Lord though their spirits are made perfect as before yet there is some fruit of sin upon them but then he will cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea their sins and their iniquities he will remember no more Act. 3. 19. Heb. 10. 16 17. Mic. 7. 19. Jer. 50. 19 20. And this further appears in that they shall be raised out of and delivered for ever From death and all its fruits this was the wages of sin Rom. 6. 23. By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin Rom. 5. 12 14. And now the body is dead because of sin Rom. 8. 10. And it is appointed to man the whole kind once to dye though all shall not sleep in death yea the bodies of those just men generally whose spirits are made perfect sleep in the dust they are prisoners though prisoners of hope and so they are in the graves But he will open their graves and cause them to come ouâ— of their graves and their bodies shall be fashioned into the likeness of Christ's glorious body Phil. 3. 20. Now they are corruptible have the seeds of corruption and principles of mortality they are perishing decaying bodies and we may with him say to corruption Thou art my father and to the worm thou art my mother and my sister Job 17. 14. We must needs all dye and those that sleep in death their bodies return to dust but they shall be raised incorruptible no more to return to corruption this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mottal immortality That which is now dishonourable and of which we are ashamed for sin brought in shame and therefore need cloathing and covering that the shame of our nakedness appear not and which is sown in dishonour a vile loathsom carcass shall be raised in glory even with the glory of the Lord upon it Mat. 13. 43. They shall no more need this vile cloathing but they shall then be cloathed with the garments of salvation and covered with the robe of righteousness That which is now weak at best and subject to many infirmities weaknesses and sicknesses destitute of that health and strength at first created in and so sown in weakness no life no strength in it to move it self and even like the beasts for that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts even one thing befalleth them as the one dyeth so dyeth the other c. Eccl. 3. 19. shall be raised in power be strong and freed from all weakness and diseases That which is now a natural body which we received by natural propagation and was here nourished with natural meat and drink by the word of God and is sown a natural body shall be raised a spiritual body they shall be the sons of God then as to their bodies being the children of the resurrection and then they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more they shall be so spiritualized that they shall be like to and equal with the Angels not hindered by any obstacles they shall bear the image of the heavenly and so they will be more excellent than man in his first creation and now freed from all sickness pain and grief these inhabitants shall no more say they are sick for their sins shall be forgiven them 1 Cor. 15. 43 49. Luk. 20. 35 36. Isa 49. 10. 33. 24. Rev. 21. 3. Christ shall then present them to himself a glorious Church not having wrinkle no fruit or remembrance of affliction or grief upon them Eph. 5. 27. Job 16. 8. but the glory of the Lord shall be seen upon them then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 53 55. they shall be freed and delivered for ever from the first death and shall be freed and delivered for ever from the first death and shall not go into the second blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power Rev. 20. 6. they shall not be condemned with the world in that everlasting fire which was not at first prepared for mankind but for the Devil and his angels into which all that have been incensed against and continued disobedient to Jesus Christ shall be cast he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death Rev. 2. 11. Then they shall be delivered and saved from all their enemies and from all their deceits and troubles God shall redeem their souls from deceit and violence Psal 72. 14. From deceit God shall then bruise Satan under their feet as he is already bruised under the feet of the Captain of our salvation for during the thousand years reign of Christ and his Saints he shall be bound so as not to deceive the Nations all that time and when the thousand years are expired he shall be loosed a little season out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the Nations he shall not then have liberty given him to deceive the Camp of the Saints much less the beloved City and presently after he shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone Rev. 20. 1 3 7 10. into the holy City new Jerusalem shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or a lye Rev. 21. 27. 22. 15. Now they have temptations from Satan and men though yet in hearing Christ's voice and following him none shall pluck them out of his hands neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers not things present nor things to come c. shall be able to separate them that love God from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Joh. 10. 27 29. Rom. 8. 