the Messias or Christ but somewhat more odious they conceived to a Roman Governor Here our Lord both freely professed to him that he was so Matt. 27. 11. and also informed Him to prevent mistakes of what nature his kingdome was Viz. that it contained nothing in it prejudicial to any terrence or temporal Monarchy as clearly appeared in that he had no humane forces or Servants to fight for Him that he should not have been delivered into the hands of the Jews i. e. the chief Priests Scribes and Pharisees Jo. 18. 36. Yet asked by him a second time whether â—…ho his Kingdom not of this world yet he was a King He again professed it and told him that to this end he was born and for this cause came into this world for this end descended from Heaven and was Incarnate to bear witness to the Truth Jo. 17. 37. After which Pilat upon his wonderful silence and not pleading for Himself nor vouchsafing further to acquaint him with his divine Originals Matt. 27. 14. Jo. 19. 9. minding him before whom he stood and that he had the power in his hands to absolve or condemn Him which shews that our Lord stood before him in the midst of such heavy and false accusations saying that he made a Sedition in Galilee forbad paying tribute to Cesar said he would destroy the Temple made with hands and raise another made without hands c. Luk. 23. 5. Luk. 23. 2. Mark 14. 58. as one altogether unmov'd and as it were unconcerned therein our Lord freely admonished him of the Original of his power which indeed was Himself that he could have no power against Him except what was given him from above Jo. 19. 11. i. e. from Himself King of Kings by whom God his Father governeth the world and therefore that their sin was the more intolerable who had thus bound and delivered him up to be judged by those his Officers who from Him hold their power and by whom they Rule Jo. 19. 11. Thus as the Apostle 1 Tim. 6. 15. he witnessed before Pilat a good and free Confession and that with so much power and Majesty as that the Governor seems to have been in some manner perswaded of the truth of what he said and became much affraid Jo. 19. 8 9. and would have questioned further with him concerning his Divine Original but that this meek Lamb of God having said what was sufficient and intent upon his sufferings thought fit to put no obstruction thereto by a further declaration to this Gentile of his Parentage Jo. 19. 9. But so much was already said as that the Governor both professed his Innocence and washed his hands Matt. 27. 24 25. and sought all means to release Him Jo. 19. 12. even by exercisiing some cruelties on him himself to have preserved him from greater Jo. 19. 1 4. and after this when out of the surprisal of a contrary fear he most unworthily and cowardly pronounced sentence upon him or rather yeilded him up to the sentence of the Jews Matt. 27. 24. Mark 15 15. Luk. 23. 24. Yet He resolutely maintained his Title of a King nor would upon any their solicitation change it Answering them only Quod scripsi scripsi Jo. 19. 21. c. And God the Father likewise confirmed both this his Office and his Doctrine first by several times speaking from Heaven thrice by Thunder these voices coming for our sakes Jo. 12. 30. And by charging the people immediately by himself to hearken unto him This is c. Hear ye him Matt. 17. 5. Secondly by justifying his Innocence and Righteousness and all that he had said and done by his raising him again from the dead after he had been murdered by injustice and giving him glory 1 Pet. 1. 21. and by taking him up into Heaven by this did God give assurance unto all men Act. 17. 31. And declared him now to be his Son with power Rom. 1. 4. By this resuscitation of him by the Spirit of the Father was He justified against all calumny of the world to be the Son of God and ever since in the world beleeved on 1 Tim. 3. 16 And by this his Ascention the Holy Ghost now and for ever convinceth the world of his righteousness Jo. 16. 8 10. Amen CHAP. II. Jesus Christ the Exemplar and Pattern in all obedience to the Divine will and in the reward of that obedience O quantas tibi gratias tenemur Domine referre quod viam rectam dignatus es ostendere Nisi tu nos praecessisses quis sequi curaret Heu Quanti longe retro manerent nisi tua praeclara exempla respicerent Ecce adhuc tepescimus c. Kemp. Imitat Christi lib. 3. cap. 13. BOTH the whole world being deficient in former obedience see Rom. 3. 9. c. And now stricter obedience being exacted by God then formerly Next God sent his Son assuming first the same infirm nature we bear to become an example also of that perfection he proposed to be as the truth so the way to walk first himself in these paths wherein he directed others and to beat the ways that we might follow him to perform first Himself clothed with our weak flesh the hard tasks that he set us least he might seem with the Pharisee to lay heavy burdens on other mens shoulders and not to touch them with one of his own fingers That this was a chief end of his coming see 1 Pet. 2. 21. For even hereunto were we called Christ leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps 1 Jo. 2. 6. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked Jo. 13. 12 15. Know ye what I have done to you and I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you Jo. 17. 19. For their sakes I sanctify my self that they also might be sanctified c. Matt. 11. 29. Learn of me by my example for I am meek c. Therefore in all those ways of God he pointed out unto us he never said Let him take up his Croâ—… and Go but follow Luk. 9. 23. And Jo. 10. This â—…hepheard followed not but led his Sheep He danced first after his own Pipe and for every rule gave his Scholars an Example an example in himself to all those hardest lessons in his Sermons According to his Doctrine Matt. 5. 18 kept all both the least and greatest Commandements left not a title unfulfilled for none could accuse him of sin Jo. 8. 46. see Heb. 4. 15. According to his Doctrine Matt. 5. 39. c. He resisted not evil see 1 Pet. 2. 23. who when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not But when they smote him on the right cheek he turned to them the other also Matt. 27. 29. When they took away his Coat he let them take away Cloak also Jo. 19. 23. c. tho he could have commanded
