A faithfull Servant to the weakest Member of our Lord Jesus John Vernon The Contents of the severall matters contained in this Booke Ch. 1. p. 3. OF the severall significations of the word Worship and what the true worship of God is pag. 3. Ch. 2. p. 5. Of Light and Love the principles of the worship of God which light discovers what may be knowne of God viz. that God is but cannot be defined p. 6. That he is incomprehensible immutable eternall wherein is shewed what time is and that God is Invisible p. 7. Of the soveraignty wisedome justice and mercy of the Lord p. 9. Of the relation God hath to his Creatures who is all in all yet but one God everliving and present in all places p. 10 11. Ch. 3. p. 11. Of the manifestation of God in the Creation which shewes the Godhead p. 12. That there is but one God p. 13. That he is Almighty p. 14 15. That he cannot be comprehended by the naturall or spirituall man p. 15 16 17. It declareth his wisedome and love wherein is shewed what it is to be created in Gods Image p. 17 18. Ch. 4. p. 19. Of God in Christ who is the anointed of the Lord wherein is shewed that the Father anointed him p. 19. That the humane nature with a description what it is is the subject anointed and that the Spirit is the Ointment p. 20. With a briefe description of what Father Son and Spirit are and whether three persons p. 21 22. Ch. 5. p. 22. Of the manifestation of God in Christ as a Priest wherein is showne what the Priesthood of Christ is and that the Lord Jesus is the Saints High Priest consecrated with an oath p. 23. And by the pouring on of oyle p. 24. Where also is shewed the ability he hath of mannaging the Priesthood being the first begotten the eldest brother being related to God and man having a great interest in them both all things concurring in him to the work he being without spot and blemish p. 25 26. Ch. 7. p. 26. Of the sacrifice of Christ exprest by five particulars 1. By Christ himself p. 26. 2ly By his bloud and what that bloud is with an answer to an objection concerning it p. 27. 3ly By the offering up of his body 4ly By making his soule an offering for sinne 5ly By laying downe his life p. 28. Ch. 8. p. 28. Sheweth 1. How often Christ suffered and whether he may now be said to dye in us p. 29. 2ly The place where Christ died which is at Jerusalem and what that Jerusalem is 3ly The time when he suffered p. 29. And how Christ is said to be a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world p. 30. Ch. 9. p. 31. Of the manner how Christ offered up himselfe viz. by the spirit and in the body of his flesh p. 31. Of the true nature of Christs sacrifice wherein is showne that it is a pure sacrifice p. 32. A free perfect spirituall and acceptable sacrifice p. 25. 43. Ch. 10. p. 34. Of the true subjects of Christs sacrifice who are onely his sheep and children beloved with an everlasting love who shall be saved p. 34 35. Wherein is handled universall redemption with an answ to 13. Object brought to stablish it wherein is shewed what Gospel it is that is to be preached to the world p. 37. That it is a dangerous thing to fall from profession of true Religion p. 39. Wherein likewise is declared what the fall of man the tree of knowledge of good and evill the tree of life and the serpent are p. 43. With 2. Arg. against universall redemption p. 43 44. That this sacrifice was offered to an angry God and what anger and fury in God is p. 44. Ch. 11. p. 44. Of the vertue of this sacrifice interposing mediating betweene God and man satisfying the Father p. 44 45. Wherein is shewed what it is for God not to see nor remember sin in his children p. 46. Ch. 12. p. 47. Of the pardon of sin and justification by the bloud of Christ by faith and by works with their unity p. 47 48. Wherein is an answer to these 2. Quest 1. Whether all sins to a believer are pardoned past present and to come p. 48 49 50 51. 2ly Whether a believer having received the spirit may feare againe p. 51 52. With 3. Arg. to prove all sins to a believer are pardoned at once p. 52. Ch. 13. p. 53. Of believers freedome from the law p. 53. Wherein is handled the law written in Adams heart the Covenant of workes the law of Moses and of Christ p. 53 54 55. Shewing severall dispensations thereof p. 55 56. With an answer to 2. Quest 1. Whether the law be a rule of life to a believer 2ly Whether God punishes his people for sinne wherein appeares the difference betweene punishing and chastising p. 56 57. Ch. 14. p. 58. Of the breaking downe the partition wall fulfilling all types and shadowes and obtaining of all happinesse for the Saints by Christs death p. 58 59. Ch. 15. p. 59. Of the dignity Christ hath attained to by dying of his resurrection ascension sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for us p. 59 60 61. Ch. 16. Of the Propheticall office of Christ wherein is shewne 1. The matter he revealeth which is mans sinfulnesse mans happinesse all things to be believed and obedience to all his commands p. 61 62 63. 2ly The light discovering which is the spirit and what it is to be taught by God by Christ and by the spirit 3ly The rule of discovery wherein of the truth and authority of the Scriptures p. 64 65 66. 4ly The manner of discovery which is plainly p. 66. wherein is shewne what we may judge of those who delight to speake in a language above the capacity of those to whom they speake infallibly 5. The subsects to whom truth is discovered are either such as receive the truth in the love of it or to those that receive it only in the notion as Balaam and Judas p. 67. 68. Chap. 17. p. 68. Of the Kingly Office of Christ who is King by his inheritance by appointment of the Father by conquest excellently qualified of his Kingdome over the world of grace p. 69. of glory p. 70. Of Christs Lawes civill and spirituall p. 70. Of his officers wherein is the true Power and bounds of the Magistracy and whither he be a Church Officer p. 71. Of the resigning up the Kingdome to the Father p. 72. Whether it be yet p. 73. Of Christs enemies Satan sin and wicked men p. 73 74. Of Christs victories over our understandings wils and affections p. 74 75. Of the Doctrine of free will p. 75. Three reasons why all Christs enemies are not yet punished p. 76. Of Christs Soldiers which are Angels Saints the World the whole creation p. 77. Of his weapons viz. his death his Word his Spirit p. 77 78. Of his rewards
