a man tells his friend a secret he would not have others know he whispers in his ear so the Lord deals with his People he reveals those secrets to them which every one shall not know which indeed eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor hath entred into the hearts of other men These God reveals to Believers by his spirit 1 Cor. 2.9 10. On this account is the Church stiled by Christ a Garden enclosed Cant. 4.12 Not only are Believers as to their persons so enclosed that they cannot fall away and miss of salvation nor are the graces of such only so enclosed that they perish not but they are also enclosed in their mystical enjoyments that none partake of them but themselves To which agreeth that Prov. 14.10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy Believers have bitter and sweet listings up and castings down sorrows and joys peculiar to themselves alone Quest You will say What are those special favours Christ gives those that overcome which others cannot receive Answ There are many of these peculiar tokens of special love he doth bestow upon them that by faith get Victory over their spiritual Enemies as true Believers do we read that Abraham gave the sons of the Concubines portions and sent them away but to Isaac he gave all that he had Gen. 25 5 6. God gives portions in this Life even to all to the worst of men but some things Believers have others share not in They have the Lord for their God in a peculiar covenant-relation 't is said he is not ashamed to be called their God Heb. 11.16 others have none of the life of God given them none of the fulness of God none of the peculiar knowledge of God no special interest in the attributes of God none of the saving influential goodness of God all which the Saints receive Yea they partake of Christ they have received Christ Jesus the Lord Colos 2.16 others are without Christ no right to the Covenant no interest in the Promises no reconciliation no righteousness no acceptance no salvation for these benefits are derived to men by Faith in Christ I might adde Believers only are partakers of the spirit of God I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter saith Christ even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive John 14.16 17. And he is to them a Spirit of Light and Wisdom a Spirit of Power and Love and of a sound mind a spirit of Grace and Holiness a spirit of Love and joy none of which things others partake of But I wave those and confine my discourse to those in the Text. 1. Hidden Manna To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna that is of Christ himself whom though none of the Princes of this World knew yet God reveals this hidden Manna to his hidden ones by his Spirit It is an allusion to the Manna God gave Israel the Wilderness which was a famous and excellent type of Christ as he himself largely declares John 6. Moses gave you not that Bread from Heaven but my Father giveth you the true Bread from Haven For this pointing to himself is the Bread of God which cometh down from Heaven and giveth life unto the World verse 32.33 and so verse 48. I am that Bread of Life Again vers 56. This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven whereof if a man eats he shall not dye This Manna God gave the Jews was twice hidden 1. It fell in the dew of the Morning and so was hidden from their sight for it is said when the Dew was gone up they saw a little round thing and when they saw it they said it is Manna Ex. 16.14 15 33. And 2. It was hidden when some part of it was by Gods appointment put into a golden pot and preserved as a memorial of that wonderful Work to future Generations unto this latter many take the Text to allude The sense of this Promise take in two things 1. That Christ will give Overcomers to feed and feast upon himself sweet tastes of himself here in Dunes and Ordinances Even in these they shall be able to say as Christ did I have meat to eat you know not of Joh. 4.32 we have hidden Manna given us the World cannot taste of Of this they eat sometimes in Prayer when Hannah had prayed she was so strengthened by this Manna that 't is said her countenance was no more sad 1 Sam. 1.18 An ancient once speaking of what he met with of Christ in this Ordinance said nunquam abs te absque te recedo Lord I never go from thee without thee very sweet are the Refreshments victorious souls meet with in this Duty so in hearing the word they meet with more than a voice of words even Angels food the hungry soul is filled they eat the word as Jeremiah saith he did and find their weak hands strengthened their feeble knees confirmed their fainting hearts comforted their doubts resolved and their minds settled Whilst Peter was preaching the word the Holy-Ghost fell upon all the hearers Acts 10.44 Especially in that great Ordinance of the Lords Supper Believers feed not only upon Sacramental Bread but hidden Manna also Here they eat his Flesh which is meat indeed and drink his Blood which is drink indeed and sup with Christ and he with them Here they have a feast of fat things and wine on the lees well refined they are satisfied as with marrow and fatness and taste his love which is better than wine fat things both sweet and filling yet not cloying as other fat things are My soul is satisfied with the goodness of thy house even of thy holy Temple says David Psal 65.4 We read that the Israelites nauseated the Manna We have nothing besides this Manna Numb 11. who shall give us flesh to eat The excellent Bread God gave them was now but light Bread and they loathed it and grew weary of it but the spiritual refreshments Believers sometimes are