us seeing they are continually as you say if all that Christ can aske is lesse yea far lesse then the service he hath done to God comes to our lives pardon salvation if these be not enough but too small a requitall as you affirme p. 244. there is no ground or reason justice or equitie that Christ should for ever aske and pray before he or we can have it especially if we consider God teacheth us to give to others their due without a continuall asking yea before they aske to pay and pray comes not freely off 5. Because the Father himselfe loveth us his heart is as much for our happinesse as Christs is therefore Christ need not pray to God to love us the reason is rendred by Christ Joh. 16. 26 27. Joh. 3. 16. Eph. 1. 3. 5. 9. 11. The Spirit of the Lord doth not nor need not helpe us to make requests to be loved to be justified saved from the punishment of sinne these things are already done onely to know it not or more fully to know it Christs prayer John 17. is to keepe us from evill and we are to pray for many things though not to be loved c. 6. If Christ by his death had fully satisfied for our sinnes as you confesse and that at Christs Resurrection God gave Christ an acqâ—â—â—â—nce for all our sinnes a discharge p. 103. to 107. And that Justification gives title to eternall life Rom. 5. 18. p. 161. and that by Christs Resurrection our justification is made irrevocable for ever p. 103. Then there is no need of any intercession it is safe and sure there is no danger there needs no care or feare because it s done and past recalling he dyed as a publique person he rose as a publique person and there is a formall legall irrevocable act of Justification of us passed and inrolled in the Court of heaven between Christ and God in his being justified we were justified in him so that thereby our justification is made past recalling p. 286. If so there is no need of Christs praying and intreating in his person in glory for us He saith Intercession is a praying for us in heaven otherwise the salvation by his death were not perfect the performance of that part in heaven is the perfection of it p. 189. The vertue of his bloud with prayers in the heavens makes atonement by both p. 180. Bloud hath the loudest cry of all things else in the eares of the Lord as Judg. 12. 13. Gen. 4. 10. Christs bloud cryeth louder then Abels p. 218. 249. 251. Rev. 9. 6. Christs bloud cryeth for pardon p. 250. If his righteousnesse be put into the opposite ballance with all our sinnes will carry it by meere righteousnesse and equitie p 246 247. Ans Then that cry is enough and another needlesse then his righteousnesse is enough and there is no need of more you answer and contradict your selfe you deny the sufficiency and perfection of Christs righteousnesse and adde something to it to make atonement and so deny Christs death to be sufficient to perfect us contrary to Heb. 10. 10. 14. and so piece it out to make it up but if it be by both one is not sufficient to doe it nor is it by the offering of himselfe and in another place yee extoll it beyond all bounds T. G. God hath two attributes Justice and free grace the first is satisfied by bloud the latter by intreaty p. 192. Free grace must be sought too and intreated by Christ p. 193. Favour and intreaty to effect it p. 175. Ans 1. If Justice be satisfied there is no more required 2. You lessen the glory and freedome of free love That love it selfe need to be satisfied or was ever unsatisfied that it ever needed any intreaty I remaine unsatisfied tell me in what place in the Bible may I reade that free grace the free love of God was ever to be satisfied or to be intreated or that intreaty is any satisfaction at all T. G. The greater the person Christ the sooner he will prevaile p. 15. All matters of intercession are carried by way of favour if he should deny him any thing he should deny himselfe which God can never doe Eph. 1. 6. The beloved of the Lord 2 Sam. 12. 24. p. 335. Ans If Christ and the Elect are one tell me which is the greatest the Elect are a piece of himselfe flesh of â—is flesh and bone of his bone We are not onely in favour and so shall ever be but we are in union with God and one with him thy Maker is thy Husband Isa 54. 5. Christ saith I goe to my Father and to your Father and to my God and your God Yee are of God little Children they are one with God and God is one with them John 4. 4. John 10. 30 31. We have favour and interest with God we may have boldnesse Heb. 10. 19. We are well we are healed and delivered from the curse Christ hath destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devill Heb. 2. 14 15. He brought Sonnes to Glory Heb. 2. 10. Having loved his own Joh. 17. The Elect are his own and God loves them T. G. His obedience can never be requited p. 245. Ans What not by God he obeyed as man aud it is sufficiently requited the divine being cannot be beholding to the humane T. G. Salvation is as free as if Justice had not been satisfied p. 193. Ans It s so to us but not to Christ he paid a great price for it T. G. Obs We are saved over and over p. 175. Ans That which is more then enough is needlesse Obj. Christs favour with the Father and intercession alone might have procured pardon for us but it was Gods will to have Justice satisfied Ans If it had not been his will to make a Law and to have it satisfied we should never have needed neither favour nor Saviour But you say those words of Christ viz. I say not that I will pray the Father for you Joh. 16. is such a speech as Christ used Joh. 5. 