entrance within the veil was typified out Heaven Glory As the High-Priest entred within the veil so Christ as an High-Priest is now in Heaven to carry on Redemption-work He is there to oppose all Designs against his People and secure them against all the Impleadings of their Enemies He ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. The word signifies to attain the Mark as an Archer doth or he that throws Darts hits the Mark so the Lord Jesus Christ intercedes so as to prevail Secondly How doth Christ intercede in Heaven Ans 1. Negatively Jesus Christ doth not intercede in Heaven Figuratively As if his Intercession were no more but the vertue of his Merit as Abel's Blood is said to speak Heb. 12. 24. But formally as one that takes upon him the Cause of his sinning suffering people Secondly he doth not intercede Charitatively by way of Courtesie and Kindness which he might do or leave undone as he pleaseth but officially by way of Office and Trust committed to him for so he is our Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1. Thirdly Neither doth he intercede Precario in such an humble manner and Mode of Supplication of bowing the Knee and submissive Intreaties with Cries and Tears as the Saints do and as once he did whilst on Earth for this is inconsistent with that State of Majesty and Glory he is in at the right hand of God Heb. 1. 3. But Authoritatively by way of Right and Power as one that hath deposited a sufficient Price and now demands his Captives as one that hath made a Purchase and now requires the thing purchased as one that hath deserved what he moves for and hath Power as God to bestow Secondly Affirmatively and so First Christ's Intercession in Heaven is by his appearing there for us as our Mediator and Surety presenting his person God-man as our Agent and High-priest Heb. 9. 24. As the High-priest of old did appear in the holyest of all with the Names of the twelve Tribes on his Breast and Shoulders for a Memorial before the Lord Exod. 28. 9. to 22. to which says one the Church alludes Cant. 8. 6. Set me as a Seal on thy Heart as a a Seal upon thy Arm as a Manifestation of his Love so Christ's interceding is his appearing in the behalf of his People as their Advocate and Christ's sitting in Heaven in this Relation to his people may be calleâ— his interceding Secondly By presenting his Obedience and Sufferings before the Father on their behalf that they might have the Benefit of it and that God would in Justice communicate the Fruits of it to all his Seed 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. A type of this we might see in the High-priest's bringing the blood of the Sacrifice within the Veil and sprinkling it on the Mercy Seat Lev. 16. 11. to 17. First he killed the Sin-offering and then brought in the Blood before the Lord within the Veil without which his Act was not compleat Thus Christ first sheds his Blood on Earth for his People then enters into Heaven there to present his Blood for us Heb. 8. 4. Thirdly By declaring his Willingness that his People should have all that Mercy and Salvation which they need and that he purchases for them Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be where I am Father I will that my Children have their due 't is true they have sinned but I have suffered they have fallen short but I have fulfilled all Righteousness thou knowest I obeyed for them and dyed for them that all which thou hast promised might be made good to them and Father I will that Justice be done for them in Heaven and I will that this and the other Mercy be given out to them here according as their Necessities and Capacities require whilst Christ was on Earth he came to do his Fathers Will and now he is in Heaven he must in all things have his own Joh. 11. 42. Thus much may be understood by the manner of Christ's Intercession in Heaven Thirdly For whom doth Jesus Christ intercede in Heaven Answ For all that come to God by him Heb. 9. 27. For all that do believe in him Joh. 17. 20. Some desponding Sinners may be ready to say alas this is not for me I am unworthy of so choice a Mercy will Christ plead for such a grace-abusing wretch as I Why Sinner if thou art one that comest over to Jesus Christ and believest on the Son thou mayest lay claim to this Advocate in Heaven and confidently expect the Benefit of his Intercession Again The Lord Christ intercedes for all his People on Earth Joh. 17. 11. And now I am no more in the World but these are in the World holy Father keep through thy own Name those whom thou hast given me The Saints on Earth are the Subjects for whom he intercedes particularly for his sinning people he made Intercession for the Transgressors Isa 53. 12. Some trembling Soul may say Christ's Intercession is for them that are holy but I am vile but know O Soul Christ interceeds in Heaven for his people that sin against him 1 Joh. 2. 2. Again Christ intercedes in Heaven for his weak and impotent people that are compast about with Clouds of Infirmities he hath a special Respect to these as a tender Father hath to a weak Child Christ's grace was sufficient for Paul when his own fail'd under the horrible Buffetings of Satan 2 Cor. 12. 9. Such as are weak in themselves that know not how to pray or wait upon God in any holy Duty as they should these are the Persons Christ pleads for to help them such as are ready to be overcome by Temptations Simon Simon Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Luke 22. 31. 32. Poor tempted Souls hurryed up and down sometimes assaulted with blasphemous Thoughts then poysoned by ugly Temptations put upon this Sin and then the other Sin every day the Devil following them with new Temptations laying in new Batteries against them Now the Lord Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God interceding for these Again Christ intercedes in Heaven for his suffering People such as are in danger of being overcome by their Enemies and have no Might and none to intercede for them Isaiah 59. 16. Sore Judgments there were upon the People of God and that justly for their Transgressions no Righteousness of their own to plead for them nothing at all that could justly intervene between Wrath and them Now in this case Christ steps in and he intercedes and brings Salvation These are the persons Christ intercedes for in Heaven Fourthly What doth the Lord Jesus intercede for in the behalf of his People First One thing he pleads for is for their Preservation in the World and from the Evil of the World Joh. 17. 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the World but
his Natures in his Offices in his sweet and gracious Dispositions In his Natures severally considered and united in his Hypostatical and Personal Union The Person of Christ consists of two Natures God the true Emanuel or God with us God manifested in the Flesh Man the true Emanuel or God with us God manifested in the Flesh So Joh. 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory of the onely begotten Son of God full of Grace and Truth That is the Word which was God in the Second Person The brightness of his Glory and express Image of his Person Heb. 1. 3. took our Nature to himself in one Person and became Mediatour perfect God and perfect Man First Perfect God equal with the Father in Essence Joh. 10. 30. I and my Father are one that is one God not one Person 't is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Person but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one thing or Being I am in the Father and the Father in me and therefore my Sheep are safe they are in my hand and in my Father's hand here are two distinct Subsistences and we are the same I and my Father are one God as God I am equal with him the same in Substance equal in Power and Glory Rom. 9. 5. Of whom concerning the Flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever over all men and over all things or in all as Vatab. This Scripture is generally used by all Interpreters to prove the Divine Nature of Christ He is God over all and blessed for ever in himself and of himself and the Author of all those Blessings his Creatures enjoy By him are all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth Visible and Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Coloss 1. 16. And therefore he is perfect God this being his peculiar Operation to create the World By him all things consist he upholds all things by the word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. Supporting and ruling them which is another property of the Divine Nature the ruling and bearing up of all things in the World which none but everlasting Arms can do So he hath Power to forgive Sins which only God can do to raise the Dead to judge the World Mark 2. 5 7. Joh. 11. 43 44. Acts 17. 31. To know the Secrets of all Hearts Luke 5. 22. To be the Object of Religious Worship Heb. 1. 16. All which abundantly prove the Lord Jesus to be perfect God and so of infinite Perfection and Blessedness to inrich all that come unto him which will evidently appear if we do but a little consider those Perfections of the Divine Nature as opened in the Scriptures all which are in Jesus Christ First His Simplicity being a most pure Essence without the least Composition or Diversity of Parts or Accidents There is no mixture of Qualities or Excellencies in God but every Attribute is his entire Essence and therefore he is a most pure and simple Being as the Names he gives himself import especially these two Ehejeh Exod. 3. 14. I am hath sent me unto you The Word is in the future Tense I will be hath sent me but in the Hebrew the future Tense expresseth often both the Present and preterperfect and so this Word holds forth God's most simple absolute and immutable Being and self Existence So Jehovah a Name which God seems to take most Delight in and which doth as it were sum up all his glorious Excellencies in one word importing his most pure glorious and incomprehensible Essence which he hath in and from himself before all time and unto all Eternity subsisting in and of himself and giving Being to all his Creatures and therefore must needs be the most perfect and simple Being The Unity of his Essence proves his Simplicity he is one God though three Persons Deut. 6. 4. Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one God he is the first Being and one undivided Essence and therefore most pure and simple He is altogether a most perfect Being in and of himself who wants nothing that is excellent nor can have any thing in himself that is evil and therefore is a most simple pure Nature And if Jesus Christ as God be such a simple and excellent Being then he is a most perfect Treasure to his People there is nothing wanting in him to make them happy nor can there be any thing in him or come from him to make them miserable then he is true and faithful to Believers there can be no Contrarieties in him or Contradictions proceed from him his Love is sincere his Purposes are true there is a reality in his Expressions for he is one and of one mind to his redeemed ones O Believers think on the Purity of Christ's Nature the Perfection of his Blessedness the Integrity of his Affections and the Infiniteness of all his Perfections to make his beloved ones happy There 's no Moth or Rust no Worm or Death can ware out his pure Affections to his People There is no mixture in his Nature Composition is the Corruption or Imperfection of created Beings but in Christ's Divine Nature there is Unity and Simplicity there is nothing can alter his Thoughts and Resolutions to his sincere ones he is most true and most full in all his Perfections and this his Simplicity assures Believers of eternal and infinite Blessedness in their Union with and Relation unto him for he is in himself the most absolute and perfect Being the first and most simple Being he is most perfect in and of himself for he hath all his Perfections in and of himself as God and all that is sufficient for his infinite Blessedness in and from himself and hath all that in him which is sufficient for the Good of his Creatures and highest Happiness of his People Again he is most perfect because he wants nothing from another to make him blessed He needs no Creatures to contribute any thing to him nor doth he lose any thing by Creatures falling from him or can have any Addition to his Glory or Blessedness by the access of men or Angels to him So also he doth what pleaseth himself nothing can resist his Will or frustrate his Purposes and therefore is most perfect in himself And if the Lord Jesus be so perfect in himself then he is the Author of Perfection to his People for he hath made over himself his whole Person God-Man to Believers to be their Shield and exceeding great Reward Then Believer thy case is happy thy Treasure is full and perfect thy Choice is a blessed Choice and thy Lot a perfect Lot fall'n in a good Ground Then the Person of thy Beloved is altogether lovely his Accomplishments being altogether perfect not a Spot or Blemish in him Then all his Gifts to his Spouse are perfect his Righteousness is a perfect
angry and then to Love which argues a Mutation yet that Change is not in Gods Will and Affection which is one Essence with himself but in his outward Dispensation So that the Divine Nature in Christ is unchangeable both in his Nature and Will he cannot he will not vary in him is no Variableness or Shadow of turning he is a Rock and his Work perfect Time or Change in Creatures work no Change in God 't is the Mistake of Unbelief to think that the Heart of God changes as the poor Believer doth like those that row by the Shore fancy the Land and Houses on it to move when 't is but the Vessel changes his place Comfort thy Heart poor Soul who hast sincerely chosen the Lord to be thy Portion on this Assurance that the Thoughts of God are the same towards thee as evâ—â— all thy changeable Frames and unfaithful Dealings with him works no more Alteration in his Heart to thee than the interposing Clouds do on the essential Light of the Sun or the Provocations of the Child on the Fathers Relation who is still a Father how unlike soever he carries himself to the Child but these Instances are too short to adumbrate and set out the Immutability of God who cannot but be Truth though every man be a Lye he is faithful and cannot deny himself to his though they believe not 'T is his Faithfulness secures thy Faith and not thy Faith makes good his Faithfulness Rom. 3. 3. 4. Shall their Vnbelief make the Faith or Faithfulness of God of none Effect God forbid Mat. 3. 6. I the Lord change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Is Christ immutable Then there is Ground enough for Believers to cast Anchor on him and to bottom their strong Hopes upon his Promises for faithful is he that hath promised Heb. 10. 23. He is not as man that he should lye or as the Son of man that he should repent Numb 23. 19. Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good He cannot alter the Word that is gone out of his Mouth Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one Tittle of his Word till all be fullfilled For this end hath God shewed to the Heirs of Promise the Immutability of his Council confirmed by an Oath that by two immutable things his Purpose and Promise in which 't is impossible for God to lye they might have strong Consolation who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope set before them Heb. 6. 18. 19. O Believer suffer not thy Soul to be tossed to and fro with every change of Providence without or of thy heart within but roul thy Hopes on this Rock of Ages on whom the Pillars of the Earth hang for their Stedfastness the whole Creation for its Sustentation by whom Winter and Summer Day and Night are kept within their Seasons and all the changes of his People reduced into a Consistency with his Covenant Fidelity This also yields encouragement to Believers for perseverance in the way of Duty whatever Alterations are in their Conditions and the Times they live in because he that leads them is the same in the worst as well as the best of Times and as able to secure them and as firm in his Affections to them seeing he changes not and therefore cannot will not leave them Again To this Immutability of God in Christ may gracious Souls go to get their unsteddy Hearts fixed and derive by Faith more constancy to their Spirits towards God He who is faithful hath engaged it to establish their Hearts with Grace and keep them from Evil. 2 Thes 3. 3. But the Lord is faithful who shall establish you and keep you from evil 2 Chro. 20. 20. Believe God so shall you be established As Christ's Life is Security for the Believer's Life Joh. 14. 19. His Power for their Preservation 2 Tim. 1. 12. so is his Immutability for their Stedfastness Psal 102. 12. The Author of this Psalm under the sense of his weakness and the languishing state of Sion comforts himself in the consideration of Gods Immutability But thou O Lord shalt endure for ever And upon this mountain of Spices raises his hopes of Sion this he takes for granted from his unalterableness He shall appear in his Glory Go Believer and lay by Faith thy changeable Heart on Christ's Constancy as the Shunamite did her dead Child on Elisha's Bed till she received him to Life again 2 Kings 4. 21. And she said when her Child was dead It shall be well vers 23. So in the same Spirit of Faith with her Leave thy Soul with a Faithful Jesus to be made faithful also 1 Thes 5. 24. Faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it Fifthly The Omniscience of Christ is another of his Divine Attributes by which he doth perfectly and in one Eternal and immutable Act know himself and all things that were are or shall be and things that are not that never were or never shall be things natural and voluntary necessary and contingent things in their Causes and Effects acted or intended good or evil finite or infinite all are most clearly and fully naked and open in his sight He alone fully knows himself and his Divine Perfections 2 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God ver 11. For what man knoweth the things of man save the Spirit of a man which is in man even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God So Matth. 11. 27. No man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son That is No man can know the Divine Nature but God himself immediately and perfectly That knowledge which the Saints have of God is but a secondary and communicated knowledge of Gods back parts as revealed in his Works Word and in a Mediatour according to the measure of the Gift of Christ But God knows himself immediately and fully as he is for his Knowledge is his Essence and so as Infinite as his Being is He is a pure Act without any potentiality therefore his Understanding and himself are the same He knows also all things else that are in Being and not in Being things past present or to come in one eternal Act without any search into Principles or Causes as Humane Understandings do in a discoursive way and by succession but hath the Idea's of all things in himself his Essence being the Exemplar of those things seeing he gives them their Being As the Artificer knows the Forms of the Pieces he makes and the Writer the proportion of his own Letters so doth God the first Cause know all things that receive their Nature from him they being first in him and so eternally present to him Hence the knowledge of God is most certain and infallible and things are as he knows them seeing his Knowledge gives them their Being which must be understood of the things that God