partakers of have a present delight in them and create an earnest appetite in the soul after them Such hidden Manna does Christ give them to eat here 2. This Promise intimates that they shall feed and feast themselves upon him in Heaven He is hid and laid up there as the Manna in the golden pot was laid up in the holiest of all which was but a shadow of this mystery This none but themselves can be admitted to share in for without are the fearful and the unbelievers Here they eat by Faith there by sight here now and then a little as they are able to bear there fully and without intermission Here when the King sits at the table their spiknard sends forth its savour their graces and gracious affections slow forth What will the Sweet-Meats of Heaven the full and eternal fruition of this Banquet the everlasting enjoyment of these Dainties produce in them
he was a poor man Eccl. 9.15 yet an inheritance without wisdom is not good to the owner of it but a temptation fuel of lust pride vanity and so is harmful for want of this wisdom to order and keep it in its right place out of the heart Moreover there is hostility to be used against the world even in our passing through the world lest it cause us to lose our sight of God by interposing between him and us A man may hide the Sun from his eye with his hand A little of the world if we be not careful may be like a cloud which will keep us from the sight of God But to be curnbred with a multiplicity of cares about these things is to set great mountains between him and us to cause an eclipse of his countenance that we cannot behold him The Moon eclipseth the Sun from our sight earthly things hide the gracious sace of God from us if we be not very watchful against them Yet further we are to fight against this enemy as it doth oppose grace and hinder us in our faith hope and charity In our Faith he that sees a fair estate had need pray and say Lord draw the curtain and let me by faith see thee and thy beauty and glory The God of glory Acts 7. or God in his glory appeared unto Abraham and this so darkned the glory of this world that by Faith he left all at the call of God So much as we fix our eye upon the creature so much the less we see of God and so much the more our faith is hindered When Jacob had least of this world he saw most of God and so it is with many So for hope the world often hurts that the soul is ready to say How shall I travel over the fords and deeps of the world how shall I be able to resign up my all This is hard and difficult to sell all to part with all the hope of better things will carry us through it but if we fix here hope is lost so love and charity they are defiled there is spiritual whoredom between the Soul and the Creature by the love of the world Ye adulterers and adulteresses says St. James Jam. 4.4 know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God Some take it for that spiritual adultrey wherein a man gives his love away from God to the Creature where love to the world prevails the best things are slighted and undervalued we ought to hate Father and Mother Brother and Sister Houses and Lands yea and our own Life also for Christ's sake Luke 14.26 when they stand between us and God then away with them had we not need watch and war against the world to subdue it and get the upper hand of it 1 Cor. 6.12 All things are lawful but I will not he brought under the power of any saith St. Paul He would stand upon the liberty and priviledg Christ gave him he would have the upper hand of these things nothing should command his love his fear or his joy and it is sweet walking with God when in this frame of Spirit That man who stands in right terms with the things of the world is content in every condition instructed in all things and can be in want or abound as it pleaseth God to order for him and this we should account better then the greatest estate in the Countrey these will come on faster in all grace that can cast off this weight and will run the race set before them and none shall hinder them this is the generation of Travellers when Jacob went from his Fathers House he had but a staff and a stone a staff to walk with in the day and a stone to rest his head upon in the night yet he returned two bands and glorious visions of God were given him Gen. 31. Gen. 32. though he met with hardship yet these made him pluck up his feet and go on chearfully This will put resolution into the heart of a Christian Acts 20.23 24. None of these things move me saith St. Paul neither do I count my life dear so I may finish my course with joy This is that which is implied That we have Enemies to war and combate with and we hear what they are 2. That which is expressed is that Overcomers all that get Victory of these Enemies shall eat of the Tree of Life in God's Paradise Some Questions follow for a brief explication of this proposition Quest Who may be said to be Overcomers Answ This Apostle doth best of all resolve the Question which he first propounds and then answers 1 Jo. 5.5 Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God Though the world is only named yet all the Enemies are included for he that gets victory over one overcomes them all some will say who doth not believe this that Jesus is the Son of God There will soon be an end of the war if this be all the Victory will be easy let such know that though there be no great difficulty in giving our assent to this proposition yet the Deity of Christ hath been denied and opposed by none of the meanest for learning not onely by the Pharisees whilst he himself lived but in the times when this Apostle wrote his Epistle and afterwards by the