45. I will not accuse you to the Father he insinuates that he will as we say I doe not love you p. 279 280. Ans This your exposition teacheth us not to beleeve what Christ saith and that his words are not truth that he doth not meane as he saith but the quite contrary and that Christ would not have us thinke that he meaneth as he saith Christ saith Doe not thinke that I will accuse you to the Father Joh. 5. 45. Yet you say he insinuateth that he will By this rule I may say when God saith Thou shalt not commit adultery he would not have us thinke he meaneth so these words insinuate that we may Is not this the same I wonder at your rashnesse vanitie and boldnesse An Answer to a Treatise intituled Tbe Doctrine of the Antinomians in Answer to Doctor Crisps seven Sermons by Steven Geree
lovers and rest content in Christ alone The soules answer to Christ 16. Behold thou art all faire my beloved My beauty is not mine but thine it all belongs to thee take thee the praise thereof for thou art onely beautifull I desire to see the King in his beauty for thou art glorious in thy beauty Psal 45. 2 3. Psal 115. 1. Psal 90. 17. Isa 30. 18. Psal 27. 4. thou art my glory Isa 45. 24. Yea pleasant Christ is very pleasant comfortable amiable and delightfull in him is all pleasantnesse Song 7. 6. 4. 16. Pro. 16. 24. I sat downe under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet unto my taste Song 2. 3. Christ is that tree under which we have protection and defence and dwell safely and quietly no heat can scorch us sit we rest in Christ we goe no further the fruits of his death are sweet unto my taste they not onely smeell sweet Song 4. 11. but taste sweet there are no fruits so sweet as the fruits of his death Song 5. 1. Also our bed is greene Viz. fruitfull and flourishing communion with Christ in the bed of love causeth spirituallnesse fruitfulnesse they increase in good workes inward and outward to God and man such cannot be barren Psal 92. 13 14. 2 King 6. 2. 5. Song 4. 2. 〈◊〉 is none barreâ— among them Song 6. 6. See Song 8. 12. 1â— The beameâ— of 〈◊〉 house The rafters of our house which is the Church of Christ 1 Tiâ— 3. 15. Heb. 3. 6. 〈…〉 A Cedar is a tall tree full of sap Psal 104. 16. It s a tree that grows well it s a tree of worth and of great use and a rare and excellent tree Excellent as Cedars Song 5. 15. It s a sound tree it s no pâ—thy nor rotten tree it holds forth what the matter of the Church of God should be choice matter excellent Saints the Candlesticks were made of pure gold 1 King 1. 49. See Rev. 1. 20. Cedars many Cedars make an house Our galeries The galeries are â—igher then other parts of the house so are those that are the Teachers above the rest in honour c. the King is held in his galery Song 7. 5. Christ is most seene in his galeries they are his galeries where he walkes the galeries are on the outside of the house and seene by those abroad they declare the truth to them that are without Are brutaine trees or fit tree Psal 104. 17. The brutaine trees are of a sweet and pleasant smell it holds forth that those that teach the truth should smell best their conversations holy and sweet not of those whose practise make them stinke The smell of thy garments is like Lebanon Song 4. 11. It holds forth their sweet gifts and excellent knowledge in the truth of Christ who teach Christ they are to teach truth with speech comely Song 4. 3. and comfortably to the beloved of the Lord. Psalme 16. THis Psalme is a Prophesie of Christ David speaks concerning him see Acts. 25. to 35. 13 35. This Psalme is a golden Jewell it declares the riches of love to the sonnes and daughters of Christ their exceeding safe and happy estate in which is great consolation Vers 1. Preserve me O God There is no preservation in any thing but in God Preserve me Christ in the dayes of his flesh put up strong cryes and supplications to his Father Joâ— 17. For in thee doe I put my trust There is no trust to be put in any thing but in God 2. I put my trust Christ as he was man had faith and it was in God Gal. 2. Thou art my Lord Christ in acknowledging him honoureth the Father yea Christ is equall with him My goodnesse Christs goodnesse was of and from himselfe therefore his own Goodnesse Jesus Christ is full of goodnesse Col. 2. 3. therefore all that Christ hath done must needs be exceeding good and excellent in this is our happinesse and comfort Extendeth not to thee Appertaineth not to God God is perfect and infinite therefore he is not capable of any addition of goodnesse this is his perfection 3. But to the Saints Those that are made so by me they had no goodnesse of themselves their rigâ—tâ—ousnesse is of me Isa 45. 