the best of you your fair and specious Duties but he sees your inside and all your secret Rottenness when you sit before him as his People sit and seem devout in your Services he at the same time knows where your Thoughts are wandring and espies every vain Motion and sinful glance of your deceitful Eye when thou prayest with greatest Zeal his Eye is upon thy close Hypocrisie thy spiritual Pride thy base ends and those conceived Lusts which will break out when thy Duties are over O how should this abase thy proud Heart and prevent thy swelling Thoughts upon conceited Excellencies in thy self or supposed Worth in thy Duties seeing he knows what is in thee and how vain man would be wise This also should advise thy Soul to Sincerity in thy Profession Purposes Promises Duties because he beholds thee and weighs thy Paths searcheth thy Heart tries thy Reins and will shortly bring thy secret things to Judgment Lastly This counsels such as want Wisdom to be looking to Jesus and waiting at the Fountain and Spring-head for their Instruction Sixthly the Omnipotency of Christ is another of those glorious Properties of the divine nature which renders him so vast and unconceivable a Treasure to all that receive him He is the mighty God the everlasting Father Isa 9. 6. who hath infinite Strength to order and establish his Kingdom and to exert his Government in Sion and over Nations his Strength must needs be infinite because his Kingdom is eternal no created humane arm can sway the Scepter of the World and maintain an everlasting Rule over the Hearts and Conversations of all his People in all Ages and therefore he must be God and the mighty God to transact the whole Work that concerns him as Mediator and to answer the Appellations given him in Scripture Things are ascribed to Christ which cannot be performed by less than an infinite Power First His creating all things in Heaven and Earth Col. 1. 16. By him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him He is the eternal Word the Exemplar and efficient Cause of all created Beings The Heavens and Earth Angels and men the Inhabitants of the upper and nether World were all form'd by Jehovah Christ who gave Being to all his Creatures as pleased him and therefore his Power must needs be Almighty who is the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the Earth that fainteth not be that giveth Breath unto the People upon it and Spirit to them that walk therein Isa 40. 28. chap. 42. 5. What a potent Lord have Believers chosen who can supersede all their Difficulties by his Creation-help if his whole Store-house of Heaven and Earth be not full enough to supply their Wants he can soon set forth a new Edition of Mercies by his own immediate arm if their way to Glory lye through a waste howling Wilderness where no Foot-steps can be seen to guide them he can create a Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire by Night to conduct them If their Provisions fail to relieve them in their Journey he can rain a Shower of Manna from his secret Granary and open the Caverns of the Flinty Rock and put new Springs into the barren Wilderness to refresh them when they are invironed with Troops of Death he can in a Moment interpose his fiery Chariots and Horse-men and when all their Deliverers fail send from Heaven and save them when the Visibility of Religion ceases and the Heavens pass away as a Scrole when the Glory of the Lords House is dissolv'd into a Chaos when the Gold of the Sanctuary is become Dross and the Gospel-Church metamorphoz'd into the old World he can even then create a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness Is thy Heart Believer full of filthiness Thy Redeemer can create a clean Heart and if thy Tempest-tossed Soul can find no rest thy Lord can create the Fruit of the Lips Peace for thee What is too hard for a creating Arm to do Or what can undoe that People who have a faithful Creator to commit themselves and all their Concerns unto Secondly Another Proof of the Omnipotency of Christ is the upholding all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 1. 4. Who being the Brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power Here 's another Royalty of the divine Nature of Christ a new beaming out of his Glory as God even in the bearing up maintaining and Dispose of the whole Creation in the former ver the forming of the Universe and whole World was ascribed to Christ and here the Preservation of it also is laid upon him as a further Evidence of his oneness with the Father having begun his Work in the Creation he carries it on in his providential Sustentation thereof He is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. He is the Foundation that underprops the whole Fabrick of Heaven and Earth which would soon sink down into its first nothing if everlasting Arms were withdrawn from beneath it he that first gives Being to his Creatures must continue it Conservation is but a Continuation of the first act of Creation to preserve the World from Destruction to continue the Creatures in their peculiar Nature and Properties and to govern those Diversities in an united Subserviency to his Will and Glory and the Well-being of the whole is a work of infinite Power and needs the same Strength that first produced them And this is the work Christians of your Messiah that person who is God-Man who by his divine power and efficacious Providence animates actuates cherishes quickens and sweetly disposes of all Creatures Actions and Affairs in the World He is the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth that changes Times and Seasons whose hands are under his Wings and hath a wheel within the Wheels that turns about things as pleaseth him brings Light out of Darkness Order out of Confusion Good out of Evil who hath the Government on his Shoulders and absolute Power in his hand to dispose of all persons and things as may most further the Pleasure of his own Will the Advance of his Glory and the Good of them that fear him And is not this Security enough to those who have intrusted themselves and all their Concerns with this glorious Potentate and King of Kings who hath the Management of all things in Heaven and Earth that it shall be well at last with the righteous the momentous Affairs of the world and of Sion shall issue in the best Good of those that love his Name How should this calm the tumultuous Fears of the godly into a sweet Serenity of Spirit and still their tempestuous Thoughts in a quiet Relyance on the Arm Care and
1. 2. This Term Mediator is taken sometimes in a more large sense sometimes in a more strict sense First This Term as it is taken in a large Sense so the Lord Jesus Christ is a Mediator as he is the Head the middle between God and his Creatures so he is the Mediator of Angels as well as men It is by him the Angels were made and in him the Elect Angels are chosen and by him they are preserved for Angels cannot be thought to come to such a State of Felicity and such near Union with God but upon the account of a second person Col. 1. 20. in the sixteenth verse Christ is said to be the Creator of Angels and in this 20. ver there 's his Mediatorship for Angels By him to reconcile all things to himself whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven This is a place of very great Difficulty and hath puzled many Interpreters some conceive it is to reconcile man and Angels together supposing the Angels were enemies to fallen man but by Jesus Christ brought into a State of Amity but it cannot be so understood here for the Parties reconciled are not said to be men and Angels but God and these things how then is this understood Some therefore conceive that this Reconciliation is to be understood by way of Proportion and Similitude not as if the Angels needed Pardon for they never sinned but they stand in need of a Mediator that they may not sin for as Creatures they are mutable and as subject in their Nature to sin as the Devils were and it is by Jesus Christ they are preserved and kept in the Favour of God It is said all things in Heaven The Heavens themselves are or shall be brought into a capacity of meetness for the presence of God Saints and Angels by Jesus Christ as Mediatour The Angels are called Elect Angels 1 Tim. 5. 21. And how but as they are chosen in Christ for all Election is founded in the Lord Jesus Christ as a middle Person as the Head of Election Eph. 1. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him all those Creatures that shall be made or kept holy are plac'd in the Lord Jesus Christ Likewise the Angels are call'd the Sons of God Job 38. 7. When the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for Joy Now all Adoption is in the Lord Jesus Christ If they are reputed as the Sons of God this Relation must needs be in Christ who is the onely begotten Son of God therefore all the Angels must needs have dependance upon Christ as Mediator Eph. 1. 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of time he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in Heaven and which are on Earth even in him Some conceive it is meant of those Saints that were in Heaven before Christ came to suffer but that cannot be it being put in the Neuter Gender All things in Heaven so that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Mediator of Angels in that he procures for them Preservation with God and were it not for a Mediator they would never be secur'd from Falling Secondly More strictly Christ is called Mediatour in respect to God and fallen Man coming betwixt them as a middle Person to make up the Breach effect a Peace and reconcile them together Heb. 9. 15. He is the Mediator of the New Testament Heb. 12. 24. And to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant John 14. 6. He is the Way the Truth and the Life It is through his Name alone Salvation is to be had Acts 4. 12. He is appointed of God the Father to this end Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation for our Sins to be one that may reconcile God to Man and render him propitious and favourable to him Acts 2. 23. 1 Pet. 1. 20. Heb. 5. 4. Joh. 6. 24. For him hath God the Father sealed He was annointed and furnished with all Abilities for this end Isa 61. 1 2. And he is the onely Mediator 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. The onely Surety Heb. 8. 6. The onely Advocate 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. 'T is God the Son the Second Person is the only Mediator 't was he that made man and therefore fittest for him to re-make him It would be a great derogation from Christs Honour saith Austin should another mend and reform that spoiled work which he made He is fittest to restore man to the lost Image of God who himself is the express Image of the Father 'T is best meet for him to commend the Love of God to man who himself is the Son of the Father's Love He is the onely begotten Son of the Father and so fit to Adopt others into a state of Sonship As Man also Christ hath Right to Redemption-work Lev. 25. 23. As God he hath Ability to redeem As Man he was capable to suffer As God he was able to bear up the Humane Nature under Sufferings As Man he could bear the Punishment of Sin As God he could remove our Sins and purifie our Natures As Man he could compassionate his People As God he could help them As Man he is capable to tender a Satisfaction As God to render it infinite As Man he was able to become a Sponsor a Surety to make a promise in the behalf of his Seed And as God he could make good his Promise He can reveal the mind and disclose the deep things of God and pour out the Spirit of Grace He hath all Power in Heaven and Earth and is able to save to the uttermost He can exalt his Interest and subjugate his Enemies under his Feet He sits at the Right hand of God and is God with the Father and Man with Man CHAP. IV. Shewing what is the Work of Jesus Christ as he is Mediator WE come in the next place to shew wherein the Office and Work of this Mediator lies And it will much conduce to the Glory of Christ to display his Mediatorship Now we must consider him in a double Relation The Lord Jesus Christ hath to deal with two different Parties where there is a Breach 1. His Work lies with respect to God the Father 2. His Work lies with respect to fallen Man First His Work lies with respect to God the Father And here his Office lies in several particulars First One great part of the Work of Christ as Mediator is to mediate in the behalf of fallen Man with the Father so as to procure terms of Reconciliation Thus a Mediator is to agitate with the offended Person to bring to terms of Peace This was the Work of Jesus Christ from before all time He did act with God the Father that there might be a way found out for agreement between him and poor Sinners This was drawn up in the Covenant between the Father and the Son as in Isa 42. 6 7. I the Lord have called thee
Spirit baptized into one body This is promised by the Lord Jesus Joh. 16. 7. Seaventhly His Promises For in him are all the Promises of God yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. That is they are sure and certain in Christ 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises Gal. 3. 22. Lastly His Kingdom Col. 1. 13. And hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son A blessed Change indeed from Sin to Grace from Darkness to Light from the Kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of Christ 2 Pet. 1. 11. So an Entrance shall be administred to you abundantly into the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ All Believers are invested with the glorious Priviledges of this Kingdom they all become Kings and Priests unto God Rev. 1. 6. Nay a Kingdom of Priests Exod. 19. 6. They are entitled to all the royal Endowments Investments and Favours that belong to the Children of a King they all wear his royal Robes of Glory they have noble Entertainment most delicious Food the highest Honours and Thrones to sit on Christ gives them the Inheritance purchased Possessions and Mansions of Glory Fourthly The Liberality of Christ appears in the manner of his giving now this may come under a six-fold Consideration First He gives readily and propensly many give but by Constraint as the unjust Judge Luke 18. or from fear of Shame or Reproach men usually give with Reluctancy but Christ readily as Paul speaks of the Church of Macedonia 2 Cor. 8. 3. that they were prone to Charity beyond their power and of Titus ver 17. that being more forward of his own accord he went unto them so it may be more truly said of Christ that he wants no external Motives or Perswasions to exert his Bounty For First Christ's Gifts are his peoples due they have Right to all his Fullness Christ is the Believers and all that is his John 3. 16. Cant. 6. 3. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine 1 Cor. 3. 21. For all things are yours they are purchas'd for them and given to them Secondly Christ's Office and publick Designation to this Work shews it he is set apart for this end that he might be the Author of eternal Life the Giver of all that good that his people need Joh. 17. 2. As thou hast given him Power over all Flesh that he should give eternal Life c. Joh. 6. 27. Him hath God the Father sealed that is deputed to this Office and Trust to be the Lord keeper of his House and Dispenser of his Fathers Goods All that Christ hath as Mediator is to be distributed to his he hath nothing but must be employed for the Salvation of the Elect for such is the Agreement betwixt the Father and him Joh. 17. 10. All mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them Thirdly He hath never the less for giving and therefore never weary of giving what 's that makes men soon tyred with Acts of Bounty why because the more they give the less they have and so fail at last in their Ability but 't is not so with Christ he is Fullness still notwithstanding all the vast Distributions that go out of his Treasury every day to fill up Heaven and Earth Men and Angels I remember a notable saying of a worthy Divine Should all the World says he set themselves to drink free Grace Mercy and Pardon dry drawing Water continually from the Wells of Salvation nay if they should set themselves to draw from one single Promise an Angel standing by and crying drink O my Friends drink abundantly take so much Grace and Pardon as shall be abundantly sufficient for the world of Sins which is in every one of you they would not be able to sink the Grace of the Promise one Hairs breath When Beggers come to our doors they many times promise us upon the Reception of an Alms they will trouble us no more but this would be an improper Expression to Christ whose Heart is so propense to give and whose Treasures are inexhaustible Col. 2. 9. For in him dwells all the Fullness of the God-head bodily Col. 1. 19. Forthly He gets by giving Advantage is a sure Agreement all men seek their own every man his gain from his Quarter now if giving appears to be Christ's Advantage you may be sure he will be willing to give men lavish out their Gold for Idolatry carnal persons pour out their whole Wealth upon their Lusts the Merchant adventures all he hath for Gain and can you think that Christ only will be close handed Psal 68. 18. Here 't is said he receives Gifts Eph. 4. 8. 'T is said he gave gifts what Christ receiv'd was not for himself but to give unto Sinners and that in order to his Dwelling amongst them Christ's Gifts are to further his Service 1 Pet. 4. 10. and his Peoples Profit 1 Cor. 12. 7. Fifthly He is never more pleased than when he gives This appears in his earnest inviting Souls to ask of him Joh. 16. 24. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my Name ask that your Joy may be full Had not the Lord Jesus a great Delight to dispense freely to his People he would not have us'd such Arguments to perswade them to beg 't is said of Titus Vespasian that he never denyed any thing to those that asked him but would call upon them to ask something of him Lastly This doth wonderfully greaten his Glory Joh. 14. 13. Whatever ye ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son This verse shews the Reason why the Saints shall do greater works than those that Christ did because they shall have the Power of Christ to help them he will do for them what they ask and give them what they seek and the reason is because hereby the divine Glory is more manifested the Fathers Glory in the Sons Glory for the Father and he are one and the Fathers Glory is his Glory the more he gives the more the Father is glorified and the more the Father is glorified the more is the Son also Secondly He gives feeely without any respect to Merit or Compensation Rev. 21. 6. To him that is a thirst will I give to drink of the Water of Life freely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is without any antecedent Cause Worth or Merit Rom. 3. 24. Being justified freely by his Grace As Justification comes freely without any Worth or Righteousness in man so do all the gifts of God Rom. 8. 32. How can he but with him freely give us all things 1 Cor. 2. 12. Christ doth not sell but give his Favours freely according to the pleasure of his own Will Isa 55. 1. This is a Truth hard to be receiv'd because 't is beyond the reason of men how Grace should move without any Motives and Attractives besides it self but yet this bounty of Christ hath no respect of Persons 2