Arrians and Socinians of late How few imbrace it with a Divine Faith which is the only Faith that overcomes in the day of tryal Some take this up upon reasons of antiquity Authority and Consent of the Church in which they live but this Faith will not give us Victory if great trials arise upon this Fundamental Article in the Creed when the Apostle wrote this it was the critical point the Shibboleth as I may say by which one was distinguished from another the discriminating Doctrine the word of Christ's patience Persecution rose so high upon the defenders of this great truth as their Liberties and Lives were in danger to be taken from them for maintaining it at such a day not to be afraid to confess Christ to be the Eternal Son of God gave a comfortable ground to conclude them true Believers such Faith might charitably be judged right by which they thus overcame the world 'T is an easy thing when a Protestant Prince reigns to declare we believe that Transubstantiation is an error contrary to Scripture reason and our very senses but if Popery should come in like a flood and be the prevailing Interest and condemn them to be burnt for Hereticks who deny it as was the case of the Martyrs in the Marian days then to be stedfast even to the death in this perswasion would be a very hopeful evidence of the truth of our belief and of our Victory over the World So in the case this Text mentions O how few would find Faith and Patience to help them to seal to this That Christ is the Son of
God Coessential and Coeternal with the Father with their blood How few would dare to appear to own it as it is said Athinasius did when the World was in a manner over-run with Arianism When St. Peter had maid that excellent confession Matth. 16.16 17. Thou art Christ the Son of the living God what says Christ to this Blessed art thou Simon c. and though he was afterwards foiled yet he overcame all in the end Acts 4.19 Quest 2. What is that Paradise of God promised here to Overcomers Answ Heaven even the third Heaven the true Celestial Paradise For what in one verse 2 Cor. 12.2 4. St. Paul stiles the third Heaven in another he calls it Paradise And thus to be taken in the Text and Doctrine now before us Here seems to be an allusion to the Garden of Eden where God disposed of Adam after he had created him Gen. 13.10 stiled the Garden of God which was a large circuit of ground richly furnished with all good things as became so excellent a Workman and was every way answerable to the ends for which it was prepared Cant. 4.12 Some judge it was a type of the Church which is called a Garden enclosed and a Figure of Heaven It was doubtless the choicest spot of ground in the World there were all sort of pleasant Trees and delightful Fruits and free liberty to eat of them all one onely excepted Who can declare the delights of the Celestial Paradise Eden had a very famous River that ran through it and watered it Psal 46.4 So there is a River in Heaven far excelling that the Streams whereof make glad that City of God It doth overflow to refresh the Church here but runs with a full current there and ravish the Inhabitants of that Paradise with unexpressible pleasures for evermore In Eden of old the Covenant between God and Adam was perfect till man brake it In Heaven the new Covenant and all the mysteries of Grace therein are accomplished Adam was without sin and sorrow and might easily have so kept himself when he was in Eden But there is no possibility of sin or trouble in the heavenly Paradise In the Garden of Eden Adam had free access to and fellowship with his Creator but in Heaven they have it with God as a Father and more fully and durably then Adam had by which we may see the Paradise what it is Quest 3. Who and what is the Tree of Life mentioned in the Text Answ Christ himself and he onely is the true Tree of Life Pro. 3.18 So stiled by Solomon under the name of Wisdom thus he speaks of Christ She is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon her an allusion to that Tree of Life which was in the Garden of Eden which is made by some a Sacrament and Seal of that Covenant by which God assured Adam the continuance of his natural Life during his abode on Earth and Eternal Life when he should be removed from hence in case he kept this Covenant They who lay hold on Christ by true Faith have the best Seal that can be of Spiritual and Eternal Life 1 Jo. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life the Fountain of Life the Bread of Life the Water of Life the Well of Life the Tree of Life That Tree in Eden was as some judge both alimentum and medicamentum food and physick so is Christ he is the Tree of Life that is said to bear twelve manner of Fruits every month and whose Leaves are for the healing of the nations Rev. 22.2 That Tree of Life in Eden stood in the midst of the Garden Gen. 2.9 that it might be often in the view of our first Parents which way soever they went either to their Food or to their Employment Christ is in the midst of the Paradise of God and will be in the view of all Believers for ever Those Trees of Righteousness will be round about him to all Eternity But you will say Quest 4. What is it to eat of this Tree of Life Answ To eat is to press forth the vertue and sweetness that is in our Food that we may partake of the benefit thereof Overcomers shall participate of the fulness of Christ to their own joy In eating there is a natural delight arising from the taste of our meat 't is said They did eat Neh. 9.15 and delighted themselves in thy great goodness so of others that they did eat and were all filled 1 Kings 19. Elijah did eat and was strengthened