Lord Christ's and the fulness thereof Psal 24. 1. with 1 Cor. 10. 21-26 All power is given to him in Heaven and in Earth Math. 28. 18. Indeed this is not gloriously manifested now as it shall be hereafter but we by faith may know that God hath put all things under his feet Eph. 1. 21 22. All that the Father hath is his Joh. 16. 15. and he as thus furnished hath given us assurance in his promises that in seeking him we shall have of these things what he sees needful and good for us which promises are so ratified and sealed by his blood that there is no reason or room left for us while walking in the light of the Lord to call into question his faithfulness in performing see how the Holy Ghost sets this before us to preserve from covetousness and from the practise of those that exercise themselves thereto Our Savior when he warns his disciples of taking thought for their life or body he gives this instruction and promise to them seek ye first in and unto all things the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things namely what you shall eat what you shall drink and wherewith you shall be cloathed shall be added to you Math. 6. 24-34 so the Apostle saith Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have namely as you have prepared in Christ in whom all things are yours even the world life things present c. 1 Cor. 3. 21-23 and which you have assured to you in his promises and he is giving to you in his way For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper c. Heb. 13. 5 6. Psal 34 8-10 Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him upon them that hope in his mercy to deliver their soul from death and to keeps them alive in famine Psal 33. 18 19. see also Psal 37. 3 4 19. and 84. 10 11. He hath not promised us meat for our lust or that he will give unto us such accommodations as our naturall spirit is desiring and craving that may be hurtful for us but what ever he sees we need to our seeking him he will not withhold Yea he may bring his people into many straits so that they may be in hunger and thirst in fastings in cold and nakedness for the trial of their faith and that they may learn to live the life they live in the flesh by the faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us But he will cause all things to work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to purpose Rom. 8. 28-32-37 39. Yea and he that gave his Son in due time to dye for us ungodly ones while without strength will in due time and seasonably be mindful of his covenant in giving meat to them that fear him till they have finished their course Psal 111. 4 5. Oh what powerful arguments are contain'd and what compleat incouragement is given to us in this word of the beginning of Christ to strengthen us to receive this admonition viz To take heed and beware of covetousness 2. That men may take heed and beware of covetousness while called to day is manifest in what Jesus Christ is now doing in his present work and office whereto the Father hath appointed him and that both in what he doth to us from Heaven in the name of the Father and in what he doth for us in Heaven with the Father in both which he is the Savior of all men especially of them that believe And so 1. Jesus Christ who hath made peace for us by his blood and is our peace in whom dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily is appointed and hereby fitted to be and is the great Apostle by whom God hath spoken to us in these last days and by whom he still speaketh in his Testimony by his Spirit to our spirits that we might know the things freely prepared for us and given us in himself that through the knowledge of it we might be redeemed from the Earth he is the great peace-preacher preventing every man in due time with some discoveries of his goodness and especially us amongst whom the Scriptures in the records thereof are preserved He is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world and more advantage doth he give to us upon whom his name is called in opening our blind eyes in due time and turning us to God from Idols and so saving us from our sins For to this end hath God appointed him to be the light that he might save us for thus he saith I have given thee for a light of the Gentiles that by this means thou maâ—st be for salvation to the ends of the Earth Act. 13. 47. The grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly c. Tit. 2. 11 12. it brings salvation to all men in due season not finds it in men beforehand and it is saving not onely it hath such a tendency in it but also there is saving strength accompanying it to strengthen men to receive it in it's appearance and therewith to deny worldly lusts c. Otherwise how glorious soever the things be which Christ hath wrought and obtained into himself for us men cannot take heed and beware of any thing reproved For man is born like a wild Asses colt the way of peace they know not they have no wisdom in them they cannot know those things which belong to their peace for they are spiritually discerned nor can they see the iniquity of covetousness but may think it to be godliness every man by his knowledge is bruitish and thence they have no freedom of will to chuse life and refuse death no affection to or desire after things that are above But God hath put his spirit upon his Son and hath given him for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes c. Isa 42. 1-6 7. and 49. 6-9 and good and upright faithful to him that appointed him is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners in the way Psal 25. 8. so that when men are walking in the iniquity of their covetousness to the provoking God to wrath and to smite them c. he to recover them therefrom creates the fruits of his lips peace peace to him that is far off Isa 57. 17-19 he makes known his words to the worst of sinners and particularly to those that are greedy of gain and therewith reproving them Pro. 1. 19-23 upon whom doth not his light arise Job 25. 3. The Holy Spirit doth convince the world of sin because they believe not on Christ that is he doth both reprove and fault them and not onely so but convince them and evidence to them that this is their
