as he is to mourn for this very thing that Christ was pierced and crucified to remove the guilt and the obligation to satisfactory punishment Zac. 12.10 And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his onely son Yea it s so the believers sin even when he believeth that his originall corruption is pardoned yet it dwelleth in him having the compleat essence and being of sin so as if he should say he had no sin and nothing in him contrary to the holy Law of God he should deceive himself and the truth should not be in him 1 Joh. 1.8 Yea let him be a Paul Not under the Law but being dead to the Law Rom. 7.6 as touching all actuall obligation to eternall death yet in regard of the reall essence of sin and proper contrariety that sin hath to Gods righteous Law he cryeth out ver 14. For we know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall and sold under sin 17. Now it is no more I sanctified and pardoned I who am in Christ Rom. 8.1 dead to the Law Rom. 7.6 freed from condemnation that do sinne but sin that dwelleth in me If there were no sinfull I to speak so and no corrupt self in Paul which breaketh out into sin and this indwelling sin were as really in its essence and its being removed and taken close out of Paul as money taken really out of a place is no more left in that place then if it had never been there surely then justified Saints were as clean as these who are up before the Throne clothed in white and when Paul saith It is no more I that do sin but sin that dwelleth in me he should speak contradictions and say It is no more I that do sin but it is I that do sin there should be in justified Paul No Law in his members warring against the Law of his minde as he saith Rom. 7.23 No body of death leading him captive to the Law of sin vers 2â— and making him wretched vers 24. No flesh lusting against the spirit hindering the regenerated to do the good that they would as Paul speaketh Gal. 5.17 There should be no members on earth to be crucified as it is Col. 3.5 No old man to be put off no corruption no deceitfull lusts in us to bee abated as we are charged Eph. 4.22 23. No fleshly lusts in us which warreth against the soul as 1 Pet. 2.11 No weight no sin that doth so easily beset us to be laid aside by the regenerated and justified who are to run their race with patience contrary to the Spirit of God speaking the contrary Heb. 12.1 2. Yea there shall be no originall sin remaining in the justified person which can be named sin nothing in them lusting against the spirit nothing to be mortified crucified resisted nothing to â—e work for the grace of God nothing to be a field and plat of ground to be laboured on by the spirit by faith nothing to be the seed and rise of humiliation the sinner may go to heaven and be nothing in Christs debt to help him against indwelling sin for that ghuest is so taken away as money that was in a place and is every penny really removed to another place yea it s a flat contradiction say Antinomians to be a pardoned soul and yet to have sin dwelling in the soul. Positi 2. The guilt of sin and sin it self are not one and the same thing but far different things that I may prove the point let the tearms be considered There be two things in sin very considerable 1. Macula the blot defilement and blacknesse of sin which I conceive is nothing but the absence and privation of that moralâ— rectitude the want of that whitenesse innocencie and righteousnesse which the holy and clean Law of the Lord requireth to be in the actions inclinations powers of the soul of a reasonable creature 2. There is the guilt of sin that is somewhat which issueth from this blot and blacknesse of sin according to which the person is liable and obnoxious to eternall punishment this is the debt of sin the Law-obligation to satisfaction passive for sin just as there be two things in debt so these two are in sin for when a man borroweth money and profusely and lavishly spendeth it this is unjustice against his brother in matter of his goods and a breach of the eighth Commandment Again this breach in relation to policie to the Magistrate and the Law of the land putteth this broken man under another relation that he is formally a debter and so it is just that he either pay the money or suffer for this act of unjustice and satisfie the Law of the fifth Commandment which is that he satisfie the Law and the Magistrate the publike Father tutor of a wronged and oppressed brother Now here be two things in debt 1. An unjust thing a hurting of our brother in his goods this is a blot and a thing privatively contrary to justice 2. A just thing a guilt a just debt according to which it is most just that the broken man either pay or suffer Now these two as all contraries do Faciunt numerum they make a number as just and unjust must be two things and two contrary things I know there be cavils and subtilties of School-men touching the blot or Macula peccati and Reatus the guilt of sin but this is the naked truth which I have declared Some say the blot of sin is that uncleannesse of sin which is washed away by the blood of the Lord Jesus and this is nothing but the very guilt of sin which is wholly removed in Justification But I easily answer The blot of sin hath divers relations and these contrary one to another As 1. There is the blot of sin in relation to the holy Law as it is a privation of the rectitude and holinesse that the spirituall Law requireth and it is formally sin and not the guilt of sin in which consideration as nothing removeth blindnesse but seeing eyes or deafnesâ—e but hearing ears so nothing formally removeth sin but only the perfect habit of accomplished sanctification and so the blot of sin Macula is not that which is formally removed in justification but only in perfected sanctification 2. The blot of sin in relation to God as offended and injured putteth on the habit of guilt and so it is washed away in the Fountain opened to the house of David and formally removed in justification but now it is not formally considered as sin but according to that which is accidentall in sin to wit obligation to punishment which may be and is removed from sin the true essence and nature of sin being saved whole and intire Hence sin hath divers considerations 1. As sin is contrary to the righteousnesse and holinesse of the Law it is formally sin and this essentiall form and life
Nay but if thou canst pray thou dost set the whole wheels of Omnipotency on work for the building of the Lords house in which regard the Prayer of a sick and poor man shall do more in War for the Cause of God then twenty thousand men It was not Ahasuerus nor the grace that Esther found in the eyes of the King that saved the whole Church of the Iews from destruction but the Prayers of Esther and her maids It s true an Angel broght Peter out of Prison Act. 12. But what stirred that wheel in Heaven vers 5. Here 's the Cause Prayer was made without ceasing to God for Peter by the Church Quod est causa causae est etiam causa causati Prayer Prayer can put a reeling and tottering on King and Court Pope Prelate and Babylon we are to pray the King of the bottomlesse pit the man of sin the graven Images of Apostate Rome out of the world Prayer can yoke all the swords in Europe against the Whore every one who hath the Spirit of Adoption though poor and rejected of men by prayer have powerfull influence on all the Nations of the earth on all Europe on the ends of the earth on the hearts of the Jews on Turkes and Indians Prayer can reach as far as Omnipotency accompanied by the wise decree of our Lord And the poorest Girle or Maid that can pray doth lend a strong lift to heighten the footstool of Christs Royall Throne children and poor Maids by Prayer may put the Crown on Christs head and hold up his Throne and may store and increase heaven by praying Thy Kingdome come and inlarge Hell and fill the pits with the dead bodies of Christs enemies and may by prayer binde Kings in Fetters chaine up and confine Devils subdue Kingdoms Great is thy Faith For the clearing of these words we are to consider three points 1. What Faith is 2. What a great Faith is 3. Why he saith thy Faith appropriating it to the woman Now of Faith I shall speak 1. A word of preparations for Faith 2. Of the grounds and necessary motives to Faith 3. Of the Ingredients of Faith 4. Of the sinners warrants to believe 5. Of divers sorts of false and ill rooted Faiths 1. There be some preparations which go before Faith 1. Faith is a seed of heaven it is not sowen by the good husbandman in unplowed and in Fallow ground Christ soweth not amongst thornes we are builded on the Faith stones are hewen rubbish removed before one stone be laid 2. Every act of Grace in God is an act of Omnipotency and so requireth not time or succession God might have set up the frame of the world in all its fulnesse with lesse then one thought or act of his will put forth by Omnipotency yet did our Lord subject the acts of creating the first world to the rule of time and to a circle of evening and morning nights and dayes so doth the Lord set up a new world of Faith in a soul void of Faith by degrees There 's a time when there 's neither perfect night nor perfect day but the twilight of the morning and God not withstanding created the morning no lesse then the noon day Sun There 's a half Summer and a half Spring in the close of the Spring which God made The Embrio or birth not yet animated is neither seed onely nor a man-child only so is a Convert in his first framing neither perfectly untamed corruption because there 's a crack and a throw in the iron sinew of the neck nor is he a thorow child of light but as we say in the dead-throw in the place of breaking forth of children as Hosea speaketh A child with his head come forth of the womb and no more and so half born only so is the Convert while he is in the making not taken off Christs wheels half in the borders of hell and looking a far off at the Suburbs of Heaven not far from the Kingdom of Heaven But 2. This bridge over the water between the kingdom of darknesse and the state of saving Grace hath no necessary connexion with that Kingdom of the Son of Gods love but such as it hath from the sole and meer decree of the free Election of Grace and therefore many Reprobates may enter the Bridge and never go along to the other Banke of the River God breaketh the Bridge this being the very division and parting of these