not known nor whom we know deal harshly and discourteously with us in our common occasions of commerce or If those of alliance and acquaintance who are prophane and ungodly if they be fals in their promises or injust or injurious in their carriages towards us They deal like themselves they do but their kind as we say If fals hearted persons deal falsly If loose men shew themselves base to us it s that they do to al yea to their own Souls we expect no other and therefore if we find no better measure it doth not trouble If it had been an Enemy I could have born it saies David but when it comes to that It was thou my familiar Friend we took sweet counsel and went up to the house of the Lord together It was he that lift up himself against me this is more bitter than death It is so with the Lord. If the Ignorant world who knows him not who are strangers from him and the convenant of his Grace If the wicked and prophane who are professed adversaries to his Grace and Kingdom if they dishonor his name transgress his Laws grieve his spirit and cast his Ordinances behind their back It I say the world deal so with the Lord he looks for no other he hates the world he never gave his Son for the world Christ never prayed for the world But that his faithful whom he hath owned imbraced in the Bowels of his tenderest mercies should deal frowardly in his covenant this is killing unkindness Will ye also go away Joh. 6.67 When the Crown of those counterfeit wretches who followed Christ for the Loaves when they missed of their Dinner and sweet morsels they departed presently and came no more at him Our Savior is content to see so free a riddance of them and the place quit of their company But turnes himself to his disciples with that melting expression wil ye also go away q. d. That they are gone I care not it matters not I never knew them nor was known of them but wil ye also go away that would be unsufferable Though Israel play the Harlot yet let not Judah offend And hence it is The Lord is compelled with such unreasonable carriages to make his complaint unto the senseless creatures as those who would give in witness against such miscarriages as professedly cross to the course of things Hearken O Heaven and hear O Earth I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebelled against me Isa 1.2 And upon this ground it is the Lord makes that so sad an expression when the Sons of God married with the Daughters of men and were carried with the common stream Gen. 6.6 The Text saith It grieved God to the Heart It went to the heart of the Almighty Bears any thing but the Contempt of his love and goodness For it is a sin out of measure sinful Not only that which Nature gainsaies and reason rejects and conscience condemnes and Grace abhorres to the bottomless pit But it is a practise more vile than the worst of sinners wil adventure upon Math. 5.46 If ye love them that love you what reward have ye Do not the Publicans the same Not to return love for love c. It s that which the Publicans the worst and most reffuse wretches in the world do loath For the faithful who have been redeemed by the precious Blood of Jesus comforted by the spirit of Jesus beloved of the Father as the Lord Jesus his only begotten Son for them to be tainted with that sin which the Publicans the worst of men wil give witness against Oh how hamous are such miscarâ—iages and how grievous must they needs be to the God of love I shal Instance in two Evils unto which the Saints are usually too much subject and taken aside withal which are so professedly opposite to this enlarged compassion of the Lord. 1. When the Faithful either question this Love when it is so sure Or 2. Undervalue it and little esteem of it when it is so great as that it exceeds the thoughts and apprehensions of men Both are marvelously distastful and that justly to the Father of Mercies and in truth unsufferable were it not that he makes us acceptable and lovely through his wel-beloved It could not be that he could bear with the abuse of his constant kindness in so gross and unkind manner and yet this is the baseness and wretchedness of our unreasonable hearts He hath loved us with an everlasting Love he never ceaseth loving and we never cease questioning and quarrelling with his kindness we are ever of the jealous and suspicious hand that this favor of the Lord it is but for a fit it wil one day fail and we shal be forsaken utterly If Christ wil cease to be a Son and to be this wel-beloved of his Father with whom he is wel pleased then wil he cease to love thee to accept of thee and to be wel pleased with thee in him The one is impossible the other is incredible and therefore stifle those distempered pangs they are so deeply injurious to the Lord and distastful to his Majesty that he cannot bear them but wil undoubtedly correct Such a way-ward jealous pang ye shal perceive in the Church of the Jews in the day of Discouragement when God cals Heaven and Earth to rejoyce in the Consolation of his People Sing O Heavens and be joyful of Earth break forth into singing O Mountains for God hath comforted his People and will have mercy on his afflicted Isa 49.13 but they were silent in this Quaere and sate down in sullen discouragement verse 14. But Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Can a Woman forget her sucking Child that she should not have compassion on the fruit of her Womb yea they may but yet will not I forget thee verse 15. and therefore the Lord professeth he takes it unkindly Isa 40.27 Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel amp c. This is the dayly talk of al dismayed and gloomy discouraged Spirits it 's al they speak and have in their Meetings Jacob saies and Israel speaks this is common My way in hid from the Lord and my Judgment is passed over of my God Thus ye say but what saies God Why speakest thou c. q. d. I cannot abide those words God cannot brook such groundless suspicions of his Favor which is more sure than the Foundations of the Earth As it is whith men who are real and cordial in their kindness and sincere hearted in the expression of their Love so that they never gave the least appearance of any instability and feebleness in their Promises and Performances as either their engagements or others desires or necessities should require if yet their Friends and intimate Familiars should out of their jealousie either cast out such words in their presence or give it in their expressions to others to understand That however they have ever been
shouldest be mindfull of him and the Son of man thou shouldest regard him So What is man so base so sinful so vile so miserable As Saul who ever found his enemy and slue him not but who ever found his enemy and sent his Son to him Use 2. Comfort to bear up the fainting hearts of the Saints amidst al the corruptions that annoy temptations that oppose feebleness and difficulties that discourage why yet Christ is sent for the work who is furnished with al sufficiency to do it He hath laid salvation upon one that is mighty Mighty pride mighty distempers to foil thee mighty temptations to assault thee mighty allurements in the world to intangle thee Why here is Salvation upon one that is mighty to save free and deliver thee Hither Paul retires and strengthens himself 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have beleeved when I am not able to resist or vanquish Christ is able and nothing ever miscarried that was committed to his care All power in Heaven and Earth is committed into his had Use 3. Of Direction How to expect all from God How to go to God for all 1. Expect all from God in Christ Eph. 1.3 c. blesseth us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in him Adopts us in him makes us accepted in him God was in Christ reconciling the world 2. Go to God for al in Christ In the performances of al Duties in the use of al Ordinances go to Christ first and then to the Father As its true the Father judgeth no man so he comforts quickens sanctifies no man but hath committed al unto his Son Christ is the Fathers Almner and to him we must repaire if we desire to share in the bounty of the Father He is that Joseph Gen. 41.44 45. If the Son make you free ye shal be free indeed Joh. 8.30 If he comfort ye shal be comforted indeed Therefore do three things 1. Be Dexâ—rous in our apprehensions to see the footsteps of our Savior and be so wel acquainted with his passages that we may perceive his whispers and know him at a turn though we â—ee but his back parts 2. Use no meanes nor entertain any but such as come by his own appointment Because those that come not from him lead not to him Col. 2.10 We stand complete in him Math. 17.5 Hear him and none but him As the Prophet to the King of Judah Go not with the King of Israel for God is not with him So go not out in the use of such means for God is not in them 3. Look at him as sent on purpose for this work Joh. 6.26 This is the work of God that ye beleeve on him whom the Father hath sent This answers all If the Father appoint him who shal gainsay It the Son hath undertaken it how can it fail If al power be in his hand who shal hinder If all the execution be in his hand there wil be no miscarriage We have dispach't the first The second now follows Viz. That God will have this beleeved by the ungodly world And its possible they may when the Saint attain this unity Christ shall attain this glory even from the wicked that they shall acknowledg his call and commission and so execution of this work of our Redemption For the explication hereof we may inquire 1. What it meant by world 2. How they are said to beleeve 3. What do they beleeve in the sending of Christ for which our Savior so praise and at which he so aimes 1. WORLD here not to trouble with any thing Impertinent or superfluous iâ— is put for the WICKED of the world who have their hearts inheritance and happiness here therefore go no higher look of further So ye shall find the word used in this Chap. verse 9. I pray for them I pray not for the world where the opposition gives the true sense explication of the word they are here distinguished and differenced from those that were given to Christ and to whom he hath given his word and hearts to beleeve and to whom he gave eternal life The like ye have 1 Joh. 5.4 We know that we are of God and the whol world lieth in wickedness Where those two are put in opposition to be of God begotten of God called to be Saints out of the world But those that are not begotten of God they are made up as it were of worldly principles and they keep and take up their abode in wickedness they are brought to bed in it And thus wicked men are stiled from three grounds 1. Because the God of this world rules in them 2 Cor. 4.4 i.e. Satan whose abode and habitation is in this visible world for where the Devils are cast there is Hell but hither they are cast into the Air the prince of the Air. Eph. 2.2 He compasseth the Earth to and fro Job 1. And somtimes he hurries into the great deep God hath given him a commission in his Justice to exercise a Soverainty over the wicked and to use all these earthly and worldly things as baits to take them at his will and he never fails With honor he catcheth the ambitious with wealth the câ—veâ—cus And they acknowledg no God but Saâ—an in these carried and taken aside by his temptations and overpowred by his allurements when he wil. 2. They are acted by the Spirit of the world And therefore the Apostle puts these two in opposition 1 Cor. 2.12 We have not received the Spirit of the world but the Spirit of God As the â—ons of God are led by the Spirit of God who works mightily in them that beleeve So wicked men are acted by the Spirit of the world Now that which gives life and being to the world as it is in opposition to God is vanity and emptiness vanity and emptiness perverted inordinate or Exorbitant vanity running wry from the command of God and cross to the fear of God Emptiness and weakness of the creature captivating the Soul under its command and carrying of it according to its will It s the Spirit of the world 1 Joh. 2.16 The lust of the Eves carry all away Thus the Prophet Wine and Women take away the heart Hos 4.11 3. They take contentment in the things of the world and there they take up their stand set up their rest They are called the men of the Earth and lay up their treasures here on Earth Ps 17.14 Mind earthly things Philip. 3.19 Here they are in their Element like fish in the Water and some conceive and not improbably that the Psalmist aimed at some such thing The Heavens are the Lords but the Earth he hath given to the sons of men Psal 115.16 By Earth is meant all these visible things which they who live by sense set up as their Gods serve and worship them The heaven is Gods throne where no unclean thing comes but the Earth these visible things where wicked men have sinned and by their sins