38 39. but yet Satan is trying and indeavouring all means to corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus and by â—etting slip the things heard and listening to Satan it 's possible that a man may be intangled and overcome there being sin in believers also that is alwayes working deceitfully as appears by the many admonitions given to believers and jealeusies of the Apostles concerning them and some instances in Scripture recorded c. 1 Thess 3. 5. Gal. 1. 6 7. 5. 3 5. 6. 1. 2 Cor. 11. 1 3. Heb. 2. 1 3. 4. 1. 10. 23 29. but then as they have no sin within them so none without them that shall tempt them any more And herein their condition is more excellent than was Adam's and mankind's in him in the first Creation for though then God made man upright yet there was a tempter permitted to tempt him and through his subtilty did beguil him he not keeping in believing mindfulness the word of God but listening to the lye of the serpent And then they shall be delivered from violence also he will give to them then rest from all their troubles when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flâ—ming fire taking vengeance on them that
for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord namely when the godly man ceaseth and when the tongue of the wicked speaks proud things as if now they should prevail I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him and this he would do by his words which are pure words Psal 12. 1. 6. As to speak a little particularly â— The person to whom he commends them as is declared in the word of his grace is one that hath triumphed gloriously who having had the judgment of this world executed upon him hath indured and overcome it and hath cast out the Prince of the world and so hath drawn all men unto him he hath purged our sins from before the presence of God abolished death and destroyed him that had the power of death even the devil and overcome the world his own right hand and his holy arm hath gotten himself the victory Psal 98. 1. and hath obtained all power both in heaven and in earth and all fulness of grace and truth into himself for us The Father hath not given the Spirit by measure unto him but hath so loved him that he hath given all things unto him Joh. 3. 34 35. The consideration hereof is powerful to strengthen us not to fear any of those things we may suffer and to preserve us from evil and from the fear of evil this is our victory even our faith Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God even accepted to all the ends of his undertaking and so raised from the dead c. 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. In this we see that He hath trodden down strength and delivered us in himself from the hand of our enemies so that neither Satan nor his instruments can set on us to harm us till he give permissive commission thereto because all judgment is committed to him of the Father he hath bound the strong man and the kingdom of God by him is brought unto us and reigns over us graciously Mat. 12. 28 29. And this is made known to us in the Gospel that we might rejoyce in his salvation and in the name of our God we might set up the banner as they profess to do Psal 20. 5. Forasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood he likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devil and deliver them through the knowledge hereof who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 14 15. See in our types how Moses incourages the hearts of the people If thou shalt say in thine heart these Nations are more than I c. thou shalt not be afraid of them but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh and unto all Egypt c. Deut. 7. 17 18 21. As if he should say consider how great things he hath done how gloriously he hath triumphed and in that thing wherein they thought to deal proudly he was above them and this will be bread to you for their strength is departed Numb 14. 9. Psal 74. 13 14. And now grace and truth is come by Jesus Christ we have this deliverance and victory obtained by the Captain of our salvation set before us to incourage us to serve God without fear seeing in and by him we are delivered out of the hands of our enemies Luke 1. 71 75. and to be of good comfort for he hath overcome the world Joh. 16. 33. He hath spoiled principalities and powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in himself Col. 2. 15. Eph. 4. 8. Psal 68. 18. He hath obtain'd in himself a compleat conquest over Satan the true Levâ—athan and crooked Serpent and his instruments and is gone up with a shout in token of victory the Lord with the â—ound of a trumpet Sing praises to our God sing praises 〈◊〉 praises to our King sing praises Psal 47. 5 6. so as that they have no power except it be given them from above And he hath abolished death and taken out the sting thereof and so out of all afflictions and lesser deaths so as there is nothing in them simply to separate us from the love of God in Christ he hath delivered us in himself from that so great a death into which we were fallen and in which we must have perished for ever had he not remembred us in our â—â—w estate for his mercy indures for ever yea he hath turned our curses into blessings he is ascended far above all heavens into heaven it self that he might fill all things and so all afflictions and death with the vertuâ—s and influences of his sacrifice yea he hath the keys of hell and of death 2 Cor. 1. 10. 2 Tim. 1. 8 10. Rom. 8. 