save us They had not only the Hopes of an Earthly Inheritance in Canaan as some fondly imagine but of an Heavenly Inheritance in the Kingdom of God And to this purpose our Saviour speaks expresly Many shall come from the East and West Isa 33.22 Mat. 8.11 and shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven 2. As they had the same Promise so they had it upon the same ground that we have John 8.56 Heb. 13.8 even by Faith in Christ Jesus Abraham saw My Day said Christ and Christ is the same Yesterday and to Day and for Ever He is the same not only in regard of Essence but also in regard of the Efficacy of His Office from the Beginning to the End of the World We believe said Peter that through the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ Acts 15.11 Heb. 4.2 we shall be saved even as they And Vnto us was the Gospel Preached saith Paul as unto them Some may think they had no Gospel but only the Law before Christ But What say you Have we not observed a Thred of the Gospel and of the Covenant of Grace to run through all the Old-Testament from First to Last And How plain is the Apostle For this cause also was the Gospel preached also to them that are Dead Dead long since for he speaks of them who lived in the Dayes of Noah Nay the Apostle to the Hebrews 1 Pet. 4.6 gives us a Catalogue of Old-Testament-Believers By Faith Heb. 11.4 Abel offered up unto God a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain By Faith Enoch was Translated that he should not see Death By Faith Noah being warned by God prepared an Ark. By Faith 5.7.8.13 Abraham when he was called to go into a Place which he should after receive for an Inheritance obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went These all died in Faith not having received the Promises but having seen them afar off and were perswaded of them and embraced them Besides these he reckons up the Faith of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and Joseph and Moses and Rahab and Gideon and
with Oyl Olive and Honey Thus the Lord shewed the Jews these principal Mysteries not in themselves but in Types and Shadows as they were able to see them from day to day But in the new Covenant Christ is offered to be seen in a fuller view the Truth and Substance and body of the things themselves is now exhibited Christ is clearly Revealed without any Type at all to be our Wisdom 2 Cor. 1.30 Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 7. In the number of them that partake of the Covenant at first the Covenant was included in the Families of the Patriarchs and then within the Confines of Judea but now is the partition Wall betwixt Jew and Gentile broken down Rom. 3.29 and the Covenant of Grace is made with all Nations He is the God of the Gentiles also and not of the Jews only Christians here comes in our happiness Oh how thankful should we be that our Fathers for many Hundreds and Thousands of years together should sit in darkness and that we should partake of this Grace What that we that were Dogs before should now be set at the Childrens Table Acts 11.18 The very Jews themselves hearing of this are said to glorify God When they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying then hath God also to the Gentiles granted Repentance unto Life If they praised God for it how much more should we do it our selves But of that hereafter I have now propounded the Object we are to look unto it is Jesus as held forth in a way of Promise or Covenant in that dark time from the Creation till his first coming in the Flesh Our next Business is to direct you in the Art or Mystery of Grace how you are to look to Him in this respect CHAP. II. SECT Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the great work of our Salvation from the Creation until his first Coming LOoking comprehends knowing considering desiring c. as you have heard and accordingly that we may practise 1. We must know Jesus carrying on the great work of our Salvation in the beginning and from the beginning of the World Come let us learn what he did for us so early in the morning of this World He made it for us and he made us more especially for his own Glory but presently after we were made we sinned and marred the Image wherein God made us this was the saddest Act that ever was it was the undoing of man and without the mercy of God the damning of all Souls both of men and women to all Eternity and O my Soul know this for thy self thou wast in the loins of Adam at that same time so that what he did thou didst thou wast partaker of his Sins and thou wast to partake with him in his punishment but well maist thou say Blessed be God for Jesus Christ at the very instant when all should have been damned Christ intervened a Covenant of Grace is made with man and Christ is the Foundation in and through whom we must be reconciled unto God Come soul and study this Covenant of grace in reference to thy self had not this been where hadst thou been nay where had all the World been at this day Surely it concerns thee to take notice of this great Transaction After man had fallen by Sin Christ is promised that all the Saints might partake of Christ a Covenant is entred this at the beginning of the World was more dim but the nearer to Christs coming in the Flesh the more and more clearly it appeared Howsoever dimly or clearly thus it pleased God in Christ to carry on the great work of our Salvation at that time viz. by a Promise of Christ and by a Covenant in Christ and for thy better knowledge of it study the Promise made to Adam and Abraham and Moses and David and Israel Come Soul study these several breakings out of the Covenant of Grace Col. 1.26 it is worth thy pains it is a Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and from Generations but now is made manifest to the Saints Here lies the first and most firm Foundation of a Christians comfort if thou canst but study this and assure thy self of thy part in this thou art blessed for ever O how incomparably sweet and satisfying is it to a self-studying Christian to know the faithful engagements of the Almighty God through that Son of his Loves in a Covenant of Grace SECT II. Of Considering Jesus in that Respect 2. WE must consider Jesus carrying on the the great work of our Salvation in that dark time it is not enough to study it and know it but we must seriously muse and meditate and ponder and consider of it till we bring it to some profitable Issue This is the Consideration I mean when we hold our thoughts to this or that spiritual subject till we perceive success and the work do thrive and prosper in our hands Now to help us in this Gen. 3.15 1. Consider Jesus in the first Promise made to man It shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel When all men were under guilt of sin and in the power of Satan and when thou my Soul wert in as bad a case as any other then to hear the sound of this glad tidings then to hear of Jesus a Saviour and Redeemer sure this was welcome News Come draw the case nearer to thy self thou wast in Adams Loins suppose thou hadst been in Adams stead Gen. 3.8 9 â— suppose thou hadst heard the Voice of the Lord walking in the Garding suppose thou hadst heard him call Adam where art thou Peter Andrew Thomas where art thou What hast thou eaten of the Tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat Why then Appear and come to judgment the Law is irrevocable Gen. 2.17 in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die there is nothing to be looked for but death temporal and death spiritual and death eternal O what a fearful condition is this no sooner to come into the world but presently to be turned over into Hell for one day to be Monarch of the World and of all Creatures in the world and the very next day to be a slave of Satan and to be bound hand and foot in a darksome dungeon for a few hours to live in Eden to enjoy every tree in the Garden Pleasant to the sight and good for food and then to enter into the confines of eternity and ever ever ever to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels Gen. 3.8 It is no wonder if Adam hid himself from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the Garden O my soul in that case thou would'st have cried to the Rocks Rev. 6.16.17 and to the Mountains fall on me and hide me from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne If God be angry who may abide it When the great day
11.26 Moses reason of esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of Egypt was for that he had respect unto the recompence of reward he had respect in the original he had a fixed intent Eye there was in him a Love of the reward and yet withal a Love of God and therefore his Love of the reward was not mercinary but this I say though there were no reward at all a Child of God hath such a principle of Love within him that for Loves sake he would Obey his God he is led by the Spirit and therefore he Obeys now the Spirit that leads him is a Spirit of Love and as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 3. The Sons of God imitate God in his Love and Goodness to all Men. Our Saviour amplifies this excellent property of God He causeth his Sun to shine upon good and bad and thence he concludeth Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect Mat. 5.48 Goodness to bad men is the highest degree of Grace and as it were the perfection of all O my Soul Canst thou imitate God in this Consider how thy Father bears it though the wicked provoke him day by day yet for all that he doth not quickly revenge vengeance indeed is only his and he may in justice do what he will that way and 't is the opinion of some that if the most patient man in the world should but sit in Gods Throne one day and see and observe the doings and miscarriges of the Sons of Men he would quickly set all the World on Fire yet God seeth all and for all that He doth not make the Earth presently to gape and devour us He puts not out the glorious Light of the Sun He doth not dissolve the Work of Creation He doth not for Mans Sin presently blast every thing into Dust What an excellent pattern is this for thee to Write after Canst thou but forgive thy Enemies Do well to them that do evil to thee O this is a sure sign of Grace and Sonship It is storyed of some Heathens who beating a Christian almost to Death asked him What great matter Christ did ever do for him Even this said the Christian That I can forgive you though you use me thus cruelly here was a Child of God indeed It is a sweet resemblance of our Father and of our Saviour Jesus Christ to Love our Enemies to Bless them that Curse us to do Good unto them that Hate us to Pray for them that Despitefully use us and Persecute us O my Soul look to this 5.44 consult this ground of Hope if this Law be written in thy Heart write it down amongst thy Evidences that thou art Gods Son yea that even unto thee a Son is given To Review the Grounds What is a Child born to me and a Son given to me What am I indeed new born am I indeed Gods Son or Daughter do I upon the search find in my Soul new desires new comforts new contentments What are my words my works and affections and conversation new is there in me a new nature a new principle hath the Spirit by way of infusing or shedding given me a new Power a new Ability a Seed of Spiritual Life which I had not before do I upon the search find that I fear God and love God and imitate God in some good measure in his love and goodness towards all Men can I indeed and really forgive an Enemy and according to opportunity and my ability do good unto them that do evil unto me Why should I not then confidently and comfortably hope that I have my share and interest in the birth of Christ in the blessed incarnation and conception of Jesus Christ Away away all despair and dejections and despondencies of Spirit If these be my grounds of Hope it is time to hold up head and heart and hands and all with cheerfulness and confidence and to say with the Spouse I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine SECT V. Of Believing in Jesus in that Respect 5. LEt us Believe on Jesus carrying on the great work of our Salvation at his first coming or incarnation I know many staggerings are oft in Christians What is it likely that Christ should be incarnate for me That such a God should do such a thing for such a sinful woful abominable wretch as I am Ah my Soul put thy propriety in Christs incarnation out of dispute that thou mayst be able to say As God was manifest in the flesh and I may not doubt it so God is manifest in me and I dare not deny it But to help the Soul in this choice Duty I shall first propose the hinderances of Faith 2. The helps of Faith in this Respect 3. The manner how to act our Faith 4. The encouragements to bring on the soul to believe its part in this blessed incarnation of Jesus Christ For the first there are but three things that can hinder Faith As 1. The exceeding unworthiness of the soul and to this purpose are those complaints What Christ incarnate for me for such a dead Dog as I am What King would dethrone himself and become a Toad to save Toades and am not I at a greater distance from God than a Toad is from me hath not sin made my soul more ugly in Gods Eye than any loathsome Toad can be in my Eye O I am less than the least of all Gods Mercies I am fitter for Hell and Devils than for Vnion and Communion with God and Christ I dare not I cannot Believe 2. The infinite exactness of divine justice which must be satisfied a soul deeply and seriously considering of this it startles thereat and cries O what will become of my soul one of the least sins that I stand Guilty of deserves Death and eternal Wrath The wages of sin is death and I cannot satisfie though I have trespassed to many millions of talents I have not one mite of mine own to pay O then how should I believe What thoughts can I entertain of Gods Mercy and Love to me-ward God's Law condemns me my own Conscience accuseth me and Justice will have its due 3. The want of a Mediator or some suitable Person which may stand between the Sinner and God If on my part there be unworthiness and on Gods part exact and strict and severe Justice and withall I see no Mediator which I may go unto and first close withall before I deal with the infinite glory of God himself how should I but despair and cry out O wretched man that I am O that I had never been or if I must needs have a being Oh that I had been a toad or serpent or any venomous creature rather than a man for when they dye they perish and there 's an end of them but the end of a reprobate sinner is torments without end O wo and alas I cannot believe
is taken for the Preaching of the Gospel or for the preaching of the Kingdom of Grace and Mercy of God in Christ unto men q. d. O Sirs look about you there 's now a discovery made of the Glory and Grace of God in another way than ever formerly and therefore prepare for it Repent 5. Sometimes it is taken for the Gosspel of Christ as it is Published and Preached unto all Nations Observe I do not only say for the Gospel as it is Preached but as it is Preached to the Gentiles or among all Nations and this shews how proper and pregnant an Argument this was to inforce the Doctrine and Practice of Repentance upon the Jews because the calling of the Gentiles was near at hand which would prove their rejection and casting off if they did not repent Oh how seasonable is this Sermon to us Christians hath not the Kingdom of Heaven approacht unto us Take the Kingdom of Heaven for the Kingdom of Glory are we not near to the door of Glory to the Confines of Eternity What is our Life but a Vapour that appeareth for a little time and after it vanisheth away We know not but ere the Sun have run one Round our souls may be in that World of souls and so either in Heaven or Hell Or take the Kingdom of Heaven for the Church of Christ and what expectations have we now of the flourishing state of Christ's Church here upon Earth Then shall the Children of Israel and Judah be gathered together for great shall be the day of Jezreel Hos 1.11 A time is at hand that Israel and Judah shall be called together that the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in and what is this but the great day of Jezreel Oh then what manner of Persons ought we to be How Spiritual How Heavenly-minded Arise arise shake off thy dust for thy Light is coming and the glory of the Lord is rising upon thee Or take the Kingdom of Heaven for the Preaching of the Gospel of Grace Mercy and Goodness of God in Christ what Preachings are now in comparison of what have been formerly How doth the Lord set forth his free Love and free Grace in the Churches of Christ No question but many former ages have enjoyed their discoveries in some sweet measure and yet after-ages wonder that they have known no more and how much of the Kingdom of Heaven do Saints find in this Age as if there were a new manifestation of God unto the World And yet I must tell you that the Ages to come shall know more of this Kingdom there shall be further and further openings of this great Mystery of Grace unto the Sons of Men. Mark the Apostle That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his Grace in his kindness towards us through Jesus Christ Eph. 2.7 Eph. 2.7 How is this Had not God revealed grace enough in the former ages Or had not God revealed Grace enough in that present Age Did he not then call in the Gentiles were not many thousands converted at one only Sermon What a deal of that Grace had Paul himself received He tells us that the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was exceeding abundant to him-wards 1 Tim. 1.14 and is there yet more Grace to be revealed O yes herein lies the Mystery of Grace that he hath reserved exceeding riches of Grace for the Ages to come Grace that never saw Light before and I believe there is yet a fuller Magazine of the Riches of his Grace for latter Ages even for the Ages to come to be discovered that ever was yet Oh then repent repent Why For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand The very openings of Gods Love and Grace unto Souls is a Way and Motive to draw our Souls unto God Or take the Kingdom of Heaven for the preaching of the Gospel to all Nations Jews and Gentiles what fears and jealousies may this breed in us as well as the Jews O boast not against the Branches it may be thou wilt say The Branches were broken off that I might be graffed in well because of unbelief they were broken off and thou standest by Faith be not high-minded but fear For if God spared not the natural Branches take heed lest he also spare not thee Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them which felt severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou shalt be cut off But I will not dwell on this my design is to consider of Jesus and of the transactions of Jesus in reference to our souls health now John's Sermons were only a preparative to the manifestation of Jesus he was only the Forerunner of Christ and not Christ himself as himself witnesseth SECT III. Of the Baptisme of Jesus 2. FOr the Baptism of Christ He that formerly was circumcised would now be baptized he was circumcised to sanctifie his Church that was and he was baptized to sanctifie his Church that should be we find him in both Testaments opening a way into Heaven This was the first appearing of Christ in reference to his Ministerial Office he that lay hid in the counsel of God from all eternity and he that lay hid in the womb of his Mother for the space of forty weeks and he that lay hid in Nazareth for the space of thirty years now at last he begins to shew himself to the World and He comes from Galilee to Jordan Mat. 3.13 to John to be baptized of him The day was but a little broke in John the Baptist but Christ the Son of Righteousness soon entred upon our Hemisphere indeed now was the full time come that Jesus took his leave of his Mother and his Trade to begin his Fathers work in order to the Redemption of the World For the clearer understanding of Christs Baptism we shall examine these Particulars 1. What Reason had Christ to be Baptised 2. How was it that John knew him to be Christ 3. Wherein was the glory of Christs Baptism 4. What was the Prayer of Christ at or after his Baptism 5. Why was it that the Holy Ghost descended on Jesus 6. Upon what account was it that the Holy Ghost should reveal himself at this time and why in the form of a Dove rather than some other form 1. What reason had Christ to be Baptized we find John himself wondering at this I have need to be Baptized of thee Mat. 3.15 and comest thou to me Many Reasons are given for Christs Baptism As 1. That by this symbole he might enter himself into the Society of Christians just like a King to endear himself to any City of his Subjects he condescends to be made a free-man of that City 2. That he might bear witness to the Preaching and Baptism of John and might reciprocally receive a Testimony from John 3. That by his own Baptism he might sanctifie the water of Baptism to his own Church 4.
pray not to run into temptation before we are led and yet for the comfort of God's people if it be so that we are led if by divine permission or by an inspiration of the holy Spirit we are engaged in an action or in a course of life that is full of temptations and empty of comforts let us look upon it as an issue of divine Providence in which we must Glorifie God but no argument of disfavour or dislove of God and why because Christ himself who could have driven the Devil away by the breath of his mouth yet was by the Spirit of his Father led to a Tryal by the Spirits of Darkness My Brethren count it all joy saith James James 1.2 when ye enter into divers temptations knowing that the trial of your Faith worketh Patience 3. The end of the Spirits leading Christ into the wilderness it was either immediate or remote 1. For the immediate end it was to be tempted of the Devil to this purpose was Christ brought thither that Satan might tempt him One would think it a very strange design that the Son of God should be brought into a wilderness to be set on by all the Devils in Hell but in this also God had another remote end i.e. his own Glory and our good 1. His own Glory appeared in this had not Satan tempted Christ how should Christ have overcome Satan The first Adam was tempted and vanquished the second Adam to repay and repair that Foil doth vanquish in being tempted now herein was the Power of Christ exceedingly manifested the Devil having the Chain let loose he lets flie at Christ with all his might and Christ that without blows could not have got a Victory by this furious assault of Satan he both overcomes him and triumphs over him And herein were the Graces of Christ exceedingly manifested how was the Faith Patience Humility Zeal and Valour of Christ set forth which they could not have been if he had alwayes lain quietly in Garrison and never had come into the Skirmish Who could have felt the Odoriferous smells of those Aromatical Spices if they had not been punned and bruised in this Mortar of Temptation It was by this means that the Graces of Christ clearly shined forth to his eternal Praise 2. As it was for his Glory so also for our Good Now we see what manner of Adversary we have how he fights and how he is resisted and how overcome now we see the dearer we are to God the more obnoxious we are to a trial of temptation now we see that the best of Saints may be tempted or allured to the worst of evils since Christ himself is solicited to Infidelity Covetousness and Idolatry now we see that we have not a Saviour and High Priest Heb. 4.15 16. that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but such a one as was in all things tempted in like sort yet without sin and therefore we may go boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may receive Mercy and find Grace of help in time of need 4. The time and occasion of the Devils Onset it was at the end of forty dayes Fast and when he was an hungred Some say as you have heard that all those forty dayes when Christ was in the Wilderness he was tempted only invisibly for Satan during that time assumed not any visible or conspicious shape which it the end of forty dayes say they he did my meaning is not to controvert these points Howsoever for his tempting yet for his fasting forty dayes and forty nights there is no controversy and of that we had some Types before Christ came into the World thus Moses fasted forty dayes at the delivery of the Law and Elias fasted forty dayes at the restitution of the Law and to fulfil the time of both these Types Christ thinks it fit to fast forty dayes at the accomplishment of the Law and the promulgation of the Gospel In fasting so long Christ manifests his Almighty Power and in fasting no longer Christ manifests the truth of his Manhood and of his weakness that he might approve that there was no difference betwixt him and us but sin he both fasted and was an hungred we know well enough that Christ could have lived without meat and he could have fasted without hunger it had been an easy matter for him to have supported his Body without any means of nourishment or Life but to shew that he was man as well as God and so fit a Mediator betwixt God and Man he would both feed and fast make use of the Creature and withall suffer hunger And now our Saviour is an hungred this gives occasion to Satan to set upon him with his fierce and violent temptations he knows well what baits to fish withall and when and how to lay them he hath Temptations of all sorts he hath Apples to cozen Children and Gold for Men he hath the Vanities of the World for the intemperate and the Kingdomes of the world for the ambitious he considers the temper and constitution of the Person he is to tempt and he observes all our exterior Accidents Occasions and Opportunities but of this hereafter 5. The Temptations themselves are in number three whereof the first was this If thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread What an horrible Entrance is this if thou be the Son of God no question Satan had heard the glad tidings of the Angel he saw the Star and the Journey and the Offerings of the Sages he could not but take notice of the gratulations of Zachary Simeon Anna and of late he saw the Heavens open and he heard the Voice that came down from Heaven This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and yet now that he saw Christ fainting with hunger as not comprehending how infirmities could consist with a Godhead he puts it to the question if thou be the Son of God Oh here 's a point in which lies all our happiness how miserable were we if Christ were not indeed and in truth the Son of God Satan strikes at the root in this supposition If thou be the Son of God Surely all the work of our Redemption and all the work of our Salvation depends upon this one necessary Truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God If Christ had not been the Son of God how should he have ransomed the world how should he have done or how should he have suffered that which was satisfactory to his Fathers wrath how should his Life or Death have been valuable to the sins of all the world If Christ be not the Son of God we are all gone we are lost we are undon we are damned for ever O alas farewell Glory farewel happiness farewell Heaven If Christ be not the Son of God we must never come there well Satan thou beginnest thy assault like a Devil indeed if thou be the Son of God but
Jesus Christ in carrying on our souls Salvation is adding miracle to miracle there is a chain of miracles in the matter of our salvation from first to last As. 1. It was a miracle that God in his Eternity before we had a being should have once thought of us especially that the Blessed Trinity should sit in councel and contrive that most admirable and astonishing plot of the Salvation of our souls Oh what a miracle was this 2. It was a Miracle that God for our sakes should create the world and after our fall in Adam that God should preserve the world especially considering that our sin had unpin'd the whole frame of the Creation and that God even then sitting on his Throne of Judgment ready to pass the doom of death for our first Transgression should unexpectedly give a promise of a Saviour when justly he might have given us to the devil and to Hell according to his own Law Gen. 2.17 In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death 3. It was a Miracle that Gods Son should take upon him our nature and that in our nature he should Transact our peace that he should Preach Salvation to us all if we would believe and to the end that we might believe that he would work so many signs and Miracles in the presence of his Disciples and of a world of men was not Christs Birth a Miracle and Christs Life a Miracle and Christs Death a Miracle and Christs Resurrection a Miracle and Christs Ascension a Miracle was not Christs Ministry a miracle and was it not a miracle that Christs Word should not be credited without a world of miracles to back it and confirm it to the Sons of men 1 Tim. 3.16 Without controversie great is the miracle as well as mystery of godliness God manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into glory 4. It was a Miracle that God should look upon us in our blood what a sight was it for God when thy navel was not cut when thou wast not salted at all Ezek. 16.4.5 6. nor swadled at all when thou wast cast out in the open field to the loathing of thy person yet that then even then the Lord should pass by thee and see thee polluted in thy own blood and should say unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live yea say unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live O miracle of mercies If creation cannot be without a miracle surely the new creature is a miracle indeed So contrary is our perverse natures to all possibilities of Salvation that if Salvation had not marched to us all the way in a miracle we should have perished in the ruines of a sad eternity Election is a miracle and Creation is a miracle and Redemption is a miracle and Vocation is a miracle and indeed every man living in the state of grace is a perpetual miracle in such a one his reason is turned into faith his soul into spirit his body iinto a Temple his earth into heaven his water into wine his Aversations from Christ into intimate Union with Christ and Adhesions to Christ O what a Chain of Miracles is this Why Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean say thus you that are yet in your blood why Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean O Lord I believe help thou my unbelief After this there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem John 5.39 Some would have this feast to be Pentecost and to speak truly the most of our Commentaries run that way others take this for the feast of the Passover and the rather because the Evangelist John reckons the time of Christs publick Ministry by the several Passovers now if this feast were not a Passover we cannot find in the Gospel so many Passovers as to make up Christs Ministry three years and an half On this ground I joyn with the latter Opinion and so here I end the second year of Christs Ministry and come to the third and to his Actings therein in reference to our souls Salvation CHAP. III. SECT I. Of the third year of Christs Ministry and generally of his Actings in that year HItherto all was quiet neither the Jews nor the Samaritans nor Galileans did as yet malign the Doctrine or Person of Jesus Christ but he preached with much peace on all hands till the beginning of this year I shall not yet speak his sufferings neither shall I speak much of his doings many things were done and spoken this year which I must pass least I be too prolix only such things as refer more principally to the main business of our souls Salvation I shall touch in these particulars As 1. In the Ordination of the Apostles 2. In his Reception of Sinners 3. In the easiness of his yoak and the lightness of his burthen which he imposeth on men SECT II. Of Christs Ordination of his Apostles 1. IN the Ordination of his Apostles are many considerable things the Evangelist Luke layes it down thus Luke 6.12 13. And it came to pass in those dayes that he went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God and when it was day he called unto him his Disciples and of them he Chose Twelve whom also he named Apostles Till now Christ taught alone but because after his Ascension he must needs have a Ministry till the end of the world in the first place he choseth out some whom he would have on purpose to wait upon him all the time of his Ministry till he was taken up into Heaven In this Election or Ordination here is first the person by whom they are Chosen Jesus Christ 2. The place were they are chosen viz. in a mountain 3. The time when they were Chosen after his watching and praying all night and when it was day 4. The company out of whom they were Chosen they where his Disciples and out of them he makes this Election 5. The number of them that were Chosen they were Twelve nor more nor less 6. The end to which they were chosen it was to an Apostleship he Chose Twelve whom he also named Apostles 1. The person by whom they are Chosen is Jesus Christ They Chose not themselves but were chosen of Christ this call was immediate and therefore most excellent but now we look not after such calls and therefore I shall not insist on that only by the way Ministers of the Gospel must be Ministers of Christ either immediately or mediately called 2. The place where they were chosen it was on a mountain mountainous places have their situation nearest to Heaven which shews that they were called to high and heavenly things mountains are open and in view which shews their Ministry must be publick they cannot lye hid in a mountain a City that is set upon a hill