his own power as our Savior answered his Disciples when they were inquisitive about his Kingdom Act. 1. 7. as in other acts going forth already conquering and to conquer Neither are all his enemies to be subdued at once but one after another First Antichrist then Satan the last death See Rev. 19. 20. -20. 10 14. 1 Cor. 15. 26. And so are the same enemies also overcome by degrees They first hindred from conquering his elect which power over them he received at the very first then hindred from assaulting For already by the power of his spirit neither the flesh nor Satan are suffered to overcome us except by our own default but only permitted for the exercise of our virtues still to assail us And that meanwhile many by these assaults perish 't is not from any defect of the power or goodness of this king who is so dilâ—…gent that of all that his Father gives him he calleth them all by their names goeth before them leadeth them out fleeth not from them when the wolf cometh looseth not one Jo. 10. 13 12. -17. 12. Ps. 23. 1. and in heaven in the presence of the Angels rejoyceth like the woman that had found her lost piece and the shepheard that had regain'd his straying sheep for the recovery of every sinner See Luk. 15. 7 10. But from the eternal wisdom and law of the Father which law his power must not transgress not to take away free will from man which done all further demerit and reward ceaseth and by which left he must still have a possibility to sin till the consummation of the world But this only Free-will being continued to man without which as vice so all virtue expireth and what is there that he could have done for his vineyard that he hath not done for there is nothing in or without us that can oppose him concerning ns if we our selves do not See Rom. 11. 23. When we believe not when we will not Matt. 23. 37. Mark 6. 5. Rom. 11. 23. Jo. 16. 12. These are the bounds the Father not to overthrow the nature of man hath set to the power of his Son they arguing no impotency nor unwillingness in him but incapability in us Else all things that can make man happy shall be accomplished by the omnipotent power of this King of Saints in their proper season But to express the manner of this kingdom yet more fully we are to know that as God by our Saviors coming into the world and first appearance of the kingdom of God removed away the weak elements and imperfections of the former times and by this light caused all those shadows to vanish so he compleats not this kingdom neither all at once but makes it to grow like Elijah's cloud from the bigness of a man's hand till it cover all the earth and like those waters Ezek. 47. 3. c. by which doubtless are meant the larger and larger effusions of the spirit till the day of the Lord come Act. 2. 17 18 comp 19 20. Umbra in Lege Imago in Evangelio veritas in Caelo S. Ambrose and advanceth it by gentle degrees to more and more perfection till the end come therefore compared to a mustard-seed and a piece of leaven Luk. 13. 19 21. It was the Disciples error Act. 1. to think that the Kingdom of Christ that was but then vagient in its infancy should presently appear in its full strength without any intermediate growth which had it then come to pass and so nothing have been capable of any further perfection the world must also presently have concluded the fulness of all perfection being only in the last scene of the last Act thereof For there is no decrease or revolution to imperfection or standing at a stay in the work of God Man his image cannot endure this in his petty contrivances but increasing alwaies and advancing to that just height he hath determined for them A prognostication of which governing the world he hath left us in the 6 daies work of the Creation of it And so our Saviors kingdom is not yet come to its period of perfection See Dan. 7. 14 9. Heb. 2. 8. Rev. 11. 15. -16. 17. -19. 6. Luk. 19. 11. c. 1 Cor. 15. 25 26. Dan. 2. 34 44. Act. 3. 21 23. but in a constant progress toward it both in respect of the subduing of his enemies And the more and more enlarging of his dominion till all the Heathen be his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth his possession And for the first To repeat more largely what was briefly said before tho all power in heaven and earth be already givea unto Him in respect of himself Matt. 28. 18. Tho God hath made him both Lord and Christ Act. 2. 36. and we see him crowned already with glory and honor Heb. 2. 9. yet all things are not as yet put under him in reference to his body tho sitting at the right hand of God in his person he is suffering still in his members Col. 1. 24. Saul why persecutest tâ—…ou me At his resurrection long ago he then led captivity i. e. Sin Satan and his instruments Death and its associates captive so as to suffer no more at all from them in his own person nor to suffer in his body the Church so far as that it should be conquered by them Luk. 22. 