39. Eph. 4. 10. 2. Consider he who hath thus obtained the victory and whose it is he is the Shepherd of his flock the High Priest of their profession who hold fast the beginning of the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm to the end Heb. 3. 1 2 6 14. And so He is one who hath offered up an acceptable sacrifice unto the Father even the offering of his own body once for all both for his own sins which were imputed to him and accepted by him and for the sins of the people and hath so taken away the guilt of the former that the wrath of God from him remains not on any one for that sin and sinfulness simply and obtained power to make reconciliation for the latter and to forgive them that through his name believe in him Act. 10. 43. 13. 39. Oh what incouragement is there in this to strengthen us to run with patience the race set before us and not to fear in the dayes of evil when the iniquity of our heels compass us about Psal 49. 5 15. See how this even compleats the consolation of believers in a day of adversity and causeth them to triumph always in Christ It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us that our iniquities may not be imputed but graciously forgiven and healed who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that hath loved us Rom 8. 34 39. Oh consider what a merciful and faithful High-Priest we have in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people and who is therefore able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them for such an high Priest became us c. Heb. 2. 17 3. 1. 7. 25 26. If our sins were lest upon us and no deliverance there from obtained
let him be accursed Gal. 1. 8 9. If any man consent not in his teachings to wholsom words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness he is proud c. from such turn away 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. Now then we may be assured that such consent to wholsom words who say Christ died not for all nor by the grace of God tasted death for every man contrary to 2 Cor. 5 14. Heb. 2. 9. and so such as deny him to be the standing propitiation for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2. 2. These teach men to deny the Lord that bought them yea they are led by the spirit of error who confess not praise not lift not up Jesus Christ as the Son of God the Saviour of the world they come not up to wholesom words for the true Christ is the Saviour of the world even of mankind and this began to be spoken by the Lord himself Joh. 3. 16 17. 4. 42. 6. 51. and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him 2 Cor. 5. 14 15 19. and so the Son of God is the Saviour of the world and this was the sum of the Apostles testimony which they had received and saw in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 13 15. And the Apostle Paul saith that he was ordained a Preacher of this viz. That God will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth c. 1 Tim. 2. 4 7. and instructed Timothy to hold fast the form of sound words which he heard of him that unto which he was ordained a Preacher as before and an Apostle viz. that God is one and there is one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time by which he proves and evidences that God will have all men to be saved c. I say to hold this last in faith in an hearty belief of the truth of it and in love to men so as declaring this to them and holding it fast in profession according to the constraining operations of the grace of God in Christ 2 Tim 1. 9 13. with 1 Tim. 2. 4 7. 2 Cor. 5. 13 15 18 20. and exhorted Timothy to command others to teach and himself to teach that the living God is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10 11. See also Tit. 2. 11 15. And in this direction given unto us for tryal of spirits that we may know so as to avoid false Prophets it is observable the Apostle doth not positively and particularly declare what the false spirits do hold and teach but in the general he saith If they confess not praise not lift not up Jesus Christ or give not to him the glory due to him in their confessions so as in all hearing the Apostles they are not of God and we are to beware of them if they Evangelize otherwise than what the Apostles have Evangelized we are to reject them for if it be not the voice of our Shepherd we may be sure it is the voice of a stranger and so we are to flee from them yea if any man come unto you saith the Apostle and bring not this doctrine the doctrine of Christ in which he is lifted up in the words of the Holy Ghost receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed He saith not if he take not up this doctrine which he may seem to do for advantage sake when he is with you that he may not be discovered but may deceive you but if he bring it not if this be not his message his errand when he comes the thing he is set to promote receive him not c. Prov. 14. 7. Joh. 10. 4 5. 2 Joh. 7 11. 2. And by their fruits may be meant also the effects of their doctrines which the Disciples of Christ may perceive and discern namely that they are such as tend to corrupt from that simplicity that is in Christ to draw away mens hearts and affections from him who is the only foundation of faith and hope the only fountain in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily the only bread of life and door of approach to God They tend to remove men from him that called them into the grace of Christ and cause men to err from the words of knowledge Prov. 19. 