what 86 Flesh Christ died in the body of flesh 31 32 Not to know Christ after the flesh what 133 c. G GOd is 6 Almighty 14 Eternall 7 Everliving 11 Invisible 7 8 Immutable Incomprehensible 7 15 16 17. Gospell what it is 37 90 How to be preached 97 Government a gift in the Church what 161 H HAppinesse of man discovered by Christ 62 Hell what 84 Helps a gift in the Church what 161 Heretike what 161 Humane nature what 20 It is anointed ibid. I IErusalem Christ died there What it is and Where it is 29 Image of God wherein man was created What. 17 18 Indifferent things to be determined by the Church 154 Infants Whether subjects of Baptisme 115. to 120 Intercession of Christ What and its virtue 61 Judgment of Christ What. 83 Justice of God What. 9 Justification What its severall kindes 47 48 49 K KIng the Lord Christ is King 68 69 Kingly office of Christ What. 68 Kingdome Christ hath a Kingdome over the World 69 Of Grace ibid. Kingdome of Glory What. 70 Kingdome to be resigned up to the Father how and when 72 74 L LAw how we are freed from it and how yet under it 53 54 55 Whether it be a rule of life 56 Lawes of Christ What. 70 Lamb Christ a Lamb slain before the foundation of the world 30 31 Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ what meant by it 132 133 Light Love the principles of true worship of God 5 6 Love to God What. 87 Lords supper its nature use and continuance 164 165 M MAgistracy its nature place and power 71 72 Manifestation of God in Christ how 4 Mediator betweene God and-man is Christ 45 Members of Churches how to be received in 151. To be admonished 150 Reproved 143. Rebuked 153. And for sin may be cast out 154. Of their duty to the Church 156 157. Ministers of the Gospell who 91 92 93 How to know them 93 c. Miracles their proper end and use 94 95 96 O OBedience taught by Christ 63 Object against Baptisme answered 30 c. Object against Scripture answered 65 Offences private What. 15. 2 Offences publique What. ib. Ointment poured on Christ What. 20 Once Christ was offered but once 28 29 Ordinances to be used in the Church what 162 P PArdon of sin Vide in Justification Partition Wall broken down 58 Perfection Whether to be enjoyed in this life 81 82 Perish What meant by it 40 Person whether three in God 21 22 Place where Christ was offered 29 Power in things of God 87 123 to 127 Praise What. 87 162 Prayer What. ibid. Priesthood of Christ What. 23 Priest Christ is the Saints High Priest 23 to 26 Principles essentiall to divine Worship and what they are 5 6 Prophesy its nature use and end 158 159 c. Propheticall office of Christ What. 61 Propher Christ is the Saints Prophet ib. Psalmes singing a gift what it is 163 Punishment for sin What Whether Gods people be punished for sin 57 R REconciliation of God and man in Christ 46 Reject the Gospell What. 39 Relation God is related to the Creature 10 11 Remember sin no more how to be understood 45 46 Resurrection of Christ and its virtue 60 Resurrection of the body 79 80 Rewards of Christ What. 78 c. Right hand of God what Christ fits there and the virtue thereof to us 59 60 61 S SAcrifice Christ is the Saints sacrifice 26 27 28 The true nature of this sacrifice 32 33. For whom it was offered 33 34 To whom it was offered 44. The virtue of it 44 c. Saints cannot comprehend God 16 Ought to be joined to a particular Church 151 Satan What it is to be delivered to Satan 151 Scriptures their true glory and divine authority 64 64 66 Separation Christs Church is a separated people 145 c. Serpent What. 43 Sin laid on Christ 45 Sin how God seeth it not 45 46 Sinfulnesse of man discovered by Christ 62 Sinners as sinners the subjects of the Gospell 98 Speaking Christ speakes language easy to be understood 66 67 Son of God how to be understood 22 Spirit of God What Ib. It is the true light 63 T Taught of God Christ or spirit what 63 Time What it is 7 Time when Christ was offered 29 Tree of life what and why Adam might not eate thereof 43 Types under the law fulfilled in Christ 58 59 V Victory of Christ What. 74 visible Worship What. 89 Unbeliefe the condemnation What it is 41 42 W WEapons of Christ What. 77 Weeping of Christ over Ierusalem how to be understood 40 Wicked men why so long unpunished 76 Will Of free will 75. Wil of man Christs enemy 74 Women Whether they may speake in the Church 159 160. Their duty ib. Word of God What. 758 Word of Wisedom a gift in the Church What. 158 Word of Knowledg a gift in the Church What. 158 Works Saints are justified by Workes how 48 Worship What the word signifies 3 What the true Worship of God is ib. The Invisible Worship What. 45 c The Visible Worship What. 89 THE INVISIBLE WORSHIP OF GOD. The Introduction That all Nations in all ages have acknowledged a God and that he is to be worshipped but have not knowne nor worshipped him aright IT is worthy our consideration in the entrance into this following discourse to consider how all people in all ages enjoying but their senses do from the principles of nature acknowledge a God The very Heathens were ashamed to deny this Ransacke all ages and wherever you finde men inhabiting either in East West North or South and you shall finde them agree in this that there is a God and this God is to be worshipped The Athenians built an Altar with this Inscription To the unknowne God Acts 17. 