32. Matt. 16. 18. he then disarming them of their formerly mortal weapons but yet not so far that it should by them be no more assaulted nay the stronger assaults are now toward the latter end of the world as his members are more by him enabled to bear them His servants also conquering the same way as himself they never so much as now since he sits on the Throne being given up to martyrdom and overcoming death by death Christianity is yet only under the conduct of their spiritual Moses travailing afresh in the wilderness toward another Canaan expecting not entred into rest Moses was but a type of Christ the Israelites of the Church Egypt and Babylon and Antiochus of Antichrist that is to be revealed in the last times against whom Christ comes first with aids of grace before he comes with the glory of his presence going forth conquering and to conquer but by several degrees and one enemy after another first triumphing over the Beast and then over his image and the false Prophet first by the constancy the witness and blood of the Saints Rev. 12. 11. Then by the sword of vengeance Râ—…v 19. 15. Then over Satan first so far as to bind him from doing hurt then casting him into destruction Rev. 20. 2 10. and last of all over Death the last of all his enemies that shall be destroyed vers 14. And as the subduing of his Enemies so the enlarging of his dominion is effected by certain degrees He brought salvation to all people but not therefore it tendered to all persons
OF THE Benefits of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST TO MANKIND 1 COR. 1. 31 32. Jesus Christ is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord Jesus Christ. At the THEATER in OXFORD MDCLXXX THE PREFACE THE chief intention of publishing these discourses is to suggest to devout persons some few but copious heads for their Meditation To which purpose it is not amiss to premise That in meditating on any action or passion of our Saviour consider his person doing or suffering it not as man but God and Man Either of which will produce affections in you diverse from the other both full of Benefit When you consider him as Man you will more admire and love in human infirmity his innocence and all his heroical virtues and merits and compassionate his indign sufferings and these being for you also in representing to your self such his human weakness it will render them far more dearer unto you and your gratitude much more to him As he is man you will have a more familiar confidence in his good-will toward you more interest your self in and indeavour to imitate what he did and suffered and more firmly believe that it shall be done unto you if being like him what was done by God to him But again when you consider him as God not a word not an answer not a circumstance of any action of his passeth without your admiration and deep reverence of it you will be astonisht that such Majesty and power should so low descend for your sake and be infinitely more ready to fear to praise to love to admire to sacrifice all you are and have unto him and then grieve comparing it with his i. e. Gods love to you that it is so inconsiderable you will discover new wisdom in every passage of his story and his sufferings humility mildness it will still greaten to you as his person doth You will not only make your addresses with more caution to him but also more expect strength and protection from him and in every thought of him will bend your soul to fall down adore reverence and fear such a divinity And in this meditation will say Lord depart from me for I am a sinful man as in the former Lord I will follow thee whither soever thou goest THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS CHAP. I. Jesus Christ a Prophet Lawgiver Apostle declaring all Gods will c. Pag. 1. CHAP. II. Jesus Christ the Exemplar and pattern in all obedience to Gods will and the reward of that obedience p. 28. CHAP. III. Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new Covenant p. 36. CHAP. IV. Jesus Christ the Sacrifice p. 45. CHAP. V. Jesus Christ the Redeemer from sin the law death and Satan p. 58. CHAP. VI. Jesus Christ the second Adam p. 71. CHAP. VII Jesus Christ the Melchizedechical High Priest p. 110. CHAP. VIII Jesus Christ the Lord and King p. 155. CHAP. IX The benefits of our Saviour common to all Generations ever since the beginning of the world p. 175. Mans Restitution BY JESUS CHRIST Jesus Christ sent by the Father a Prophet Law-giver Apostle declaring all Gods Will c. GOD who in the begining writ his Laws in the hearts of all men Rom. 2. 14 15. The Gentiles not having the Law of Moses yet shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their thoughts accusing c. So Rom. 1. 21 25 28 32. Because when they knew God they glorified him not as God v. 21. but changed the truth of God into a lie v. 25. tho knowing that they who commit such things are worthy of death v. 32. as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge so God gave them over c. ver 28 made besides this from the begining many express revelations by Prophets Jude 14. in many particulars concerning his service and worship to the Church Therefore find we much of the ceremonial Law practised before Moses Gen. 14 20. 35 2. 8 21. Exod. 24 5. Gen. 15 10. compared with Lev. 1 17. Gen. 9 4. c. But here much of these Laws by so ill a Register and in so long time being more and more defaced and worn out for Moses's Law was added because of the overflowing of transgressions against the Law natural Gal. 3. 