27. Gal. 1. 6. and this appears plainly in those that imbrace and entertain those confessions in which Jesus Christ is not lifted up in the word of the Apostles Now then in applying our selves to God and the word of his grace we may be preserved from those grievous Wolves for they confess not our God or confess him not according to that discovery given of him in the word of his grace Oh let us then keep sound wisdom and discretion so shall they be life to our souls preserve our souls in life and grace to our necks then shall we walk in the way safely and our foot shall not stumble Prov. 3. 21 26. take fast hold of instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy life Prov. 4. 13. 3. That I may not over-much inlarge I shall briefly say the Apostle directs and commends them to this person and thing that they might not arise speaking perverse things and that they might be preserved from those amongst themselves that would arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them ver 30. What hath been spoken before may be useful here also only in that he now forewarns them of this danger among themselves and therefore thus commits them He signifies 1. That amongst those whom the Holy Ghost hath made overseers over the flock some may possibly arise speaking perverse things crooked wreathed things such as in which they would pervert the Gospel of Christ Gal. 1. 7. and that either by desiring to be teachers of the Law as there were some inclined hereto amongst these believers 1 Tim. 1. 3 7. So some such among the Galatians that turned them aside to the Law to be justified or sanctified by the works thereof and to perfect by the flesh what was begun by the Spirit Gal. 2 15 16 3. 1 5. 5. 1 4. and turning them again to weak and beggarly elementâ— Gal. 4. 9. Col. 2. 22 24. or by not consenting unto wholsom â—â—rds event the words of our Lord Jesus Christ but limiting the grace of God and teaching men to deny the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. or not consenting to the doctrine according to godliness but â—urning the grace of our God into wantonness as if it gave liberty to men to continue in sin or to use their liberty for a cloak of maliciousness or licentiousness 1 Tim. 6. 3 4. Jude 4. 1 Pet. 2. 16 or corrupting the word of God with Philosophy and that Science
God because he laid down his life for us it was God that was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit and the Father in him 1 Tim. 3. 16. And so it was one that was infinitely worthy one that had bought them there was no reason for any to take offence at this resignation was Paul crucified for you did any among them redeem them no surely but worthy hereof is the Lamb for he was slain and had redeemed them Rev. 5. 9. It was God their shepherd to whom he commits them whose flock thâ—y were v. 28. 29. And whom he had bought with one price after a double consideration according to the will of God and our Father 1. He was such an one as had bought them with his own blood or with himself in the vertues thereof and that in common with all men for he gave himself a ransâ—me for all as 1 Tim. 2 6. Namely for all men as is evident in that it is part of the proof he gives to evidence that God will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth ver 4. And the Apostle there speaks of his giving himself a price of redemption not to but for all it was to God he gave himself a ransome as is also evident that he speaks of it as done in order of Nature before he was Mediator and by vertue whereof he is the Mediator making intercession for transgressoâ—s and to that end he might be a testimony and testified in due time ver 5. 6. And so he gave himself a price of redemption to God for all that he might redeem them unto himself that they might be his and he be their Lord Rom. 14. 9. That the sentence of banishment that was against them might be released to him and that they might be under his dispose that the world thorow him might be saved Joh. 3. 17. He is raised again for our Justification who was delivered for our offences and hath received an acquittance from all our sins imputed to him he was justified in the Spirit 's raising him and hath by himself without any knowledge motion compliance on our parts or any thing required of us purged our sins and this he hath done before he sat down on the right hand of the Maiesty in high Heb. 1. 3 And so made peace slain the enmity drawn all men to himself so as that the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son Joh. 5. 22. He hath purchased and bought all men and hence all Lands all the earth are instructed to make a joyful noise unto the Lord and to know the Lord is God it is he that hath made us when we had marr'd our selves and his we are we are his people and the sheep of his pasture Psal 100. 1. 3. 4. He hath bought them who had corrupted themselves and whose blot it was that they were not his Children but were a perverse and erooked generation Deut. 32. 5. 6. He hath redeemed them that speak lies against him Hos 7. 13. Yea such as deny him and bring uâ—on themselves swift destruction thereby 2 Pet. 2. 