himself which Jesus knowing for he understood his thoughts as well as words first he makes her Appology and then his own the scope givign us to understand that Christ was not of the same superciliousness with the Pharisees but that repenting sinners should be welcome unto him Ver. 47. Ver. 48. Ver. 50. Vse and this welcome he publisheth first to Simon Her sins which are many are forgiven and then to the woman Thy sins are forgiven thee thy faith hath saved thee go in peace I have been long in the proof but a word of use and I have done What is Christ most willing to receive sinners O then be exhorted who would not come to Jesus Christ methinks now all sinners of all sorts should say though I have been a drunkard a swearer an unclean person yet now I hear Christ is willing to receive sinners and therefore I will go to Jesus Christ This is my exhortation O come unto Christ come unto Christ behold here in the name of the Lord I stand and make invitation to poor sinners O will ye not come how will ye answer it at the great day when it shall be said the Lord Jesus made a tender and offer of mercy to you and you would not accept of it Oh come to Christ and believe on Christ as Christ is willing to receive you so be you willing to give up your souls to him the motives to this I may lay down in these particulars 1. The Doctrine of Christ Come unto me and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out All the arguments of God and Christ of which you have heard the practice of Christ whiles he was upon earth and the heart of Christ now in Heaven lay these together and apply them to your own souls Oh what work will they make 2. The calls of God and Christ as they are frequent in Scriptures consider that Text Ho every one that thirsts come ye to the waters Isa 55.1 Ho he begins proclamation-wise we usually say vocations interjections speak very affectionate motion towards the distressed certainly Christ's love is a very affectionate love he layes his mouth to the ears of those that are spiritually deaf and cryes aloud Ho every one Christ invites all As many as ye shall find bid them to the Marriage Matth 22.9 As the Heavens are general in their influence not one grass on the ground but 't is bedewed so are Christs invitations to his feast not one man in the world but he is invited Ho every one that thirsteth so the Apostle Let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of Life freely Revel 22.17 A thirst and a will is one and the same it is your will that makes up the match if you will but sit down at God's Table if you will but have the honey-comb with the honey if you will but drink his Wine with his milk if you will drink yea drink abundantly of the flaggons of the new wine of his Kingdom why then come Come ye to the waters come unto me and drink Christs arms are spread abroad to receive sinners he calls and knocks and calls and waits and calls and beseeches every word here hath so much sweetness and dearness in it as it plainly speakes him free and willing to receive you if you will but come 3. The wooings of Christ to gain your hearts consider him bowing the Heavens and coming down and laying aside his Robes of Majesty and putting on your filthy garments consider him going about from place to place on no other errand but to gain your hearts and win your Souls and whoever spake such effectual words as Christ spake when he was upon the earth who ever gave such precious jewels to a Bride as Christ gave to his Spouse whoever put on such apparrel as Christ did when he wooed his Church the Prophet wonders at it Who is this that cometh from Edom with dyed garments from Bozrah Wherefore art thou red in thine apparrel Isa 63.1 2. and thy garments like him that treadeth in the Wine Fat Isa 63.1 2. Whoever gave such a love-token as Christ gave when he laid down his Life Oh consider him living or dying and say Never like Love to this Ah poor sinner see your Jesus hanging on the Cross dropping out his last blood breathing out his last breath stretching out his dying armes to incircle sinners and come Oh come and throw your selves into his bleeding armes away with all prejudicate opinions who shall say Christ is not willing to save him and not blaspheme eternal love speak truth corrupt hearts speak truth say not Christ is unwilling but you are unwilling I would but ye would not 4. The weepings of Christ if he cannot prevaile Thus we find him in the Gospel expressing himself Luke 19.41 not only in words but in tears And when he was come near Jerusalem he beheld the City and wept over it Luke 19.41 Christ coming to the City and seeing it and foreseeing the desolation that should come upon it his bowels yearned within him towards the People and he mourned secretly within himself q. d. O Jerusalem thou hast had many Priests to advise thee and many Prophets to instruct thee in the wayes of life but now those dayes are gone and past nay the great Prophet of the World is come to woo thee but yet thy heart is hardened and thou wilt not receive the things belonging to thy peace and therefore I will turn my preaching into mourning and sighing O that thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things belonging to thy peace and then his heart even breaks and he weeps again but now are they hid from thine eyes sinners suppose Christ should come and weep over you as he did over Jerusalem saying O ye sinful souls had but you known even you in this your day the things belonging to your peace and suppose that you should see one tear trickling down after another what Christ to weep for you over you Methinks if you had hearts of stone it should melt your hearts surely it is no light matter that makes Christ weep Children weep often but Wise-men seldome yet here the wisest of men weeps for them that would not weep for themselves O Jerusalem Jerusalem SECT IV. Of Christ's easie Yoak and light Burthen 3. FOr the easiness of Christs Yoak and the lightness of Christs burthen Christ delivers it in these words Take my Yoak upon you and learn of me for my Yoak is easie Mat. 11.29 30. and my Burthen is light See the actings of Christ this year in reference to our souls health 1. He commissionates his Apostles to call sinners in 2. He stands ready to receive them if they will but come in 3. He sweetens the way of Christianity to them when they are come in Many fears and jealousies are in the hearts of men of the difficulty austerity and severity
how sweet Christ is to hungry Consciences And of that said he as I feel some part and I would feel more so I bequeath it unto thee and to the rest of my beloved in Christ O my soul if thou canst but taste Psal 119.10.3 thou wilt find a world of sweetness in Christ's wayes there is sweetness in the Word How sweet are thy Words to my taste yea sweeter than honey to my mouth There is sweetness in prayer Rom. 10.12 hast thou not known the time that thou hast touched the hem of Christs garment and tasted of the joyes of Heaven in prayer hast thou not seen heaven cleft and Christ sitting at Gods right Hand surely the Lord is Rich to all them that call upon him There is sweetness in meditation some call this very duty The Saints pastime which recreates and perfumes the tired Spirits Now O my soul thou art in the exercise of this duty now thou art in the meditation of the easiness of Christ's burthen Psal 119.99 and of the sweetness of his wayes tell me is there nothing of Heaven in this meditation is it sweet or is it bitter to thy Soul thou mayest read in Scripture of many admirable effects of meditation as that it confirms our knowledg I have more understanding than all my teachers Psal 119.99 Ver. 97. Ver. 15. for thy Testimonies are my Meditations that it inflames our love Oh how love I thy Law it is my Meditation all the day that it casts a sweet influence on our lives I will Meditate in thy precepts and have respect unto thy wayes What is it thus with thee Psal 104.34 Psal 94.19 canst thou say with David My Meditation of him shall be sweet And in the multitude of my thoughts within me thy Comforts exceedingly delight my soul Why then thou hast truly tasted of God's goodness thou hast actual discoveries of the sweetness of Gods wayes thou hast experienc'd this truth that his yoak is easie and his burthen is light Matth. 11.3 Psal 119.99 that his wayes are wayes of pleasantness and all his paths are peace Oh if men did but know what ravishing sweetness were in the wayes of God they could not but imbrace them and esteem one dayes society with Jesus Christ as Caracciolus did better than all the gold in the world 11. Consider the holiness of Christ's Nature and the holiness of Christs Life 1. For the holiness of his Nature if thou couldst but clearly see it what work would it make in thy Breast Christ's inward beauty would ravish Love out of the Devils if they had but Grace to see his beauty yea he would lead captive all hearts in Hell if they had but eyes to behold his loveliness O what a Flower what a Rose of love and light is the Lord Jesus Christ Cant. 5.10 My Beloved is white and ruddy said the Spouse the chiefest of ten thousands Summon before Christ fair Angels glorified Spirits the azure Heavens the lightsome Stars all the delicious Flowers Gardens Meadows Forrests Seas Mountains Birds Beasts yea and all the Sons of Men as they should have been in the world of Innocency and let them all stand in their highest excellency before Jesus Christ and what are they Rev. 22.4 the Saints in Glory now see the face of Christ i.e. they see all the dignity beauty that is in Christ and they are so taken with his sight that they do nothing else but stare and gaze and behold his Face for Ages and yet they are never satisfied with beholding suppose they could wear out their eyes at the eye holes in beholding Christ they should still desire to see more O this loveliness of Christ ravishes the souls of the glorified how is it O my soul that thou art not taken with this meditation But 2. Go from the holiness of his Nature to the holiness of his Life it may be that will make deep impressions on thy spirit consider his charity his self-denial his contempt of the world his mercy his bounty his meekness his pity his humility his obedience to his Father A fruitful meditation on these Particulars cannot cannot but cause some resemblance within and make thee like Christ O the wonder that any should disclaim the active obedience of Christ as to his own Justification Away away with these cavils and consider the obedience of Christ in relation to thy self God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law Gal. 4.4 to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of Sons It is a sweet note of Doctor Andrews Christ made under the Law i.e. under the whole Law the one half of the Law which is the directive part he was made under that and satisfied it by the innocency of his Life without breaking one jot or title of the Law and so he answers that part as it might be the principal the other half of the Law which is the penalty he was under that also and satisfied it by suffering a wrongfull death no way deserved or due by him and so he answered that part as it might be the forfeiture But if we come now to ask for whom is all this it is only for us that we might be redeemed und adopted redeemed from all evil and adopted or interested into all good If this be so O who would for a world of Gold lose the influence and the benefit of Christs active obedience consider of this O my soul till thou feelest some vertue to come out of Christs life into thy self SECT III. Of desiring after Jesus in that respect 3. LEt us desire after Jesus carrying on the work of our salvation in his Life It is not enough to know and consider but we must desire our meditation of Christ should draw forth our affections to Christ and amongst all affections I place this first of all a desire after Christ But what is it in Christ's Life that is so desirable I answer every passage or particular named yea every thing of Christ is desirable named or un-named all that concerns Christ in any kind whatsoever if to the former particulars I should add a thousand and a thousand more it is very precious and excellent and necessary and profitable and comfortable and therefore desirable but to put them in order 1. The meanest things of Christ are desirable things the very filings of Gold the dust or sparkles of precious Stones are of real price and value yea of much worth yea the very Leaves of the Tree of Life are healing the very Hem of Christ's garment but even touched sends forth its vertue the meanest and worst things of Christ are incomparably to be desired above all things the dust of Zion the very ground that Christ's feet treadeth on any thing that hath the poorest relation to Jesus Christ it is desireable for him Hence we read that one poor woman sought no more of him but to wash Christ's
direct and then encourage First for direction let souls be acquainted how to act their Faith on Christ in respect of his Life The manner of its proceedings I suppose is thus 1. Faith must directly go to Christ Many poor souls humbled for sin and taken off from their own bottom they run immediately to the promise of pardon and close with it and rest on it not seeking for or closing with Christ in the promise this is a common error among thousands but we should observe that the first promise that was given was not a bare word simply promising pardon peace or any other benefit which God would bestow but it was a promise of Christ's Person as overcoming Satan Gen. 3.15 and purchasing those benefits The Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents head So when the Promise was renewed to Abraham it was not a bare promise of blessedness and forgivness but of that Seed that is Christ Gal. 3.6 in whom that blessedness was conveyed Gen. 22.18 In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed So that Abraham's Faith first closed with Christ in the Promise and therefore he is said to see Christ's day and to rejoyce in embracing him Christ in the first place and more immediately is every where made the thing which Faith embraceth to salvation and whom it looks unto and respects John 3.16 John 11.25 as it makes us righteous in the sight of God God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me Acts 13.39 Acts 16.31 Acts 10.43 though he were dead yet shall he live And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses and Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved And To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins And hence it is that Faith is called the Faith of Christ Gal. 2.16 Phil. 3.9 Because Christ is it whom Faith apprehends immediately and as for the other promises they depend all on this John 3.36 John 6.47 Whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins and he that believeth on the Son of God shall have life everlasting verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hath everlasting life O remember this in the first place Faith must go unto Christ and yet I mean not to Christ as abstractly and nakedly considered but to Christ as compass'd with all his Promises Priviledges Benefits 2. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh Some make this the difference of Faiths acting betwixt Believers of the New and Old Testament Under the Old Testament when Christ was but in the Promise and not as then come in the flesh their Faith had a more usual recourse unto God himself as for Christ God-man man-God they had not so distinct but only a confused knowledge of him and therefore we read not so frequently and usually of their recourse unto him but only unto God 2 Chron. 20.12 20. Psal 78.21 22 O our God wilt thou not judge them we know not what to do but our eyes are upon thee and Hear me O Judah and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem believe in the Lord your God so shall ye be established and The Lord heard this and was wrath because they believed not in God and trusted not in his salvation But now under the New Testament because Christ as Mediator who was promised is come our Faith more usually and immediately addresseth it self unto Christ as God in the flesh God dwelling in our nature is made more familiar to our Faith than the person of the Father who is meerly God God in the flesh is more distinctly set forth in the New Testament and so he is more distinctly to be apprehended by the Faith of all Believers Ye believe in God sayes Christ to his Disciples whose faith and opinion of the Messiah was till Christ's Resurrection of the same Elevation with that of the Old-Testament-Believers Ye believe in God but he rests not there believe also in me John 14.1 make me the object of your trust and salvation as well as the Father believe also in me not only so but believe in the first place on me One sweetly observes that when Faith and Repentance came more narrowly to be distinguished by their more immediate objects it is laid down thus Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20.21 not but that God and Christ are objects of both but that Christ is more immediately the object of Faith and God i◠more immediately the object of Repentance so that we believe in God through believing in Christ first and we turn to Christ by turning to God first O remember this Le◠our Faith in the more direct and immediate exercise of it be pitch upon Christ as God 〈◊〉 the flesh 3. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh made under the Law Gal. 4.4 and hence it is that the Apostle joynes these together God sent his Son made of a woman made under the Law If Christ had been out of the compass of the Law his being incarnate and made of a woman had done us no good Suppose one in debt and danger of the Law to have a Brother of the same flesh and blood of the same Father and Mother what will this avail if that same Brother will not come under the Law i.e. become his Surety and undertake for him It is our case we are debtors to God Col. 2.14 and there is an hand-writing against us and contrary to us here is a Bond of the Law which we have forfeited now what would Christ avail if he had not come under the Law if he had not been our Surety and undertook for us Our Faith therefore must go to Christ as made under the Law not only taking our nature upon him but our debt also 2 Cor. 5.21 our nature as men and our debt as sinful men He hath made himself to become sin for us who knew no sin i.e. he made him to be handled as a sinner for us under the Law though he knew no sin on his part but continued in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them If Faith be inquisitive when was Christ made under the Law I answer Gal. 5.3 even then when he was circumcised Thus Paul protests I testifie to every man that he that is circumcised is a debtor to do the whole Law Christ at his Circumcision entred into bond with us and undertook for us and therefore then and not till then Luke 2.21 he had his Name given him Jesus a Saviour and from that time he was a debtor to do the whole Law Not only to
men because like Abel being dead they may still speak and teach those who never saw them but it would have been derogatory to the Person and office of Christ for it is his Prerogative to be in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks to be present to all his Members to teach by power and not by ministry to write his Law in the hearts of his people and to make them his Epistle Contrition Compunction Mortification Repentance Acts 11.18 for sin are acts and duties necessary to our state and condition for we are sinners and sinners of the Gentiles To whom God also hath granted repentance unto life but these were in no sort agreeable to Christ for he was without sin and needed not to repentance nor to any part of it The several states of men as of Governours Kings Judges Lawyers Merchants c. are convenient for us otherwise what ataxye John 18.36 and confusion would there be in the world and yet Jesus never put himself into any of these states My Kingdom sayes he is not of this world Now as in these things we must only respect the Allowance of Christ so in other things we must reflect upon the example of Christ as 1. In sinful acts eschewed by Christ 2. In moral duties that were done by Christ 1. In sinful acts eschewed by Christ as when I am tempted to sin then am I to reason thus with my self would my blessed Saviour if he were upon earth doth thus and thus when I am tempted to looseness and immoderate living then am I to ask conscience such a question as this would Christ have done thus would he have spent such a life upon earth as I do when I am moved by my own corruption or by Sathan to drunkenness gluttony sinful and desperate society to swearing cursing revenge or the like then am I to ask is this the life that Christ led or if he were to live again would he live after this manner when I fall into passion peevishness rash words or if it be but idle words then am I to consider O but would Christ speak thus would this be his language would such a rotten or unprofitable speech as this drop from his honey lips 2. In case of moral obedience concerning which we have both his pattern and precept I look upon Christ as my rule and I question thus did Christ frequently pray both with his Disciples and alone by himself and shall I never in my family or in my closet think upon God did Christ open his wounds for me and shall not I open my mouth to him did Christ serve God without all self-ends meerly in obedience and to glorifie him and shall I make God's worship subordinate to my aims and turns did Christ shew mercy to his very enemies and shall I be cruel to Christ's very Members O my soul look in all thy sins and in all thy duties to thy original and measure them by the holiness of Christ whether in avoiding sin or in doing duty think What would my blessed Saviour do in this case Or what did he in the liâ—e case when he was upon earth If we had these thoughts every day if Christ were continually before our eyes if in all we do or speak we should still muse on this What would Jesus Christ say if he were here I believe it would be a blessed means of living in comfort and spiritual conformity to the Commands of God yea of acting Christ's life as it were to the life 5. Let us look fixedly on Jesus Christ let us keep our spiritual eyes still on the pattern untill we feel our selves conforming to it it is a true saying that Objects and moving reasons kept much upon the mind by serious thoughts are the great engine both appointed by nature and grace to turn about the soul of man If I may deliver it in fewer terms Objects considered much or frequently do turn the soul into their own nature Such as the things are we must think of and consider of such will be our selves or if we be not so it is not through any imperfection in the object especially in such an object as Jesus Christ is but because it is not well applied and by consideration held upon the heart till it may work there indeed the manner of this working may be secret and insensible yet if we follow on we shall feel it in the issue the beholding of Christ is a powerful beholding there is a changing transforming vertue goes out of Christ by looking on Christ can we think of his humility and not be humble can we think of his meekness and gentleness of Spirit and yet we continue in our fierceness roughness frowardness of Spirit can a proud fierce heart apprehend a meek and sweet and lowly Jesus no no the heart must be suitable to the thing apprehended it is impossible otherwise certainly if the look be right there must be a suitableness betwixt the heart and Christ Sight works upon the imagination in brute creatures as Laban's Sheep when they saw the party-coloured Rods they had Lambs suitable now will sight work upon imagination and imagination work a real change in nature and is not the eye of the mind especially the eye of faith more strong and powerful if I but write after a copy I shall in a while learn to write like it if I seriously meditate on any excellent subject it will leave a print behind it on my spirit if I read but the life and death of some eminently gracious and holy man it molds and fashions and transforms and conforms my mind to his similitude even so and much more is it in this case since the eye of faith works in the matter which in it self is operative and effectual and therefore it cannot but work more than where is only simple imitation or naked meditation O then let us set the coppy of Christ's life as before described in our view and let us look upon it with both eyes with the eye of reason and with the eye of faith But how should we keep the eye of our faith on this blessed object until we feel this conformity in us I answer 1. Let us set apart some times on purpose to act our faith in this respect There is a time for all things under the Sun Eccles 3.1 saith Solomon It may be sometimes we are in our civil employments but then is not the time yet when they are done and the day begins to close if together with our closet prayer we would fall on this duty of looking unto Jesus by lively faith how blessed a season might this be I know not but that some Christians may do it occasionally but for any that sets some time apart for it every day and that in conscience as we do for prayer where is he to be found 2. Let us remove hinderances Sathan labours to hinder the soul from beholding Christ with the dust of the world The
by his very silence 3. Because Herod had the year before put John the Baptist to death who was that Voice crying in the Wilderness now that Voice being gone Christ the Word will be silent he will not give a Word 4. Because Herod had been sottishly careless of Jesus Christ he lived in the place where Jesus more especially had conversed yet never had seen his Person or heard his Sermons It gives us to learn thus much that if we neglect the opportunities of Grace and refuse to hear the voice of Christ in the time of Mercy Christ may refuse to speak one word of comfort to us in our time of need if we during our time stop our ears God will in his time stop his mouth and shut up the springs of Grace that we shall receive no refreshment no instruction no pardon no salvation 5. Because Christ was resolved to be Obedient to his Father's Ordinance he was resolved to submit to the doom of death with patience and silence for this purpose he came into the world that he might suffer in our stead and for our sins and therefore he would not plead his own cause nor defend his own innocency in any kind he knew that we were guilty though himself was not 3. This silence they interpret for simplicity and so 1. They despised him And 2. Luke 23.11 they dismist him And Herod with his men of war set him at nought and mocked him and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him again to Pilate They arrayed him with a white glittering gorgeous rayment the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies gorgeous bright resplendent such as Nobles and Kings used to wear The Latines sometimes render it splendidam vestem and sometimes candidam or albam vestem we translate it a gorgeous robe and the Ancients call it a white robe in imatation whereof the Baptised were wont to put on a white rayment which they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but whether it were white or no I shall not controvert The Original yields thus far that it was a bright and resplendent garment such as came newly from the fulling many mysteries if it be white are found out here some say this held forth the excellency or dignity of Christ White colour is most agreeable to the highest God he many times appeared in white but never in any other colour and the Saints in heaven are said to be cloathed in long white Robes Rev. 4.4 and Peers Kings and Coesars were usually cloathed in white saith Jansenius Others say this held forth the innocency of Christ and that they were directed herein by Divine providence declaring plainly against themselves that Christ should rather have been absolved as an innocent than condemned as a malefactor But to leave these mysteries the meaning of Herod was not so much to declare his excellency or innocency as his folly or simplicity certainly he accounted him for no other than a very fool and ideot a passing simple man The Philosophers sayes Tertullian drew him in their Pictures attired by Herod like a fool with long Asses ears his nailes plucked off and a book in his hand c. O marvellous madness Oh the strange mistakes of men Mat. 12.19 Mark 2.7 Mat. 12.24 John 8.48 in his life time they account Jesus a glutton a drinker of Wine a Companion of Sinners a Blasphemer a Sorcerer and one that cast out Devils through Belzebub Prince of Devils yea and one that himself was possessed with a Devil And now towards his death he is bound as a thief he is struck in the house of Caiaphas as an arrogant and saucy fellow he is accused before the Sanhedrim of Blasphemy he is brought before Pilate as a malefactor a mover of sedition a Seducer a Rebel and as one that aspired to the Kingdom he is transmitted unto Herod as a jugler to shew tricks and now in the close of all he is accounted of Herod and his men of War as a fool an ideot a bruit not having the understanding of a man But soft Herod is Christ therefore a fool because he is silent and art thou wise because of thy many words and many questions Solomon a wiser man than Herod is of another mind In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin Prov. 10.19 Prov. 17.27 28. but he that refraineth his lips is wise Again he that hath knowledg spareth his words and a man of understanding is of a cool Spirit even a fool when he holdeth his peace is counted wise and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding Ah poor Herod consult these texts and then tell me who is the fool what thou that speakest many words and questionest about many things which in time will turn to thy greater condemnation or Christ Jesus that was deeply silent to the worlds eternal Salvation Paul was of another Spirit and of another judgment concerning Christ in him was knowledg nor is that all in whom was wisdom and knowledg nor is that all in him were treasures and all treasures of wisdom and knowledg Col. 2.3 In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledg and yet that is not all neither not only is wisdom in him but he is wisdom it self for that is his name and title in the book of Proverbs and yet by Herod and his Courtiers he is reckoned arrayed and derided as a meer simple man 2. They dismist him in this posture they sent him away again to Pilate to all their former derision they added this that now he was exposed in scorn to the boys of the streets Herod would not be content that he and his men of war only should set him at naught but he sends him away through the more publick and eminent streets of Jerusalem in his white garment to be scorned by the people to be hooted at by idle persons And now was fulfilled the Prophesie of Christ I was a derision to all my people Lam. 3.14 and their song all the day Of this let us make some use Was the eternal Word of God Vse and the uncreated wisdom of the Father reputed a fool no wonder if we suffer thousands of reproaches We are made a spectakle unto the World and to Angels and to men we are fools for Christ's sake saith the Apostle We are made as the filth of the world 1 Cor. 4.2.10 13. and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day Christians must wear the bage and livery of Jesus Christ we cannot expect to fare better than our Master why then should we despond I never knew Christians in better heart than when they were stiled by the Name of Puritans Precisians Hypocrites Formalists or the like 2. Let us not judg of men and their worth by their out-side garments wisdom may be and often is clad in the Coat of a fool As beggarly bottles oft-times hold Rich Wines so poor robes contain sometimes many precious Souls