judge the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. inherit the earth Psal 37. 9-11 have power over the nations and rule them with a rod of iron Rev. 2. 26 27. and then compleatly bear the Image of the Heavenly in their bodies which shall be fashioned into the likeness of his glorious body In their spirits injoying the harvest of all blessing of which they have now but a first fruits In that dominion and rule that shall be given them when he shall make new heavens and a new earth 1 Cor. 15. 49. in being Christ's they are Abraham's seed and heires according to promise and so heyres of the world to come Rom. 4. 13. Heb. 2. 5. and shall injoy the heavenly Canaan which was given to Abraham and his seed by an everlasting covenant the which he hath not yet possessed God gave him none inheritance in it no not so much as to set his foot on yet he promised he would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him Act. 7 5. and faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it This everlasting covenant being confirmed by the blood of Jesus who is brought again from the dead and alive for evermore being the great shepherd of the sheep and Mediator of the new Testament that the called may recieve the promise of the eternal inheritance Heb. 9. 14. and 13. 20. and blessed is he that believeth for there shall be a performance of the things that are spoken Christ himself as raised from the dead being the foundation and ground of it and he as given to us in the Gospel and by faith received is that in which God makes with us and gives us assureance of the everlasting covenant Isa 55. 3. with Act. 13. â—4 Now this blessed hope which is declared to us in the word of the truth of the Gospel is very powerful as viewed in the Cross of Christ to deliver us from this present evil world we are saved by hope from our sins and so from loving and lusting after this World Hence frequently the Holy Ghost sets this before us to take off our hearts from the things here below and that we might be without carefulness and covetousness Thus our Savior in this Luk. 12. takes occasion from the miscarriages of this man who desired him to speak to his brother to divide the inheritance with him to warn his disciples of taking thought for their life what they shall eat c. And to seal home that admonition saith Feare not little flock For it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom therefore sell that you have and give almes c. Luk. 12. 22-32-35 so the Apostle saith When Christ our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Mortifie therefore your members that are upon the earth covetousness which is idolatry Col. 3. 4 5. He that hath his hope in Christ that when he shall appear we shall be like him c. purifieth himself as he is pure As Christ is pure in his work washing and cleansing from desires of being now manifested and from minding and affecting the things of the world so such an one purifieth himself daily and continually he goes on so to do 1 Joh. 3. 1-3 how forcible was this blessed hope with the holy men in former times to redeem them from the earth they saw the promises afar off and were perswaded of them and embraced them kissed and closed with them as very desireable and lovely and as the effect and consequent thereof confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth c. Heb. 11. 13. 16. And by faith Moses preferred the reproach of Christ before the treasures of Egypt and refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter For he had respect to the recompence of reward Heb. 11 24-26 and if this had such efficacy on them when they saw the promises afar off would it not now rather crucifie us to the world and the World to us were we looking to those things not seen considering that the promise God made to the Fathers he hath fulfilled in that he hath raised Christ from the dead in whom all the promises of God are yea amen Act. 13. 32 33. 2 Cor. 1. 20. would it not make us willing to go forth unto him without the camp bearing his reproach For we have here no continuing City but have good reason to seek one to come Heb. 13. 13 14. Yea and especially now the grace of God doth instruct and move us to have our conversation without covetousness For the end of all things is at hand 1 Pet 4. 