will deny Christs prayer I am content he should deny my comfort and support But the one is impossible and the other is incredible It s seasonable even for unbeleeving creatures leaving secret things to Gods counsel when they have no heart to pray not Hope to expect any favor and where ever they cast their Eye they find nothing but cause of discouragement and confusion of face look into the world there is nothing but vanity there to deceive and vex look they into their own hearts and lives there is nothing but Hells of sin and guilt which might overwhelm them Look then to the Prayer of our Savior who prayed for His in their worst condition when they did not beleeve and could not pray for themselves and were as bad as I am even for Paul when he was persecuting and blaspheming even for many of the Jews when they were killing of him and why not for me why may I not Hope the best when I cannot conclude the worst what God wil do he knows not what he may do he hath revealed and I will yet expect Use 3. Exhortation He prayed for this disposition labor thou to attain it He desired it of his Father in Heaven indeavor thou to the utmost of that care and skill thou hast in the use of all means to attain it upon earth The Sum is That the whol strength of the Soul should be wholly carried to God in Christ for all not to any thing in our selves we have or for any thing we can do as Adam might have pleaded I have done I have deserved it but wholly to be quickened and acted by the spirit of God through Christ The Soul should be like the Herb Heliotropium the Nature whereof is such as the philosopher observes It turnes the face of it towards the Sun what way soever it turnes In the morning looks to the East the Sun rising In the evening to the West the Sun setting So it should be with the beleeving sinner the face and Eye of the Soul ever towards God in Christ That which our Souls need and which is able to answer our desires and satisfie our necessities is here alone to be had hither alone we must come from hence for ever look to receive it So Peter disputes Act. 4.12 Job 6. When our Savior would settle their staggering disposition least they should be taken aâ—â—de will ye also go away He answers and yields the argument Whither should we go thou only hast the words of eternal life Here only is that wisedom that may guid here only that mercy that may succor here only is that Grace that may refresh and quicken It s good therefore coming being here So they by experience concluded Jer. 3.29 Surely in vam is Salvation hoped for from the Hills and from the multitude of the Mountaines truly in the Lord our God is the Salvation of Israel And upon the like ground they resolves Hos 14.3 For in thee the Fatherless findeth mercy It s not Els-where to be found Therefore learn we to chide our hearts out unto God in Christ As Jacob his Sons Why stand ye here gazing one upon another go unto Egypt and buy that we may live and not die Gaze not upon the sins weaknesses temptations miseries means ordinances c. get ye to God in Christ that ye may for ever be assured comforted and quickened As its alone here to be had So here we shal never fail to receive what we seek and expect Ps 10.20 Verse 21. That the world may beleeve that thou hast sent me THese last words lay out the main scope of the Prayer of our Savior at which he aimed and which he looked at principally by the grant of that spiritual unity which he craved in the behalf of his disciples And the end is To lift up the prais and honor of that supream and absolute soveraignty of God the Father in sending his own faithfulness and infinite sufficiency in executing and accomplishing the great work of Redemption about which he was sent so that there was nothing failed of all that the Father purposed and he undertook to perform and that the world and worst of men however formerly they rebelled against his authority counsel and command in sending rejected also the person and proceeding of our Savior Christ in coming who was a stumbling to the Jew and foolishness to the Grecians The Head-corner-stone whom the Jews refused whom the Gentiles trampled under their feet against whom both Jews and Gentiles banded themselves So the Apostle Peter observes the Prophecy and concludes by proof and experience and accomplishment of it Act. 4.24 25 26 27. Lord thou art God which hast made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and al that in them is who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said why did the Heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing The Kings of the Earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ for of a truth against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together c. Let us break their bonds and cast their cords away I know not the Lord saies Pharaoh We know that God spake unto Moses as for this fellow so contemptuously they spake of Jesus we know not whence he is Joh. 9.29 The Jews had certain questions against Paul saies Festus and of one Jesus Act. 25.19 And the whol rabble cry out Away with him from the earth not him but Barabbas And yet when the prayer of our Savior shal attain his end in the hearts of the Faithful so that they shal be wholly carried to God in Christ by the immutable assistance of his Spirit their hearts kept with him their graces acted upon him themselves quickned by him for ever then al these wil they nil they shal by a constraint be forced to acknowledg their own consciences wil yield it and their mouths confess it at the day of Judgment That Christ was the true Messias sent by the Father and that he hath fully accomplished the great work of salvation for the good of his And God only shal be exalted in that day There be two particulars in the words We shall open all and handle that which is the main 1. Christ is sent by God the Father 2. God will have this beleeved by the ungodly Which will be when the Saints attain this unity here prayd for then Christ will attain this glory To the First That Christ is sent by God the Father for the Redemption of his It needs no further witness to settle it the words are so express We will a little open it that as it is true so it may be plain and evident and so much the rather because our Savior laies so great a weight upon it and bestows the very strength of his prayer in the first place for the attainement of the
have polluted they are now contented with them and they shal be plagued by them therefore it s said God filâ—s their Bellies with his hid Treasures the things of this world which are in Gods store-house and he hath a hidden dispensation of them These are the diet of wicked men they have not the hid manna spiritual food to refresh them If the God of the world rule them The Spirit of the world act them The things of the world content them Then are they truly said to be World USE Before we pass let us make some use of this That wicked men are worldly men and hence we may discover our condition and take a trial of our estate whether carnal or spiritual whether gracious or wicked look what it is that carries thee what it is that contents thee Are these worldly things great in thine Eye and in thy apprehension and approbation dost thou center thy self upon these satisfiest thou thy self with these beleeve it thou art of the world and shalt perish with the world So our Savior Joh. 3.31 He that is of the Earth is earthly and speaketh of the Earth It is his Nature and he doth his Nature his actions manifest his disposition we judg ever the Nature and quality of the thing by its motion place whither it tends Light things wil ascend and never stay tiâ— they come to the place their Nature desires heavy things descend downward and they wil not stay before they come thither See thou the poâ—se of thy spirit the motion and inclination of the heart whither it goes naturally and where it would be if it be there where it desires and where it rests if left unto it self If the weight of thy thoughts and desires carry thee freely and strongly after the lust of thine Eyes the lust of thy flesh and stop it doth not stay it would not before it be there Thy heart is on the Earth and thou art a Citizen on Earth and thou hast thy portion on this Earth thou hast no Heaven in thee to this day and thou shalt never come to Heaven It skills not that thou meeâ—est somtimes with the things of Grace and life thy speeches thy conference thy carriages and thy actions meddle now and then and converse with the things of Heaven and happiness because they be such as come in thy way and will keep thee company if not beyond thy expectation yet beyond thy desire The Traveiler passeth by many countries baits at many places but he takes not up his abode and rest before he come to his own Country and own home and there he stayes That shews he is that Country man Thou mayest in thy travel meddle with the heavenly ordinances of God take up holy duties in thy course and bait thy self in such performances as may maintain either quiet within or credit without amongst men Oh! but which is thy home wither thy heart and desires are going and wil not rest before they repair thither thou seekest God to serve thine own turn touchest at holy courses to take in fresh comfort incouragements c. But thy heart is not at home before it can satisfie it self in the pursuit and possession of worldly things The God of the world rules thee the spirit of the world leads thee the things of the world content thee when thou art there thou art in thy Element when drawn from thence thou art dragd like Fish out of the Water much a-do to live That is thy condition It s possible for a heavy thing by a strong hand to be held from descending downward but leave it to it self thou shalt easily see whether it be its place or suitable to its inclination it moves immediately downwards Your Sea-horses and Crocodils go somtimes ashore for their prey but because they retire and take up their abode in the Waters we therefore know they are Sea not Land-creatures So its possible to seek a prey i.e. For thine own ease or praise thou mayst put to the performances of holy duties or happily either company place persons the lawes or ordinances hold thee by strong hand and-force thee to a shew of zealous profession But when these poises are plucked away mark what thy Soul before desired inwardly what it now wil into of it self If to the world and the vanities thereof thou art a worldly man to this day Hence it is that many in these places drop away and fall hand-pat to the world after a long profession of a heavenly life These earthly heavy Souls would have been at their center long before but there were some impediments in their way that stopped their proceeding Wheras if the heart be heavenly it rests not before it come thither Psal 42. Oh when shall I appeare before the living God many say who will shew us any good but Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance And the Apostle concludes it Coloss 3.1 If ye be risen with Christ seek the things that are above ye ought to do so and ye will do so The Apostle Issues both the parts with the grounds of them 1 Cor. 15. 48. The first Adam is from the Earth earthly the second Adam is the Lord from Heaven As we have born the image of the earthly so shal we bear the image of the Heavenly Yea our Savior concludes it They are not of this world as I am not of the world As he by the power of his God-Head took our Nature to himself by the power of the fame God-Head he takes our Souls to himself carries them to himself acts them upon himself keeps them with himself 2. How the world are said to beleeve Christs sending Answ It cannot be meant of saving Faith the faith of Gods Elect or that Faith by which we beleeve unto Salvation for that Faith which is here meant wicked men should and its certain sooner or later they shal attain for its that which the Father intends and aims at and our Savior Christ looked at as his scope in his prayer and we know that the Father never fails to accomplish what he intends nor our Savior to attain what he prayes for But this our Savior aimes at in his praier as one principal scope and end of it There is therefore in the second place a Faith which doth belong even to the wicked which is truly termed or called Faith in the language of the Scripture and the common speech of men I say truly called Faith though iâ— be not truly saving Joh. 12.42 43. Many beleeved on him but durst not confess him for they loved the praâ—e â—f men moâ—e than of God Theâ—e is saith then and men do also beleeve who love the praise of men more than of God but this no man can do and beleeve savingly Joh. 5.44 How can ye beleeve which receâ—ve honor one of another and seek not the honor that cometh from God only Joh. 2.23 24. Many beleeve in him But our Savior did not commit himself
unto them for he well knew what was in man And its notorious in the parable of the stony ground which beleeved for a time but in the time of temptation went away The Question grows What is this Faith which is so stiled in the phrase of Scripture Answ I suppose it includes two things mainly 1. When the understanding meets with and gives entertainment to the evidence of that truth that is now presented to its view but that is not al that it comprehends the compass of the truth that comes to considereation but that it is so far setled by force of argument that doth confirm it that it fully assents and subscâ—â—bes thereunto For the force of argument begets this human Faith and a ful and unquestionable assurance of the conclusion This is that the Apostle means Rom. 14. And the last when the understanding neither doubts the certainty nor mistakes the truth but is carried sul sail in assent 2. The evidence or this truth thus understood is of that power and prevailing efficacy that it carries a kind of command and control with it it soakes into the conscience sets down that and convinceth it that conscience gives in its verdict that way It proceeds yet further sets upon the wil with that forcible and uâ—deniable evidence that it awes it and brings it to yield thus far that its true in the general but that its either not her pleasure and so not her good to submit to it but only for some turn for her own ends but not in uprightness and for it self Joh. 3.8 When Jonah had denounced the judgment of God against Nineveh It s said The beleeved the word of the Lord. Not that they did do that savingly for it s spoken of the whol Body of the people who were yet heathenish but that they did without question assent to the truth of the message their consciences were so far convinced and their hearts so far awed that they did yield it was certain it would come And both these are here understood and intended by our Savior that they whose judgments consciences hearts were not setled convinced nor yet perswaded that our Savior was sent They might be brought to beleeve 3. What the world shall thus beleeve touching Christs sending Answ Our Savior looks at three things 1. That he had the right of Commission delivered by the Father into his hand to attend this work as being in especial manner appointed and designed thereunto Joh. 6.27 2 That he had fulness of Power of dispensation of this not only called but authoriâ—ed enabled and furnished with al power and Grace and that beyond measure for the discharge and performance of this weighty change as to be the Salvation of God unto the ends of the Earth 3. That he hath not only undertaken it but fully in all particulars accomplished that for which he was thus designed and also furnished from God the Father Joh. 17.4 I have finished the work thou gavest me to do For these are the three main difficulties where the corrupt hearts of men come off most hardly and about which they make heaviest opposition against the greatest work of our Redemption Thus the Scribes and Pharisees were ready to quarrel his calling Joh. 7.42 The Messias when he comes c. But this man whence he is we know not Joh. 9.29 God spake by Moses but whence this man comes We know not And