Vera Effigies TIMOTHEI CRUSO Aetat 40. 1697. T. Forster delin N. White scuÌ„lp TWENTY-FOUR SERMONS Preached at the MERCHANTS-LECTURE AT Pinners Hall By the late Reverend Mr. TIMOTHY CRVSO LONDON Printed by S. Bridge for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside MDCXCIX TO THE READER THese Sermons are some of the Reliques of one who is gone to receive the Fruit of his Labours who hath left Sowing for the sake of the Harvest wherein he is now reaping Though this is a Posthumous Piece yet it speaks out the living Praise of the dead Author whose it was without any Alteration or Addition being Printed from his own Notes If I may use the Phrase in Fashion he lived too fast not as too many do who shorten their Days by their Debaucheries and sinful Excesses but as a Taper which wastes it self to give Light to others His Bodily Constitution was too weak to undergo the Service his Soul put it to in constant Studies and hard Labour that he might Answer the Restlesness of his Mind which was always aspiring to greater Knowledge and higher Attainments whereby he laid greater load upon his Flesh than its weakness could bear and so sinking under the burden he died in the midst of his Days There is no need of my Epistle to Midwife these Excellent Discourses into the World nor had I had any hand in it had it not been to answer the Desires of some Relations of his to whom my Obligations will not allow me to deny any thing And also to take this occasion to Vindicate what I spake and published in his Funeral Sermon about the Vnion of the Spirit of Christ with the Dead Body of a Saint which hath by some been greatly stumbled at and called in question as a new Doctrine I therefore thought it Charity to such to remove this stumbling Block not by any Arguments further than what I have therein already urged but by calling in the Judgment of others in this matter and I shall look no farther back than to the Learned Men of our own Times Mr. Rutherford speaking of the Covenant of Grace Treatise of the Covenant of Grace p. 216. says It is thus Eternal in that the dead Parties Abraham Isaac and Jacob are still in the Covenant of Grace and there remains a Covenant Union between Christ and their rotten Flesh sleeping in the Dust Mr. Calamy says Morning Exercise of Giles in Fields Ser. 24. p. 548. The Bodies of the Saints shall be raised by vertue of their Union with Christ for the Body of a Saint even while it is in the Grave is united to Christ and is asleep in Jesus and shall be raised by vertue of this Union And in p. 557. If thou gettest into Christ while thou livest thou shalt die in Christ and sleep in Christ and be raised by Christ into Eternal Happiness Mr. Case speaking of the Vnion between Christ and Believers Case his Mount Pisgah first Part p. 38. says Not only in Death but even after Death this Union holds the Saints are said to sleep in Jesus that part of the Saints which is capable of sleep is not capable of Separation from Christ While their more noble Part is united to Christ in Heaven among the Spirits of Just Men made perfect Christ is united to their inferiour and more ignoble Part in the Grave their very Dust they sleep in Jesus Mr. Stedman says Stedman's Mystical Vnion of Believers with Christ p. 191. Death it self shall not separate Believers from Jesus Christ but still they are entirely in him even when they are dead As it was in the death of Christ himself though it made Separation between his Body and Soul yet it did not separate the Humane Body from the Divine So it is in the death of the Saints though it rend the Spirit from the Flesh yet it can part neither from the Son of God The very Bodies of Believers are united to Jesus when they are dead Dr. Collings on those words of our Lord Pool 's Annotations on John 11.26 He that believeth on me shall never die says Though his Body shall die because of sin yet his Spirit shall live because of Righteousness and God shall in the great Day quicken again his Mortal Body through the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in him and is united to him Dr. Thomas Goodwin Dr. Goodwin 's first Fol. on Ephes 1.14 p. â—â—1 Doth the Spirit dwell in you now When you are laid in the Grave that Spirit dwelleth in you as he did in the Body of Christ I do not say in the same manner The Spirit of God did dwell in the Body of Christ in the Grave and raised it up he never left him Though his Body was a dead Carkass without a Soul yet that Body was Hypostatically united to the Godhead therefore it was called Holy One My Holy One shall not see Corruption Now the Comparison is If we have the Spirit of Christ and if he dwell in us the same Spirit shall never leave our Bodies till he hath raised us up also Nay while thy Body is dead and rotten in the Grave the Holy Ghost dwells in it And hear what a great Man of the Church of England in his Day saith Christ's Deity was united to his dead Body his Resurrection was perform'd by the Power and Spirit of the Father God reached out his hand to him and raised him up Here then is our Comfort the same Spirit of God is communicable to us the same Arm of Power may be reached out to us He will imploy the same power for us as he did for Christ Ephes 1.19 And again in p. 210. His Spirit dwells in you The Inhabitation of God's Spirit that is the Ground of our Resurrection because it is Vinculum unionis the Spirit is the Bond of our Union and Conjunction with Christ By it we are Incorporated into his Body and made Members of it Now then if our Head rise all the Members must rise with it if the Head be in Heaven the Members shall not for ever perish in the Grave This Union by the Spirit is like the touch of a Load-stone it will attract and draw us to him that where he is we shall be also It is spoken of his Hypostatical but it is true also of his Mystical Union Quod semel assumpsit nunquam deposuit Christ will part with none of his Members Bishop Brownrig 2d Vol. p. 204. And again in the same Page Our Bodies by this Inhabitation are Consecrated to be a Possession of the Holy Ghost and the Temple of God must not be destroy'd God's Spirit takes Pleasure not only in these living Temples but owns them when they are dead takes Pleasure in the dead Bones and Favours the Dust of them I could multiply Testimonies of elder Date to prove the Truth of this Doctrine and that it is no new Notion but there needs no Proof from Humane Testimony