two unsearchable wayes of Election and Reprobation yet so as the sin in cutting the bridge is the guilt of the Reprobate man As many births die in the breaking forth out of the womb divers Roses in the Bud are blasted and never see harvest through the fault of the seed not of the Sun 3. It s true the new creation and life of God is vertually Seminaliter in these preparations as the seed is a tree in hope the blossome an apple the foundation a Palace in its beginning so half a desire in the Non-converted is love sicknesse for Christ in the seed legall humiliation is in hope Evangelick Repentance and mortification But as the seed and the growing tree differ not gradually only but in nature specifically as a thing without life is not of that same nature and essence with a creature that hath a vegetative life and groweth so the preparatory good affections of desire hunger sorrow humiliation going before conversion differ specifically from those renewed affections which follow after The former being acts of Grace but not of saving grace which goeth along with the decree of Election of Grace and of like Latitude with it the latter being the native and connaturall fruits of the Spirit of which the Apostle speaketh Gal. 5.22.23 In which regard no man is morally and in regard of a divine promise such as this Do this and this and God shall bestow on you the Grace of conversion fitter and in a nearer disposition to conversion then another 1. Because we read not of any such promise in the Gospel 2. Because amongst things void of life all are equally void of life and there 's here no degrees of more or lesse life no intention no remission or flacking of the degrees of life for even as an Ape or an Horse are as equally no men as stones and dead earth are no men though an Ape or an Horse have life common to them with men which stones and earth have not yet they are equally as destitute of reason and an intellectual life which is the only life of a man as a man as stones and earth are So Saul only humbled by the terrours of the Law and sick of half raw desires of Christ is no lesse yet a creature void of the life of God then when he was in the highest pitch of obstinacy spitting out blood and murthers on the face of that Lord Jesus whom he persecuted and in this regard conversion is no lesse pure
to his house Why But thou shouldst go When old Jacob saw the Chariots â—nd Messengers that Prince Joseph his own son yet living had sent to fetch him His heart failed for joy Seest thou the Chariot of Pharaoh paved with love make then for the journey the home we have here is a taking lover Why But thou maist say I cannot stay here the King hath sent for me SERMON XIII OF Israel It was then a priviledged mercy that Christ was senâ— to the Jews 1. The Jew is the elder Brother and the Native heir of Christ Christ of their blood and house Rom. 1.2 3. Rom. 9.3 They were Christs first Bride Alas they killed their husband there 's a born Jew in Heaven in soul and body its sweet to have any relation to Christ. 2. The Catholick Covenant of Grace made with the great Sister the Church Universall was first laid down in pawn in their hand they put their hand first to the contract in subscribing the marriage contract Ier. 2.3 Israel was holy to the Lord and the first fruits of his increase O sweet the fallen race of mankinde was Christs corn-field and his wheat The Jews were the first sheaf of the field Deut. 7.6 They got Christs young love and to speak so the first handsell of Free Grace in a Church way 3. Christ in the Iews flesh yet not excluding Ruth Rahab and other Gentiles of the Blood-Royall acted the whole Gospel a born Iew Redeemed the lost world offered a sacrifice to God for sinners a born Iew is heir of all things is exalted a Prince to guide and rule all and shall judge Men and Angels 4. The Lord Christ in the flesh was first offered to them they had the first Gospel love Matth. 10.5 6. Act. 13.46 5. The Oracles of God was committed to them Rom. 3.1 Rom. 9.4 The Testator Christ his written will was in their keeping 6. God was their first Crowned King He gave Ethiopia and Egypt and Zeba a ransom for them and was their Law-giver 7. Every Male childe amongst the Jews did beaâ— somewhat of Christ in his flesh Col. 2.11 Wheâ— all the world was without Christ 8. Their land was Christs by a speciall typicall right God saith of it It s my land Christ was their Soveraigne Land-lord and they the great Kings Free-holders 9 The Lord never dwelt in a house made with hands in a Temple as amongst them having special respect to the true Temple Iesus Christ Ioh. 2.19 1. Let us pray our Elder sister home to Christ Cant. 8. They said We have a little sister and she hath no breasts what shall we doe for our sister in the day that she shall be spoken for Now we have a greater sister What shal we the Gentiles do for her There 's a day When ten men shall take hold out of all Nations of the skirt of a Jew saying we will goe with you we have heard that God is with you Zach. 8.21 2. It is the happinesse of our Land that we have a three-fold relation to Christ I meane these two Nations that we have avowed the Lord by a Nationall Testimony and the Nations are the publick Martyrs and witnesses of Christ in that they are made a field of blood for no other quarrell but because they desire to stand for Christ Truth against Antichrist sure in the intention of Papists now in Armes against us there is no cause of War but this only 2. That we have sworn that the Lord shal be our God in a Solemn Covenant 3. That we are honoured to build the Temple of the Lord and reform Religion O that we could see our debt and be thankfull 3. The Iewes had the morning market of Christ and they would not pay the rent of the Vineyard to the Lord thereof we have the after noon of Christ and know we what a mercy it is that our beloved feedeth amongst the Lillies till the day break and the shadowes fly away and that the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land God for our abuse of the Gospel hath sent amongst us the bloody Pursevants and Officers of his wrath men skilfull to destroy God is now in three Kingdomes arresting the Carcases of men we are owing much to God he will now have husbands and sons from us and leggs and armes of wounded and slain men from us for that rent we owe to the Lord of the vineyard for our contempt of the Gospell Sheep first a word of Sheep then of lost sheep I take no other reasons why the redeemed of the Lord are called sheep then are obvious in Scripture 1. The sheep are passive creatures and can do little for themselves so can believers in the work of their salvation as 1. They have not of themselves more knowledge of the saving way then sheep and so cannot walk but as they are taught and led Psal. 1â—9 33 Teach me O Lord Psal. 25.5 lead me in thy truth Like a blinde man holding out his hand to his guide so they Psal. 5.8 Lord lead me in thy righteousnesse 2. It s not common leading but the leading of children learning to go by an hold Hos. 11.1 When Ephraim was a childe I loved him 3. I taught Ephraim also to goe taking them by their armes but Ephraim like a childe knew not his leader But they know not saith the Lord that I healed them 3. Leading may suppose some willingnesse but we must be drawn Ioh. 6.44 No man can come to me except tht father draw him Cant. 1.4 Draw me we will run after thee 4. There is a word of speciall grace which is more then teaching leading drawing and that is leaning Cant. 8.5 Who is this that cometh up from the wildernesse leaning upon her beloved 5. There is a word yet more and that is bearing Luke 15.5 when the good shepherd hath found the lost sheep He layeth it on his shoulders with joy Esa. 4â— 3 Hearken to me O house of Iacob and all the remnant of the house of Israel which are born by me from the belly and carried from the gray haires so also Deut. 32.11 God beareth them on Eagles wings Grace grace is a noble Guide and Tutor 2. The life of sheep is the most dependent life in the world no such dependent Creatures as sheep all their happinesse is the goodnesse care and wisdom of their shepherd Wolves Lyons Leopards need none to watch over them Briers and Thornes grow there alone the Vine Tree the noble Vine is a tender thing and must be supported Esa 40.11 Christ must bear the weak Lambs in his bosome the Shepherds bosome his legs are the legs of the weak Lamb even the habit of Grace is a creature and no independent thing and so in esse in conservâ—ri in its creation in its preservation it dependeth on Christ Grace is as the new-born Bird its life is the heat and warmnesse of the body and wings of the
3. To make an opposition between Christ and his grace the fountain and the stream Ioh. 1.16 Tit. 1.14 1 Joh. 3.8 Obj. If the actions of grace be all turned upon this axle-tree of Gods gracious will what can I do when I am indisposed to do good Ans. If this be a rationall question then is no man condemned because he believeth not in the only begotten Son of God contrary to Ioh. 3.18 36. For Reprobates are finally indisposed to believe 2. Indisposition is our sin that we should be humbled for and Inke water cannot wash a blacked cloth sin excuseth not sin SERMON XV. 25. Then came she and worshipped him saying Lord help me CHrist had denyed her to be His but she wil not deny but Christ is hers See how a Believer is to carry himself toward Christ deserting frowning Christ first answered her not one word 2. He gave an Answer but to the Disciples not to the woman O dreadful Christ refuseth to give her one word that may go between her and Hell and dispair 3. The Answer that he giveth is sadder and heavier then no Answer it s as much As woman I have nothing to do with thee I quit my part of thee Yet she is patient 2. She believeth 3. She waiteth on a better answer 4. She continueth in praying 5. Her love is not abetted she cometh and adoreth 6 Acknowledgeth her own misery Lord help me And putteth Christ as God in his own room to be adored 7. She taketh Christ aright up and seeth the temptation to be a temptation 8. She runneth to Christ she came nearer to him and runneth not from him she claimeth to Christ though Christ had cast her off 1. Patient submission to God under desertion is sweet What though I saw no reason why I cry and shout and God answereth not 1. His comforts and his answers are his own free-graces he may doe with his own what he thinks good and grace is no debt Hear