19. till Christ should come The effects of which Law Mosaical among the Jews the rules of Philosophy being only the Law of nature revived by the wisest of other nations in some inferior degree wrought among the Gentiles after more than 2000 years when the Church very numerous was grown into a State God published them again unto the world with great solemnity by Moses and writ them himself in Tables of stone to last the longer and doubtless in these then added many explications at least to those which formerly were practised or enjoyned to Adam Gen. 4. 3 4. or Noah Gen. 9. 1. c. But here again his Laws being neither obeyed so far as understood nor understood so far as they obliged after a long space of his tolerating the unbelief and imperfection of the veiled Jew 2 Cor. 3. 13 14 16. and his winking at the ignorance and idolatry of the Gentiles and his suffering them to go on in their own ways Act. 17. 30 14 16. and he having now sufficiently educated his Church in the pedagogism of the Law and of Ceremonies after about 2000 years more in the full and due time Eph. 1. 10. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Heb. 11. 40. and the worlds mature age Gal. 4. 3. therefore the first words of our Saviours preaching are The time is fulfilled Mark. 1. 15. the Gospel retaining much what the same distance from the covenant made with Abraham wherein were included any Proselytes of the Gentiles and the promulgation of the Law as these were from the beginning of nature for he doth all things in number weight measure He sent his Son Jesus Christ the greatest and last Prophet and the Holy one of God yet more perfectly and fully to revele and declare to mankind his last and all his will c. Mat. 15. 24. Jo. 3. 34. -5. 38. And Him he then sent into the very middle and Navil as it were of the then known world and there seated him not at Jerwsalem but in Galilee half as it were amongst the Gentiles to whom the Church was now to be enlarged and Salvation to be preached as well as to the Jewes Tho to the Jewes in the first place see Jo. 4. 40. Sent him at this time and to this place From which time and place that which he did and taught might by the Testimony of many witnesses chosen before of God Act 10. 41. descend conveniently to all other places and times This thing being necessarily to be effected in some determinate age in some particular Nation and Country unless perchance the unreasonableness of our unbelief will have him for our fuller satisfaction to act
We are all therefore one day to take holy orders to be made Priests and Kings or Priests Melchisedechical Indeed we are already Priests not only some of us in respect of the rest which I have mentioned before who officiate for them in the publick assemblies but even all the people of God in comparison of the rest of the world the Church being a chosen generation out of all the rest an holy Nation a Kingdom of Priests Gods peculiar treasure the Israel of God separated and sanctified for to serve him See Exod. 19. 5 6. Gal. 6. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 5 9. Rev. 1. 6. Every one of whom not only by the Priest in publique assemblies but by themselves also in their hearts may offer sacrifices immediately to God the Father acceptable thro Jesus Christ Heb. 7. 19. and hence are we also called not only Priests by whom but Temples also and that not our souls only but our bodies inhabited by Gods spirit as that Ancient one was by his Glory in whom such sacrifice is offered as our Saviors body also more eminently was stiled a Temple See Jo. 2. 21. 1 Cor. 3. 16. -6. 19. Eph. 2. 22. But this Temple is yet but in building as it were we being here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and hereafter more perfectly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here Tabernacles hereafter Temples see Eph. 2. 21 22. But these we shall be made yet much more hereafter 1. After the day of judgment For then shall every place become a Sanctum Sanctorum and every one a Priest See Rev. 21. 22 23. where the new Jerusalem that after the final judgment Rev. 20. 12. comes down from heaven where perhaps as God expresseth elsewhere earthly by heavenly things so here heavenly by earthly hath no Temple at all in it For that which indeed makes a Temple whereever it resides the glory of God and of the Lamb being now spread all over it irradiating and illuminating it throughout in which respect there is said to be neither Sunshine nor Night there it is all of it nothing but a Temple vers 3. or God being the Temple vers 22. all over it See the same thing prophecyed Esai 4. 3 5. that every one should be â—…alled holy and every house and assembly in Sion have the same glory upon it cloud by day and fire by night that was on the Tabernacle And in this Sanctum Sanctorum Gods Servants shall see his face without a cloud of Incense betwixt and stand before his glory with his name Holiness unto the Lord in their foreheads Rev. 22. 4. and there they shall serve him vers 3. See Esai 61. 6. -66. 21. night and day in his Temple Rev. 7. 15. before the Throne of Glory in singing eternal glories and praises to him for there shall be no more confession where no sin nor praier where no more want not infirmity nor affliction the nations being healed by the tree of life Rev. 22. 2. no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any curse or excommunication of any Rev. 22. 3. there And secondly As then Priests and Servants to God the Creator so are they also Kings or Lords over the Creation sit down on thrones with Christ and Rev. 3. 21. and reign for ever and ever 22. 5. reign on the earth 5. 10. over the Nations 2. 