is manifest because immediately after this he enter'd upon his publick Ministry here was a Pledge first given of the Authority which he was invested with that he might be accordingly acknowledg'd and regarded in the Exercise of his Office which till now he had not begun 2. The extraordinary Works that were done by Christ these were the Seals of his Commission and prov'd him to come from Heaven for the Doctrine of an Impostor would never have been so signally asserted But now all these Works were done in the Power of the Holy Ghost whom he is said to be anointed with and partly for that End Acts 10.38 Particularly he cast out Devils by the Spirit of God Mat. 12.28 And for that Reason he charges the Jews with Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost the unpardonable Sin who ascrib'd this mighty Act of his to Beelzebub the Prince of Devils ver 31 32. If Christ himself only had been concern'd in this Work this could have been Blasphemy against him only but seeing the Spirit of God concurr'd with him in it they were guilty of Blaspheming that Spirit also 3. The Resurrection of Christ which was a considerable Testimony to his Eternal Deity is ascrib'd to the Spirit likewise This Work is indeed in Scripture ascrib'd to all the Three Persons to the Father Rom. 6.4 To Christ himself John 10.17 18. And the Holy Ghost is interested in it too Rom. 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he that rais'd up Christ from the Dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit c. The Connexion of the Words and the Relation which one Thing in them bears to another shews this to be the meaning that God will revive and raise the Dead Bodies of Believers by the same Spirit by whom he rais'd his Son that Spirit who reunited the Humane Soul and Body of Jesus Christ will reunite ours also So 1 Pet. 3.16 Quicken'd in the Spirit the same Spirit by which he Preach'd to the Disobedient in the Days of Noah ver 19 20. with Gen. 6.3 3. How did the Spirit witness to Christ after his Departure into Heaven I mean in the Times of the Apostles and in those first Ages of the Gospel Answ I. By the Revelation of the Mysteries of the Gospel to the Apostles which they were to Preach to others This we have an Account of from Christ himself John 16.12 13 14 15. I have yet many Things to say unto you but you cannot bear-them now howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth c. He shall Glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you which is repeated in the next Words The Disciples then were weak in the Faith prepossest with carnal Notions about the Kingdom of Christ and at that Time also overwhelm'd with Sorrow upon the Notice of his intended Departure and by this means they were uncapable at the present of Learning all that they needed to be taught now Jesus Christ who consider'd their weakness and dealt with them according to it refers them to be more fully instructed by the promised Spirit who though he did not discover any new Truths which they never heard yet he brought old Truths to their Remembrance with new Illumination he help'd their remaining Ignorance and Infrimity in giving them a clearer Understanding of all the Things of Chirist of all those Doctrines concerning Christ which were hid and veil'd from them before 2. By endowing them with a miraculous Power of doing those Things which were above the utmost activity of Nature for the Confirmation of the Christian Doctrine Thus he is said to give Testimony to the Word of his Grace in granting Signs and Wonders to be done by their Hands Acts 14.3 God bearing them Witness with Signs and Wonders and divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost Heb. 2.4 A great many of those supernatural Effects were produced by his means in the Course of their Ministry and some of them such as even exceeded what were wrought by our Lord himself So he had told them that it should be John 14.12 He that believeth on me the Works which I do shall he do also and greater Works than these shall he do because I go to my Faither I would not go about to restrain this Text to the Apostles because Christ puts it in larger Terms He that believeth c. but undoubtedly it was verified in them They were enabled to Work the same Miracles which he did and in some Respects such as out-did them Chap. 9. The Healing of those that were laid upon Beds and Couches in the Streets with the Shadow of Peter passing by ver 15. of this Chapter and Chap. 19.11 12. We read of special Miracles wrought by the Hands of Paul so that from his Body were brought unto the Sick Handkerchiefs or Aprons and the Diseases departed from them c. The Reason of these greater Works done by the Apostles was Christ's going to the Father which made Way for an eminent pouring forth of the Spirit and this tended not so much to the Reputation of their particular Persons for they could not Work them when they would as to the Glory of Christ whose Interest was hereby advanced in the World 3. By the remarkable and numerous Conversions of great Multitudes to Christ among whom they preach'd As soon as ever the Holy Ghost was come upon them there were Three Thousand Souls added to them That gladly receiv'd their Word and were Baptized Chap. 2.41 Soon after these were made up Five Thousand Chap. 4.4 All this was done in the compass of very few Days and the first Harvest was the Fruit of one Sermon At Samaria when Philip went and Preach'd Christ to them 't is said that the People with one accord gave heed to the Things which he spake Chap. 8.5 6. Which is the more extraordinary because they had all given heed to Simon the Sorcerer before from the least to the greatest ver 10. What a strang and marvellous turn was here in an whole City upon the Preaching of the Gospel In many other Places the Word of God grew mightily and prevail'd Chap. 19.20 It got ground against all the Opposition both of Jews and Gentiles The Preachers of it were made to Triumph in Christ and baffies all contrary attempts from open Enemies and false Brethren and overcame the Devil by the Word of their Testimony And the way of doing all this is explain'd to us 1 Cor. 2.4 My Speech and my Preaching was in Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power The Spirit of God accompanied their Word and made it thus successful 4. By the supernatural Gifts which were bestowed upon other Believers also as well as the Apostles The Truth of this might be made out by several Instances if it were needful Acts 10.44 While Peter spake the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word viz. Cornelius
of the Comforts of it assign'd by God and when that Portion is exhausted we are truly full of Days whether we have lived long in the World or a little while No Man can die till then and after that 't is impossible to live It is certain that to this point we shall come and as certain that we shall not go beyond it 4. The place of our Death is limited by the purpose and pleasure of God as well as the of our Habitation while we live He prescribes not only when but where our Spirits shall reutrn to him He calls as it were to every Man out of Heaven though not so audibly as to Moses saying Die thou there upon that spot of Ground thy Carkass shall fall as God said concerning Ahab with reference to Naboth's Field which he had gotten by Murder I wil requite thee in this plat 2 Kings 9.26 One perhaps is struck in a Religious Assembly another in his Closet one in the City another in the Field one at Home another Abroad but all exactly in that place which was allotted by God's eternal Decree Our Lord could not be hurt in Herod's Jurisdiction because his last Stage was to be Jerusalem Luke 13.33 5. The means of our Death are disposed and managed by God whether natural or violent or casual means Whatsoever it be which brings us to the Grave 't is a Messenger of his sending When the Manslayer kills another undesignedly God is said to deliver the other into his hand Exod. 21.13 so when bloody Men seek after our Lives 't is as true that God delivers us into their hands also if we fall