when the Blind man seemed but to speak favorably in this point certainly no man could do such and such thingâ— unless God had sent him They could not bear it Joh. 9.33 34. Again that he had no sufficiency in any seeming appearance for such and so weighty imployment and therefore they vilified his person and looked at his speeches as so many vain glorious expressions which had neither truth not sufficiency to maintain And therefore when our Savior told them he would give his flesh for the sins of his Elect They murmur immediately as though this were a deceipt How can this man give us his Flesh c. Joh. 6.41 52. Is not this Jesus the Son of Joseph whose Father and Mother we know verse 42. How is it that he saith I came down from Heaven Lastly for the ful recovery there the Sons of men are so fickle and slippery that they are ready to step aside and at least ful of question and therefore his own after he was condemned Crucified and Buried Luk. 24.21 They began to stagger in their own thoughts We had thought in had beâ—n he that should have delivered c. And noâ— behold this is the third day Now this our Savior wisheth that they might be brought to the acknowledgment of the light of his commission the poâ—eâ— of his dispensation the certain and through fulfilling of all that was committed to him and that he undertook The Reasons are 1. Hereby the honor of the Father and so of the Son is at once and together most gloriously advanced For the Sovereignty of the power of the Father and incomprehensible and unconceivable love the infinit depth of his Grace and mercy are manifested in sending That surpassing glory unto which the human Nature of our Savior was advanced to be invested with his power and authority to be berrâ—sted with this work and to be taken as it were into Parâ—neship with the Father for the accomplishment of that which was far greater than the creating of millions of worlds That it should be in the liberty of the human Nature to use al the Attributes of God for the good of his Church and to dispense all by his own hand So that nothing should be done but by Christ nothing received but through Christ from the Father here the crown of al glory is set upon the Father the Son at once This is the scope of that dispute and the ground of this dispensation Joh. 5.18 19. What the Father doth that he doth and that because he hath shewed him all things and he wil shew him greater than those that ye may wonder c. For as he shal raise up the dead So the Son shal quicken whom he wil. The end is That al men may honor the Son as they honor the Father and he that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father There is no receiving any thing from God but by him No returning any thing to God but through him Thus ye shal find the honor of both stand and fal together Math. 10.40 He that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me Luk. 10.16 He that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me 2. Hereby the great work of our Redemption comes to be discovered comes also to be acknowledged when once this sending our Savior is rightly understood It s the very Hinge upon which the Gospel turns The very foundation upon which the work of our Salvation hangs before this we are said to be in bondage under rudiments In the fullness of time God sent forth his Son made of a Woman
the same Nature upon himself for the great work of our Redemption and so he is head 1. It s proper to him to have al Grace firstly in himself in way and right of communication for had he not been the son of man and son of God together the way of Grace and life had been shut up from the sons of Adam Hebr. 10.20 And in this sence it is said That with him is the Wel of life Ps 36.9 And he is said to be a fountain of living Waters to have life in himself Joh. 5.26 And to quicken whom he wil. Joh. 5.21 2. The right and propriety of immediate dispensation is committed to his hand of all Grace and good Of his Grace we receive Grace for Grace Joh. 1.16 And the Holy Spirit takes of his not of his own when he communicates to the Souls of the Saints Joh. 16.14 15. He shal shew you al things He shal glorifie me for he shal receive of mine Al things that the Father hath are mine Therefore said I He shal take of mine and shew it unto you 3. The manner how this spiritual presence is communicated Answ It appeares in the Nature and maaner of it in three things 1. The second person in the glorious Trinity assuming our Nature into mystical and personal union with himself remaining the same person after the union which he was before the union doth therein become surety for the faithful and enter into covenant with God the Father in their room and purchase both Grace and glory in their behalf For had he not taken the Nature of man it had been unpossible he should have communicated unto man any good So the Apostle reasons when he would shew the way how life came to be derived to the seed of Adam and not unto Angels gives this as the ground Hebr. 2.16 For vâ—rely â—e took not on him the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham And therefore these were redeemed life was conveyed unto these the other in their sins and sorrows And being thus fitted for the place of a Surety He did in special manner enter upon termes of agreement in the behalf of those he would do good unto The happiness of those were committed to his care by the Father and undertaken willingly by himself Joh. 6.38 39. This is the will of the Father that those that he hath given me I should lose none but raise them up at the last day And he is as careful to attend their spiritual welfare as may be therefore he concludes of them in their times and answerable to their conditions I have other Sheep and those I must bring Joh. 10.16 And when they are brought I will in no wise cast away nor suffer any to take them away Joh. 6.37 2. Having thus purchased Grace and glory for them he hath now both right and liberty to improve al power in Heaven and Earth to communicate Grace and glory to them Yea the Human Nature of our Savior hath liberty power to let on work any and all the Attributes in the behalf of the poorest beleever in the world yea right to send the good Spirit of the Lord for his spiritual relief Joh. 17.2 Thou hast given him that is Christ power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him And therefore in verse 4. he saith I have finished the work thou gavest me to do q. d. Christ hath nothing to do in this vale of â—eareâ— but search ouâ— and seek up some scattered and wildering Servants of the Lord. Yea liberty to send the spirit upon this imployment Joh. 15.26 When the comforter is come whom I will send you from the Father Yea makes this his main Errand to heaven in his ascension Joh. 16.7 It is expedient c. If I depart I will send him unto you 3. He doth improve this power and the operation of the Spirit to close the Soule with himself and to hold the bent of the heart towards him for ever 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit As by his spirit he sanctified our Nature and took it into personal union with himself and gave in subsistence which of it self it had not nor could attain So by the operation of his Spirit he prepares the Soul for himself carries it in the promise to himself and acts it upon himself The Soul moved by the vertue of the Spirit moves to and staies upon the Lord Christ As in the Eccho the Air moved by the voice in such manner returns the same voice by vertue of its own motion Come unto me I come Lord. And not only carries and closeth the Soul with himself but holds it in this holy bent to himself that way Christ-ward Heaven-ward This is like the growing up with Christ being as scions ingrafted into him as the true Vine and so are truly and so called sons as the scions united to the stock may fitly be called the Sons thereof and hence Christ is stiled The eternal Father Isa 9.6 Behold a Son is given and this son is a Father and an eternal Father and begets us as sons unto his Father and will deliver us up unto him at the great day Here am I and the Children which thou hast given me Hebr. 2.13 This is that which Christ calls his abiding in us If I abide in you and you in me Joh. 15.4 The Reason in a word is this He that is the life of the faithful must be in the faithful So is Christ Gal. 2.20 Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life c. USE 1. CAUTION To al especially the wicked and enemies of the Saints That they do not offend and wrong them or do the least evil to them because they do wrong to the Lord Jesus and he so takes it as to himself Act. 9. Saul why persecutest thou me And the sufferings of the Saints for a good cause are called the sufferings of Christ 2. Cor. 1.5 Thus the Lord sends to Sennacherib Isa 37.28 I know thy going out and thy coming in and thy rage against me It was bent against Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem but it was against the Lord in them True it is The wicked see not know not consider not this being blinded with Ignorance and Malice and therefore Paul asks the question when Christ speaks Who art thou Lord q. d. I own not thy speech nor understand thy person Our Savior answers I am Jesus whom thou persecutest Yea this wil be for the condemnation of their persons and confusion of their faces at the day of Judgment when the Saints in this sentence shal be honored and they set down for ever abased before their faces Depart ye cursed c. For I was in prison and ye visited me not c. Why When Lord saw we thee c. They were not acquainted with the presence of our Savior He add In that ye did it not to one of these ye
Love The In-let unto the hearts and affections of others and cals out and requires a disposition in another like unto it self And this is here in greatest eminency Look we at the constitution of the person of our Savior Hebr. 1.3 Called the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person Nothing is more like than a lively Image resembling the Father in the most perfect and infinite manner none like him Look at imitation likeness in behavior carriage and conversation is that which inlargeth affection also and this also is here to be seen Joh. 5.19 The Son doth nothing but what he seeth the Father do For whatsoever the Father doth these also doth the Son likewise 3. There is a suitableness of worth The best of our affection and deserve our dearest love to be bestowed upon it So it is here The Lord Christ he being in the form of God counted it no robbery to be equal with God the Father And so there is an answerableness and proportion only here to be found between the affection and the thing here affected Whereas al the creatures taking in al their excellencies together are too mean and under for the Lord once to bestow his Love yea his look upon further than his own image is in them or resembled by them in them So the Prophet gives in the Jnventory of al their worth All the Nations of the Earth are less than the Dust of the balance yea vanity nothing less than nothing Christ himself it is whose name is as an Oyntment poured out and perfumes the world which if once taken away they would remain nothing disireable USE 2. Reprehension This shews the vilenes of the hearts and the hainousness of the sins of those wretched persons who undervalue the Lord Jesus in their hearts and apprehensions and look at him as one unworthy their affection and love How far are these men from the disposition of the eternal God the Holy one of Israel He sets his heart upon the Lord Jesus as the only Object of his Love These men loath him He delights in him They despise him How divelish are these distempers how contrary to the God of glory even as far as darkness from light and Hell from Heaven How can such ever expect to see the face of God in Christ in another world whose hearts are so contrary to him in this and yet every place is pestered with these Rebels Some of the posterity of those of whom the prophet speaks Zach. 11.8 Their Souls loathed me and my Soul loathed them saith the Lord of Hosts God wil pay thee in thine own coin and recompence thine own waies upon thy head and heart Nay how canst thou not but expect the Lord should justly loath thee who art a very Dunghil of distempers and whose works are worthy to be hated especially in that thou haâ—est him The name and memory of Judas is accursed and execrable upon Earth He is gibbâ—â—ed up with this remembrance Judas Iscariot who also betrayed him The carriage of the Jews is detestable to the eares of all that have heard of the Name of Christianity who preferred Barabbas before the Lord Jesus Away with him not him but Barabbas And yet there be multitudes in the world who deal worse with the Lord Jesus in their daily course Who sel Christ not for Silver but for their sins and the lusts of their own hearts and that they may give satisfaction thereunto And proclaime it in their practises Away with the commands of Christ not they but mine own carnal desires shall carry me Away with the promises and comforts of Christ not they but the way wardness of mine own wil and distempered perversness of mine own heart that only pleaseth me Oh but it wil be replied True it is our infirmities may be many and temptations strong our failings great by reason of the Body of death but should we be haters and despisers of the Lord Jesus its pity we should live Should we hate him that came to save us we Hope we be far from that hellish frame I desire ye were far from that and that 's the worst I wish you Put it then to trial according to the truth of the Gospel yea ye wil say with al our hearts The Text saies thus He that despiseth you despiseth me Luk. 10.16 The Text saâ—es thus The Citizens hated him and sent after him and saâ—d This man shal not rule over us Luk. 19.14 Examine now thine own heart and observe thy carriage Is it not the word which Christ proclaimes the messenger he sends the work of his Grace which he requires the rule and government which he would â—et up in thy heart And life that thou settest thy self against that wâ—l not have his law Lord it over thee his Grace take place in thee know assuredly thou art a hater of Christ and of God the Father Nay what if it prove true that thou hatest Christ more than any thing in the world beside will not thou conclude thy condition damnable and thy self hateful Why thou hatest the ordinances of Christ because of their power and purity Thou hatest the servants of Christ because of their Graces that is because Christ is there If the Theif hate the Lanthorne for the light sake he hates the light much more Hie thee out of this hellish condition and hate and loath thine own soul that ever thou hast loathed Jesus Christ Lest that doom that is denounced be made good He that loves not Jesus Christ let him be accursed Anathema Maranatha 1 Cor. 16.22 Curse him all ye Angels in Heaven Devils in Hell Churches on Earth until Christ come to judgment and he there have that Doom Depart c. USE 2. Trial. We may here prove the truth of our love If it be like Gods love it s then of the right stamp 1. The we desire Vnion breathing after our coming to him Phil. 1. I long to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is far better I have been too long with the world too long with the distempers of mine own heart It s far better to be with Christ Breath after his coming 2 Tim. last and 8. Love his appearing sollace our selves we shal ever be with him 2. Then we shal take ful contentment in him I have enough Christ is mine as Joseph Live upon him be satisfied with him Phil. 1.21 Christ is in life and death advantage In al gets Christ and gaines in al his wants hath advantages in al necessities and losses 3. Then we study how to honor him lay our crowns at his Feet live to him die to him Phil. 1.20 That Christ may be glorified in our mortal Bodies whether by life or death Be willing he should pluck his praise out of us The Father wil own this love Christ accept it The spirit bear witness to it This is from the Father through Christ by the spirit God-like love USE 3. Exhort Doth God love Christ go