O Lord for thy own sake Dan. 9.19 2. Infinite Soveraignty may lay silence upon all hearts good Hezekiah Isa. 38.15 What shall I say he hath spoken unto me and himself hath done it It is an act of heaven I bear it with silence 2. She believeth Isa. 50.11 There 's a high and noble Commandment laid upon the sad spirit He that walketh in darknesse and seeth no light let him trust in the name of the Lord stay upon his God 2. Fill the field with faith double or frequent acts of Faith Psal. 22.1 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Two faiths are a double breast-work against the Forts of Hell 3. In the greatest extremity believe even as David in the borders of Hell Psal. 23.4 Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil it s a Litote I will believe good it s a cold and a dark shadow to walk at deaths right side Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him See Steven dying and believing both at once Christs very dead corps and his grave in a sort believing Ps. 16.9 My flesh also shall rest in hope How sweet to take Faiths back-band subscribed by Gods own hand into the cold grave with thee as Christ did vers 10. Thou wilt not leave my soul in grave 4. Faith saith sense is a Lier Fancy sense the flesh will say Job 16.13 His Archers compassed me round about he cleaveth my reins asunder and doth not spare and poureth out my gall on the ground but Faith saith ver 19. I have a friend in Heaven Also now my witnesse is in heaven Job 19.11 Sense maketh a lie of God He hath also kindled his wrath against me and taketh me for his enemy No Iob thou art the friend of God see how his Faith cometh above the water ver 25. I know that my friend by blood or my Redeemer liveth c. 3. She waiteth on in hope and took not the first nor second answer Hope is long breath 't and at mid-night prophâ—sieth good of God Mic. 7.9 Though I fall I shall rise again Jonah 2.4 Then I said I am cast out of thy sight yet I will look toward thy holy Temple There 's a seed of heaven in hope Iob 13. When God did hide his face from him ver 24. Yet ver 16. He also shall be my salvation There is a negative and over-clouded hope in the soul at the saddest time the believer dares not say Christ will never come again if he say it it s in hot blood and in haste and he wil take his word again Isa. 8.17 4. She continueth in praying She cryed Lord Son of David have mercy on me she has no Answer she cryeth again while the Disciples are troubled with her shouts she getteth a worse answer then no answer yet she cometh and prayeth we know the holy wilfulnesse of Jacob Gen. 32.26 I will not let thee go till thou blesse me rain calmeth the stormy wind to vent out words in a sad time is the way of Gods children Psal. 88.7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me 9. My eye mourneth by reason of my affliction And what then Lord I have called daily upon thee I have stretched out my hands to thee Psal. 22.2 Christ in the borders of Hell prayed and prayed again and died praying 5. She hath still love to Christ and is not put from the duty of adoring 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen yet ye love The deserted soul seeth little there must be love to Christ where there is 1. Faith in the dark Faith is with child of Love 2. Where the believer is willing that his pain his hel may be matter of praising of God Ps. 77.13 Who is so great a God as our God The Church was then deserted as the Psal. cleareth 6. She putteth Christ in his Chair of State and adoreth him the deserted soul saith bee what I will he is Iehovah the Lord confession is good in saddest desertion Iob 7.20 I have sinned what shall I do to thee O preserver of man Lam. 1.17 The seed of Iacob is in a hard case before God and under wrath v. 12 13 14. Yet v. 16. The Lord is righteous for I have sinned This maketh the soul charitable of God how sad so ever the dispensation be 7. She seeth it is a triall as is clear by her instant persuing after Christ after many repulses It s great mercy that God cometh not behinde backs and striketh not in the dark Psal. 77.10 And I said this is my infirmity he gathereth his scattered thoughts taketh himself in the temptation Its mercy 1. To see the temptation in the face some lie under a dumb a deaf temptation that wanteth all the five senses Cain is murthered in the dark at midnight with the temptation he knoweth not what it meaneth 2. Gods immediate hand is more to be looked at then any
hath influence in their guilt and contagion on beleevers 1. When they mourn not for them Gods displeasure should be our sorrow 2. When they stand not in the gap to turn away wrath Ez. 22.30 There were Isa. 59. Godly men that departed from ill v. 15. But Gods quarrell was that there was no intercessor in Fasting beleevers though pardoned may have on them a burden of the sins of three nations and be involved in that same wrath with them Nationall repentance is required of every one no lesse then personall Repentance who sorrows for the blood of Malignants and Rebels for their oaths mocking scoffing Massing The sins of the Land Idolatry Superstitious dayes vain Ceremonies c. have influence on a believers conscience in his approach to God But we are here to consider that Christ doth two great and contrary works at once 1. He humbleth the believing woman in reproaching her as a prophane Dog unworthy of the childrens bread that the Will may be more broken for beleeving And 2. He tryeth and tempteth her to see if she can by reproaches be taken off from Christ. A broken will is a broken heart for will is the iron sinew in the heart decourt merit and conceit of any good in thy self but the uncleannesse of a dog And 2. break will that that proud thing may fall in two peeces at Christs feet And 3. Beleeve stick by thy point that though a Dog yet thou art one of Christs Dogs and then all is well The best way to break the will is 1. to offer Hell and the coals of everlasting burning to it yea and when the soul is humbled to humble it more Christ knew that this woman was lying in the dust but he will have her below the dust when he tryeth her with such a humbling temptation Many think the troubled conscience should not be further humbled They say There is nothing for such a soul but the honey and sweetnesse of consolations in the Gospel Nay but often that which troubleth them is subtile invisible pride he 'll not beleeve for want of self-worthinesse Oh I dare not rest on Christ nor apply the Promises because of my sinfull unworthinesse Now if this be humility it s the proudest humility in the world for the soul thus troubled saith I am not good enough nor rich enough for Christ and his fine gold and the truth is he is not a good enough Papist to give a ransome of self-worth for that great ransome of bloud which cannot be bought but though thou shouldst buy Christ the Father will not sell him Christ is disposed to a sinner as a fâ—ee gift not as a wage or a hire There is a difference between down-casting and saving-humiliation down casting may exceed measure in the too much apprehension of the Law-curses and may be conjoyned with much pride and self-love But right and saving humiliation conjoyned with Faith cannot over passe bounds it ariseth often from the sense of grace rather then from the Law God giveth grace to the humble and he giveth humility to the gracious under the sense of rich grace 1 Tim. 1.15 Eph. 3.8 Tit. 3.3 4 5. 2 Tim. 1.9 Nothing humbleth us more then an opinion of the power and excellency of grace Grace known apprehended in its worth layeth down proud nature on the earth 1 Cor. 15.9.10 Christs Grace was Christs Accomt-book to Paul But by the grace of God I am that I am A borrowed garment though of silke will make a wise man humble many sins pardoned made much love to Christ and much humility in the woman Luke 7.44 And made her lay head and hair yea and heart also under the soles of Christs feet no doubt she thought basely of her self and her hair remembring that grace put these feet to a sad and tiresome journey to come in the world to seek the lost to be pierced with nails for her There 's courtesie in free grace being the marrow and flower of unhired love to kill high thoughts of a self destroying sinner Observe also that not to dare to come to Christ and believe and pray because of unworthinesse such as is in Dogs that are without the new City Rev. 22.15 Is but a very temptation And Christ under the notion of tempting and trying offereth that to the woman that she was too daring and bold being a Dog to presume to ask for the childrens bread hence have we to consider how farre the conscience of sinne ought to stand in our way toward Christ hence these considerations 1. Conscience of sin is to humble any that is to make out for Christ Act. 9. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Spoken by Christ brought Paul down off his high horse and laid his soul on the dust Rom. 3.19 Now we know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them who are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God It s a speech taken from a malefactor Arraigned and pannelled upon his head When the judge Objecteth What say you this and this Treason is witnessed against you Alas the poor man standeth speechlesse and dumb his mouth is stopped Ezek. 16.63 That thou maist remember thy old shame and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame Christ then hath the sinners neck under his Axe What justice and Law may do that Christ may do The Captive taken in war may be killed by the Law of Wars if he refuse to submit 2. No sin is unpardonable Treason but the sin against the holy Ghost and finall impenitence The Gospel is a Treaty of Peace between parties in war none are excepted but these two 3. But what then if a soul come to this I have either sinned against the holy Ghost or certainly am upon the borders of it because Christ knocked long and a year ago or a long time from this I remember of his farewell rap When Christ knocking took his last good-night with this word he that is filthy let him be filthy still and said he would never come again I grant an ill conscience can speak prophecy Exod. 10.28 29. So Pharaoh did Prophesie and Cain also Gen. 4.13 14. But 2. I can yeeld that there be some farewell knocking 's of Christ after which Christ is never seen or heard at the door of some mens hearts Acts 13.46 Paul speaketh so to the Jews But seeing you put the Gospel from you and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life lo we turn to the Gentiles The like is Christs language to them Joh. 8.21 Then said Jesus to them I go my way and ye shall seek me and shall die in your sins whether I go ye cannot come I doubt if any can sin the sin against the holy Ghost and the sinner onely and no other complain of it that sin breaketh out in prodigious Acts of wickednesse as blood and persecution Though it were true