into them Him being deliver'd by the council and foreknowledge of God you have taken c. Acts 2.23 There is no Distemper which proves mortal to us amongst the many that we are incident to but what therein executes the Orders of God He who hath appointed such an Event does likewise appoint those things whereby it is brought about Diseases in the Body as well as Storms in the Air fulfil his Word 6. The manner of dying as to Slowness or Suddennes Ease or Pain is directed by the Will of God Some are snatch'd out of the World as Israel went out of Egypt in haste and cut off by a quick surprizing stroke like Sodom's overthrow in a moment Others have a lingring Departure and the Pins of their Tabernacle are loosned and pulled out by degrees God is the Supream Orderer of both for he takes away as he sees good Ezek. 16.50 Some slide out of the World like Rivers of Oil which run smooth and soft without any Bands in their Death and others die with Agony and Torture as if the Soul were rent and torn out of the Body like the casting of the dumb Spirit out of the Child Mark 9.26 And who knoweth not in all these that the Hand of the Lord hath wrought this II. What sort of Obedience we are to yield to the Will of God in this Case Here shew what is consistent with it and what are the proper and due Qualifications of it First What is Consistent with this Obedience which may seem opposite and repugnant to it Answ 1. The use of natural Remedies for the preservation of Life consists very well with our Obedience to God in dying it is the manifest Will of God that we should use them when his secret will is not to prosper them When we know not how he will do with us we know not what he hath requir'd us to do for our selves A diligent Application of Recovering means may be accompanied with our dutiful submitting of the issue to him 'T is no Rebellion against the Laws of God to follow the Rules of the Physician even in our last Sickness before we know whether it will be our last or not The Distemper'd Body ought not to be neglected though the departing Spirit is to be resign'd The Body is such an Hand-maid to the Soul that it must not like that Egyptian Servant be carelesly left when it falls sick 1 Sam. 30.31 2. Conditional Requests to God for sparing Mercy are not inconsistent with this Obedience Absolute Requests indeed are not allowable to ask Life in a peremptory Manner whether it be the Will of God to grant it to no is as sinful as 't is vain but to ask it with a becomeing Subjection to his unknown good Pleasure is what he approves though he denies to answer Our Lord himsself intreated the passing of the Cup from him if it were possible or if his Father were willing Luke 22.42 So long as there is hope there is Room for Prayer yea many Times against Hope Prayer hath prevailed While we are under God's Hand we cannot tell but that he may hear when we find that the unalterable Decree is gone forth we are to cease like those Disciples when Paul would not be persuaded saying The Will of the Lord be done Acts 21.14 3. A zealous pursuit of Holy Designs for the Service and Interest of Christ to the very last is consistent with our Obedience to the Will of God in dying It behoves us to be carrying on Religious Projects as long as we live though we should yield to dye before we have accomplisht them Though David was told that he should not have the Honour of building an House for God yet he continued his vast Preparations for it till the Time that he fell asleep While we have any being we should be aiming at further usefulnes continuing and drawing the Schemes of more good Works whether God will give us Opportunity for the performance or not It will be our Glory to dye with such Work upon our Hands for no Man ever yet but Jesus Christ was able to do all that was in his Heart to do for God Mr. N. Mather 4. The strugglings of Humane Flesh against the bitterness of Death though never altogether Innocent in us as in Christ will consist with our Obedience in dying Nature cannot receive such a Sentence in it self without some Aversion though Grace overcomes and subdues it Nature will look upon Death as an Enemy still though Grace looks upon it as Conquer'd The Mind so far as it is renewed is entirely given up to God but the Sanctification of the Spirit Soul and Body being still imperfect there will be some remaining Reluctancies These tho' not excusable from Sin are nevertheless reconcileable with Sincerity The dying Acts of Believers are not free from guilty weakness and yet are unquestionably done in greatest Uprightness There is something which pulls back but a stronger Principle which draws them forward 2. What are the due and proper Qualifications of this Obedience Ans 1. It includes a quiet expecting and waiting for God's Call Obedience to God in dying must not spring from an impatient Discontent of Living for then it is no Obedience but real unruliness of the Spirit seeking Deliverance before the Time from some burdensome Evils wherewith we are opprest
and we find nothing but Trouble and Sorrow Many Holy Souls have been thus dealt with The Comforter that should releive them hath been far from them Lam. 1.16 And Faith hath with difficulty subsisted in the midst of perplexing Doubts and restless Fears 2. What are those Departures of God as to the Degree 1. The exact Measure or Distance cannot be stated We cannot say that thus far God may go and no further for his Dispensations of this sort are very different with one and with another yea with the same Believer at several Seasons Sometimes though he let us go out of his Hand and do not actually uphold us yet he is so near to us as to be ready to catch us when we are falling sometimes he stands so far off that he first lets us fall and then raises us again Sometimes he is within our reach when we feel after him sometimes he is gone a greatlength and we cannot take hold of him God sets bounds to us which we cannot pass but we can prescribe no Limits to him The best are beholden to Soveraign Mercy when they are at the worst 2. God does never totally depart from those whom he hath once vouchsaft his gracious Presence to His immutable Promise is the Believers Security against any such Desertion Heb. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee The Truth of this Word would be not only shaken but overturn'd if the forsakings of God were total at any Time He never leaves us but in Part he never leaves us so but that at the same Time he is still present with us if he leave us in one respect he is present in another When he is with-drawn from us as to Revival he is yet with us in a way of Support when he does not Work in us to Do he continues working in us to Will Though the Spirit may retire as one that is griev'd yet he is not absolutely quencht there is the Fire when there is no Flame 3. What are they as to the Duration 1. There is great variety in the dealings of God as to this also The Intervals of his Absence from us are longer or shorter as he sees good He changeth Times and Seasons not only in a Political Dan. 2.21 But in a spiritual Sense as it pleaseth him Our dead Calms have doubtful Periods for his Wind bloweth when it listeth Sometimes Christ's renewed Visits are more quick and speedy and sometimes more slow and lingring Song 3.4 It was but a little that I passed from them and I found him whom my Soul loveth She had just begun her Enquiries after him when she met with him So God sometimes comes back at the first call but Saints do not always fare so at other Times when they cry and shout he shutteth out their Prayer Lam. 3.8 2. The Departures of God from true Believers are never final they may be tedious but they are Temporary As the Evil Spirit is said to depart from Christ for a season Luke 4.13 Tho' he quitted that Temptation he did not quit his Design so as to Tempt no more so the good Spirit withdraws from those that are Christ's for a Season only 't is with a Purpose of comeing again When he hath most evidently forsaken 't is as unquestionable that sooner or later he will return And the Happiness of his return will richly recompence for the sadness of his Desertion Isa 54.7 For a small Moment have I forsaken thee but with great Mercies will I gather thee Here is not only a gathering after a forsaking but great Mercies to make amends for a small Moment He who hath engag'd to be our God for ever cannot depart for ever II. What are the Causes and Occasions of these sad Departures Among others these are the Chief 1. The seeking of our own Credit and Glory or any other selfish Ends in our serving of God Where Pride is at the beginning of a Duty shame will be as one says the Conclusion God will make the Body of those Actions to stink which are corrupted with an evil Eye by the withholding of his Spirit he will disparage those who under a pretence of honoring him do really aim to lift up and magnifie themselves When Men disire to be extoll'd as Herod once was This is the Voice of God and not of Man he makes it appear that it is the Voice of a forsaken Man without any thing of God A plain Sign of this evil is when the Spirit that dwelleth in us Lusteth to Envy when we are afraid that our Reputations should be diminisht and our Names darken'd by another's shining Brighter In that Case we should indeed be troubled that Gos is no better serv'd by us but we should rejoyce that he is better serv'd by others it should humble us that we are less useful than others it should not disturb us that we are less esteem'd this is the way to drive the Spirit of God from us 2. Self-Confidence in the Performance of Religious Duties The Spirit of God frequently and justly denies his Aid and Help in the carrying on of that Work which we venture to Undertake without him We should never seek the Face of God without seeking his Strength Psalm 105.4 Divine Power is communicated to us in a way of believing Expectation Zech. 10.12 I will strengthen them in the Lord and they shall walk up and down in his Name We are likely to succeed best in Holy Services when we go about them in a distrust of our own Abilities and Sence of our own weakness The greatest Gifts and Graces will fail by relying on them and in those very Things wherein Men most abound in their own Apprehensions they usually fall most short If we do not look up to God to prepare our Hearts he will convince us how insignificant our Personal Preparations are If we Fancy that our own Enlargements will be sufficient 't is no wonder if we find ourselves more straiten'd and indisposed then than at any other Times 3. Self-Applause after the Performance of Religious Duties When we Sacrifice to our own Net the Spirit leaves us to Toyl in casting it to no Purpose The spiritual Man shall be cast from his Excellency if he ascribe that to himself which belongs to God When Grace hath been exercis'd in the highest Measure the Heart ought to lye lowest under the Consideration of its own nothingness When Paul speaks of his labouring more abundantly than they all he corrects himself presently yet not I but the Grace of God which was with me 1 Cor. 15.10 He was afraid of that little boasting Pronoun I and therefore retracts it and strikes Sail to the Grace of Christ God will resist instead of helping us if we steal his Crown and put it on our own Heads The Spirit will never agree to walk with us if we take the uppermost Hand and we shall lose the Benefit of his Holy Breathings if we be puffd up in our
of Unity and Peace To enforce this he makes use of two sorts of Motives 1st He argues from several things which are one and the same in the Church of God which do all tend to fasten and engage us to one another ver 4 5 6. There is one Body and one Spirit c. 2dly He argues from those things in which there is a diversity viz. The Graces of Believers for their Diversity is also an Argument to Love and Concord This is the Subject of the Text But unto every one c. The manner of proposing this Argument with the Particle But plainly shews that the Apostle here designs to prevent an Objection from God's unequal Distribution of Grace which corrupt Nature is very apt to make an occasion of Division whereas indeed if well considered 't is rather a strong and powerful Bond of Union for seeing every one hath his several Graces from God and no one hath all it follows that we are mutually indigent of each others Assistance and ought to be mutually Useful in affording it if one hath that Grace which another wants and if one wants what another hath they should therefore agree to be helpers of their Brethren in Christ all Grace being dispensed by the same Benefactor proceeding from the same Author and referring to one general End In the Words we have Four Particulars 1st The thing spoken of Grace This is a word which hath various Significations in the Scripture Sometimes 't is put for Grace in God his Mercy and Kindness Favour and good Will in opposition to our own Works or any thing in the Creature so Eph. 2.8 We are saved by Grace c. So we read of the Election of Grace Rom. 11.5 and Justification by Grace chap. 3.24 For this is the Foundation and Principle of all that God doth for us we must still cry Grace Grace to it Sometimes 't is put for the Doctrine of Grace i.e. The Gospel which is truly and strictly so Gal. 5.4 You are fallen from Grace 1 Pet. 5.12 This is the true Grace of God wherein you stand Sometimes 't is put for the Fruits and Effects of the Grace of God in us and they are twofold Common Gifts or special Graces 1. Common Gifts which Salvation may be separated from Thus Paul expresses his Call to the Apostleship often by the Grace given to him Rom. 1.5 Chap. 15.15 1 Cor. 3.10 Gal. 2.9 Ephes 3.7 8. 2. Special Graces such as always accompany Salvation or carry Salvation in them Thus a charitable Disposition to relieve the Needy hath the Title and Character of Grace 2 Cor. 8.6 7. 