Mat. 26.65 as making himself equal with God yea see how the high Priest rends his clothes saying he hath spoken blasphemy Surely all this he endured that very blasphemers may find mercy if they will but come in and believe in Jesus I might instance in other sins art thou a Traytor a glutton a drunkard a wine-bibber a thief a seducer a companion of sinners why see now how Jesus Christ was for thy sake thus called reputed accounted whatever the sin is there 's something in Christ that answers that very sinfulness thou art a sinner and he is made sin to satisfie the wrath of God even for thy sin thou art such and such a sinner and he is accounted such and such a sinner for thy sake that thou mightest find in him something suitable to thy condition and so the rather be encouraged to believe that in him and through him all thy sins shall be done away Away away unbelief distrust despair you see now the brazen serpent lifted up you see what a blessed object is before you O believe O look up unto Jesus O believe in him thus carrying on the work of thy salvation in his death SECT VI. Of loving Jesus in that respect 6. LEt us love Jesus as carrying on the great work of our Salvation for us during his sufferings and death What! did he suffer and dye Rom. 5.8 Greater love than this hath no man that a man should give his life for his friends but God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Why here 's an argument of love indeed how should we but love him who hath thus loved us in prosecution of this I have no more to do but first to shew Christ's love to us and then to exercise our love to him again 1. For his love to us had not God said it and the Scriptures recorded it who would have believed our reports yet Christ hath done it and it is worth our while to weigh it and consider it in an holy meditation Indeed with what less than ravishment of Spirit can I behold the Lord Jesus who from everlasting was cloathed with Glory and Majesty now wrapped in rags cradled in a manger exposed to hunger thirst weariness danger contempt poverty revilings scourgings persecution but to let them pass into what extasies may I be cast to see the Judg of all the world accused judged condemned to see the Lord of life dying upon the tree of shame and curse to see the eternal Son of God strugling with his Fathers wrath to see him who had said I and my Father are one sweating drops of blood in his agony and crying out on his cross my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh whither hath his love to mankind carried him had he only sent his creatures to serve us had he only sent his Prophets to advise us in the way to Heaven had he only sent his Angels from his chamber of presence to attend upon us and to minister to us it had been a great deal of mercy or if it must be so had Christ come down from Heaven hnmself but only to visit us or had he come only and wept over us saying Oh that you had known even you in this your day the things belonging to your peace Oh that you had more considered of my goodness Oh that you had never sinned this would have been such a mercy as that all the world would have wondered at it but that Christ himself should come and lay down his blood and life and all for his people and yet I am not at the lowest that he should not only part with life but part with the sense and sweetness of God's love which is a thousand times better than life Psal 63.3 Thy loving kindness is better than life that he should be content to be accursed that we might be blessed that he should be content to be forsaken that we might not be forsaken that he should be content to be condemned that we might be acquitted O what raptures of Spirit can be sufficient for the admiration of this so infinite mercy be thou swallowed up O my soul in this depth of Divine love and hate to spend thy thoughts any more upon the base objects of this wretched world when thou hast such a Saviour to take them up Come look on thy Jesus who dyed temporally that thou mightest live eternally who out of his singular tenderness would not suffer thee to burn in hell for ten twenty thirty forty an hundred years and then recover thee by which notwithstanding he might better and deeper have imprinted in thee the blessed memory of a dear Redeemer no no this was the Article betwixt him and his Father That thou shouldst never come there see but observe but Christ's love in that mutual agreement betwixt God and Christ Oh I am pressed saith God with the sins of the world as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves come my Son either thou must suffer or I must damn the world Accordingly I may imagine the Attributes of God to speak to God Mercy cryes I am abused and Patience cryes I am despised and goodness cryes I am wronged and Holyness cryes I am contradicted and all these come to the Father for Justice crying to him that all the world were opposers of his Grace and Spirit and if any be saved Christ must be punished In this case we must imagine Christ stepped in nay rather than so saith Christ I will bear all and undertake the satisfying of all And now look upon him he hangs on the cross all naked all torn all bloody betwixt Heaven and Earth as if he were cast out of Heaven and also rejected by Earth he hath a Crown indeed but such a one as few men will touch none will take from him and if any rash man will have it he must tear hair skin and all or it will not come his hair is all clodded with blood his face all clouded with black and blew he is all over so pittifully rent outwards inwards body and soul I will think the rest alas when I have spoken all I can I shall speak under it had I the tongues of men and Angels I could not express it Oh love more deep than hell Oh love more high than heaven the brightest Seraphims that burn in love are but as sparkles to that mighty flame of love in the heart of Jesus 2. If this be Christ's love to us what is that love we owe to Christ Oh now for an heart that might be some wayes answerable to these mercies Oh for a soul sick of love yea sick unto death how should I be otherwise or any less affected this only sickness is our health this death our life and not to be thus sick is to be dead in sins and trespasses why surely I have heard enough for which to love Christ for ever The depths of God's grace are
even the forgiveness of sins Zach. 13.1 Eph. 1.7 Heb. 1.3 Heb. 9.26 Ver. 28. Levit. 16.21 22. He by himself purged our sins And now once in the end of the world hath he appeared put away sin by the sacrifice of himself And Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bear away the sins of many As the Scape-coat under the Law had upon his head all the iniquities of the Children of Israel and so was sent away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness so the Lord Jesus of whom that Goat was a type had all the iniquities of his Elect laid upon him by God his Father and bearing them he took them away Behold the Lamb of God John 1.29 that taketh away the sins of the world he bore them and bore them away he went away with them into the wilderness or into the land of forgetfulness See what comfort is here 2. Another cries thus Oh I know not what will become of me the Law is mine enemy I have transgressed the Law and it speaks terribly Gal. 3.10 cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Oh I have offended the Law and I am under the curse Say not so for by the death of Christ though the Law be broken yet the curse is removed the Apostle is clear Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law Gal. 3.13 being made a curse for us he was made a curse for us i.e. the fruits and effects of God's curse the punishment due to sinners the penal curse which justice required was laid upon Christ and by this means we are freed from the curse of the Law It is true that without Christ thou art under this Law Do or Die end if thou offendest in the least kind thou shalt perish for ever the curse of the Law is upon thee to the uttermost but on the other side if thy claim be right to the blood of Christ thou art freed from penalty not but that we may be corrected and chastised but what is that to the eternal curse which the Law pronounceth against every sin we are freed from the curse or damnatory sentence of the Law Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus the Law is satisfied and the bond is cancelled by our Surety Christ O what comfort is this 3. Another cries thus Oh I know not what will become of me I have offended justice and what shall appeal from the seat of justice to the throne of grace my sins are gone before and they are knocking at heaven gates and crying justice Lord on this sinner I know not what will be the issue but either free Grace must save me or I am gone Say not so for by this death of Christ free grace and justice are both thy friends How e're some do yet certainly thou needs not to appeal from the court of justice to the Mercy-seat in this mystery of Godliness there may be as much comfort in standing before the Bar of justice as at the Mercy-seat i.e. by standing therein and through the Lord Jesus Christ yea this is the Gospel-way to go to God the Father and to tender up to him the active and passive righteousness of Christ his Son for an atonement and satisfaction for our sins in this way is the comfort of justification brought if we go to God in any other way than this it is but in a natural way and not in a true Evangelical way A man by nature may know thus much that when he hath sinned he must seek unto God for mercy but to seek unto God for pardon with a price in our hands to tender up the merits of Jesus Christ for a satisfaction to Divine justice here is the mystery of Faith and yet I speak not against relying on God's mercy for pardon but what need we to appeal from justice to mercy when by faith we may tender the death of Christ and so find acceptance with the justice of God it self come soul and let me tell thee for thy comfort if thou hast any share in the death of Christ thou hast two tenures to hold thy pardon and salvation by Mercy and justice free-grace and righteousness mercy in respect of thee and justice in respect of Christ not only is free-grace ready to acquit thee but a full price is laid down to discharge thee of all thy sins so that now when the Prince of this World comes against thee thou mayest say in some sense as Christ did He can find nothing in me for how can he accuse me seeing Christ is my Surety seeing the bond hath been sued and Christ Jesus would not leave one farthing unpaid as Paul said to Philemon concerning Onesimus if he have wronged thee or owe thee any thing put it on my account so doth Christ say to God if these have wronged thy Majesty or owe thee any thing put it on me Paul indeed added I Paul have written it with mine own hand but Christ speaks thus Gen. 2.17 I Jesus have ratified and confirmed it with my own blood 4. Another cries thus Oh I know not what will become of me the first threat that ever was in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die now sits on my spirit methinks I see the grizly form of death standing before me Oh this is he that is the King of fears the chief of terrors the inlet to all those Plagues in another world and die I must there is no remedy Rom. 8.94 Oh I startle and am afraid of it And why so it is Christ that dyed and by his death he hath took away the sting of death that now the drone may hiss but cannot hurt come meditate much upon the death of Christ and thou shalt find matter enough in his death for the subduing of thy slavish fears of death both in the merit of it in the effect of it and in the end of it 1. In the merit of it Christ's death is meritorious and in that respect the writ of mortallity is but to the Saints a writ of ease a passage into Glory 2. In the effect of it Christs death is the conquest of death Christ went down into the grave to make a back-door that the grave which was before a prison might now be a thorough-fare so that all his Saints may with ease pass through and sing O death where is thy sting Heb. 2.14 15. Oh hell where is thy victory 3. In the end of it Chri'sts death amongst other ends aims at the ruine of him that had the Power of death that is the Devil and to deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time in bondage Christ pursued this end in dying to deliver thee from the fear of death and if now thou fearest thy fearing is a kind of
making Christ 's death of none effect O come and with joy draw water out of this well of Salvation Isa 12.3 5. Another cries thus Oh I know not what will become of me the very thoughts of hell seem to astonish my heart methinks I see a little peep-hole down into hell and the devil roaring there being reserved in chains under darkness untill the judgment of the great day and methinks I see the damned flaming and Judas and all the wicked in the world and they of Sodom and Gomorrah there lying and roaing and gnashing their teeth now I have sinned and why should not I be damned Oh why should not the wrath of God be executed on me yea even upon me I answer the death of Christ acquits thee of all Rom. 20.6 Blessed is he that hath a part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power Christ's death hath took away the pains of the second death yea pains and power too for it shall never oppress such as belong to Christ If Hell and Devils could speak a word of truth they would say Comfort your selves ye believing souls we have no power over you for the Lord Jesus hath conquered us and we have quite lost the cause Paul was very confident of this and therefore he throws down the Gauntlet and challengeth a dispute with all commers Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect Rom. 8.33 34. it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed let sin and the law and justice and death and hell yea and all the Devils in Hell unite their forces this one argument of Christ's death it is Christ that dyed will be enough to confute and confound them all Come then and comfort your selves all believers in this death of Christ what do you believe and are you confident that you do believe why then do you sit drooping What manner of communications are these that you have as ye walk and are sad Luke 24.17 Away away dumpishness despair disquietness of spirit Christ is dead that you might live and be blessed in this respect every thing speaks comfort if you could but see it God and men heaven and earth Angels and devils the very justice of God it self is now your friend and bids you go away comforted for it is satisfied to the full Heaven it self waits on you and keeps the dores open that your souls may enter We have boldness saith the Apostle to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus Heb. 10.20 by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil that is to say his flesh Christ's death hath set open all the golden gates and dores of glory and therefore go away chearily and get you to heaven and when you come there be discouraged or discomforted if you can O my soul I see thou art pouring on sin on thy crimson sins and scarlet sins but I would have thee dwell on that crimson scarlet blood of Christ Oh it is the blood of sprinkling it speaks better things than the blood of Abel it cryes for mercy and pardon and refreshing and salvation thy sins cry Lord do me justice against such a soul but the blood of Christ hath another cry I am abased and humbled and I have answered all Methinks this should make thy heart leap for joy Oh the honey the sweet that we may suck out of this blood of Christ come lay to thy mouth and drink an hearty draught it is this spiritual wine that makes merry the heart of man and it is the voice of Christ to all his guests Eat O friends Cant. 5.1 drink yea drink abundantly O beloved SECT VIII Of calling on Jesus in that respect 8. LEt us call on Jesus or on God the Father in and through Jesus 1. We must pray that all these Transactions of Christ in his sufferings and death may be ours if we direct our prayers immediately to Jesus Christ let us tell him what anguish and pains he hath suffered for our sakes and let us complain against our selves Oh what shall we do who by our sins have so tormented our dearest Lord what contrition can be great enough what tears sufficiently expressive what hatred and detestation equal and commensurate to those sad and heavy sufferings of our Jesus And then let us pray that he would pity us and forgive us those sins wherewith we crucified him that he would bestow on us the vertue of his sufferings and death that his wounds might heal us his death might quicken us and his blood might cleanse us from all our spiritual filth of sin and lastly that he would assure us that his death is ours that he would perswade us That neither death nor life nor Angels Rom. 8.38 39. nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature should be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2. We must praise the Lord for all these sufferings of Christ Hath he indeed suffered all these punishments for us Oh then what shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits upon us what shall we do for him who hath done and suffered all these things but especially if we believe our part in the death of Christ in all the vertues benefits victories purchases and priviledges of his precious death oh then what manifold cause of thankfulness and praise is here be enlarged O my soul sound forth the praises of thy Christ tell all the world of that warmest love of Christ which flowed with his blood out of all his wounds into thy spirit tune thy heart-strings aright and keep consort with all the Angels of Heaven and all his Saints on earth sing that Psalm of John the Divine Rev. 1.5 6. Vnto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen SECT IX Of conforming to Jesus in that respect 9. LEt us conform to Jesus in respect of his sufferings and death looking unto Jesus is effective of this objects have an attractive power that do assimulate or make like unto them I have read of a woman that by fixing the strength of her imagination upon a Blackamore on the wall she brought forth a black and swarthy child And no question but there is a kind of spiritual-imaginative of power in faith to be like to Christ by looking on Christ come then and let us look on Christ and conform to Christ in this respect In this particular I shall examine these Queries 1. Wherein we must conform 2. What is the cause of this conformity 3. What are the means of this conformity as on our parts For the first wherein we must conform I answer we must conform to Christ
Heb. 11.19 2. For Jonah from the time that Jonah was cast into the sea and swallowed up of the Fish Jonah was in account as a dead man but the third day the Lord spake unto the Fish and it vomited up Jonah upon the dry land Jonah 2.10 Jonah 2.10 And that this was a figure of Christ Christ himself discovers for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whales belly so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth Mat. 12.40 3. For Hezekiah from the time that Isaiah said unto him set thine house in order for thou shalt die and not live 2 King 20.1 Hezekiah was in account as a dead man his bed was to him as a grave but on the third day he was miraculously raised up again and as the Prophet said on the third day thou shalt go up to the house of the Lord. Ver. 5. Surely this was a figure of Christ And thâ—se Types prefiguring Christ are as one Reason 2. Because the Prophets and himself had so foretold for the Prophets we have cited Psal 16.10 Hosea 6.2 And for himself he told them very expresly that he must suffer many things of the Elders Mat. 16.21 and chief Priests and Scribes and be raised again the third day Mat 17.22 23. Mat 20.18.19 yea said he the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men and they shall kill him and the third day he shall be raised again and after this he tells them again that the Son of man should be betrayed and crucified and the third day he should rise again so often had he prophesied thus that the chief Priests and Pharisees came to Pilate after his death Mat. 27.62 63.64 saying Sir we remember that this deceiver said while he was yet alive after three dayes I will rise again command therefore that the Sepulchre be made sure until the third day And no question his Disciples remembred these sayings for so the two Disciples travelling towards Emmaus after they had said many things concerning him and that they trusted it had been he which should have redeemed Israel they added this as a most special observation above all the rest Luke 24.21 that to day is the third day since these things were done Why all these signifie that his rising on the third day was the accomplishment of Prophesies and a certain evidence that he was the Messiah indeed 3. Because that time was most suable for comforting his friends for confounding his enemies for clearing the truth both of his Humanity and Divinity he would stay no longer lest his Disciples might have been swallowed up with grief and he would come no sooner lest his enemies should have urged that he had not died the watchmen kept the Sepulchre till this very time but then the Angels appearing and the earth trembling they became as dead men and assoon as they could they run away and with their tidings confounded all Christ's enemies And withall as Christ consisted both of a divine and humane nature so in respect of his humanity he must die and to shew his death it was requisite that he should rise no sooner than the third day and in respect of his divinity it was impossible that he should be held of death any longer than three days for as he must not see corruption so God raised him up having loosed the pains of death Acts 2.24 because it was not possible that he should be holden of it SECT II. Of the Reasons of Christ's Resurrection 2. WHy he rose we have these Reasons 1. That he might powerfully convince or confound his adversaries they that crucified him were mightily afraid of his Resurrection they could tell Pilate Sir we remember this deceiver said while he was yet alive after three days I will rise again Mat. 27.63 64. and therefore they desire him of all loves to command the Sepulchre to be made sure until the third day if ever he rise again whom they have killed then they knew they were all shamed then the last errour as they said would be worse than the first All the world would look on them as a cursed generation to kill the Messiah to crucifie such a one as after his death and burial should rise again now then that he might either convince them or confound them notwithstanding their care their watch their Seal their making all sure as possibly they could at the very same time he told them before he broke open the gates of death and made the gates of Brass to flie asunder 2. That he might confirm the faith of all his followers If Christ be not risen 1 Cor. 15.14 your Faith is vain saith the Apostle Christs resurrection both confirms our faith as to his person and to his office for his person Rom. 1.4 this speaks him to be the eternal Son of God by the resurrection from the dead and for his office this speaks him to be the promised Messiah the great Prophet the chief high Priest the King and Saviour of his Church When the Jews saw Christ purging the Temple and Messiah-like reforming what he saw amiss in the House of God What sign say they shewest thou unto us Joh. 2.18 19 22. seeing thou dost these things And he said unto them destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up When therefore he was risen from the dead his Disciples remembred that he had said this unto them and they believed the Scripture and the Word which Jesus had said As the resurrection of Christ argues his Mediatorship so it confirms their faith as it is said They believed the Scriptures and they believed Jesus Christ And thus John writing of his resurrection tells us John 20.31 These things are written that ye might believe and that believing c. 3. That it might clearly appear that he had fully satisfied the justice of God for sin So it was that God laid the forfeiture of the bond on Christ he arrested him brought him to the Goal the Grave and there he was till the Debt was paid to the utmost farthing and then that it might clearly appear that the bond was cancelled the Prisoner discharged God's justice satisfied he rose again from the dead Some make a question when his Bond was cancelled and they say as the debt was paid so the Bond was cancelled ere he stirred off the Cross only by the Cross I suppose they mean the utmost degree of Christs humiliation viz. his being held in captivity and bondage under death and so the hand-writing of the Law that was against us was there delivered him and there he blotted it out cancelled it took it out of the way Col. 2.14 nailing it to his Cross Others think that as to the full discharge of a debt and freeing the debtor two things are requisite first the payment of the debt secondly the tearing or
wayes by the antient writers and I refer you to them For the second why Christ retained these wounds and prints many reasons are rendred though I shall not close with all 1. Some think those skars or prints were as the trophies of his victory nothing is more delightfull to a lover than to bear about the wounds undergone for his beloved and nothing is more honourable for a Souldier than to shew his wounds undergone for his countries good what are they but as so many arguments of his valour and trophies of his victory this was Bedes sense Christ reserved his skars Beda in Luc. not from any impotency of curing them but to set out the glory and triumph of his victory over death and hell 2. Others think those skars or prints were for the setting out of Christs splendor and beauty as in cut or pinck garments the inward silks do appear more splended so in Christ's wounds there appears inwardly far more beauty Aquinas affirms that in the very place of the wounds there is a certain special comeliness in Christ And Augustine thinks Thom. 3. part q 53. a cert Aug. 22. de civit Dei that the very martyrs may retain some skarrs of their wounds in glory because there is no deformity but dignity in them and besides a certain beauty may shine in their bodies answerable to their vertues wherein they excelled 3. Others think that Christ retains those skars that he might by them interceed for us upon these very words we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 1 John 2.2 they comment thus that God is appeased by Christ Thom. in 1. representing to him the prints and skars of his humane nature Christ's wounds are as so many open mouths Jona l. 2. which cry at the tribunal of his Father for mercy as Abels blood cryed for revenge 4 Others think that Christ retains those skars that thereby in the day of judgment he might confound the Jews and all the wicked in the world It is Augustine's judgment that as Christ shewed Thomas his hands and side because otherwise he would not believe so at the last day will he shew those wounds to all his enemies saying Come behold the man whom ye have crucified come see the prints of the nayls and the print of the spear Aug. l. 2. de symb 6.8 these be the hands and feet that you nailed and clenched to a piece of wood this is the side you pierced by you and for you was it opened but you would not enter in that ye might be saved And for this opinion they alledg this text Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him even so Amen 5. All think that Christ retained his skarrs that he might convince the unbelieving Disciples of his resurrection hereby they are assured that Christ is raised and that the same body of Christ is raised that before was crucified and to this we cannot but subscribe the skars of his wounds were for the healing of their doubts Luke brings in Christ Aug. tract 121. in Johan Luke 24.39 he bespeaking his Disciples thus Behold my hands and my feet that 't is I my self handle me and see q. d. Come let your Fingers enter into these prints of the Nails and let your hands he thrust into the depths of this wound come and open these holes in my hands open this wound in my side I will not deny that to my Disciples for their faith which I denyed not to mine enemies in their rage open and feel till you come to the very bone that so both bones and wounds may witness that I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for ever more Rev. 1.18 Vse Amen What testimonies are here to convince the world of Christ's resurrection surely this argues the goodness of God that strives thus wonderfully with the weak saith of those that are his At first he appeared to one even to Mary Magdalen and after he appeared to two Mat 28.1 Mark 16.1 saith Matthew to Mary Magdalen and the other Mary or to three saith Mark to Mary Magdalen Mary the mother of James and Salome but of this apparition he is seen of ten at least and to confirm their faith not a considerable circumstance must be wanting here is time and place and persons to whom he appears and the manner how he appears he stands in the midst to be seen of all he speaks to them breaths on them eats with them and shews them his hands and his side O the wonderful condescentions of Christ what helps doth he continually afford to beget in us faith if we are ignorant he instructs us if we err he reduceth us if we sin he corrrects us if we stand he holds us up if we fall down he lifts us up again if we go he leads us if we come to him he is ready to recieve us there 's not a passage of Christ betwixt him and his but 't is an argument of love and a means either of begetting or of increasing Faith O then believe in Christ yea believe thy part in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ considering that these apparitions were not only for the Apostles sakes but if Christ be thine they were for thy sake that thou mightest believe and be saved But I shall have occasion to speak more of this in the Chapter following So much of the second apparition as it is recorded by the Evangelist John SECT VII Of Christ's Apparition to all his Apostles IMmediately after this apparition to his ten Apostles the next is to all his Apostles not one being absent and after eight days again his Disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said peace be unto you Joh. 20.26 27. Ver. 28 29. then saith he to Thomas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing and Thomas answered and said unto him my Lord and my God Jesus saith unto him Thomas because thou hast seen me thou hast believed blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed In the whole story we have Christ's apparition and fruits of it 1. For the Apparition as in the former we have 1. The time 2. The place 3. The Persons to whom he appeared And 4. The manner how he appeared 1. For the time and after eight days it was on the same day seven night after the former apparitions which was the first day of the week and now because of his resurrection Rev. 1.10 and apparitions called the Lords day I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day this in my apprehension makes much for the honour of the Lord's day the first assembly of the Apostles
but they were not able to draw for the multitude of the fishes 2. Hereupon Christ is known Therefore that Disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter ver 7. it is the Lord the alarm given now all the Disciples bestir themselves 1. Peter he casts himself into the sea 2. The other Disciples they come in a little ship to the land and there they dine and commune with Jesus which is the end of the history and so ends this Book of our Evangelist John Thus far we have propounded the object our next work is how to direct you to look unto Jesus in this respect CHAP. II. SECT I. Of knowing Jesus as carrying on the great work of our Salvation in his Resurrection THAT in all respects we may look on Jesus 1. Let us know Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his resurrection and during the time of his abode upon earth after his Resurrection This is worth the knowing on it depends our justification sanctification salvation For if Christ be not risen we are yet in our sins and our faith is in vain and our hope is in vain little hope have we either of Heaven or of Resurrection if Christ be not risen of all men we are most miserable that believe in Christ if he whom we believe in be not risen again O my soul study this point many take it up in gross they can run over this Article of their Creed The third day he rose again from the dead but for a particular understanding of it in respect of the time or the end or the manner or the certainty how many are to seek I shall appeal to thy self are not many discoveries already made which before thou never tookest notice of and if thou wouldst but study this point how much more might yet appear especially how much more might yet appear as to thine own good it is not enough to know Christ's resurrection unless thou know it for thy self Be sure thou hast this in mind That Christ rose again but what 's that to me saving knowledge is ever joyned with a particular application if Christ be my Head then he could not rise but I rose with him and in him and thus O my soul look on Christ and thus search into every particular of Christ's resurrection come study when he rose study the Arguments that make out Christ's resurrection sure and certain study all the Apparitions of Jesus Christ O what delightful studies are these hadst thou been with them to whom Christ appeared would not thy heart have leaped with joy come study it close for the benefit of these Apparitions extend to thee the fruit of Christ's resurrection is thine Job 5.27 even thine as well as theirs Know this for thy self SECT II. Of considering Jesus in that respect 2. LEt us consider Jesus carrying on this work of our salvation for us in his resurrection It is not enough to know a saving necessary truth but it is required further that we digest truths and that we draw forth their strength for the nourishment and refreshing of our poor souls As a man may in half an hour chew and take into his stomack that meat which he must have seven or eight hours at least to digest so a man may take into his understanding more truths in an hour than he is able well to digest in many what good those men are like to get by Sermon 's or Providences who are unaccustomed to this work of meditation I cannot imagine it is observed by some that this is the reason why so much preaching is lost amongst us why Professors that run from Sermon to Sermon and are never weary of hearing or reading have notwithstanding such languish starved souls because they will not meditate And therefore God commanded Joshua not only to read the Law but to consider of it Josh 1.8 and dwell upon it This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night why this is the duty that I am now pressing to if thou knowest these things consider â—uminate meditate ponder on them again and again And because this work requires enlargedness of heart and spirit therefore take it into parts and consider of each of them apart by it self As 1. Consider of the time when Christ rose again As Christ had his three dayes and no more so must thou have the same three dayes like unto his the first day was called the day of preparation the second was the Sabbath-day and the third was the resurrection day so thy first day is a day of preparation a day of passion wherein thou must strive and struggle against sin and Satan wherein thou must suffer all their bitter darts till thou dyest and give up the Ghost And thy second day is a day of rest wherein thy body must lye in the grave and thy flesh rest in hope wherein thou shalt enter into peace and rest in thy bed until the trumpet sound and bid thee arise Isa 52.7 and come to judgment And thy third day is a day of resurrection unto glory It is the first day of the week or the first beginning of a never ending world Thus consider the time of Christ's resurrection and thence mayst thou draw down some use for thy souls nourishment 2. Consider of the reasons why Christ arose was it not to confound the Jews they could not endure to hear of Christ's resurrection and therefore when Peter and the other Apostles preached that point Acts 9.33 They were cut to the heart and took councel to slay them It is the case of them to say We will not have that man to reign over us they that by their sins crucifie Christ every day cannot without horror think of his exaltation it cuts them to the heart that Christ is risen to be their Judge Again was it not to confirm the faith of Christ's followers till he was risen their faith was but a weak faith weak in knowledge weak in assent weak in confidence weak in assurance much ado had Christ with them many a time had he chid them Why are ye fearful O ye of little faith but after he had shewed uimself alive by many infallible proofs they could then cry it out My Lord and my God Again was it not to evidence that he had fully satisfied all our debts the Apostle tells us that Christ was our Surety Heb. 7.22 at his death he was arrested and cast into Prison whence he could not come till all was payed and therefore to hear that Christ is risen and that he hath brokens the bolts and fetters of the grave it is a clear evidence that God is satisfied and that Christ is discharged by God himself Oh what breasts of consolation are here Again was it not to conquer sin death and devil now he took from death his sting and from hell his standard now he seized upon the hand-writing