of another 't is said 1 Sam. 30. he did eat and his Spirit came again and he revived They that get Victory over their Spiritual Enemies shall feed and feast themselves upon Jesus Christ the true Tree of Life in Heaven whereby all their desires shall be satisfied and their Appetites quenched and they everlastingly strengthened to behold his glory and to follow him whethersoever he goeth Quest 5. Why does the promise run in these terms That he will make them eat of the tree of life in the midst of the paradice of God Answ Partly to mind us of that first sin by which we were overcome in Adam as he was the publick head and representative of all mankind that we may be humbled for it and partly to shew us that this happiness then lost is recoverable by Christ the second Adam and shall be the portion of them that overcome Not that they shall return again to the Garden of Eden as some have concluded from this Text but a far more excellent estate and felicity than we should have had if Adam had never fallen which caused some to cry out O felix peccatum O happy sin of Adam which has occasioned the bringing in of a far better estate The Uses follow Vse 1. Are these things true Behold here the misery of all such as are totally and finally overcome by the grand enemies of their souls they are excluded for ever from the good of this promise as Christ said of them who slighted the invitation of the Gospel Luke 14.24 They shall never taste of my supper So he speaks of these here I will never give them to eat of my fruits those fruits which grow upon me the tree of Life They have temporal delights which are a paradise to them and are so well satisfied with these things That a Noble man in France is reported to say He would not change his part in Paris for a part in Paradise Such a one was the young man in the Gospel who would not quit his earthly treasures for heavenly and these assured by Christ himself Worldly contents are their chief joy though but a Fools paradise Thou fool says Christ to him that bid his soul take its ease for he had goods for many years Luke 12.20 Solomon among other vanities planted Orchards and Gardens with variety of Trees Eccles 2. but not a Tree of Life amongst them all Oh! that men could believe how sad their end
Father said Luke 15. Son thou art ever with me He that is a Servant to day may be none to morrow but if God be a Father and we his Children by Adoption this relation abides unchangeably he is an everlasting Father and we his Sons and Daughters for ever O what an excellent Priviledge is this new Name here promised To be a Son of God is an old Name for Adam was called the son of God but it was only by Creation The Angels in that sense are also called the Sons of God but to which of all the Angels did ever God say Thou art my Adopted Son This is the new Name here spoken of and is the peculiar Priviledg of true Believers 'T is storied That Alexander the Conquerour was by the flattering Oracle saluted as a Son of Jupiter but the Believer who overcomes the Devil Sin and the World in a more noble Spiritual way is by the true Oracle stiled the Son of God To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name Joh. 1.12 The Believer is no longer a mere Son of Adam but in the instant of his Believing is united to Christ the natural Son of God and so becomes an Adopted one And this is not an empty Title For they are born of God and are of the Seed-royal of Heaven yea this Adoption is Quaedam Similitudo Filiationis aeterni as a Learned man expresses it a Shadow of the Eternal One. The natural son is the Image of Gods nature the brightness of his Fathers glory and the express Image of his person Heb. 1.2 The adopted Son is the Image of his will of his own will begat he us by the word of truth James 1.18 And this puts a lustre upon Believers beyond what is to be seen upon the Princes and Potentates of the earth All the great swelling names thrown upon them by men is but fumus seculi a little smoke which quickly is scattered but this divine Adoption is radius coeli a beam of heavenly glory which makes them shine in the eyes of the Angels and continues an indelible character upon them You see by these things somewhat of the new name here promised and is this a little matter in any mans account When Sauls servants told David of the purposes the King had to give him one of his Daughters to wife David said Seemeth it a light thing to any of you to be a Kings Son-in-law seeing I am a poor man and lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 18.23 What may Believers then say as to this Divine Adoption Shall it be a light matter to be a Son or Daughter of the most high God the King of Kings That they who may say to corruption Thou art my Father or as 't is said Thy Father was an Amorite and thy Mother a Hittite Ezek. 16. should receive the spirit of Adoption crying Abba Father even to God himself This This is that new Name which is here promised to all that overcome I might here add Reasons of this point The love of God to them his chusing-love is the cause of this The Lord loveth the righteous Psal 146.8 Therefore his secret is with the righteous Prov. 3.32 Delilah could not believe Samson's love was so great to her as he pretended because he told her not that great secret where his strength lay It springs also from the purchase of Christ He bought a peculiar people and purchased for them peculiar favours Their common much more their special Mercies are the price of Blood and what Christ hath purchased God will give out unto them To all which add his engagement by Promise as in the Text And faithful is he that hath promised