dream so the justification of the Saints is like the free acquitting of a broken man that hath borrowed thousands and is unable to pay the cancelling of his Bill freeth him in Law from paying the sums but doth in no case make him a man that never borrowed mony nor doth it free him from that inherent blot of unjustice in regard of which he is a broken man who hath wasted his neighbours goods but perfected sanctification expelleth sin in his essence being root and branch in its dominion Lordly power indwelling so that it is no more and this is like the expelling of night-darknesse out of the whole body of the Air by the presence of the Sun diffusing its beams and light from East to West and North and South I grant the habit of sanctification perfected in glory doth not make it a false proposition that such a pardoned and washed Saint never sinned for Factum infectum fieri non potest What is done can never be undone that were a speaking contradiction but it putteth the man in that State that he is as free of the indwelling of the body of sin and perfectly holy as the body of the Aire at Noon-day is free of darknesse and qualified with inherent light now Antinomians cannot endure especially Master Eaton their chiefe leader that we say that sanctification is unperfect in this life or that the indwelling of sin can consist with free justification and remission of sins in Christs blood But let us turn our eyes a little toward the wisdom of Gods free dispensation to scan the reasons why our Lord will have justified Saints to go halting to heaven 1. He can at our first conversion make us Glorified and perfected Saints but it s his wisdom to take a time and succession to perfect his Saints he took about thirty and three years on earth for the work of our Redemption and would for three dayes lodge in the grave as it were a neighbour to our Father corruption and the worm our brother and sister Job 17.14 Though he saw no corruption Psal. 16.10 He hath been dressing up the high Palace of Glory his Fathers house these sixteen hundred years if he be pleased to take moneths and years to the work of the applying of purchased Redemption whereas he might and could have done it in one instant as he created light out of darknesse with one word we are to be silent his wisedom in so doing is sufficient for us the second heaven and the new light in the redeemed soul is done by continuing acts of omnipotency the first heaven was sooner made shall it seem hard to us that our midnight and our full noon-day-light of grace are not existant in one instant together We are to wait on in patience and not to fret that we cannot at our first conversion pray out of us the indwelling body of sin and sigh out the weight and sin that doth so hardly beset us Heb. 12.1 God is wise who will have our day to break and dawn by degrees and our shadows to flee away and our Sun to arise to Noon-day-light through length of time if a creature yea the most excellent of created Angels should but sit at the helme of this great world to Rule Govern all things but for forty and eight hours the Sun should not rise in due time the wals and covering of the great building of the world should fall the Globe of the world and of the whole earth should reele to and fro and stagger like a drunken man all should go to confusion and so if we had a world of Grace of our own carving and had it in our wise choise to go from the first moment of our New-birth to heaven without sin we should lose our selves by the way and take on new debt that should require the new and fresh crucifying of the Lord of Glory we should be no better Tutors Governours and Lords to our selves then Adam and the Angels that fell The weight of a Saints Heaven and Hell upon his own clay-shoulders is a Heaven put to a great hazard or rather to a remedilesse losse I shall easily grant that its sure that my heaven be upon Christs shoulders 2. Grace worketh suitably to the nature of the Patients the Vessell would be prepared with the frequent sense of Grace before Christ powre in it the habite of Glory its fit we see and feel the shaping and sewing of every piece of the wedding garment and the framing moulding and fitting of the Crown of Glory for the head of the Citizen of Heaven yea the repeated sense and frequent experiences of Grace in the ups and downs in the way the falls and risings again of the Traveller the Revolutions and changes of the spirituall condition the new Moon the darkned Moon the full Moon in the spirits ebbing and flowing raiseth in the heart of Saints in their way to the Country a rank smell of that fairest Rose and Lillie of Sharon Jesus Christ the delight of men and Angels that as Travellers at night talk of their foul way and of the praises of their Guide and Battell being ended Souldiers number their wounds extoll the valour skill and courage of their Leader and Captain so the Glorified Souldiers may take loads of experiences of free-Grace to Heaven with them and there speak of their way and their country and of the praises of him who hath Redeemed them out of all Nations Tongues and Languages The half drowned man shaketh his head and dryeth his garments before the Sun in the Shoare with joy and comfort The impressions of the kisses of the face of him that sitteth on the Throne are the deeper that the frequent experiences of Grace have been many much dirty and dangerous way and the lively and hearty welcome of Glory suiteth well together 3. As there is much yea an exceeding weight of Glory in heaven so its convenient that the way to Heaven be strewed and covered with Roses of renewed acts of free-grace and Christs repeated expressions of new pardon one expression coming after another that since the Saints pray dayly forgive us our sins it is in the wisdom of God fitting that as Glory in heaven is one continued act of happinesse for all eternity so the Grace that maketh the old and sinfull man a new creature should be one continued act of Grace and as many streams and rivers are one water and one spring in the fountain and many lines one in the center and thousands of generations of men are but one man in the first father Adam so multiplied acts of Grace in the Saints from the first moment of their conversion to the period and first hour of their glorification are but one fountain Grace in God revealed in the Mediator Christ and there can be no reason why our first conversion should be free Grace and the perseverance of the Saints in Grace and all their steps in the way should not also
once being in Court and Grace I illustrate it thus There 's a Catholick Pardon in a Statute of Parliament for Grace to all Traitors and that for Treasons past and also to come upon condition that after new Treasons committed they addresse themselves to the Publike Register of the State and cause insert their names in the blank of that Act of Grace Printed and in the keeping of some Officer of State now though any one be Pardoned at his first lapse fully if he fail again and again and yet perform the condition prescribed in Law we cannot say he hath obtained twenty a hundred yea as many severall pardons of Grace as he hath failed against King and State it s but one publike Act of Grace made use of severall times so here in the Gospel there is a written Act of the Grace of God in Iesus Christ Remission to all under the Treason of sin against the Royall Crown and glory of the most High the Supreame Law-Giver and that to the acceptation of the person of the Traitor in full favour when he shall have in his conscience the transumpt or transcript of it at first and also for Grace and Pardon of all after-slips and sins against the glory of the Redemer so he sin not against the only flower of the Prerogative-Royall the operation of the Holy Ghost in a speciall manner upon condition he walk from Faith to Faith and renew his addresse to Christ the great Lord of the Rolls who keepeth the Book of life now I cannot see here many Pardons of Grace but only the double Extract or Copy of the first Act of Free-Grace Obj. 2. But the sins pardoned to the Justified person after the first justification of his person were never pardoned before and they are now pardoned therefore there must be two justifications Ans. They were virtually pardoned and so as he shall never come to condemnation for any sins past or to come but the man now standeth Justus in curia justified in the Court whereas before his first beleeving God looked at him as a judge doth at a guilty person whose person he absolveth from all punishment because his surety hath given a ransom for him and he holdeth forth that ransom to the Judge but the man in all his after faults is so far forth a sinner as that which he hath done though he be a justified David displeaseth the Lord 2 Sam. 11.27 And in so far is he pardoned but God now looketh on him as a Father on an offending Son and this Son doth not hold forth a new ransome to God but onely renew the former nor doth it infer a new acceptance of his person that he had not before 3. Nor place in God any new love of free complacency and good will but only a further manifestation thereof and a greater measure of the love of benevolence 4. It is the same Act of Free-Grace that God putteth forth in pardoning his son now fallen in sin and in accepting his person at first 2. It s the same ransome of Christs atonement of his dear blood that his Faith layeth hold on now as before 3. The pardon of this sin committed by a justified son is not the freeing of him from the eternall punishment of this sin as if he had been under eternall wrath for it before for at his first beleeving when his person was accepted he was fully and freely pardoned and freed from all the obligation to eternall wrath that all or any of his sins past present or to come might subject him unto but it is the renewing of the certainty of the sufficiency of Christs ransom as applyed to take away that sin in particular and that by a renewed Act of Faith now the renewed apprehension of