7. the time is short it remaineth that both they that have wives be as if they bad none as with respect to covetousness and carefulness in laying up for themselves and theirs here on earth and they that weep for any loss deprivation or disappointment in God's providences ordered to them as though they wept not and they that rejoyce for any gain advantage or increase as though they rejoyced not and they that buy that they may have some visible maintenance secured to them as though they possessed not c. For the fashion of this world passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29-32 Wherefore gird we up the loynes of our mind from wandring in our desires after the things on the earth or setting our hearts upon them be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry now the just shall live by faith 1 Pet. 1. 13. Heb. 10. 37. 38 2 Per. 3. 11-14 2. And that we may take heed and beware of covetousness consider the terror of the Lord against those that continue therein as declared in the Gospel The Lord will be terrible unto them such as such shall not inherit the Kingdom of God let no man deceive us with vain words for because of this the wrath of God cometh continually upon the children of disobedience to the glorious Gospel which comes to redeem and deliver from the earth and from having fellowship with men in this unfruitful work 1 Cor. 6. 10 11. Eph. 5. 5-7 Col. 3. 5 6. The day of the Lord will come as a snare on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth Luk. 21. 34 35. The Lord will be very terrible to such in that day of wrath in that day shall a man cast his idols of silver and his idols of gold which they made each one for himself to worship to the Moles and to the Batts to go into the clefts of the rocks and into the tops of the ragged rocks for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his Majesty when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth Isa 2. 16. 21. Oh let us not by following lying vanities forsake our own mercies what will it profit a man to gain the whole
of the Gospel is shewed to us that we may take heed and beware of iniquity in General and so of this of covetousness For in what is said we may see and learn 1. That there is forgiveness with him For 1. We are not now necessarily under the guilt and dominion of our sins for as is said he is raised for our justification who dyed for our sins and this so vertuous that as all have sinned and are come short of the glory of God so they are justified freely by Gods grace through the redemption that is in Jesus and this true before he is set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood Rom. 3. 23-25 He hath so satisfied God's justice fulfilled his truth appeased his wrath answered his law and so paid our debt that now the wrath of God doth not abide on any man simply because our first Father hath sinned and we in him or because we are naturally and unavoidably polluted and defiled in our own persons as we come to have a being from him and so are necessarily inclined to pride covetousness c. This is not the condemnation that we are by nature and first birth darkness but that light is vouchsafed and men love darkness rather than light c. Joh. 3. 19. The judgement of this world was executed upon and suffered by Jesus Christ so that no man is condemned because he hath sinned in the first Adam simply and comes forth from him necessarily polluted but there is a door of repentance opened and all the ends of the Earth called to look to him and be saved Isa 45. 22. Nor shall any man perish for ever in that first death but be all raised again by the man Christ Jesus and shall not then be judged according to that first rule of judgement Joh. 5. 22-27 And this because Jesus Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man and is raised again from the dead and indeed otherwise we are yet in our sins and must so abide for ever for no man can redeem his brother Psal 49. 7. and all faith preaching and hope is in vain 1 Cor. 15. 14-17 if there were any one man for whom Christ hath not by the grace of God tasted death it were impossible for such an one to flee from covetousness and in vain to warn him so to do The house of Israel were reasoning rightly if there had been any ground for their so saying If say they our transgressions and our sins be upon us and we pine away in them how can we then live how can we turn to God from Idols to serve the living and true God it is impossible Ezek. 33. 10. So may we say if mens sins be upon them which they are naturally and necessarily guilty of and polluted with there is then no hope the case is desperate But what he said to them when they were so reasoning As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live Vers 11. is generally true concerning mankind while he is calling to them and of the truth of this he hath given his Son for a witness in that he appointed him and he was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin 1. Joh. 3. 5. As the first offence was unto all men to condemnation so the righteousness of the last Adam was to all men to justification of life in an answerable sense Rom. 5. 18 he once in the end of the world appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Heb. 9. 26. and by vertue and as the effect thereof he hath delivered us in himself from the power of our enemies Now saith he is the judgement of this world namely when his soul was troubled now shall the Prince of this world be cast out namely from being the Prince of the world as he was necessarily according to the curse of the law And I if I be lifted up from the Earth will draw all men unto me namely from under the judgement of the world and dominion of the Prince of the world Joh. 12. 