The Vse follows and briefly Vse 1. See here the great mistake of the men of the world who are ready to think none outgo them in their Enjoyments They exceed in outward things and knowing no better conclude themselves the only Favourites of God And others miserable who want them This Errour proceeds from Ignorance of and Inexperience as to higher things Every one is satisfied with what he apprehends most suitable as the Prodigal with his Husks but having a new Nature must have new Food and began to think of the Bread in his Father's house How much are all in a state of Unbelief to be pitied who judge good men have no such Priviledges as to be acquainted with God's Secrets more than themselves They measure a good man by themselves and therefore are ready to say in this case as Eliphaz did to Job in another Hast thou heard the Secret of God What knowest thou that we know not What understandest thou that is not in us Is there any secret thing with thee Job 15.8 9 11. Yet Believers do know and understand what worldly men know not For the Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him The Secrets of his Counsel are reserved in his own breast but the Secrets of his Providence are many times revealed to them Surely the Lord will do nothing but he revealeth his Secrets to his Servants the Prophets Amos 3.7 And the Lord himself saith of Abraham Shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I will do Yea the Secrets of his Truth are with Believers for he hath promised his Spirit of Truth shall lead them into all Truth the Secrets of his Love and Grace are with them of which the world knows nothing no more than of the Word of God which the Spirit only can savingly discover which Spirit the world cannot reeeive Joh. 14.16 17. As wicked men have Bread which they eat in secret Prov. 9.17 of which good men desire no knowledg some secret Lust which is as a sweet Morsel under their Tongue as to which good men are ready to say with the Patriarch O my Soul come not thou into their secret or with David Let me not eat of their dainties So they that are truely good have Spiritual Comforts peculiar to themselves which the world knows not of never tasted of Oh pity such and pray if perhaps any may be delivered from their present delusion Vse 2. This Truth and Text is full of Comfort to all true Believers who are victorious in their holy Warfare Set these Divine Refreshments here promis'd against all Discomforts and Discouragements of spirit Are you weak and feeble by the assaults of the enemy here is hidden Manna to strengthen and revive you Are you cast down with the fears of Sins Guilt and Gods Wrath Here is a White-Stone in token of your Election and Absolution which may also relieve against the black coals of Scandal and Reproach with which men are ready to dirty and defile you And if your Names be cast out among men Christ hath given you a new Name that shall be had in everlasting Remembrance when the name of the wicked shall rot And that your Joy may be yet more full from this Text consider
a Power to distribute Rewards and Punishments This some call a Judiciary Power a Power of judging all Nations giving Eternal Live to Believers and Eternal Death to all the world besides The Father judgeth no man but hath cammitted all Judgment to the Son Joh. 5.22 Before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divides his Sheep from the Goats Mat. 24. As many Divisions as now there are all will then come under that one Division either Sheep or Goats and will have their Judgment passed by Christ to whom the Father hath given that Power Such a Power over the Nations is here promised to Overcomers Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 6.2 Not Authoritatively and principally not by pronouncing Sentence this is peculiar to Christ but they shall joyn with him in judging them at the Last Day giving their consent unto and applauding his righteous Sentence This seems here chiefly intended for it is such a Power as whereby the Nations are broken as the vessels of a Potter are broken to shivers so the Text expresseth Now earthen Vessels are easily and irrecoverably broken especially by an Iron Rod. Other Scriptures speak the same This honour have all his Saints saies David To execute the Judgment written Psal 149.8 What Judgment and where written Some refer it to Enoch's Prophecy mentioned by St. Jude v. 14 15. Behold the Lord cometh with ten Thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all c. To adjudge the wicked of the Nations to eternal Misery This dominion over the Nations shall the upright have in the Morning of the resurrection Psal 49.14 Quest 3. What is that eminent Glory Christ here promiseth to him that Overcometh Answ I will give him the Morning-star saies Christ A sweet and full promise the sum of it take in the following particulars 1. Some understand it of Christ himself who is stiled The bright and Morning-star Rev. 22.16 Thus he calls himself The sense then is I will communicate my self wholly to him and make him conformable to me in glory Always the proportion of the head and members observed The Morning-star is the most bright and shining of all the stars of Heaven and communicates its light to the world Christ excels all men and Angels as far as the Morning-star all the Stars of Heaven and he communicates all Light of Grace and Glory to the world of Believers He is stiled The Star of Jacob Numb 24.17 this notes his two Natures A Star in its Original is from Heaven which points at his Divine Nature who is the Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15. yet a Star of Jacob as a man of the Posterity of Jacob