26 27. Judge Angels Judge the 12 Tribes be rulers over Cities Luk. 19. 17. see Matt. 25. 21. -24. 47. Luk. 16. 10. which expressions so far as they have reference to Christs kingdom after the final day of judgment and not to that prosperous condition of the Church which is promised before it are metaphors expressing the unintelligible things of the next by the more acquainted things of this world which cannot be no more then those Ezek. 43. c. c. speaking of the same things litterally fulfilled 2. Priests also after Death before the great judgment day in the better part of us the soul the estate of which tho it was Gods pleasure that it should not be fully revealed to us yet we may not neglect to take notice of that which is so It seems plain then 1. That tho there is no formal judgment or sentence passed upon any man at the day of Death or final reward appointed or any convention or appearance of the soul before the eternal Judge for why then have not other spirits that are void of bodies as yet received that judgment see 1 Cor. 6. 3. And tho the soul as well as the body attain not as not extensively so neither intensively its full beatitude reward and crown nor vision and communication of God and glory nor a full satisfying of its desires Ps. 16. 15. or punishment pain and torment until the general day of judgment and retribution which is true not only of men 2 Pet. 2. 9. but devils more great and more Ancient offenders then men 〈◊〉 6. as may be gathered from both our Saviors and the Apostles frequent expressions commanding us to depend and cast our hope on the expectation of the coming of Christ in glory at the last day and deferring the receit of our salvation of the reward and of the crown of glory c. till that time See Luk. 14. 14. 2 Tim. 4. 8. -1. 12 16 18. 1 Pet. 1. 5 13. 2 Pet. 3. 11 12. Act. 3. 19 20 21. Luk. 21. 27 28. Phil. 2. 16. -3. 11. 1 Cor. 1. 7 8. -15. 19 32. 2 Cor. 5. 1. c. 2 Thess. 1. 6 7. Heb. 9. 27 29. Rev. 22. 7 12. Col. 3. 3. comp 4. 1 Jo. 3. 2. 2 Pet. 2. 9. Jo. 14. 3. By which it appears that there is a place not to be entered before Christs second coming prepared by his Ascension but before this were many souls in Paradise And this applied not only to the body but the spirit 1 Cor. 5. 5. From the petition and expectation of these souls Rev. 6. 9 10 11. From the just punishments of other spirits much worse and that stay for no bodies yet defer'd till that day See Jude 6. Matt. 8. 19. -25. 42. 2 Pet. 2. 4. Luk. 8. 31. comp Eph. 2. 2. Some at least it seems dwelling in the Air and not yet cast into the Abysse and likewise in this interval between death and judgment tho 't is most probable that some souls attain not so much bliss and glory and priviledg as some others See Rev. 20. 4. comp 5. -14. 4. Nor perhaps so much security I mean not in respect of damnation but in respect of that severe tryal which shall be at that dreadful day and of the measure of their salvation bliss and reward For since some sins shall come into judgment and scrutiny at that day which shall not amount to the condemnation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which our Savior expresseth hell here Matt. 5. 22. as frequently elsewhere See vers 29. Matt. 25. 33. see Matt. 5. 22. comp Matt. 12. 36. And since of those
eye on the beauty of God the Original of all that is called fair in that Sanctuary is struck infinitely in love therewith and enamoured cries out whom have I in heaven c. Ps. 73. 25. the vehement longing after which 't is supposed drew those expressions from the High Priest himself in this his exile from it How am I straitned Luk. 12. 50. and with desire have I desired Luk. 22. 15. and from his servant St. Paul I am in a strait cupiens dissolvi c. Phil. 1. 23. And then this love to the Deity of the Temple will naturally produce the service of it In his Temple doth every man speak of his glory Ps. 29. 9. eternal singing of praise and giving of glory unto him even like those inflamed Cherubims that rest not night nor day nor no more do the Saints Rev. 7. 15. crying one to another alternately Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus Rev. 4. 8. Esai 6. 3. whose imploiment we envy not only because we love not God grant that we may not slothfully or heavily perform that duty here which must be our eternal imploiment hereafter unless we be eternally miserable To conclude the last act of our Savior as High Priest is coming again out of the Sanctuary For as the people waited without praying Luk. 1. until the Legal High Priest having made a full attonement came forth again and blessed them from the Lord. Numb 6. 23. Lev. 9. 22. So unto them that look for him shall Christ who was once offered to bear the sins of many appear a second time here without sin i. e. bringing us full remission hereof unto our final salvation Heb. 9. 28. For tho before it was noted how he staying there blessed us from the Sanctuary yet 't is not a compleat blessing till his return when coming forth with his face shineing like Moses from the glory of him before whom he stands he shall also glorifie us not only in soul but in body like himself and take and carry us in with him into the Sanctuary to see his glory and his Fathers glory Jo. 17. 24. and to be for ever with them 1 Thess. 4. 7. Which coming forth and glorious appearance of the great God and our Savior therefore all the Saints as the Israelites did of old are said by the Apostle to love to look for and patiently to wait for 1 Cor. 1. 7. 2 Tim. 4. 8. 2 Thess. 3. 5. Tit. 2. 