obedience and death depends upon Christ's resurrection for then it was that Christ himself was justified and then he was justified as a common person representing us therein so that we were then justified with him and in him and we are said to be risen with him and to sit with him in heavenly places Burges one admirably judicious saith that justification is given to Christ's resurrection as a priviledge flowing from its efficient cause Indeed Christ's death is the meritorious cause of our justification but Christ's resurrection is in some sence saith he the efficient cause because by his rising again the Spirit of God doth make us capable of justification and thâ—n bestoweth it on us I know there is some difference amongst these Worthies but they all agree in this that the resurrection of Christ was for our justification and that by the resurrection of Christ all the merits of his death were made appliable unto us As there was a price and ransome to be paid by Christ for the redemption of man so it was necessary that the fruit effect and benefit of Christ's redemption should be applied and conferred now this work of application and actual collation of the fruit of Christ's death began to be in fieri upon the resurrection day but it was not then finished and perfected for to the consummation thereof the Ascension of Christ the Mission of the holy Ghost Apostolical preaching of the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles the Donation of Heavenly grace and Christ's Intercession at the right hand of God were very necessary 1 Cor. 15.17 O the benefit of Christ's resurrection as to our justification If Christ be not risen again ye are yet in your sins and your faith is in vain Remission of sin which is a part of our justification though purchased by Christ's death yet could not he applied to us or possibly be made ours without Christ's resurrection and and in this respect oh how desirable is it Eph. 2.5 6. 2. He rose again for our sanctification So the Apostle He hath quickened us together with Christ and hath raised up together with Christ Our first resurrection is from Christ's resurrection if you would know how you that were blind in heart uncircumcised in spirit utterly unacquainted with the life of God are now light in the Lord affecting heavenly things walking in righteousness it comes from this blessed resurrection of Jesus Christ we are quickened with Christ it is Christ's resurrection that raised our souls Rom. 6.11 being stark dead with such a resurrection as that they shall never die more Whence the Apostle Reckon your selves to be dead unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. We are dead to sin and alive unto God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we may reckon thus for our selves that if we be in Christ there comes a vertue from Christ an effectual working of Christ by his Spirit into our hearts and it is such a work as will conform us to Christ dead and to Christ risen why reckon thus saith the Apostle go not by guess and say I hope it will be better with me than it hath been no no but reckon Rom. 6.4 conclude make account I must live to God I must live the life of grace for Christ is risen To the same purpose he speaks before Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life Christ rose again to a new life and herein his resurrection differed from the resurrection of those others raised by him as of Lazarus Jairus Daughter the Widow of Naims Son for they were but raised to the same life which formerly they lived but Jesus Christ was raised up to a new life and according to this exâ—mplar we should now walk in newness of life this is the end of Christ's resurrection that we should be new creatures of new lives new principles new conversations he rose again for our sanctification 3. He rose again for our resurrection to eternal life Christ is the patern and pledg and cause of the resurrection of our bodies for since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all dye 1 Cor. 15.21 22 even so in Christ shall all be made alive There is a vertue flowing from Christ to his Saints by which they shall be raised up at the latter day as there is a vertue flowing from the head to the members or from the root to the branches so those that are Christ's shall be raised up by Christ 1 John 5.28 29. Not but that all the wicked in the world shall be raised again by the power of Christ as he is a judg for all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and they shall come forth yet with this difference they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation In this respect the Saints shall have a peculiar resurrection and therefore they are called the Children of the resurrection because they shall obtain a better resurrection Luke 20.36 Heb. 11.35 as the Apostle calls it And is not Christ's resurrection desirable in this very respect if we should think these bodyes of ours being dust must never return from their dusts it might discourage but here is our hope Christ is risen and therefore we must rise it is the Apostles own argument against those that held there was no resurrection of the dead why saith the Apostle if there be no resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15.12 13 16 20. then is not Christ risen If the dead rise not then is not Christ raised But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that sleep he argues plainly that Christs resurrection is the principal efficient cause of the resurrection of the just I am the resurrection and the life saith Christ i.e. I am the Author John 11.25 John 5.21 and worker of the resurrection to life As the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them even so the Son quickeneth whom he will and hence it is that Christ is called a quickning Spirit Christ is the head and stock of all the Elect Christ is the Author procurer conveyor of life to all his off-spring by the communication of his Spirit Christ is a quickening Spirit quickening dead souls and quickening dead bodies 1 Cor. 15.45 the Author both of the first and second resurrection And is not this desireable He rose again for the assurance of our justification sanctification and salvation This is the reason why the Apostle useth these words to prove the resurrection of Christ I will give you the sure mercies of David Acts 13.34 none of Gods mercies had been sure to us if Christ had not risen again from the dead But now all is made sure his work of redemption being
yet time might injure them and these words he would have last for ever O that they were graven in the rock for ever Moses and Job are said to have lived at one time now Moses writ the Law in stone and considering that these words were Gospel there was no reason the Law should be in tables of stone and the Gospel in sheets of paper no no it were fit that this should be as firm and durable as that Oh that my words were written Oh that they were printed in a book c. 2. The matter wished or the words he would have written are these I know that my Redeemer liveth and that I shall live again Here 's first his Redeemer and his rising 2. His own rising and his seeing God O this was the matter of his joy his Redeemer must rise again and he must rise too and see his Redeemer it was a point that exceedingly ravished and revived Job and therefore he iterates the same thing over and over I shall see God and I shall see him for my self and I shall see him with my eyes Job 8.56 and not with others As Christ said of Abraham Your father Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad So it appears of his Servant Job he saw Christ's day both his first day and his latter day and he rejoyced and was glad Away away all scrupulous doubtfull dumpish thoughts consider what joyes were of old at the foresight of Christs resurrection but especially what joy was all the World over when he rose again from the dead Greg. hom in pasca Job 20.20 Luke 24.41 Apostoli die dominico exhilirati non solum ipsum festivissimam esse voluerunt verum etiam per omnes hebdomadas frequentandum esse duxerunt Juno cent 1 Epist ad Decent 11. 4. then came the Angels from heaven and appeared in white then the Sun danced for joy so it is storyed or shone sooner and brighter than ever it did before then I am sure the Diciples were exceeding glad when they saw the Lord yea so glad that they believed not for joy it is worthy our observing to see how all the primitive Saints were affected with this news and because of it with the very day on which Christ arose some call it The first day of joy and gladness and because of the joy occasioned on this day the Apostles say they devoted the first day of the week to the honour and service of Jesus Christ Augustine applyes the words of the Psalm unto this day This is the day which the Lord hath made let us be glad and rejoyce in it Psal 118.24 Ignatus who lived in the Apostles age and was John's Disciple calls it the Queen the Princess the Lady Paramount among the other weekly dayes Chrysostom calls it a Royal day and Gregory Nazianzen orat 42. saith it is higher than the highest and with admiration wonderfull above other dayes Certainly the Lord's day was in high esteem with the antient Church and the principle motive was because of Christs resurrection from the dead O that on these dayes we could rejoyce in the Lord and again rejoyce it is observed that Many Christians look upon broken-heartedness and much grieving and weeping for sin as if it were the great thing that God delighteth in and requireth of them Baxters method for a setled Peace and therefore they bend all their endeavours that way they are still striving with their hearts to break them more and they think no Sermon no Prayer no Meditation speed so well with them as that which can help them to grieve or weep but O Christians understand and consider saith my Authour that all your sorrows are but preparatives for your joyes and that it is an higher and sweeter work that God calls you to and would have you spend your time and strength in Delight thy self in the Lord psal 37.4 and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart Never take your hearts to be right till they be delighting themselves in their God when you kneel down in Prayer labour so to conceive of God and bespeak him that he may be your delight do so in hearing and reading and meditating and in your feasting on the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ at his Supper Especially improve the happy opportunity of the Lords day wherein you may wholly devote your selves unto this work O spend more of this day in spiritual rejoycing especially in commemoration of Christ's resurrection yea and of the whole work of redemption or else you will not answer the institution of the Lord. SECT VIII Of Calling on Jesus in that Respect 8. LEt us Call on Jesus that is to say 1. Let us pray that Christ's resurrection may be ours and that we may be more and more assured of it Phil. 3.10 Let us say with the Apostle O that I may know him and the power of his resurrection O that I may find the working of that power in my soul which was shewed in the resurrection of Christ from the dead O that the Spirit of holiness which quickened Christ from the dead would by the same glorious power beget holiness and faith and love and all other graces in my poor soul O that Christ would by his resurrection apply his active and passive obedience to me O that he would be to me the Lord of the living and the Prince of life that he would overcome in me the death of sin and that he would regenerate quicken renew and fashion me by the power of godliness to become like himself O that all the vertue power priviledges and influences of Christ's resurrection might be conferred on me and that I might feel them working in me every day more and more 2. Let us praise God for Christ's resurrection and for all the priviledges flowing from Christ's resurrection into our souls 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath begotten us again by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Christ is risen by his resurrection he hath justified sanctified quickened saved our souls and therefore Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ surely God requires a thousand thousand Hallelujah's and that we should bless him upon a thousand-stringed instrument here is fewel enough the Lord kindle a great fire in every one of our hearts to burn out all our lusts and to enflame all our hearts with a love to Jesus Christ Can we ever too much praise him for all his actings in our behalf are not all God's creatures called upon to rejoyce with us and to bless God for his redeeming of us Sing O ye heavens for the Lord hath done it shout ye lower part of the earth Isa 44.23 break forth into singing ye mountains O forrest and every tree therein for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and glorified himself in Israel This is the duty we shall do in heaven and
exalted without some preceding decent and humiliation Ephes 49. That he ascended saith the Apostle what is it but that he descended first into the lower parts of the earth 4. In respect of our evidence and assurance this is the sign that Christ hath finished the work of our redemption upon the earth first he was to act as our Surety and then he was to ascend as our Head our Advocate as the first-fruits the Captain the Prince of life the Author of salvation the forerunner of his people 4. That he might throughly convince the world of believers of their perfect righteousness The Spirit when he comes saith Christ shall convince the world of sin and righteousness and of judgment of sin because they believe not on me of of righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more John 16.8 9 10. If Christ had not fulfilled all righteousness there had been no going to heaven for him nor remaining there certainly God would have sent him down again to have done the rest and the disciples should have seen him with shame sent back again but his ascension to heaven proclaims openly 1. That he hath compleatly finished the work he had to do for us here that no more was to be done in this world for us that the satisfactory work to justice was in it self finished 2. That God was well pleased with Jesus Christ and with what he had done and suffered for us yea God was so infinitely taken with him and his oblation after his sufferings as that he thinks it not fit to let him stay above forty days longer in this world he cannot be without him in heaven but he takes him up into glory and gives him a name above every name 3. That we have our share in heaven with him he went not up as a single person but vertually or mystically he carried up all the Elect with him into glory or otherwise how should the Spirit convince the world by his ascension of their righteousness or otherwise how should the Son of God convince his Father by his Ascension of his righteousness I look upon Jesus Christ going into Heaven as a confident Debtor after payment going into a Court and saying Who hath any thing to lay to his charge all is paid let the law take his course when Christ entred into heaven he seemed thus to challenge Justice Make room here for me and mine who should hinder hath the law any thing to say to these poor souls for whom I dyed if any in heaven can make objection Rev. 8.1 here I am to answer in their behalf Methinks I imagine a silence in heaven as John speaks at this speech only Mercy smiles and Justice gives in the Acquittance and God sets Christ down at his right hand 4. That he hath a new design to be acted in heaven for us he is taken up into glory that he may act gloriously the second part of out righteousness I mean that he might apply it and send down his Spirit to convince us of it He acted one part in the flesh in the habit of a beggar cloathed with rags but now he is gone to act the person of a Prince in robes of glory and all this to manage our salvation in the richest way that may be Three great things Christ acts for us now in glory First he is in place of an advocate for us He liveth to intercede for us Heb. 7.25 He is always begging of favour and love for us he lyes there to stop whatever plea may be brought in against us by the devil or Law yea he is there to get our fresh pardons for new sins Secondly he is the great provider and caterer for us John 14.2 he is laying in a great stock and store of glory for us against we come there In my Fathers house are many mansions I go to prepare a place for you Jesus Christ went before to take up God's heart for us and now he is drawing out the riches of love from God his Father and laying them in bank for us Phil. 4.19 which made the Apostle say My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus Thirdly he sends down his Spirit to convince us that Christs righteousness is ours indeed the means of procuring this was the life and death of Christ but the means of applying this righteousness are those following acts of Christ's Resurrection Ascension Session Intercession c. By his death he obtained righteousness for us but by his Ascension he applies righteousness to us now it is that in especial manner he convinceth us of righteousness Because he is gone to his Father and we shall see him no more 5. That he might receive his Kingdom over us in the place appointed for it look as Kings are crowned in the chief Cities of their Kingdoms and keep their residence in their palaces near unto them so it was decent that our Saviour should be Crowned in Heaven and there sit down at Gods right hand which immediatly follows after his Ascension to which we now come SECT IV. Of God's right hand and of Christ's Session there 2. FOr the Session of Christ at God's right hand which is a consequent following after his ascension into Heaven I shall examine 1. What is God's right hand 2. What is it to sit there 3. According to what nature doth Christ sit there 4. Why is it that he sits at the right hand of God his Father in Glory 1. What is this right hand of God I answer 1. Negatively it is not any Corporal right hand of God if we speak properly God hath neither right hand nor left hand for God is not a body but a spirit or spiritual substance 2. Positively the right hand of God is the Majesty Dignity Dominion Power and â—lâ—â—y of God The right hand of the Lord is exalted Psal 118.15 Exod. 15.6 Psal 89.13 Isa 48.13 the right hand of the Lord doth valianity Thy right hand O Lord is become glorious in Power thy right hand O Lord hath dashed in pieces the enemy Thou hast a mighty arm Strong is thy hand and high iâ— thy right hand Mine hand hath laid the foundations of the earth and my right hand hath spanned the Heavens I know some of our Divines make this right hand of God something inferior to God's own power but others speak of it as every way equal and I know no absurdity to follow on it 2. What is it to sit at the right hand of God I answer it is not any corporal Session at Gods right hand as some picture him with a crown of gold on his head sitting on a Throne as if he had no other gesture in Heaven but sitting still which Stephen contradicts Acts 7.56 saying I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on thâ— right hand of God The words sitting or standing are both metaphorical and borrowed
dignity of Worship communicated to him as God and man And hence Divines usually make this one ingredient of Christ's sitting at the right hand of God viz. That Christ God and Man is the object of Divine adoration O it is a great thing and admirable and full of wonder that the man Christ should sit above at God 's right hand and be adored of Angels and Archangels Chry. Hom. 5 in Heb. Before this was the grace of Union conferred on Jesus and so he was adored before he suffered but after he had humbled himself and was made obedient unto death even to the death of the Cross then yea and therefore God highly exalted him and gave him a Name Phil. 2.8 9 10 11. which is above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow of things in Heaven and things in Earth and things under the Earth and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father He was Lord before in that he is the Son of God but now he is Lord again by vertue of his humiliation and Session at God's right hand Trouble not your selves with their objection who say That if adoration be due to Christ as God and man that then the humane nature is to be adored the Person adored is man but the humanity it self is not the proper object of that Worship There is a difference betwixt the concrete and the abstract though the man Christ be God yet his manhood is not God and by consequence not to be worshipped with that worship which is properly and essentially Divine Certainly if adoration agree to the humanity of Christ then may his humanity help and save us but the humanity of Christ cannot help and Save us because omnis actio est suppositi whereas the humane nature of Christ is not suppositum a subsistance or personal being at all 3. That he might intercede for his Saints Heb. 8.1 2. Now of the things which we have spoken this is the Summe we have such an high Priest who is set on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens and a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not men he is set on the right hand of God as an high Priest or Minister to intercede for us For as Christ is not entred into the holy Place made with hands which are the Figures of the true Heb. 9.24 but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us This appearing is an expression borrowed from the custome of human Courts for as in them when the Plaintiff or Defendant is called their Attorney appeareth in their names so when we are summoned by the justice of God to answer the complaints which it preferreth against us we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous John 2.1 Exod. 28.9 10 11 12. and he standeth up and appeareth for us or it may be this appearing hath a respect to the manner of high Priests in the time of the Law for as they used to go into the most holy place with the names of the Children of Israel written in precious stones for a remembrance of them that they might remember them to God in their Prayers so Jesus Christ being gone up to Heaven he there presents to his Father the Names of all his chosen and he remembers them to his Father in his Intercessions Certainly Christ is not gone to Heaven and advanced to the right hand of God only to live in eternal joy himself but also to procure happiness for his Saints it is to excellent purpose and to the great good of his Church that he sits at the right hand of his Father for thereby he governs and protects his people and he continually executes the Office of his Priesthood presenting himself and the sacrifice of himself and the infinite merit of that sacrifice before the eyes of his Father in their behalf 4. That true Believers may assuredly hope by vertue of Christs Session to sit themselves in the Kingdom of Glory Heb. 1.5 It is true that Christ and only Christ hath his seat at the right hand of God to which of the Saints or of the Angels did he ever say sit thou at my right hand It is a prerogative above all Creatures and yet there is something near it given to the Saints Rev. 3.21 for him that overcometh I will grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also am set down with my Father in his Throne There is a proportion though with an inequality we must sit on Christ's Throne as he sits on his Fathers Throne Christ only sits at the right hand of God but the Saints are to sit at the right hand of Christ Psal 45.9 and so the Psalmist speaks upon thy right hand did stand the Queen in Gold of Ophir It is enough to greaten the Spirits of Saints how should they tread on earth and contemn the World when they consider that one day they shall judg the World 1 Cor. 6.2 do you not know that the Saints shall judg the World nay 2 Tim. 2.12 when they consider that one day they shall reign with Christ if ye suffer with him ye shall reign with him Christ sitting in Heaven is a very Figure of us Christ's person is the great model and first draught of all that shall be done to his Body the Saints therefore he is said to be the Captain of our Salvation that leads us on he is said to be our fore-runner into Glory he breaks the clouds first he appears first before God he sits down first and is glorified first and then we follow Christ wears the Crown in Heaven as our King and he is united and marryed to God as our proxy And yet there is another ground of hope not only shall we sit with Christ in Glory but even now do we sit with him in Glory Christ is not only gone to heaven to prepare a place for us but he sits in Heaven in our room and God looks on him as the great picture of all that body whereof he is Head and he delights himself in seeing them all Glorified as in his Son To this purpose the Saints are said to sit down with Christ at very present Ephes 2.6 he hath made us to sit together with him in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus Christ in our nature is now exalted this is that admirable thing which carried up Chrysostom into an extasie that the same nature of which God said dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return should now sit in Heaven at God's right hand but not only the human nature but Christ in person sits there as a common person in our stead he is in his Throne and we sit with him in supercelestial places O what structures and pillars of hope are raised up here 5. That he might defend
he did this alone and it constituted the difference betwixt him as he was high Priest and other Priests for they killed and offered the Sacrifices without as well as he but only the high Priest was to approach the holy of hollies with blood and that but once a year 2. This was Typified by Melchizedech's Priest-hood which the Apostle argues to have been much more excellent then that of Aaron's in as much as Levi Aarons Father payed Tythes to this Melchizedech in Abrahams loyns now Melchizedech was his Type not so much in respect of his Oblation or offering Sacrifice as in respect of his continual presentation and intercession in heaven and therefore the same clause for ever still comes in when Melchizedech is named thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedech Heb. 5.6 7.17 Here then is the agreement betwixt Christ and the high-Priests of old in respect of name both were Priests and in respect of Office both had their oblations and presentations or intercessions with God in Glory 3. In the point of Intercession they agreed in these particulars 1. The high-Priest of old usually once a year went into the most Holy place within the vail and so is Christ our great high-Priest passed into the Heavens within the Vail even into the holy of holies Christ by his own blood entred in once into the holy place Not into the holy places made with hands Heb. 9.12 24. which are the Figures of the true but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us 2. The high-Priests of old had a plate of pure Gold upon their Fore-heads which was to bear the iniquity of the holy things that they might be accepted before the Lord Exod. 28.38 and so doth Christ bear the iniquity of our holy things Spiritual Christians here is your comfort you are not able to perform any duty to God but there is a great deal of sin in the same you cannot hear nor pray nor confer nor meditate without much sin but Christ bears all these sins even the iniquity of your holy things and he presents your persons and prayers without the least spot to his Father he is the Angel of the Covenant that stands at the Altar Rev. 8.3 having a golden Censer with much incense to offer it with the prayers of his Saints and so they are acceptable before the Lord. 3. The Jewish high-Priests bore the names of the Children of Israel on a breast-plate of judgment upon their hearts for a memorial before the Lord continually Exod. 28.29 and so doth Christ our great high-Priest bear the names of his people upon his heart before the Lord continually But how is Christ said to bear the names of the Saints upon his heart I answer 1. Continually in presenting of them to his Father as they are in him how is that why he represents them without spot as righteous in his own righteousness Ephes 5.27 Christ loved the Church that he might present it to his Father and in him to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish 2. In this continual remembring of them Psal 112.6 the righteous shall be had in continual remembrance this is the souls comfort in a time of desertion or in an evil day Psal 13.1 if any cry out as sometimes David did how long wilt thou forget me Lord for ever how long wilt thou hide thy face from me Isa 40.14 15 16. Let such a one remember that Christ's redeemed ones are upon his heart and he can not forget them But Zion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Oh no! can a woman forget her suckling child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet I will not forget thee behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands thy walls are continually before me the Sons of Zion are upon Christ's heart and hands and they are ever in his sight 3. In his perpetual loving of them they are near and dear unto him he hath set them as a Seal upon his heart so was the prayer of the Spouse set me as a Seal upon thine heart Cant. 8.6 as a Seal upon thine arme and then it follows for love is as strong as death Christ hath an entire love to his Saints he dyed for them and now he intercedes for them he keeps them close to his heart and there is none shall pluck them out of his hands John 13.1 for whom he loves he loves unto the end Thus far of the agreement betwixt Christ's intercessions and the intercessions of the high Priests of old SECT VI. What the difference is betwixt Christ's intercessions and the intercessions of the high Priests of old 6. VVHat is the difference betwixt Christ's Intercessions and the intercessions of the high Priests of old There is no question but howsoever they might agree in some respects yet Christ officiates in a more transcendent and eminent way then ever any high Priest did before him now the difference betwixt Christ and them and betwixt Christ's Intercessions and their Intercessions may appear in these particulars Heb. 4.14 1. They were called high Priests but Christ is called the great high Priest such a Title was never given to any but Christ whence the Apostle argues for the steadfastness of our profession seeing then that we have a great high Priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession 2. The high-Priests then were Aaron and his Sons but Christ our great high-Priest is the Son of God for so he is styled in the same verse the great high-Priest that is passed into the heavens Heb. 4.14 Jesus the Son of God 3. The high-Priests then were but for a time but Christ is a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedech Heb. 5.6 Heb. 7.3 Melchizedech saith the Apostle was without Father without Mother without descent having neither beginning of days nor end of life That is as far as it is known and so is Christ without a Father on earth and without a Mother in Heaven without beginning and without end he abides a Priest perpetually even to the end of the World yea and the vertue of his Priesthood is infinitely beyond all time even for ever and ever 4. The high-Priests then entred only into that place that was Typically holy but Christ is entred into that place that is properly holy he is entred into the Heavens or if you will as into the holy of holies so into the heaven of heavens 5. The high Priests then did not always intercede for the people only once a year the high Priest entred into the holy of holies and after he had sprinkled the mercy-seat with blood and caused a cloud to rise upon the mercy-seat with his