free in the manifestation of their Favor and they have ever found them faithful that they cannot challenge them in the least yet they fear in the issue when it comes to a dead lift they wil leave in the lurch Should such expressions be dayly presented before a man and such unkind expressions be laid in his dish he could not but with indignation cast off such a one Why have I ever failed of my Word ever been wanting in my labor to answer al your desires bestead you in al your needs and have I this for my love and labor that ye look at me as one feeble and faithless Take ye other and chuse ye better Friends I wil have no more to do with you And it is not possible but our groundless needless surmises hard conceits that we harbor and unloving thoughts of the Lords dealing and goodness but it should imbitter Gods heart against a wretched Creature and suffer him to sink in his sorrows and however he cannot out of his Love forsake his yet he cannot in respect to the Honor of his Love and Faithfulness but draw and with-hold the sense of it that the way-ward heart may the better perceive its own wretchedness and unreasonable dealing and learn not to doubt of Gods Love when there is no cause Our groundless surmises of Gods Favor causeth yea compels God to darken our apprehensions and his expressions The Second Evil. The little and mean account we make of the intimation on Gods Love unless it answer our conceits and humors in each particular Unless we may have what we wil and when we wil and as much as we wil unless the Lord take measure of our mind and please us in every Point we cast al his kindness behind our back and the Love of the Almighty is in but little esteem with us when their complaints are many and sad that their temptations grow fierce and their corruptions get head and over-bear their abilities smal and their comforts less But yet the Lord loves you notwithstanding whatever these hindrances be which stand in the way and that is enough to settle and satisfie the heart Obj. True I cannot say but he loves me but if yet my Graces be so weak and my distempers so strong what is that Ans What is that It 's of more worth than al thy Graces thou canst either attain or desire if thou did'st know how to value things according to the worth O! if I had such a measure of Grace the enlargedness of heart and abilities to perform Service in a Spiritual manner as such and such then I might be comforted and might be perswaded the Lord loved me to purpose As though the Child that is now yong and smal should conceive his Father did not carry the strength of Fatherly affection towards him because his Coat was not so long or his Doublet Jerken or Apparrel was not so large as his Elder Brothers when indeed it is not because he wants Love to provide them but he is not able to wear them So it is here Thou art happily but a Babe in Christ not of time and standing in Christianity canst not tel how to wield and exercise such eminency of Abilities for the present Let if suffice he is thy Father and loves thee as he doth the most able and excellent Christian upon Earth Doth not that please your Pallates What would ye have which would please if ye can be pleased I wil say more He loves thee aâ— he doth the Lord Jesus the Son of his Love I hope now ye are contented What! love me so ye wil say poor silly weak ignorant worthless Creature it 's a likely matter indeed Yea thee Hast thou but a grain of Faith but as a grain of Mustard-seed even the least of al others the poorest weakest filliest unworthy Worm be thy place thy parts never so mean he loves thee as his Son Go thy way never quarrel question any more never murmur repine any longer this is enough on Conscience nay it 's too much I could not have thought it I durst not have desired it I could not have beleeved â—t but that thou hast said it that thou should'st love me who loath my self and know my self worthy to be abhorred Therefore rest thy weary heart here in thy weaknesses do not think to bring such measures of Grace to deserve this Love Nay lay hold upon this Love it wil encrease the eminency of al Graces and that in the most glorious manner in thy Soul Eph. 3.18 Paul praies That they might comprehend with all Saints the length breadth depth and height c. and know the Love of God which passeth knowledg that so they may be full of all his fulness View this Love wistly and warm thy heart with it and thou shalt not need to complain of barrenness or emptiness thou shalt be ful of Grace not have a scant measure thou shalt be ful of Wisdom and Meekness Patience Holiness c. Nay ful of the fulness nay of al the fulness of God-like Grace no kind of Grace no Excellency in any kind that suits the Station and Condition thou dost obtain in the Body of Christ but thou shalt be possessed of it How the knowledg of this Love brings in this fulness it 's not now a place to enquire only the Doctrine now delivered wil lead us by the hand to some further Light in this Work While we know that is while we constantly attend to the Dispensation of Gods Love in Christ begetting of us as his adopted ones by his Spirit to himself while we experimentally find this and so know it and leave our hearts under the influence thereof as of him to receive al as from him to do al we shal then be ful Whatever may be lacking to thy Hope Meekness c. repair to this Love and know there is no lack I have the choicest Love of God that either Heaven or Earth affords and that is beyond the excellency of al Grace and the chiefest of al Abilities that either I do want or can desire He loves me therefore let him do what he wil with me take what he wil Love wil supply al give that he wil Love is better than al. Cant. 1.1 His Love is better than Wine As Elkanah comforted Hannah in the want of Children Am not I better to thee than ten Sons 1 Sam. 1.8 2. Instruction We hence infer beyond denyal and conclude beyond al doubt That the Love of God to his is unchangeable As he loves his Son he loves his Saints and adopted ones That did never change this will never fail We are accepted as Christ nothing can prejudice us in Gods Favor or shal be able to condemn us We are advanced as Christ he wisheth al good and works al good for us as for him sets us far above al Principalities and Powers and what is named in this World or the World to come Though we know it not understand it
hath accomplished that great work of our redemption and that unto the ful That the ignorant who never knew him the stubborn and rebellious amongst whom he lived and preached yet would not receive him yea the flinty hearted Jews that scorned and despised the meanness of his person and the power of his dispensation Al these at last should be constrained to acknowledg that he is the true and only Messias set a part and sent to that work This is the Son of God saies the Heathen of whom we have heard but never laboured to know him This is the Son of God saies the prophane whom we in his word have opposed and hated in his servants This is the Son of God sent to save us and we have blasphemed his name and flame and crucified his person despised his government saies the Jew See the lively expression of this Rev. 6.13 This I say wil certainly come to pass for our Savior hath prayed for it yea pursued it with re-doubled desires propounded in the 21. Verse repeated in verse 23. And he is alwaies heard in what he begged Hence we have two things 1. It s lawful to begg the same thing several times in the same prayer We have here a pattern before us beyond al compare a practise beyond al exception nay in truth beyond al question or doubt He cannot do but wel who could not erre in what he did where he hath gone before us in his example in things imitable we may without either feare or hazard safely go after him As it was said of his speaking and it s as true of his praying he prayed as never man did And there do not many sentences pass between but ye have the very same petition expressed What our Savior did its lawful for us upon the like occasion and like grounds for us to do to put up the same petition several times the same prayer If we find we have greater need of that we ask than any other or if there be special worth in it or that our hearts grow warmer in the work and increase into the strength of our affection towards the thing we ask For then there is no vain babling or empty repetition but the expressions though the same have new strength of fresh apprehensions and affections put upon them Therefore David again unto the place striks the same string often which made best melody in that musick and song of his Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders he doth for the Children of men 2. We ought to pray most earnestly that the power of our Savior might be expressed that his right appointment to the work of Redemption might be acknowledged by the world It s that which our Savior doubles his desires for the attainement of as that wherein the great weight of the work lay and which he counted worthy such importunate seeking for at the hands of his Father And this carriage should be a Copy and Sampler to conform our prayers unto This is that which God the Father is so Zealous of Hebr. 1. When he brings his first begotten into the world he saies Worship him all ye Angels of God And to this purpose was the eight Psalm penned and is to be understood touching our Savior as having the preheminence above al creatures in Heaven and Earth as Mediator So the Apostle to the Hebrews seems to expound it Hebr. 2.20 Learned Junius judgeth and therefore here the Psalmist dwels and delights to descant on this strain Psal 8.1 O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in al the world That 's most worthy our desires upon which our Savior spent his This only from the repetition The point it self we spake unto on verse 21. So much of the first end The second End is this Our Savior prayes that they might be perfect in one that so the world also might know that the Father hath loved them as he loved him This is for the honor and excellency of beleevers in the acknowledgment of the world That howsoever while they are wildering here in this vale of teares they become the scorn of the wicked the scrapings of men as the Apostle hath it and the Off-scouring of the world in the misguided apprehension of the wicked of the world who know not how to judg aright of things and persons and therefore account them Out-casts of Heaven and Earth yet our Savior prayes that they may proceed on to that perfection of Oneness with the Father and himself unto which one day they shal attain in Heaven That the world may be constrained to see and say that indeed they are Gods precious ones to whom his Soul is exceedingly indeared in surpassing love even like unto that wherewith he hath loved the Lord Jesus his only Son This our Savior Christ prayes for as a means to this end and therefore it wil undoubtedly attain it There be two points in the worlds 1. The world shal know that the Father hath loved the faithful as he loved Jesus Christ 2. This shall then be known when they come to be perfectly one with the Father and Son in Heaven But we shal handle them both together because they border so neer each upon other and the explication of either wil add to the discovery and so to the confirmation of both Point Then shall the world know that the Father hath loved the Faithful as his Son when they come to be perfected in Oneness with the Father and the Son These two the Apostle joynes together also in his prayer 2. Thess 1.11 12. Wherefore we pray alwaies for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling And fulfil al the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you that is the first that Christ may be acknowledged as he that hath been sent for that work and hath done it Secondly That ye might be glorified in him according to the Grace of God at aâ—d â—uâ— Lord Jesus Christ Next under the Advancement of his own Name the Lord provides and the Apostle praies for the Advancement of his Servants ' Matth. 13.41.43 when the Lord shal gather out of his Church whatever doth offend whatever persons that are wicked and whatever things even aâ—oâ—gst the godly that offend Then shal the righteous sâ—ine as the Sun in the Kingdom of my Father They have been here undeâ— hatches cooped up in Duâ—gâ—â—ns there they shal be in their Kingdom and that in the Kingdom of their Father Here they lie among the ports al dinâ—â—ed â—eâ—coâ—ed with the shame and disgrace that hath been cast upon them as the scum of the world and the scorn of Heaven and Earth This is Zion whom to Man regarded There they shal shine and that as the Sun which every man wil see because he cannot look ofâ— the light of it and wil be dazelled with the