This Child-like zeal in Craesus dumb Son open'd his mouth when his Father was in danger to be slain Fifthly A fiducial dependence on his care and faithfulness Psa 23. 1. The Lord is my shepheard I shall not want Rom. 8. 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you This was the Child-like confidence of Job in his God Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him This dependence on the Fathers care quieted Musculus when he was forc'd to labour in the Town Ditch for his Maintenance Est deus in Coelis qui providus omnia curat Credentes nunquam deseruisse potest Mat. 6. 32. Your Heavenly Father knows you have need of all these things Sixthly Humble Submission to him Heb. 12. 9. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word notes an orderly subjection according to that order and place in which God hath set a Man that subjection that is in an Inferiour to a Superiour The same word is used of Christ Luke 2. 51. And he went down with them to Nazareth and was subject to them that is submitted himself to that place duty he owed to them as his Parents Seventhly A carefulness to please him Isa 56. 4. That chuse the things that please me to them will I give within my house a place and a Name better than of Sons and Daughters That is such will I own for my Family my Sons and Daughters that chuse the things that please me So did the Lord Jesus evidence his filial duty to his Father Joh. 8. 29. I do alway the things that please him 1 Joh. 3. 22. Eighthly An endeavour in all things imitable to resemble him 1 Pet. 1. 15. As he that called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Luke 6. 36. Be ye merciful as your Father in Heaven is merciful Mat. 5. 48. Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect that is In the grace of love to Enemies Eph. 5. 1. Be ye followers of of God as dear Children Ninthly A labouring to walk worthy of so high relation and nearness unto God 1 Thes 2. 12. That you walk would worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory Worthy of so high a Calling like the Children of a King like Gideons Brethren who all resembled the Children of a King Judges 8. 18. Your duty is to live above the Children of this World who only are wise in their generation Luke 16. 8. But be ye wise in the things of God evidencâ— your highest wisdom to be in keeping â—he Law of the Lord Deut. 4. 6. Live like them that are Adopted Heirs of a Kingdom even the Heavenly Kingdom that fadeth not away O live above the snares and fears of this world Lastly A maintaining a real Love to your Brethren and an endeavour to live peaceably with them 1 Pet. 3. 8. Love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous c. 1 Joh. 5. 1. Every one also that loves him that begetteth loveth him also that is begotten 1 Joh. 3. 11. Gen. 13. 8. Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee between my Herdsmen and thy Herdsmen for we be Brethren Chap. 45. 24. See that you fall not out by the way 2 Cor. 13. 11. VSE Thus you see what a glorious Treasure Adoption-grace is view over this Inventory Believer and tell me what thou thinkest of it Is it not a Treasure indeed which all the Gold of Ophiâ— cannot equallize Nor all the glory of the World worthy to be compared with And see all this procured by the Sweat and Blood the Obedience and Death of the Son of God and then say whether Christ be not precious indeed Look upon the Children of this World in all their Glory view their priviledges in their utmost latitude and extent and answer me whether a Believer in rags doth not far surpass them Christ speaks of Solomon that he in all his Glory was not to be compared to one Lilly in the Field So one Saint and Child of God infinitely excels the Great men of this World in all their Grandure and Advancements O then admire the Lord Jesus on this account also for procuring Adoption-grace 1. Quest But how may I know whether I have obtained this Adoption-grace Answ This is a point worth the enquiring into and satisfaction in so fundamental a point is very necessary But 't is the Office of Gods Spirit to seal us up to the day of Redemption and bear witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8. 16. Men may lay down marks but 't is God must determine the Quest yet notwithstanding for thy resolution Believer consider First Such are partakers of the Divine Nature and are really Sons as well as Relatively 2 Pet. 1. 4. They have the Image of God instampt upon their Souls They have the seed of Holiness Faith Love Hope Patience and Humility in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. Rom. 8. 29. And they have received of his fulness Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. Secondly Such prize nothing in all the world like to Relation to God Ps 73. 25. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the Sons of God Thirdly Christ is exceeding precious to such in whom they are chosen and by whom this Grace comes 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious None in Heaven or Earth that they value like to Christ they account all things but dross and dung in comparison of Christs excellency Phil. 3. 8. Fourthly Such will employ their greatest care to imitate God Eph. 5. 1. 1 Joh. 3. 22. Fifthly such have a Spirit of prayer and supplication Rom. 8. 15 16. Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Not Parts not Light not the gifts of Prayer only but such a Soul hath the Spirit of Prayer very strong strains of Faith and Love run through all his Duties He hath a Spirit of boldness whereby he comes to God as to a Father O how earnest and unwearied are his breathings after God what wrestlings with God in secret hath he what pourings out of strong cries to him as Christ did in the days of his Flesh Heb. 5. 7. O the struglings O the wrestlings O the ardent breathings of such for the pardon of their sins for the mortifying of their lusts and for the reviving of their graces Now where the Spirit of Adoption is there is the state Sixthly Such are enabled to bear and profit by affliction Heb. 12. 7. If you endure chastening God dealeth with you as with Sons Lastly Such have endeared affections to the people of God 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren 2. Quest What must
vanquish all their Enemies for them Joh. 16. 33. Rev. 12. 11. To heal all their backslidings Hos 14. 4. To work all their works in them and for them Isa 26. 12. To give them Faith and to finish it Heb. 12. 2. To keep them faithful to the death 2 Thes 2. 3. And to secure the promised Fruit of all for them Rev. 22. 12. and therefore sufficiently able to make good Covenant-Promises to them and to fulfill Covenant-duties in them Sixthly Christs engagement to and for his people and his interest in them is another ground for the fulfilling of the Covenant Christ hath promised the Father that he will bring them all to Glory and hath undertaken all their work for them Heb. 10. 7. And he hath promised to them to make good his Covenant when he perswaded their hearts to him Heb. 8. 9 to 13. Isa 55. 11. Again his own interest in them is security enough All the fruit of his death and purchase lies in the fulfilling of the Covenant if that be broken he loseth all his hopes and Obedience he hath dyed in vain his blood and Intercession are to no purpose for herein lies all the travel of his Soul Isa 53. 10 11. In this is the enjoyment of all his delights if this Covenant be not sure then no Soul can be saved and Christ should lose those delights he had in the habitable parts of the Earth before the World was made Pro. 8. 31. Saved Souls are Christs Crown and Glory and how mangled and defective would Christs Crown be should any one Perish who are interested in this Covenant Upon this depends all Christs Mediatory Glory Joh. 17. 4 5. And should there be a failure here he would lose his expected Glory as Mediatour So that you see the fruit of his Purchase the delight of his Soul and his Eternal Glory with the Father are all wrapt up in the accomplishment of this Covenant Seventhly The Immutability of Gods Counsel and the certainty of his engagement confirmed by an Oath renders the new Covenant sure Heb. 6. 17 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew to the heirs of promise the immutability of his Counsel confirm'd it by an Oath These are two immutable things Gods purpose and his engagement and because these could admit of no variation therefore the things Promised must be fulfill'd indue time Heaven and Earth shall pass away but the Counsel of God that must stand 'T is laid upon Infinite Wisdom and all things in order to the fullfiling of it are made so sure that it cannot possibly be frustrated He wants not sufficient Power and faithfulness to reach his own designs and therefore what he hath determined must come to pass and upon this purpose of God is laid his promise He having first resolved upon it is engaged to it Lastly Another reason to prove the certainty of the new Covenant is taken from the nature of the promises they are absolute 't is true there are some conditional promises as the effects of the other but the fundamental promises and those which compleat the Covenant of grace are altogether absolute 't is true also faith is a necessary qualification to interest a Person in these promises but when the Soul comes to have a propriety in them the tenure of them then is absolute Jer. 31. 33 34. Heb. 8. 9. He will put his Spirit within them and will cause them to walk in his Statutes Ezek. 36. 25 to 28. I will be a God to them and they shall be my People Jer. 32. 40. And I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good But I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me In which you see the condition is undertaken and secured as well as the promise and things promised had it indeed depended upon conditional promises alone which doubting Souls have most in their eye then the failure of the condition would have forfeited the promises and then they had been null'd But you see the promises of the new Covenant are absolute and therefore sure to all the seed even to every one that believeth in Jesus Christ These are the grounds of hopes the believers have that the Covenant and every tittle of it shall be made good to them but that which doth meritoriously confirm it is the blood of Christ His death and suffering on which account it may be lookt on as the sealing and confirming of it and so believers may see to whom they are beholding and oblig'd for all their new-Covenant stability VSE From this grand and glorious truth The fulfilling and assurance of the new Covenant flows 1. Wonderful Comfort to all true Believers 2. Great Obligations on them to thankfulness and Obedience First This yeilds abundant Consolation to Believers on a double account 1. From the certainty 2. From the Excellency of this Covenant First From the certainty of this Covenant flows these streams of comfort First In that all occasions of Jealousie about the love of God are cut off for if the Covenant be sure then Gobs love is sure and secured from all mutability and cessation this being one great thing contained in it Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an Everlasting love Gods love to his People is Eternal therefore sure He doth rest in his love to them Zeph. 3. 17. The word is Jacharish he will be silent in his love Bucer renders it Silebit cum dilecta sua He shall be silent in his Beloved that is saith he He shall cease from contending with her being wholly delighted in her But Montanus renders it in the abstract he shall be silent by reason of his love Propter dilectionem suam But Cocceius and other Interpreters render the letter Beth In He shall be silent in his love or rest in his love alluding to the wonderful excess of affection in a Person that through exceeding amorousness cannot speak or express it for a time Cocceius takes it for the pardoning of their sin and ceasing from those former stroaks of his displeasure And this I suppose may be chiefly intended here to wit The greatness of his love noâ—ed by silence and exuberant Joy with a remove of all tokens of his anger and this to be fixt and perpetual so the Apostle assures Believers that the love of God in Christ is irremoveable Rom. 8. 35. All the World cannot withdraw Christs heart from his People where he once loves he loves to the end Joh. 13. 1. This a believer may be assured of in the New Covenant that Gods love changeth not his heart is still towards his people however his dealings may be with them Secondly Then all the grounds of tormenting fear are now removed If the Covenant of grace be confirmed to believers then there 's no Just ground for them to entertain slavish fear Rom. 8. 15. For ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again to fear
evil wayes Come and close with Christ O! obey those Counsels he gives you in his Gospel Lastly Shew your high valuation of the Gospel by holding forth a Conversation sutable to it Only let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1. 27. As if he should say chiefly this is the main and sum of all O! live worthy of the Gospel First Then is your Conversation as becometh the Gospel when you live as becomes the grace of God discover'd in the Gospel 'T is infinite grace is revealed in it you should walk so as to honour grace you should press after more grace in your Conversations there should be grace in every step of your lives Tit. 2. 1 12. Secondly Then you live sutable to the Gospel when you live up to those great and Glorious things held out in it When the Gospel is opened there are choice Jewels brought forth to sale O most excellent things produc'd by it and you should live up sutable to these There 's the manifold Wisdom of God held forth in the Gospel Eph. 3. 10. Treasures of wonderful wisdom are opened in the Gospel O live up to these mysteries O Christians let your lives be exact for you have curious eyes to look upon you labour to hold forth much wisdom and much light in your Conversations In the Gospel is held forth the mystery of Godliness 1 Tim. 3. 16. Great is the mystery of godliness O what mysteries are here God Manifested in the flesh God and yet cloath'd in flesh Condemn'd for sin and yet justified in the Spirit seen of Angels Preached to the Geutiles the worst of Sinners in the World Now live sutable to the mysteries of Godliness Again the Gospel opens the glorious priviledges of Saints of every saved Soul O wonderful priviledges That Enemies should be reconciled and strangers made nigh that Rebels should be adopted Sons and Daughters made the Children of God by Christ Rom. 8. 16 17. O what a glorious priviledge is this Believing Souls are brought into by the Gospel to a state of Adoption Gal. 4. 6. A state of glorious liberty Eph. 5. 1. Gal. 5. 1. O live up to these glorious priviledges You are Children of the light walk as Children of the light Eph. 5. 8. The Gospel shews you the the things freely given of God the infinite love of God the wonderful Salvation-Grace of God O then you live sutable to the Gospel when you live up to those great and glorious things held forth in it Thirdly Then are your lives according to the Gospel when they are suted to the Rules of the Gospel look what the Gospel commands and requires that you do Gal. 6. 16. Math. 28. 20. Now the Gospel requires not only Bodily but Spiritual worship to worship God in the Spirit It requires not only external duties but internal holiness It calls for Obedience flowing from love and labours springing from faith well principled duties when you endeavour the greatest strickness in your lives That 's sutable to the Gospel Fourthly Then is your Conversation as becomes the Gospel when it is Subordinate to the ends of it One end of the Gospel is to exalt the praise of the glory of grace Eph. 1. 12. To make you vessels of Mercy for the glory of Mercy O Christians live so as you may most advance the glory of grace live self-denyingly and humbly exclude boasting then you live as becomes the Gospel Another great end of the Gospel is the sanctification of saved Souls to make Souls holy 2. Cor. 7. 1. Then you live as becometh the Gospel when you carry on Gospel holiness inward Holiness outward Holiness 1 Thes 4. 3. The Salvation of Souls that 's another great end of the Gospel that the Promise may be sure to all the seed 2 Thes 2. 10. That he that believes in Christ may have Everlasting Life O then live as you may be saved you must tread upon the World you have so much doted upon you must account all things loss and dung for Christ if ever you be saved O Christians labour then to hold forth a Conversation sutable to the Gospel So much for the first Inference Secondly If such great and unsearchable treasures are opened and tendered to Sinners in the Gospel O then how great is their sin that oppose and persecute the Preaching of it O this is a black sin indeed this activity comes from the Spirit of darkness O 't is a dreadful thing to oppose resist and persecute the Ministery of the Gospel For such do all they can to hinder the tenders of unsearchable Riches to the World they labour to keep the World poor to hinder the Salvation of Souls And is not this sad work Again such as oppose and persecute the Gospel are of the cursed brood and off-spring of the Pharisees who do shut up the Kingdom of God and neither enter in themselves nor suffer them that are entring to go in So do those that do oppose and persecute the Gospel and would put out the light of the Gospel they are the Children of the Devil the first-born of Hell they do their Fathers work Joh. 8. 41 44. They that hate the light are the Children of the Devil their deeds are evil Joh. 3. 20. They carry the Devils mark upon their forehead wherever they go up and down to say there goes the Devils Children there goes an Heir of Hell Again They are Soul murtherers they do hunt Souls and shed the blood of Souls Ezek. 13. 30. As well as they that hinder the Gospel of Life as they that bring in false Doctrines and feed persons with Lies and occasion death They that starve mens Souls as well as they that poyson them both are Soul murtherers They sight against Christ in Heaven They go up and down with drawn Swords pointed against Christ in Heaven O bloody wretches that have murthered Christ on Earth and now would kill him in Heaven too Acts. 9. 4. Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me O Souls 't is a fearful thing to oppose and persecute the Ministery of the Gospel for all the blood of all the Saints from the beginning of the world to this day shall be upon their heads Math. 23. 35. O 't is a sad thing to lye under the blood of one person but to have all the blood of all the Saints in the world to lye upon the head of a poor Creature O what will that Soul do That Soul will go to Hell with a vengeance and lye tumbling under the wrath of God to all Eternity Thus much of the Second Inference CHAP. XXIV Shewing the poor and lamentable State of all Christless Souls IF there are such vast and unsearchable treasures in Christ tendered to sinners in the Gospel Hence see then the poor and lamentable state of all those Souls that are without Christ O they are very beggerly Souls that are Christless Souls As they that are far from the Sun must needs be far from