27 31 32. Joh. 17. 2. Math. 12. 28 29. Now then herein is further evidenced that man may lay a part all filthiness and so this of covetousness in that that snare of Satan is broken and we are in Christ deliver'd without which we had been necessarily bond-slaves to him and led captive by him at his pleasure being shut out and banished from God But he hath delivered us in himself out of the hands of our enemies that we might serve him without fear in righteousness and holiness before him c. Luk. 1. 73-75 Psal 98. 1-4 Col. 2. 15. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men For he hath broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder Psal 107. 15 16. He hath broken down the middle wall of partition between God and us hath taken out of the way all that was in the way contrary to us nailing it to his Cross and having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in himself Eph. 2. 14 15. Col. 2. 14 15. Psal 47. 1-5 6. and 68. 18. 2. Herein is also shewn that Jesus Christ hath not onely purged away the guilt of that first sin and sinfulness from before the presence of God but also that he hath obtained power into himself to make reconciliation for the sins of the people which they are guilty of upon a new account and which deserve new wrath even the wrath to come he hath not onely received gifts in the man for men as they come to have a being from Adam but for the rebellious also that are disobedient and gainsaying to the Gospel compare Isa 65. 2. with Rom. 10. 21. that the Lord God might dwell among them Psal 68. 18. without which they could not possibly be made an habitation for him He offer'd up sacrifice first for his own sins which were imputed to him and accepted by him as his to answer for and then for the peoples and this he did not often as the former High-priests he needed not to do it daily but once when he offered up himself Heb. 7. 27. and 10 11 12. He hath not onely made peace for us by the blood of his Cross But he is our peace Eph. 2. 14. the propitiation for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2. 2. and the propitiatory and Mercy-seat and so set forth in the word of faith Rom. 3. 25. and as in our types of old the Mercy-seat was put above and so did cover the ark in which was the two tables of the covenant whereby our sinfulness and vileness is discovered Exod. 25. 21 22. even so Jesus Christ he is the true Mercy-seat the covering for our personal sins in which we also transgress the law
for which otherwise we should speedily be cut off without this also we could not lay apart any thing that is evil For there is no man that sinneth not who can say he hath made his heart clean or that he is pure from his iniquity and so particularly from this iniquity of covetousness now were there not this provision made for us in and thorow the blood of Jesus were there not forgiveness of those sins in which we sin against the grace of God bringing salvation there could be no opportunity for us to come to be washed or to seek deliverance therefrom and so God could not be worshipped by us If thou Lord shouldst mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand but there is forgiveness with thee that thou maiest be feared Psal 130. 3 4. Herein the grace of God gift by grace doth exceed the first offence For the judgment was by one offence to condemnation but the free gift is of many offences unto justification Rom. 5. 16. not only to justification and discharge from that first offence but from many offences in which men sin after the similitude of Adams transgression and in Christ God is become a God gracious and merciful to sinners a God of pardon Neh. 9. 17. forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin who can righteously heal men and forgive their iniquity of covetousness whose name and power is great for pardoning great iniquities Numb 14. 17-19 Psal 25. 11. with whom there is plenteous redemption in Christ Jesus through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace for thieves covetous ones rebellious transgressours backsliders while the day of grace and patience is continued to them Psal 130. 7. Eph. 1. 7. 1 Cor. 6. 10 11. And also through this man who is raised from the dead and saw not corruption is preached to us the forgiveness of our sins without some discovery whereof no man could be incouraged in believing to confess his sins Act. 13. 37 38. Psal 130. 3 4. Jer. 3. 12 13. 22. and 31. 19. Joel 2. 13. Rom. 2. 4. Isa 55. 1-6 7. Act. 5. 30 31. 2. In this first and fundamental branch of the Testimony is declared to us the vileness of our sins which needed such a mighty one to be abased for us as was the Son of God and the vanity of our idols for none of these could be a meet sacrifice to be offered up to God We were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of oyl would not have satisfied for the sin of the World or have made peace they profited not in this day of wrath for if they could Christ hath dyed in vain 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Gal. 2. 21. it was necessary that he that was in the form of God should take on him our nature and become obedient to death or otherwise we must have pined away in our iniquities and have been for ever expelled from the presence of God hence it was the Apostles maner and custom to open and alleadge that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again Act. 17. 