through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot to God purge your Consciences from dead Works to serve the Living God And in Heaven also he eminently intercedes for us Seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them and that his Atonement might be efficacious to us He now appears in the Presence of God for us therefore it is said That We are come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the Blood of sprinkling that speaketh bitter things than the Blood of Abel Come to Jesus c. that is to a clearer knowledge of his Work and Office Sirs all Christ's Satisfaction and Priesthood would be ineffectual for our good if he did not continue in the exercise of it in Heaven by his Intercession for it is by virtue of his Intercession that all his Merits are applied to us for if when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son or God was reconciled to us for it is that which the Holy Ghost intends much more being reconcil'd we shall be saved by his Life the design of this Office therefore was to make our Peace or our Reconciliation to God by a Price paid and to apply that Atonement that it might be effectual and continued unto us for ever Christ doth not reconcile God to us as a King but as a Priest and it is not done by what he works in us but by what he hath done for us II. As Christ is a Priest so also he is a King He is I say invested with Kingly Authority as he is Mediator Yet have I set my King upon my Holy Hill of Sion His Kingdom as one observes is not Regnum naturale which he hath as God co-essential with the Father but Regnum Oeconomicum which he hath by Donation and Vnction from his Father it is given to him as Mediator Moreover his Power as King is very great He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords the only Potentate 1. King over Sin which as a Tyrant hath long Reigned 2. King over Devils and all the Powers of Darkness 3. King over Death that King of Terrors the Keys of Hell and Death are given to him 4. King of Saints he being the Universal Head of the Church and King of Nations 5. Nay he hath Kingly Power and Headship over the Holy Angels He is the Head of Principalities and Powers yea his Power is over all Creatures God hath put all things under his Feet His Kingship and Authority is therefore Universall All Power is given to me in Heaven and Earth And hence There is nothing which he as Mediator God-man cannot do Now the Work of Christ as King 1. Is to subdue all our Enemies for us which indeed he hath effectually already done Sin the World Devils and Death being all brought under his Feet 2. To give us Laws Statutes and Ordinances for as he is Mediator he is our Law-giver but he doth not give us Laws that by our Obedience to them our Peace should be made and we be Justified In this Sense Christ is no Law-giver no to make our Peace that appertains partly to his Priestly Office as I have shewed you before and partly to his Suretiship for so he paid both our Debt of perfect Obedience and our Penal Debt also and merited all Grace and Glory for us for tho Christ is a Priest yet he is more than a Priest viz a Surety also but he gives us Laws as we are his Free-born Subjects whom he Redeemed by his Blood that we might know how to Honour and Live under him that died for us and rose again 3. His Work as King is to govern his Church and every Member thereof moreover his Laws in the New Testament do contain all those Rules for the Constitution of a Gospel-Church and also all the Rules of the Government and Discipline thereof 4. Christ's Work and Office as King is to subdue all the Elect unto himself I mean to work Grace in them and to change their Hearts and vanquish the Power of Sin and Satan for this is and must be done by that Almighty Power which he exerts by his Spirit in their Souls and so takes possession of them as King and Supream Ruler whom as a Priest he purchased by his Blood and all this as he is Mediator of this Covenant of Peace That Christ may dwell in our Hearts by Faith or sway the Scepter there 5. Moreover Christ as King will exercise his Kingly Office in taking to him his great Authority and Regal Power and Reign over all the Earth For his Right is Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thy Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession Thou shalt break them in pieces like a Potters Vessel The Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign for ever and ever And of the increase of his Government there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with Justice and with Judgment from henceforth and for ever All the Kingdoms under the whole Heavens shall be given unto him And he shall possess the Gates of his Enemies This will be made good more fully and visibly upon the going off of the Fourth-Monarchy and upon the passing away of the second Woe or Mahomitan Power and downfal of the Beast and Mystery Babylon which is now at the very Door when Christ will save his Church from all her Enemies III. Christ as Mediator is a Prophet A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me He as Prophet is the Minister of the New Covenant or the chief and great Ambassador of Peace the chief Shepherd of the Sheep and Bishop of our Souls His Work as a Prophet 1. Is to reveal the Will Purpose Counsel and Design of God unto his Chosen and this he did in the Days of his Flesh in his own and in his Apostles Ministration revealing That My-Mystery that was hid from Ages and Generations He was indeed a Teacher that came from God as Nichodemus saith My Doctrine saith he is not mine but the Father 's that sent me For I have not spoken of my self but the Father which sent me gave me Commandment what I should say and what I should speak denoting that he received his Mission his Doctrine and his Authority to Preach from the Father as he is Mediator As a Prophet he gives the knowledge of Salvation to his People for without his Divine Revelation Mankind could not arrive to the knowledge of it for the Light that is in Man naturally reveals nothing of the Mystery of Redemption of the Covenant of Peace and Mediation of Jesus Christ. 