23. All people have a kinde of Religion and serving of God with prayers sacrifices and the like therefore the Heathens chose their Priests and others to have a care of their Gods and the service of their Gods Men of Learning and Fooles acknowledge this The Schooles of the Academicks Stoicks and Peripateticks rung of this doctrine The barbarous Indies gainsay it not But notwithstanding the harmony in this via that there is a God that this God is to be worshipped is so great and wonderfull yet the discord concerning this God what he is and what is his true worship is as great and strange The Athenians acknowledged him to be but knew him not Man being unable to comprehend the incomprehensible being hath from time to time according to his vaine imagination fancyed a God or Gods to himselfe The Romanes had as many Gods as Townes what they received any good from they reverenced as their God Hence it came that they worshipped the Sunne Moone Starres and Fire yea even Dogges and Birds for their Gods The people of Lycaonia perceiving a miracle to be wrought by the Apostles presently lift up their voices
understanding of the Fathers love he may as Judas fall away from his profession and goe forth and hang himselfe as he did yea he may be a Cast-away for all that t is not mans knowledge but Gods love that saves a soule Christ many times makes use of men for his owne glory whose names are not written in the Lambs booke of life But it is the portion of the chosen called and faithfull ones of God to be taught savingly knowingly and powerfully through which teaching the wisedome of the world in them and the mysterie of iniquity that before had taken the soule captive are now put to silence and to flight To these his words are as a fire going out of his mouth to the consumption of that drosse that remaines in them whereby they become a pure and refined people Chap. XVII Sheweth what the Kingly office of Christ is and the excellency thereof in ten particulars I Have already shewed you that whatever the Father hath appointed for us to enjoy he sent his Sonne by death to obtaine it and whatever he by death procured as he is a Prophet he makes it manifest according to his manifold wisedome And now I am come to declare that whatever he as a Prophet foretels or reveales for us as a King he powerfully effects for his word returnes not in vaine Which Kingly office is committed to him of the Father What the Kingly office of Christ is for the ruling governing and ordering his Kingdome after a just and glorious manner in which office these severall things are considerable 1. The King himselfe 2. His Kingdome 3. His Lawes 4. His Officers by which he rules 5. His Enemies 6. His Victories 7. His Souldiers 8. His Weapons 9. His Rewards 10. His Judgements 1. The King is the Lord Jesus Christ Emanuel the Prince of Peace Christ is King the Captaine of the Lords hoasts who enjoyeth his Kingdome 1. By inheritance it is his birthright He is the first-borne the By inheritance heire of all things t is he that was borne King of the Jewes he is the eldest Sonne the first begotten Sonne the expresse image of the Father 2. By designation or appointment of the Father the Kings of the Jewes were anointed by the Lord But all the majesty soveraignty By appointment of the Father and authority that was in them was but the shadow or figure of the excellency of our King the anointed of him that said unto him Son thy throne is for ever and ever He is the Lords anointed whom God hath made Lord of all 3. By conquest This Jesus that was borne to all must fight for it before he hath it and so he doth for by death he shew all his By conquest enemies and obtaines a glorious Kingdome Whose fitnesse for the managing of his Kingdome appeares 1. In that he was the first-borne of God the expresse image of his Fathers person A Sonne begotten in his Fathers likenesse Saul the King of the Jewes was taller by the head and shoulders then any of the people I am sure this King is fairer then the children of men who in all things hath the preheminence for beauty and personall excellency Men and Angels fall downe before him he surpasses them all 2. In that all Kingly virtues center in him the confluence of all the excellency of heaven and earth dwell in him his wisdome is matchlesse his power boundlesse his riches inestimable his love unparalled his justice unquestionable his innocency admirable some Kings have onely a name but he hath power too and a more excellent name then they all Some have power but want wisdome or love but all things desirable and virtuous are to be found in him and in him alone 2. His Kingdome bespeakes him altogether worthy and this Christ hath a Kingdome which is over this world is threefold First over this world a civill Kingdom therefore is it said He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and only Ruler of Princes in this Kingdom is his dominion from one end of the earth to the other the subjects whereof are all men as men for whose use are all the Creatures given that they have a right to them a propriety in them and may not by any be defrauded of them which Kingdome is his for He made all things in heaven and earth and in him they consist Coloss 1. Secondly Of Grace Christ hath a Kingdome in the world which Of Grace is not of the world which is called the Kingdome of heaven or the Kingdome of God Now this is a Kingdome or dominion or rule that Christ hath and exerciseth in the heart of a Saint therefore is it said The Kingdome of God is within you and this consists in righteousnesse peace and joy in the Holy Ghost the Children of which Kingdome Rom. 14. 