13. Who yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 17. Amen CHAP. VIII Jesus Christ the Lord and King governing protecting the Church GOD in the beginning made the world by his Son the second Person of the Trinity Jo. 1. 3. Heb. 1. 2 10. God the Father working by interior purpose or decree the Son in exterior production of the effect The Holy Ghost by an internal virtue residing as it were in the thing that is produced God the Father in or thro the Son doth all things by the spirit The Father resolves the Son commands the Holy Ghost works The first the Agent the second the wisdom the third the power See 1 Cor. 12. 4 5 6. the three persons And by him sustained and conserved it into its being Heb. 1. 3. Col. 1. 17. And by him governed it in all its motions and changes The divine eternal relations of the Son to the Father must needs conclude this since he is the word Jo. 1. 1. the wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 24. of the Father without which none will say the world was made or is governed See Prov. 8. 22. But yet in a more special manner by him in all ages governed the Church of which God the Son was alwaies the Head Eph. 1. 22. and the careful Conductor amongst all its enemies even from the Creation as it were in a preludium of its redemption by him And the Holy Spirit that guided the Prophets as now so then was sent from him by which he alwaies preached the will of his Father unto men 1 Pet. 3. 19. and he was alwaies in the world tho the world knew him not and alwaies the light of men that enlightned every one coming into the world See 1 Pet. 1. 11. 2 Pet. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 3. 19. comp 2 Pet. 2. 4 5. Jude 14. 2 Sam. 23. 2. Jo. 8. 56 58. where note that St. John every where much vindicating for in his time it received some opposition the eternal divine nature of our Savior whence in honorem he was stiled Theologus John the Divine speaks frequently of his operations not only as come in the flesh but also as the eternal Son of God and as working all things with the Father before incarnate Jo. 12. 41. 1 Cor. 10. 9. Heb. 11. 26. Exod. 23. 20 21. comp 33. 3 14. 1 Cor. 10. 9. By which it appears our Savior was the Conductor of the Church in the wilderness refusing afterward upon their sin to go with them himself least his holiness and hatred to wickedness should consume them c. Exod. 33. 2 3. and deputing another Angel for this office but deprecated by Moses vers 12 14. Deut. 4. 34. Esai 63. 9. and reassuming their conduct c. see Act. 7. 38 39. Eph. 2. 20. He called the Corner stone and foundation of the Prophets as well as Apostles Gen. 32. 24 28. and Hos. 12. 3 4. Anciently assuming many times an human shape as a fore-personating of his Incarnation See Josh. 5. 13 14 15. comp Exod. 3. 5. and Rev. 19. 10. -22. 9. Head of the Army of God Judg. 2. 1 5. Exod. 14. 10. comp 13. 21. Judg. 6. 12 14. c. And as by him all things were thus made and governed c. so being the eternal Son of God the Father he was alwaies the Heyr of all things Heb. 1. 2. -3. 3 4 6. and for him they were made Col. 1. 16. Thus was our Savior before his Incarnation enthroned in the bosom of the Father Jo. 1. 18. and the most High in his glory before the world was Jo. 17. 5. And all power and government and judgment committed to him from the beginning and in a particular manner the protection and Headship of the Church In which office he gave his spirit as since to the Apostles so also of old to the Prophets and when he came into the world is said to have come to his own and to be born King c. Jo. 1. 10 11. Yet this he did first out of an infinite desire of his Fathers greater glory and to If I may so say recover his kingdom and reduce it into peace first by the rebellion of the Angels and then the revolt and falling away and enmity to him of man also by the instigations of the Prince of the air much troubled as it were and diminished from what at first it was Not that all things forced by his overuling power do not still yield subjection unto God for who hath
in all times but only to some generations according to the good pleasure of the Father to whom his kingdom is subject in every country and again to some Countries in every age Matt. 24. 14. How narrow was the sound of the promulgation of his kingdom at first Into any Village of the Samaritans enter ye not How obscure his Sermons And without a parable spake he not unto them How uncapable his Auditors Not able to bear his doctrines Jo. 16. 12. Luk. 24. 21. Great works were done when he was present here but greater to be done after his departing hence Jo. 14. 12. His personal presence with his servants which was a great encouragement to them being advanced into an assisting them with his presence with God in heaven and his spiritual presence not with but in them receiving there from the Father and giving unto them the Holy Ghost by which themselves ignorant whilst his body was with them were enlightned with all truth and thousands now at a time converted to the Truth Therefore was it expedient for the promoting of his kingdom to go hence His Commission before being only from the Jews I am not sent c. Maâ—…t 15. 24. but after his ascent receiving the promise for the Gentiles when he asked of God and had given him the Heathen also for his inheritance Ps. 2. 8. And shedding the gift of all manner of tongues upon his Disciples for instructing them And ever since hath he enlarged his borders and advanced to a further perfection towards his fulneâ—…s which is his body the Church Eph. 1. 21. still bringing more sheep into his fold Jo. 10. 