17. Extendet to tâ—e Saints It reacheth to theâ— there is no sonne or daughter in any place to whom my goodnesse doth not reach they have interest in it it s theirs and they shall injoy the fruit of it Goodnesse The Saints goodnesse is in Christ This goodnesse of Christ was not for every person in the world but to the Saints that aâ—e in the earth Saints Christs goodnesse made them Saints Vse Oh Saint admire the riches of Christ and his love to thee rest satisfied in Christs goodnesse which is thine rejoyce in it admire at it be thankfull for it walke sutable to it and improve this goodnesse against all thy doubts and feares c. To the excellent The Saints are excellent to Christ yea all of them are alike excellent beautifull glorious unspeakeable infinite excellent with the excellency of Christ they are more excellent then the whole creation of heaven and earth Christ calls them excellent and esteemes them so Eph. 5. 27. Oh Saint esteeme thy selfe as Christ doth to be excellent in his excellency for thy beauty it is perfect through my comelinesse I have put upon thee saith the Lord Ezek. 16. 14. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soule shall be joyfull in my God for he hath clothed me with the garment of salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousnesse Isa 61. 10. Use Oh glorious Saint the world knowes not thy worth therefore it esteems thee not yet slight not thy selfe because Christ hath made thee excellent In whom is all my delight Jesus Christ is fully pleased and contented with his All my deligâ—t An infinite delight Christ takes in his All One Saint is more esteemed by Christ then the whole creation of heaven and earth for those things have not any of his delight the Saints have it all the quintessence of all fulnesse Use O precious Saint delight thy selfe in God rest satisfied in him in his love and the delight he takes in thee Vers 4. Their sorrowes shall be multiplied that hasten after another God those that have another God they shall have sorrow and increases in griefe those that are not mine their drink offering of bloud will I not offer nor take up their names into my lips they are not in so happy a condition they shall finde the contrary from Christ he will not once name their names to God I will not be made an offering for them their offerings of bloud their costly services shall be rejected they shall finde no acceptance they are in a miserable condition Vers 5. Mine inheritance and lot Given me of my Father alotted to me Christs lot and inheritance is his people The Lords portion is his people
Deut. 22. 9. Mine Christ hath an interest in his people and he owns it he is not ashamed to own them to be his the Eject are his part The Saints are not their own but Christs 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. 1 Cor. 3. 23. Use Seeing the Saints are Christs they are to be at his disposing and not their owne they are to serve him and doe all for him Inheritance of my Cup Christs people are his by purchase Let this Cup passe from me they cost a great price his precious bloud 1 Pet. 1. 19. Use He that payd so much for his will not loose them nor leave them Heb. 13. 5 6. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance The Saints have God for their portion The Lord is my portion saith my soule Lam. 3. 24. Thou art my portion O Lord Psal 119. 57. The portion of a childe of God is infinite because God is infinite God esteems nothing too much for his in that he declares himselfe to be theirs The Saints are infinitly happy in having such a portion Jer. 10. 16. Happy is that people that is in such a case yea happy is that people whose God is the Lord Psal 144 15. Use The Saints portion can never be spent nor lost God is my port on for ever Psal 73. 26. None are so rich as a Saint they shall never want The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want Psal 23. 1. There is no want to them that feare him they shall not want any good thing Psal 34. 9 10. Use O rich and happy Saint admire free grace that hath so abounded to thee be content with thy portion for richer thou canst not be rejoyce in thy portion for it will be a full supply to thee They shall rejoyce in their portion Isa 61. 7. Be thankfull for thy portion for it was freely given thee Hos 14. 4. Esteeme not any thing too much for him who esteemes nothing too much for thee be content in every condition because thou art an heire of glory improve thy portion and live richly upon it Thou maintainest my lot God hath undertaken to preserve the Saints and he doth it Christs inheritance can never be lost because it is maintained by God The Saints safety and preservation depends not upon themselves nor any thing below God but upon God who maintains and upholds them The Saints are sure to persevere its impossible they should misse of glory because they are maintained by God Vers 6. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places Christs lot and inheritance is his Saints who are delightfull and precious unto him Yea I have a goodly heritage Christ is wonderfully taken with the Saints comelinesse it s a maine part of the excellency of Christs inheritance that it cannot be kept from him spent nor lost Goodly heritage Christ hath a high esteeme of his faire unto me it pleaseth me well Thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee Song 4. 