2. Nor can any savingly know this but as Christ reveals it by his Spirit as the great Prophet
do for no Men nor Angels could make Peace betwixt God and Man all the Wisdom and Power of Men and Angels failed here should the Angels have combined together to have given up all their Riches Treasures and their very Beings to God's Justice they could not have made up that Breach or should all the Kings and Emperors of the World have agreed to part with all their Treasures Kingdoms and Crowns but to have redeemed one Sinner from Wrath and Divine Vengeance nay to pay off the Debts but of the least Sinner in the World it would have been contemned by the Holy and Just God Or should all the Saints that ever lived have offered up all their Graces Gifts Righteousnesses c. to have satisfied for the smalest Debt any Sinner owed to God it would have signified nothing Alas all that Angels have Men have or the Saints have is none of their own they owe all they have and are to God therefore can spare nothing of it for others to satisfie God's Justice There was none could make our Peace but Jesus Christ and Christ's Ministers are therefore to proclaim that Peace which is already made and endeavour to perswade Sinners to accept of it on those Terms offered to them that they may be reconciled to God 2. Princes do not meet together to make Peace in their own Persons but send their Ambassadors who are Men of less Dignity than themselves to do it though they receive their Instructions from their Masters but God and Jesus Christ treated about our Peace in their own Persons and Christ as Mediator made this Peace for us who as God is equal with God the Father as well as he is he Chief and Grand Ambassador to declare or proclaim it APPLICATION 1. This informs us what a high value we should have of the Gospel since it brings such Blessed News and Tidings to our Ears O! How do poor People that have suffered by a long and desolating War who have been ruined thereby rejoyce to hear Peace proclaimed they know not how to express their Joy and yet know not how long it may be before War may break out again but here is Peace proclaimed Peace with God Soul-Peace Everlasting Peace Peace that shall never be broken with such who are actually brought into the Bonds of this Covenant The Covenant of my Peace shall not be removed saith the Lord that hath Mercy on thee Therefore here is infinite cause of Joy and Gladness this is the sounding the Great Jubilee all Bond-men now have liberty proclaimed and they shall all be set free that take hold of the Covenant the Great Jubilee was proclaimed and celebrated with Musick Triumph and all Expressions of Joy Now what was that a Type of but of the Proclamation of Peace in the Gospel Hence the Gospel it is called The Joyful Sound Is not here cause of Joy Where are your Hearts Do they not as it were leap in you with ravishing Joy 2. This informs us also of the great and absolute necessity of Preaching the Gospel because this way only is Peace made known to us and also how it came to be made 3. This likewise informs us of that great Dignity God hath conferred upon his Faithful Ministers they represent the Person of Jesus Christ O what greater Honour than this can be conferr'd on Men 4. Moreover this Title should procure an high and honourable esteem of Ministers Pastors are called Angels of the Churches especially such whom they have been Instruments to bring to accept of Peace should highly value them Besides this is also necessary in respect of the good success of their Ambassage tho it is true People are too subject to make Misconstructions what a Minister may speak upon this account as if he herein rather sought his own Honour than in magnifying his Office to befriend the Gospel and to advance the Honour of his Great Master Jesus Christ and therefore perhaps he is under a Temptation to forbear Men for want of Charity being so ready to interpret it as a Fruit of a Minister's Pride and of that Ambition or Affection they have of some outward Grandure and Worldly Pomp which they design to gain by such a magnificent Title The Apostle himself was sensible of this but yet would not desist tho they might count it his Folly he doth magnifie his Office 1 Cor. 4.5 Let Men so account of us as Ministers of Christ and Stewards of God and that they judge nothing before the time 5. It also may inform us what need there is that Churches take care to choose such to be Pastors that are Sober Grave and Humble Men and not Novices Young and unexperienced Persons Least being lifted up with Pride they fall into the Condemnation of the Devil who fell by his Pride and is ready to tempt