'T is probable that Grace may include both Senses but I shall chuse to speak chiefly of the latter 2dly The way of Communication Is given 'T is not due or owing to us God is not oblig'd to impart any thing to us but he freely promises and freely bestows it He freely gives us all things Rom. 8.32 1 Cor. 2.12 't is all voluntary that which he might have righteously refused to do Of his own Will he first dispenses the Grace of Conversion and afterwards for our progressive Sanctification His Justice does not bind but his Goodness moves him to it If he had left all Mankind lying in Wickedness as well as those whom he passed by he had been a God without Iniquity There was no reason why he should Restore what we had lost and Repair what we had defac'd but because he would 3dly The Persons that are the Receivers To every one of us i. e. Either 1. To all actual Believers that are or have been since the beginning of the World To every one that now hath Grace or that ever had it it was and is given So some interpret John 1.9 Every Man that cometh into the World and is enlightned is enlightned by him Or 2. To all his chosen Ones even to the end of the World All that are given to Christ shall receive Grace from him Whom he did predestinate he also will call Rom. 8.30 They to whom Grace was given in the Eternal Purpose of God before the World shall be most certainly partakers of it in time 4thly The original Spring or Pattern of it According to the measure of the Gift of Christ. This may be taken either way 1. As denoting the Spring of this Grace i. e. according to the Liberality and Munificence of Christ and in the measure which it pleases him to give This Construction is favoured by the next words which are a Citation of Psal 68.18 He gave Gifts unto Men. 2. As intimating the Pattern of this Grace Christ is not only the Giver but the Exemplar of it There is some Correspondence between the Grace in Christ and in us So some understand that John 1.16 Grace for Grace As there is a Shadow and Reflection in the Glass which answers to the real Face as in a well drawn Copy there is a resemblance of that which 't is drawn from and as the printed paper contains the Stamp and Signature of those Letters which are set in the Press so there is some kind of analogy and likeness betwixt Christ's Grace and ours Observ There is a Grace given by Christ to every one that belongs to him bearing some proportion and similitude to that which was conferr'd upon himself Here I. Shew what Purposes this Grace serves for II. Wherein it appears to be given III. How given by Christ IV. After what Manner given to every one that belongs to Christ V. What Proportion and Similitude does it bear to his Grace VI. Use I. What Purposes does this Grace serve for Ans All is included in these two Things 1. For the fixing of Holy Principles This is what the Apostle calls the establishing of the Heart with Grace Heb. 13.9 There can be no steady walk with God till this is done If we be not transformed by Grace in the renewing of our Minds all other Changes and Alterations signifie nothing and will come to nothing This only infers a real change of the Man for the Man is according as his Principles are and sooner or later they will be Operative and discover themselves A gracious Person is one endowed with gracious Habits and settled in a gracious State It is the Seed abiding in us which denominates us truly alive to God or else we are no better than Carkasses at the best that are cover'd with Flowers or embalm'd with Spices to keep them from being noisome and offensive to others 2. The producing of Holy Actions Where Principles are first fixed these Actions flow as a pure stream from a clear Fountain When the Sinner is turn'd into another Man he naturally steers another Course And when he is under the Dominion of Grace he is not so apt to be drawn aside by contrary Temptations as one that is got no further than the external Rules and Precepts of Morality 'T is only the Grace of God which effectually teaches to deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts
pleased by his Almighty Vertue to Work the Cure and with an irresistible Hand to turn it to himself 2 Tim. 2.25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if peradventure God will give them Repentance c. No Instruction will do if he against whom they Sin do not give them to repent III. How is this Grace the Gift of Christ as the Text affirms it to be Ans In six Things 1. All Things are deliver'd unto him by the Father to him as Mediator Mat. 11.27 All things are given into his Hand John 3.35 And he hath the disposal of them according to his own Pleasure he may with-hold or dispense every Thing as he sees good The Son quickeneth whom he will Chap. 5.21 He is empower'd to give Eternal Life Chap. 10.28 Chap. 17.2 And this Eternal Life is founded in spiritual Now the ground-work is his as well as the Head-stone the first-fruits of Grace as well as the Harvest of Glory the Gift of Righteousness it self as well as the Crown of Righteousness Chap. 4.14 The Water which I shall give him shall be in him a Well springing up into Everlasting Life Christ hath so large a Trust and Commission from the Father that nothing is excepted out of it 2. The giving of Grace is one of his essential Royalties as a King To give only corruptible Things is to give as the World giveth the Men of high Degree scatter their Favours of that kind among those that are below them but it agrees with the Majesty of Jesus Christ to bestow that which is of an incorruptible Nature a Principle of Grace and Holiness in the Hearts of his People Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour to give Repentance c. He would be a Prince without Subjects a meer Titular Prince if he did not by his own Grace bring them into Subjection and keep them in it He never ruled in any Heart which he did not first Conquer rebellious Sinners would never submit and yield themselves to his Authority if he did not make them willing in the day of his Power Psalm 110.3 3. Christ is given to be an Head of Influence as well as of Government to his Church Therefore said to be the Head of the Body Col. 1.18 Now as every Part of the natural Body derives Spirits from the Head so every Part of the mystical Body gracious Influences from Christ There is an effectual working from him throughout the whole Eph. 4.16 And how is this effectual working but by the Communication of his Grace to the various Members This 〈◊〉 what Paul experienc'd and gives an account of with Reference to his own first Conversion 1 Tim. 1.14 The Grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus Paul's Heart was full of unbelief and hatred before but the prevailing Grace of Christ in whom he was chosen before the World planted Faith and Love in the room of them 4. 