so we must conceive him both God and Man And thus considered He is full of Grace and of his fulness do all Believers receive even Grace for Grace The Morning-star dispels the Nights darkness When this Day-star arises fully in our hearts all mists of Ignorance and Errour are dispelled wherein we were wrapped in our night of sin and imperfect condition here 2. It may intimate that Christ will give him that overcomes a glorious Resurrection at the Last-Day The Prophet Daniel hints at this They that turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament even as the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 There will not be the same measure and degree of this For as one Star differs from another in Glory so it shall be in the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.41 yet all will be adorned with resplendent Lustre and Brightness far exceeding the beauty of the Stars For then shall the Righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Mat. 13.43 Those that have here lien among the pots smutched and sullied shall then outshine the Sun in his strength Shine they shall in their Bodies which shall be conformed to the most glorious body of Christ Phil. 3.21 And in their Souls those Spirits of just men made perfect and in their whole persons as the Spouse of Christ Vxor fulget radiis Mariti she shall shine with the Beams of his Beauty A glimpse of this Glory was seen in Moses's Face in Christ's Transfiguration in Stephen's Countenance But the full manifestation thereof is reserved to the day of the Resurrection 3. It may imply That the Overcomer shall have the next degree of Glory to Christ as the Morning-Star is next the Sun and is called as some think The Son of the Morning Isa .. 14.12 Because it usually appears in the Morning a little before the Sun-rising as if it were by the Morning produced Victorious Souls shall be very near to Christ in Place and Glory When one requested her two Sons might sit the one at Christ's right hand the other at his left in his Kingdom He answers It shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of his Father Among others those that have encountred great Troubles and come off Conquerors shall share in this Honour For upon this request of the woman Christ said Are ye able to drink of the Cup I am to drink of and to be baptized with the Baptism I am to be Baptized with Mat. 20.20 c. Implying they must come under a Baptism of Blood and Suffering that would come to this Honour to be so near to me as you desire This honour hath he reserved to give to him that Overcometh All the Saints shall be with him but these so near to him as the Morning-Star to the Sun 4. This Phrase may also intimate that Christ will give the First-fruits of Glory Foretastes of Heaven even whiles in this world to assure of the full enjoyment in another The Morning-star is Anteambulo Solis the Suns Harbinger and Fore-runner of a perfect Day Christ will give such as overcome Prelibations and Pledges of future Happiness assuring them That their path shall be as the Light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4.18 This Morning they will not exchange for the brightest Noon-day of worldly Glory which ends in a Midnight of Trouble and Misery but their Morning-Light is in a full Sunshine of Happiness Hence the Saints are said to have received the first-fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 Though in regard of quantity the First-fruits under the Law were but an handful in comparison of the whole yet in their signification they were an evidence to them that they should receive a good crop of the rest So the Graces and Comforts of the Spirit of God Believers have here are not only sweet to their apprehension for the present but also in their reflection as to what is future they are a pledg of the full Harvest Christ is said to be The first-fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15.20 Because his Resurrection was a forerunner of the Resurrection of all his Members so are the first fruits of the Spirit here an assurance of a
scatters and blots out the Clouds that there is nothing of them to be seen their sins are so done away as not to he remembred any more are as if they had never been As a Table-Book wash it and there is no appearance of any thing written there so hath the Lord removed their Iniquities and having blotted out their sins for his Name 's sake will not blot out their Names for their sins sake So then it remains that none but Christ can blot out their Names for he is the Master of the Rolls and keeps this Book in his own possession and he hath prevented all fears of it by his own solemn Promise in the Text. Object Against this some object these two Scriptures Exod. 32.32 33. Moses said Blot me out of thy Book Whosoever hath sinned against me saies God him will I blot out of my Book especially that Rev. 22.19 It any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life Answ As for that place in Exodus some carry it as if Moses desired in the former verse to lose his part in a better Life than is here to be enjoyed even Eternal Life rather than God be thus dishonoured and blasphemed but think it a sinful desire or great zeal at the best with a mixture of corrupt passion in it But others understand it of the Book of Records in which mens names were Registred Princes use to keep such Books in which were set down the Names of those that had done them any special Service Mordecai's name was recorded in such a Book and how he acted to preserve the King's Life Esth 6. And this was much Self-denial in Moses to be willing to have his Name razed out thence for the Peoples