others to fall by the same Sin 6. And O! with what trembling should this Work be undertaken 't is a mighty Trust and Woe to them that seek themselves and not the Honour of God and Jesus Christ herein Object But some may perhaps say If Christ will have Ambassadors to treat with Sinners why doth he not use the Holy Angels or choose them to this High Office 1 Answ. It is not his Pleasure so to do the Apostle gives one reason for it We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels Wherefore That the Excellency of the Power might be of God and not of us And hence he has not chosen many Wise and Noble among Men That no Flesh should glory in his Presence i. e. Christ's Ambassadors or Ministers being Men they have the advantage many Ways above Angels 1. They are concerned themselves in the Message they bring which the Angels are not What greater Argument to press a Man to Care and Faithfulness than when his own Interest is concerned in the matter 2. Men have a more deep sense arising in their own Hearts upon the account of the Temptations they themselves are subject to 3. Because the Sufferings and Troubles that Ministers often meet with for Christ and the Gospel sake are great Advantages to their Brethren and others to whom they Preach had the Holy Angels been the Ambassadors of this Peace they could not have been exposed to those Trials and Reproaches nor have Sealed to the Truth of their Doctrine with their Blood they cannot die 4. Because the Presence of an Angel might terrifie us their Glory is so great or may be it might create Doubts in us whether it be a good Angel or not 7. This also shews that Ministers have received a Special Commission how and what to Preach and what Ordinance to Administer and also that they have a Regular Call to this Office How shall they Preach except they be sent 2ly Exhortation Sinners be ye exhorted and fully perswaded to hearken to Christ's Amsadors and carefully to receive their Message 1. To accept of Terms of Peace by closing with Christ by believing
and Teacher of the Church No Man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any Man the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will revâ—al him No Man knoweth the Essence of the Father or hath a perfect knowledge of the Godhead nor do they know the Councils Purposes and Dispensations of the Father of his saving of Men by Jesus Christ except Jesus Christ reveals these Mysteries to them all true and saving knowledge of God is in and through Christ as a Prophet But as Christ doth not Atone for our Sins as a King but as a Priest so he doth not give forth Laws c. as a Priest but as a King nor doth he teach instruct or reveal God and Salvation to us simply as a Priest or King but as a Prophet besides there are some things about the Covenant of Peace which he doth not simply as a King Priest nor Prophet but as simply consider'd a Mediator Surety and Testator c. I would therefore desire Mr. Sam. Clark for all his Confidence to consider of his great mistake in his late Treaty doth it follow should it be granted because Christ's Active Obedience doth not properly belong neither to his Kingly his Priestty nor to his Prophetical Office that therefore his Active Obedience to God's Law or Active Righteousness is no part of the matter of our Justification before God for may not some things be done by Christ as Mediator or as Surety or Testator that doth not properly relate to either of his other three Offices for evident it is that the whole of Christ's Work in this Covenant of Peace doth not strictly belong to these threefold Offices therefore the Scripture gives an account of other Offices besides these which he exerciseth But I will proceed a little further to open the Offices of Christ in the Covenant of Peace And I. Of the Necessity of his exercising of these Offices as Mediator 1. Of his Priestly Office it was absolutely necessary that he should be a Priest and that in our Nature because he was to answer the Types under the Law the Priests of the Law that were ceremonially Sanctified and were to Sanctifie others were of the same Nature with the People And since they offered Sacrifices up to God it also behoved him to offer up the Antitypical Real and Wrath-appeasing Sacrifice And 2. Forasmuch that we were Slaves and Captives of Sin and Satan being in Chains and Fetters by such Enemies that none could redeem us out of their Hands but one cloathed with Almighty and Infinite Power It behoved Jesus Christ to be a King who is invested with God-like Power and Authority upon this Account And since it was the Father's good Pleasure to exalt and magnifie him with the sole Government of the World and of the Church it was necessary he should be Constituted and Invested with Kingly Authority likewise 3. And since we were ignorant of God and under deep alienation from God Having the Vnderstanding darkened being alienated from the Life of God through the ignorance in them because of the blindness of their Hearts It behoved Jesus Christ to be a Prophet yea such a Prophet that can not only teach the Knowing and Understanding Heart but can give Knowledge to the Heart which is without Understanding and seeing we were blind and ignorant of the way of Salvation it behoved him that was to make our Peace to bring us to the knowledge of that Peace and Reconciliation he hath made Moreover we were dead therefore he