16. and gathering up the children of the kingdom as his Father hath given them him here and there in this or in the next generation not loosing one of those be gives him and sending his Laborers hither and thither according as his harvest is ripe Now forbidding his Apostles to sow their seed in one place where he sees the ground is yet too stubborn to receive it as in Asia Act. 16. 6. and in Bithynia vers 7. They assayed to go into Bithynia but the spirit of Jesus as many Copies suffered them not and in Jerusalem Act. 22. 18 21. They in Jerusalem will not receive thy testimony concerning me make hast depart I will send thee to the Gentiâ—…es Again guiding them and that by appearing himself in person to other places where he saw he had by his Father given him much people as at Corinth Antioch Ephesus See Act. 13. 48. -16. 10. -18. 9 10. -8. 39. Then spake the Lord to Paul Be not afraid for I have much people in this City So in places where they might do him more service pricking them forward extraordinarily with the secret instigations of his spirit See Act. 17. 16. -18. 5. -19. 21. driving Paul without any rest to Jerusalem that he might convey him thence by occasion of a false accusation to sow the Gospel at Rome See Act. 13. 2. -8. 1 4. more spreading the Gospel by a persecution of the professors Gods work being not good without evil But Good out of evil All this zeal toward the Gentile after he had out of his dear affection to his own nation first made tender of their ministry to the Jew where then refused yet in the time appointed his standard shall be set up and they also shall bow unto his Scepter and unto Sion shall come the deliverer Rom. 11. 26. comp with Esai 59. 20. and the light of the Gentiles shall also be the glory of Israel Thus the Sun of righteousness goeth on and prospereth and none are hid from the heat thereof but also as the Sun he enlightneth not all this Sphere at once First rising upon the Jew from them shining on the Gentile amongst these first visiting the proselytes and those who were before introducted into the Jew's religion for such were most of the first Converts Act. 16. 14. -17. 4 12 17. 18. 7. but from these by little and little spreading to the rest of the Gentiles those before abounding in all idolatry and amongst these to the Eastern and Asiatick people sooner the light of the Gospel holding the same course with that of the Sun and night also since having succeeded the day in places where it first shined then to the European and the West those whom the Gospel visited later being recompensed in this that they have retained it longer But this so as the light is still increasing and far more here added to the fold of that great Shepheard then have there apostatized from it and still it proceeds and hath passed over the broadest Seas to new discovered kingdoms America and so from them hath made the round to the furthest East China to the posterity of Sem For by him was the East generally peopled as the North by Japhet and the South by Cham and from them shall at last return to the posterity of Abraham the bodâ—… of the Jewish nation from whence it set forth Rom. 11. with whom we hope that a remnant of Cham s seed also out of which hath sprung that great enemy of Christ shall be gathered to the Church Ps. 72. 10 11. and then that wicked one with those that obstinately follow him be utterly destroyed and then Noah's curse fully accomplished And 〈◊〉 observable that at the same time the Gospel began to decay in some parts it began to be planted in others When the Eastern and African Churches began to be overgrown with Apostacy and Heresy the Northern nations Germany Pole Denmark Sweden Norway c. began to be gathered into the Church And after that the West again had been overrun with the grossest superstitions Sects and Divisions the Gospel was hastily transferred to the East and West-Indies From Christian assemblies it hath grown to Christian States and from these again as it has been of a long time generally belived shall encrease into a Christian and the fifth and last Empire not that all that live then shall be Saints or that the world shall be under one Monarch an opinion made to serve the ends of sedition and tyranny but all or most for their religion Christians neither shall Antichristianism be universal either for place or time Of the 10 horns this Enemy shall prevail but over three Dan. â—… 8. and as he shall be toward the end of the world so shall he not continue unto it nor have the honor mundo secum moriente mori but those Kings at last shall make him desolate who before gave their strength unto him And our Saviour shall conquer the world first another way before by setting it on fire His spirit his word first shall prevail over it over the hearts and souls of men and they shall one day before the last become subjects not only to his power but to his truth when Satan also himself before the time that he shall be utterly destroyed shall first have shackles