'T is the Work of Christ to furnish those whom be unites and espouses to himself with Beauty and Ornaments fit for his Embraces and wherein does this Beauty consist and what are these Ornaments but a Participation of his Grace Some are ready to cry is a deformed filthy Sinner meet to lye in Christ's Bosom But I would Reply who makes the Sinner meet besides Christ himself He can have no complacency or delight in such an one continuing as he is but his Manner is to impart a commending loveliness where he loves As Rebeckah was adorned with Jewel's of Isaac's giving Gen. 24.53 So it was granted to the Lambs Wife that she should be arrayed in fine Linne c. of his preparing Rev. 19.8 For as the imputed Righteousness of Christ so the inherent Righteousness of Saints is his Gift whom they are married to 5. Christ hath the right of distributing Grace as the Effect of his Purchase He hath bought it with his Blood and therefore may confer it on whom he pleases as we know that every one may do what he Will with his own and what we buy at a valuable Price is undoubedtly our own Upon this score all Grace is the Grace of Christ 't is his just Propriety and he hath â—â—â—ain'd it at the dearest Rate which could be demanded He gave himself for the Church that he might sanctifie and cleanse it c. Eph. 5.25 26. Our Sanctification was one end of his Sufferings and as it was he that suffer'd so 't is he that sanctifies Christ merited Grace for us by his Death and therefore the dispensing of it is his due 6. The Spirit of Grace is sent by Christ and supplies his Place John 16.7 If I depart I will send him to you So that he Acts as in Christ's Name and on his behalf and consequently what the Spirit does may be attributed unto Christ and what he divides to every Man may be very well look't upon as allotted by Christ whose Spirit he is for so he is called the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.17 18. There is the very Heart of Christ in all the Spirits saving Operations they are directed by his Infinite Wisdom and Care to all those whom he laid down his Life for As he shed forth the Holy Ghost at Pentecost Acts 2.33 So the pouring of him out at all Times is his continual Providence still IV. After what manner is this Grace given to every one that belongs to Christ Answ Negatively and Positively I. Negatively I. This Grace is not given to all by the same Instruments and Means 'T is most usually by the Word of Grace but sometimes by the Rod of sanctified Affliction 't is oftnest by the Sword in Christ's Mouth but it may be by the Fan in his Hand Ordinarily 't is by the Preaching of Christ's Embassadors but sometimes the edifying Discourses of Private Christians may Minister Grace to the Hearers Eph. 4.29 Again though it be by the same Gospel yet God makes use of several Publishers They whom he sanctifies through the Truth are Converted by several Persons There are many spiritual Fathers some are begotten in Christ by the Ministry of one and some by another 2. It is not given to all at the same Age or Period of Life As in that Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard some were called at the third Hour some at the sixth some at the ninth some at the eleventh Some are sanctified from the Womb filled with the Spirit like John from their very Birth Luke 1.15 Others it may be wear out almost all their Lives and are even dropping into the Grave before they are brought home to God Some are planted into Christ in their tender Years like Paul when a Young Man others not born again till they are Old when the evil Days come And therefore it is not so material or requisite for us to know when we felt the first workings of Grace as to be sure that we feel it 's real workings
abolishing of the former as the expiring of the latter He is an eternal Saviour as well as Eternal God Thus he saves to the utternmost VSE 1. Let us settle our hearts in the faith of this grand Point against the assaults of Infidelity in general Whatever vile blasphemous and dishonourable Thoughts of Jesus Christ other persons in the World have to them that are saved he is and ought to be esteemed as the power of God 1 Cor. 1.24 There are Children of Belial now as there were in the days of Saul and worse than they who cry How shall this man save us 1 Sam. 10.27 Making little more of him than a common ordinary Son of Man but to us he should be no less than the Mighty God we should respect and honour him as such and thereby do what we can to ballance the contempt which is thrown upon him by a wretched Generation that know him not 2. Let us improve this for the strengthening of our adherence to Christ and dependance on him notwithstanding all that tends to deter and beat us off Never give up this Cause never cast away thy Confidence but hold fast the beginnings of it steady to the end seeing that Jesus Christ can save to the uttermost There can be no Lion in any part of the way between thee and Heaven but what he hath a sufficiency of Power to deliver and rescue thee from Look as far as thou canst says one well take the largest prospect that 's possible of all thy Sins Miseries and Difficulties of Salvation still the Power of Christ does extend infinitely beyond all these We may safely say If Christ be not able to succour and help us we are content to perish if we rest there we are out of danger 3. Let us oppose the saving strength of Christ to all the united force of Hell The Persecutors of our Souls are indeed stronger than we but they are weaker than he We have a Friend in Heaven that can do more for us than all our enemies from beneath can do against us Those Horns are not so able to scatter God's Israel as this Horn of Salvation is to defend them If evil Angels be greater in power than the best of Men left to themselves they are not so great in power as our great High-Priest Jesus the Son of God When they have done their utmost to separate a Believer from the love of God 't is not so much as our blessed Lord hath done to keep us in it Behold I give unto you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions and over all the power of the enemy c. Luke 10.19 4. Let this comfort us under the sense of our own impotency When we consider how weak and feeble we are it is cause of deep abasement when we consider how powerful Christ is it is on the other hand matter of strong consolation There is a kind of Omnipotency communicated from Christ to those that are in him I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me Phil. 4.13 Though we are but as reeds shaken with the wind he can make us Pillars in the Temple of his God Rev. 3.12 All that are built upon this sure Foundation receive stability from it Therefore as Abraham considered not the deadness of his own Body or Sarah's Womb being fully perswaded of God's being able to perform his Promise Rom. 4.19 21. So the belief of Christ's Almightiness should be mixt with the thoughts of our own infirmities 5. Let this relieve and fortifie our spirits against the dejecting fears of our future Apostacy How little Grace soever we yet have we shall have as much as we need if we belong to Christ for he is able to make all Grace abound towards us nd in us How defective soever our Sanctification yet be Christ hath a Stock enough in his own hands to fill up what is behind that there shall be nothing lacking at the last We stagger and reel and stumble so often that we are afraid perhaps we shall never hold on and hold out till we come to our Journeys end But ought not this to bear up our hopes that we are interested in one who is able to keep us from falling Jude 24. able to prevent every Fall or able to recover and raise us up when fallen 6. When we come to the Throne of Grace this Doctrine will furnish us with a good plea to urge to God viz. That the Glory of Christ's Power is embarqu'd with our Salvation It was such a sort of Argument which Moses went to God with when God threatned to destroy Israel he tells him what the Nations would be apt to say Numb 14.16 Because the Lord was not able to bring this People into the Land which he sware unto them therefore he hath slain them in the Wilderness So may we say Lord it will teach the Devil to blaspheme thy Son if we should come short of the Rest which thou hast promised us the Powers of Darkness which have heard his Fame and