the Grace of God in the same ransom of blood for righteousnesse in Christ as applied to this new guiltinesse maketh not a new forinsecall and Law-act but doth only apply the Lords first Act of Grace to this particular sin nor do I mean that Faith for Remission of sins committed after a soul is in the state of justification is nothing else but a meer reflect Act by which we apprehend and know the first acceptance of a sinner to righteousnesse for it is a direct Act apprehending the former grace of a sufficient ransom as applied to this new contracted guiltinesse for the sinner is condemned for unbelief Joh. 3.18 36. And because he believeth not he is lyable to the wrath of God now he is not condemned because he doth not to his own sense know feel and apply the Remission of sins and satisfaction purchased in Christs blood for him because then he should be condemned because he doth not believe a lie for there was never any such Remission purchased for him he is condemned not for want of sense and actuall knowledge of any such pardon but for want of confiding on Christ as on him who hath made a sufficient atonement for all that believeth and so justifying Faith is some other thing then the sense of purchased Pardon of sins Object 3. Then may I with the like boldnesse believe the Remission of these sins that I am to commit and so sin boldly because I am perswaded they cannot prevail to condemne me eternally as I may with boldnesse believe the Remission of sins already committed Ans. There is a boldnesse of faith And 2. a sinfull boldnes In regard of boldnesse of faith I am to believe the sufficiency of that unvaluable ransome that it cannot be more or lesse nor intended or remitted but doth lie under the eye of justice and equally accepted of God as able to remove the eternall guilt of all sins past present as also of those to come but it were sinfull boldnesse to commit sin because Christ hath payed for it it s a motive to the contrary not to live to our selves but to him that died for us because Christ bare our sins on his own body on the Tree 1 Pet. 3.24 1 Pet. 1.18 Gal. 1.4 Rom. 6.1 2 3 4. 1 Pet. 4.1 2. For though I be perswaded there is no fear of eternall wrath in sins to be committed for my faith beleeveth freedom from that in regard of all sins there be other stronger motives to eschew sin then fear of Hell even fear of violating infinite love and mercy there 's a more prevailing and efficacious power in apprehended love to keep from sin it being saving grace then in fear of Hell which of it self is no grace 2. Fear of punishment of sin as sin is to keep from sin though it be not fear of eternall punishent the eternity of punishment is no wayes essentiall to punishment Libertines close remove this motive who will have no sin as sin in Gods Court punished in the beleever It s not punished in Order to satisfaction of justice but it followeth not that it s not punishable as sin Obj. It is mercenary and peculiar to hirelings to
defile his precious sinlesse Royall and Princely blood by dipping in such a loathsome foul and deformed creature as a sinner is Rev. 1.5 Dogs eat the crums Here be degrees of persons and things in our Fathers house Children and dogs yet dogs which the Lord of the house owneth here is a high table and bread and a by-board or an after-table and crums for dogs here be persons of honour Kings sons cloathed in Scarlet and sitting with the King at dinner when his Spikenard sendeth forth a smell and here be some under the table at the feet of Christ waiting to receive the little drops of the great honey-comb of rich grace that falleth from him Follow Christ and grace shall fall from him his steps drop fatnesse especially in his Palace 1 Joh. 2.12.13.14 There be in our Lords house little children babes there be in it also experienced ancient Fathers for Grace hath gray haires for wisedom not for weaknesse there be strong men also Christ was once a little stone but he grew a great mountain that filled the whole earth yea and the heaven too Christ is a growing childe In Christs lower firmament there be stars of the first and second magnitude and in his house vessels of great and of small quantity cups and flagons Isa. 22.24 yet all are fastened upon the Golden-nail Jesus Christ. 2. All are in the way the plants all growing but one is a grain of mustard seed and a rose not broken out to the flower and another is a great tree its morning and but the glimmering of the rayes of the day-star in one and its high Sun perfect day near the noon-day with another Strong father Abraham mighty in believing was once a babe on the breasts that could neither creep nor stand nor walk The love of Christ in its first rise is a drop of dew that came out of the womb of the morning the mother in one night brought forth an hoste an innumerable millions of such babes and covered the face of the earth with them But this drop of dew groweth to a Sea that swelleth up above hell and the grave Cant. 8.6 7. It is more then all the floods and seas of the earth and floateth up to the Heaven of Heavens and up and in it must be upon Christ 1 Pet. 1.8 Ye see not Christ yet ye love him It overfloweth Christ and taketh him and ravisheth his heart It is a strong chain that bindeth Christ when the grave sin death devils could not bind him Can. 4.9 Act. 2.24 3. Christs way of administration is a growing way his Kingdom is not a standing nor a sitting nor a sleeping Kingdome But its walking and posting Thy Kingdome come An increasing Kingdom a growing peace Isa. 9.7 Of the increase of his Government and peace there shall be no end In regard of duration even in heaven there shall be a growing of his Kingdom There 's not yesterday and to morrow and the next year in heaven yet there 's a negative increase glory and peace shal ascend in continuance and never come to an height the Sun never decline the long day of Christs glory and peace shall never end Christ is saying even now Father I must have all my children up with me that where I am there they may be also And therefore the head draws up to him now a finger then a toe now an arm then a leg he hath been these sixteen hundred years since his Ascension drawing up by death whole Churches the Saints at Corinth at Româ— at Philippi The seven Candlesticks and the seven Stars of Asia are long ago up above Orion and the seven Stars and are now shining up before the Throne This consecrated Captain of our Salvation will not sleep till his Fathers house be filled till all the numerous ofspring and the Generations of the first born be up under on roof with their Father Heaven is a growing Family the Lord of the house hath been gathering his flocks into the fair fields of the Land of Praises ever since the first Abel died and all down along the believers were gathered to their Fathers 1. Vse is that we despise not the day of smal things Gods beginning of great works is smal What could be said of a poor womans throwing of a stool at the man who did first read the new Service Book in Edenburgh It was not looked at as any eminent passage of Divine Providence yet it grew till it came up to Armies of men the shaking of three Kingdomes the sound of the Trumpet the voice of the Alarm the lifting up of the Lords Standart destruction upon destruction garments rowled in blood and goeth on in strength that the vengeance of the Lord and the vengeance of his Temple may pursue the Land of Graven Images and awake the Kings of the Earth to rise in Battle against the great Whore Babylon that the Jews may return to their Messiah and Israel and Judah ask the way to Zioâ— with their faces thitherward weeping as they go that the Forces of the Gentiles and the Kingdoms of the world may become the Kingdoms of God and of his Son Jesus Christ. And this act of a despised woman was one of the first steps of Omnipotencie God then began to open the mouth of the Viall of his wrath to let out a little drop of vengeance upon the seat of the Beast and ever since the right arme of the Lord awaking hath been in action and in a growing Battle against all that Worshipped the Beast and received his mark on their right hand and their forehead and who knoweth but Christ is in an act of conquering to create a new thing on the earth and subdue the people to himself Omnipotencie can derive a Sea a world of noble and glorious works from as smal a Fountain as a straw a ram-horn yea Jaw-bone of a dead Asse God can put forth omnipotencie in all its flowers and golden branches of over-powering and incomparable excellencies upon meer Nothing the winde is an empty unsolid thing the Sea a fluid and soft and ebbing creature yet the wind is Gods chariot he rideth on it and the Sea his walk his paths are in the great waters 2. Vse A crum that falleth from Christs Table hath in it the nature of bread some weak ones complain O I have not the heart of God like David nor the strong faith of Abraham to offer my son to death for Christ nor the burning fire of the zeal of Moses to wish my name may be razed out of the Book of life that the Lord may be glorified nor the high esteem of Christ to judge all but losse dung for Jesus Christ as Paul did But what if Christ set the whole loafe before the children is it not well If thou lie but under Christs feet to have the crums of mercy that slippeth through the fingers of Christ The lowest room in heaven even behinde the door is heaven 1. There 's a