such custom neither the Churches of God 2. Because it favours too much of the error of Arrius Nestorius and indeed of the Romanists themselves 3. Because our prayers are most-what directed to Christ in his person or divine subsistence whose part is rather to give than to ask or if they are directed to Christ as Mediator and not simply as the only begotten Son of God then I see no incongruity though in the former respect some inconvenience but that we may pray to Christ to intercede for us for so he is God and man and he is considered according to both Natures only the difference of both Natures is still to be kept and maintained intercession is the office of the whole person of Christ and of the two natures of Christ But he performs this office one way according to his Divine nature and another way according to his humane nature I list not to quarrel about niceties it is thus agreed on all hands and that is enough to our purpose that we may call on Jesus or on God the Father in and through Jesus that Christ's intercessions may be ours and that he would make it out to us in a way of assurance every day more and more 2. Let us praise let us bless God and bless Christ for every transaction in Heaven for us It is a wonder to observe what songs of praise were chanted to Christ in Heaven for that one transaction of opening the Book and loosing the seven Seals thereof first The four beasts Rev. 5.8 9 11 12 13 14. and then the four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb having every one of them harps and golden vials full of odours which are the prayers of the Saints and they sung a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood And then the Angels round about the Throne whose number was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands came on saying worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing And then every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea came on saying blessing and honour and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever and the four beasts and four and twenty Elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever I cannot tell what other transactions may be in Heaven we have but hints of them here nor shall we fully or particularly know them till we come to Heaven but for this one transaction of Christ's intercession we cannot imagine less praise to be given to Christ than for any other O then let us do this duty on earth as it is done in Heaven what is Christ praying for us O let us be on the exercise of praising him is Christ interceding for us let us give him the glory of his intercession Heaven is full of his praises O why should not earth ring with the sound thereof Praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy Name SECT IX Of conforming to Jesus in that respect 9. LEt us conform to Jesus in respect of his intercession I cannot think but in every action of Christ there is something imitable of us And as to the present work I shall instance only in these few particulars As 1. Christ appears in Heaven for us let us appear on earth for him Is there not equity as well as conformity in this duty O my soul consider what thy Christ is doing consider wherein the intercession of Jesus Christ consists is not this the first part of it why he appears in Heaven before Saints and Angels and before God his Father in thy behalf and art thou afraid to appear before worms mortals dust and ashes in his cause or for his truth shall Jesus Christ own thee in Heaven and wilt thou not own Jesus Christ here in this world shall Jesus Christ as thy great high Priest take thy very name carry it upon his breast into the presence of God and wilt not thou take the Name of Christ and hold it forth in profession and practise to all men Oh what a mighty engagement is here to stand to Christ and to appear for Christ and to own his cause in these backsliding-times in that Christ who sits at the right hand of God is willing and ready to appear in person for us both as a Mediator and Sponsor and Solicitor and Advocate and Leiger Embassador 2. Christ spends all his time for us and our salvation let us spend all our time for him and in his service the Apostle tells us that He ever lives to make intercession for us Heb. 7.25 it is not for a day or a month or a year but he lives for ever upon this account for ever i.e. during all the time from his Ascension until the end of the world he is still interceding he spends of all that time for us and shall we think it too much time to spend a few dayes that we have here to live upon the earth for him one thinks this the greatest Argument in the world to make us to walk closely with God in Christ He spends of his eternity for us and shall not we spend of our whole time for him surely people do not think what Christ is doing in Heaven for them if you who are Saints would but seriously consider that Christ this Sabbath this day of rest is at his work that without any weariness or intermission from morning till evening and from evening till morning he is ever ever interceding how would this engage you in his service Ah Christians if you should continue praying praising reading hearing all this day without any intermission or breaking off Oh what weariness O how would you say When will the day be done when will the Sabbath be at an end Well but Christ is not weary of serving you this Sabbath and the last Sabbath and the other Sabbath and every Sabbath when you had done your duties he took your persons and duties and presented all unto his Father he prayed over your prayers and continued praying and saying Lord accept of a short poor lean imperfect service done on earth for my sake and for those merits sake which I am continually presenting to thee here in heaven Oh why do we not come up to this conformity Oh why are we so uncomformable to the actings of Christ he is preparing Mansions for us in Heaven and are we digging in this world he is making mention of our names to God and are we sinning against him and God his blood cryes O that these souls may be saved and shall our sins cry It is just that these souls should be damned O mind the exemplar Christ spends
men nor the best Ministers under Heaven escape them Are they not all say they †I lately received a paper wherein the Quakers gave the Ministers of Christ these following names Conjurers Thieves Robbers Antichrists Witches Blind guides Devils Lyars Baal's Priests Sir-Simonds Dissemblers Vpholders of the seven headed and ten-horned beasts a Viperous and Serpentine generation bloody Herodians Blasphemers Scarlet-coloured beasts Babylons Merchants Busie-bodies Whited Walls Painted Sepulchres Ravening Wolves Persecutors Tyrants Greedy dogs Pharisees Wolves Dogs Hirelings Priests of Baal Covetous Carnal Damned and what not Are they not all say they as the Devil said of Joshua cloathed with filthy garments defiled totally utterly defiled with the pollutions of Babylon Christian when you hear this language learn you to conform to Christ go you first to God with the Lords own plea Now the Lord rebuke thee O Satan even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee Zach. 3.2 And then go on in vindication of their persons and their cause are they not precious gracious holy able shining and burning lights it may be some of their persons have been faulty but say of such Is not this a brand newly pluck'd out of the fire failings and humane frailties have been in the best yea in most of the Prophets and Apostles but shall we therefore condemn to hell the generation of God's dear Children or howsoever it may be with their persons yet is not their cause and office of Christ's own institution in this respect he that despiseth you despiseth me saith Christ and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luke 10.16 Are not the Ministers of Christ as stars in the right hand of Christ they that would do them any deadly harm must pluck them thence Christians conform you to Christ in this point you see how Satan stands at the right hand of our Joshua's to resist them now then plead you their cause and answer the Adversaries accusations 6. Christ by his intercession saves us to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 O let us serve him to the uttermost surely all we can do is too little to answer so great a love as this Oh Christians why should it be esteemed a needless thing to be most rigorously conscionable and exactly circumspect Christ payed our debt to the uttermost farthing drunk every drop of our bitter cup and now presents all unto his Father by way of intercession and saves us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 throughly to the uttermost why should not we labour to perform his service and to fulfil every one of his commandments throughly and to the uttermost also certainly there is a duty which concerns us Christians as to be hot in Religion Rev. 3.16 to be zealous of good works Tit. 2.14 to walk circumspectly or precisely as the word carries it Eph. 5.15 to be fervent in spirit Rom. 12.11 to strive to enter in at the strait gate Luke 13.24 to contend for the faith Jude 3. with an holy kind of violence to lay hold upon the Kingdom of heaven Mat. 11.12 Oh what ever men should be afraid of taking God's part too much or fighting too valiantly under the Colours of Christ of being too busie about the salvation of their own souls of being singular as they call it in the duties of Religion I observe men are content to be singular in any thing save in the service of God you desire and labour to be singularly rich and singularly wise and singularly valorous and singularly proud but you can by no means endure singularity or eminency in zeal and the Lord's service in matters of Religion you are resolved to do as the most do though in so doing you damn your own souls Mat. 7.13 O come and learn this lesson of Christ he saves us to the uttermost and let us serve him to the uttermost with all our hearts and with all our souls and with all our might Thus far we have looked on Jesus in his intercession our next work is our last work which is to look on Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his coming again the very end of time to all eternity he hath no more now to do but to judge the Saints and to lead them into glory and to deliver up his Kingdom to his Father and so to live with his redeemed ones for ever and ever and ever LOOKING UNTO JESUS In his Second Coming Book X. Part VII CHAP. I. Job 19.25 27. I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth Whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another SECT I. Of Christ's preparing for Judgment AND is not yet all done O the unwearied patience love mercy free grace of Christ in carrying on this mighty work he begun it before the beginning of the world since then he hath been labouring in it about six thousand years and now the time of restoring being come he will perfect what he hath begun and bring on the other end of the Golden chain Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called Rom. 8.30 and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified In this piece also as in the former we shall first lay down the object and then give directions how to look upon it The Object is Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation in his coming again to earth and taking up with him all his Saints into Heaven In this work I shall set before you these particulars 1. Christ's preparing for judgment 2. Christ's coming to judgment 3. Christ's summons of the Elect to come under judgment 4. Christ and the Saints meeting at the judgment day 5. Christ's sentencing or judging the Saints for eternal glory 6. Christ and the Saints judging the rest of the world 7. Christ and his Saints going up into Heaven when shall be the end of this world 8. Christ surrendring and delivering up the Kingdom to God even the Father 9. Christ's subjection to the Father that God may be all in all 10. Christ notwithstanding this being all in all to his blessed saved redeemed Saints to all eternity 1. For his preparing for judgment When once the number of all his Elect shall be compleated and the work of his intercession shall be at an end then immediately will follow these particulars As Rev. 16.17 1. A great voice comes out of the Temple of Heaven saying it is done It comes out of the Temple of Heaven that we may understand it to be the voice of Christ And if this speech be directed unto God it is as if Christ had bespoke his Father thus And now John 17.12 O my Father I have done that office of the Priest-hood which by agreement we erected is now at an end here I have sate at thy right hand interceding for my Saints ever since my ascension and of all that thou hast given me by
in his Kingly but now he must be fully honoured in his Kingly office Rev. 11.15 now especially The Kingdoms of this world must become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and so he shall reign for ever and ever Certainly there is a difference betwixt Christ's reign before and his present reign at the day of judgment Christ hath a double Throne wherein he sits and reigns Rev. 3.21 To him that overcomes will I give to sit with me in my throne as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne That Kingly rule that Christ hath from his ascension is upon his Fathers Throne but the Kingdom that Christ shall have at the day of judgment and ever after it is the joynt reign of him with the Father he shall have a Throne himself and the Saints shall sit with him in his own Throne And now saith the Father John 5.22 Sit thou at my right hand q. d. sit on thy own Throne by me go on to judge the Nations I will not judge them but only in thee and by thee Lo I have committed all judgment unto the Son and do thou judge them until thou hast rewarded thy friends and made thine enemies thy footstool Mark He hath committed all judgment unto the Son the Father gives the Son a Commission wherein is written as it were these words My Son now is the time or season which I had put in my own power and my pleasure is 2 Pet. 3.10 13. that all the world shall be set on fire these heavens under thee shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up and I will have new heavens and a new earth wherein shall dwell righteousness go too then put on thy robes appear in thy glory empty thiâ— heaven of all those glorious spirits that are therein and let them wait on thee to thy judgment seat go pass thy doom upon all flesh and send reprobates to hell and bring up hither all thy Saints that they may live with thee and here behold thy glory for ever and ever Lo here is thy commission be gone and return no more hither until it be accomplished Christians I cannot but wonder at this joy and exultation in Heaven Vse and that we have so little or none of this on earth we say with cold lips and frozen hearts Thy Kingdom come thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven but if our prayers were real and fervent if we could but imitate those heavenly Citizens what longings would be in our hearts after Christ's coming how should we rejoyce at the very thoughts hereof Christ comforting his Disciples in respect hereof he speaks these words Luke 21.28 When these things begin to come to pass then look up said he and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh The fulness of our redemption is a ground of consolation all the spirits above are sensible of this God and Christ and the Angels and Saints rejoyce Rev. 12.19 Ver. 20. and again rejoyce The Spirit and the Bride say come and Christ himself saith Surely I come quickly O let us say Amen to it Even so come Lord Jesus SECT II. Of Christ coming to judgment 2. FOr Christ's coming to judgment no sooner Christ prepared and all in readiness but down he descends from his Imperial throne to the Judgment-seat In this passage I shall observe these particulars 1. He descends with his Train He comes with his Royal Attendants out of Heaven This is the glory of a Prince that hath so many Nobles waiting on him and this is the glory of Jesus Christ that when he comes to judge the world he shall have his Saints and Angels the glory of the creation to be his Attendants in that work Behold the Lord comes with mighty Angels 2 Thes 1.7 Jude 14. Behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all Certainly a numberless number shall wait upon him Daniel tells us of a thousand thousand that this day Minister unto Christ A thousand thousands ministred unto him Dan. 7.10 and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him or if Heaven have more I believe Heaven will empty it self of all the Saints and all the Angels not one Spirit whether Saint or Angel shall stay behind when Christ descends Matth. 25.31 The Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him Oh what a glorious day will this be if one Sun make the morning Sky so glorious what a bright shining and glorious morning will that be when so many thousands of Suns shall shine over all our heads the glorious Body of our Christ surpassing them all in splendor and glory here 's a new Heaven of Sun and Stars such as this nether-world never saw Lo yond the Sun of righteousness with all his Morning-stars singing and shouting for joy Heaven now empties it self of all its created Citizens and cleaves asunder to make way for Christ and all his Train Matth. 24.29 2. In his descent through the Heavens he shakes the Heavens And the powers of the heaven shall be shaken The whole frame of Heaven most strong and immutable in its being and motion or the mighty bodies thereof most mighty in their substance lastingness motion and operation shall be shaken I know by the powers of heaven some mean the Angels who at this wonderful descent of Christ shall admire and move but I rather think the Heavens themselves are meant hereby whose very nature shall be moved Job 26.11 and shaken at that day At his nod the pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished As yet they are Subject to vanity and therefore 't is no wonder if at the coming of Christ they tremble and are moved In this moving or shaking the Evangelists adds that the glorious lights of Heaven shall be altered Matth. 24.29 The Sun shall be darkened and the Moon shall not give her light Adventum Christi tantam lucem allaturam ut ea solis lunae splendor obscuretur Aretius in loc Certissimum autem diem judicii magna majestate sore ut rede sol luna dicantur obscurandi Aretius in loc Psal 50.3 and the Stars shall fall Many interpretations are given of this I am not for Allegories but rather conceive these things are real the very coming of Christ shall bring with him such a light that the splendor of the Sun and Moon shall be obscured this is most certain saith Aretius that both Sun and Moon shall really be darkened at that day it is the glory of his Majesty that will dazle those Candles 3. As he passes through the Elementary world a fire doth usher him Our God shall come and shall not keep silence a fire shall devour before him and it shall be very
of earth other and wept so will this discovery in the appearances of Christ bring a sweet confusion upon the Spirits of Saints then shall a Saint fall at the feet of his Saviour and weeping say O my Jesus thou art my Father Brother Husband Self while there were other things I loved other things besides thy self but alas they are everlastingly gone and have left me alone yet now thou ownest me O my Jesus thou breakest my heart oh I cannot but weep out tears of love and tears of joy at this appearing O welcome welcome sweet Jesus into these clouds oh welcome welcome sweet Jesus into this neather world In these Clouds I must leave our Saviour for a while and the rather because I believe he will descend no lower onely before I pass one word of Use to all his Saints Vse You see him still upon his old design though the world now end yet hitherto there is no end of his great transaction his first coming and his second coming is to save your souls his first coming was to purchase his second to give you the possession of Salvation What are you not glad of this Gospel-news that Christ will come at last from this Empyreal Throne to his judgment-seat to give you the possession of salvation is not the promise of his coming comfortable is it not comfortable to believe in him and to hope for him why muse then what comfort will it be to see his person with all his glorious train coming for you Psal 50.1 2 3 4. The Mighty God the Lord hath spoken and called the Earth from the rising of the Sun to the going down thereof out of Zion the perfection of beauty hath God shined our God shall come and shall not keep silence a fire shall devour before him and it shall be very tempestuous round about him he shall call to the heavens from above and to the earth that he might judge his people It is indeed a most terrible day unto the wicked but oh how sweet and pleasant and comfortable to his Saints Christians do we not long to have Christ's Spirit come into our souls with life do we not droop while Christ is absent from our souls are not the feet of them beautiful that bring glad tydings of peace and of salvation by Jesus Christ Oh then what will it be to see the King not in his Embassadors but in his own person coming for us to fetch us into Heaven if we have but a dear friend returned from some far Country how do all run out to meet him with joy Oh saith the child my father is come saith the wife my husband is come and shall not we when we see our Father our Husband our Head our Saviour returning with great glory and glorious Majesty cry out he is come he is come shall not we at the first view of him in his clouds cry out O yonder is he whose blood redeemed us whose Spirit cleansed us whose prayers prevailed for us whose Law did govern us yonder comes he in whom we trusted and now we see he hath not deceived our trust yonder is he for whom we waited long and now we see we have not waited in vain I verily believe thus it will be with us one day we shall have comfort then oh let us comfort our selves with these words and ever and anon cry Come Lord Jesu come quickly Cant. 8.14 make hast my beloved and be thou like to a Roe or to a young Hart upon the Mountain of spices SECT III. Of Christ's summoning of the Elect to come under judgment 3. FOR Christ's summons of the Elect to come under judgment no sooner is he in the clouds his Throne of judicature but there he stands and thence he sends his holy Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet Mat. 24.31 and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of the heaven to another Christ's summons are effectual if he will have the elect to meet him they must come to this purpose he sends his Angels and they return with his Saints back again to the judgement-seat In the carrying on of this affair we shall discuss these particulars 1. His mission of the Angels 2. The manner of the mission 3. The resurrection of the world 4. The collection of the Saints wherein 1. whence 2. whither they are gathered 1. For Christ's mission of his Angels he shall send his Angels This was their office from their first creation they were still sent of God this way and that way and indeed herein is one difference betwixt Christ and the Angels he was to fit on God's right hand but they were sent abroad to Minister to the Saints and people of God Heb. 1.13 14. To which of the Angels said he at any time sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy foot-stool are they not all Ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation Now according to their office Christ puts them upon imployment at this day q. d. O my Angels you that wait upon me that excel in strength Psal 103.20 Psal 50.5 that do my commandments and hearken to the voice of my Word go your wayes now into all the four winds of the World gather all my Saints together unto me those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice search into all the dusts of the earth and leave not behind one dust that belongs unto any Saint search into the bottom of the Sea see what becomes of those drowned bodies of my dear ones if either worms have eaten those in graves or fishes have devoured them in the deep why now restore them am not I as able to recover them as I was to create them is it not as easie for me to raise the dead as to make Heaven and Earth and all of nothing go then and gather together all those dusts and let every dust be brought home to its own proper body and compact those dusts as soft as they are into solid bones and prophesie upon those bones and say unto them O ye dry bones hear the word of the Lord thus saith the Lord behold I will cause breath to enter into you and ye shall live Ezek. 37.4 5 6. and I will lay sinews upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you and ye shall live and ye shall know that I am the Lord why this is my will and pleasure and therefore be gone O my Angels do your office what have not I commanded you 2. The Mission or commission or dismission given the Angels swift messengers of his will fall on the execution and to that purpose immediately they sound the Trumpet so it follows And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet Here is the manner of their mission they go and as they go they give a shout what this shout is or how it is
made is a curious question and sets many wits on work in this Scripture it is set out by the sound of a Trumpet * Anselmus in elucidario Suarez tuba ex aere Doctor Slater who faith I see not but we may take it properly c. Cornelius a lapide Mat. 24.31 1 Cor. 15.52 1 Thes 4.16 Now some would have it to be a material Trumpet because the Scriptures frequently call it a Trumpet He shall send his Angels with the sound of a Trumpet saith Christ and in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump we shall be changed saith Paul for the Trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised And the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout and with the voice of the Archangel and with the Trumpet of God But whether this Trumpet shall be of Silver or of Brass or of the Air or of the Cloud and Meteors whereon Christ rides they cannot agree †Piscator Estius Aretius alii fere omnes others more probably look upon this Trumpet as nothing else but a metaphor or a sound formed in the Air like the sound of a Trumpet A voice it is without all controversie and metaphorically it may be called a trumpet both from the clearness and greatness of the sound so loud shall it be that 't will pierce into the ears of the dead in their graves It will shake the world rend the rocks break the mountains dissolve the bonds of Death Cui omnia obediunt elementa petras scindit inferos aperit c. Chrysost in 1 Cor. 15. burst down the gates of Hell and unite all spirits to their own Bodies An horrible terrible voice shall it be But how should Angels who are spirits make a voice by a collision of the Air which the Angels can move at their pleasure and who can tell say some but there may be some new-created instrument trumpet-like adapted for the Angels at the sides of which by a force and collision of the air this great shout may be to convene all the World or who knows say others but that the Lord Jesus may fill the Angels even as trumpets are filled with a loud blast and that through them this loud blast shall come rushing like a mighty wind upon the dead Saints and so awaken their bodies out of the dust we all know this was usual in all the Jews solemnities to convene the people by the found of a trumpet And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Make thee two trumpets of silver Numb 10 1 2 3 9. That thou mayest use them for the calling of the Assembly And when thou shalt blow them all the Assembly shall assemble themselves and if ye go to war then ye shall blow an alarme with the Trumpets and in the same way say they Christ now will convene all the World with the sound of a trumpet or with the sound of some such instrument of divine power and vertue whereby the dead shall be raised and their bodies and souls re-united Amidst all those Authors if I may deliver my opinion I suppose the Text that will clear all to us above all that is written is that of 1 Thessalonians 4.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout 1 Thes 4.16 with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God Give me leave to insist on it that we may come up yet to a more full and perfect knowledg of this passage In these words is shewed or held forth the coming of Christ in three particulars with a shout with a voice and with a trumpet some think this to be one and the same set out in variety of expressions but I am of another mind It is agreed by most that the transactions at the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai were a representation of the proceedings which shall be at the great day of Judgment now in that transaction we read of a three-fold voice The voice of God the voice of Thunder and the voice of a Trumpet Exod. 19.16 compared with Exod. 20.1 and accordingly we find the Apostle speaking of a three-fold voice Of the voice of Christ of the voice of Thunder and of the voice of a Trumpet 1. The Lord himself shall descend with a shout Arius Montanus and the vulgar translate it with a command Lyra and others think this to be the voice of Christ himself saying John 11.48 with a loud voice Arise ye dead and come to Judgment Thus Jesus cryed with a loud voice Lazarus come forth and with such a voice will he call on the dead at the last day Jâ—hn 5.25 So much Christ himself hath taught us The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live The hour is because by his voice he raised some at his first coming and the hour is coming because in the like manner he will raise up all men at the last day Marvel not at this saith Christ for the hour is coming John 5.28 in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and they shall come forth As at the creation of the World he said Let there be light and there was light so at the dissolution of the World he will say Let the dead arise let the Sea give up the dead that are in it and Death and Hell deliver up the dead which are in them and it will be so 2. The Lord shall descend with the voice of the Archangel Two questions here 1. Who is this Archangel 2. What is this voice For the first some argue this Archangel to be Gabriel others Raphael others Michael The Jews have an antient tradition that there are seven principal Angels that minister before the throne of God and therefore called Archangels The Scriptures seem to speak much that way Revel 4.5 Rev. 5.6 Zach 4.10 Rev. 8.2 calling them seven Lamps of fire burning before the throne and seven hornes and seven eyes of the Lamb and the seven spirits of God sent forâ—h into all the earth and seven eyes of the Lord which run to and fro through the whole earth and yet more plainly seven Angels that stand before God Now which of these Seven is the Archangel here spoken of is hard to determine only probable it is that all the Archangels and all the angels are hereby understood as comprehended under that one to which agrees Matth. 24.31 Mr. Aynsworth observes that when things are done by a multitude where one is chief that the action is frequently ascribed either to the multitude or to him that is chief indifferently as Jehoiadah brought forth the Kings Son and he put the Crown upon him 2 Kings 11.12 or they brought forth the Kings son and they put upon him the Crown 2 Chron. 23.11 so David offered burnt-offerings 2 Sam. 6.17 or they offered burnt offerings 1 Chron. 16.1 and