Poor Men are badly clad Job 31. 19. Sometimes they go in rags as Soloman saies Pro. 23. 21. Drowsiness will cloath a man in rags It notes the Poverty that slothful Persons are brought into when James would discribe a poor man he sets him forth as cloath'd in vile rayment Jam. 2. 2. And there come in a poor man in vile rayment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dirty base cloaths The same word that is rendred filthly garments Zach. 3. 3. Is the dress of poor men So Christless Souls are very poor they go in mean rayment they are naked the Spirit of God tells the Church of Laodicea so Rev. 3. 17 18. Till Souls be cloathed with the white rayment of Christ's Righteousness they be naked and their shame appears they have nothing to cover their nakedness from the sight of God Angels and Saints They go in poor rayment their garments are webs of their own weaving and their works are their covering They are cloath'd with shame and cover'd with Confusion as with a Mantle Psa 109. 29. O what sad rayment do Sinners go in Saints are cloathed with white Rayment and beautiful through Christs comeliness adorn'dwith his Graces bespangled in his Jewels they go up and down in rich Attire But sinners lye in sordid attire cloath'd with vile Rayment Fifthly Poor men usually have but bad Lodging They commonly live in mean Houses little Cottages They sometimes dwell in the dust Psa 113. 7. He raiseth the poor out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill So the Prophet Isaiah describes a poor man as one that is cast out Isa 58. 7. The poor that be cast out O their Loding is hard they do not spread themselves on Beds of lvory nor lye on Cloth of Tapestry The rich have their ceiled Houses fair dwellings The poor many times their Cottages are in a Wilderness and Houses that drop through So 't is with Christless Souls they have poor Lodgings when Saints Lodge in the bosom of Christ they lye in the Arms of Devils They lie upon Thorns yea Spears that will pierce them thorough They lye upon Stones the Earth is their Bed they are Earthy Souls and lodge in the very bosome of the world They dwell in habitations of cruelty they lye in Graves So the Prophet when he speaks of the Jews dead in sin before Coversion he describes them to be in their Graves Ezek. 37. 12. Dead sinners lye like Lazarus bound with a Napkin in their Graves Joh. 11. 44. O there 's your Bed Souls if out of Christ there you lye kept till the day of Judgment held Prisoners till a call comes to bring you to the Bar of Christ O your lodging is mean indeed Saints dwell in God Psa 91. 1 9. their habitation is in the City of God Eph. 2. 19. But all Christless sinners lye without amongst Devils they dwell on pinacles and live upon the borders of death every moment amongst Dogs amongst the unclean O see their habitation and the place where their honour dwelleth Rev. 22. 15. Without are dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murtherers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh alye These are the company Christless Souls lodge with they are turn'd out of doors O sad doleful state indeed Sixthly Another Character of a poor man is this Poor men are Friendless Pro. 19. 4 Wealth maketh many friends but the poor is separated from his Neighbour Every man seeketh the Rulers Favour every mans Cap and Hand and Knee and all is for them But the poor man his very Neighbour comes now to leave him who was his Friend whiles in prosperity When Rich men sit down in places of Honour poor men must stand at the Feet Jam. 2. 3. They are sure to find few Friends to own them to pity and help them So Christless Souls are friendless they have no true Friends in Heaven or Earth Those that seem to flatter them are not Friends but Foes they rather wound them and draw them into mischief whiles they lye in their blood there 's no eye to pity them to do any of these things for them Ezek. 16. 5 No hand to help them to wash salt and swaddle them ver 4. 5. If the Father of Bowels shut up his pity Creatures can extend but little whiles they reject the good Samaritane none that passeth by regards them If God will not withdraw his anger the proud helpers do stoop under him Job 9. 13. If God be angry who can befriend us O sinner If God frown what is the love of Creatures O thy case is doleful thou thou art a poor Soul indeed that art out of Christ if he wound none can heal Job 11. 10. If he cut off or shut up or gather together none can hinder him Christless Souls are like a Gangreen member in danger of being cut off if a sudden cure be not found and who then can befriend them where the Lord of hosts is a Friend Creatures are Friends And where he is an Enemy Creatures are Enemies too If God be in Covenant with a Soul the Creatures are in Covenant too And if God be against a Soul all his armies fight against that Soul too O sinners who can be friend you suppose you have Rich kindred great acquaintance what can they do at the Bar of God for you They will not go to the Judgment seat of Christ and speak for you there Seventhly A poor man is one that is lightly esteemed This David gives as a Testimony of a mean state when some were sent to treat with him about a match with Saul's daughter he modestly puts it off Who I says he I am a poor man and lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 18. 23. The word is contemptible of little little worth Rich men are sure of honour but the poor are little regarded Great persons are Courted when the poor are sleighted passed by little esteemed So 't is with Christless Souls They are lightly esteemed God hath a very low account of them The ungodly in Gods account are like the Chaff the Wind drives away Psa 1. 4. So are the wicked let them be what they will in greatest dignity here below they are glittering stars in the worlds Eye but falling Comets in God's account The mighty King of Babylon being a wicked man God accounts him but an abominable Branch Isa 14. 19. So Christ calls proud Herod a Fox Luk. 13. 32. God reckons them as broken Pitchers Wicked Coniah is as a broken Vessel in whom is no pleasure Jer. 22. 28. No more doth God reckon of wicked men though under all the grandure of the World Angels do not regard them They do not account them worth their company and attendance The Saints are guarded by Angels but wicked men are let alone Angels are Ministring Spirits to the Heirs of Salvation not to the Heirs of Hell they have no charge at all to watch over them but to fight against them They are set in battel array against
His belly is as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires His tender Bowels and boundless affections to his people are wonderfully lovely and delighting they are pure firm and fixed in their nature and they are chearing and enriching in their effects O Christs love is not fleeting 't is firm as Ivory set with gold overlaid with Saphires O how rich are his affections what a Treasure to those that have him His legs are as Pillars of Marble set upon sockets of fine gold The gracious motions and efficacious workings of his Spirit are exceeding mighty and glorious full of strength He hath power to bear up all those that follow him His legs are strong he can carry his Lambs that are committed to his arms there 's no burden too heavy for Christ his loins are strong he can bear what is laid upon him the weight of all the Saints on Earth is nothing to him He can carry on all his intendments and interest in the World his legs are as Marble able to bear his Body quick in motion O what a lovely Christ is this display'd in the Gospel His countenance is as Labanon excellent as the Cedars Those discoveries the Lord Jesus Christ makes of himself in his word and works are wonderful taking exceeding enriching Christ's word is fruit fullizing O when he speaks to the hearts of his Children what a deal of vertue goes through his lips Grace is poured out of his lips Milk and hony is under his tongue His appearances carries excellency riches and glory with them His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely His discourses the openings of his mind is wonderful pleasing The word of Christ never cloys the spiritual part Thus you see what a Person Jesus Christ is O Sinners consider his beauty O how lovely an object is he what can you object against his Person why you will not espouse him Thirdly Consider his lovely dispositions O Sinners will you accept of him He is of an excellent Spirit of a very sweet nature full of grace and goodness His sweet dispositions have been largely opened already he is full of mercy and compassions meekness gentleness patience long-suffering slow to anger ready to forgive great in kindness free and bountiful of a generous Spirit true and faithful Sinners you may trust him with your secrets you may venture your Souls upon him He is harmless and inoffensive he doth wrong to no man his company is lovely and desirable His converses are pleasant and profitable O what a person is Christ O Sinners never was such a one offer'd you as Christ is why will you not come unto him Fourthly Consider his quality and high dignity he is no mean Person but a mighty Potentate 1 Tim. 6. 15. The sole and only superintendent of the whole World the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords He is not only a King but the King the only true Potentate from whom all ohters derive their glory a King not only of Men but of Saints not only of Saints but of Angels of Thrones Principalities and Powers Math. 26. 53. And can command them down now he is in Heaven for the service of his elect Heb 1. 14. Are they not all Ministring Spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation O Sinners shall this prevail with you to accept of him Fifthly Take notice of his potency He hath power as well as honour Math. 28. 18. All things are put under his feet Heb. 2. 8. All the Armies of Heaven and Earth are deliver'd over to him He is Lord of Hosts He hath the Keys of Heaven Death and Hell Rev. 1. 18. Who then can lock out Christ or exclude him from doing what he pleaseth seeing all things are at his beck He doth whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven and in Earth in the Seas and in all deep places Psa 135. 6. He sitteth in the Heavens and laughs the Counsels of the Potentates to scorn he makes no reckoning of their combinations but derides their ambitious attempts against him Psa 2. 4. He shall pass thorow and over-flow and break all their consederacies in pieces Isa 8. 8 9 10. Let all the subtleties of Hell be woven together to make a web to catch the interest of Christ in it shall all be as a spiders web that can soon be swept away O admire the Kingdom of Christ the glorious power of Christ nothing is too hard for him He hath an absolute unlimited and uncontroulable power He is the supream over all persons and all things in all places Lands and Countries O what power hath he not only Authority but likewise Might 2 Chro. 20. 6. In his hand there is power and might and none is able to withstand him O Sinners come away to Christ he can protect you and defend you from dangers Sixthly Observe his wisdom too this is taking with some to have a head that hath intellectuals in him and marry one that hath exquisite parts and eminency of knowledge Now all Treasures of wisdom are in him Col. 3. 3. His judgments are unsearchable and past finding out Rom. 11. 33. His judgments his acts in the World his Righteous deeds and the way he takes to accomplish his designs O how wonderful deep are they The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of wisdom and understanding the Spirit of Counsel and might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord Isa 11. 2. He is of quick understanding full of judgment called The wonderful Counsellour Isa 9. 6. The only wise God from whom all wisdom is fetch'd that fills Men and Angels all the World do light their Candles at his Torch He is the Sun that fills the whole Creation with beams There 's no searching of his understanding he can bring to light the hidden things of darkness 1 Cor. 4. 5. He hath eyes can reach where men cannot he can reveal the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. O Sinners what an excellent one is Christ O how worthy of your choice Seventhly Weigh the glorious and blessed effects of your closing with the Lord Jesus Christ Sinners the very day you marry Christ he will pay all your debts and they are many he will pardon all your sins blot out all your iniquities remember them no more He will free you from all your Bondages deliver you from all your fears secure you from all your dangers if you will but espouse him O the very day you marry Christ he will wipe off all your shame and remove your reproach He will heal all your wounds and sicknesses he will begin to heal them immediately and never leave till he hath perfectly cured your Souls He will strip off all your filthy garments and cloath you with broidered rayment he will advance you to highest dignity he will lift up your heads above
no way known but by Revelation and unveilings of the Spirit and in this sense are called Unsearchable Secondly As to the fulness of their Worth and Excellency they cannot be understood by any in this Life no mortal man no unglorified Soul can know them as they are to cast up the total value of these Treasures is beyond the Arithmetick of Saints themselves nay Men and Angels cannot understand the things that God hath prepared that Christ hath purchased for them that love him Here sayes the Apostle we know in part and we prophesie in part 1 Cor. 13. 9. We both you and I the most elevated Light by this side Glory know nothing of these lock't-up Mysteries as we ought and on this account also they are Unsearchable The Words being opened and the Cabinet unlock't I come to the main Subject and Treasure laid up in them which you may take in this general Doctrine and Proposition Doct. There are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ opened and tender'd to Sinners in the Gospel In this Doctrine lie three grand Assertions to be proved Assertion 1. That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ Assert 2. These vast and hidden Treasures of Christ are opened in and by the Gospel Assert 3. 'T is the Will of God that all these great and glorious Treasures which are in and come by Jesus Christ should be open'd and offer'd to Sinners yea the chiefest of Sinners I shall speak to each Assertion but more largely to the first That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ And here I shall first prove by Scripture That there are great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ Secondly Shew you according to the Grace given me what are those Unsearchable Riches of Christ First That there are such Riches in and come by Jesus Christ the whole Gospel attests which is a Revelation of the Excellency of Christ and those glorious things which come by him I shall give you three or four Scriptures to prove it Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory In the former verse the Apostle calls the Gospel a Mystery hid from former Ages the Excellency of which he opens in this verse and sets out in these two Epithetes 1. Rich. 2. Glorious First 'T is a rich Mystery in that it opens the glorious Riches of Christ which are better than the Gold of Ophir and all precious Substance the Riches of his Wisdom Grace Righteousness and Redemption which he calls tryed Gold and counsels poor Sinners to come to him for it Rev. 3. 17. Secondly 'T is a glorious Mystery called the Riches of his Glory Rom. 9. 23. That he might make known the Riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy Eph. 1. 18. The Riches of his Glory c. The Gospel is a glorious Mystery because it brings to light great and glorious things even the Treasures of unknown Glory and what these Treasures of Glory are he tells you in the close of the verse they are Christ in you the hope of Glory Christ Jesus applied by Faith and received into the Soul by the Spirit is this glorious Treasure in that he gives them in his Union with them an evident Right to Glory See Prov. 8. 18 19. Riches and Honour are ascribed to him Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness My Fruit is better than Gold yea than fine Gold and my Revenue than choice Silver This is spoken of Christ the true Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. Christ the Wisdom of God and Power of God who is the Subject of this Chapter And 't is said of him that Riches durable Riches are with him better Treasures than Gold than choice Silver Durable Treasures which Time cannot waste or alter Riches that last to all Eternity which Rust and Moth cannot consume And Righteousness i. e. Treasure justly gotten Riches of Wisdom and Grace given him by the Father and Riches of Righteousness bought by his Blood All this Treasure is in him and offer'd by him unto Sinners In Christ must needs be Unsearchable Riches for in him dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2. 9. that is the Divine Nature united to the Humane Nature perfect God as well as perfect Man the infinite Treasures of the Divine Nature are his He is the Heir of all things and therefore must needs be rich Heaven and Earth are his Jews and Gentiles all Persons and Things put under him in which Glory and Majesty set over all the Works of Gods hands he mounts his Throne having confirmed his Title by his Blood and gives Gifts to men and makes a tender of Grace and Glory of Thrones and Crowns to all that come unto him promising to his Servants that they also shall inherit all things Rev. 21. 7. and therefore he himself must needs be rich In him are Treasures of Mercy and Goodness of Wisdom and Knowledge Riches exceeding Riches of Grace Eph. 2. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Riches of Strength Honour Glory and Blessing So that the Scriptures give in full testimony to this Truth That there are exceeding great glorious and unsearchable Riches in Christ And now I shall endeavour to shew Secondly What are those exceeding great and unsearchable Riches of Christ But alas this Well is deep and wherewith shall we draw these Treasures are out of sight who can find them out they are boundless bottomless numberless endless where shall we begin where can we make an end who can search them out to Perfection The best of men are but Learners the Angels are Enquirers the wisest men but Fools in these Searches we can know but in part nor prophesie but in part when the utmost is spoken you have not heard of one half of his Glory But according to the Revelation of Christ I shall open some of these Treasures of Christ to you under these two Heads His Riches Personal Purchased with some Applications and Improvements of them as we go through these Deeps CHAP. II. The Personal Riches of Christ opened in his Divine Nature manifested in his Attributes with the wonderful Advantages thereof to Believers PArt of these glorious Treasures of Christ lies in his Personal Riches that vast Worth and unknown Excellency that reside in himself which become the Believers Treasure also by their Relation to their Union with Contemplation of it with the communicated Fruits and Effects thereof Col. 1. 27. which is Christ in you the hope of glory i. e. which Treasure is Christ in you or Christ united to you by Faith and dwelling in you by his Spirit Christ his Personal as well as purchased Treasures are yours through your Union with your Relation to your Enjoyment of him and his glorious Communications to you Now these Personal Treasures of Christ are demonstrable in