1. in short he is Lord of all men because he dyed rose and revived fâ—r them and this to a gratious end while called to day that all men should honour him as they should honour the Father Rom. 14. 9. Joh. 5. 22. 23. And hath so redeemed them unto himself that no man shall perish for ever in that first death but be raised by the man Christ Jesus and then they shall not be judged by the Law as they fell under it in â—â—â—m but by the Law of liberty in which liberty is proclaimed from the curse of the Law Jam. 2. 12. O what a faithful resignation was this and what incouragement to leave our selves with him and commit our selves to him who hath thus manifested his grace and to moderate our sorrow â—â— that he lives who was dead and is alive for evermore and hath the keys of hell and death Rev. 1. 18. 2. More directly the person to whom he commends them it was God who had purchased them with his own blood namely redeemed them out of the World and from amongst men and that thorow the presenting his blood to them and commending it before them in the pretious and excellent ends and vertues thereof in which he was raised from the dead peace made righteousness compleated spirit received a new testament and everlasting covenant confirmed eternal redemption obtained in glorifying of which by his spirit and rendring it thus pretious in his testimony he had redeemed them and bought them of themselves and from their vain conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. Redeemed them unto God out of the kindreds and tongues and so from the earth and from amongst men Rev. 5. 9. with chap. 14. 3. 4. Made them willing for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ to suffer the loss of all things and to go on to count them as dung Phil. 3 8. 9. He gave himself to them for them that they receiving him might give themselves to hâ—m Eph. 5. 25. 26. Indeed he is thus buying all men that come to years of capacity in due time reconciling the VVorld to himself calling upon all the ends of the earth to look to him and be saved 2 Cor. 5. 19. 20. Isa 45. 22. But many refuse and when the price is put into their hands they have no heart to accept and imbrace it but when light is vouchsafed they love darkness rather then â—ight and this is their great iniquity and cause of their everlasting perdition that when they are called they are not chosen that they will not be elected Joh. 3. 18. 19. Mat. 22. 11. 14. But these to whom the Apostle speaks he had purchased with his own blood he was their Shepherd and they were his flock in a peculiar consideration his Church his Spouse and such as were therefore the subjects of his peculiar love and most special care Oh excellent one to whom he thus resigns them Oh blessed incouragement to trust in him and not be afraid and to look for his mercy unto eternal life who in his love and pitty had redeemed them of God in common with all from the curse of the Law and thorow the commendation of his pretious blood had bought them of themselves Oh what ground to conclude seeing the Lord was their shepherd they should not want and from his grace in laying down his life for them when sinners and enemies to be confident from his love therein commended that much more being reconciled they should be saved by his life Rom. 5. 6. 10. and 8. 32. Gal. 2. 20. Had the Apostle committed them to any mean man how faithful soever he might have complained of it as a burden Even Moses of whom the Holy Ghost gives this testimony that he verily was faithful in all his house as a servant Heb. 3. 5. Yet complains of that charge
the word of his grace 3. His grace still further appears to be great in this word of his grace if we consider the persons for whom he was thus greatly abased and that both as to their condition and as to their number 1. As to their condition in which they were we have it declared Rom. 5. 6 8 10. While we were yet without strength in due time Christ dyed for the ungodly God commendeth his love towarâ—â—â—s in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us when we were enemies we were reconciled by the death of his Son And so when without strength to help our selves sick and sick to death as water spilt upon the ground that cannot be gathered up again 2 Sam. 14. 14. when none could by any means redeem his brother by any thing he could do suffer or offer to God Psal 49. 7. Gal. 2. 21. then he commended his love to us yea this great weakness and helplessness we had contracted to and brought upon our selves by out voluntary departure from God God made man upright in a condition to have had communion with his Creator but they sought out many inventions Eccl. 7. 29. Adam transgressed the Covenant and there dealt treacherously against God even as a Wife treacherously departeth from her Husband Hos 6. 7. and not for want but through wantonness listened to the lye of the tempter and so brought death and misery into the world Rom. 5. 12. Our comeliness was turned into corruption and we retained no strength and now to lay hold on us when we had voluntarily disabled our selves this was great love indeed Amongst men this shuts up the bowels of their pitty when any one doth willingly and wilâ—ully lame or disable himself who will bemoaâ— such an one or turn aside to ask how he doth But in such a state God pityed us yea when we were ungodly and sinners ungodly such as did not worship him or desire and much less deserve any favour yea acknowledged not our fault but sought to hide and cover it Job 31. 