3. this then shews that we are debters but not to the World that we should love it or the things thereof Was it crucified for us Or were we baptized into the name of it that we should set our hearts and affections on it What ingagement hath it laid upon us that we should forsake the Lord the fountain of living waters and lust after and hew to our selves broken cisterns that can hold no water hath this redeemed us from the curse of the law or did it contribute any thing thereto Was this the means by which Christ made peace for us or needed he or possessed he a great share of this that he might do the will of God in order to our recovery look we into and continue looking into the perfect law of liberty and this wil be powerful to strengthen us to mortifie our members which are on the earth Thus the Apostle sound it God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby the world is crucified to me Gal. 6. 14. it was herein rendred as a dead vile unprofitable thing to him as that in which he could take no delight in the preaching of this Cross it appeares that without bloodshedding there was no remission to be obtained no peace to be made but by the blood of his Cross no victory to be gotten over our enemies but thorow death how then shall we give our loves unto or set our hearts upon such vain things that have not profited us And especially how shall they that have been baptized into Christ and thereto were baptized into his death instructed and washed into the knowledge thereof in which they see the emptiness of all idols and that these things are not of the Father but are of the world how shall they set their affections on things on the earth or mind earthly things 3. In this also is shewed unto us a rich and compleat provision of all things treasured up in the person of our Jesus obtained by his blood which are infinitely better than what naturally we are desiring and that which in the injoyment will give rest to us in which also he is shewing the emptiness of all other things For the holy Spirit in glorifying Christ therein shewes to us that all flesh is grass and the goodliness thereof the glory of man to be as the flower of grass the grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away riches are not for ever but the word of the Lord endureth for ever Isa 40. 6. 8. 1 Pet. 1. 18-24 25. Here are exceeding better treasures provided for us and laid up in a sure hand and in seeking them with the whole heart we shall bemade partakers of them In him are unsearchable riches Eph. 3. 9. All treasures of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2. 3. riches and honor are with him yea dureable riches and righteousness Pro. 8. 18. in seeking after him the almighty shall be our gold and we shall have silver of strength Job 22. 25. God hath given us mankind eternal life and this life is in his Son 1 Joh. 5. 10 11. This is that treasure to be desired which is in the dwelling of the wise in the secret place of the most high Pro. 21. 20. The Merchandise whereof is better than the Merchandise of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold c. Pro. 3. 13. 15. and 8. 19. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold c. Pro. 16. 16. Man knoweth not the price thereof Job 28. 12-20 What would it profit a man if he had the whole world in a day of wrath would this save him would this procure the forgiveness of his sins will this give peace or make a man partaker of the favour of God and fellowship with him will it
great sin and the cause of all other sins for which the wrath of God abides on them and so of their covetousness and the argument whereby he thus convinceth them it is by glorifying Christ and taking of his things and shewing to them Job 16. 8-15 That is to say to the convincing them of their sinfulness he shews to men that Christ hath dyed for them and is risen again and hath received all fulness and compleatness into himself for them that they might run unto Jesus Christ with a relinquishing all other things Isa 55. 1-5 All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest arise from the dead namely from dead persons and things and particularly from all filthiness of the flesh and from this bitter root of covetousness of which the Apostle had been admonishing and Christ shall give thee light Eph. 5. 3-5-14 And to those that turn at his reproofs and receive the Testimony God hath given of his Son he is pouring forth his spirit to them and making known his words He is giving to them the Spirit of wisdom to make them wise to inlighten the eyes of their understanding and revelation to reveal Christ further to them that they may count what hath been fore gainful to them as loss for Christ Yea that they might still count all things as loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ that they may win him Phil. 3. 7-9 He is rendring his blood so precious before them in shewing the peace thereby made the victory thereby gotten the righteousness thereby compleated the eternal redemption thereby obtained the new Testament and everlasting covenant thereby sealed and confirmed that he is thereby still and further powerfully redeeming them from their vain conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Rev. 5. 9. with chap. 14. 3 4. He gives himself unto them and with himself all things to deliver them from this present evil world 1 Cor. 3. 