so he shall descend with the voice of the Archangel or he shall scend his Angels with a great sound Matth 24.3 That there are seven principal Angels Master Mede affirms and that there is one which yet eminently is called the Archangel some others affirm as among Devils there is one chief Devil Mat. 25.41 called the Prince of Devils and therefore the fire is said to be prepared for the Devil and his Angels so from this Text of 1 Thess 4.16 and of Dan. 10.13 and of Jude v. 9. Some probably conclude that the good Angels have a Prince even Michael whom Jude calls the Archangel But of this no more the Lord keep me from intruding into those things which I have not seen Collos 2.18 The day it self will discover it and so I leave it as having said enough to satisfie the sober minded For the second what is this voice of the Archangel I conceive that thereby we are to understand thunder here is as we have said a manifest allusion to the proceedings at the giving of the Law now the voice there mentioned besides the voice of God Exod. 19.16 20.18 Heb. 2.2 and the voice of a trumpet is the voice of Thunder And it came to pass on the third day in the morning there were thunders In this sense some expound these words of the Apostle where the Law is said to be spoken by Angels because the Angels did raise up those extraordinary thunders which happily were the matters of the articulate voice in which the Lord spake to Israel or if the Law was spoken by Christ as I have delivered my opinion elsewhere he being the Angel of the Covenant Book 3. ch 1. Sect. 4. Mal. 3 1 And the Angel of his presence Isa 63.9 Yet this hinders not but that created Angels might speak the Law too if not in respect of the articulate voyce yet in respect of the voyce of thunders which attended on it thus thunder is often called the voyce of God and the voyce of his excellency Job 37.4 5. Psalm 29.3 4 5 6 7 8 9. 3. The Lord shall descend with the trumpet of God Such a voyce was used also at the giving of the Law Exod. 19.16 and Exod. 20.18 and so it will be now when men are called to account for the keeping or breaking of it For the understanding of this our last translation tells us Mat. 24.31 that Christ shall send his Angels with the great sound of a trumpet but in four Greek copies as Beza confesseth as also in the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew and in the Vulgar and in the margent of our last translation it is read that Christ shall send his Angels with a trumpet and a great voyce And so the latter words are exegetical q. d. with a trumpet that is with a great voyce like the voice of a trumpet so that this reading very provably proves that the last trumpet is to be taken metaphorically For the more full confirmation whereof I argue thus when any thing is ascribed to the Angels which is not suitable to their spiritual nature and which they have no need of for the work they are about is it to be taken metaphorically unless the context or some other Scripture force us to a proper acceptation but a material trumpet of Silver Brass or the like metal is not suitable to the spiritual nature of the Angels neither have they need of such a trumpet for producing a great sound in the Air it is evident that without a trumpet they can make a great sound like the noise of a trumpet and there is nothing at all in the Scriptures that will force us or probably lead us to a proper acceptation of the word add yet to what hath been said that sometimes a great voice is set out by the similitude of a Trumpet I heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet Rev. 1.10 and the first voyce which I heard was as it were of a trumpet Rev. 4.1 But why is this sound as of a trumpet called the trumpet of God I answer for the greatness of it for its usual in the Hebrew Language for the setting forth of greatness excellency or superlativeness of a thing to add the Name of God to the word whereby the thing is signified as Gen. 23.6 A Prince of God i.e. a Mighty Prince Gen. 30.8 With the wrestlings of God i.e. with great wrestlings Psal 36.6 Mountains of God i.e. Great mountains Psal 80.10 Cedars of God i.e. very high Cedars So here the trump of God i.e. A very great sound like the sound of a trumpet It is said in the Law there were thunders and lightnings Exod. 19.16 and a thick cloud upon the mount and the voyce of the trumpet exceeding loud so that all the people that was in the camp trembled and if there was trembling at the giving of the Law oh what trembling will be at the general Assize when sinners shall be condemned for breaking of it 3. No sooner the shout made but the Saints arise it is true the Saints that are alive need no resurrection but upon them will this trumpet have its effect Somthing like death shall ceaze upon them and they shall be changed The order of this is given in by the Apostle from the Lord This we say unto you by the Word of our Lord 1 Thes 4.15.16 17. that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep for the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voyce of the Archangel and with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them into the clouds The first that shall be called are the Saints that sleep and then the Saints that are alive shall be immediatly changed Oh what a day will this be what a strange sight to see all the dead ever since the beginning of the World rise out of their graves for the wicked I believe they shall rise like Toads from their holes in a black swarthy ugly colour A question is amongst the Schools whether Reprobates shall rise again with all their deformities which they had in this life as some of them being blind halt lame maimed deaf dum c. Whether now they shall rise in the self-same condition for my part I conceive that whereas God the author of nature will at that day restore humane nature that therefore there shall be no defects of natural parts certainly nothing shall be wanting in the damned which may impede the sense of torment in any part now a defect of any member would hinder these universal torments that must ceaze on every part of the bodies of the damned in Hell their bodies therefore shall be whole onely the bodies of such shall be foul ugly heavy lumpish bodies as opposed to the glorious qualities of the bodies of
Saints why what bodies you will say have they I answer glorious bodies no sooner shall the bodies of the Saints arise but they shall exceed with singular qualities 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44 They were sown in corruption but they are raised in incorruption they were sown in dishonour but raised in glory they were sown in weakness but raised in power they were sowen natural bodies but raised spiritual bodies The Sun in its shinings doth but shadow forth the glory of their bodies and this will in some measure torment Reprobates to see the difference of their bodies and the bodies of the Saints O will they say yond are they whom we despised and now are they honoured See a world of Suns rising at once out of all parts of the Earth sometimes we lived on Earth and we never saw but one Sun rising in the East but lo millions of Suns on East and West and North and South O those are the glorious Saints of Heaven see with what swift and agile bodies they are preparing to fly into the Air to meet their Lord and Saviour there whilst in the mean time we rise with such heavy dull and deformed bodies that we cannot mount O what will become of us why this is the day of resurrection The Angels have been here to unseal our graves to roll away the stones and at their shout and sound of the Trumpet our scattered dusts have met together and lo now we stand upon the Earth 4. No sooner the Saints raised and their souls and Bodies re-united with excellent Majesty but then shall all the elect of God from first to last be gathered together if you ask whence and whither I answer 1. To the question whence from the four winds from one end of Heaven to another i.e. From all parts of the world from East and West and North and South from one end of Heaven to another a Vulgar term in regard of our sight for in it self Heaven is round and hath no end the meaning is that not one Saint in all the world from Adam to the last man shall be concealed or lye hid from the most hidden inward secret bosom of the earth all shall be gathered howsoever their dusts may be scattered into a thousand thousand parts yet the power of Christ shall restore all those dusts and bring them together into their several compacted bodies 2. To the question whether they shall be gathered Some say to the Valley of Jehoshaphat Joel 3.12 from that Text Let the Heathen be weakened and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge the Heathen round about but I believe this Text hath reference to a particular judgment of God upon Israels enemies which dwell round about Jerusalem and not to the general day of Judgment Others say Acts 1.11 12. to Mount-Olivet from that Text This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven then returned they unto Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet But I believe this Text speaks onely of the manner how Christ shall come and not of the place to which he shall come Indeed 't is not probable that either the valley of Jehoshaphat or the Mount of Olivet can be sufficient places to contain all the men that ever were are and shall be and therefore if such a thing can be determined I should rather appeal to that Text 1 Thes 4.17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them that are raised in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air When Christ was askt this very question where Lord whither shall the Saints be gathered where shall the general Judgment be he answers wheresoever the body is thither will the Eagles be gathered together By the body Christ meant himself and by the Eagles Christ meant his Elect because their youth is renewed as the Eagles now the elect must resort to Christ wheresoever he is and the Apostle is express that Christ is in the air and in the clouds and therefore thither must the elect be gathered Luke 17.37 they shall be caught up by the holy Angels into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air Vse O my brethren what sights are these what changes wonders strange face of things will be this day how is it that we are not as frequent in the meditation of this Summons as Jerom was who as he thought heard dayly that sound Arise ye dead and come to Judgment methinks a sad and serious consideration of these passages might keep us close to Christ come try a little if in the hurryings of the day we are so distracted that we cannot reach the spiritual part of a meditation yet in the evening or morning when all is still or in the night-season when all is quiet then labour to prevent the day of doom so realize it as if then we saw Christ in the clouds sending his Angels on this errand Away and bring hither all the men and women in the world and in the first place gather my Saints together unto me Adam and Abraham those Fathers of the world and of the faithful let them see all their children and let all their children see them and bring them all to my Throne awaken the world let them who have slept in their graves some thousand of years be now rouzed and raised Imagine then as if we heard the Trumpet of God founded by the Angels of God and as the sound of it waxed louder and louder that we saw the Mountains skip like Rams and the little Hills like young Sheep That we saw all the graves in Churches or Church-yards in Fields or Plains or Seas fly open that we saw all the bodies of the dead beginning to stir and to stand upon their feet and presently the Angels coming and taking all the Saints upon their wings and so flying with them through the air till they came to the Throne and judgment-seat of Christ is it possible that such a meditation should pass without some tincture of it on our spirits if my ears shall hear that sound and if my eyes shall see these sights is it not time for me to lay these things to heart that I may be found faithful and well-doing as sure as I have this Book in my hand I must be one of those that shall hear the sound of the Trumpet and away I must from the mouth of my grave where ever I shall be buried to the cloud where Christ doth sit come then how would I rise as foul as a toad or as an Angel of God O my God! set this home on my soul O where 's my Lamp and where 's my oyl are all ready and am I ready furnished and prepared to meet the Lord in the Air Christians if we have any life in us let us act and realize this to the life O this would keep
ascension that have been interceding for thee and making ready the Bride-chamber where thou and I must live for ever and ever and now I come higher into the clouds to meet thee more than half the way and my meaning is to take thee by the hand and to bring thee to my Father now do I take thee for my own O my Sister my Spouse thou art as dear to me as my own dear heart come see into my bosom see here Love written in the golden letters of free-grace come near for I must have thee with me and I will never more be so strange to thee as to this day sometimes thy sins have made a wall of partition between me and thee sometimes I withdrew and was gone and I hid my self beyond the curtains and for a time thou hast layen hid in the closset of the grave but now wee 'l never part more anon I will bring thee to my Father and I will say to him Father behold here my Spouse that I have married unto my self in the mean time welcome to thy Jesus I have purchased thee with my blood I have paid dear for thee and now I 'll wear thee as a Crown and ornament for ever 5. Christ sets them on his right hand Psal 45.9 Vpon thy right hand doth stand the Queen in Gold of Ophir This is the sign of Christ's love and respect to his Saints when he himself ascended up into Heaven then said the Father to him Son sit thou down at my right hand and no sooner the Saints are ascended up to Christ but he speaks the same to them Sit thou down at my right hand Christ entertains them as God the Father entertained him he at the right hand of God and they at the right hand of Christ And herein is set forth the great exaltation of the Saints as Christ being set at God's right hand God highly exalted him and gave him a Name above every Name so now are the Saints highly exalted by Jesus Christ now are they filled with unmatchable perfections now is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the fulness of perfection and fulness of honour and glory conferred upon them Vpon his right hand is set the Queen in gold of Opnir i e. in the best richest finest Gold the Lord now puts upon his Saints heavens glory he adorns them with all his ornaments fit for the marriage day and indeed here is the beginning of the solemnity of the marriage of the Lamb not but that the contract was before but the solemnity was reserved for this day and all the glory of this day is for nothing else but to set out the solemnity of the marriage As the Bridegroom on the day of nuptials comes forth in his glory and as the Bride on the marriage-day comes forth in her best array and as the servants and parents and friends and all appear on the marriage-day in as much glory as they can so Christ on this day comes forth in his glory with all his Angels in their glory and the Saints the Lambs wife The Kings Daughter is all glorious without and within Psal 45.13 Though Stars may lose their shining when the Sun ariseth yet the glory of the Saints shall be no less because of the Sun of righteousness but rather more This is the day that Christ shall honour his Saints before all the world come will he say and sit you down at my right hand as a Shepheard divideth his Sheep from the Goats so will I separate you from wicked reprobates why you are they for whom the eternal councels of my Father did work you are they in whom I am now to be gloryfied for ever and therefore now will I exalt and advance and honour you sit here or stand here on my right hand O come come hither to the right hand of your Saviour 6. Hereupon Christ fully and actually joys in them and they in him he joys in them because now he sees of the travail of his soul he sees the issue of all his doings and sufferings hereon earth he sees now the great work he hath brought about to wit the glory of his Saints and he cannot but rejoyce therein As a man that makes a work that is very curious and glorious he takes abundance of delight to look upon it when God made the world he lok't upon what he made and he saw it was good and he delighted in it So Christ looks on his Saints and when he sees what he hath done in raising so poor a worm to so high an excellency he takes infinite delight therein now he sees that he hath attained his end in that great design and deepest councels that he had before the world he was then resolved to save a number of sinners and to bring them at last to himself that they might behold him in his glory and manifest the riches of his grace and to that purpose hath he still been carrying on the great work of souls salvation as we have heard and now that he sees it accomplished and fulfilled in them he must needs delight Ephes 3.17 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem fear thou not and to Zion let not thy hands be faint for the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save thee he will rejoyce over thee with joy he will rest in his love he will joy over thee with singing And as he joys in them so they cannot but rejoyce in him as he delights in their glory so they cannot but delight in his glory are they not at Christ's right hand and is not that the place of pleasure the Paradise of God Psal 16.11 In thy presence is fulness of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore The very setting them on Christ's right hand is the beginning of Heavens joy Jude 24. The presence of Christ makes joy exceeding joy saith Jude oh but what joy what fulness of joy what exceeding joy will it be to be set at Christ's right hand now begins that joy that never never shall have end O the complacency which the blessed feel in their seeing knowing loving and being beloved of Jesus Christ O my Christ let me have tribulation here let me here spend my days in sorrow and my breath in sighings punish me here cut me in pieces here burn me here so that I may there be placed at thy right hand for then joy will come and sorrow will vanish sorrow is but for a night this night of life but joy will come in the morning of the resurrection and it never shall be night again SECT V. Of Christ's sentencing his Saints 5. FOR Christ sentencing of his Saints no sooner are they set on his right hand but he prepares for sentence in the opening of which we must consider 1. The preparative 2. The sentence it self 1. The preparative before sentence will be some exploration or trial of the parties to be sentenced
as Rev. 20.12 1. The Book must be opened And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of life It is spoken after the manner of men in whose publick Judgments are produced all the writings of the process informations depositions of witnesses to shew that all actions Aug. l. 20. de civitate Dei cap. 14. even the most secret ones shall then be rehearsed and made manifest Augustine thinks these Books to be the Books of the Old and New Testament wherein all things either to be done or omitted are prescribed by God and then shall these Books be opened Rom. 2.16 Orig. Com. ad Rom. 14. because according to them shall sentence be given In that day God shall Judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Origen and all most all with him think these Books to be the Books of our consciences which now are shut up and concealed from men but then shall be made manifest to all the world whatever these Books are we find here one Book opened which is proper to the Saints called the Book of Life This Book contains in it the names of all that are elected from first to last Thou John and thou Joseph and thou Judeth and thou Mary and thou Elizabeth c. you are all Book'd down there is the particularity and there is the certainty Your names are written in Heaven rejoyce in it Oh what is the joy of Saints when once they see this book opened and their names inrolled engraven there in letters of glory This very Book clears it to me that God from all eternity made choice of a particular and determinate number of Persons to save them and that none other can be saved but those who were so elected and whosoever are so elected Rev. 13.8 17.8 they shall not fall away All that worship the Beast their names are not written in the Book of life of the Lamb from the foundation of the world On the other side Rev. 3.5 He that overcometh the same shall be written in the Book of life and I will not blot out his name but I will confess his name before my Father and before his Angels This is the day when that book of life shall be opened and Christ shall read the names of every elect person before God and Angels not that Christ needs a book or indeed reads a name but that his Election stands so firm that he knows every predestinated Saint as well as we know their names whom for our memories we commit unto our books and then he will so honour his Saints that he will publish their names to all the world 2. All the actions demeanours graces duties and it may be sins of Saints shall be produced and laid open the holy Ghost tells us that the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books It appears hence that not onely names but things were written and these things were produced and accordingly they were judged 1. As to evil things unfruitful works of darkness It is a question and I dare not be too positive in it viz. Whether the sins of God's People shall be manifest at the day of Judgment Some are for the negative because God in his promises speaks so expresly Isa 43.25 44.22.38.17 John 5.24 Of forgiving iniquities of remembring them no more of blotting them out of throwing them into the bottom of the Sea of casting them behind his back in which respect say they the Godly are said not to come into Judgement I suppose this last Text is ill urged for by Judgment is not meant discussion but condemnation and in our best Translations so it is rendred others are for the affirmative upon these grounds 1. Because many of the Godly and wicked men's sins are mingled together and there cannot be a Judgment of discussion preceding that of condemnation unless Godly men's sins are also produced 2. Because it is spoken generally in respect of all sorts that the Books were opened By which Books most understand the consciences of men and by the opening of those Books they understand the manifesting clearing and discovering of consciences at that general day 3. Because the Scriptures are express for the affirmative not but that those Texts are truths that sins are forgiven blotted out thrown away to be remembred no more i.e. as to condemnation but as for exploration or discussion the Lord speaks universally that of every idle word that men speak Mat. 12.36 they shall give an account thereof at the day of Judgment If the ballance weigh down on this side for my part I am not peremptory but shall easily submit to the spirits of the Prophets yet this manifestation shall not be for the shame grief trouble ignominy or confusion of the godly but only for the setting up of God's justice and that the goodness and free grace of God in Christ may be made more illustrious how will Christ then be exalted when all the world shall see his righteousness and goodness his truth and mercy now again meeting together and kissing each other it was so at his first coming and it will be so at his second coming then shall his justice and mercy his righteousness and goodness be manifested to all in that by his own merits notwithstanding their sins he will bring all his Saints to his heavenly glory 2. As for good things whether good works duties or graces there is no question but all these will be that day produced and laid open 1. We see Christ enumerating the good works of them on his right hand for I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked Mat. 25.35 26. and ye cloathed me sick and ye visited me in prison and ye came unto me It is true in this catalogue we find nothing of faith but all of works but certainly faith is included as the life of the Tree is included in the fruit not only nor principally are works here mentioned for the goodness of the work considered in it self but as these works did express our faith and love to Jesus Christ in that by saith we could see Christ in a poor beggar or prisoner and could love Jesus Christ in these poor better than all our worldly goods or liberties I do not wonder that Paul adviseth his Corinthians See that ye abound in this grace of contribution to the Saints 2 Cor. 8.7 Phil. 1.9 1 Thes 1.12 and that he prayeth his Philipians And this I pray that your love may abound yet more And that he prayeth for his Thessalonians now the Lord make you to increase and to abound in love one towards another and towards all men and that he praiseth God in their behalf We are bound to thank God always for you brethren as it is
meet 2 Thes 1.3 because that your faith groweth exceedingly and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth Christians if we did but consider that every duty done to God or Man that every penny given to a poor naked Saint that every cup of cold water given to a Prophet in the name of a Prophet should not lose his reward but this day should be reckoned up or drawn as it were into a full Inventory Imprimis For this piece of silver given such a day to such a one Item For this piece of bread such a day given to such a one c. Oh who would not abound in faith and love oh who would think any thing too much too good too dear to give to the needy members of Jesus Christ there is a charge laid upon Ministers to preach this Doctrine I beseech you give me leave to discharge my duty and to lay it and leave it at your doors where beggars usually stand 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. Charge them that are rich in this world that they do good that they be rich in good works ready to destribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life You to whom God hath given the riches of this world as you would meet Christ with comfort learn this lessen consider whether of these too reckonings will be more comfortable at that day Item So much given to such and such a religious use or so much given towards such a Feast and for the entertainment of such brave gallants so much to promote the Gospel or so much at Dice Cards Horse-races if one should tell you that either you must feed Christ in the poor or you must starve in Hell you must either cloath naked Christ in the poor or you must be laid naked to the fiery indignation of the Lord for ever oh what strictness would you call this but I recollect my self if Christ set you at his right hand he will then recount all your charities and all your labours of love to the Saints you that are poor and had nothing to give he will tell you of your good works if it was no more but at such a time you cast a mite into his Treasury and at such a time you carried a Letter for the Lord Jesus he will produce and commend these pittances of your poor charities to all the world 2. Nor only good works to man but all the Saints duties to God shall come in remembrance Oh then it will be known who served the Lord in spirit and truth and who did not then Men and Angels shall know such a day this poor Saints performed such a spiritual service every prayer in publick or private every tear shed for sin every sob or sigh every spiritual meditation or self-examination every glance ejaculation or looking unto Jesus shall be recounted by Jesus It was said of Cornelius Act. 10.4 that as well his prayers to God as his alms to men came up for a memorial before God certainly every duty in reference to the first table is booked in Heaven and at this day the book being opened it will appear that such a prayer thou madest such a morning and such an evening in thy closet Mat. 6.6 and now will Christ say Did not I tell thee that if thou wouldst pray to thy Father in secret then he that saw thee in secret should reward thee openly why now shalt thou have thy reward in a full view I will divulge here all thy secret duties to Men and Angels all the world shall know it thy wandrings I told them Psal 56.8 and thy tears I bottled them lo here are they not all written in my Book 3. Nor onely duties but graces shall now be rehearsed thy Knowledge Faith Hope Love spiritual Joy thy Fear Obedience Repentance Humility Meekness Patience Zeal Perseverance shall be fully discovered time was that in the incense of such a Prayer many sweet spices were burned together therein was Faith working by Love therein was Humility therein was Patience in submiting to God's will and pleasure therein was Hope of a gracious answer in God's due time therein was Holiness brokenness of Heart Cant. 5.1 and love to others c. Time was saith Christ that I gathered my myrr with my spices that I eat my honey-comb with my honey that I both accepted and delighted my self in thy heavenly graces I shall never forget how thou didst ravish my heart my sister my spouse how thou dost ravish my heart with one of thine eyes and with one chain of thy neck Why thus shall the Lord set forth and tell all the world what gracious children he had then will appear indeed the Meekness of Moses the Faith of Abraham the Patience of Job the Zeal of Phineas the Love of Magdalen and according to the measure of grace conferred upon thee Christ will set thee out We commend the graces of such and such Saints at their death but oh let Christ blazon me and his graces in me at the resurrection-resurrection-day Thus far for the Exploration or trial before sentence Mat. 25.24 2. For the sentence it self then shall the King say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Every word here is full of life and joy 1. Come this is the King's invitation of his Saints to his Court he had summoned them before to his presence and now they are about him he will not part with them they must come a little nearer yet they must go with him into his presence chamber the mansions are ready the Supper of the Lamb is ready and now he begins the solemn invitation to his bride Come 2. Come ye blessed of my Father Christ blessed them when he went up to Heaven Luke 6.20 21. and whiles yet on earth he pronounced them blessed many a time Blessed be ye poor Blessed are ye that hunger Blessâ—d are ye that weep but now he calls them the blessed of his Father not onely Christ but God the Father hath ever looked upon them as his children it is the Father's will as well as Christ's that they should be blessed Ye blessed of my Father Luke 12 32. Rom. 8.17 3. Inherit the Kingdom Christ had told them before It is your Father's pleasure to give you the Kingdom but then they were only as servants or as children under age but now they are heirs Eph. 4.13 Heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ and now they are come to full age To the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ and therefore they must have the inheritance in possession they must all be Kings this very word speaks them Kings and makes them Kings it is the solemn coronation of the Saints It is the anointing the setting of the Crown upon