33. and to throw it from one to another yea the man as it were secretly to cast it upon God The woman thou gavest to be with me she gave me and I did eat yet now he manifested his love to them that asked not after him yea that hid themselves first from the presence of the Lord and afterward sought to cover their transgression by hiding it in their bosom And sinners such as had mist their mark and were greatly deceived they in their pride not content with their state God created them in but listening to the temptation of Satan aspired to an equality with God and to be as God's Oh high presumption to have a self-sufficiency in themselves but they missed miserably what they in hearkning to the seducer proposed to themselves and so became transgressorâ— and broke his Law and thereby became such as God hears not though they had cryed Joh. 9. 31. such as he could not delight in or have fellowship with yet now he had compassion on us This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Christ hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust 1 Pet. 3. 18. yea when we were enemies enemies to him as well as to our selves haters of him God was in Christ reconciling us to himself David's kindness toward Saul wonderfully wrought upon him and it even broke his heart because he killed him not but spared his life when it was in the power of his hand to have destroyed him If a man find his enemy saith he will he let him go well away wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day 1 Sam. â—4 19. But alas David's love herein though very rare amongst men is not to be compared with this we are speaking of for Saul whom he spared was God's Anointed and King and therefore David could not put forth his hand against him and be innocent 1 Sam. 24. 10. 26. 9. But now on the contrary he that so testified love toward us was the Lord and heir of all things it is Christ the Lord 's anointed that dyed and we were his creatures and servants that had rebelled against him Again David parted with nothing that was dear to him much less laid down his life to shew kindness to Saul only spared him and forbore to touch him but Christ dyed for our sins that he might bring us back to God Is this the manner of man Oh Lord God Greater love than this hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends but God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners and enemies Christ dyed for us Joh. 15. 13. with Rom. 5. 6. 8. Great reason have we to break forth into admiration with the Psalmist and say How excellent and precious is thy loving kindness O God! Psal 36. 7. 2. The persons as to the number for whom he so humbled himself were all of them whose nature he took and in which he vvas made a little lovver than the Angels he vvas crovvned vvith glory and honour that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man Heb. 2. 9. It vvas a light thing too mean for and belovv him that he should be God's servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob c. but God hath given him also that he should be for salvation to the ends of the earth Isa 49 6. And this began to be preached by the Lord himself God so loved the world saith he that he gave his only begotten Son c. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world thrâ—ugh him might be saved Ioh. 3. 16 17. This he spake to one man even to Nicodemuâ— that he might be born again We are apt to think that a particular application of God's love as men call it might have been more proper in this case vvhen our Saviour vvas applying himself to one person yet vve see the course our Saviour the Wisdom of God takes vvhen he is declaring the necessity of the Nevv-birth and directing to the means by vvhich a man may be born again And indeed herein he shevvs vvhat is the vvater of vvhich a man may be begotten again namely the pity and kindness of God to man-vvard and not some particular or peculiar love to this or that man And from his mouth the Samaritans received and learnt this lesson Now say they to the vvoman we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world Joh. 4. 42. So Joh. 6. 51. And this was also confirmed unto us by them that heard him We thus judge saith the Apostle that if oâ—e dyed for all then were all dead and he dyed for all 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Yea this
vvas that vvhich they favv in the light and evidence of the Spirit and accordingly did testifie even as the sum of their testimony that the Father sent the Son the Saviour of the world 1 John 4. 14. 1 Tim. 2. 4 7. 4. In this Word is discovered to us his grace in what he hath through and by means of his death effected and obtained into himself for us and is become And so 1. That which he hath effected thereby is that he hath saved us mankind in himself from that so great a death in which otherwise we must have perished for ever for in Jesus Christ mercy and truth are met righteousness and peace have kissed he hath satisfied God's justice fulfilled his truth appeased his wrath paid that our debt answered the Law and this is manifested in that God hath raised him from the dead in that same body in which he was crucified and in which he bare our sins on the Tree and he hath brought him again from the dead through his blood so precious was it in the sight of the Lord Heb. 13. 