7. They are without spot or wrinkle Eph. 5. 25. to 28. 1 Tim. 1. 7. Psal 51. 5. Rev. 19. 8. Song 2. 10. Use O happy Saint have thee a high esteeme of Christ he is satisfied in thee be thou satisfied in him rejoyce in nothing else but him Psal 31. 21. and sing praises to him 7. I will blesse the Lord Declare his name Who hath given me counsell Counselled me made me wise see 1 Pet. 1. 11. Luk. 24. 25. My raines also instruct me Heart teacheth see Pro. 16. 23. In the night seasons in the darke seasons 8. I have set the Lord alwayes before me I have proposed I beheld before Acts 1. 25. He is at my right hand Supplied Acts 2. 25. God powerfully assists and comforts me I shall not be moved that I be not moved Acts 2. 25. 9. Therefore my heart is gladâ— in it I rejoyce And my glory my tongue Acts 2. 26. Rejoyceth uttereth joyfull things My flesh My body Also shall rest in hope Safely securely in confidence to rise the third day Mat. 12. 40. 10. For thou wilt not leave Me in the power of death Acts 2. 24. 31. 13. 34 35. My soule My life Job 2. 6. In bell In the grave he speaks of the Resurrection that he should rise Acts 2. 31 32. or pit Psal 55. 24. Eccle. 9. 10. the corrupting ditch Psal 16. 10. Psal 57. 7. Neither wilt thou suffer Wilt not permit Thy holy One Me that am holy free from sinne To see corruption To perish Acts 13. 36 37 but that I shall rise Acts 2. 31 32. 11. Thou wilt shew me Make me to know or hast made me know The path of life The way of life for me to dye and rise is the way to life Acts 2. 28. Mat. 18. 9. Mark 9. 47. Our workes are not the way or path of life Christ is the way Joh. 14. 56. Yet Saints are to walke and doe walke in good works In thy presence Before thy face or presence The wicked put from thy presence 2 Thes 1. 9. Is fulnesse of joyes Thou wilt fill me with joy before thy face or with thy countenance Acts 2. 28. Gods face or presence is our joy Exod. 33. 14 15 16. At thy right hand The place of honour in the highest glory Psal 17. 15. Exalted Acts 2. 33 34. Are pleasures Pleasant joyes For ever more Eternally Mat. 25. 33 34. 36. A divine Cordiall for a fainting Soule Psal 89. 28. My Covenant shall stand fast with him THis Psalme holds forth Jesus Christ of whom David was a type and figure as Acts 2. 30. This Psalme containes the foundation of mans happinesse and the certainty thereof We are to consider first what a Covenant is secondly whose Covenant it is thirdly the nature and substance of this Covenant fourthly with whom it is made For the first the word Covenant imports a mutuall agreement of two parties to performe each of them the things agreed upon for it cannot be a Covenant unlesse there be something to be done on both parties and therefore a promise differs from a Covenant in that a promise may tie one partie onely as all free and absolute promises doe but a conditionall promise differs nothing from the nature of a Covenant For the second it is Gods Covenant as appeares by these words My Covenant For the third the nature and substance of this Covenant its spirituall and containes principall things spirituall salvation eternall life happinesse and glory For the fourth this Covenant is made with Jesus Christ which appeares by these words My covenant shall stand fast with him I have made a covenant with my chosen I have sworne unto David my servant thy seed will I establish for ever vers 3. I have found David my servant with my holy Oile I have anointed him vers 20. With whom my hand shall be established my arme also shall strengthen him ver 21. The condition on Christs part is comprehended in these words that he should be made a sacrifice
for sinne the condition on Gods part was that then Christ should see his seed and prolong his dayes and the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand Isa 53. 10 11 12. Obs The summe is that the Covenant of grace life and salvation stands onely betwixt God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who hath undertaken to performe all that was necessary for the salvation of his Elect. That the Covenant of grace was made with Jesus Christ appeares by these Reasons Reas 1. Because the word him in the singular number noteth onely one Person My Covenant shall stand fast with him The Elect are many therefore it s not made with them in this sence I here speake for there is a difference between the word him and the word them he saith My faithfulnesse and my mercy shall be with him c. 24. 2. Because Christ is called the Covenant because it hath dependance on him I will give thee for a Covenant of the people Isa 42. 6 7. 49. 9. The Elect are not called a Covenant I grant they share in the priviledges of it but it s in relation to Christ and as they are considered in him hence it is God saith he will shew them his Covenant Psal 25. 14. to comfort them with it 3. Christ onely is ingaged to performe the conditions of this Covenant because he hath undertaken it he hath sealed confirmed and fulfilled the Covenant with his bloud therefore his bloud is called the bloud of the Covenant Heb. 13. 