sinless reason naturall far above Adam was strong in the acts of the former kinde and moderat in the other especially being a high Priest that marcheth us in naturall passions Heb. 4.15 Even in a Sympathie and having these same passions that we have He weeped over Jerusalem Luk. 19. When they were crying Hosanna to him and occasion of joy furnished to him yet ver 41.42 He wept over the City and spake words of compassion but broken and imprisoned with sighing and sorrow O if thou knew even thou c. Now what compassion must be in him when his affection had such an edge Joseph is nothing to him he having taken a mans heart to go along with the Saints to heaven sighing weeping mourning Tempted in all these as we are but without sin Heb. 4.15 Now though there be no passions as there 's no infirmities in God yet the flower the blossome the excellency of all these are infinitly in God he striketh tryeth and yet pittieth Judg. 10. Israel cryeth to the Lord in their bondage he giveth them a hard answer Go to the Gods saith he that ye have chosen and let them deliver you they still are in bondage and weep upon him v. 16. The Lords soul was grieved Heb. Cut short for the miserie of Israel so Jer. 31. Two evils befall Ephraim one is Gods correcting hand another is bemoaning and sorrow for sin both are trials but how doth God express himself toward Ephraim v. 20. Is Ephraim my dear son Is he a son of consolations so the Hebrew Is he my dainty childe for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him Observe the income of Gods consolations after sad and heavy tryals Isa. 54.11 O thou afflicted tossed with tempest and not comforted behold I will lay thy stones with fair colours and thy foundation with Saphires Isa. 40.1 Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith our God 2. Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and cry to her that her warfare is accomplished There is a violence of heavenly passion in Christs love it will come out at length tempted ones wait on you shall see Christ as Christ in the end of the day Christ is well worthy a dayes weeping and a dayes waiting on compassion strangled and inclosed in Christ must break out it easeth Christs minde that his bowels of mercy findeth a vent pitty kept within Gods bowels to speak so paineth him it must come out Hos. 11.8 Mine heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together O how rude and inhumane hath sin made our nature His love who died for us brake Heaven and rent the two sides of the Firmament as it were asunder our Lord descended and was made a man in all things like us except sin But O the first nay the doubled summons of Christs love are not obeyed Love cryeth we are deaf Christs love hunteth no other prey but our heart and he cannot have it After Christ hath tempted a soul he must put it in his heart it s an ease and comfort to Christ to ease and comfort the tempted he is now trying Britain and giving his Bride a cup of blood and tears to drink But who knowes what bowels what turnings of heart what motions of compassion are in the man Christ now in Heaven Those who shall live to see the Lord take his Bride in his armes and embrace her after these many temptations that now your eyes seeth shall subscribe to the truth of this and those who finde Christs love-embracements after Desertions know this Should we suppose that there were in Christ but this one attribute of tender compassion toward his own tempted ones it should make him altogether lovely to us for the motion of tender mercy in Christ upon the supposition of Free-love that he died for his own is naturall he having taken a mans heart to Heaven with him and borrowed nature from us as our compassionate High-Priest he cannot but pitty mercy acteth as a naturall agent in him Now suppose we that the mother were eternall and her child eternall but eternally weak compassion should eternally flow from the mother to the child suppose a fair rose to grow eternally and the Summer Sun to shine near it eternally and life and sap to keep it vigorous eternally it should cast out a sweet smell and offer its beauty to the eyes and senses eternally In Jesus Christ the heart and tender bowels of the sweetest mildest and most compassionate nature of man that God can possibly form hath met with eternall and infinite mercy in God Christ and to say nothing that mercy in Christ man hath been putting forth the sweet smelling acts of love without tiring summer and winter night and day these sixteen hundred years and that even now while you read this he is casting out acts of love and mercy an eternall High Priest could do no other thing for ever but compassionate his own redeemed flesh Mercy chuseth a lover freely Jacob not Esau this man not that man the fool not the wise man the beggar not the Prince the servant not the master but having once made choice it worketh necessarily and eternally Christs love hath no vacation no cessation but when he tempteth smiteth afflicteth trieth Love and tender mercy worketh in the dark Josephs bowels were upon action and busie when his Brethren saw no such thing even when he was accusing them as spies and dealing roughly with them When the sword of the Lord drunken swelled and fatted with blood is now raging in the three Kingdoms mercy in our High Priest and his bowels are rouled within him though we cannot see Christs inner side It is like the place Hebrews 4.15 is but an allusive Exposition of the rowled and moved bowels of GOD Jeremiah 31.20 CHRIST is as it were in Heaven burning and flaming in a passion of compassion toward his weak ones he is not only touched but pained with our infirmities so the word doth bear we shall not do well to make the tempted condition that either the Church or a soul is in the rule of Gods love Gods fiery dispensation in Zion or in a soul in the burning bush speaketh not alwayes wrath make not false Commentaries on Christs tempting dispensation Hell is accidentall to the love of Christ and cannot change it Suppose Christs tender mercy were in the midst of the flames of Hell yet there mercy should be mercy and work as mercy and not belie it self never a rod of God upon any elect childe of God save upon Christ only did speak satisfactory vengeance for sin Quest. Why is not Christ now red in his apparell and his garments dyed and dipped in blood and hath he not put on vengeance as a garment in the three Kingdoms Ans. Yes and for the provocations of England their unrepented Idolatry superstition vanity pride security unthankfulnesse to God who hath broken the rod of the
forgivenesse it were not folly to a condemned person having receied a pardon and being assured of it to fall down and say Pardon me my Lord the King Ans. What Protestant Divines say in this we acknowledge but if we seek only a fuller certainty of forgivenesse in this Petition and not also the application of the generall pardon as appropriated to the sins we daily fall in I see no other thing we seek but a greater measure of faith to lay hold on remission I should ask a warrant of Scripture to prove that forgiveness of sin signifieth assurance of the pardon of sin 2. That to seek forgivenes daily is to glorifie and magnifie him from whom we once received forgivenesse is not to purpose for that is a generall in all Petitions that we put up to God no lesse then in this 3. If a pardoned malefactor having assurance he were pardoned should fall down and begge pardon of the King and not rather tender him thanks and blessings for a received pardon I should believe he called in question the Kings favour but should he every day when he eateth bread beg pardon from the King as we beg daily forgivenesse he might be charged with more then ordinary folly M. Denne God loves us in blood saith he and pollution as well before conversion as after conversion and though faith procure not Gods love and favour yet it serveth us for other uses that we may be sealed by believing Eph. 1.13 and may thereby know the love of God It is said he that believeth not is damned not because his believing doth alter or change his estate before God but because God hath promised that he will not only give us remission but also faith for our consolation and so faith becometh a note and a mark of life everlasting as finall infidelity is of eternall condemnation Ans. 1. It is true God loveth the elect before conversion equally as after conversion in regard of that free love of election that moved him to give his Son to death for them Joh. 3.16 and to call them effectually 2 Tim. 1.9 Eph. 2.1 2 3 4. Tit. 3.3 4. 4. Propos. It is a palpable untruth that the elect by believing in Christ and being translated from death to life in their conversion to God are equally loved of God before conversion as after conversion if we speak of Gods love of complacency for though the inward affection and love of God as it is an immanent and indwelling act in God be eternall and have not its rise in time and be not like the love of man to man which is like the Sea ebbing and flowing or the Moon which admitteth of a cloudy and dark visage and of an enlighted and full condition yet as the same love of God is terminated upon sinfull men or rather that which is called the love of complacency which is indeed the effect of Gods love it is not every way one and the same after conversion and before as it is the same fountain and spring that runneth in its streams toward the South which by Art and industry of men may be made to run toward the North the change is in the streams not in the fountain yet we say the fountain now runneth not Southward as it did afore but Northward also give me leave to doubt if these same very visible Sun beams that did fall upon Adam and Eve doth this Summer fall upon us yet I doubt not but the same Sun that did shine the first six hours of the Creation on the Garden of Paradice shineth upon all our gardens and orchards that now are So Gods love is one the same toward the elect before time and while they are wallowing in the state of sinfull and depraved nature and now when they are changed in the spirits of their mind But it may well be said that God loveth his Church as washed as fair and spotlesse Cant. 4.7 and that he doth now say of her Cant. 4.10 How fair is thy love my sister my Spouse how much better is thy love then wine and the smell of thine ointments then all spices whereas the Lord said before of her Eze. 16.3 Thy birth and thy nativity is of the Land of Canaan thy father was an Amorite thy mother an Hittite 4. As for thy nativity in the day that thou wast born thy Naevell was not cut neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee thou wast not salted at all nor swadled at all 6. And when I possed by thee and saw thee polluted in thy blood I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live and all this the Lord might speak to the same Church yet unconverted and at that time the Lord could not utter that expression of love to say to a bloudy and polluted Church as he doth Can. 4.7 Thou art all fair my love there is not a spot in thee now could it be said that the Father and the son loveth such a Church as such as loveth the Father and keepeth the words of the Son as it is Ioh. 14.21.23 what the Church was not fair not spotlesse but filthy polluted not washed not justified as yet and though it be true that faith procure not Gods love and favour it is a calumnie that ever Protestant Divine taught any such thing for the work of Gods eternall love in election to Glory or his hatred in reprobation is not the yesterday or the daies-birth of our faith or our unbelief yet that believing or our effectual conversion maketh no alteration or change in our state before God is a grosse untruth Faith and conversion maketh indeed No change of any state in the ancient of days in the strength of Israel who cannot lie or repent and putteth not God from the State of a Reprobating or hating or a not loving and choosing God whereas before he was such who did love and chuse us to salvation the Lord is our witnesse we asserted the contrary doctrine of Free-grace against Arminians and Papists 5. Prop. Our believing and conversion to God doth alter and change our state before God 1. Because God esteemed an unbeliever that which he was even an unbeliever a child of wrath one that is disobedient serving divers lusts a soul unwashed polluted in his blood before his conversion to God but being once converted and graced to believe his state before God is altered and changed even in the Court of Heaven in the Lords Books he is another man he goeth now for a fair and undefiled soul the Church that was in a polluted filthy and miserable condition Ezek. 16.3 4 5 6 7 8. Is now in Christs heart as a seal Cant. 8.6 so fair as her beauty ravisheth the heart of Christ now Christ nameth things according to their nature 2. The condition is so changed before God that Hos. 1.10 It cometh to passe That in the place where it was said to them ye are not my people there it