and distinctly open the particulars therein some whereof desire and deserve special consideration and explication Namely What is that glory that Christ hath and how it is said to be given him To begin the with the first Branch The Lord Jesus is gone to Heaven This was Shadowed out by his Transfiguration Math. 17.2 3. When Moses and Elias came down to see this preparative of his departure to give tidings of it Of the passage of our Savior the Apostles give in undeniable evidence as such wherein they could not be deceived nor deceive For it was not done when they were heedlesly looking about them and so might easily be mistaken but while they looked stedfastly wishly considerately towards Heaven even while they were gazing upon our Savior he was taken up into Heaven Act. 1.9 10. And Stephen in the time of his greatest extremity being the first Martir who laid down his Blood for his sake he saw him there arrived Act. 7.55 Being ful of the Holy Ghost looked up stedfastly into Heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God And Chap. 3.21 Whom the Heavens shal contain until the restitution of al things And it s made the upshot of the Mistery of godliness 1 Tim. 3. and last Christ manifested in the flesh preached in the world received into glory And from hence the Saints expect him and they shal see him descending with a mighty shout with the voice of the Arch-angel and with the 〈◊〉 of God 1 Thess 4.6 The Lord shal come in most glorious and magnificent state these shal be dreadful notice given of his approach yea every Eye shal see him yea such who have pierced him with their sins Reas 1. Taken from the excellency of his Divine Nature which must be suited with a place and throne answerable to the dignity and soveraignty thereof For however it pleased the Lord out of his infinite love to step out of the Chair of Estate to visite this inferior world to be included in the Womb of a Virgin and to take his progress into these lowermost parts of the Earth yet it carried no proportion in point of honor that he should take up his abode there but to reâ—â—rn again to the Royal Palace of state Heaven is my throne and the Earth is my footstool In reason he may stoop to his footstool and tread upon it but to stay there and to make it the chief place and habitation where his heavenly majesty should dwel It suited not the excellency of his Divine Nature This is that which the Apostle intimates to be the ground of the difference between the advancment of the posterity of the second Adam above the first The Faithful shal be raised and Translated from Earth to Heaven whereas ad Adam stood in Paradise he and his posterity had injoyed an earthly paradise that is God there only and the reason is rendred from the point in hand 2 Cor. 15.45 The first man was a living Soul able to beget one like himself by a natural course of generation But the second Adam was a quickning Spirit able to give life to the dead and so raise up them from the Grave and to make them spiritual Bodies which was beyond the power of Adam Again The first man is of the Earth earthy His covenant and his countenance such But the second is the Lord from Heaven And thence he infers As is the heavenly such are they that are heavenly Especially in the main point of resurrection whereof now he disputes And as in resurrection so in ascension That which first belongs to the Lord Jesus as the Head of the covenant that belongs to al through him and only by him But our ascending and sitting is the prerogative Royal of our Savior therefore it never did nor should have belonged to any but through and by him It s true our Savior consists of two Natures Divine and Human but because the humanity is the meaner and more inferiour therefore that must follow the Deity and be where it is And we also whose Nature our Savior took and whose places and persons he sustained we must follow our Nature and our Nature the God Head that hath his proper place in Heaven And therefore the Human Nature with that and all those who are the members of that Head must be there where the Head is And hence our Savior professeth for the comfort of his disciples That he went before to prepare a place for them Joh. 14.4 In my Fathers House there be many mansions I go to prepare a place for them He as God-man the Head of the Covenant goes to Heaven and the wil bring al his to Heaven by vertue thereof he makes way for them thither Room and entertainment there Heaven is the Lords the place of the God-Head our Nature assumed follows that and we our Nature Reas 2. Taken from the Quality of his Office and the Manner of the dispensation and execution thereof He is sent as an Ambassador from the Father to transact the work of Redemption And to bring Jacob back again And therefore in reason he must return and give an account unto God the Father how the great Affaires of Redemption prosper under his hand Thus he speaks usually Joh. 13.3 Jesus Knowing that is considering this That the Father had given al things into his hands and that he came from God and was to go to God he forthwith addresseth himself to make way for his death wherein the great weight of the work lay q. d. He had received his commission from the Father and he must give account to the Father again And upon this he intimates his departure Joh. 7.33 Yet a little while am I with you and then I go to him that sent me He that is sent of an errand and service he must return an account of the success and how things prosper under his hand and by his indeavor Els there should be a failing in the faithful discharge of his Office and that is the reason the Lord Jesus is so punctual in each particular Loe here am I and the Children that thou hast given me And of those that thou hast given me I have not lost one It s also the manner of great commanders when they go upon great exploits and special service though they conquer other people possess the places and countries where they pervail yet they return into their native and natural Country there to be honored amongst their own and to have their greatness Admired amongst them as Feared amongst the Adversaries So it was with our Savior Eph. 4.8 c. His death was his conquering his resurrection his triumph by his ascension he returned into his own Countrey and his sitting at the right hand of God the Father is there crowned with the fulness of all glory that is compatible to the condition of a created Nature 3. The efficacy of the Priviledg as that which so much concernes the
glorious peace in thy conscience joy in thy heart and contentment in thy course as the particulars wil evidence This wil. 1. Cure all thy Fears 2. Supply all thy wants 3. Rescue thee from the rage of all Enemies 4. Remove the guilt of all thy Sins 5. Strengthen all thy Graces 6. Quicken thee to all Duties 7. Give unto thee Eternal Life 1. Cure thee of all thy Fears Unto which we are subject all our lives by reason of our own infirmities and the world of evils with which we are compassed about while we live here in this world considering what our sins deserve men and Devils intends what God in justice may inflict and our constant provocations incurr which are as it were a new mint of Plagues which we may daily expect We have felt somwhat in our selves heard of more in others and what 's yet behind we know not But we know what Devils can do what our sins merit what God in a righteous judgment may execute So that the fear of what may be is worse than that we feel and find for present Here then is our comfort Our Savior hath felt the worst that can be borne al and conquered al drunk the dregs of the Cup Grapled with the sting of death and the strength of the law Triumphed over extremities so that there was no possibility he should be held or we now hurt by them There can be no destroying evil there need be no fear By the glory of Christ we may glory over al our fears Terrors and dismayings of spirit It cannot be but Christ in glory wil over work al for our good nothing should work any dismaying fears in our hearts Upon this ground our Savior put these Fears to flight when John fel at his feet as dead in the sense of his own vilenes the sight of the dazelling excellencies of the Lord. Rev. 1.18 He said Feare not I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I live for ever I live as one that hath conquered as one that hath triumphed over al Enemies and have the Keyes of Hell and Death So to his Disciples Joh. 14.27 Let not thy Heart be troubled neither let it be afraid not distracted nay not stirred Why ye have heard I said unto you I go away and wil come again That he goes to his Father who is greater than he the greatest in glory and with whom he was to possess the greatness of al glory in greatest excellency and therefore the hearing of this should quit them of al Fears quiet them of al dismayings He is now gone to take possession of the greatest power that is in Heaven that no power on Earth Heaven or Hell should be able to hurt And therefore we need not Fear He hath the greatness of power to prevent al evils that are to come and therefore we should Fear none that are to come 2. Supply all wants That those need not disquiet nor the heart be carried with anxiety Care and Solicitousness how to provide For our Savior is not only Heir and hath right unto al these as he had in the time of his Humiliation But is as an Heir come to years entred upon his Revenews is seated setled upon the throne of his glory and stands possessed of the treasures in Heaven and Earth and therefore can and wil suit with Conveniencies according to their needs and desires It 's that which God himself professeth Psal 2.8 Ask of me and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy Possession It 's that wherein the Saints rejoyce with joy and thanksgiving Rev. 11.15 The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever and verse 17. We give thee thanks c. because thou hast taken to thee thy great Power and hast raigned and that thou should'st give reward unto thy Servants the Prophets and to the Saints and them that fear thy Name great and smal c. verse 18. Happily the Kingdoms of another World would not content but ye desire somthing in hand Behold the Kingdoms of this World are the Lord Christs and he hath taken to him that glorious Power that formerly he laid aside and now he raigns And if this wil not satisfie not only the Kingdoms of the World but al things in the World are given to Christ John 13.3 Yea the Glory of al Wealth and Pleasures and Contents when now he is entred into Glory And he hath given himself to thee and al them also Thou canst not want so much but he hath more than thou canst want and therefore thou canst not want supply The Child cares not for Apparrel if his Father hath Wardropes to cloath him The Wife troubles not her self for Money to provide if she have a Husband whom she knows hath millions of ready Cash in his Treasury to enrich her and relieve her at her asking So it is with the Saints who have Christ for their everlasting Father and Husband 3. This also will rescue thee from the rage of all thine Enemies in the greatest hazards which may surprize thee and threaten thy total ruine Thou sayest the subtilty in deep the malice outragious and their power great But behold here the Glory given to Christ even al power in Heaven and Earth is given into his hand He over-works al their vileness over-powers al their rage so that they can work but what he hath determined and wil cause to work to the good of his own It 's the promise of the Father when he was advanced at the right hand of his Power Psal 110.1 2. Sit at my right hand until I make thine Enemies thy Footstool Rev. 19.7 there we have the marriage of the Lamb mentioned and his Wise made her self ready The Saints humbled by Faith they put on their fine Linnen the Righteousness of Christ No sooner is the Bride married but War is raised Kings and Captains and mighty Men come into the Field their out-rage hellish and fiery But her Husband whose name is written on his Thigh King of Kings and Lord of Lords appears in her quarrel No sooner the Combate is entered but the Conquest is gotten the Bride rescued and the Enemies totally ruinated and the Lord invites all to feast themselves with the slaughter To eat the Flesh of Kings Captains Horses Men free and bond great and smal verse 18. Yea it 's the provision Christ makes Touch not mine anointed Nay the portion of the Saints which the Lord Christ hath laid out from Heaven and the Conquest he hath made John 16. last Be of good comfort I have overcome the World Isa 54.17 No Weapon against thee shall prosper This is the Heritage of Gods Servants 4. This will remove the guilt of all thy Sins which seems to over-whelm and under which thou goest up and down as a condemned man and sinkest in the dayly apprehensions