Righteousness that makes Believers in God's Account as perfect as Christ himself were not the robe of his Righteousness every way as large as thy Guilt and Nakedness were it not long enough and broad enough to cover all thy Deformities and hide all thy Imperfections from the pure and judging Eye of the Father it were not perfect But all his Procurements by his Blood are perfect His Holiness is a perfect Holiness and he will make his Peoples Graces perfect too e're he hath done He is the Rock his Work is perfect i. e. He doth perfectly fulfill his Promises his Works are true to his Word and he will perfect that which concerns his People Psal 138. 8. i. e. He will accomplish that which he hath begun in me Let the doubting Believer know that the Perfection of Christ is Security for Perfection in his Graces also in due time he that hath begun a a good work in thy Soul will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ he will e're he hath done bring thy weak Graces to Perfection that when he shall appear to Judgment thy Holiness shall be presented to the Father without Spot or wrinkle Secondly As the Godhead of Christ is a most pure and simple Being so is he an infinite Essence both internally without all Limitation or Dimension of his Being and externally without all Comprehension of Places or Capacities every Attribute of his is infinite His Vnderstanding is infinite Psal 147. 5. His Wisdom Power Love Mercy Faithfulness and all his Perfections are one entire infinite Being that cannot be known or comprised no Bounds or Measures can be set to his divine Excellencies The Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him 1 Kings 8. 27. or compass his Greatness how much less can a narrow Heart receive his Fulness his Love and all his Attributes are beyond Knowledge Isa 40. 25. To whom then will ye liken me or shall I be equal saith the holy one This Infiniteness of Christs divine Nature is a mystery too deep for humane Capacity to fathom not curiously to be searched out but humbly to be ador'd and no way discoverable but by his own Light and according to the model of a created understanding Some dark Reflections of this visible Glory are discoverable in the Glass of sacred Scripture which declare the Greatness of God both as to his incomprehensibleness and Eternity he is every where and yet circumscâ—ibed no where he fills all places in the World or without the World but confin'd no where no where included no where excluded containing all things contained by none his essential Presence is in all places not by any Extension or Division of parts which are not in God but as the Soul in the Body so is God in the Universe the whole in the whole and the whole in every part He is essentially present in all Places not by imparting his Essence to any created Being but by giving and preserving the Being of those things which fill up those Places so his Power is every where in that all things are subject to his Power his Wisdom fills Heaven and Earth in that all Things and Places are manifest in his sight And this yields 1. Comfort to Believers 2. Terrour to Sinners 3. Caution to all First Wonderful Comfort to Believers in the Assurance of Christ's Omnipresence with them to counsel and comfort them The Believer can say what none else can Where I am there is my Treasure with me In all Estates and Places is the Lord Jesus with his People while they keep with him In the Water he wades with them in the Flames he stands between them to keep off Destruction from them when under Wants Temptations Dangers he is by them at their right hand to relieve them he knows their Soul in Adversity for he is near them He is by when Corruptions insurrect in them when Satan with his fiery Darts assaults them or Enemies oppress them he sees when their Fears rise and their Tears fall He stands behind Ephraim's back when he is mourning and puts his Tears into his Bottle and layes his Complaints upon his Heart No sooner is Mary mourning for her departed Lord but he is by her side to comfort her When his Daniels are thrown into the Lyons Den he goes with them to shut the mouthes of devouring Lyons or to give Life in the midst of Death When the Knife is at the Throats of his Isaacks his Power is by to hold back the murtherous hand from destroying We will break their bands and cast their cords from us Psal 2. 3. say the Saints Enemies Hold there saith Christ I am with them to defend them No cruel Edicts can exile them from his Presence He was in Patmos with John and turn'd it into a Pavilion with Jeremiah in the Dungeon and gave him Goal delivery Earthly men may be abroad and their Treasures at home but faithful Believers carry their Treasure with them or their Portion their Inheritance follows them Secondly The Immensity and Omnipresence of Christ speaks Terrour to the Wicked in that he is near them to behold and requite their Transgressions He knows their Works and their Thoughts all their secret Designs are naked in his sight There 's no covering from his Eye The Darkness and Light are both alike to him Psal 139. 12. He sees their Rage and Fury against him their hidden works of Darkness All their Plots and Purposes against his Interest are open to his Eye their inward Thoughts filthy Lusts close Practises are before him he is behind thy back Sinner to hear thy blasphemous Oaths thy reproachful Slanders of his wayes and People thy malicious resolves thy bloody Decrees against his poor and faithful ones He is before thee to obviate thy Designs to frustrate thy Attempts and requite thy Spight and Mischiefs O you who are yet in your blood and gore of Sin in your confederacy with Death and Hell in your fixed Wrath against the Lord and his Anointed be perswaded to believe the greatness of your Danger before you feel it think how visible all your works of darkness are when God who is all Eye is in every place and how desperate your sinful Adventures are on the drawn Sword of Divine Justice at your Breasts how unsafe your securest state is who are compass'd within the Circle of Omnipresence and have Vengeance continually at your heels yea are taken in the Arms of devouring Judgment Thirdly The belief of Christ's being every where gives a Caution to all to carry themselves in all Places and Undertakings as such who are ever in his sight His Eyes run to and fro to behold the Evil and the Good He stands by thy Bed side to inspect thy waking Thoughts to observe thy unchaste Motions thy Earthy vain Cogitations no sooner is a forbidden wish in thy Heart but his Eye is there also thy tow'ring Pride thy pale Envy thy flaming Anger thy frothy Pleasure thy lustful Desires thy revengeful Projects
thy Earthy Thoughts are legible Characters to his discerning look And should not the sense of this advise thy rational Soul to more watchfulness over thy treacherous Heart And surely were Christs All-seeing Eye more observed Persons Thoughts would be more weighed and their Insides more regarded O Reader whoever thou art Lodge this Truth in thy Heart and carry this Belief up and down with thee wherever thou goest The Eye of God is on thee He that must shortly be thy Judge is now thy Recorder and puts a Remark on all thy Thoughts Words and Wayes for which he will bring thee into Judgment Set a watch on all the rising motions of thy Heart stop thy hasty words at the door and examine what they are whence they come whither they go before thou let them pass and measure thy designed Actions by the Standard of the Sanctuary e're thou let them go under thy hand seeing he that is thy Judge comes with his measuring Line to take an Account of them and to render according to their nature and merit Thirdly Again As Christs Infiniteness exceeds all confines of Place so he passes beyond all terminations of Time being from Everlasting to Everlasting without Beginning without End Psal 90. 2. His Duration admits of no distinction of Time and therefore must needs be Eternal Time is the measure of Finite Beings which are capable of Priority and Succession but the Divine Essence hath no Beginning and so can have no End He is the Author of all other Beings and therefore cannot have a Beginning there being nothing before him to give him a Being God hath his Essence in and of himself and so must needs be Eternal Neither is he only Eternal saith Aquinas but he is his own Eternity because he is his own Essence subsisting in and of himself which Essence or Eternity of his is the very reason of Eternity and of all things contained therein for the Divine Essence subsisting of himself must needs be before all things that are made as the Cause is before the Effect and Eternity before Time seeing the things that are made are made by him Joh. 1. 3. His Unity also proves his Eternity being one uncompounded and undivided Being and so before all as Unity is before Multitude and whatever Beings are they are derived from Unity and without End for take off Unity and nothing remains The Scriptures bear full witness to the Eternity of Christ Before the Mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the Earth and the World from Everlasting to Everlasting thou art God Psal 90. 2. I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God Isa 44. 6. He is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the Ending which is which was and which is to come Rev. 1. 8. He is before all and by him all things consist Col. 1. 17. And though Christ be called the onely begotten Son of God Joh. 1. 14. and so implies the Father to be before the Son yet this priority is of Order not of Time Christ as God is Eternal with the Father and so before all Time Joh. 1. 1. and to Everlasting And this greatens the Believers Happiness beyond all conception that his Treasure is Eternal Time limits all the Comforts and Interests of Christless Souls let them seem never so amiable and great through the multiplying glass of mistaken Sense yet the shortness of their Duration narrows up their Felicity whereas the portion of Heaven-born Souls exceeds all Dimensions and Terminations The Moth of Time cannot consume their Treasure their Lease can never expire thousands of years that comprise the extent of Earthly Estates substracts nothing from that Eternity which gives duration to the Saints Treasure Rejoyce O Believer in the assured perpetuity of thy best Interests here thy most desired Mercies are but of short continuance Thy Priviledges are but Tabernacle-priviledges thy Enjoyments determinable thy Frames are transient thy Pleasures fading Hope Peace Love Grace endures but for a Season but thy Possessions beyond the Grave are eternal and as long as Christ lives shall thy Treasure last thy Holiness Happiness Pleasures and Perfections in the other World shall be coexistent with thy Soul and as far from expiring as the Love that gave them was from beginning And as thy Comforts here are short liv'd so are thy Troubles too Sorrow enduring for a Night light Afflictions and but for a moment 2 Cor. 4. 17. Tears contained within a Bottle Fears Wants Losses Dangers confin'd within this Span of time and expir'd with this short Vapor of Life but thy Consolations Gain Enjoyments Peace Safety shall be eternal no more liable to the Injury of time thy wet and weary Sowings are but for a Season thy weak and wasting Duties will be over but thy reaping thy resting shall know no end but endure while the Eternity and Omnipotency of Christ can make them good Fourthly The Divine Nature of Christ is immutable also above all Alteration and Change He is the same Yesterday to Day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. Immutable is his Nature being a most simple Essence free from parts or any Mixture that might render him capable of Corruption he is also the first Being and so free from the Influence and Dispose of a higher Power Change in any thing comes either from a Corruptibleness in its Nature or from the Will of a Superiour Power but God being the first and supreme Cause is above all and so unalterable in his Nature Isa 44. 6. I am the first and the last He is infinite too and so comprehends all Fullness of Perfection in himself and cannot meet with Alteration they are imperfect things that are subject to change old things that pass away but God is infinitely perfect and therefore cannot change or be moved from what he is by any external or internal Cause he cannot cease to be what he was or begin to be what he was not as to his Divine being indeed the Word the second Person in time assumes the humane Nature into a Union with himself but then he doth not cease to be what he was that is perfect God and so doth not change and though he alters his Laws and Administrations of Worship in the times of the Gospel yet he alters not his mind this Change was decreed from all Eternity God determined them to be mutable and therefore they must change or God would not be immutable And whereas it may be urged that God doth threaten to do what he doth not and promise to perform what he hath never fulfilled and therefore is mutable I answer that God never threatens and promises in his word absolutely but conditionally and the Condition failing the Act on which it depends fails but God doth not change his Mind neither was this Mutability in man accidental to God but foreseen and sure and so Gods Purposes thereabout are not alterable but eternal And whereas God is said now to be
approves of as his Creatures his Providences and Evils of Punishment which are just and righteous But sinful Evils have no dependance on his Fore-knowledge or Influence from his Essence Indeed Actions as they are natural have their Being from God but the pravity and sinfulness of those Acts Sin being but the privation of that good which was and should be in them is derived from the Subject whose Acts they are As the Motion of the Clock is from the Art of the Artificer but the obliquity of the Motion is from some defect in the Clock it self Gods fore-knowledge of Sin confers no Physical Vertue and necessity to the Being and succession of Sin and yet his knowledge of it is certain all things being naked and manifest in his sight who is Truth it self and cannot deceive or be deceived He determining to permit the Being of Sin must needs fore-know it else his Knowledge would not be perfect and if his Knowledge should be imperfect his Essence would be so too they being both the same but this cannot consist with the Fountain of all Perfection He is the Holy One and can do no Iniquity Zeph. 3. 5. His Fore-knowledge of Sin doth not offer Violence to the Nature of man or destroy the natural Freedom of his Will but foreseeing what man would be determined to leave him to the natural Motion of his own Will Judas betraying Christ as it was sinful was the Consequent of Gods Foreknowledge but the effect of his own Covetousness Acts 2. 23. All Contingencies are perfectly foreseen of God also both in himself as the first Cause and so they are necessary to succeed in due time he sees them also in the second Causes in respect of which they are said to be contingent for to God nothing is accidental although it seems so to men through an Unacquaintedness with their Dependance on the first Cause Rebeccah's meeting Abraham's Servant at the Well and her Discourse with him Gen. 24. 15. seem to Standers by to be things contingent but look back to the former Verse and you will see them to be the answer of Prayer and so before appointed The like was the Midianites drawing Joseph out of the Pit Gen. 37. and the Wind blowing down the House on Job's Children Job 1. though they look like Accidents yet were the Effects of Gods Permission and fore-appointment Again God fore-knows all Contingencies not only as they are in their first and second Causes but as they are in themselves for all things being present to him he perfectly knows what every Cause will produce in time and so must necessarily come to pass according to that Axiome Every thing that is when once it is it appears necessary that it should be Acts 15. 18. Known unto God are all his Works from the beginning of the World Heb. 4. 13. Neither is there any Creature which is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open to the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Psal 56. 8. Thou tellest my wandrings put thou my tears into thy Bottle are not they in thy Book Psal 139. 2. Thou understandest my Thoughts afar off that is before they are in Being Prov. 15. 3. The Eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good This Wisdom of Christ as God is part of his Unsearchable Treasure and so great a Deep that 't is past finding out by his most intelligent Creatures in Heaven and Earth Rom. 11. 33. O the depths of the Riches both of the Wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgments and his wayes past finding out Again as God is infinitely wise in himself so is he the Author of all Wisdom to his Creatures He enlightneth every one that cometh into the World Jo. 1. 9. This is laid down to prove the Divine Nature of Christ he is the Word which is God this appears both in his making all things verse 3. and in his incomprehensible Essence He is the Light shining in Darkness and the Darkness comprehends it not Also he is the Fountain of all that Light and Life his Creatures enjoy and therefore must needs be God The Evangelist doth not speak here of Christ as Mediator and so of that saving Light which he gives to his Elect by his Spirit but of his divine Essence which the Jews would not own and as a proof of it doth instance in his creatorly Power he is the Fountain of that natural Light which all men have all Wisdom comes from him who is the Father of Lights he is the Fountain of Light able to fill the Children of men with all that Knowledge that is necessary to their highest Happiness to guide them with his Eye and lead them into all Truth First This yields wonderful Comfort to Believers that they have chosen such a Saviour as is able to make them wise to Salvation who not only knows what is best for them but can also reveal and make out the Knowledge thereof to them that they might know and chuse what makes for their best Good here and for ever He is the Son of Righteousness Mal. 4. 2. The bright Morning Star Rev. 22. 16. The Light of Israel Isa 10. 7. The Pillar of Fire by Night Neh. 9. 12. To shew them their way in their greatest Difficulties and Obscurity Secondly This assures gracious Souls that he who hath undertaken their Conduct Supply and Preservation to Glory knows how to make it good and finish the work he is intrusted with he can keep that good thing committed to him he can help them in the worst of Straits and lead them through the greatest Improbabilities Weaknesses Dangers yea Impossibilities to their desired Rest Thirdly This also relieves them that they have a Friend in Heaven who knows their Soul in Adversity and is acquainted with all their Troubles Wants Weaknesses Wrongs Fears Dangers yea with all their Labours Duties Desires and Designs for him and knows how to succour comfort support and deliver them when all Refuge fails them and there is none to help and how to requite and crown all their Duties and Sufferings for his Name He knows their Corruptions the Strength and Prevalency of them and how to subdue and destroy them he sees their Ways and Infirmities and how to heal them he knows the Power and Malice of their Enemies to restrain them and discovers the most secret Plots against his innocent ones to disappoint them that in vain is the Snare laid in his Sight against them He observes thy Tears Believer thy corner Duties thy Bed-side Breathings after him though hid from others he takes notice of thy Innocency when men revile thee and knows how to plead thy Cause and bring thee to the Light Fourthly This will serve to humble the proud Heart of men that God is acquainted with all their Vileness he sees their high their fretful their vain their unclean their unsound their rebellious Hearts Souls men see