body of Christ that ye should be married to another 5. For when we were in the flesh the motions of sins which were by the Law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death 6. But now we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we were held we should serve in newnesse of spirit and not in the oldnesse of the Letter Hence it is clear that there was a time in which Paul and the Elect at Rome were servants of sin Rom. 6.20 21. Under the lusts and motions of sin which work in their Members to bring forth fruit that is sins to death eternall Ro. 7.5 Ergo They were then under the curse of the Law and so far from blessednesse and the servants of sin Rom. 6.20 and persons in the flesh But the case is changed they are now not the servants of sin but servants of righteousnesse Rom. 6.22 Married to a new husband Iesus Christ Rom. 7.4 Whence came this change of two contrary states yea and before God contrary for before God it cannot be one state to be servants of sin under the Law and servants of God and under Grace Certainly from Faith on our part or some other grace in us at least there must be something of grace by which the alteration from a cursed estate to a blessed estate is made then faith is not a naked manifestation of the blessednesse of justification to the which we was intitled before we believed for before we believed we was in a cursed estate This also may be added that if Faith be but a Declaration or manifestation that we are justified before we believe Paul had no reason to deny that we are justified that is that we know to our comfort by works of holinesse that we are justified for works of sanctification are evident witnesses that we are in Christ and are justified 2 Cor. 5.17 1 Joh. 3.14 1 Joh. 2.3 Jam. 2.24.25 2 Pet. 1.10 3. It layeth down this false ground that grace is nothing in us but a meer comfortable sense and apprehension of Free-love and Grace is conceived to be only and wholly in Christ so that there is no inherent grace in the Believer by which he is differenced from an unbeliever sanctification and duties flowing from the habit of grace are nothing but dreams of Legall men Christ justifying the sinner is all and some in the Elect strict and precise walking conduce nothing to salvation To think that it can do any thing in order to salvation is to worship saith Mr. Denne an angry deity 2. To satisfie justice with our works fasting tears duties Therefore our 6. Propos. Is that it is a vain distinction of Master Denne who would have a reconciliation of God to man and of man to God 1. Because we read that man is reconciled to God Rom. 5.10 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. Col. 1.20 21. Eph. 2.16 Man is the enemy whereas in Adam he was a friend and in Christ the second Adam he is made a friend but that God is reconciled to man or changed toward his own Elect from an enemy and a God that hateth their persons into a friend and lover of them I never read if at any time God be said to be comforted toward his people or eased these are borrowed speeches 2. Love of Election yea the love that putteth God on work to Redeem Call Justifie Sanctifie the Elect is no love bought with hire yea the price of Redemption which Christ gave for sinners cannot buy eternall love blood and the blood of God shed cannot woodset ancient love all the sins of Devils of men cannot forfeit it make sins floods and seas and ten thousand worlds of rivers they cannot quench that eternall coal and flame in the brest of so free a Lover as God in a word the shed blood of Christ is an â—ffect not a cause of infinite love 3. What â—hen doth reconciliation place any new thing in God No Doth it turn him from an Hater to a Lover No Reconciliation active on the Lords â—art is a change of his outward dispensation not â—f his inward affections Fury is not in me he â—ith himself Isa. 27.4 He cannot wax hot and â—â—ry in the Acts of his spotlesse and holy will Reconciliation turneth not the heart but the hand of the Lord upon the little ones as he speaketh so that he cannot deal with or punish his elect as otherways he would do The Lords justice may be satisfied his love cannot be budded or hired and the effect of justice the inflicting of infinite wrath is diverted as a River that runneth East hath been made to run West and an issue of blood in one member of the body hath been diverted to run at another channell justice was to run through the Elect of God in the due legal punishing of the sinner which yet is extraneous to the just and eternall will of God but infinite wise mercy caused that River to run in another veine through the soul of Iesus Christ. 7. Propos. Joy of the holy Ghost is a fruit of the Kingdom of Grace Rom. 14.17 But not that joy spoken of Rev. 21.4 and Is. 35.10 Which excludeth all tears death sorrow crying all sighing as Mr. Denne dreameth so as joy can no more be separated from the Subjects of that kingdom then light from the Sun heat from the fire or ebbing and flowing can be stopped in waters as he saith far lesse is it true that actuall love and obedience doth inseparably follow this condition except we were made Angels when we are once justified nor is the Kingdom of God spoken of 1 Cor. 6.9 10. And the seeing of God Heb. 12.14 The Kingdom or state of Grace or the seeing of God in a vision of Faith here in this life but of the Kingdom of glory and of the vision of God in the other life as M. Denne expoundeth it that he may elude all necessity of holinesse but that which floweth from no obligation of any Law or Commandement of God But which is in our power of love to perform or not perform if we perform it not it s no transgression of any Law of God 1. M. Denne himself granteth pag. 84. God is not like some nigardly man who will not bid us welcome to his house unlesse we bring our cost with us Nor is holinesse required of us without Faith and before we believe and enter Citizens of the kingdom of Grace Nay by this interpretation 1 Cor. 6. We must be Justified and washed before we can inherit this Kingdom v. 9 10.11 But we are not to be washed and justified before we inherit the Kingdom of Grace and before we believe for so we should be justified and washed before we be justified and washed and the like I say of the Kingdom of God John 3.3 For it should follow that a man must be born again ere he be born again if he must be born again ere
16.6 I said to thee when thou wast in thy blood live This Mandate of omnipotent grace is spoken to Jerusalem as hardened and cold dead in sin Eph. 5 14. Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light This is a Commandement of omnipotency given out of sinfull rebellion If Omnipotence say See ye blind hear ye deaf Grace is a King over sin and omnipotency a mighty Conqueror Rebellion cannot stand before the grace of God could we resigne Rebellious and dead hearts to God he should change them though we be most unable to master them 2. Meer-nothing is a servant to omnipotency he sendeth his mandate or statute of heaven to meer-nothing and Darknesse as the Sergeant and Pursevant of GOD must send out Light by vertue of a creating Mandate 2 Cor. 4.6 3. Every creature is under the awe of Omnipotency and dare not without as it were a written and signed Ordinance and Statute of the Almighty exercise their naturall operations As the Lord sendeth an awfull mandate to the Sea and God saith Do not ebbe and flow and the sea is dried up at his rebuke Psal. 77.16 The waters saw thee O God the Waters saw thee they were afraid So saith he Winds blow not Seas rage not fire burn not Lyons devor not Sun move not Clouds rain not Devils hurt not Waters overwhelm not Sword destroy not and they all obey 4. There is a power obedientiall in creatures to be instruments that can be elevated above and contrary to their nature to miracles as clay to be a plaster to blinde eyes to make them see whereas clay can put out seeing eyes by this Iron can swim Peter walk in the Sea yea devils men crossing Gods Morall wil fulfill his eternall Counsell according to that Ps. 119.91 All are thy servants Hell Devils Gavaliers Malignants Papists are Gods servants 5. By this power where as nature must have time and hours to work yet nature followeth the swift pace of omnipotency the Fever departeth from Peters mother in Law in an instant 6. By this power creatures creep into nothing when God commandeth them so to do God putteth his arm to the Heaven and shaketh it and the Hangings Pillars Walls plenishing of the house of Heaven and earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are all dissolved all the old Tenants of the world the Heavens which have sitten in Gods house 5000 years at the first warning of their Almighty Land-lord must remove and retire into nothing if God so command them Vse 1. It is comfort to the believer all things are possible Faith hath omnipotency at its service the sword and wars are gone the enemies of the Lord broken the Temple built Babylon plagued at the nod of Faith Devils cannot stand when Christs Mandate chargeth them to fall Vse 2. It is but little that we can do let us have Hosts of men we cannot have the victory Let man be swift yet the Race is not to the swift let him be strong Yet the battell is not to the strong let him be wise and learned Neither is bread to the wise nor yet riches to men of understanding Eccles. 