good Moses rather desired not to live than that all the people involved in that sin should dye willing to have his Name blotted out of the Church Records than the people come under this great Judgment Like that wish of St. Paul Rom. 9.3 who wished himself accursed from Christ for his Brethren and Kinsmen according to the flesh Some say Such was his Love to his Kindred that if it had been consistent with the Will of God he desired to have redeemed the casting away of the Israelites with the loss of his own Soul for ever But besides that this desire was impossible to be accompliâ—hed it would have been sinful By this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or being Accursed from Christ he means only to be Excommunicated from the Church which is called Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 Which argued a high Affection to his Relations And as to the other place God's taking away their part out of the Book of Life is no more than to manifest they have no part therein and hence we find the Scripture speaking of some Whose Names were not written in the Lambs Book of Life from the Foundation of the world Rev. 13.8 God will declare them to be such as were not Predestinated from all Eternity to be saved by the Death of Christ Some there are not written in this Book but none written there shall be blotted out That 's the Second Particular 3. Rea. Christ will confess the names of Overcomers before his Father and before his Angels as if he had said I will own and acknowledg him as he hath owned and acknowledged me They have confessed him before men and he hath promised to confess such before his Father Mat. 10.32 The meaning is that Christ will publickly own them in the great Day of Judgment and will openly profess their well-tried Faith and other victorious Graces and they shall be found to Honour Praise and Glory at his appearing 1 Pet. 1.7 Then he will avouch them to be his Children saying Father Behold I and the Children which thou hast given me Isa 8.18 Esther though advanced to Honour with the King own'd her Relation to Mordecai and told him what he was unto her Esth 8.1 Joseph though advanced to great Dignity and a chief Favourite in Pharaoh's Court yet owned and confessed his poor Relations even before the King and his Courtiers Gen. 47. Even so will Christ at that day own his victorious Servants and Soldiers before the King of Kings and all those glorious Courtiers of Heaven the holy Angels A taste of this he gave when he was here on Earth When some told him his Relations stood without desiring to speak with him he pointed to his Disciples and said Behold my Mother and my Brethren For whosoever doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven the same is my Mother and Sister and Brother Mat. 12.49 50. Here he freely owns and confesses his Spiritual Kindred and prefers them before his bare natural Relations So we find him making a report of their excellency who were his Disciples unto God his Father saying I have manifested thy Name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the world and they have kept thy word Joh. 17.6 Here he makes an honourable mention of their laying up his words in their hearts and keeping to it in their lives And though as yet they were but weak yet he doth notably commend their good beginnings to his Father What will he do then at last when they shall have perfectly overcome We find it recorded of John the Baptist that he confessed and denied not but confessed I am not the Christ and after owned him and pointed at him saying Behold the Lamb of God vers 29. John is plain and bold ingenuous and constant in his testimony of Christ renonuncing the honour due to his Master and confessing and declaring Christ in the dignity and excellency of his Office shewing them how he was to execute the same for their good and benefit which was by Suffering and therefore points him out as the substance of the Passover and daily Sacrifices who by the Merit and Vertue of his Death takes away the sin of his own both Jews and Gentiles And did John lose by this his resolute Confession No not even here for Christ did as freely confess and make an honourable mention of him For saith he among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist Mat. 11.11 Because he was Christ's immediate Forerunner now the nearer to Christ the more excellent He prefers him not only before all the Prophets but all others that were born before him This is but the beginning of what Confession shall be more fully made of the Names of all that overcome in the great day of the Lords coming to Judgment The Vses follow Vse 1. See hence the miserable estate of all who overcome not but are fatally and finally overcome in their warring against these enemies of our Salvation They have neither part nor lot in these precious Promises yea the quite contrary things will be their Portion Instead of being clothed in white raiment in token of Purity Dignity