must quicken us we were Enemies therefore he must reconcile us to God as well as God to us we were Impotent and could not come to the Father therefore he as a Kingly-Prophet must draw us the Father draws us by Jesus Christ to himself also we were in Debt and Divine Justice will be satisfied and will not abate us one Farthing therefore Christ must be our Surety to engage and also actually pay all our Debts in respect of the Preceptory and Penal parts thereof for we owed Perfect Obedience unto God as well as Punishment Also he was to confirm the Covenant of Peace by his Blood and make his Last Will and Testament and bequeath many Legacies to all the Legatees therefore it was necessary that he should be a Testator yea the Testator of the New Testament or Covenant Furthermore we were Sick therefore it behoved him to be appointed our Physician we were as Sheep gone astray therefore he is our Shepherd II. As to the End and Excellencies of Christ's Offices I have lately opened them in a late Treatise upon Jacob's Ladder to which I shall direct you but know this the whole design and purport of all his Offices are that he might effectually be impowered with all things necessary in respect had to the Glory and Honour of God and for our good and to give us interest in all the Blessings of the Covenant of Peace Objection 'T is objected That Christ did not suffer for Sinners as a common Person Head and Representative of all the Elect or their Surety but did all meerly as a Mediator or as one indeavouring to compose the Difference betwixt God and Sinners 1 Answ. I answer Sad it is to see how in these Perilous Days Men are degenerated from the Apostolick Doctrine in this most important case and oppose all our Authoâ—â— Protestant Writers and deny Christ to be a Common Person Head Representative and Surety c. but that he as Mediator hath by his Death merited a new and mild Law of Grace i. e. of Faith and Sincere Obedience and hath made a Compensation to the Justice of God and Law of Works and so removed the Law of perfect Obedience or abolished it for ever so that now God deals with us not according to the strict Law of perfect Obedience but according to this New Law i. e. on easier Conditions viz. such that believe and sincerely obey shall be Justified even so far as they do Obey and are Sanctified not that Christ's Obedience to the Law or that his Active and Passive Obedience imputed to us and our trusting in him according to the Free Promise of God is the immediate and sole cause of Pardon by virtue of Christ's Satisfaction but that tho Christ hath made God a means for Legal Righteousness having satisfied that Law and took it away yet our Obedience to this New Law according to these Men is our Evangelical Righteousness whereby we fulfil the Gospel and that our Obedience is the Condition of our Justification before God Thus Mr. Baxter Mr. Williams Mr. Clark of Wickham and many others And thus is Popery revived amongst us and Justification by Works asserted by these Law and Work-mongers for I cannot call them Gospel-Ministe-s true they affirm that Christ died for our good but not in our stead the Doctrine we maintain is that he died for our good But how for our good Even so that he
the Ministry will either soften or harden it will either work effectually by the Ministry of the Spirit according to the Nature of an Absolute Promise and unto such it becomes a Savour of Life unto Life or else it works only in the Letter and unto such it Kills or is a Savour of Death unto Death or an Aggravation of Death and Condemnation But all its Divine Efficacy is according to the Purpose Will and Good Pleasure of God But having occasionally spoken much before of the Absoluteness of the Covenant I shall say no more but Conclude at this Time SERMON IX Further opening the Nature of the Covenant of Peace that 't is a well-order'd Covenant a Glorious Covenant a Full Covenant a Seasonable Covenant c. ISA. Liv. x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Doct. THAT there is a Covenant of Peace made or agreed on and stands firm in the behalf of all God's Elect. I am my Brethren upon the Third General Head of Discourse which is to open the Nature of the Covenant of Peace 1. I shewed you it is the Covenant of Grace And that as considered in it self 3. 〈◊〉 It is an Absolute Covenant Fourthly To proceed It is a well-order'd Covenant See 2 Sam. 23.5 Yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure c. I. This Covenant is well-ordered in all things in respect of the Revelation and Manifestation of all the Perfections and Glory of the Three Divine Persons in the Godhead 1. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Father shines forth and is displayed in this Covenant 2. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Son shines forth and is displayed herein also 3. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Holy Ghost shines forth and is displayed in it likewise as hath been shewed II. This Covenant is well ordered in all Things respecting the Manifestation or Revelation of the Perfections and Glory of all the Divine Attributes of God and as they also in this Covenant appear to meet together in Sweet Harmony III. This Covenant is well ordered in all things to the utter Overthrowing Defeating and Destroying for ever the Design Devices Works and Kingdom of the Devil For to this End was the Son of God manifested IV. This Covenant is well ordered in all things to magnifie the Sanction and Honour of the Holy Law of God in that rather then the Law shall fall to the Ground or be violated or rendered contemptible in God's Saving lost Sinners the Son of God comes and takes our Nature on him and yields Perfect Obedience to it and to greaten its Glory he died the Cursed Death of the Cross to answer the Just Punishment it doth denounce upon Mankind for the Breach thereof Moreover V. This Covenant is well ordered in all things for our Good both in respect of Grace here and Glory hereafter or in respect of what by it we are delivered from and of those high Priviledges Dignities and of that Unchangeable and Eternal Honour we are raised up unto hereby But because I have lately upon another Text spoken unto these Things largely in two Sermons on the Covenant I shall not add any thing further on this Account Fifthly It is a Glorious Covenant I. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in respect had to the Time when it was made or entered into between the Father and the Son and this was as you have heard before the World began even in Eternity 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 1.2 Hence Jesus Christ 't is said was a Lamb slain before the Foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 and what Pilate and the People of Israel and the Gentiles did to him was whatsoever God's Hand and his Counsel determined before to be done Act. 4.28 Certainly that Covenant that was so early even from Everlasting contrived by the Sublime Wisdom of God and entered into between such Glorious Persons as the Father and the Son must be a most Glorious Covenant and this I say in respect to the Time when and to the Persons who entred into it certainly it must be some great Thing that is contained in this Covenant that was so early and by the Eternal God concluded upon II. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in regard that there was also a Council held about it in Eternity for it was made as the Result of a Great and Glorious Council Him being delivered by the Determinate Council and Fore-knowledge of God ye have taken and by Wicked Hands ye have Crucified and Slain The Father Son and Holy Spirit then agreed That the Second Person should assume the Nature of Man and die to make our Peace tho 't is true elsewhere it is said The Counsel of Peace was between them both viz. the Father and the Son yet since it is ascribed to God without distinction of Persons and also seeing the Holy Ghost hath his part in this Covenant to act and do in order to the actual and compleat Accomplishment of the whole Transactions agreed on in that Glorious Council I see no reason to exclude the Holy Ghost from being concerned therein Moreover let us consider the great Things Consulted about in that Glorious Council 1. It was how God might be Just or Magnifie his Justice and yet be Gracious and Magnifie his Mercy and Infinite Love and Goodness or how God might preserve his own Honour and yet become our Redeemer 2. How Sin might be punished and the Odious Nature and Infinite Evil that is in it be exposed and yet the guilty Sinner be acquitted III. It is a Glorious Covenant because in it there is a display of God's Highest and most Glorious Wisdom the Gospel contains the Manifestation of God's Hidden Wisdom and the Wisdom of God in a Mystery nay Paul calls it a Glorious Mystery To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery There is much of the Wisdom of God seen in his Works of Creation and Providence yea and there is also great Mysteries hid in those Works of God but the Chiefest and most Glorious Wisdom of God is manifested in the Work and Covenant of Man's Redemption Without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifested in the Flesh the Word was made Flesh. This is the Wonderment of the Holy Angels and 't is mervelous indeed how an Infinite Nature should be Personally united to a Finite Nature so as to make but one Person What Wisdom of God is here displayed O who can search out the depth of this Mystery IV. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in respect of that display of God's Glorious Love therein God so loved the World that no Created Beings can conceive of it neither Men nor Angels And so I might speak of the Glory of his Justice Power Holiness c. which amazingly shine forth herein
have not only Crucified the Flesh or are become dead to Sin but have Crucified the World also But God forbid that I should Glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the World is Crucified unto me and I unto the World The World careth not for them and they care not for the World they are dead to the Honours Pleasures and Riches of the World Moses contemned all the Glory of Pharaoh's Court yea all the Pleasures of Sin and Riches of Egypt and so do all God's sincere People contemn this World If any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in him 3. They that are God's peculiar People are become dead to the Law to that cruel Husband and to all their own Righteousness accounting it but Dung or a dead Carkase or Dogs-meat in comparison of Christ Ye also are become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ c. The Union with that Husband is dissolved they seek not Life and Justification by the Law or are not in love with Self-Righteousness but dead to