felt his hand will be ready to vilifie him and cry Because he was not able to save them he hath suffer'd them to perish 7. This may encourage those that are yet without Christ to come to him You are not you cannot be so great Sinners but that he is still a greater Saviour Do not mistake it for your Duty to aggravate your own Sin to the lessening of Christ Objection Though Christ is able to save me he may not be willing and then what am I the better He is certainly able to do many things which he never does and so I may be lost notwithstanding his saving Power Answer 1. It will do well if thou art throughly got over this Block of suspecting and distrusting the Power of Christ We are naturally prone to stick here as the Father of the Child Mark 9.22 If thou canst do any thing have compassion on us and help us Therefore our Lord was wont to put the Question as to the Blind Man Mat. 9.21 Believe you that I am able to do this 2. There is no more doubt of the willingness of Christ to save than of his power where he makes the Soul willing to accept of Salvation by him When such a consenting Will is wrought in us 't is an infallible evidence of his saving Good Will towards us What was he given of God for what did he give himself for but that whosoever believeth on him should not perish How then canst thou think that Salvation is his strange work or that he is unwilling to it 3. Thou canst not die in thy Sins if thou wilt come to Christ to save thee from them 'T is impossible that any thing should hinder him from doing this mighty Work upon thee if thy unbelief do not nothing will tie his Hands but only that He never is as a mighty Man that cannot save but where his mighty Salvation is call'd in Question Therefore imitate their Faith who were
threatned with the burning Furnace Dan. 3.17 Our God is able to deliver us and he will deliver us Be satisfied that he who is able to save will actually save those that cast themselves upon him SERMON XXIV October 15. 1697. HEBREWS VII xxv Therefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them II. AS to the Evidence which the Apostle brings to prove his Assertion by The Eternal Life and Intercession of Jesus Christ in Heaven Here we are to consider three Things viz. The Life of Christ in Heaven His Intercession there And the Objects of it or Persons on whose behalf he lives and intercedes First The eternal Life of Christ in Heaven In opening of this we should shew That he lives and that he lives for ever and how the Conclusion of his being able to save is built and founded hereupon 1. That Christ lives not only as he is the living God Hebr. 3.12 and so eternal Life is essential to his Deity 1 John 1.2 15 20. but he lives as Mediator and that very Life which he laid down as Man he hath taken up again and possesses it now more advantagiously than before This was the grand Controversie in the Apostolical Times between the Jews and Christians so Festus represents it to Agrippa as a Quarrel about one Jesus who was dead whom Paul affirmed to be alive Acts 25.19 The Jews would have him to be really in the State of the Dead still and that his Disciples stole him out of the Grave to give Reputation to their new Doctrine but the Apostles were Witnesses of his Resurrection and preached this where-ever they preach'd the Gospel for indeed the whole Gospel would be but an empty Fable without it If Christ were not alive what 's become of the Type of the Living Bird in the cleansing of the Leper that was let loose into the open Field Lev. 14.7 What 's become of the Type of the Scape Goat that was sent away into the Wilderness Chap. 16.21 How have these things received their Accomplishment but in the Life of Jesus It was as necessary for our Consolation and Salvation that Christ should live as that he should die The meer Death of Christ would profit us nothing could be no support to us if he had continued under the Power of Death Therefore as old Jacob was transported with Joy when he heard that Joseph was alive Gen. 45.26 28. So Job in the midst of his Afflictions triumph'd and glorifie in this I know that my Redeemer liveth Job 19.25 2. That he ever lives When our Lord speaks of his Death it was matter of stumbling to the Jews because say they we have heard out of the Law that Christ abideth for ever John 12.34 but they erred not knowing the Scripture This was not be understood in opposition to his dying but as consequent upon it for after his Death and notwithstanding his Death this was to be made good that he should abide for ever So we find our Lord himself from Heaven expounding it to John Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore The Life which Christ lived upon Earth was a mortal temporary perishing Life as ours is for he took part of our Flesh and Blood in the same poor and miserable Circumstances as we do but the Life which he now lives in Heaven is of another sort of a more permanent and durable Nature So Rom. 6.9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more Death hath no more Dominion over him He cannot die a second time as Lazarus did who after his first Death was raised again and died again as the Body of his Humiliation even when dead saw no Corruption so his glorified Body with which he sits at the Right Hand of God can never see Death His present Life is such an one as swallows up mortality 3. How is the Inference of Christ's being able to save grounded here upon his Living for ever Answer Very strongly for the saving Power of Jesus Christ shines forth most illustriously in him as living Rom. 5.10 Being reconciled by his Death we shall be much more saved by his Life So Chap. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is raised again c. If Christ had been held by the Bands of Death or if it had been possible for him so to be held it had been impossible for him to be the Author of Salvation to any our Faith in him had been vain and our hope as a Spiders Web whereas now 't is firm and establish'd stedfast and unmoveable considering that Jesus Christ since his ignominious accursed Death is raised up to such a Blessed and Glorious Life This gives us mighty encouragement in several respects For 1. If Christ had not been able to save he could not have conquer'd Death as he hath done This one Victory which he hath obtained over that Enemy is a signal demonstration of his Power The Grave would have detained him and must kept him as the legal Executioner of Justice if he had not finish'd the Work of our Salvation as to the purchasing part and done all in dying once He could not be discharged till he had answer'd all Demands and when they were answer'd he could be under Arrest no longer but the Prosecution must cease When the Debt was paid it would have been false Imprisonment for Jesus Christ to remain in the Custody of Death on the other hand his reviving and breaking loose from those Restraints shews that all the Obstacles of our Salvation are taken out of the way Therefore if we suspect his Ability to save we must with the Jews disbelieve his rising again and look upon him no otherwise than as a dead Man to this very day 2. Our eternal Life is inseperably connected with the Life of Christ 'T is as certain that he is our Life as that he himself lives Col. 3.4 he will not Live and Reign without us but we shall Reign in Life by him He does not live meerly for himself but for us as he did not die for himself but only for us He lives as a publick Person a second Adam in whom all that belong to him shall be made alive as a quickning Head to his whole Body and to every Member in particular John 14.19 Because I live you shall live also He asserts our Life in conjunction with his own for his Life and the Life of those that are united with him cannot be divided 2 Cor. 13.4 He though Crucified through weakness lives by the Power of God so we likewise though weak shall live with him by vertue of the same Power Hence it is that the Apostle makes the great Doctrine of Christ's Resurrection to stand or fall with the Resurrection of Believers 1 Cor. 15.15 16. Whom God raised not up if so be that the