17. be the Saints bodies and spirits who are called the Kingdome of heaven For the word Kingdome sometimes signifies the Subjects ruled or the rule a King hath in his Subjects Thirdly Of Glory which is called the Kingdome of God into Of Glory which onely an entrance is ministred to us here this we believe by faith and seeke by faith and shall receive at the last day when Christ shall say Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you It was prepared for them before but not actually enjoyed by them till the resurrection of their bodies This is the Kingdome in which God is all in all which is onely the portion or inheritance of those that are written in the Lambs booke of life 3. Christs lawes are very excellent his yoake is easy and his Christs lawes what burden is light Oh how hard a matter was it yea impossible to fulfill Moses his Law but Christ communicates of his fulnesse that we may fulfill the royall law of love which lawes are either First Civil lawes morall lawes lawes of justice and equity betweene man and man whereby every one enjoyes his right without oppression this is a distinct law a distinct region wherein the Lord Jesus the Lord of all administers in a distinct manner as being peculiar to his first Kingdome which is over the bodies of men as men Secondly Spirituall lawes lawes of obedience of life of joy peace and righteousnesse which are lawes that the first Kingdome are ignorant of it is of a more high divine and excellent nature whose subjects are not every particular man and woman in the world as are the subjects of the earthly Kingdome but they are a chosen people out of the world whose lawes are of another nature to be performed by another principle after another manner which the other Kingdome can take no cognisance of being lawes to the thoughts to the soule to the body to the whole man And Lastly is the law of love if I may so call it which endures for ever in the Kingdome of glory wherein Saints enflamed with the fire of divine
not yet subdued to him Hast thou never an evill thought in thee no sinne at all If thou shalt say thou hast not thou deceivest thy selfe but yet if it should be true Hast thou no imperfection left Is thy body dead and raised from the dead Surely no But was it true that Christ hath never an enemy left in thee hath he none no where else What meaneth the opposition of the world to the Saints What meaneth all sicknesses and sorrowes teares and troubles Now these enemies must first subdued Christ resignes not up his Kingdome bypeice-meals but when all his work is done then cometh the end Secondly Spirituall Officers as there is a Civill Kingdon e in which are Civill Officers so hath Christ a Spirituall Kingdome which is his Church in which are Spirituall Officers of which in the second part of this Discourse 5. We are in the next place to consider Christs enemies which hold Christs enemies forth a necessity for Christ to reigne and they are severall yet all conspire in one the ruine of the Lord Christ which enemies heads I shall reduce to these 1. Satan the grand enemy of the Lord Jesus there is a seed of enmity sowne betweene Christ and his generation Michael and Sathan Luke 8. 30. his Angels and the Devill and his Angels This is that wicked one whose name is Legion because there are many Devils that assaulted Christ in the earth and all that are Christs while on the earth this is he that compasseth all the world to dethrone Christ from his dignity who is against Christ 2. Sinne If it were not for sinne Satan could doe us no harm Sinne. sinne is that which causes man to mourne all the day long which sinne is either open or secret errours in doctrine or practise 3. Wicked men the wicked Kings and Rulers of the earth Wicked men the men of this world whose eyes are blinded and such are wee by nature being dead in sinnes and trespasses We in our owne minds are enemies to him Herod and Pilate though at difference could agree together to crucify Jesus Yea whatever stands in opposition to Christ is his enemy which leades us to consider 6. His Victories these I say proclaime him King he hath Christs victories overcome all his enemies his Victories may admit of a threefold consideration First as they are atcheived against the enemies of his owne person and so hath he conquered the Devill for he destroyed Satan and sinne For he that knew no sinne was made sinne for us and carried our sinnes away in his owne body and overcame death for he could not be held of death but ascended from the dead Yea he conquered all his enemies it was a crucified Jesus that pricked the Jewes to the heart Secondly as they are performed in Saints which likewise admits Christ enlightens the understanding of a threefold consideration 1. Over their understandings We are all naturally in the dark ignorant of God yea We sit in darknesse yea The God of the world hath blinded our eyes but now comes Christ and bindes this strong man and opens our understanding whereby we come to know the Mysteries which were before hid in God therefore is it said of him He shall give light to them that sit in darknesse 2. Over their wils if Christ should never so open their understandings Rescues our wils and not conquer and rescue their wils he would be a Saviour but of some part of the man