21-23 Gal. 1. 4. and thus is he deading them to the things here below crucifying them to the world Rom. 6. 2 3. Gal. 6. 14. raising their affections to things above Col. 2. 9-12 with 3. 1 2. strengthning them to have their conversation in Heaven their minds hearts and affections there and they set to promote the things thereof even while they may according to the instructions of his grace be exercised as to the outward man in the work of their Callings and assuring them he will never forsake them in having their conversation without covetousness 2. He is also the great and onely Mediator between God and Men making intercession for transgressors that they might be saved from their sins and so from this iniquity of their covetousness and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2. 4 5. otherwise men that have added rebellion unto their sin could have no opportunity for being washed without which they shall have no part with Christ but now through his daily presenting himself in the vertues of his sacrifice offered once for all patience and forbearance is exercised and space of repentance vouchsafed to rebellions ones that the Lord God may dwell amongst them and all this day of his patience he is vouchsafing means and stretching out his hand to them that are greedy of gain that they in hearing his words might turn at his reproof Psal 68. 18. Prov. 1. 19-23 24. Isa 65. 2. Rev. 2. 20 21. He is the Lamb of God that taketh away in his present mediation the sins of the world Joh. 1. 29. and is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2. 2. He is praying Father forgive them as Luk. 23. 34. Lord let it alone this year also till I shall dig about it and dung it Luc. 13. 7 8. and while he thus intercedes the Father hears him and it is an acceptable time 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. the long-suffering of the Lord is and is to be accounted salvation his end herein being that men might come to repentance and be saved Isa 53. 10-12 2 Pet. 3. 9. 15. Act. 14. 17. 2 Cor. 5. 15. And in an especial manner he is mediating for those that come God by him and is therefore able to save them to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. without which he were not able he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance Heb. 9. 15. he is taking away and so covering their sins that God may be patient to them while they continue in them that they may have space vouchsafed to come to the fountain prepared and opened for washing and cleansing and that the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ may be given to them continually that through that knowledge they might flee from the pollutions of the world and in confessing their sins and turning to him he is forgiving them in Heaven and making them partakers of the forgiveness of their sins and so mediating the new Testament in his blood that they may be cared for to the end they may seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness he is their Advocate who is also the daily and standing propitiation for their sins to teach them what to pray for as they ought and how to pray to hear their prayers to grant their requests and fulfil the desires of their heart to manage their matters to wash and cleanse them in his blood to subdue their iniquities fight their battels supply their wants and perfect what concerns them He is a Sun and sheild and will give grace and glory and no good thing will be withhold from them that walk uprightly Joh. 2. 1 2. Psal 84. 11 12. 3. To this end that those that hear the word may be doers of it and so take heed and beware of covetousness he is setting before us the things to come at the appearing of Christ and in his kingdom and these are proposed to and set before men generally in the scriptures of truth and of great usefulness to those that believe the Testimony of Jesus and are looking to the end from the beginning to strengthen them to have their conversation without carefulness and covetousness As to say 1. He hath prepared a kingdom for them that receive his grace to purpose even to the saving of their souls He will raise them again that sleep in Jesus first and change the surviving believers and they together shall appear in glory when Christ who is our life shall appear in his glory they are now kings and priests unto God and shall reign on the earth Rev. 5. 10. and 20. 4-6 the kingdom and dominion and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high Dan. 7. 27. they shall sit with Christ in his throne Rev. 3. 21.