20. That same Jesus whom the Jews crucified in that same personal body in which he dyed for our sins is raised again and this was of absolute necessity for if he be not taken from prison we must dye and abide in our sins for ever preaching is vain and faith vain c. But he is raised from the dead in that body which was pierced with a spear and with those hands and feet which were nailed to the Tree John 19. 34. with Chap. 20. 20 25 27. And unto his Apostles he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them fourty dayes Acts 1. 3. And as he is raised in that very body in which he suffered so also in that publick consideration being acquitted from all our sins that were imputed to him and having over come all our death and enemies that had led us captive He was declared and determined to be the Son of God in whom he is well pleased with power according to the spirit of holiness in the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 4. He is taken from prison and from judgment and as in him as in the publick man all have dyed and suffered the whole of the curse due to them for our first departure from God 2 Cor. 5. 14. So in him who is the last Adam they are acquitted For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Rom. 3. 23 24. 5. 18. He hath so purged away our sins from before the presence of God the guilt whereof was imputed to him as that now the Father judgeth no man according to the Law as they fell under it in the first publick man Heb. 1. 3. with Iohn 5. 22. that is to say no man is condemned or held out from God either because our first Father hath sinned and we in him or because as we come to receive our beings we come forth and are born in sin and so naturally and necessarily polluted and defiled for he hath made peace slain the enmity that was between God and mankind taken out of the way all that was in the way contrary to us broken down the middle wall of partition and is become the way to the Father and God hath committed all judgment to the Son that all men should honour the Son Eph. 2. 13 15. Col. 2. 13 14. Ioh. 5. 22 23. Gal. 3. 13. And he hath spoiled principalities and powers led captivity captive and destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil Col. 2. 15. Psal 68. 18. See how this began to be spoken by the Lord himself as to both these branches Iohn 12. 31 32. Now saith he is the judgment of this world to wit it was now executing upon him when his soul was troubled the guilt of the trespasses of the world which made it liable to the judgment of God being imputed to him he was called to the judgment-seat and made a curse for us and God in him took vengeance of our iniquities he judged and condemned sin in the flesh of Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 3. Isa 61. 1 2. He was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities c. Now shall the Prince of this world be castâ—out namely out of his principality and from being the Prince of this world as he was according to that judgment for we were fallen under his dominion necessarily and must have so remained for ever had not God devised this blessed means And I if I be lifted up from the earth namely crucified and hung on the Tree will draw all men unto me That is by means of his death who in the vertue thereof is discharged and acquitted he would draw all men unto him and now in the first sense hath drawn them unto himself from under the judgment of this world which was executed upon him from under that sentence of banishment according to which they were shut out from God and must have perished in their sins and from being under the necessary dominion of Satan who was become the Prince of this world from under both he hath drawn them unto himself to be under his judgment his gracious Government and Lordship for to this end Christ both dyed rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Lord of all Rom. 14. 9. Acts 10. 36. And to a gracious end did he dye for all and is raised again and hath the sentence of banishment remitted to him and brought us under his kingdom viz. that he might bring us back to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 5. 15. And of both these it appears the Psalmist prophetically speaks in Psal 136. where he provokes to give thanks to the Lord for his mercy and that first because of his creating all things ver 5. 9. and then for his great goodness towards the house of Israel which he bestowed on them ver 10 22. to which he adds he remembred us in our low estate when we were brought low for our iniquities and were justly banished from his presence in the sentence of his Law for his mercy endureth for ever and redeemed us from our enemies for his mercy indureth for ever ver 23 24. I say it appears he speaks of this redemption of mankind in Christ generally and of his mercy to the Gentiles particularly in that it is distinguished from his work of creation his goodness to Israel and his providing for and giving food to all flesh And the like is also said Col. 2. 14 15. yea he hath so saved all mankind in himself as that no man shall perish for ever in that first death of which our Jesus tasted and which he overcame and hath abolished but be raised out of it for since by man death by man also the resurrection of the dead For as in Adam