9.11 1. The word of the Almighty is his deed also Psal. 33.9 He spake it was done he commanded and it stood fast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For he himself spake and it was The Lords word giveth being to things by the contrary mens deeds are nothing but words so the lives being and actions of the Kings of Israel and Iudah are called Dibre hajamim words of dayes They are the acts and deeds of men living and dying and compassed with dayes for the deeds and acts of men are but words they live and speak a little on earth and die their acts are of as little worth and reality as the airing out and breathing forth of words The greatest Prince maketh a sound for a time as one that speaketh words and then he is gone and lyeth silent in the grave Solomon did many acts but they are called words only 1 Kin. 11.41 And the rest of the acts of Solomon Hebrew The rest of the words of Solomon Are written in the Books of the Acts Hebrew Of the words of Solomon 2 Kin. 21.25 And the rest of the words which Amon did are written in the Book of the words of the days of the Kings of Judah We use not properly to do or act words but to speak words but the holy Language maketh man and all his noble acts but words and would expresse that he is a creature of no great action and can say more then he can do Strong and mighty man is but a creature of words he is a speaking body of clay and can do but little We boast much that this and this we shall do God hath a lock and a chain of Iron on all the creatures Armies are not to be feared the Lord smites the horse and the rider maketh war to cease unto the end of the earth he breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder he burneth the Chariot in the fire Psal. 46.9 Be not afraid of clay Esay 51.12 Vse 3. If the Lords word create the being of things then are we to conceive of him as of an Independent Soveraigne we forget this and worship a Dependent God If I suffer the people to go to worship at Jerusalem saith Jeroboam I shall lose both life and Kingdom God had promised the contrary to establish him and his Kingdom so he would do what is right in the sight of the Lord 1 Kin. 11.37 38. But he believed that God in the fulfilling of his promise must depend upon the Calves set up at Dan and Bethel So the Jews will have God in the preserving of their Kingdom and place Joh. 11.48 to depend upon the sinfull murthering of the Lord of Glory yea we imagine that God cannot carry on the work of Reformation except we comply with some sort of Antichristian Prelate The King thinketh he cannot be a Monarch except he have a Prerogative to play the Tyrant and his Throne must fall except the Antichrist and blood and unlawfull peace with the bloody Irish murtherers and destroying of the Lords Redeemed flock in both Kingdoms be the bloody Pillars of his Throne and Royall power So God cannot save us if France Denmarke Spain and Ireland come against these Kingdomes we are so wasted except we make a Peace dishonourable to Jesus Christ and his prerogative Royal all this is to place God in a state of Dependency we are too wickedly carefull how God shall acquit himself in his office of Governing the world ere you or I were born the Lord governed the world and his Church without a miscarry the Churches Heaven cannot be marr'd in Christs hand and when we are rotten in the dust he shall carry on all in righteousnesse and wisdom but we take it ill if we cannot have a providence as
Christ the fountain of Heaven and though ye should know Moses David Paul in glory you shall be so taken with beholding the face of the Lamb for evermore in an immediate vision that you find no â—easure to look over your shoulder to Moses or any other For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it it must be sweeter when the sweet immediate hand of Jesus Christ shal pluk the soul-delighting Roses of the high Garden and hold them to your senses with an immediate touch so as you shall see behold smell and touch his hand with the rose and when he shall put immediately in your mouth the Apples of the Tree of life and the King himself shal make himself as it were your Cup-bearer for there shall be neither need of Pastor Prophet or of any Christian brother but only Christ himself to hold to your head A Cup of the water of life Rev. 22.1 2. And he shewed me a pure River of water of life clear as Christal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb be shewed me which He The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb c. 2â— 22. He that talked with me who had a golden reed to measure the City v. 15. v. 10. He who carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain and shewed me the great City the holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God no created Angel could shew to John The Bride the Lambs Wife and what is that He shewed me He made me see Is that but a naked cast of the eye or a speculation No it is more He himself who only reveals all the secrets of God And measures the Temple with a golden Reed He only gave me a drink of the water of life immediatly for to see in the holy language is to injoy Heb. 12.14 Rev. 22.4 Jer. 17.6 Psal. 34.12 Iob 19.26 And then he shewed me must be this in good sense He He the increated King himself made me or caused me to injoy Messengers carry love-Letters now there 's no need of love-Letters betweene the Lord Jesus and the Bride the Lambs wife in this condition certain it is a draught of such water at the Wel-head must be sweetest Then immediate comforts in a heavy condition must be sweetest also as in heavy desertions Word Ministery Pastors Prayer and Ordinances cannot raise up the Spirit What doth the Lord else speak in this No lesse then that mediation of means is but mediation of means and Christ is Christ means in a soul sicknesse yea Apostles Angels Watchmen fail But Christ himself with his immediate action faileth not Cant. 3.1.2.3 vers 4. Joh. 20.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17 Christ himself immediately by himself will do in a moment that which all means all Ordinances all sweatings all indeavours cannot do I do not now cry down means and extol immediate inspirations the latter I deny not in some cases but I only compare means and Christ and is not this an experience of some who are broght to the Margin and black borders of Hel and dispairing all Creature comforts having failed them and they having received the Sentence of the second death yet Christ cometh with an immediate glimpse like a fire flaught in the air which letteth the lost and bewildered Traveller in an extream dark night see a lodging at hand whereas otherwise he should have fallen in a pit and lost himself and in a moment in the twinkling of an eye the Lord having rebuked the winds and the stormy Tempests in the soul there is a calm and peace Ps. 31.22 Jona 2.4 Christ is speedy and swift as a Roe his leap is but a stride over a whole mountain at once over many mountains hils Can. 2.8 Especially in his immediats when he coÌ„forts by himself he then maketh no use of a deputy-Sun to shine or of borrowed light the Sun himself riseth with his own immediate salvation and his own immediate wings and we see it was Christs immediate love yea comfort because immediate carrieth with it the heat and smel of Christs own hand it hath the immediate warmnesse of Christs bosom-consolation it was an act of tender mercy that came hot and smoking from the heart of Christ the immediate coal of love smelling of the perfume of the hearth it came last from and that was heaven and the bowels of Christ waters carried from a precious fountain in a vessel many hundred miles are not so sweet as at the well head because they are separated from the fountain they lose much of their vertue sometimes it is so long since the Rose was plucked that the colour and smell which it had while it grew on its own stalk is quite gone Look how inferiour Art which is but medicine for sick nature is to nature in its beauty and strength as painted Physick can neither purge nor cure so far are all means and Ordinances being but the deputies of Christ below Christ himself What is Paul What is Apollo Put all the Prophets all the Apostles all the Patriarchs all the chiefest of Saints in one floor I confesse they should cast forth an excellent smell like the utter borders of the garden of the high Paradise but all their excellency should be mediate excellency and but somewhat of Christ but alas as low as very nothing to Christ as the smallest drop of dew that sense can apprehend to ten thousand worlds of seas fountains floods We defraud our spirits of much sweetnesse because we go no further in our desires then to creature-excellency we rest on mediate comforts because mediate painted things do work but objectively only a painted meadow casteth no smell a painted tree bringeth forth no Apples the comforts and sweetnesse of the creatures have somewhat of paintry in them in comparison of Jesus Christ all reality and truth of excellency is in him and we know God marreth the borrowed influence of means Armies Parliaments Learning and all miscarry Therefore there was never a Reformation nor a great work wrought on earth but Omnipotency put forth many immediate Acts in it The Lord would not be beholding to Moses he himself divided the red Sea he would not ingage himself to fountains and vine trees but he gave them water out of the Rock he would not borrow from the earth and sowing reaping and plowing bread for his peoples food he would give them the bread of Angels from heaven immediately he would have no Engines at the taking of Jericho the blowing of Rams horns was a signe not a cause God immediately cast down the walls he would not have a sword drawn nor a drop of blood shed in the peoples return from Babylon but the Lord putteth an immediate impulsion upon the Spirit of Cyrus as if he had been in a dead sleep and he being awaked by God only sendeth the people away and the Temple must be builded again But how Neither by King nor Parliament nor Armies