and so would be an imperfect Saviour Our wils are fattered and chained they seeke nothing but vanity all the day long but now comes the Lord Jesus as a mighty Conquerour and powerfully rescues our will from the hard bondage wherein it was made to serve by Satan and sinne and so causes the soule to will the things of God Therefore is it said T is God that worketh in us both to will and to doe of his good pleasure We naturally will nothing but vanity but through his good pleasure we are made able to will the glory of God and life eternall But methinks I heare some demanding Have not all men free will to be saved Qu. Sol. To which I thus answer If by free will you understand a voluntary desire or choice of the will from the true understanding of salvation I say no man as a meere man in the world hath any such will for our will is enslaved We are the servants of sinne by nature and t is the alone worke of the spirit to renew this will to rescue it from the tyranny of Satan but yet may some question Whether every man that wils salvation may have it Qu. Sol. To which I answer If you meane by willing salvation a desire of salvation from a true understanding of God in Christ which is the hungring after Christ I say whoever wils salvation or the Lord Jesus let such a soule feare not but boldly goe to or believe on or rest upon and be confident in Christ For all that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse shall be filled But the power thus to will or desire is onely of the Lord Who onely worketh to will and doe of his good pleasure Our King Jesus in the salvation of any soule first discovers his owne excellency then causes mans will before averse to chuse it which he doth through the mighty power of his Kingly dignity 3. The Lord our King workes upon the affections We that before Christ overcomes our affections had all our joy in the earth love in to and upon the world whose feares were of a carnall nature are now made able to love Christ delight in Christ rejoice in him feare him and obey him and that is performed by him as a mighty King That rules in the midst of his enemies whose power is irresistible For whom the Father foreknew he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son T is not said whom he foreknew would believe and be conformable them he glorified but whom he fore-knew he did predestinate or fore-appoint or ordaine should believe and be conformable to the image of his Sonne And whom he did predestinate he called and whom he called he justified and whom he justified he glorified We love him because he first loved us And therefori is it said We are translated from the Kingdome of Satan unto the Kingdome of his deare Son Thirdly We may consider his victories as atcheived against all our enemies as within us so without us as Satan Death and Hell and the like but I shall here onely minde the world the wicked and ungodly thereof those that were fore-ordained of old to condemnation the world is an open enemy to Jesus which appears by the words of God saying That enmity was put betweene the Serpents and the Womans seed Now t is the Lord Christ that Strikes through Kings in the day of his wrath and wounds the heads over many Continents If the world
be Christs enemy and Christ such a mighty and just King Object how comes it to passe he lets them remaine so long unpunished I shall propound onely these three reasons Sol. 1. Because he is unwilling that any should perish but that all should come to repentance And because he would have all to be saved that is to say if God should have cut off Adam when he sinned or should destroy all sinners now what would become of all the chosen ones of God that shall be begotten of their loynes Had Adam sinned the great designe of God in bringing forth the man Jesus had been frustrate for he was the Sonne of Adam God would rather the ungodly should be here a long time then any one of his should perish So that I say Gods being unwilling that any should perish is meant onely of any of those whom he hath ordained life for which is the ground why he suffers the wicked to have a being and to continue so long and not because Christs death was a sacrifice offered for their sinnes as some ignorantly surmise 2. Because God would exercise the faith and patience of his Saints therefore is it said when God had foretold the warre Anti-Christ should make with the Saints and that he should at length be ledde into Captivity Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints 3. God through the enmity of the world advances his mercy in his Sonne and his justice in the worlds ruine Were not there great enemies the conquests of our King would not appeare so glorious Thus have I briefly showne the victories of our King Vnder whose feet the Father hath put all things Heb. 2. 8. If all things be put in subjection under Christs feet how is it said he must Object reigne till he hath subdued them for the first assertion seemes to imply he hath nothing at all to conquer I answer Christ is said to have all put under him in that he Sol. is Lord of all and all power in heaven and earth is given to him Yet saith the Scriptures Wee see not all things put under him that is to say though God hath made him Lord of all yet we doe not see his enemies fully destroyed Wee see sinne and death which being put under him must be subdued to him Therefore saith the Lord to our Lord Jesus Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstole Christs enemies are his captives whom as they all banded against his person he destroyed yet still rebell against him as in his members whom he must destroy for he must reigne till all his enemies of all sorts be subdued unto him 7. I am now come to speake of his souldiers and they are fourefold Christs souldiers are The Angels 1. All the Angels of God they are ministring spirits at the commands of Christ therefore saith Christ to Peter Thinkest not thou that I can pray to my Father and he shall give me more then twelve Legions or hands of Angels for they doe homage to Christ When the first begotten of God was brought into the world saith God Let all the Angels of God worship him Therefore we heare so much of Gods sending his Angels to destroy his enemies and to encampe about his servants T is they that excell in strength and doe the commands of God Therefore are they called Christs Ministers Math. 13. 