not at all understand them Whether there shall be a personal continuance of Christ on earth for a Thousand Years as some hold is very hard to be proved from the Scripture Yet that there will be a glorious time for the Church on Earth before the end of all things is very clear The 60 Chapter of Esay speaks it fully those Promises wait for the full accomplishment Great shall he the day of Jezreel Hos 2. ult This is the world to come as some judge mentioned Heb. 2.5 Then shall Knowledg abound and cover the Earth as the Waters do the Sea Some observe that the Girdle was about the Loins Ezek. 23.15 But then about the Paps Rev. 1.13 to signifie how Knowledg shall rise higher in the last than former Ages of the World Then will Holiness encrease All the Pots in the Lords House shall be holy and Holiness written on the Bells of the Horses Zech. last Then there will be an end of differences amongst God's people Now Ephraim is against Manasseh and Manasseh against Ephraim and both against Judah but then the the Lord shall be one and his Name one Then will come down the new Heavens and the new Earth wherein shall dwell Righteousness Now men say Quod libet licet Sic volo sic jubeo but then Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning Kings Nursing Fathers c. Justice shall run down as Waters and Righteousness as a mighty Stream then shall Antichrist's Throne be utterly broken That implacable Enemy shall fall and rise no more And then will the Kingdom of Christ be enlarged The Kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 The Kingdom of Christ shall be more observable and visible than ever We are not to expect a Kingdom de novo but the encrease and enlargement of that already extant And though the Glory of his Kingdom is eclipsed yet it will be rendred conspicuous to all when he shall not Reign in a corner but over the whole World God hath set his King long since upon his holy Hill of Sion all Power in Heaven and Earth was given to him at his Resurrection so that Christ hath been in his Throne many hundred years yet it shall grow and prevail till all implacable Opposers be put down and his Kingdom appear in its Beauty in this world though it will not be of the world neither will the Saints have worldly Troubles nor worldly Joys but shall have Heavenly Thrones I mean their Thrones shall be in Heaven upon Earth Then shall Overcomers know better than now they can apprehend how great the Mercy here promised is to sit with Christ in his Throne If any ask why Christ will thus priviledge them the Answer is from his free Grant so saies the Text To him that Overcometh will I grant Nothing more free than a Grant from a King All this Charter contained in these seven Promises is from the Royal Grant of the King of Saints Not for the Battles they have fought not for the Victories they have gotten but all flow from the Fountain of Free-Grace All that was done well was done by his assistance So then it will not be their Merit but his Mercy not of Debt but of Grace when they are sate down in his Throne with him they will and must cry Grace Grace The Vses follow Vse 1. If these things be thus Then let us all examine whether we be in the number of those that shall inherit the good of this and all the Promises we have heard of If any say How shall we come to an assured Interest in them The Answer is All depends upon our being victorious they are all entailed upon Overcomers Let us then to secure our Title to the one clear the truth of our being in the number of the other by discerning the soundness of our Regeneration for the Apostle saith Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world 1 Joh. 5.4 and all that is in the world the God of the world the Men of the world and the Lusts of the world without this work wrought in us any of our Enemies will ruine us When the Sons of Sceva thought to prevail by adjuring the evil Spirit by the Name of Jesus whom Paul Preached the Spirit answered them Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are ye And the men in whom the evil Spirit was leaped upon them and overcame them so that they fled naked and wounded Acts 19.14 15 16. As if he had said I know Jesus to be the Son of God and Paul to be the Servant of God the one may command me the other may in his Name compel me but who are ye Have you the Power Grace and Spirit of Jesus or Paul He knowing they wanted this overcame them And so will Satan conquer all unregenerate ones Let us then be looking diligently to our selves lest we fail of this Grace of God All depends upon it as to Victory O let us take heed lest our New-birth prove a false Conception lest Ephraim-like we be unwise Sons that stay long in the place of breaking forth of Children Hof 13.13 Many throws and pangs some have Convictions tending to Conversion yet they go away and the Soul not born of God Many go on in a way of Profession all their days and yet are not New-born are not in the Spiritual Genealogy And what do an Hundred Cyphers signifie without a Figure Just nothing To the same reckoning will all our external Religion come without the New-birth Above all things let us be careful lest we be deceived herein And truely he had need be as wise as Solomon to find out the true Mother Three or four things there are that deceive People 1. They have been convinced of Sin in a Legal way and much troubled and therefore hope they are born of God But this is many a mans mistake to rest in them They are troubled for Sin under the Word or Rod yet sin again The Children of Israel when God slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God Nevertheless they flattered him with their mouth and lied to him with their tongue For their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant Psal 78.34 36 37. 2. Some mistake in the point of good disposition They are well-enclined men good-natured and hopeful men but was not Christ's words to such an one Joh. 3.3 Verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Why did Christ put him in mind of this Why because he was a well-enclined and disposed man and did rest too much upon it therefore Christ tells him where his danger lay 3. Some plant the bottom of their Christianity upon Forms in things that are but the husk the Varnish and Plaistering of Religion They think it enough to go to an Ordinance to keep their Church to