world and loose his own soul these are idolaters and as such they shall be punished their worm dyeth not in that lake into which they shall be cast and their fire is not quenched Were it not infinitely better for us now to receive the love of the truth that we may be saved from our iniquities and idols than expose our selves to the wrath to come Oh who knoweth the power of it what shall a man then give in exchange for his soul than a great ransome cannot deliver will he esteem thy riches no not gold nor all the forces of strength Job 36. 18 19. these profit not in a day of wrath Oh how dreadful will it then be when the Son of man shall say Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire propared for the Devil and his angels For I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye cloathed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not Math. 25. 41-43 He saith not your heart was so given to your covetousness you so loved the world and the things thereof that you defrauded me and took away from me wrongfully what was mine you were not content with that portion of earthly things that was in your own possession but you coveted mine and took it away by violence and extortion and so exposed me to hunger thirst cold and nakedness no this was not directly laid to their charge though this is strongly supposed to be a more grievous iniquity but that for which they are sentenced to everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord it is that they did not cast their bread upon the waters they withheld more than was meet and now it tends to this great poverty they are now left destitute of his favour and for ever separated from him and doomed to the vengeance of eternal fire now when his poor servants that formerly injoyed their evil things are comforted those who formerly injoyed their good things are tormented and shall be so for ever For there will then be such a great gulf fixed that there is no passing from that state and condition to another Luk. 16. 25. at this our heart may tremble and be moved out of place who amongst us will give ear to this who will hearken and hear for the time to come such an one as thus shuts up the bowels of his compassion when opened may possibly by some men be look't upon as an hard man and as one that too much loves his money and this may be deemed as a venial or small offence in him and yet he may pass for an honest man though somewhat hard but were it wisely considered how such wil hereafter be proceeded against it would as viewed in Christ in whom there is now forgiveness and cleansing and power to deliver from the wrath to come be powerful to awaken us to quit our selves from this iniquity What hath been said in shewing that we may take heed and beware of covetousness and by what means we may do it may be of usefulness to us Vse 1. To shew unto us the preciousness of the blood of Christ in its vertue and in it's discovery for redeeming us 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. As that is it whereby forgiveness is procured peace made spirit received great and precious promises confirmed eternal life and redemption obtained so the discovery and application thereof is that whereby he doth wash us from our sins Rev. 1. 5 1 Joh. 1. 7. redeem us unto God from the Earth and from amongst men Rev. 5. 9. and 14. 4 5. purges from dead works as well as from those that are deadly to serve the living God Heb. 9. 14. 2. It shews unto us the reason why we are not washed from this filthiness of covetousness namely because we come not unto and are not obedient to the blood of sprinkling 1 Pet. 1. 2. Eph. 5. 6. for were we obedient thereto it would save us and if we do not thus experiment it let us judge our selves and search and try our ways for certainly we have been wandring out of the way of understanding 1 Cor. 15. 2. 1 Thes 1. 9 10. Oh thou who art named the house of Jacob is the spirit of the Lord straitned are these his doings do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly Mica 2. 2-7 3. Let it instruct and ingage us to give more earnest heed to the things which God hath testified of his Son in what he hath done and is become in what he is now doing and in what he will do and so let us receive and walk in the spirit minding the things of the spirit and we shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. this is our victory even our faith who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. it is onely through the spirit we may mortify the deeds of the body Rom. 8. 13. it is good for us to know that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Christ the word of faith in which he is now manifested to be the foundation and object of faith as formerly he was not that we may believe in Jesus Christ that we may be justifyed and cleansed also as justified sometimes signifies as Dan. 8. 14. by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified Gal. 2. 16. That we may therefore flee covetousness consider we and remember what God hath given us in Christ and the hope set before us to be possessed and injoyed when he shall appear in glory and wait through the spirit who glorifies Christ for the hope of Gods righteousness through faith so shall we meet with his Divine power for delivering us from every path of the destroyer Col. 3. 3-5 Gal. 5. 5. And to ingage us to take heed and beware of covetousness let us briefly consider the motive here laid down by our Savior to seal home this caution For a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth From whence we noted 3. That the consideration of this that a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth is also proper as viewed in the glorious Gospel to move us to receive this admonition viz. to take heed and beware of covetousness By the abundance of the things which he possesseth is here meant the things of this present world as appears in that it is said a man as a man possesseth them and by the parable which our Savior presently joyns unto this Caveat Luk. 12. 16-18 the things of the Earth which he possesseth here on Earth as distinguished from what is laid up in Heaven in the motions and teaching of his grace And by a man's life is