41. Which powre out the vials of Gods wrath Revel 14. 19. 2. The Saints they are made more then Conquerours through The Saints him that loves them An excellent description of this King and this Army of Saints you may see in the 19th of Rev. 11. to the end of the Chapter 3. The World God sanctifies or sets apart Cyrus to doe his The world pleasure God makes his enemies to serve him in the ruine one of another Rev. 16. It is said the ten hornes which be interpreted ten Kings shall hate the Whore and make her desolate God many times makes use of one Oppressor or Idolater to destroy another 4. And lastly The whole Creation is Gods hoast therefore The whole Creation it is said The Starres in their course fought against Sisera God makes use of Sunne Moone and Starres for the accomplishment of his Victories Therefore are these called the hoast of God Christs weapons 8. His weapons he uses bespeak him to be wonderfull none other but the mighty God I shall onely instance these three 1. His death 2. His word 3. His Spirit Weapons of another nature then the world dreames of 1. His death therefore is it said By meanes of death he overcame His death and by his death he shew all his enemies as Sampson when he died killed many at his death so our Conquerour by dying kils slayes and crucifies his enemies And these are the weapons that Christ armes his Church with for by their sufferings the truth is advanced And herein holds that saying true that the bloud of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church His Word 2. By his word Christ when he goeth forth to battell effects his ends obtaines victory by the words that proceede out of his mouth If Christ sayes to the Figge tree Wither thou behold immediately it dryes up His word is a sharpe sword able to divide between the marrow and the bones With which he smites the Nations which Rev. 19. 15. word is Christs command for the accomplishment of his minde and Every word that proceedeth out of his mouth returneth not till it hath accomplished that whereto it was sent 3. By his Spirit Our weapons saith the Apostle are not carnell His Spirit but spirituall mighty to throw downe strong holds Which serves sufficiently to detect the falsity of that doctrine that shrowds it selfe under and propagates it selfe by secular or civill authority The wed of the Lord which indeed is spirit and life hath a sufficiency in it selfe to defend it selfe and propagate it selfe from one family Towne City County or Kingdome to another which spirit is the powerfull operation of the word of God the spirit of truth Oh what is so strong as truth It is true Christ makes the weapons of the world to serve him but the weapons he hath approved and ownes and hath put into his souldiers hands to fight withall for the mannaging of the affaires and the subduing of the enemies of his spirituall Kingdome are on ly spirituall and not at all carnall Which we may see lively set forth where is said Christ sits on a white horse judging and making warre in righteousnesse who is cloathed with a Vesture dipt in bloud and his name is called the Word of God 9. The Lord Jesus is righteous in his warfare he is faithfull in rewarding Now by the rewards of Christ we must not understand Christs rewards that there is any excellency in the Creature as his owne which deserved these rewards but the reward is of grace of him that
owne bloud which is called the bloud of sprinkling which Christ poured forth when he suffered without the gate even his owne precious bloud which is the bloud of God This is he that came by water and bloud even Jesus Christ This was part of that new Song the 24 Elders sang when they fell downe before the Lambe saying Thou wast slaine and hast redeemed us by thy bloud even his bloud whose vesture was dipt in bloud Therefore Christs bloud is called the bloud of the Covenant of the everlasting Covenant But peradventure some will be ready to say who seeme to be very Object spirituall That that bloud that washes us is not the bloud poured forth upon the Crosse for that was spilt upon the ground but it is a spirituall bloud and therefore saith Christ He that eateth my body and drinketh my bloud shall never dye which seemes to imply some other bloud To which I answer 1. By the bloud of Christ we are to understand not onely the Sol. bloud sned forth from his side as a naturall eye might see it but the same bloud in the virtue of it which bloud is the sacrifice So he that drinketh Christs bloud partakes of the excellent benefit that redounds through Christs bloud which in due time I shall shew you more fully 2. By this word Bloud we must know the death of Christ to be concluded and his body included All Christs suffering center in one word namely his Bloud which holds forth all his sufferings upon the Crosse And therefore in the next place the Scripture declares this sacrifice 3. To be the offering up of his body Christ gave up his body to death to suffer all the wrath of man and to become an offering for sinne therefore It is his body Heb. 10. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Col. 1. 22. Isa 33. 10. John 10. 15. Acts 8. 53. 1 John 13. 16. Matth. 20. 28. it is called the offering of the body of Christ. So saith Peter he bare our sinnes in his owne body even in the body of his flesh By which body we are to understand himselfe his bloud for every one of these words are wound interchangably each in other Thus Christ gives his body to be eaten that is to say the fruit of the offering up his body he gives his body for us that the fruit of that body might redound to us 4. It is said He made his soule an offering for sinne The Lord Christ It is his soule offered up offered up the whole man body and spirit he loved not his life but poured forth his soule and underwent the whole curse wrath and vengeance of the most High in body and spirit 5. Christ sayes he layes downe his life for us yea he gave his life a It is the laying downe his life Rom. 5. 10. Col. 1. 22. Heb. 2. 9. 14. Heb. 9. 15. 1 Pet. 13. 18. 18. ransome for many In this word all the other are contained Therefore it is so often said in the Scriptures we are saved by his death and by his sufferings So that all these tearmes of Christ giving himselfe pouring forth his bloud giving his owne body making his soule an offering for sin laying downe his life dying and suffering for us are all one sacrifice one is diffused into all and all center in every one Chap. VIII Sheweth how often this Sacrifice was offered the place where and the time when it was offered THUS through the power and virtue of this sacrifice having declared what it is we come now to consider 1. How often this sacrifice was offered The Priests under the Law How often this Sacrifice was offered Heb. 9. 26. 28. Heb. 10. 10. 12. 14. 18. went into the holy place every year they offered sacrifice continually But our Jesus by one sacrifice hath done away sinne The multiplicity of the legall sacrifices argued their imperfection for those Priests daily ministring offered sometimes the same sacrifice which could never take away sinne but this Man saith the Spirit after he had offered one sacrifice for sinnes for ever sate downe on the right hand of God holding forth the worke was done that Christ might sit still needing no more offering And whereas it is said He sat down on Gods right hand it declares he had done his worke and the Father accepted it or else he should never have beene placed in the throne of victory at his Fathers right hand Christ was once and but once offered to beare the sinnes of many Many talke of Christs dying still in us and the like but indeed instead of exalting Christ as they pretend to do they ranke him onely in the Leviticall Priesthood and instead of holding forth his perfection they render him imperfect and quite contradict the aforenamed Scriptures 3. The place where Christ was offered deserves our consideration for it is not said in vaine that he suffered without the gate upon the The place where this sacrifice was offered Heb. 13. 12. Crosse and that betweene two theeves it shewes the descension of our Saviour into the lowest vilest contemptiblest estate and condition that could be Christ died at Jerusalem a City not in the heart but in Judea in the world I mind this the rather because some think the death of Christ at Jerusalem not at all to concerne them but they look for Christs death within them whereas in the Scriptures nothing is more cleare then this that Christs death at Jerusalem is the offering for sin not Christs death in any ones heart The Scriptures warrant no such kinde of language I confesse I know thus much that though Christ died at Jerusalem if the power virtue and efficacy of this death be not seated revealed and enjoyed in the heart a poore soule can take no comfort in it notwithstanding this is as certaine he that enjoyes not Christ in him as a fruit of that one offering at Ierusalem enjoyes him not at all The Scriptures often speake of our being dead with Christ that is to say being implanted into the likenesse of his death by being dead to sinne and to iniquity but no where speake of Christ being dead in us as the sacrifice by which we are saved If Christ be in us the body is dead not Christ because of sin and the spirit is alive because of righteousnesse Christs death hath a virtue in us namely destroying sinne and becoming a quickning spirit 4. Concerning the time of this sacrifice being offered In the fulnesse of time saith the Lord God sent forth his Son it was in the last The time when this sacrifice was offered dayes so called in respect of dispensation for now all under Moses and the Prophets vanished that Christ might come in and continue God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son who once in the end of the world appeared to put away sin