second Adam as Mediator the Difference between whom was great the first Adam but a Creature this a Creator or Quickning Spirit the first Adam had his Rise from the Earth this second Adam as to his person from Heaven whence saith Paraeus 't is evident the Apostle doth not speak here of the matter of Christs Body but of the Original and Dignity of his Person for he grants in this whole Discourse that Christ's Body is one and the same with ours else how can his Resurrection be a proof of ours and 't is said As by man came death so by man came also the Resurrection of the Dead 1 Cor. 15. 20 21 22. And if Christ had not a real natural Body then he could not be the Seed of the Woman neither had his Death been a real Death or a satisfactory Propitiation if the same Nature that sinned had not also suffered And therefore it must needs be that Christ had a Natural Body He Eat Drank Spake Walked was weary smitten bound crucified which are also demonstrations of a Natural Body And as he had a perfect Body so had he a Soul also contrary to the Doctrine of Apollinaris or else he could not be a perfect Man and in all things made like unto his Brethren for 't is said when God made Man He breathed into his Nostrils the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul Gen. 2. 7. Hence saith Lactantius A Soul-less Body is no Humane Body 'T is said His Soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto Death Mat. 26. 38. Had not Christ a real Soul he had not been a living man nor could be said to have died when he cried out Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit Luke 23. 46. And having said so he gave up the Ghost This Spirit the Lord Jesus gave up into his Father's hands was not his Divine Nature for that was one with and ever with the Father and therefore must needs be his Soul which was his Life and that departing he is said to dye and give up the Ghost Besides That Knowledge in which he is said to increase with those Humane Affections that manifestly appeared in him and those Acts of his Natural Will plainly proves his Soul these being the Essential Faculties of a Rational Spirit Neither could he have perfectly transacted the Office of a Mediator and undergone all the Sufferings that were to be borne for the Sin of Man had he not consisted of a Humane Soul as well as Body part of these Penalties yea the greatest part being Spiritual and such as none but the Soul could be fully sensible of And in point of Justice the Soul of man having sinned there must be a Soul also in the Redeemer to undergo Sufferings wherefore he must needs be perfect man in the Essential Parts of the Humane Nature Body Soul He had also the Properties of the Humane Nature both Essential and Accidental The Essential Properties of man as well of the Soul as Body were in him The Essential Properties and Faculties of the Soul which are the Understanding Will Affections were seated in his Nature he had a created Understanding that eminently shin'd out in his youthful years being able at Twelve years old to dispute with the Learned Doctors of his Day even to the astonishment of his Hearers Luke 2. 46 47. And they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them Questions and all that heard him were astonished at his Vnderstanding and Answers And ver 52. Jesus increased in Wisdom and Stature He had likewise Natural Affections so as without sin He loved the young man in the Gospel for those Excellencies that were in him Mark 10. 21. And had a peculiar degree of Affection to John above the rest of the Disciples Joh. 19. 26. He had compassion on the multitude Mat. 9. 36. And was grieved for the Heart hardness of his Disciples Mark 3. 5. And had indignation against Peter's tempting him to decline his Redemption-work Mark 8. 33. He had also the Essential Properties of a Humane Body such as do flow from the Essence thereof and are so absolutely necessary to it as that without these the Body would cease to be a Body as Quantity Figure Members Dimensions He had a Material Body consisting of Flesh and Bone with its Lineaments and Members Face Hands Feet he had a Stature in which he grew as other men do Luke 2. 52. A Body circumscribed in a place that must needs have a Circumference and be in one place at once circumscriptively not definitively as Spirits are Neither does its Union with the Divine Nature or its glorified state in Heaven alter this Essential Property of a Body Nor is the Omnipotency of God a sufficient Argument to warrant the Body of Christ to be in Heaven and Earth and in divers places at once seeing God's Absolute Power never crosseth his Actual Power or infer a contrariety to his Truth and to the natural Being of things Neither did he assume the Parts and Essential Properties of Man only but the Infirmities also and accidental Properties of the Humane Nature though not those which were Personal and Vicious and procur'd by Personal Sins or defection in their particular Natures as Diseases Blindness Lameness Deformity which were not the absolute and universal Products of Original Sin incident to every one but arising from some particular Causes and peculiar to some Persons onely these our Lord Jesus did not take upon him but such Infirmities as were accidental to the whole Nature for that he himself also is compassed with Infirmities Heb. 5. 2. not sinful as culpable Ignorance and Errour but Natural Infirmities such as were incident to our Natures Sin excepted and such as were the Effects and Punishment of Sin these Christ took on him as inculpable Ignorance Humane Passions of Sorrow Fear Anger in the Soul Hunger Thirst Weariness Pain bloody Sweat and Death in the Body Mark 13. 32. Mark 11. 13. Math. 26. 38. Math. 9. 36. Mat. 16. 23. Joh. 19. 28. Joh. 4. 6. Heb. 5. 8. Luke 22. 44. Mat. 27. 50. And O what enriching Priviledges and full Consolation do flow to Believers from the Words assuming the Humane Nature into Personality with himself And what glorious Excellencies are in Jesus Christ as he is God-Man in one Person infinite Treasures which can never be traced out nor fully understood by the Children of men as will appear if we consider the kind of this Union and the Consequents of it First Consider the kind of this Union between the Divine and Humane Nature of Christ and O what a glorious Mystery is it First It is a real Union 't is not Nominal in Name onely or Metaphorical in Shew or Similitude but in Reality and Truth The Divine and Humane Nature do constitute one Person which is Jesus Christ We have already proved that Jesus Christ is perfect God and perfect Man he is really so in one
he is able to perform hence 't is said Joh. 1. 16. Of his Fulness we have all received and Grace for Grace Of that Fulness which the Divine Nature is alwayes issuing out to the Humane Nature of Christ do Believers receive Grace for Grace Grace sutable to Grace in Christ so that the Humane Nature of Christ must needs be alwayes full of Grace by reason of its Union with the Divine As the Sun that gives out Light is alwayes full of Light and the Sea that sends forth Waters to the Rivers is never vacant This is a glorious Mystery of wonderful Encouragement to Believers to consider what a full Jesus they are related to Thirdly By vertue of this Union the Lord Jesus Christ hath right to all Glory and Adoration of Men and Angels as Mediatour He is the most Illustrious Person all Honour Blessing Praise Glory Adoration is due to him Heb. 1. 6. When he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him Surely he must be a glorious Person when all the Angels must bow at his Feet Seraphims Cherubims and all the Host of Heaven stoop and give Homage to him this the Lord Jesus Christ hath a proper Right to as he is God-Man Phil. 2. 9. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name Every Tongue shall confess at last that he is Lord ver 11. Rev. 1. 17. And when I saw him I fell at his Feet as dead O the very Vision of Christ is enough to strike a poor Creature to the Earth Rev. 4. 9 10 11. The four and twenty Elders fell down and worshipped this glorious Person that sate upon the Throne which is Jesus Christ Joh. 5. 23. That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father So that God the Son the Second Person the Mediatour of his People deserves all that Divine and Religious Worship which is due to God as God Thrones and Principalities are made by him and put under him Col. 1. 16. 17. Fourthly By vertue of this Union the Lord Jesus Christ hath absolute Authority Kingship and Headship in his Church and over all things to the Church Matt. 28. 18. All Power is given to me in Heaven and Earth O what vast Power is this All Power on Earth to do what he will there All Power in Heaven to do what he will there Eph. 1. 22. And hath put all things under his Feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church Jesus Christ as God-Man is invested with all Power and Authority to transact the Work of a Mediator to perform the Offices of Prophet Priest and King The Godhead of Christ working as God and the Manhood of Christ working as Man yet both these Natures concurr towards the management of Redemption-work As a Prophet he is able to reveal the Will of God for he knoweth the mind of the Spirit being God he is infinite in Wisdom Job 36. 4. Rom. 11. 33. All Knowledge comes from him as Mediator In him are hid the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. He maketh Wise to Salvation He giveth Wisdom Prov. 2. 6. He openeth the Eyes of the blind and giveth Light to them that sit in Darkness and in the Region and shadow of Death Matth. 4. 16. Luke 2. 32. Ministers can but preach to the Ear but Christ can preach to the Heart Ministers can but open the Scriptures Christ can open the Heart He is a full and effectual Head to his Body the Church to guide influence and adorn it Col. 1. 18. As a Priest And so there 's an infinite Sufficiency in his Satisfaction and Intercession seeing he is God-Man In his Satisfaction enough to silence all Pleas against his People He can arrest all the Sentences and Executions of the Law against them As an High-priest he is a sufficient Sacrifice for the Sins of the People He was made Sin for us that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. By the Obedience of Christ all Believers are made Righteous Rom. 5. 19. The Obedience of the Saints is represented compleat in Christ though imperfect in themselves Hence Believers that are wounded with the shortness of their Services in themselves may lift up their Heads when they look upon the perfect Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ Hence 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. If any man Sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous And he is the propitiation for our Sins Though the Saints do sin Christ becomes a Sacrifice for them This one Offering of Christ ever appears before God when new Provocations appear in his People By one Offering he perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. By vertue of this Union his Blood becomes infinite Blood equally as large as the Offence Nay it is more able to save than the Sins of Believers to damn It is the Blood of Christ that cleanseth from all Sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. Therefore his Obedience is a perfect Obedience and his Sufferings perfect Sufferings of more satisfaction to Divine Justice than if all the Sinners in the World had lain in Hell to all Eternity This Blood is so wonderfully precious that it is accounted by the Father as the Blood of God Acts 20. 28. If Infinite can satisfie Infinite then the Father is satisfied by the Blood of Christ because whatever the Justice of God can expect the Obedience of Christ can fully satisfie This Righteousness to Justification the perfect Obedience and Sufferings of Christ receives no Addition or Diminution by the Obedience or Disobedience of his People Eph. 1. 6. He hath made us accepted in the Beloved Ah! little do Souls know the Bottom they stand upon It is not poor Believer the shortness of thy Obedience the multitude and greatness of thy Sins can out-match this matchless Righteousness of Christ All the Injuriâ—s and Wrongs thou hast done is but the Injury of a Creature but the Satisfaction of Jesus Christ is the Satisfaction of God it is the Satisfaction of God the Soh presented to God the Father O what a blessed state are Believers in where there is such a price paid for their Sins Again By vertue of this Union There 's Sufficiency in the Intercession of Jesus Christ He must needs be able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him seeing he ever lives to make Intercession Heb. 7. 24 25. How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your Consciences from dead works Heb. 9. 14. The Blood of Christ meritoriously purges the Soul from all filthiness being offered through the Eternal Spirit God will not deny himself whatever God the Son intercedes for God the Father will grant so that Christ's Intercession must needs be effectual O what potency hath Christ in Heaven what Prevalency in all his Addresses
Conformity to the Will of God a gracious Soul would be holy as God is holy O says the poor Believer I cannot evidence that Holiness I should but God knows I would be holy I would cast off every Sin I would perform every Duty in a right manner so in the Affections there is the Seed of divine Love to God his Will and Holiness there is sincere Love though but in part and imperfect but seeing this Holiness begun in the Saints in Truth is but in part and full of Spots Christ comes in the next place and presents his spotless Obedience in the Behalf of Believers and by Vertue of this mystical Union between Believers and Christ this Holiness of Christ is the Holiness of Believers and God accepts of it as their Holiness O if Souls did but see more into this they would not take up all their standing upon their own Legs and see their Happiness or Misery lye in their compleat or incompleat Obedience but they would see all Holiness lye in Christ hence you see the meaning of that Scripture Rom. 5. 19. By the Obedience of one many are made righteous God looks upon sincere Souls as presented in Christ that so far as Christ is holy they are holy in him for all the Obedience and Holiness of Christ as Mediator is the Obedience and Holiness of his People for what he did was not for himself but for his people And thus much of the first how this Mediator deals with God the Father for fallen man Secondly The Lord Jesus Christ as Mediator deals with men the other party too Now this he doth First As an Interceder to Sinners in the Behalf of God the Father he comes and treats with men by virtue of his Mediatorship to draw and perswade them to Terms of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 18. All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and hath given us the Ministry of Reconciliation The Lord Jesus Christ comes as the Messenger of the Lord and delivers over Counsel and tenders God the Father to Sinners this he doth in his person vers 19. God in Christ reconciling the World to himself By his Ministry in opening the Gospel to Sinners discovering those great Transactions between the Father and himself and the great willingness of God to be reconciled and inviting lost Souls to himself vers 20. We pray you in Christ's stead be you reconciled to God You see the Errand of the Gospel to you Souls and the Business of Christ in every Sermon it is to bring you to a willingness to accept of the Terms of Reconciliation to come over to God by Jesus Christ that you may be saved Secondly By giving out the holy Ghost by which Sinners are effectually called and adopted into the Sonship of God this is necessary in order to the Application of what the Lord Jesus Christ hath done in his own person whilst on Earth he promised when he left the World to send the Spirit in his Room seeing it is of necessity he must go away and take possession of the Kingdom of Glory for his people and must go within the Veil as the great High-priest therefore that this Work might go on in his Absence the comforter must come Jo. 16. 7. If I depart I will send him unto you And what shall he do He will reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and Judgment vers 8. He will guide you into all Truth vers 13. So that the Lord Jesus Christ sends the Spirit in the Gospel to make all the Administrations of it effectual to such as shall be saved All that Ministers can do cannot remove the thick Veil that is upon the Minds of Sinners we cannot give eyes to see nor Ears to hear it is the work of the Spirit it must be an Almighty power must open this two leafed gate and let in Jesus Christ into the Heart it must be by the Almighty Power and Energy of the Spirit that the work becomes successful to any Soul we find it so How many precious Sermons are cast away upon flinty Hearts they will not bow nor turn till the Spirit comes therefore the Lord Jesus Christ in the exercise of his Mediatorship pours out the Spirit Gal. 4. 6. That we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith Gal. 3. 14. Or the promised Spirit through the Word of Faith for Faith cannot be had till the Spirit be had Faith comes by hearing How received ye the Spirit by the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3. 2. There 's no such Commission given at all to the Law to give out the Spirit it is by the hearing of Faith by the opening this Box of precious Ointment this blessed savour comes to Sinners till that be done no Conversion-work can be done till the Spirit enters the Soul Jesus Christ cannot enter the Soul the Spirit of Christ is the harbinger and goes before and makes way for this blessed Mediator to come into the Sinners heart the Spirit is tendred to all but the Lord gives it to whom he pleases for it is as the Wind that blows Jo. 3. 8. So is the way of the Spirit thus the Lord Jesus Christ gives the Spirit to all that come to him and by this he carries on his Mediatory work Thirdly Another thing Jesus Christ doth with respect to men in the exercise of his Mediatorship He applies his Redemption-work to all those that do believe in him he makes over himself and all that is his by a free Donation to all that receive him Rev. 3. 20. If any man open the door I will come into him and will sup with him The great work is to get open this bolted door of the Heart to Jesus Christ and when the door stands open and the Sinner consents to take Christ and esteeming it a good Bargain to have him upon the most costly Terms then he makes over himself to the Soul I will sup with him I will impart my Spiritual refreshings to him I will give my self to him he shall feed upon my Flesh and Blood we have an Overture made Rev. 21. 6. I will give to him that is a thirst of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely So Rev. 22. 17. When once God hath brought the Sinner to a thirst for Christ to a sense of his Misery without Christ that he cannot live without him when the Sinner is persuaded to believe in him and give up himself to him then the Lord Jesus gives out himself his Spirit these Waters of Life the Waters of Regeneration then he puts the Believing Soul into the possession of Life and Righteousness of Grace and an earnest of Glory He gives to such a Right and Title to all that is his Joh. 1. 12. He gives out to them the fruit of his Sweat and Bleeding the fruit of his Groans and Dying as they are capable to receive He died that they might have Life