it whilst others make an Idol of it and trust in it 4. They have renounced themselves also and confess they are not their own but that their Souls their Bodies their Substance their Graces their Gifts their Time their Strength their Lips and their Lives are all the Lord's and for him for as all that God hath which is communicable is theirs or freely imparted to them and for them so all they are and have they account it is the Lord's they being but only Stewards of all they have and do possess Shall such think that they are the Lord's who live to themselves seek themselves or only bring forth Fruit like empty Vines to themselves No they that are the Lord's People esteem all they have to be his and for his Service and are willing to render it up to him when he calls for it Nay they have given God their Hearts not their Lips only or their Tongues nor their Ears nor their Substance but their Hearts also My Son give me thy Heart God complains of some that drew near to him with their Lips and sate before him as his People sate and with their Tongues shewed much kindness but saith he their Hearts went after their Covetousness after the World these God's Soul abhors and he will not own them to be his People Some give their Hearts to Pleasures to strange Women and to Vanity and to meer Folly and others give their Hearts to Riches but God's Covenant-People give their Hearts to him not a part of the Heart but their whole Heart they love the Lord their God with all their Hearts with all their Souls and with all their Strength Others have their Hearts divided between God and the World between God and their Lusts but such that love not God with their whole Heart hate him for the lesser Love is accounted Hatred in Scripture II. They that are God's peculiar Covenant-People are Begotten and Born of God for they this way as you heard become his Children there are none my Brethren that are the Lord's People by Adoption but they are his also by Regeneration they have his Image formed in them they are like to their Father in Holiness Heavenliness in Humility Mercy Meekness Love Goodness Charity c. they partake of the Divine Nature every one resembles the Son or Daughter of a King Then said he unto Zeba and Zalmunna What manner of Men were they whom ye slew at Tabor And they answered As thou art so were they each one resembled the Children of a King They are nobly descended they have sublime Spirits Holy Hearts Desires Aims and Ends in all they do they are not meer Dunghil-Rakers like the Men of the World but far excel all others The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour he has an excellent Spirit Life and Principles in him III. They that are God's Covenant-People Trust in him as their God as well as Love him as their God all People trust in their God tho it be a God of Gold or Silver a Worldly Man's strong Confidence is his Wealth he makes Gold his Hope So they that have God to be their God trust in him depend upon him They that know thy Name will put their Trust in thee They trust in the True and Living God God is their Hope their Confidence they rely upon his Power his Mercy his Love his Faithfulness his Covenant and on his Blessed Promises and this at all times in Afflictions Desertion Temptations c. and when called to any hard Service in Prosperity and in Adversity in times of Want and Necessities and in Times of Fulness in Life and also at the Hour of Death This tends my Brethren to the Glory of God and by this they shew what a value and esteem they put upon God How often does David say he trusted in the Lord and because God was his God O my God I trust in thee Job says Tho he slay me yet will I trust in him Tho they see not feel not or have no sensible Comfort or Relief yet can and will trust in God tho God hides his Face or they walk in Darkness and have no Light IV. God's peculiar People highly love value and prize the Lord Jesus Christ They can say with David Whom have I in Heaven but thee Neither is there any on Earth that I desire besides thee They have tasted how good the Lord is and beholding his Beauty can say He is the chiefest among Ten Thousand they live upon Christ fetch all their Comfort and Hope of Salvation from him and rejoyce in him alone Serving God in Spirit and have no Confidence in the Flesh. Moreover when they have done all things that Christ hath commanded they look upon themselves Unprofitable Servants they live in him to him and by him their living in him shews Christ is their Life their living to him shews Christ is their ultimate End their living by him shews Christ is their Strength they receive the Spirit and so live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit they bring up the bottom of their Lives to the top of their Light they do not only know what is to be done but do what they know the Darkness of Carnal Professors will be the blackest because their Light seemed to be the clearest but these are better inwardly in substance than outwardly in appearance in a word they are as much in love with the Imployment of Holiness as with the Injoyment of Happiness or to be Holy here as well as Happy hereafter or to live to God on Earth as well as with him in Heaven V. God's Covenant-People ascribe all the Glory to him and take all the Shame to themselves Both Riches and Honour come of thee the Power the Glory and the Victory is thine and of thine own have I