our God! Thus much of the same obedience and sufferings required alwaies of the children of faith under the times of the law and Prophets as since under the times of Christ even the same from the beginning Next these required alwaies upon the same rewards promised and punishments denounced i. e. eternal bliss or torments which that they were alwaies believed hoped feared by the most of men for now also some there are who believe them not we may learn from the ancient universality of this opinion for so much as concerns the soul even amongst false religions which must either be borrowed from the relations of it made to the Church as all false religions were but several corruptions of the true or from the common light of nature as such a thing there is Rom. 2. 14 15. For indeed how could at any time right reason allowing only a God and reward and punishment for virtue and vice as 't is Gen. 4. 7. argue otherwise For they seeing the wicked many times here prosperous and the righteous suffer even the first good man murdered by his own brother and then holding after death no second state there remains no punishment c. for temporal death passing upon all can be no punishment of any ones sin except Adams any more then it is of the sins of all Now the light we find amongst the ancient Heathens we may not deny to have shined much more in the Church But secondly That not only future bliss and pains but a resurrection also was commonly believed in the Church before our Saviours times encouraging the good affrighting the wicked see 2 Maccab. 12. 44. Wisd. 4. 16. and all the 5th cap. 2 Maccab. 7. 9 36. which tho not Canonical yet are convincing to shew the Jews ancient opinion in this point and the last place seems to be verified by the Apostle Heb. 11. 35. see Martha's ready answer Jo. 11. 20. and the opprobrium of the Sadduces for denying it Matt. 22. 23 29. Of whom note that they were a Sect not numerous counted generally Hereticks among the people as the Pharisees the Orthodox that for the evidence of these truths therein they were forced to reject the writings of the Prophets and were told also by our Saviour that they understood not the writings of the law Matt. 22. 29. And again that this belief amongst them was of no later date see Heb. 11. 12. c. whence may be collected the quality of that faith mentioned vers 6. which compared with the end of the 4th vers and beginning of 13. must needs be believing God to be a rewarder after this life or else is nothing worth see vers 35 40. vers 26. of the reward i. e. eternal else Egypt was to be preferred before the Wilderness See Luk. 1. 54 72. Rom. 3. 21. -1. 2. Next let us consider the old Testamenâ—… and the many places therein declaring this truth tho the cleer light we have of these things since the Gospel makes us fancy the darkness of former times to be far greater then it was Concerning which our Saviour chides the Sadduces not only for not knowing the point but not knowing the scriptures Matt. 22. 29. as the Apostle likewise doth the Corinthâ—…ns 1. ep 15. 34. I speak it to your shame and quotes Exod. 3. 6. for the proof of it as also St. Peter 2 Ep. 3. 13. for the new creatioâ—… quotes Esai 65. 17. See for this day of judgment and new Creation Esai 66. 15 22. -51. 6 8. Psal. 102. 25. -50. 1. c. And the righteous living after it Psal. 102. 28. comp 26. Esai 51. 6. -66. 22. Therefore is God also himself said to be their reward Gen. 15. 1. Psal. 73. 26. -142. 5. Eccles. 11. 8 12 14. Eccles. 2. 3. See first then that clear expression Dan. 12. 2 3 13. Esai 13. 12. where note that the term of sleeping for death used so frequently in the new see 1 Thess. 4. 13. is borrowed from the old Testament and not only intimated rest but argued a rewaking whence also the resurrection is called the morning Psal. 49. 14. 2 Pet. 1. 19. and seeing light again Psal. 16. 9 10 11. spoken of the resurrection Act. 13. 35. in the first place of Christs but also of Davids by him Psal. 17. 15. comp with 14. and with Psal. 16. 11. Psal. 49. 15. comp with 14. Psal. 73. 24 26. Psal. 36. 8 9. comp with the rest Job 19. 25. c. Job 13. 15. Fsâ—…i 26. 19. opposed to 14. Hos. 13. 14. Esal 25. 8. -51. 6 8. quoted 1 Cor. 15. 54 55. Exod. 32. 32. Ps. 69. 28. comp with Phil. 4. 3. Rev. 20. 12. Luk. 10. 20. where keeping this memorial of them is upon their being first by death removed out of sight see Mal. 3. 16 13. where this registring of them differenceth the righteous from the prospering wicked Add to these Enoch's assumtion to another life before Elias under the law as Christ after it Add the raising of several other to life 2 King 8. 5. -4. 35. Heb. 11. 35. Arguments to the old world both of Gods power and purpose Esai 13. 9 10 11 12. comp with Matt. 24. 29. Enough of the resurrection of the just to life but what of the wicked to eternal torments First these seem to follow necessarily upon concession of the other sins being our own more then righteousness is and therefore if this in us obtains a reward the other will punishment Again this punishment is not a temporally miserable life as appears before oftner undergon by the good then the bad nor can it be a temporal death because there is no more undergon by the profanest then the holiest and is so far from deterring the unbelievers of future torments from sin as 't is made an argument for it Let us eat c. to morrow we dy Esai 22. 13. 1 Cor. 15. 32. I may go further Neither could the loss of a pleasure to come tho greater yet unknown and a far off sufficiently sway most men to loose and forego a pleasure present and acquainted the worth of the one being counterpoised by the nearness of the other Yet more Neither could the danger of incurring of some future pains make men forbear the pursuit of some present delights if all their joy must be bought with some sorrow It seeming to them no wisdom to be in pain to avoid it T is therefore the wisdom and also mercy of the Lawgiver to appoint a penalty so high as may abundantly serve to deter men from the fault and this can be only future pains not only great but eternal The severity of which by how much it seems to us super-proportioned to sin so much more is it necessary and justified since neither the fear thereof can yet keep the most men from sin and many also for fear of these escape sin here and attain to heaven who upon a less penalty