dead rise not for if the dead rise not then is not Christ raised Either he that quickned our Lord's natural Body will quicken our mortal Bodies also or we must renounce the Faith of both together Secondly The Intercession of Christ in Heaven In handling this we should enquire what is meant by this Intercession How he lives to this end how he ever lives in order to it and wherein his infinite Ability to save is evidenc'd hereby 1. What is meant by the Intercession which Christ makesin Heaven That it differs from the Prayers and Supplications which he offer'd up in the days of his Flesh upon the account of the differing Circumstances of his now Glorious State which we must understand it suitably to is I think without all Controversie That all Intercession carries in it in general something of the true nature of Prayer seems also clear whether it be managed with or without the use of words is a disputed Point And therefore I shall sum up all that needs to be spoken to it in these three things 1. He appears in the Presence of God for us Hebr. 9.24 He represents our Persons there presents himelf in our stead and on our behalf As Aaron bore the Names of the Children of Israel in the breast-plate of Judgment upon his Heart when he went into the Holy Place Exod 28.29 And perhaps in Allusion to this Christ's speaks of confessing the names of those that overcome before his Father Rev. 3.5 When no one could undertake such a desperate Cause as ours was he interposes and stands forth to be our Advocate when we did not dare to shew our selves before the Throne God he acts in the place of poor and miserable Clients and makes it his Business to sue and sollicite for them in that awful Court of Heaven 2. He expresses his Will and Desire that we should partake of all that he hath procured for us So far his Intercession above agrees with that Prayer which he made while he was here below John 17.24 Father I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory c. And he who knows what is the mind of the Spirit interceding in us does very well know the mind of Christ in his making Intercession for us The Father knows not only what we want but what his Son would have for us In what way or manner Jesus Christ signifies his Desires to any such purpose we cannot be easily satisifed but that the Desires of Jesus Christ are all really before God and regarded by him we may be very sure 3. He insists upon his own Blood as a moving Plea As the High-Priest under the Law was to carry the Blood of the Sacrifice within the Vail and sprinkle it upon and before the Mercy Seat Lev. 16.14 15. So the Blood of Christ does not like the Blood of Abel cry from the Ground but speaks in Heaven Hebr. 12.24 And 't is stiled the Blood of sprinkling there as being effectually pleaded by him that shed it and the Fruits of it demanded to be bestow'd upon those whom it was shed for Whatsoever needs to be requested for us our Lord Jesus does justly require as due to himself Our Necessities cannot go so far but that his Merits extend still further and upon all occasions it may be perfectly and fitly urg'd by him though by none else Father I am worthy for whom thou shouldst do this 2dly How Christ lives to this End 1. Vltimately Christ lives to God Rom. 6.10 His Exaltation issues and centers in the Glory of God the Father Phil. 2.9 10 11. This was the chief hope and aim of the Life of Christ while he dwelt among us here below and so it is of the Life which he now lives in the World above And therefore it must still be supposed that whatever other Designs he is engaged in the pursuit of they are all subordinate to this The honouring of the Father is more to Christ than the Happiness of any Creature whatsoever tho' they may very consistently be carried on both at once 2. 'T is undeniable that Jesus Christ does not live for this end only in Subordination to the Glory of God but for other purposes besides which have all a reference and tendency to that last end He lives to execute his Prophetical Office still for by his Spirit whom he sheds forth he leads both his Ministers and all Believers into all Truth and so declares and manifests the Counsel of God most effectually to this very day He lives to execute his Kingly Office still in the Holy Government of his Church and further subduing of his Enemies for he must reign till he hath put all under his Feet 1 Cor. 15.25 And he is to sit upon his Throne of his Glory as Universal Judge at the Great Day when all Nations shall be gathered before him and Sentenc'd by him Matth. 25.31 32. 3. The making of Intercession is a very eminent and considerable Act which Christ lives in order to though it be not his ultimate or only end of living I say a very eminent and considerable Act for Intercession is a special part of Christ's Priestly Office the Priesthood of Jesus Christ did not expire at his Death but after Death when he lived again he was to transact and negotiate our Affairs with God This is the true meaning of that Text which is abused and perverted by the Socinians to countenance their false Principles that Jesus Christ was not a Priest till he came to Heaven Hebr. 8.4 If he were on Earth he should be a Priest The plain sense and import of which Passage is this That if Jesus Christ had remain'd on Earth he could not have been a perfect and compleat High-Priest if all his Work as a Priest had ended in what he did on Earth his Office had not been consummated for it was necessary that he should go into Heaven as the High-Priest under the Law did into the Holy of Holies When he had obtained eternal Redemption for us here it was requisite that he should enter there in order to the applying of what he had obtained 3. How is it that Christ ever lives to make Intercession So he is affirmed to be a Priest for ever to be made after the power of an endless Life Verse 16. of this Chapter As Melchisedech as Type of him in a much inferior Sense is said to abide a Priest continually ver 3. 1. Christ Interecedes constantly without intermission He does not as the High Priest did it once a Year but always He spent whole Nights sometimes in Prayer while he was in this World but yet it was not his perpetual Work as now it is He intercedes Year after Year and is never silent on our behalf so much as for a moment As he does not cease to live at any time so he does not cease to Mediate with God for us There never is any demurr