of their consciences opened wherein appears all their sins original and actual of Omission and Commission For omissions of duties all those shall be discovered Christ hungry and I gave him no meat Christ thirsty and I gave him no drink Christ a stranger and I lodged him not Christ naked and I cloathed him not Christ sick and in prison and I visited him not And for commissions of evils all those shall be discovered These and these sins I committed in my child-hood youth ripe age old age these were my gross sins Blasphemy perjury Idolatry robbery drunkenness uncleaness prophaneness c. and these were my less sins anger hatred envy distrust impatience pride presumption contention derision inconstancy hypocrisie c. Oh the numberless number of evil thoughts words and deeds that now are laid open In the black book is not only written all sins done but all such sins as were intended and purposed to be done All the projects of the heart though never acted must now be discovered Men little think of this if I should tell you of such designs that died in your hearts and never came out to light you would be now ready to say Tush I never did such a thing I onely intended it or had some thoughts about it and what then why then those very thoughts secrets purposes projects shall come to light or if there be any thing more hidden or secret as the very bent and frame of your hearts the very inclinations of your souls to this or that evil shall then be manifest to all the World Nay yet more such sins as by the sinners themselves were never took notice of either before or at or after the commission of them shall this day come out Conscience is such a kind of private Notary or Secretary that it keeps notes or records of all acts and deeds whether you observe them or no conscience hath the Pen of a ready Writer and takes in short-hand and in an illegible character from your mouths as fast as you speak and from your hearts as fast as you contrive Consciences writing saith one is not now legible as that which is written with the juice of a Lemmon is not to be read by day-light but against the sire by night you may read it so consciences writing cannot now be read but in that day when Heaven and Earth are set on fire this book shall be opened and the cypher be discovered Oh what a day will this be when not a sin committed by any reprobate from the beginning of the world but now it shall be rehearsed 2. As an account of all sins so an account of all temporal gifts which God hath imparted to reprobates must now be given Some have the gifts of the world as riches honours places of authority others have the gifts of the body as health strength beauty life others have the gifts of the mind as understanding wisdom policy learning now of all these gifts they must give an account Come you that are rich saith Christ render you an account of your stewardship how have you spent your riches The like will he say to the honourable and to those in places of authority Oh remember you were in authority and office and place but what service did you to me or my members you had wisdom and learning and knowledg and understanding conferred upon you but what good had the Church or Common-Wealth by it the like will he say to others according to the talents bestowed on them You excelled in strength beauty health of body length of days and now tell me and publish it to all the world how were these improved I believe many a sad answer will be given to Christ of these things riches mis-spent and health mis-spent and wisdom policy learning gifts and parts mis-spent O consider it if the Factor after many years spent in forreign Countries at last returns home without his reckonings who will not blame him for his negligence but when his Master calls him to account and he finds nothing but a bill of expences this in courting that in seasting who laughs not at so fond a reckoning Thus many pass the time of their life as a time of mirth then when they return to their Lord again behold all their accounts are sins their profits vanities 3. I shall add one thing more not onely of gifts Temporal but of all blessings spiritual though but tendred and offered must all give an account Oh the sad accounts that many a soul will make of these things methinks I hear some wicked wretch confessing thus to Christ True Lord I lived at such a time when the Sun of the Gospel shone bright in my face and in such a place where all was Goshen I lived under such a ministery who set before me life and death many and many a powerful and searching Sermon have I heard any one passage whereof if I had not wickedly and wilfully forsaken my own mercy might have been unto me the beginning of the new Birth and everlasting bliss Sometimes in the use of the means I felt stirrings or strong workings in my heart and then I was fully purposed to have been another man to have cleaved to Christ and to have forsook the World I was almost resolved to have been wholly for God I was almost perswaded to be a real Christian Oh what thoughts were in my heart when such a faithful Minister pressed the truth home methinks every Sermon I heard then is now a preaching again methinks I hear still the voice of the Minister methinks I see still his tears dropping down his cheeks Oh how fresh is the reproof admonition exhortation of such and such a Preacher now in my mind oh how earnestly did he intreat me with what love and tender compassion did he beseech me how did his bowels yearn over me how strongly did he convince me that all was not well with my sin-sick soul how plainly did he rip up all my sores and open to me all my secrets and my whole heart but alas within a while I made a jest of all I hardened my heart against all I stifled all his convictions I shut my eyes against his discoveries I cared neither for the Minister nor any thing he said or did And yet here is not all not onely the Ministers of Christ but the Spirit of Christ sometimes speak to my heart I remember at such a time Christ himself as it were condescended and bowed the Heavens and came down to intreat me for my souls health oh the strivings of the Spirit of Christ as if he had been loath to have took a denial Rev. 3.20 O Christ I remember thy words when thou cryedst to me open sinner open thy heart to thy Saviour and I will come in and sup with thee and thou with me Why sinner are thy lust 's better than I thy carnal pleasures better than I thy worldly commodities better than I why sinner what dost thou mean how
and Powers that captive wicked men at their pleasure even they must be judged by those whom they formerly soyled so then there is no question but they shall judge Only how the Saints shall judge together with Christ is a very deep question For my part I am apt to think that it shall not be directly known ere it be seen or done I shall only relate what others say to this point and so leave you to your liberty of judging what is right 1. Some say that the Saints shall judge the World by presenting their persons and actions by comparing their good examples with the evil examples of all the Reprobates Jude 15. and so they shall convince and condemn the World Behold the Lord cometh with Ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them This I conceive to be a truth yet surely this is not all truth 2. Others say that the Saints shall judge the World by way of indicting impleading accusing witnessing c. And I conceive it may be thus too the Saints of the Law more especially accusing the breakers of the Law by the Law Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father John 5.45 there is one that accuseth you to the Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust And the Saints of the Gospel more especially judging the prophaners of the Gospel Rom. 2.16 by the Gospel in that day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel This likewise is truth but I believe as yet we have not the whole truth Psal 58.10 3. Others say that the Saints shall judge the World after the manner of exaltation glorying and rejoycing to see the vengeance The Righteous shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked But this their exulting being a constant and perpetual act not for a time but for eternity methinks this present act should be yet somewhat more Rev. 16.17 Rev. 19.1 2. 4. Others say that the Saints shall judge the World by way of assession assent vote suffrage comprobation and the like subordinate and conformable acts And I heard another out of the Altar say even so Lord God Almighty true and righteous are thy judgments And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying Allelujah salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God for true and righteous are his judgments this certainly is truth and commonly so received yet neither is this all truth 5. Others say that the Saints shall judge the World i.e. Christ in the Saints and the Saints in Christ He in them by those Infallible principles of Divine Justice which are imprest in them and they in him by those inseparable bounds of union whereby they wholly relate to him or he and they together as head and members the act of the head imputed to the members and the act of the members acknowledged by the head his Judiciary Act especially as from his Mediatorship and Manhood having a peculiar influence upon them and their Judiciary act in a perfect conformity though not any absolute proportion having a peculiar reference to him And methinks those Texts of Mat. 19.28 Jude 14.15 speak there of Christs and of the Saints judgment as of one joynt act Oh what terror will be to all wicked men when not only Christ but all the Saints shall say of them away with them away with them let them be damned You that are Fathers it may be that your Children will thus sentance you I remember when the Jews told Christ that he cast out Devils through Belzebub the Prince of Devils Mat. 12.7 he answered If I through Belzebub cast out Devils by whom do your Children cast them out therefore they shall be your judges They liked well enough of the Miracles of their Children who were the Disciples of Christ but they could not endure them in Christ and therefore he tells them that their Children whom God hath converted and to whom he had given power to do the same works as he did even they should be their judges to Condemn them And so it may be with you if any of your Children be converted to the Lord and you remain still in a natural estate your very Children shall be your judges and condemn you to Hell But of that anon 6. In this doom which Christ and his Saints shall pass on Reprobates our Saviour tells us of some reasonings betwixt him and them I was an hungred saith Christ and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink c. Mat. 25.42.44.45 Then shall they answer Lord when saw we thee hungry or a thirst or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister unto thee and then shall he answer them verily I say unto you inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me As if Christ should have said time was that I was under reproach misery calamity necessity I lay at your doors like Lazarus full of sores and as I thought nothing too much for you so I expected also something from you but oh cruelty to see thy Christ an hungred and not to feed him to see thy Christ a thirst and not to cool or quench his thirst to see thy Christ a stranger and not to give him a nights lodging to see thy Christ naked and not to cover him with a garment who would gladly have covered thee with the robe of righteousness the garment of Salvation O monstrous inhumane heart O prodigious wretch who among the Heathens ever dealt thus with their Idols have any of the Nations starved their Gods turned them out of doors and must I only be slighted away Reprobates you had no mercy on me and now I laugh at your calamity surely he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy They stand wondering at this and cannot remember that ever they saw Christ in such a condition Why Lord say they when saw we thee an hungred or thirsty or naked art thou not he that rose again from the dead and ascended on high and ever since hast been exalted above the highest Cherubims a name being given thee above every name at which name to this day but especially now on this day every knee doth bow of things in heaven and things in earth Phil. 2.9 10. and things under the earth how then could we see thee in such a condition is not this thy second coming in glory and were we alive at thy first coming in humility how can this be oh how shouldst thou charge us with unkindness to thy self surely if we had known thee in need we would have given thee of thy own thou shouldst never have wanted what things we enjoyed but thou shouldst
swallowed up all my natural affections that I cannot but laugh at thy calamity and joy in thy damnation I gave thee a body and God himself gave thee a Soul but now let the Devils have both and torment them in Hell be gone I shall never see thee again Or if the Child be the Saint and the Parent the Reprobate then shall the Child say O unworthy Parent unworthy of everlasting life I had my natural being from thee but my Spiritual being was from the Lord if I had followed thy steps I had been everlastingly damned did I not know thy ignorance thy unbelief thy worldliness thy covetousness thy pride thy malice thy lust thy lukewarmness thy impatiency thy discontentment thy vain-glory thy self-love didst not thou often check me for my forwardness and zeal and holiness in Religion didst not thou ask me what art thou wiser than the rest of the neighbour-hood are there not many gray hairs amongst us whose wisdom and experience thou hast not yet attained and canst not thou walk on soberly towards heaven and either do as the most or keep pace with the wisest what have any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believed on Christ oh I shall ever remember to the praise and glory of Christ what discouragements I had and yet how the Lord pluckt me as a fire-brand out of the fire and now hath the Lord set me on the Throne to judge thee according to thy demerits and therefore I joyn with him who is the Father of Spirits against the Father of my flesh depart go to the Gods whom thou hast served and see if they will help thee in the day of thy calamity 3. Betwixt Husband and Wife now if the Husband be the Saint and the Wife the Reprobate then shall the Husband say Thou art she whom I knew in the flesh whom I dearly affected with my heart and soul whom I nourished and cherished as my own body thou art she that was the Wife of my bosom as near and dear to me as my heart in my bosom thou wast my companion my yoke-fellow and my very delight but oh I could never rule thee lead thee guide thee in the way of life in the path that is called holy many a time have I wooed sued and sought to gain thy soul to that blessed Bridegroom the Lord Jesus Christ many a time have I prayed with thee and for thee many a time have I stirred thee up to hear the Word to waite upon God in the use of all means publick and private and instead of imbraces or yieldings to these blessed motions Prov. 19.13.27.15 I have met with contentions and jars as a continual dropping in a very rainy day but death hath dissolved that knot so that now I am no more thy Husband this is the day of separation and I shall no more consort with thee at the Resurrection there is no use of Marriage but now I am to live as an Angel in Heaven and because thou wouldst not draw with me in Christ's yoke now therefore adue for ever and ever we shall never more lye in one bed Mark 12.29 or sit at one board or walk in one Field or grind at one mill thou hast lost me and thou hast lost Jesus Christ two husbands in one day go now and take thy choice in Hell thou art free from us but thou shalt be bound there with indissoluble bonds to the Devill and his Angels Or if the Wife be the Saint and the Husband the Reprobate then shall the Wife say Thou art he who I looked upon as my second-self my head my governour my helper my husband for whom I was willing to forsake my native home Fathers house dear Relations of Father Mother Brother Sister and many comforts in that kind and I expected to have found new matter and a continued influence of comfort and delight in a marriage-state but oh the vexations of Spirit hadst thou not almost drawn me away from Jesus Christ was I not forced through many provocations sometimes to break out and say Surely a bloody husband art thou to me many a time I cryed out Exod. 4.25 O my Husband when wilt thou set up the rich and royal trade of grace in thy Family when wilt thou exercise prayer reading catechizing conference days of humiliation and other houshold holy duties oh for doing something to assure our souls of meeting together hereafter in heaven But alas it would not be and now see the effect here I stand like a Queen deck't and adorn'd with cloth of Gold with rayment of needle-work with the white robe of Christ's righteousness so that the King of Heaven greatly desires my beauty and my soul is this day marryed to Christ I acknowledge him and no other Husband in the world and for thee who refused to joyn with me in the worship of God now God hath refused thee fare well or fare ill for ever 4. Betwixt Minister and some of his people at least if the people be as so many Saints and the Minister the Reprobate then shall the people say O thou art the man that undertookest that high and mighty calling of feeding souls with the Word of life but now are thy sins written in thy fore-head for either thou run'st before thou wast sent or being sent thou hast been exceeding negligent in the gift that was in thee Didst not thou prophesie in Baal and cause God's people to erre didst thou not studiously and mainly seek for the Fleece not regarding respectively the Flock didst not thou strengthen the hands of evil-doers in Preaching peace peace to wicked men wa st thou not prophane and wicked and loose in thy life and by that means ledst many thousands to hell O thou bloody Butcher of Souls hadst thou been faithful in thy Ministry well might those damned Companions about thee have escaped the flames but they are doomed to death and now thou mayest hear their cries and grievous groans and complaints against thee this was the man set over us to give us the bread of Life but oh Christ did he not fail us did he not feed us with unprofitable matter fables conceits airy sentences rather than any thing tending to godly edifying which is in faith did not our tongues and the tongues of our Children stick to the roof of our mouths in calling and crying for bread for the bread of life and he would not pity us we gave him the tenths which thou appointed but he gave not us thy truth which thou didst command him why Lord Christ thou Judge of all the world didst not thou bid him feed feed feed didst thou not bid him feed the flock committed to his charge didst not bid him preach the word be instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and notwithstanding all thy commands did he not miserably starve us instead of feeding us unto salvation hath he not starved many thousands of us to our
the sprrits of all just men made perfect with God if there be enough in God for Angels whose capacities are greater than the Saints if there be enough in God for Jesus Christ whose capacity is yet far wider than the Angels if there be enough in God for God himself whose capacity is infinitely greater than them all then there must needs be satisfaction enough in God to any one poor soul Here is another thing wherein God is our all in all we shall enjoy him fully 3. It consists in our enjoying God solely Not as if there were nothing else in Heaven but onely God but that God in Heaven shall be all in all and instead of all it is God in Heaven that makes Heaven to be Heaven the Saints blessedness and Gods own blessedness doth consist in the enjoyment of God himself the Schoole-men tells us that we shall not properly enjoy any thing else but only God we may have some use of the Creatures but no fruition and therefore is God said to be all or as good as all And indeed what can we imagine to be in Heaven which is not eminently in God himself if it be greatness power and glory and victory and majesty all these are his if it be joy or love or peace or beauty or any thing amiable or desirable all these are in him Hence some take it to be David's meaning when he said he had none in Heaven but God Psal 73.25 that the sole enjoyment of God of God and of nothing else but God is the souls true happiness when it is at highest whom have I in heaven but thee whom why there are Angels there are Saints there are the spirits of just and perfect men are these nothing with David O yes all these are good but they are not able to satisfie a soul without God himself Whether God will make use of any Creatures for our service then or if any of what Creatures and what use is more than I yet know but to make up a full enjoyment there is required a gracious-glorious presence a sweet effusion or communication of that presence a just comprehension of the excellency of that communication a perfect love and a perfect rest in the love of whatsoever it is we comprehend now this is proper only to God it is he only that fills the whole capacity of the Soul it is he that so fills it that it can hold no more it is he only that is the object of love intended to the utmost and therefore he only is properly enjoyed he only is possessed with a full contentment as portion enough and as reward enough for the soul for ever But shall not the Saints have to do with something else in Heaven but only with God O yes I believe there shall be in Heaven a communion of the blessed Spirits in God an association of the Saints and Angels of God yet this shall not take away the sole enjoyment of God that he should not be their all in all For they shall not mind themselves or their own good as created things but altogether God they shall not love them or one another as for themselves but only for God here we love God for himself and it is a gracious love but there we shall love our selves for God and 't is a glorious love why this is to enjoy God solely in this respect he is all and in all whom have I in Heaven but thee Here 's a point enough to wean us to the World Alas the time is coming on a pace Vse that all this World shall be dissolved and then God shall be all in all here lies the Saints happiness to have God immediately God fully and God solely and will not Saints prepare themselves for such a condition as this you that have the World use it as if not 1 Cor. 7.31 for the fashion of this World passeth away and you that have but a little to do with the World improve that condition surely 't is your own fault if you have not more to do with God for you have little else to take up your hearts God may dwell and walk in your hearts without disturbance give me neither poverty nor riches saith the wise man upon that account a mean condition is more capable of happyness than that which over-loads us with outward things whilst others are casting up their accounts you may say with David how precious are thy thoughts unto me O God Psal 139.17 how great is the sum of them whil'st others are following their suits at courts of Justice you may follow all you have at a Throne of grace whil'st others are numbring their Flocks and Heards all your Arithmetick may be imployed to number your days whilst others cannot get out of the clutches of the world you may get into the embraces of your God why this is to prepare your selves for fuller and fuller enjoyments of God it is God will be all in all and this is the very top of Heavens happyness surely the less you have of the World now if you can but improve it the more you may have of Heavens happiness even upon earth for what is the happiness of Heaven but the sole enjoyment of God Christians if you feel any inclinations pantings breathings after this world give me leave to tell you that you will never be happy till you have lost all till you have no friends nor estates no enjoyment but God alone when all his done when this world is nothing when means shall cease both for bodies and souls and when Christ shall cease his Mediators office and the Son of man be Subject to his Father then God shall be all in all SECT X. Of Christs notwithstanding this being all in all to his blessed saved redeemed Saints to all Eternity 10. FOR Christ's being all in all to his blessed saved redeemed Saints to all Eternity we shall dilate in this Section Some may object if God be all in all what then becomes of Christ is not this derogatory to Jesus Christ I answer no in no wise for 1. It is not the Father personally and only but the Deity essentially and wholly that is our all in all when we say God is all in all we do not exclude the Son and holy Ghost for the whole God-head is all in all to all the Saints as well as the first person in the Trinity the Father is all and the Son is all and the holy Ghost is all and in that Christ is God and the Son of God we may say of Christ that he is all in all only the truth of this position is not from the humane nature but from the divine nature of Jesus Christ 2. It is not derogatory to Christ but rather it doth exceedingly advance Christ in the thoughts of all his Saints while it was necessary Christ veyled his Deity and when his work of Mediation is fully finished Christ then shall reveal his Deity
glory which Christ hath as God this he never laid aside but as the Sun in a dark gloomy day may not send forth its beams so Christ the Son of righteousness in the time of his abode upon earth except a little glimps only in his transfiguration did not send forth his glorious beams but hereafter the body or humanity of Christ shall not hinder the breaking forth of all his divine glory No sooner the Son subject and his Mediatory office discharged but Christ as God will manifestly put forth his more immediate glory to all his Saints Behold now we are the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know when he shall appear we shall be like him 1 John 3.2 for we shall see him as he is Mark it when he shall appear at and after the Resurrection day we shall see him as he is i.e. we shall see the very essential glory of Jesus Christ Quest But what is the essential glory of Christ I cannot answer it is a question not to be resolved by all the men in the World we know little of the glory of Saints how should we know any thing of the essential glory of Christ as God Answ The Scriptures say that God spake to Moses face to face yet God tells him thou canst not see my face and he favours him so far as to tell him the reason for there shall no man see my face and live Exod. 33.11 20. q. d. No man in this life he must first dye and be changed and then he shall have a peculiar revelation of the divine Majesty then he shall see him as he is but how that is I cannot tell come let us question this no further surely it is a mercy that this infinite glory is not discovered to us for as a weak eye is not able to behold the Sun or to see in it rota as the School-men speak in that wheel or circle wherein the Sun doth run but only in the beams of it no more can we see Christ as God in his glorious essence or in his essential glory but only in the beams thereof in his Word and Effects if now we know so little of spirits and spirituals oh then how little do we know of him who is the Father of Spirits I shall say no more therefore let us be content to be ignorant of these things till we enter into the confines of Eternity But whether shall this glorious Essence or Essential glory of Christ be more seen or manifested at or after the day of judgment then ever it was before Quest I answer I believe it will Answ Dr. Annesly Communion with God Some tell us of several periods wherein the glory of Christ is still more and more seen as 1. In this life we may see it in part thus David speaks of himself my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee to see thy power and thy glory as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary but this sight is very dim we see onely now as through a glass darkly The second period is betwixt our dissolution and resurrection 1 Cor. 13.12 and then shall we see the essential glory of Christ more immediately and fully our creeping apprehension of God shall then be elevated and our distance from God shall then be shortned and all the riddles of grace and of Jesus Christ shall then be opened This sight is so great that if a soul should come from heaven to declare it neither could that soul express it nor we understand it we read of Lazarus whose soul Christ returned into his body whom much people of the Jews came purposely to see that they might hear stories of the other World but not a word from him of any such matter Paul's rapture may satisfie with the reason of it he heard there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wordless words 2 Cor. 12.4 such words as could not possibly be repeated on earth and yet all this is but a second step to the full vision of Christ's essential glory The third period is at the Resurrection and during the time of the last Judgment and then we shall see more of his glory Camero affirms that 't is no curiosity to say that the Saints and Angels in heaven had a new glory by the exhibition of Christ the great mystery of the Incarnation being thereby better known and we may as safely affirm that the Saints shall have a new glory by new visions of the glory of Christ at the day of Resurrection they shall then see the solemnity of heavens glory carried on by Christ in his glorious actings and all that ever the soul saw before in being with Christ in Heaven till the Resurrection shall be swallowed up with the sight of this glory of Christ at the Resurrection-day The last period is after the Resurrection and that shall continue even to all Eternity now all the manifestations of Christ's glory before this are but as a few green ears rubb'd in our hands so that the full crop or the full harvest is yet behind But this is that which as we told you before we cannot tell though we had the tongues of men and Angels Thus far of the first point what is the glory of Christ 2. How shâ—ll the Saints behold this glory I answer As Christ hath a twofold glory so there is a twofold manner of beholding it i.e. ocular and mental 1. There is an ocular vision a sight of Christ with our very eyes Job 19.27 whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold him with these eyes in our heads we shall one day behold the human glory of Christ I doubt not we shall behold the beauty of Heaven the shining bodies of the Saints but above all our very eyes shall delightfully contemplate Christ's glorious body and indeed this shall drown all the other sights if any think that Christ's glorious body shall be too intensive and too extraordinary a brightness for our weak eyes let such consider that 1. The eye in heaven shall be glorified now glorification adds a singular excellency to the faculties it advanceth the faculties and raiseth them to an higher pitch of excellency glorification adds a greater capacity to the eye then ever it had before In this world there is a difference in our eyes and sight a man of a clear sight sees more things and more of every thing then a dark sight doth so a glorified eye sees more of things then our eyes now can see it shall be enlarged exceedingly to take in objects which now it cannot receive glorification adds strength to the faculties both internal and external so that the eye shall be able to look on the glory of Christ not with difficulty but with contentment in this World every sense we have is apt to be destroyed by excellent Objects and the more excellent and transcendent the object is the more it hurts
apt to listen to his doubts that in the conclusion I know not how to extricate my self Person Sayst thou so surely in this case there 's no cure no remedy but onely the testimony of God's Spirit but saith not the Apostle Rom. 8.16 That the spirit of it self bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God if a Man or Angel or Archangel should promise Heaven peradventure thou mightest doubt but if the Supream Essence of the Spirit of God bear witness within what room for doubting why this voice of the spirit is the very voice of God hark then enquire O my soul if thou hast but this testimony of the spirit thou art sure enough Soul Oh that it were thus with me oh that the spirit would even now give me to drink of the wells of salvation oh that the spirit would testifie it home oh that he would shine upon and enlighten all those graces which he hath planted in me fain would I come to the highest pitch of hope oh that I could look upon the things hoped for as certainly future Person Thou sayst well O my soul and if these wishes be real then pour out thy self unto God in prayer this was the Apostles method Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing Rom. 15.13 that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost let this be thy practise pray as he prayed pray thou for thy self as he prayed for others if an earthly Father will hearken to his child Luk. 11.13 how much more will God the Father give the spirit to them that ask the spirit of him Soul Why if this be it to thee Lord do I come O give me the Spirit the witness of the Spirit the first-fruits of the spirit the sealing of the spirit the earnest of the spirit O give me the spirit and let the spirit give me this hope O the hope of Israel and Saviour thereof in the time of trouble why shouldst thou be as a stranger in my soul and as a way-faring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night Come O come and dwell in my soul Come and blow on my garden that the spices thereof may flow out come and fill me with a livelv hope yea Lord excite and quicken and stir up my soul to act this hope yea so illighten or shine upon my hope that I may know that I hope and know that I joyfully expect and wait for the coming of Christ O Let me hear thy voice Say unto my soul I am and will be thy salvation Person Well now thou hast prayed Psal 35.3 O my soul Come tell me dost thou feel nothing stir is there nothing at all in thee that assures thee of this assurance of hope is there no life in thy affections no spark that takes hold on thy heart to set it on flame no comfort of the spirit no joy in the holy Ghost Soul Yes methinks I feel it now begin to work the Spirit that hath breathed this prayer into me comes in as Comforter O now that I realize Christ's coming and my resurrection Psal 16.9 I cannot but conclude with David Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoyceth and my flesh also shall rest in hope Oh what an earnest is this what a piece hath the spirit put into my hand of the great sum promised not onely that he in great mercy promised me Heaven but because he doth not put me into a present possession he now gives me an earnest of my future inheritance Why surely all is sure unless the earnest deceive me and what shall I dispute the truth of the earnest oh God forbid the stamp is too well known to be mistrusted this seal cannot be counterfeit because it is agreeable with the Word I find in my self an hope a true sincere hope though very weak I find upon trial that I am regenerate that I look and long for the second coming of Jesus that I love his appearance even before hand that my works though imperfect are sincere and true that I believe on the Name of the Son of God and flesh and blood could never work these duties or these graces in me it is only that good spirit of my God which hath thus sealed me up to the day of redemption Away away despair trouble me no longer with a musing thoughts I will henceforth if the Lord enable walk confidently and chearfully in the strength of this assurance and joyfully expect the full accomplishment of my happy contract from the hands of Christ The Lord is my portion therefore will I hope in him Lam. 3.24 25 26. the Lord is good to them that wait for him to the soul that seeketh him it is good that I both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord It is good that I hope to the end 1 Pet. 1.13 for the grace that is to be brought unto me at the revelation of Jesus Christ SECT V. Of believing in Jesus in that respect 5. LET us believe in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salvation in his second coming Now this believing in Christ is more than hoping in Christ Faith eyes things as present but hope eyes things as future and hence the Apostle describes faith to the substance of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 it is the substance foundation or prop which upholds the building or it is the substance essence existence of things hoped for and consequently absent and a far off to be by a firm apprehension of the believer as already present and real And this is as necessary as the former oh if we could but see things now as they shall appear at that last general day of Judgment how mightily would they work upon our souls I verily think the want of this work of faith is the cause almost of all the evil in the world and the acting of Faith on this subject would produce fruits even to admiration If we could but see that glory of God in Christ and those glorious treasures of mercies that shall then be communicated if we could but see those dreadful evils that are now threatned and shall then be fulfilled would not this draw the hardest heart under Heaven come let us act faith this day as if this day were the last day a thousand years are but as one day to faith it takes hold upon eternal life whensoever it acts it takes present possession of the glorious things of the Kingdom of God even now O then let us believe in Jesus in reference to his second coming to judgment But how should we believe what directions to act our saith on Jesus in this respect I answer 1. Faith must directly go to Christ 2. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh 3. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh made under the Law 4. Faith must go to Christ made under the