the Children that thou hast given me then he shall deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father The Rule and Government of our Savior in al these outward Dispensations shal be at an end The end and scope of the Death and Obedience Ascention and Redemption wrought out by Christ that he must affectionately desire But this is so Therefore 2. By this means the perfection of his Body mystical and himself as mystical Christ is accomplished without this somthing would be wanting to make up the fulness thereof Eph. 1. last It 's said of the Church and is true of each Member for their measure It is the fulness of him who filleth all in all the hearts of al his Saints with al saving Graces If at the last day of that great assembling of the first-born there should be but the poorest Saint wanting and out of the way the mystical Body of Christ would so far want it's fulness if a finger or a joynt be lacking the Body would lack somthing of its ful integrity And therefore Eph. 4.13 God never leaves sending Officers they never leave gathering and perfecting the Body of Christ until we all arrive and meet at the unity of Faith and the acknowledgment of the Son of God The Head and Members should in reason be present one with another The Husband and Wife in comliness should co-habit in the same place and dwel together Christ is the Head his Faithful his Members Christ the Husband is gone into his own out of fair Countrey and therefore he cannot but affectionately desire the coming of his Bride unto him Nay rather than fail as we heard he wil come down from Heaven and fetch her John 14. I will take you to my self that where I am ye may be also 3. The compleat happiness of the Saints can only by this means be fully procured The Lord redeems not only from guilt and punishment and power of our sins and miseries but even from the presence of them And we cannot be wholly freed from the presence of the evil of the world before we be taken out of the World And therefore as the Lord hath advanced our Savior far above Principalities and Powers beyond the gun-shot of Satans temptations and the evils of this vale of Tears So the Lord Jesus provides that we may triumph with him as we have suffered with him Matth. 13.41 Therefore in the Parable while we live in the Field of the World and the Church is here Militant there wil be Tares which wil annoy and trouble But when the Lord shal send his Angels to gather out of his Kingdom al things that offend and them which do iniquity Then shal his Saints be translated into the Kingdom of the Father That which is the end of Christs Redemption the perfection of his Body the compleat happiness of his People that he must affectionately desire For the end ever carries and commands the affection of the Agent who works by Counsel and Reason USE 1. Of Instruction Hence al that are given to Christ must be raised from the dead and be in an immortal condition and in everlasting happiness As our Savior reasoned against the Sadduces God is the God of Abraham Isaac Jacob God is a God in Covenant with the Living Therefore Abraham Isaac and Jacob must live and that in Bodies and Souls because he is the God of both So those that must ever be with Christ they must have a Being and be raised out of the dust nor matters it though they were returned to the dust and that scattered into the four corners of the World into the Sea where they have been drowned into the Earth where they have been buried into the Fire where they have been burned The Lord wil send his Angels and he wil gather his Elect The Sea shal give up her dead the Fire and Earth their dead They shal be made immortal that so they may be ever with the Lord. USE 2. Of Reprehension It condemns both the Spirits and Practices of such who cannot abide the presence much less prize the communion and company of the Saints Christ is not at rest in Heaven without them and they are in a Hell count themselves in a Prison while the are in the place and the presence where they be Certainly Christ is deceived or thou art justly to be condemned as one who hast not the heart of Christ the Grace and Spirit of Christ in thee and that one day thou shalt find They shal ever be with Christ and thou that canst not indure their society in the Kingdom of Grace thou shalt never have their company in the Kingdom of Glory Such is the exquisite Constitution and Soveraign temper of the Irish Mold that there poysonous Vermin Toads and Spiders and such like they die presently if confined to the compass of the Earth and therefore they forthwith leave the Mold lest they lose their lives So here if thou countest it a kind of death to be confined to the holy Society and gracious and Spiritual communion of the Saints it 's certain Thou hast the poyson of a prophane and a graceless heart within thee They went out from us saies the Apostle because they were not of us had they been of us had they grown upon the same root the Lord Jesus knit one to another by the same Spirit They would never have departed from us When loos-hearted and wicked Hypocrites are hemmed in by the Communion of the Faithful at unawares they stand upon coals and sit upon Thorns like Fish out of their Element their hearts faint and die away presently as professedly contrary to the Spirit of our Savior as Light to Drakness Christs Wil is They should be where he is and their wil is To be any where else but where they are USE 3. Of Spiritual Comfort Hereby we may learn to support our selves in several occasions that would prejudice us in our Christian Course Hence we may fetch supply to bear up our hearts in al over-bearing pressures Comfort against al Opposition of our Spiritual Adversaries which may hinder our Happiness Against contempt of the World that would disparage our persons and Professions Against our own weaknesses and feebleness that might discourage us in a Christian Course The former Doctrine affords Spiritual refreshing against al these Against the fiercest of al opposition which al the Enemies of our Salvation can make against our progress and success in a Christian Course The Prayer of our Savior is above the Power of Hel and Devils though they rage above their malice and policy though they undermine above the corruption of mine own heart which would betray and deliver me as a prey into the hands of Devils and their Instruments This Prayer of our Savior shal carry the Cause against them all and thee to Heaven in despight of al. This Request wil not be denied this Wil of Christ nothing can resist The grant of the Father to our Savior none in
everlasting Mercy and Fatherly Faithfulness in Christ These are deep things and as no man knows what is in man but the Spirit of man so no man knows the things of God but the Spirit of God And it 's the Answer to that Question 1 Cor. 2. and last Who hath known the mind of the Lord q. d. None can pry into the Ark of his Privy Counsel which hath been from everlasting and therefore he ads We have the mind of Christ He that hath Christs mind may know Gods mind for he is Privy to it Luke 10.21 I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes even so O Father because it seemed good in thy sight no man knows who the Father is but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him It must be from the Revelation of Christ that any come to the right knowledg of the Father John 1.18 No man hath seen God at any time but the only begotten Son who came out of the Bosom of the Father he hath revealed him that is those Bosom Affections of his Fatherly Love 2. Our Apprehensions and Conceivings of God hold proportion with his Dispensations of himself to us There must be ever some print of some operation and impression of his Excellencies or Relation left upon us before any thing can be discerned For he dwells in the Light that no Creature can attain unto and to pry into his Secrets which he hath reserved in his own Bosom as indeed we should not Secret things belong to the Lord but things revealed to us so in truth we cannot reach them they are far beyond the scantling of our shallow Conceits Now the expressions which God leaves of his Fatherly Love and Faithfulness are sound no where but in the hearts of his whom he cals unto himself Them he takes into the Bosom of his Love To them he communicates these Bosom Secrets the Foot-steps whereof are to be found no where upon Earth but in the Souls of the Faithful Therefore they only can see the Print of them they only come to know them The great Characters of Gods Power Wisdom and Bounty are left instamped and engraven upon each Creature and therefore they may be seen of al and read of al and so known But that he should set his heart upon any lost Son of Adam an his Christ and draw him into special intimate and spiritual Communion with himself through his Son this is only to be found recorded in the Consciences whom he hath called out of the World These are the unknown yernings of the Bowels of a Father which can be owned by none but such who are his own Rev. 2. He gives a new Name which no man knows but he that hath it unknown Benevolence and unknown Complacency of a Fathers Bowels USE 1. Of Instruction 1. Therefore it is not safe to lean to the Counsel or be led by the Opinion of Carnal men touching the doubts we have or difficulties we find concerning the Love of God unto our souls and his Faithfulness in the performance of his gracious Promises Alas they know nothing of those things how shal they be able to make us know them They understood nothing themselves and how shal they reach others Is any so weak and silly that he would go to a blind man to make him judg of Colors or a deaf man of Sounds or he that never knew the way to be a Guide to lead him the way unless he were resolved to miss his way and end also True indeed they may somtimes speak things by hear-say but to speak things from grounded Knowledg and Experience they cannot because they have none 2. Hence it 's plain That the meanest Saint and most ignorant doth yet know more of Gods Fatherly Love and is better acquainted with the Faithful Performance of his Promises than the most learned and profound Doctors of the World Because they know the Father and are privy to his Secrets and have his Bosom Counsels communicated to them by the Lord Christ which are Riddles and Wonders and Mysteries to the whol World and to the Princes thereof USE 2. Of Terror It discovers the dreadful Estate and miserable Condition of al wicked men the Children and Darlings of the World who take content in it and give content to it The World it is likely may lay you in her Bosom for the World wil love her own but ye be far enough from the Love of the Father as ye be far from the knowledg of him Hence a Sea of Misery breaks in upon thee able to over-whelm thy Soul irrecoverably If it can be once said Thou knowest not the Father there is enough said to sink thy heart in everlasting discouragement In this Estate thou canst expect no good for thon canst receive no good from the hand of the Lord though he be the Father of Mercies and God of al Consolation There is none for thee not one Blessing nor Comfort For if God communicate any thing of himself unto the Sons of Men it is by his Spirit whose Office it is To lead them into all Truth John 16.13 and to seal them up in the Truth unto the day of Redemption Eph. 4. Al that is the Fathers is Christs and the Spirit takes of Christs and so of the Fathers and gives it unto such for whom it is appointed John 16.15 But it 's the depth of thy Misery thou canst not receive the Spirit 1. Thou canst receive nothing of the Father though it were given thee John 14.17 I will send the Comforter whom the World cannot receive because it doth not see nor know him This is thy Condition right Thou canst not see nor know the Spirit and consequently nor the Father therefore not receive him and therefore receive no good The Spirit wil not take the Mercy of a Father to pardon thee the Love of the Father to support the Peace of the Father to quicken Grace of a Father to purge and sanctifie thy corrupt heart The holy Spirit would take of Christs and so of the Fathers and give to thee But thou art a worldly wicked wretch and thou canst not receive the Spirit nor Christ nor Mercy nor Love if thou had'st them laid before thee 2. And as thou canst receive no good from the Father so thou canst perform no good Duty to him that may find acceptance with him or a blessing from him Thou knowest not the Father therefore thou canst not love him nor fear nor honor nor obey him That which the Eye sees not the Mind knows not the Heart affects not fears not prizeth not at al nor performs the least Duty to him because thou fallest short in thy Apprehensions wholly of him Nay mark what I say Thou did'st never pray to this Father of Christ and of al compassion in him If I wil pray with my Tongue I wil pray with my
nay not into consideration That I may smash my Course with joy It s my Meat and Drink saith he Let â—t be as thy daily Bread as thy food have no wil but this So Barnabas perswaded Act. 13.23 To cleave to God with a decree of heart Decree this set it down and determine this for a conclusion that admits no exception or alteration My God I must have my god I wil have his commands I have and must and wil obey Whether I shal have honor and credit whether I shal please my self or carnal Reason or corrupt desires friends or world that I pass not for I must please the Lord That I set down for a decree 2. Let al make way to this and work for this So Christ with us Al things work together for our good So make our Sorrows our miseries our comforts our peace prosperity whatever we have in the world besides make them al work together for this to further our obedience As the Marriner tacks about useth Cross winds all to further his voyage It was the Fathers wil and Christs work that he should lose none and he did lose none he left Heaven his Honor his Life nay the sense of his Fathers Love but he lost not one of the poorest Saints held them in his hand God forsook him he would not forsake them Let the power of darkness pluck away ease and peace yea his life and al. My Soul it heavy unto the Death Yet he would not suffer them notwithstanding al their Malice Wrath Rage Subtilty to pluck one of his out of his hands So do thou Lose Credit Comfort Peace Prosperity yea thy Life but lose not one of Gods Commands but obey it not one Promise but trust in it He hath kept thee at al times Keep thou the word of his patience Thou gavest them me saith Christ and I have kept them So say thou Thou gavest me these commands and I have obeyed them these promises and I have trusted in them Not my wil as Natural saith Christ to be preserved but thy wil as God that man may be redeemed So say thou not my wil as Man as Father as Master as Servant not my wil which would have mine ease and Profit and Credit But thy Wil be done 3. Be unmovable in the Work of Christ So our Savior though he suffer the power of Darkness to pluck a way his Honor his happiness and Life yet he held his Children in his Armes and would not suffer any to take them out of his hand So deal thou in like manner Let Devils and Men pluck away thy Credit and dishonor thee thy Wealth and impoverish thee yet let them not pluck away any one of Gods commands of Christs Promises from thee Christ put a necessity upon it I must bring these sheep lay thou the like necessity upon thy Soul It is a rule of Christ I must obey it Christ I must love and fear and follow Do not retire strike Sail turn back nay do not stop in the way but go on It s not necessary to live but to love Jesus We have done with this Point from the connection of the words We shal now proceed to the other part of that work which our Savior professeth and ingageth himself unto that he will further do for time to come I will make it known The profession and resolution of our Savior to provide for their further inlightening and inlargement in this knowledg implies two things 1. What the wants of the Saints are as touching this knowledg 2. What the care and ingagement of our Savior is to supply the same The first is here supposed and that by necessary inference For had they attended