20. Our bloud is not the bloud of the Covenant 4. It was of necessity that this Covenant should be made with Christ and him onely because he alone was able to keepe the conditions of it it required a great strength to keep this Covenant therefore the Lord saith I have laid helpe upon one that is mighty thou bâ—st a mighty arme strong is thy hand vers 19. 13. We are weake even weaknesse it selfe utterly unable to effect such a worke it had been in vaine to have laid so great a work upon man yea fallen man whose strength is weaknesse and his Râ—ghtâ—oâ—snesse no better then a menstruâ—â—us cloth Isa 46. 5. If man had been to performe any of the conditions of this Covenant it had not been a covenant of grace but a covenant of works for if it be of works is not of grace Rom. 4. 4 5. Nor were the covenant of grace free and absolute if it were conditionall for that covenant is not absolute which depends upon any condition to be by us performed but to us the covenant is free and absolute and altogether unconditionall on mans part therefore it s a covenant of grace it cost Christ deare his very life that it might cost us nothing 6. If this covenant had been made with us and so had depended upon our obedience then might our sin have broke the covenant and so deprived us of salvation which cannot be for sin cannot deprive any of the Elect of salvation for God saith My covenant shall stand fast with him his seed also will I make to indure for ever if his Christ children forsâ—ke my Law and walke not in my judgements if they â—â—eake my statutes and keepe not my commandements what then then will I visit their transgressions with a rod and their iniquitie with stripes Neverthelesse my loving kindnesse will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulnesse to faile my Covenant will I not breake nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Psal 89. 28. to 38. These words doe exceeding fully and clearly declare that the covenant of grace depends not upon our good duties nor can be broken by our sins 7. If the covenant of grace had depended upon our actings towards God then had the counsell of God appeared to be mutable which is contrary to Heb. 6. 17. 8. If this covenant had depended upon our keeping the conditions we could not be certain of our salvation because we might not performe the conditions at least greatly doubt whether wee had performed them or no for if Adam in his greatest strength fell how shall we in our weaknesse stand 9. If we had been to performe the conditions to pertake of the covenant of grace then could not wee have strong consolation because wee should be under care and feare least we should come short Now God to free us from care and feare herein he made sure the covenant with Jesus Christ for him to keepe therefore to make it sure and to free us from all doubt he confirmed it by an Oath the reason why he did so is rendred that we might have strong consolation wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heires of promise the infallibility of 〈◊〉 Counsell confirmed it by â—n Oath that by two immutable things oath and promise wee might have strong consolation Heb. 6. 17 18. Our consolation is farre more stronger that all is finished and confirmed by Christ then to have so weighty a matter upon which depends our eternall happinesse to depend upon the good acts of a weake uncertaine and vaine man whose breath is in his nostrels 10. Lastly it tends most to the advantage to the riches and glory of Gods grace and abasing man to establish the covenant with Christ so as to leave none of this worke for man to doe for if man were to doe the least part of that worke on which depended our eternall happinesse in stead of giving God the glory we would boast Therefore to prevent this he hath established the covenant with Christ who hath wrought our works for us and hath not left any of this worke for us to doe see Isa 26. 18. Obs The covenant of grace is unutterable it s a fast and sure covenant it s an everlasting covenant it cannot be broke therefore all the Elect shall certainly have happinesse and glory We have the word of the Lord to confirme this for God saith My Covenant shall stand vers 28. My Covenant will I not breake nor after the thing that is gone out of my lips v. 34. The Covenant of my peace shall not be removed Isa 45. 10. I have said Mercy shall be built up for ever yea he hath sworne it Once have I swornely my holinesse that I will not lie unto Christ Psal 89. 35. God is not as man that be should repent faithfull is he that hath promised which will also doe it Use Inform. This shews they mistake who conceive the covenant is made with man or that reach faith to be a condition of the covenant 2. That the happinesse of the children of Christ depends upon the stability of the covenant seeing that is sure and unalterable therefore their happinesse is sure and unalterable Nothing shall separate us c. Sin cannot nor shall not Rom. 8. 38 39. 3. That our eternall happinesse doth not depend upon our works nor upon our selves but upon Jesus Christ in what he hath done for us 4. That