directive part of the Law by his life and under the penal part of the Law by his death 5. Faith must go to Christ as put to death in the Flesh and as quickned by the spirit 6. Faith must go to Christ as going up into glory as sitting down at God's right hand and as sending down the holy Ghost 7. Faith must go to Christ as interceding for his Saints in which work he continues till his coming again Of all these before 8. Faith must go to Christ as coming again into this neather world to judge the quick and the dead This is the last act of Faith in reference to Christ From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead The coming of Christ the resurrection of the dead the change of the living the last judgment and the glory of Christ with his Saints to all eternity is that transaction which must be dispatched at the end of the world now this is the object of faith as well as the former Christ's work is not fully perfected till all these be finished nor is our work of Faith fully compleated till it reach to the very last act of Christ in saving souls Oh what an excellent worker is Jesus Christ he doth all his works throughly and perfectly the greatest work that ever Christ under took was the work of redemption that work would have broken Men and Angels and yet Jesus Christ will carry it on to the end and then will he say not onely prophetically but expresly I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do John 17.46 Now Faith should eye Christ as far as he goes if Christ will not have done till he comes again and receive us to himself and settle us in glory no more should Faith it should still follow after him and take a veiw of all his transactions from first to last what will Christ come again will he summon all the elect to come under judgment will he sentence or judge them to eternal life will he conduct them into glory present them to his Father and be their all in all to all eternity why then let our faith act it self upon all these promises or if I may instance in one for all Christ's coming is the most comprehensive of all and is not the coming of Christ very frequently mentioned in the pâ—omises as the great support and stay of his peoples spirits till then do not the Apostles usually quicken us to duty and encourage us to waiting by the mentioning of this glorious coming of Jesus Christ why then let us act our faith on this glorious Object Christians what do we believe and hope and wait for but to see this coming this was Pauls encouragement to rejoycing and moderation Phil. 4.4 5. Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes and let your moderation be known to all the Lord is at hand To think and speak of that day with horror doth well beseem the impenitent sinner but doth ill beseem the beliâ—ving Saint such may be the voice of an unbeliever and it may be of a believer in desertion or temptation but it 's not the voice of faith O believe on Christ as carrying on our salvation at his coming again For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and he will not tarry Heb. 10.37 9. Faith must principally and mainly look to the purpose design intent and end of Christ in his second coming to Judgment Now the ends are 1. In respect of the wicked that they may be destroyed for he must reign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet He shall come with flaming fire 2 Thes 1.8 and then he will take vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power O miserable men now it is God's design to be revenged on you This is the day when the wicked shall suddenly start out of sleep and meet with gastly amazedness at the mouth of their sepulchers above them stands the Judge condemning beneath Hell gaping on the right had justice threatning on all sides the world burning to go forward is intollerable to go backward is impossible to turn aside is unavailable which way then Heaven gates are shut Hell mouth is open where they must end their endless misery the last torment lasteth ever O the shrikes of the wicked at every passage of this day when the Prophet Joel was describing the formidable accidents of his day he was not able to express it but stammered like a Child or an amazed imperfect person A. A. A. for the day of the Lord is at hand We translate it Alas Joel 1.17 for the day of the Lord is at hand But Lyra Ribera the Vulgar Latine and others translate it A.A.A. in Hebrew it is indeed but one word and sounds as Aha which howsoever so written yet is it pronounced without any aspiration as Aharon is pronounced Aaron The best Criticâ—s would but have it one word and so they write it A-a-a for the day of the Lord is at hand thus they that stammer and cannot suddenly speak say A-a-a it is not sense at first the Prophet was so amazed that he knew not what to say the stammering tongue that is full of fear can best speak that terror which will make all the wicked of the world to cry and shrike and speak fearfull accents oh the shrikes oh the fearful sounds that will then be heard sure that noise must needs be terrible when millions of men and women at the same instant shall fearfully cry out and when their cryes shall mingle with the thunders of the dying and groaning Heavens and with the crack of the dissolving World when the whole fabrick of nature shall shake into dissolution Psal 51.21 and eternal ashes Now consider this ye that forget God lest he tare you in pieces and there be none to deliver you Shall not the consideration of these things awake your spirits and raise you from the death of sin what do you believe these things or do you not if you do not believe these things where is your saith if you do believe them and sin on where is your prudence and where is your hope but enough of this it belongs to the wicked 2. In respect of the Godly that they may be saved Now this contains several steps As 1. They must be regenerated It is true they partake of this grace before but now is the full perfection and manifestation of it Mat. 19.28 and therefore the last day is called the day of regeneration Col. 1.13 14. 2. They must be redeemed So they are in this life Paul could tell his Colossians that Christ had delivered them from the power of darkness and that in him they had redemption through his blood Yet the Scripture calls the day of judgment
in a peculiar and eminent manner the day of redemption And grieve not the holy spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption Eph. 4.30 1 John 3.2 3. They must be adopted It is true they are adopted in this life We are now the Sons of God saith the Apostle yet it doth not appear what we shall be the glory which Christ will put upon us at the last day is so far transcendent and superlative to what now we are that we know not what we shall be sons and more than sons and therefore the Apostle calls the last day Rom. 8.23 the day of adoption 4. They must be justified I know they were justified by Faith before and this justification was evidenced to some of their consciences but now shall they be justified fully by the lively voice of the Judge himself now shall their justification be solemnly and publickly declared to all the world The Syriack word to justifie is also to conquer because when a man is justified he overcomes all those bills and indictments which were brought in against him now this is manifestly done in the day of judgment when Christ shall before Men and Angels acquit and absolve his people oh what a glorious conquest will that be over Sin Death and Hell when the judge of the whole World shall pronounce them free from all Sin and from all those miserable effects of Sin Death Hell and Dominion 5. They must inherit the Kingdom prepared for them so is the sentence at that day Come ye Blessed Mat. 25.34 inherit the Kingdom Not only are they freed from Hell but they must inherit Heaven Now herein is an high step of salvation and a great part of the design of Christ's coming to bring his Saints into Heaven he went thither before to prepare it for them and now he comes again to give them the possession of it come enter into heaven Heaven what is Heaven surely it is not one single Palace but a City a Metropolis a Mother-City the first City of God's creation When the Angel carried John in the spirit to a great and high Mountain Rev. 21.10 11. he shewed him the great City the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God having the glory of God But a City is too little Luke 12.32 therefore it s more it s a Kingdom Fear not little Flock it s your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom and at this last day he bids his Saints to inherit the Kingdom Luke 20.34 35 36. Or if a Kingdom be too little it is called a World the Children of this world marry and are given in marriage but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dye any more There 's another world besides this and for eminency it is called the world to come O the bredth and largeness of that world as the greater circle must contain the less Heb. 6.5 so doth that world contain this alas all our dwellings here are but as caves under the earth and holes of poor clay in comparison In the bosome of that Heaven is many a dwelling place John 14.2 In my Fathers house are many mansions there lodges many thousand of glorious Kings O what fair fields and mountains of roses and spices are there surely gardens of length and bredth above millions of miles are nothing in comparison O the Vines the Lillies the Roses the precious Trees that grow in Immanuel's land an hundred harvests in one year are nothing there The lowest stones in every mansion there are precious stones Rev. 21.18 the very building of the wall about it is Jasper and the City is pure gold like unto clear glass O glorious inheritance Tell me Christians in what City on Earth do men walk upon gold or dwell within the walls of Gold though none such here yet under the feet of the inhabitants of Heaven there is Gold All the streets and fields of that City Kingdom World Rev. 21.21 are pure gold as it were transparent glass But alas what speak I of Gold or Glass all these are but shadows indeed and in truth there is nothing so low as Gold or precious Stones there is nothing so base in this high and glorious Kingdom as Gardens Trees or Roses comparisons are but created shadows that come not up to express the glory of the thing I shall therefore leave to speak this because unspeakable 6. They must live with Christ in heaven they must see and enjoy Christ there to all eternity This is a main end of Christs coming I will come again John 14.3 John 17.24 and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also And Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold the glory which thou hast given me O let faith eye this above all the former what will my Saviour come again and shall I see his face Oh what a pleasant sight will this same be if Heaven if the inheritance be such a wonder to the beholders what a beauty is that which is in the samplar oh what an happiness to stand besides that dainty precious Prince in Heaven to see the King on his Throne to see the Lamb the fair Tree of life the flowre of Angels the spotless Rose that Crown the Garland the joy of Heaven the wonder of wonders for eternity oh what a life to see the precious Tree of life to see a multitude without quantity of the Apples of glory to see love it self and to be warmed with the heat of immediate love that comes out from the precious heart and bowels of Jesus Christ Oh what a dearness to see all relations meet in one to see the Saviour the good Shepheard the Redeemer the great Bishop of our souls the Angel of the Covenant the Head of the body of the Church the King of ages the Prince of peace the Creator of the ends of the Earth the Song of Angels and glorified Saints Not only must they see Christ but they shall enjoy him whom they see they fly with doves-wings of beauty after the Lamb and in flying after him they lay hold upon him and they will not leave him they can never have enough of the chaste fruition of the glorious Prince Immanuel and they never want his in-most presence to the full they suck the honey and the hony-comb they drink of the floods of eternal consolations and fill all empty desires and as if the souls of Saints were without bottom a fresh they suck again to all eternity Now 〈◊〉 is salvation indeed the soul that attains this full enjoyment is saved to the uttermost 3. In respect of Christ himself that he may be glorified Now in two things more especially will he be glorified at that day 1. In his justice 2.
souls must Judge our souls if he that hath a great interest and increase of joy in our salvation must pass our sentence will not this work us into a rejoycing frame 3. Christ's sentence is the Christian's acquittance I may call it his general acquittance from the beginning of the World to the end thereof Hence some call this the day of the believers full justification they were before made just and esteemed just but now by a lively sentence they shall be pronounced just by Christ himself now is the compleat acquittance or the full absolution from all sin now will Christ pardon and speak out his pardon once for all now will he take his book wherein all our sins as so many debts or trespasses are written and he will cancel all Acts 3.19 Your sins shall be blotted out saith Peter when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And is not this enough to cause our joy when the spirit witnessing with our spirits doth but in part assure us of sins pardon is it not exceeding sweet Oh but how sweet will be that sentence which will fully resolve the question and leave no room of doubting any more for ever consider O my soul the day is a coming when the Judge of Heaven and Earth will acquit thee of all thy sins before all the World it is a part of his business at that day to glorifie his Justice and free grace in thy absolution O Christians how may we comfort one another with these words 4. Christ in the issue will lead us into glory As the Bridegroom after nuptials leads his Bride to his own home that there they may live together and dwell together so Christ our royal Bridegroom will lead us into the Palace of his glory And is not this joy of our Lord enough to cause our Joy Oh what embraces of love what shaking of hands what welcomes shall we have into this City there shall we see Christ in his garden there shall we be set as a seal on Christ's arme and as a seal upon his heart there shall we be filled with his love enlightned with his light encircled in his arms following his steps and praising his Name and admiring his glory there shall we joy indeed For in thy presence there is fulness of joy Psal 16.11 and at thy right hand there are pleasures evermore There is joy and full joy and fulness of joy there are pleasures and pleasures evermore and pleasures evermore at God's right hand O the musick of the sanctuary O the sinless and well-tuned Psalms O the Songs of the high Temple without either Temple or Ordinances as we have them here can we choose to joy at the thought of this joy above if God would so dispense that even now we might stand at the utmost door of Heaven and that God would strike up a window and give us a spiritual eye and an heavenly heart so that we could look in and behold the Throne and the Lamb and the troops of glorified ones cloathed in white would not this chear up our hearts and fill them with joy unspeakable and full of glory certainly this day will come when Christ will bring us not only to the dore but through the gates into the City and then we shall see all these sights and hear all the musick made in heaven how then should we but joy in the hope of the glory of God O methinks raised thoughts of our mansion in glory should make us swim through the deepest Sea of troubles and afflictions and never fear Come then O my drowzy soul and harken to these motives if yet thou seest not the Son it self appear methinks the twilight of a promise should revive thee it is but a little while And he that shall come will come and he will not tarry It may be thou art reviled and persecuted here on Earth and what then hath not Christ bid thee to rejoyce in afflictions is it not his word that in this very case thou shouldst rejoyce Matth. 5.12 1 Pet. 4.12 and be exceeding glad is it not his command Think it not strange concerning the fiery tryals but rather rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy We must rejoyce now that we may rejoyce then indeed our present joy is a taste of our future joy and God would have us to begin our Heaven here on Earth Come then come forth O my dull conjealed heart thou that spendest thy days in sorrow and thy breath in sighing that minglest thy bread with tears and drinkest the tears which thou weepest thou that prayest for joy and waitest for joy and longest for joy and complainest for want of joy O the times a coming when thou shalt have fulness of joy the times a coming when the Angels shall bring thee to Christ and when Christ shall take thee by the hand and lead thee into his purchased joy and present thee unspotted before his Father and give thee thy place about his Throne and dost thou not rejoyce in this art thou not exceedingly raised in such a Meditation as this surely if one drop of lively faith were but mixed with these motives thou mightest carry an Heaven within thee and go on ever singing to thy grave say then dost thou believe or dost thou not believe if thy faith be firm how should'st thou but rejoyce if thou rollest thy self on Christ and on that promise I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you how shouldst thou but rejoyce and be exceeding glad if thou lookest upon the holy Ghost as designed by the Father and the Son to bring joy and delight into thy soul how shouldst thou but be filled with the water of life with the oyl of gladness and with the new wine of the Kingdom of God O the blessed workings of faith on such a subject as this if once we are but justified by faith and that we can act our faith on Christ's glorious coming then it will follow Rom. 5.1 2 3. that we shall have peace with God and rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God and not only so but we shall glory in tribulation also SECT VIII Of calling on Jesus in that respect 8. LEt us call on Jesus as carrying on our souls salvation at his second coming this contains prayer and praise 1. Let us pray for the coming of Christ this was the constant prayer of the Church Come Lord Jesu come quickly The spirit and the Bride say come Well knows the Bride that the day of Christ's coming is her wedding day Rev. 22.17 her coronation day the day of presenting her unto his Father and therefore no wonder if she pray for the hastening of it Make hast my beloved and be thou like to a Roe or to a young Hart thy Kingdom come
of his wrath is come who shall be able to stand And yet despair not cheer up O my soul for in the very midst of wrath God is pleased to remember Mercy even now when all the world should have been damned a Jesus is proclaimed and promised and he it is that must die according to the Commination for he is our surety and he it is that by Death must overcome Death and the Devil it shall bruise thy Head said God to Satan q. d. Come Satan thou hast taken Captive ten thousands of souls Adam and Eve are now ensnared and in their loynes all the men and women that ever shall be from this beginning of the world to the end thereof now is thy day of triumph now thou keepest Holy-day in Hell but thou shalt not carry it thus I foresaw from all Eternity what thou hast done I knew thou wouldest dig a hole through the comely and beautiful frame of the Creation but I have decreed of old a Counter-work out of the seed of the woman shall spring a Branch and he shall bruise thy head he shall break thy Power he shall tread thy Dominion under foot he shall lead thy Captivity Captive he shall take away sin he shall point out to Men and Angels the glory of heaven and a new world of free grace In this promise O my soul is foulded and wrapped up thy hope thy heaven thy salvation and therefore consider of it turn it upside down look on all sides of it view it over and over there is a Jesus in it it is a field that contains in the bowels of it a precious treasure there is in it a Saviour a Redeemer a Deliverer from sin death and hell are not these dainties to feed upon are not these rarities to dwell on in our meditations 2. Consider Jesus in that next promise made to Abraham Gen. 17.7 I will establish thy Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God to thee and to thy Seed after thee in respect of this Covenant Abraham is called the Father of the Faithfull Rom. 4.11 Gal. 3.7 and they which are of the Faith are called the Children of Abraham And O my soul if thou art in Covenant with God surely thou dost by Faith draw it through Abraham to whom this promise was made for if ye be Christ's then are ye Abrahams Seed and heirs according to the promise Consider what a mercy is this Gal. 3 29. that God should enter into a Covenant with thee in the loins of Abraham God made a promise of Christ and inclusively a Covenant of Grace in his comforting Adam but he makes a Covenant expresly under the name of Covenant with Abraham and his seed O muse and be amazed What that the great and glorious God of heaven and earth should be willing to make himself a debtor to us O my soul think of it seriously he is in heaven and thou art on earth he is the Creator and thou art his Creature Ah what art thou or what is thy Fathers house that thou shouldest be raised up hitherto The very Covenant is a wonder as it Relates to God and us what is it but a compact an agreement a tying a binding of God and us When Jehoshaphat and Ahab were in Covenant see how Jehoshaphat expresseth himself I am as thou art my people as thy people 1 King 21.4 my horses as thy horses So it is betwixt God and us If once he gives us the Covenant then his strength is our strength his power is our power his armies are our armies his attributes are our attributes we have interest in all there is an offensive and a defensive Language as I may say betwixt God and us and if we put him in mind of it in all our straits he cannot deny us As it was with the Nations allied to Rome if they fought at any time the Romans were bound in honour to defend them and they did it with as much diligence as they defended their own City of Rome so it is with the people allied to God he is bound in honour to defend his People and he will do it if they implore his aid how else is it possible God should break his Covenant will he not stir up himself to scatter his and our spiritual enemies Certainly he will Thus runs the tenour of his Covenant I will be a God to thee and to thy seed after thee This is the general promise I may call it the Mother-Promise that carries all other Promises in its womb we find a Jesus in this promise consider that it is God in Christ that is held forth to us in this phrase I will be as a God to thee O sweet Here is the greatest promise that ever was made Christ God is more than Grace Pardon Holiness Heaven as the Husband is more excellent than the Marriage-Robe Bracelets Rings the Well and Fountain of Life is of more excellency than the streams Christ Jesus the objective happiness is far above a created and formal Beatitude which issueth from him O my Soul is not this worthy of thy inmost consideration But of this more in the next 3. Consider Jesus in that promise made to Moses and the Israelites I am the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of Bondage Much hath been said to this Promise before as matter of thy Consideration but to contract it consider in the Promise the sufficiency and propriety 1. Here is sufficiency it is a promise of infinite worth an hid treasure a rich possession an overflowing blessing which none can rightly value it is no less than the great and mighty and infinite God if we had a promise of an hundred worlds or often heavens this is more than all heaven indeed is beautiful but God is more beautiful for he is the God of heaven and hence it is that the Saints in heaven are not satisfied without their God it is a sweet expression of Bernard As whatsoever we give unto thee Lord unless we give our selves cannot satisfie thee so whatsoever thou givest unto us Lord unless thou givest thy self it cannot satisfie us and hence it is that as God doth make the Saints his Portion so God is the Portion and Inheritance of his Saints Consider the greatness the goodness the all-sufficiency of this promise I am the Lord thy God! No question but Moses had many other rich promises from God but he could not be satisfied without God himself if thy presence be not with us bring us not hence And no wonder for without God all things are nothing Exod. 33.15 but in the want of all other things God himself is instead of all It is Gods alone Prerogative to be an universal good The things of this world can but help in this or that particular thing as Bread against hunger Drink against thirst
thine eternal election I have not lost a Saint in their several ages I produced them and gave them a being and in their times I remembred them and presented their conditions and necessities before thee and now I have not a Saint more in the Book of life there is not another name written to be born on earth and to what purpose should I now continue the world the Saints are they for whom I made the world the Saints are they that hold forth the light of my glory in the world the Saints are they for whom my eternal counsels before the world did work the Saints are they for whom I was content to shed my precious blood when I was in that world below and now their number is compleated I am resolved to unpin the fabrick of the world and take it down it stands but for their sakes and therefore now let the seventh Angel blow his trumpet that the mystery of God may be finished I swear by him that lives for ever Rev. 10.7 ver 6. that time shall be no longer Rev. 11.15 2. No sooner this said but the seventh Angel sounds This seventh Angel saith Pareus is the Arch-angel that proclaims Christ's coming with a great and mighty shout 1 Thes 4.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-angel and with the trump of God The Lord shall descend with a shout but before he descend and I believe upon the very discovery of his coming down there will be a shout in Heaven for so it follows And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in Heaven Pareus in loc if we may believe Commentaries these are the voices of blessed souls and blessed souls and blessed Angels in heaven no sooner Christ bids the Angel sound q. d. summon those blessed souls that were slain for the Word of God Rev. 6.10 Rev. 22.20 and therefore cried How long Lord holy and true summon those blessed souls that have cryed so long Come Lord Jesus come quickly summon all souls and summon all Angels and bid them wait on me now I resolve to go down and to judge the world no sooner I say Christ bids the Angel sound but presently at the joy of this command all the voices in Heaven give up a shout why this is the long-look'd for day the day of perfecting the number of the Saints the day of joyning the souls and bodies of the Saints together the day of convening all the families both of Saints and Angels under one roof the day of bringing up the Bride unto the Lamb and of compleating the Marriage in its highest solemnity and therefore no wonder if at this news great voices and cryes such as are used by Mariners or gatherers of the vintage were made in Heaven O what an addition of joy is this to Heavens joy it self the spirits of the just and the blessed Angels that have lived together in heavens bliss had never such an adventitious joy as this before now they shout and sing a new and blessed Song Rev. 11.15 The kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever We may call this Heavens triumph for the finishing of God's mystery Now is it that Christ will vindicate his Kingdom and overthrow the power of his enemies they had long set themselves against the Lord and against his anointed the Kings of the earth and the Rulers confederated they ruled all and as much as in them lay excluded Christ but now the Kingdoms of the world will return to Christ and he alone shall rule and thence the winged Choristers of Heaven chant forth this Anthem The Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of Christ Rev. 11.16 17 18. 3. After this shout The four and twenty Elders which sit before God on their seats fall upon their faces and worship God saying we give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty wâ—â—â—h art and wast and are to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and h◠〈◊〉 â—â—ned and the nations were angry c. By these four and twenty Elders we unâ—◠〈◊〉 â—ll Gods Saints of the Old and New Testament comprehended under the tweâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—riarchs and twelve Apostles others would have them to be only those Saints 〈◊〉 Old Testament and therefore called Elders whosoever they are we find they are so glad at this news that Christ will now judge the world that presently they rise off their seats and fall on their faces and first they praise and then they pray 1. They praise God for taking to himself his own power Christ connived as it were till now at the power of his enemies Antichrist and not Christ seemed to rule and to sit in the Temple of God but now Christ is resolved to rule himself and to make all his enemies his footstool and therfore now We give thee thinks O Lord God Almighty Rev. 11.18 2. They pray Christ to go on to judgment 1. Because the nations were angry q. d. they have been angry long enough they have set themselves against Christ and against his Church and therefore now it is time to bridle their wrath and to break them with a rod of Iron O let thy wrath come 2. Because the time of judgment is now accomplished which God had decreed in his eternal counsel and which the Father had put in his own power This time was not for mortals to know Mortalibus ignotum caelestibus vero nunc revelatum a Christo Paraeus in loc Psalm 110.1 but now 't was revealed to these celestial spirits by Christ and therefore they beg Go on Lord Jesus reward now thy Servants Prophets Saints and destroy them which destroyed the earth 4. God the Father is well pleased with Christ's purpose of judging the world The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool I know these words were spoke to Christ at his ascension into Heaven yet that hinders not but that now God speaks them again to Christ Heb. 2.8 for as yet saith the Apostle we see not all things put under him and God's purpose was that Christ should rule until he had put all things in subjection under his feet Nay why not these words spoken now rather than before Christ indeed reigned as King ever since his Ascension but now more especially he is to manifest his Kingdom for now is he to judge among the heathen Psal 110.6 now is he to wound the heads of many countries now is he to overthrow Pope Turk and all his enemies and he alone with the Father and the Spirit is to reign in his Elect Saints and Angels Thus all agree that Christ in the latter dayes shall be fully honoured in his Kingly power hitherto Christ hath been much honoured in his Prophetical and Priestly office but not so much