the ful measure of this knowledg that need hath our Savior to make known more if they had been perfect in the skilful understanding of that lecture what need was there that our Savior should be dayly learning and informing them It s plain therefore though they had much of this knowledg there was yet much wanting unto them of which they had as dayly need so dayly use of Hence we have two Points of Doctrin 1. There is much wanting in the ful knowledg of Gods Name in the most able Saints 2. Christ lends dayly supply of knowledg to them according to their dayly needs To the First There is much wanting in the ful knowledg of Gods Name in the most able Saints The most knowing Christians such as may seem to be in the highest form neer our Savior taught and trained up under his Wing yet have need that more of the Name of the Father should be made known to them The Point is plain in the words we shal need say no more to evidence it from the text but address our selves to the further explication of it What this Name is Viz. The Name of Gods Fatherly love and mercy and Faithfulness And what it is to know it or to have it made known we have opened formerly when the Lord Christ causeth al the good and incomparable excellency of this Fatherly mercy and Faithfulness to pass before the Eye of the Soul and sets on that suitable sweetness so effectually upon it as that it affects and draws the heart to look that way by the Eye of Faith so to Eye it as to own it and fasten upon it This is the knowledg here meant and much of this is wanting even in those that are most eminent It s a general ground which takes in the Particulars with advantage When the holy man Job laid forth at large the waies of God in his Providence limmed out to the life his excellencies he ends with this and vailes as it were what he was not able to express These are part of his waies but how little a portion is heard of him Job 26 14. q. d. There is little of that unconceivable excellency heard of or reported though the Earth and Heaven be ful of his goodness and his mercy over al shines with the greatest lustre in al his works yet this is but a little portion of him and we know little of this And hence Moses who conversed Face to Face with God unto whom the Lord did familiarise himself as to a friend yet he finds his necessity most here and makes it his chief suit if I have found Favor in thine Eyes Lord shew me thy glory If ever he shewed himself to a mortal man it might seem he did in an especial manner express himself to him And therefore it was his preheminence above the Prophets to whom he would make known himself in a vision and dream My Servant Moses is not so to him I wil speak Mouth to Mouth apparently Visibly familiarly and openly Numb 12.8 Deut. 34.10 And yet he begs this as the greatest honor Lord shew me thy glory And Gods answer shews his Aim Exod. 34.5 6. I will cause my goodness to pass before thee strong gracious merciful aboundant in goodness and truth c. The greatest
Finisher If we have known any thing or do or shal it 's Christ that hath made us know we have received and therefore why should we boast as though we had noâ—â—â—ceived The least River should lead us to the Sea and as Abrahams Servant when his Prayer was answered He bowed and worshiped Gen. 24.26 So do thou when he fils us most we must be most sensible of our own emptiness 2. Walk in a holy trembling and fear Rejoyce before him with trembling Psal 2.11 Rejoyce in what he gives but fear we do not off end the Giver Those of whom we have dayly kindness we are very careful we do not give them distast 6. Collection Here is Ground of exceeding thankfulness and enlargadness of heart for ever to the Lord Jesus The unwearied Faithfulness of the Lord Christ to follow his poor Servants with the discovery of such Favors which are not to be found on Earth besides should cause them to return such acknowledgment which cannot be matched by any men in the World Hence he so propounds the Question as for ever to be admired but never to be comprehended Lord why wilt thou shew thy self to us and not unto the World John 14.22 Why wilt thou to us there is no worth in us to deserve iâ— nor ability to conceive it no reason to be given which may perswade it Why it's mercy and that incomparable incomprehensible for ever to be adored and wondered at Yea our Savior is exceedingly taken up with the Consideration Matth. 11.25 I thank thee O Father that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent These Secrets these depths of everlasting Compassions these Rarities these Dainties which the World never tasted men of highest Place chiefest Parts never came to the sight of And our Savior presseth this aâ—â—â—â—eculiar evidence of his dearest Affection John 15.15 I call you Friends because I have declared unto you all things I have heard of the Father have so befriended you with such special Priviledges so familiarized my self unto you whereas others have not an inkling thereof 7. Collection We have here a never-failing ground of everlasting refreshing and Comfort to fence and fetch up the fainting hearts of Saints Whatever oppositions desertions wants or infirmities they sustain which might eclipse and take away the sight and fence of Gods Love this Truth preserves and bears up from al. I know what troubles you what your complaints are It 's Gods Face and Fatherly Mercy it 's that ye have long sought and desired to see Mine Eyes fail for waiting for thy Salvation saying O! when wilt thou comfort me If I could get a sight of Gods Fatherly Face and did but know his Mercy were mine I could resolve with old Simeon Let me depart in peace for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Stand stil and stay thy self upon the Consideration of this Truth and thou shalt see greater things than these Christ hath undertaken to make it known and therefore quiet thine own heart thou shalt know this which passeth knowledg 1. Whatever Oppositions thou hast he wil out-bid them 2. Whatever Desertions he will recover them 3. Whatever weaknesses he wil remove them Whatever it is that eclipseth the coming of this Love he wil scatter al. 1. Whatever thy Oppositions be he wil over-bear al he wil disperse al Clouds quel al Temptations quiet al fears drive away al discouragements clear al doubts and difficulties Christ hath said it and he is able who hath promised it and he can perform it He can make this known and nothing can hinder thaâ— power of his Object I know he can but how shal I know that he will Answ He is ready and resolute hear his own expression I wil make it known So Isa 46.10 His Wil shal stand and none can resist it not the wil of Devils nor distempers nor temptations nor thine own corrupt wil Psalm 115.3 If he wil make it known who hath resisted his will 2. Whatever be thy Desertions he wil recover thee out of al Thou complainest The time was God did shew his Face and discover his Favor I have known his Name but O! that is my misery I have But God hath forgotten to be gracious and hath shut up his loving kindness in displeasure No Quiet thy heart he hath make known and be assured he wil make known he was yesterday he is to day and he wil be the same for ever Thy Sun is set it wil rise again It is eclipsed now but it wil shine again Isa 54.8 For a smal moment I have had my Face from thee but with everlasting kindness I wil have mercy upon thee 3. What thy wants be he wil remove and break through al. Thou sayest thy neglects have been frequent and grievous many motions intimations thou hast had and yet rejected quenched al why should he discover any more thy disires are very faâ—â— thy endeavors weak and sluggish and in reason unworthy to attain any mercy Answ He doth not make known the Name of his Father because of thy work or worthiness but it 's the Office that he hath undertaken he wil discharge it his Promise and engagement he wil perform notwithstanding al thy neglects and weaknesses He that made known this Name when thou never inquired'st after it he wil not deny to manifest it when thou seekest after it though in much weakness Isa 42.16 I will lead them and will not forsake them John 17.2 The Father hath given Christ power over all Flesh that he might give Eternal Life and this is Eternal Life to know thee verse 3. he hath power over al Flesh Fleshly Reason the wil of the Flesh infirmities of the Flesh inordinate desires of the Flesh Lastly Exhortation Wait upon Christ for this Declaration if the Vision tarry yet wait for it because it wil surely come it wil not tarry Habb 2.3 How can it tarry and yet not tarry it may tarry to our apprehension but not tarry in regard of Gods Determination This waiting lies in two Rules First See how Christ dispenseth it Therefore consider 1. That he lies in the Bosom of the Father and is acquainted with his Bosom Secrets 2. That al that the Father hath is his and he may dispose of it John 16.15 3. That he is sent on purpose upon this very Errand John 6.38 39. John 17.8 4. He hath received power over al Flesh for the Execution of this John 17.2 3. 5. It is his wil and resolution to do it I will manifest it Secondly See the way how we are to receive it 1. Stay his time manner measure If it be not free it is not Grace 2. Carefully observe what fals the least intimation or spark cast in 3. When we have observed the Dispensation of God towards us let us then follow on to improve that spark and give way to Christ and we shal receive more from him We are now come to the last and great thing observed and expressed in these
unconceivable Mass of Mercy and Goodness in this it is contained and by this it is expressed to the World This Love set God on work to create a World and to set out his Excellencies therein to redeem the World out of the World and to bring to light those depths of his indeared affections to his in his Christ which the world could not conceive and would not believe That the world may know thou hast loved them as thou lovest me They did know and they would not beleeve it that there was such love in God or such love towards men By this God is admired in them that do beleeve 2 Thess 2.10 He is glorious in his Saints but his glory is beyond comprehension admirable when the condition of the Saints what they were and hereby are comes to be considered USE 1. Of Reprehension It Checks the opinion and carriage of the drooping and discouraged Saints who poar upon their own sins and sit down discouraged in the sight and sense of their own unworthiness and then begin to measure the Lord Christs affections according to their own disposition nourish secret Jealousies and surmises If there be any blessings which are of especial account that they want or Graces which they desire or Counsels which they need They secretly conceive that Christ who knows their weakness and wretchedness better than themselves he grudgeth the graunt of such high favors to such undeserving and sinful wretches as they be No say they it wil never be Happy they who are sit to receive but the Lord sees them too good and too much for me And the Devil is ready at hand to add fuel to the fire to help forwards such groundless misconceivings as they be That he may mint and maintain hard thoughts in the Soul against our Savior Christ and his intended compassions So he dealt with our first parents The Spark was no sooner stirring and appearing but he blows and increaseth it until it come unto a great Flame Yea hath God said ye shal not eat of every Tree He knows that ye shal be as Gods knowing good and evil Therefore he forbids you the meanes that ye may not attaine the end He envies the happiness otherwise he that knows what it is he would have provided for your spiritual good that ye might have knowledg as wel as provide the Tree Therefore the Lord professeth himself offended with this way ward distemper of his froward Children The Father cares not for me loves not me thinks al too good for me Isa 40.27 Why sai'st thou O Jacob speaks O Israel my way is hid from the Lord This is the dayly talk of al dismayed ones the speech they have in their meetings Jacob saies Israel saies This ye say but what saies the Lord Jesus Why speakest thou thus Christ cannot abide such unkind surmises and Jealousies To cast an Eye to such a wretched Creature as I my wants are such c. But the Lord knows how better to bestow his supplies That I should have peace or evidence or assurance c. Let it suffice thee that Christ wisheth thy welfare as he doth the most able and excellent Christian upon Earth He doth not grudge the greatest excellency in Heaven no not in the very heart of the Father He would not have a choice Sit but he would have thee to be partaker of it he would have thee share in the love of the Father with himself Sit down ashamed and confounded in thy self that ever thou should'st have a hard thought of Christ whose heart is so fully â—nlarged for thy good USE 2. For Instruction The Faithful shal certainly be made partakers of the Fathers love in Christ and when they have it its as certain they can never loose it 1. They may certainly expect it They may certainly expect that which Christ desires because he ever attaines his desires at the hands of God the Father Joh. 11.42 I know that thou hearest me alwaies he is sure to speed and therefore they are sure to possess But Christ desires this Therefore they may expect it Nay he not only desires but the strength of his indeavor is spent to this purpose and its the end he aimes at His desire is ever answered his labour ever blessed And therefore the faithful may undoubtedly expect this love The Lord Christ makes it the main work on Earth in Heaven what he hath done what he wil. I have made known I will make known thy Name He that hath al power he is improving al power for this end and purpose that this love may be setled and established Wil the Lord Christ loose his labor can he miss of his end can any thing oppose his power or prejudice his success 2. They can never loose it The love of the Father to Christ nothing can alter that The love of the Father to us is the same nothing can change it Our union as his nothing can separate or break Our communion as his nothing can interrupt it Hither Paul repaires and lands his heart and Hopes in safety Rom. 8.38 Nor things to come Obj. Somthing is yet to come Ans Come what wil come This is his aim to settle the conclusion of their happines and the certainty thereof To be beyond the reach of al the hosts in Heaven and Earth Therefore he musters up al what are what shal be If there were a thousand worlds to come and should set themselves to shake the comforts of the faithful it could not be The ground is hence Because of the love of God in Christ It was before al these things therefore they come too late to hinder it It was without any repect and therefore they could not work it It was only and wholly from God and therefore they cannot alter it The Devils and sin may as wel separate Christ from the Father as pul the love of the Father from his own heart and so from Christ as separate us from it 3. It s ground of greatest contentment to the hearts of al Gods people in al their conditions Christ cannot love thee better than he doth nor provide greater good for thee than he intends Thou canst have no more I had almost said God can give thee no more Be therefore content with what thou hast our Saviors desire is to interest thee in the heart and love of the Father as himself Not to love thee as a Creature as a friend a subject but as the Son of his love What me Yea thee poor weak silly worthless Worm that beleevest in him Go thy way therefore never quarel nor question any more never murmur nor repine any more It is enough nay it is too much I would not have thought it I durst not have desired it I could not have beleeved it but that our Savior hath said and done it What I beloved of the Lord Jesus miserable wretch who cannot but loath my self and Judg my self worthy to be condemned Yea thou Therefore rest