by the Sacrifice of himself that is to say in these last daies Christ appeared and offered up himselfe to put an end to all other offerings and to put away sin This Christ did in the daies of Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas the High-priest which was many yeares since But I know some are ready to object and say How can this be For Object he was a Lambe slaine before the foundation of the World which if true how is it that he was slain in time at Jerusalem except he was often slaine I Answer It is very true that Christ was slain but once according Sol. to the Scriptures and that in time in the end of the world and yet as true if truely understood that hee was slaine before the foundation of the World Which I shall demonstrate clearly from the Scriptures To see the truth clearly Wee must consider Christ Jesus in his 1 Pet. 1 20. death 1. In the decree of God and so he was fore-ordained before the Christ slain by the decree of God foundation of the World And all things were present before the Lord before they had being in reference to us they were in the decree councel and purpose of the Lord so was the Lord Christ in Gods decree and councel before the World He calleth things that are not as though they were What are only actually alone with us in time were truely present with him before all time who is not included in any time 2. In the vertue of his death and so he was slain before the foundation The vertue of Christs death was before the foundation of the World of the world Christs death had an influence into the times past as well as times to come therefore called The blood of the Covenant Now we must know that there was a Covenant made between God and Christ wherein it was agreed that Christ should die in time and the vertue of that death which was from eternity in the Eye of the Father should speak for all his generation in all ages therefore the Fathers of old believed not in a Christ already then come but to come even in the flesh and therefore God led them by the hand to look to a Christ to come through many Types and Sacrifices which when Christ came all ceased Christs death was that price that was laid down for all his generation in all ages and this is Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever 3. We are to consider Christs actuall death which was accomplisht Christ actually died in time by the Jewes therefore saith the Apostle The same Jesus whom ye have crucified hath GOD Raised up and thus was Christ manifest in the last times Jerusalem was not actually alwaies Pilate not alwaies for we know that State City and those persons had a begining and ending no more did Christ die actually before the World was that he might dye hee took upon him flesh and was made like to us which is only done in time for we first are in the Wombe then brought forth encrease and dye so did he yet notwithstanding the vertue of Christs death through the will of God is as great as if hee had actually suffered before the World was which he did not but only once in the end of the World And yet is Christ a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck Christ died once and dyed no more yet the benefit remaines for ever So that as the Sacrifice is fully accepted by the Father who views it since it was offered so it was accepted by him that saw it before it was offered for all things that God doth before us in time which time the Scriptures tels abondantly himselfe hath made ordered and disposed which time is that space wherein things are done successively hee saw liked ordered and decreed should be before time was Chap. IX Wherein is shewne how Christ offered up himself and the true nature of that Offering 5 I am now to proceed and shew you how Christ offered up himselfe How Christ offered up himself unto GOD which I shall demonstrate these two waies First By the power of the eternall Spirit This Sacrifice was no Christ offered up himself by the Spirit ordinary one it was his owne body therefore the power must be sutable which was the Spirit of God that did sustaine him enable him to dye and raised him from the dead therefore saith Christ I 1 Tim. 3. 16. 1 Pet. 3. 18. lay down my life and I have power to take it up againe therefore is he said to be justified in the Spirit and quickned by the spirit That Eternall Spirit that dwelt in him suffered him not to lye in the grave For it was impossible he should bee held of death that was filled with the fulnesse of GOD in whom the Eternall Spirit was Secondly Christ died in the body of his flesh It was impossible the Christ died in simple Word of God die therefore the word was made flesh For as the body of his flesh much as the Children were pertakers of flesh and blood Christ himselfe tooke part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death so he in the flesh abolished the enmity therefore it is said God was manifest in the flesh in reference to his death and justified in the Spirit in reference to his resurrection Therefore saith Peter Christ Eph. 2. 16. Col. 1. 22. 1 Tim. 3. 16. 1 Pet. 3. 18. 4. 1. suffered for sins the just for the unjust being put to death in the flesh A fleshly body was prepared by God for Christ to suffer in and so he gives them his flesh a sacrifice for sin 6. Thus through the guidance of God I am now come to speak of the nature of this Sacrifice which I have discovered to be the Lord Jesus his flesh body and blood offered upon the Crosse at Jerusalem in the end of the world by the eternall Spirit for sin The excellency of its nature by a six fold demonstration First From the purity of it Under the Law their offerings A pure Sacrifice Levit. 1. 3. 10. Mal. 1. 7 8 9. must be without blemish therefore the Lord reproves the People for that they brought that which was torne and the lame and the sick saying thus Ye brought an offering should I accept this of your hands saith the Lord which is as much as if he should have said I the Lord delight not in but abhorre lame blinde imperfect offerings I must have one without blemish But now seeing all these unblemishable Lambs c. under the Law could not take away sin either a Sacrifice without spot and blemish must be found who is sufficient to take 10. Joh. 1. 29. 36. Heb. 9. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 19. away sin or else sin must remain therefore the Lord Christ steps in Wherefore when he cometh into the World he saith Sacrifice and Offerings