is ever heard and therefore the Saints shal alwaies be assisted supported inabled to be faithful to the end and in the end If Christ may not be heard then thou maiest not be helped and if he wil loose his prayer then thou maiest loose thy comfort and grace But that is incredible this is impossible Besides how dishonorable is this Doctrine of falling away unto the Lord Jesus and the work of his Mediation which in the Issue advanceth the power of our sin and the policy of Satan above the vertue of the death of Christ and the power of the prayer of Christ For it saith thus much That the policy of Satan is more able to undermine us than his prayer to preserve us His temptation to destroy us than the Intercession of Christ to save us No Be the assaults never so fierce the allurements never so subtil corruptions never so strong Nay let all the power of Darkness do the worst The prayer of Christ wil yet shore up the meanest Saint in the greatest safety Luk. 22.32 Satan hath desired to winnow he would have winnowed all the Grace out of his Heart but our Savior he made provision for him and concludes but I have prayed that thy Faith fail not and there leaves it as though there was not then the least shadow or fear of any miscarriage For it might have been said may be Satan wil be too hard not only for my Grace but for thy prayer No our Savior leaves it beyond al question for it s so far from any appearance of probability that the thought of it is no less than blasphemy Use 2 for Direction To take heed how we deal injuriously or carry our selves offensively towards the meanest beleever Be his place never so low his condition never so base his abilityes never so feeble and despicable in thine Eye The prayer of Jesus is to preserve them from evil and therefore wil be against thee who intendest to do evil against them It was the Argument of our Savior Math. 18.10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I tel you that in Heaven their Angels do alwaies behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven If this was a reason of force as no question it is that they should not despise those whose Guardians are the glorious Angels the Special Attendants at the Court of Heaven How much more that the Son of God doth pray dayly for them who is far above al principalities and powers and advanced at Gods right Hand Use 3. Consolation unspeakeable and glorious even to the meanest of the Saints when they are beset with greatest enemies and that in greatest necessities and most unable to succor themselves know there is support that will never fail thee Thy sins plead against thee 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Here is an Advocate who pleads for thee and wil undoubtedly carry the cause Thy conscience that accuseth Satan he condemnes But they al come too late There is one between them and home who intercedes and makes perfect satisfaction and also ful communication thereof therefore Paul flings the gantlet May be thy Heart and prayers and life and al seem to fail thee Here is one who lives alwaies and prayes alwaies and is heard alwaies and therefore able to save to the uttermost them that come Object True happy they who have a share in that Intercession but so sinful a creature so silly a wretch so loathsom an one as I unworthy that Christ should ever have me in his thoughts much less should ever pray for me Answ Yes for thee if thou hast but Faith as a grain of Mustard-seed not only for Peter for his Apostles but for thee silly Woman Ignorant Child c. Use 4. TERROR This is a thunderbolt to break the heart and Split the hopes of al worldlings under Heaven Doth then thy conversation witness doth thine own heart confess it That The day is yet to dawn the hour yet to come that ever God spake to thy Soul or plucked thee out of the world As thou were 't thou art of the Earth and speakest of the Earth in the old course and led aside with old lusts Know thou must Christ hath shut thee out of his Prayrs and thy Soul out of peace and self out of Heaven for ought any living can tel and I do not say how sleepest thou but how canst thou live and hear and know this thy condition That thou dost not sit down in silence and thy Soul sink and die away within thee in everlasting discouragement in the expectation of evil that hangs over thy Head and have thy life hang in doubt that when thou goest our thou shouldest never return and when thou liest down thou shouldest never rise up again Why there is nothing to hinder but the hand of Justice should plague and nothing to stay it Thy sins and Devils to make a prey and spoil of thee and nothing to hinder it Bear not up thy self with the Opinion of others or their approbation how their Hearts are to thee and how wel they speak of thee But know The Heart of Christ he hath discovered it and professed it He prays not for the world nor for thee if one of them Do not deceive thy self nor suffer Satan to delude thee with vain pretences That notwithstanding thy sins and deserts yet there is redemption wrought by Christ vertue and Salvation in the Blood of Jesus He died for sinners and his Death is able to redeem because Salvation is laid upon one that is mighty True that is thy misery There is enough to be had but he never suffered any thing did any thing intended any thing nay purposed to speak a good word for thee but to leave thee to shift for thy self to the hand of Justice to plague to the hand of Devils to torment to the hand of thy sins to rule damn thee And he professeth he would not spend his breath much less his Blood I think thou hast thy load though I could yet lay it heavier Hy thee for thy life out of the compass and company of the world if ever thou wouldest be within the power of the prayer of Christ to thine own knowledg Use 5 Exhortation to beleevers To have our hearts ravished and our thoughts swallowed up with everlasting admiration of this indeared love of the Lord Jesus to such poor creatures That he should provide and reserve the rarities of the Riches of his Grace for such miserable worthless Worms As Philip in the like case Why wilt thou shew thy self to us and not unto the world why pray for us speak intercede for us in Heaven and not for the world when there be so many wise Rich honorable that thou never intendest any good unto nor ever put test them within one sentence of thy prayer Lord who am I silly Woman Ignorant Child disobedient rebellious servant that yet thou shouldest cal me out of the world and make it
thy great work in Heaven to keep me in the world and bring me to Heaven What wil you do to honor this Christ who hath thus honored you how should you indeavor to serve him in Earth who indeed serves you in Heaven He provides for your safety and comfort provide you for his Glory He stands betwixt you and your Harms against al sins Devils Temptations stand you between him and his wrongs that may be done to him Before we pass from this verse one thing more may be shortly handled and that taken from the consideration of the Time When these persons shall beleeve for whom our Savior here prayes and that is cleerly discovered to continue until the end of the world those who yet were not in the world and those who should beleeve even at the end of the world for these now our Savior praies Hence Our Savior hath a speciall care for those that shal beleeve on him Doct. even in the worst condition of their Unbeleef So the text gives in undeniable evidence even before many had any being in Nature and when some were and others should be brought into the world and had neither mind to know God nor Heart to seek after Christ or to pray for themselves Yet here ye see our Savior takes in al those now within the compass of his prayer and care to provide for them and to contrive all for their good when they neither did nor could care for him or for themselves therefore its plain Our Savior cares for such who shal beleeve in him when they are in the depth of their unbeleef and his prayer is then working for their good when they intend no good unto themselves Our Savior when they were in the heat of that hellish villany in blaspheming and killing the Lord of life even then he intends life to them procures and purchaseth life for them Luk. 23 34. Father forgive them they know not what they do This prayer it was that wrought more than Peters preaching when his spirit was warmed with the Love of Jesus and the Blood of a dying Savior ran fresh now in al the Veins of his Heart and the power and vertue of it was mighty upon the consciences of Peters Hearers such as had before been Crucifyers of the Lord of life It then took place and prevailed mightily Isa 57.18 I have seen his waies c though he see not himself See this made good in some particulars as 1. In the several degrees of it 2. The Reason and 3. The Use This care and the vertue of this prayer of our Savior will appear thus in five Particulars Hence 1. It is that the Lord contrives means in the waies of his Providence for the bringing of these men into the world so that the Parents and Predecessors of such though happily desperately wicked and forlorn shal yet have their stock and posterity continued in the world because they shal bring these into the world who shal beleeve And therefore it is the patience of God is extended towards many a wicked parent nay to the whole stock and Linage of vile and loose men not for their sakes but the sakes and cause of some that shal come of them whom the Lord Christ doth purpose to bring to himself Math. 24.22 Had not God shortned those daies no flesh had been saved but for his Elects sake the Lord shortned those daies i.e. The generation of the Jews now rejecting and most Hellishly blaspheming the Lord Jesus Christ had so provoked the Eyes of the Lord That should he in Justice have proceeded against them and executed his righteous Judgments either as the Nature of their sins deserved or their Enemies intended and out of their power and rage could easily have accomplished it there had not been one Jew left alive to propagate their posterity or name or Nation But the Lord had an Eye to his Elect that should come of these in the last Age of the world after so many Ages and generations past when their dead Bones shal live and the Redeemer shal come out of Sion and turn Jacob from iniquity then all Israel shal be saved So the Apostle Rom. 11.28 Hated for their sins sake but beloved for their Fathers sake i.e. For Abraham with whom through Christ the covenant of the Gospel was made to him and to his Seed i.e. To al the faithful whether Jew or Gentile but with the Jew first and then with the Graecian For this calling and covenant being everlasting is without repentance and wil assuredly take place in the season thereof when it shal be most sutable to shew forth free grace 2. The Lord even so provides that such means in an ordinary way of Providence may be sent continued and dispensed to such who never had a thought of them enquired after them or had a Heart to entertain them when they are offered Upon this ground the Lord appoints and incourageth the Apostle Act. 18.9 10. Speak and hold not thy Tongue Speak plainly and fully fear no mans frowns regard no mans favors no man shal do thee harm for I have people in this City Thus the Spirit stopped the passage into Bithynia for when they assayed the Spirit suffered them not Act. 16.7 But Christ sends post by an express in a Vision to Paul A man of Macedonia appeares with this Petition in his Hand subscribed by the Hearts of the messengers Come into Macedonia and help us And when they came the Issue shewes their Errand A poor Woman a Purple-seller and a Stubborn and Rebellious spirited Jailour was all the Markets he made But this is the Lords manner if there be but one Grain of Corn in many heapes of Chaff he wil never leave winnowing rather than lose it send he wil Messenger after Messenger until he hath gathered that into his barn Onesimus a Runnagate from his Master without the reach of government of Gospel God coops him up in Prison and casts Paul thither also that so he may come to the speech of him 3. He keeps them by his restraining Grace and some strong hand of Providence sometimes from grosser sins I say some of those that shal beleeve from some loathsome and hainous evil but alwaies from falling into that sin against the Holy Ghost because that is a Disease which admits no Remedy a Dungeon of that depth from whence there is no deliverance beyond the reach of the work of Redemption as that which comes not within the compass of mercy and the Riches of the compassion of the Almighty The Lord hath passed the sentence and that most Peremptory and shews the deadly Malignity of that evil by way of difference from all others Math. 12.31 Wherefore I say unto you all manner of sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall never be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come i.e. There is no Hope It here cannot be pardoned and at the great