and have it more abundantly He was made Sin for them that they might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. And now he is performing this and strips the poor Soul of his filthy Garments and takes away the filth of Original and Actual Sin and comes and cloaths the Soul with Righteousness and puts his fair Ornaments upon it and makes it as a fair Jewel in the sight of God and when the Soul hath bespotted his own Garments Christ comes and cloaths him with pure Rayment So that here 's alwayes Work for Christ to do for his People whilst on Earth to apply the fruits of his Purchase Fourthly The Lord Jesus Christ in pursuing his Mediatorly Work doth take upon him the Work of an Intercessor in Heaven and Advocates in the behalf of all his People He hath done all that was needful for him to do on Earth and now he is entred into the Heavens and sate down at the Right hand of God and ever lives to make Intercession for the Saints Heb. 7. 25 27. That is his Work now in Heaven to perform that part of his Priestly Office as is needful for him to do as a Mediator there CHAP. V. Wherein is opened the glorious Advocateship of Christ with the unspeakable Comforts and Advantages thereof THere are two parts of Christs Priesthood 1. His Satisfaction 2. His Intercession The first I have spoken to already and proved That the Lord Jesus by his Active and Passive Obedience hath satisfied the Law of God and made a full Atonement for the Sins of all Believers that he underwent all that they were bound to undergo and that in their Name Room and Stead for their Sakes Heb. 7. 22. Gal. 4. 4 5. Rom. 5. 19. This he did by his Active Obedience and also by his Passive Isa 53. 4. to vers 7. Gal. 3. 13 14. Joh. 1. 28 29. And by this one Offering of his hath he perfected them that are sanctified for ever Heb. 10. 14. by way of Merit that God hath no more now to charge on Believers by way of Punishment for their Sins seeing Christ hath borne it in his own Body for them on the Tree By this he hath obtained Salvation for them that 's the first part of his Priestly Work But Secondly Having dispatch'd his Expiation 't is needful that he carry on his Application of this Obedience and Suffering to them and this is done by his interceding in Heaven for them Now because so much of the Riches of Christ lies in this part of his Mediatorly Work and it is of such infinite Concernment as to the Faith Comfort and Advantage of Believers therefore I shall speak the more fully to this Subject and shall prove 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ God-Man doth now sit down at the Right Hand of God Interceding there in Heaven 2. How the Lord Christ carries on this Work of Intercession in Heaven 3. For whom he doth intercede in Heaven 4. What he doth intercede for 5. Why the Lord Jtsus Christ as a Mediator carries on this Work of Intercession 6. What are the unspeakable Comforts and Advanvantages that flow from this Intercession of Christ First Jesus Christ doth now sit down at the Right Hand of God and is entred upon the Work of Intercession There are two Arguments to prove this First The nature of the Office the Lord Jesus Christ hath undertaken now in Heaven He hath taken on him the Office of an Advocate on the behalf of his People 1 Joh. 2. 1. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word is ordinarily rendred a Comforter when applied to the Holy Ghost but when spoken of Christ as Gomarus and other Learned men affirm it is taken for an Advocate or one that undertakes the Cause of another an Atturney or Officer at Law that appears in Court for one that is there concerned and accused to look after and plead his Cause He is one that is by Law deputed and set apart to that Office and so is bound to do his utmost for his Client as for himself Thus is Jesus Christ set apart and deputed by the Father to this Office of Advocate and Intercessor Joh. 6. 27. For him hath God the Father sealed That is appointed set apart and confirmed to be Mediator and High-Priest Psal 110. 4. That he might satisfie for the Sins of his People and sue out the Benefits of it for them Secondly Christs Fidelity in the Performance of this Work proves he is now in Heaven interceding He cannot be content to have a Name and no more he is faithful in things pertaining to Men. The Lord Jesus Christ did actually carry on this Work of interceding for his People before he took their Nature upon him and came into the World Isa 53. 12. He bore the Sins of many and made Intercession for the Transgressors Upon his Deputation to this Office and by vertue of the Sacrifice to be offer'd he did ever since the Fall mediate for his People and put on Bowels for them He carried them all the dayes of Old Isa 63. 9. whilst he was in Heaven ever since Adam's Fall assoon as he had any Seed on Earth Again Christ was faithful in this Work of Mediation and Intercession whilst on Earth Heb. 5. 7. Who in the dayes of his Flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong cries and tears Those cries and tears he put up were for his People not for himself he needed it not He was willing to be subject to his Fathers Will to drink of the Cup the Father gave him to drink But he prayed for the conversion of those the Father had given him and prayes for the Salvation of his People Joh. 17. 19 20. Luke 22. 32. And this he doth now he is in Heaven he carries on this Work there in his Humane Nature He is entred into Heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9. 24. It is a Metaphor taken from an Atturney that appears in the behalf of his Clients So Jesus Christ is at the Right hand of God making intercession by way of Office When Satan or the Law doth accuse Believers there 's Christ at the Bar ready to make answer for them to plead the Cause of his Clients and procure their Justification the Apostle makes use of Christs Intercession to this purpose Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us Rom. 8. 33 34. So Heb. 6. 19 20. Which Hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the veil whither the Fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus made an High-Priest for ever By an
in Glory when I see how Satan buffets and assaults you from day to day then I look upon the Palms of my hands and see your names engraven there and will not leave you comfortless I will come again to you He sends his Spirit to keep them Company here on Earth and he will come and fetch them home at last he will be faithful to them in all things that pertain to God and for the Salvation of their Souls Heb. 2. 17. and Believers may urge him with his Promise and Faithfulness and this obliges Christ to do all he can for them Seventhly Because of the great Necessity they have of his pleading for them He sees they would be undone if he did not stand up for them Satan would lay in his Accusations he is the Accuser and what ways he hath to accuse the Saints before God we know not he accused Job and doubtless he is ever and anon laying in fresh Charges against the people of God therefore Christ pleads for them he sees they want Grace and want Strength therefore he cannot be silent he saw Peter had need of Support Luke 22. 31 32. therefore he prayed for him Christ sees they stand in need of Promises Experiences Consolations and Priviledges therefore he pleads in Heaven for them Sixthly What are the Comforts and Advantages that flow from the Intercession of Jesus Christ to believing Souls There 's Cause of wonderful Joy and Consolation to Believers when they cast their believing Looks towards Heaven to see their Advocate there First In regard of the Excellency of this Intercessor O! what a glorious mighty and potent Friend have Believers to plead for them he is no mean person he is the Son of God the express Image of his Fathers Person Heb. 1. 3. He is one that made the World and upholdeth the World and after he had suffered for Sin he is gone to Glory and takes his Seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high he doth not stand by as a Begger but sits down on the Throne by the Fathers side and speak as a Friend for them O what a glorious and transcendent person is he it is not an Angel it is not a Saint but it is the Lord Jehovah Jehovah Christ O when the Believer by Meditation comes to reflect on his Glorious Agent in Heaven how he is honoured by Angels Saints and every Creature it will wonderfully consolate his Languishing Spirit Secondly Consider the Successfullness of this Intercession and it cannot but yield much Comfort the Father heareth him always Joh. 11. 42. The Father and he are one of one Nature one Glory one Will what the Son wills the Father wills and Jesus Christ is the Executor of his own Will and hath all Power in his hands to give out and perform what he pleads for What would'st thou have Soul Lord sayes the Soul I would have more Grace be more holy have strength against this and the other Temptation I am afraid I shall perish under these Blasphemous Thoughts Oh the horrible injections of Satan Lord support me Why sayes Christ Fear not Soul In me is Everlasting strength thou shalt have it in my time and according to my measure Thirdly Consider the extent of Christs Intercession and that will contribute wonderful Joy to Believers His Favour is not narrowed up to one or two Favourites but for all his Saints All that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. All that believe in him Joh. 17. 20. Christ excepts none In this he out-goes the Affections of all Creatures It is rare for the largest Affections of Men not to run within some narrow limits but Jesus Christ hath an equal respect for all his Seed And then he intercedes for them in all their Matters Isa 63. 9. In all their Affiictions he is afflicted There is no part of their Trouble but he is concern'd in it As Christ is an Advocate in Heaven he is engag'd to attend the Concerns of his People though they should neglect him Isa 57. 18. He is privy to all their Matters How should this revive the Believing Soul It is the usual complaint of Souls O I fear Christ will not intercede for me I am so Carnal so full of Deceit Hypocrisie and Backslidings It is true He takes pleasure in the Prosperity of his People but I fear I am none of his They that pray and plead Spiritually may hope but I cannot pray nor look up But let me tell every poor trembling Believer There 's never a Soul that hath the Lord for his God that Jesus Christ can be unmindful of He intercedes for all his People and in all their Concernments Fourthly This may yield wonderful Comfort to Believers to consider That Jesus Christ doth not onely intercede in Heaven in their Names but in their very Natures He presents the Humane Nature in his own Person glorified and in this Nature he pleads to God for them He is set forth as the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. He cannot but be full of Pity and Compassion because he is of the same Nature with them They are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones Eph. 5. 30. O if that Scripture were but put into the Believing Meditation of Believers what Comfort will flow from it O trembling Saint thou mayest object thy Unworthiness and defiled Nature but Jesus Christ hath thy Nature glorified now in Heaven at the Father's right hand Fifthly The restlesness and unweariedness of Christs pursuing the Blessedness and Salvation of all his Seed is that which may yield wonderful comfort to the Believing Soul Consider his Temper and Disposition whiles he was on Earth His Spirit shall not fail till he hath set Judgment in the Earth Isa 42. 4. And if Christ was so earnest to undergo such work then and was so restless and active till it was done surely he must needs be restless to carry on this Work now in Heaven He lives ever to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. There are some times when men on Earth cannot agitate the Cause of their Friends but Christ is alwayes taken up about this Work of Mediation Christ's Authority is capable to manage all the Affairs of his People were they millions of men therefore it must needs be matter of wonderful Comfort to Believers that they have such a Mediator in Heaven Sixthly Consider the Advantages that flow from this Intercession of Christ to Believers and it will yield matter of wonderful comfort Their Sins shall be surely pardoned O what wonderful comfort is this Blessed is the man whose Transgression is forgiven and whose Sins are pardoned Psal 32. 1. He is an Advocate for them to take away their Sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. 1 Joh. 1. 7 9. No Bill shall be laid in against them at the Bar of God Who dares accuse that Soul that is covered over with the Blood of the Redeemer Rom. 8. 33 34. Their Persons and Performances shall surely find acceptance
with God through this Intercession of Christ Eph. 1. 6. Who hath made us accepted in the Beloved All that glorious Chain of Mercy that is made over to and fastned upon the Believer hath its tye to Jesus Christ Predestination Adoption Justification Sanctification and Salvation are all laid upon Christ It is a piece of usual weakness in poor Believers or rather Doubting-souls to judge of their Acceptance with God or Non-acceptance according to their Deservings or ill-deservings and the nature and frame of their Spirits and Duties when they have been drawn out in Frames and wonderfully rais'd in Duties they think now they shall find Favour But it is not that which gives your Suits Entertainment in Heaven it is as God accepts the Soul in Christ notwithstanding all the Failings and Infirmities of Believers they are entertained with a well done good and faithful Servant upon the account of Christ Again They are sure to be secur'd against the prevailing Power of all their Enemies let Beelzebub with all his Train and Forces be united against them he must be broken to pieces for Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding for them Sin shall have no Dominion over them Rom. 6. 14. God will bruise Satan under their Feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. Hence it is they may be sure none of their Enemies shall prevail Luke 1. 74. Again They may be sure to receive more Grace and Life more abundantly God giveth more Grace James 5. 6. whilst Christ's Interest holds in Heaven whilst he hath a Fullness of Grace to bestow Believers may expect more Access to the Throne of Grace at all times in his Name is another procured Advantage of his Intercession it is by the Blood of Christ Believers come to God with Boldness Heb. 4. 14. 16. Heb. 10. 21. 22. Hence the Blood of Christ makes Peace and an open door for Believers to approach to God Eph. 3. 12. Because he is there at the Throne of Grace he will open his Door to his Children and let them in within the Veil what tender Mother would shut the door against her weeping Child Again They have not only Access to the Throne of Grace but Success they shall speed when they cry with all their Hearts Joh. 14. 13. 14. Whatsoever you shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son if you shall ask any thing in my Name I will do it Christ was leaving his Disciples and they might tremblingly dispond how shall we live when thou art gone the World will persecute us and Satan will devour us Why says Christ I will protect you then as well as now and hear your Requests you think it is only your Concernment to have your Prayers answered no it is the Concernment of my Father too his Glory lies at stake for it O! what bold Encouragement is this Rev. 8. 3 4 5. Prayers ascended up and presently comes down Thunders Noises Lightnings and Earth-quakes as a Symbol of God's Reception believe it Saints have still as great Potency with God on the Account of Christ as ever and their right Prayers shall surely find an answer at the Throne of Grace Again They shall certainly have Perseverance in Grace for the Certainty of a Believers Graces depend not upon his own Strength that it should dye if he cease to exercise it but is secured by the Intercession of Christ Luke 22. 32. Jer. 32. 40. Another Effect of Christ's Intercession is this The Saints have Oneness with and an Interest in the Love of God Jo. 17. 21. 22. And they shall be sure of Grace and of Glory they shall have a Mansion in Heaven Jo. 14. 3. Jo. 17. 24. Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am to behold my Glory CHAP. VI. Shewing the Willingness of Christ that Sinners should be saved the Sin and Misery of such as refuse Christ with Reproof to several sorts of Persons WE have a little opened the Transcendent Glory of Christ as Mediator wherein so much of his vast Treasury lies we come now to make some Application of this glorious point First By way of Information First How wonderfully are poor Sinners indebted to the Lord for giving such a Mediator as Jesus Christ God-Man none else in Heaven or Earth could have procured the Salvation of lost Sinners had he been God only he had had neither Right or Capacity to suffer had he been only Man he could never have born up under the dreadful weight of these Sufferings Death would have had Dominion over him his Sufferings unsatisfactory his Intercession rejected and all the hopes of Sinners perished but now he is able to save all that come to God by him O admire at and rejoyce in this Love of God in giving Christ Jo. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Life and Liberty Health and Strength Peace and Plenty are excellent Mercies but the giving of Christ is transcendently super-eminent Can you bless the Lord for lower Springs O adore these upper ones this Grace that brings Salvation Secondly See the Willingness of Christ that Sinners should be saved he would never else have assum'd the work of a Mediatour nor have given himself for this very end that Sinners might be brought to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. He would never have undertaken the bloody way of Death nor drunk off such a bitter tremendous Cup that Sin had brewed for him he would not have interceded with God for Terms of Reconciliation nor undergone such direful unconceivable Torments had he not been willing Sinners should live hath Christ so carefully prepared the Ministration of Reconciliation and absolutely commanded the Promulgation of the Gospel to every Creature Mark 16. 15. Hath he laid such a Necessity on his Messengers and Ambassadors and oblig'd them by the Penalty of fearful Woes to preach the Gospel and he is not willing that Sinners should be saved 1 Cor. 9. 16. See how he charges his Servants to be instant in Season and out of Season to reprove rebuke and exhort with all Long-suffering and Kindness 2 Tim. 4. 1. To perswade and beseech men to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 11. 20. And will he reject them when they come He would not have griev'd and mourn'd so much at Sinners Unbelief and out-standing the day of Grace had he been unwilling they should have liv'd Joh. 5. 40. Luke 19. 41. 42. Behold how he waits till the last hour of the Day and treats his Enemies with an affectionate Kindness why will you dye O House of Israel He heaps up Coals of Fire on their Heads and draws them with Cords of Love and with the bands of a man Mat. 5. 45. Hos 11. 4. he offers Violence by his Spirit to unwilling Souls and attempts the most charming Persuasions to allure them to him he thunders and lightens as on Mount Sinai and threatens them terribly if they will
upon a Death-Bed Ah! what are all thy Cries when God hears not Thirdly there 's sure Damnation waits for thy Soul the Devil stands by and expects the time when Christ will take his final leave of thee O Sinner if once thy time be gone and precious Overtures of Grace do cease then certain Ruine follows as sure as the Work-man's wages is due to him so will Damnation be to thy Soul that dost live and dye in thy Refusal of Christ every Soul that will not hear this Prophet shall be destroyed Acts 3. 23. Psal 2. 12. Fourthly all the precious Intercessions of Jesus Christ will be turn'd against thee and this is a most doleful Consideration enough to make the hardest heart to break now while there 's hope the blood of Christ pleads Father wait a little longer for this Sinner when divine Justice says cease interceding that I may take Vengeance on this wretch no says the blood of Christ spare this Drunkard a little longer O wait one day longer one year longer for this Swearer but upon thy final Refusal of Christ the blood of Christ pleads another wâ—y Father I will the Damnation of this Sinner I will that Mercy be no more tendred to him Luke 2. 34. This Child is set for the Fall and Rising again of many in Israel Christ is for the Fall as well as the rising of many and believe it his blood hath as great a Vertue to heighen the Damnation of willful Unbelievers as ever it hath to further the Salvation of Believers and O what a dreadful thing is this when the blood of Christ shall plead against thee It may be upon thy Death-bed thou wilt cry Lord pardon me Lord let me never go to the place of Torment but the Blood of Christ will say Father damn him he made me wait many Days and Years and would not let me into his Heart Father let him perish and whom do you think the Father will hear This is one of the most trembling Considerations that I know to heighten the Wrath of Sinners that Soul must needs go deep into Hell that the Blood of Christ sends thither the blood of Christ cries for Vengeance Ah! Sinners think of it what a fearful thing it is to refuse this Mediator the Lord open your Ears and the Lord work upon your Hearts that you may turn and live while there is Hope Fourthly Hence see whence 't is that the Prayers of any are so prevailing with God what is it that makes Faith and Prayer so omnipotent 'T is the Intercession of Christ in Heaven that wings our Prayers and makes them so speedily arrive at the Mercy-seat and come off with an answer of Peace 'T is a Friend in the Court of Heaven that makes the Saints Sutes so prevailing with God Rev. 8. 3 4 5. 'T is his Incense makes way for the Prayers of the Saints and then Fire comes out of the Censer and burns up the Enemies of Christ O there 's wonderful Mightiness in the prayers of the Saints whom Christ favours with his Mediation Vse 2. Of Confutation If the Lord Jesus Christ be the Great and onely Mediator between God and Man then this will strike down that dangerous damnable Errour of the Papists Of Praying to Saints and setting up other Interceders besides Christ making Addresses to the Virgin Mary placing her in the Throne with Christ If there be but one Mediator 1 Tim. 2. 5. and one that liveth to make Intercession and that the Assurance of Salvation depends on this Intercession of Christ Heb. 7. 25. Then 't is a damnable Errour of the Papists to pray to the Virgin Mary as they do in their Missal one of which is thus O Virgin the onely chaste Mother loosing our Sins give us the Kingdom for thou art Queen of the World art able to do all things and with thy Son disposest all things Another is That God by the Prayers and Merits of the ever blessed Virgin and of all Saints would bring us to the Kingdom of Heaven Amen Nay they say That Prayers made to and delivered by the Saints are better than those by Christ So Sal. Now if Christ be the only way to the Father and Acceptance is through him alone then this is a false Way and never of Gods appointing but blasphemous Sacrilege and horrible Robbery of the very Flower of Christ's Crown Nothing plucks the Scepter out of Christ's Hand his Crown from his Head as these irreligious Opinions of the Papists If Prayer be an act of Worship Matth. 4. 10. then 't is onely due to God Indeed there 's a civil Worship due to Superiours but Religious Adoration is God's Prerogative If we must trust on him to whom we pray Rom. 10. 13 14. then we must pray to none but God in Christ for cursed is the man that trusteth in man Jer. 17. 5. He to whom we pray must be able to know our wants and our Hearts to see our Miseries and hear our Prayers Now this the Saints in Heaven cannot do Abraham is ignorant of us and Israel acknowledgeth us not Isa 63. 16. 'T is Omnisciency alone can hear our Prayers and Omnipotency that can Answer them Psal 65. 2. Matth. 6. 6. 8. 32. Eccles 9. 5. Thus we may see the Heterodox Assertions of the Papists in making many Mediators Vse 3. For Reprehension to the professing People of God First To such as are no more affected with this great and glorious Privilege of having an Advocate with the Father Ah! Did Souls but know what an Ocean of Privileges and Fountain of Mercies is comprised in this one Mediator Jesus Christ it would fill their Hearts with Joy tip their Tongues with Praises and make them more glad in the Salvation of God But it may be you are more affected with your Frames fine Expressions and your own Duties than with the Pleadings of Jesus Christ This deserves a sharp Reproof 2dly Such as make little Use of the Intercession of Jesus Christ Alas how few employ Christ about their Matters in Heaven and engage him in the momentous and weighty Matters of their Souls May not Christ complain still as once on Earth Joh. 5. 40. You will not come to me that you may have Life 'T is sad indeed that the Lord Jesus Christ should enter upon so costly an Office and pay so dear for a Right to do thy Soul good and thou neglect to use him after all This is the condemnation to Unbelieving Sinners That they turn their Backs upon the Intercession of Jesus Christ Alas Soul Are not thy wants great and thy Sins many thy Provocations and abuses of Mercy daily and yet wilt thou not engage Christ for thy help to procure thy Pardon and Passage from Death to Life O how justly miserable will thy case be who might'st be happy but would'st not He is worthily miserable saith one that will not be happy for the asking Who knows but that thy hard heart might have been softened thy
an hour of Salvation O Sinner be not wise too late Fourthly It is a most dreadful tremendous thing to leave the World without an Interest in Christ to be summon'd to Judgment and have nothing to help them no Mediator to plead for them no Righteousness to cover them no Duties to accompany them no Eye to pity them Isa 57. 12. chap. 30. 13. Jer. 5. 5. This is sad indeed when all Bowels are gone and boundless Miseries to be undergone Fifthly Of all perishing Sinners such as perish under the Gospel have the most dreadful Miseries Matth. 11. 21. 22. The Heathens and Pagans Publicans and Harlots shall have a more tolerable place in Hell than such as refuse a tender'd Jesus How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2. 3. O miserable Sinners sleight not Salvation tenders despise not Gospel calls but hasten away to this Redeemer Secondly Let the People of God be exhorted first to bless God for this Mediator Eph. 1. 3. Christ is the Fountain of Blessings the Author of Salvation the Gift of God and have you no Hosanna's for the Enjoyment of so rich a person 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. Secondly Ply hard the Throne of Grace find Work for Christ Heb. 4. 15 16. Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace make known your Requests unto God Phil. 4. 6. Consider Soul You have always need of Mercy not a Moment but you want Supplies from God for Soul and Body your Corruptions are alwayes resisting the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. never at peace with Grace but as a Bow that is bent are still pressing after their former Liberty and as Waters penn'd back are striving to force their way therefore Christians you alwayes need the Spirit 's help and fresh Supplies of Grace your Guilt is always encreasing James 3. 2. The Righteous falleth seven times a day hence daily Sacrifices were appointed because of daily Sins Heb. 7. 27. Your Temptations are continually renewed 1 Pet. 5. 8. New Tryals are daily falling on you new Difficulties are frequently occurring your Life new Troubles and Afflictions are constantly betiding you This is God's appointed way in which he will give out Mercy Ezek. 36. 37. Matth. 7. 7. 'T is true sometimes God hears before we ask but yet preventing Mercy doth not excuse from Duty and we have no ground to expect Mercy out of the way of Duty You are invested with a holy Priest-hood on purpose that you may be much employed in this Work 1 Pet. 2. 5. Your Work and Offices lies in this to offer up daily Sacrifices to God by Christ The Lord Jesus waits in Heaven to receive your Prayers 't is his Business and work in Glory to pursue your Advantages and therefore he expects to hear from you 9. Heb. 24. As an Agent that expects to hear from his Clyent and receive Intimation about his Condition as a Friend in a forreign Country that is hearkning for Letters from his Friend Christ in Heaven desires to hear from his People on Earth not that he is ignorant of them or needs to be put in Remembrance but this way are his Graces in them exercised their Love and Duty maintain'd and himself glorified Isa 30. 18. Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious In the Original it is he longs and as it were greedily and enlargedly desires an Occasion to be gracious he waits in Heaven to be puâ— in Remembrance to do his People good This way is their blessed Intercourse maintained betwixt Christ in Heaven and Believers on Earth by this Christ hears from them on Earth and they from him in Heaven Cant. 2. 14. chap. 8. 13 14. Thou that dwellest in the Gardens the Companions hearken to thy Voice cause me to hear it 'T is in the Original Cause to hear me which occasions a twofold reading First Cause me to he heard they are Christs Words to his Spouse Let me be the Subject of thy Discourse to others Secondly Cause me to hear it that is let me be spoken to let me hear thy Voice in Prayer as a man desires to hear from his Wife when absent and in the next vers She eccho's back the same Request to Christ that he would hasten his Return to her that she might have his Company also by Prayer Christ and Believers have sweet Intercourse with each other Cant. 1. 7 8. chap. 2. 5. 8. The Lord Jesus is wonderfully delighted to hear from his People Cant. 2. 14. chap. 4. 11. chap. 6. 13. Return Return O Shulamite c. This word Shulamite comes either from Solomon and so her Husbands name is named on her or from Salem Peace which is Jerusalem shewing her Descent to be from Jerusalem above hence Christ desires her Company because it was pleasure to him to look upon her her Countenance was as two Armies it is in the Original Mahanaim the same word that Jacob puts on the place where God met him Gen. 32. 1. 2. As if Christ should say thy Sight is Angelical to me tho thou art impure in thy self yet thou art fair in mine Eye 'T is a mighty thriving way there 's no such course can be taken to grow rich apace in divine Treasures Prayer is the Key that opens Christ Treasury and fetches out the Riches of Heaven because such may have of God what they will Joh. 15. 7. God is always giving where gracious Souls are rightly asking God's readiness to give should be an Argument always to crave as Sir Walter Raleigh when Q. Eliz. ask'd him when he would leave off beging answered when your Majesty leaves off giving Thirdly Trust to an interceding Jesus expect all your Mercies from him Psal 5. 3. In the Morning I will direct my Prayer to thee and look up the Arabick and some other Versions have it I will prepare or stand before him and he will see me But this agrees not with the Original where 't is I will order or dispose my Prayer as a General doth his Army and will look out as a man that watches on a Tower to see what I can espy and what Answer he will give By a Metonomy it signifies to expect or look for some thing Matth. 22. 21. In his Name shall the Gentiles trust The Lord Jesus is the sure and certain Object of a Believers Trust O Christians is Christ entred into Heaven there to appear for his People O then depend upon his Intercession expect all your needed Mercies by him take up your Acquiescence in his Mediation for you rest satisfied Believers that your case is good and it shall be well with you in every Condition because Christ intercedeth for you Now to strengthen your Dependance on Christ Consider His Engagement to the Father to become your Advocate Heb. 10. 9. Joh. 6. 39. His Promise to Believers to pursue their Cause in Heaven Joh. 14. 16. And his full Accomplishments with whatever is needful to compleat this Work He is infinitely wise and knows how to
manage your Concerns and prosper Col. 2. 3. He hath Skill and Counsel to finish his Affairs with Discretion he knows your Cases better than your selves and what Arguments to plead so as to prevail Psal 103. 14. Joh. 2. 24. 25. Psal 31. 7. Heb. 4. 13. Isa 40. 27. 28. He is active and laborious and quick at Work as well as in Wisdom Isa 11. 3. He is still unwearied in his Business and his Spirit never fails Isa 42. 4. His Eyes are always open he never slumbers or sleeps Psal 121. 4. 1 Kin. 8. 29. Isa 27 3. He loseth no time but takes the fittest Occasion to perfect his Designs 1 Pet. 5. 6. He is faithful in his Undertakings and one whom you may confide Heb. 2. 17. His name is faithful Rev. 19. 11. He is omnipotent and powerful to fulfil his Pleasure Heb. 7. 25. The Almighty one who can prevail with the Father and is one with him Joh. 11. 42. chap. 10. 30. Consider Christ's Interest in his people they are his own John 13. 1. They are his Seed Treasure Jewels Members and Sheep Joh. 10. 3. They are his Spouse and therefore he cannot forget or neglect their Concerns Ephesians 5. 29. Isa 58. 7. Think on his Concernments in all the Affairs of his Interest by vertue of that Union betwixt Christ and his People he becomes a sharer with them in all their Conditions their Mercies are his Delight Psal 35. 27. and their Afflictions are his Trouble Isa 63. 9. He sympathizeth with them as the head with the Members and the Husband with the Spouse their loss is his Loss and their Gain he reckons as his Interest Should Saints and their Concernments miscarry at last Christ himself would be a certain and eternal Looser he would loose his Blood and purchase his Obedience and Sufferings Lastly Consider Christ's Glory consists in the Good and Salvation of Believers 2 Thes 1. 12. His Glory is wrapt up in their Glory and his Life in their Life Joh. 14. 19. 2 Cor. 8. 23. Joh. 17. 10. Fourthly acknowledge the Intercession of Christ to be the procuring Cause of all your Mercies in every Reception of Mercy see an Interceding Jesus and say Lord 't is thy Mediation I owe these Enjoyments Priviledges and Prayer-returns unto Luke 22. 32. Psal 115. 1. Pro. 3. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him This is to pay Tribute to Christ in Heaven and advance the Glory of the blessed Mediator this is giving Christ his Due Rom. 13. 7. and a sacrificing to God and not to your Dreg as it is Christ in Belelievers is the Hope of Glory so it is Christ in Heaven is the Hope and Procurer of Mercy Fifthly If Christ be your Advocate in Heaven then follow his Instructions on Earth Matth. 17. 5. He that commits his Cause to another commits himself to his Counsel also to be guided by him in every thing that might conduce to his Success in it Christ's work in Heaven is to order and regulate his People on Earth and therefore he is the Law-giver and King as well as Saviour Isa 33. 22. Jam. 4. 12. and the Duty of all Christ's Clyents on Earth is to live by his Prescription and Order given them and therefore 't is said Numb 21. 18. The Princes digged the Well even the Nobles of the People digged it by the Direction of the Law-giver This is spoken of that famous Well Beer-Elim that is the Well of the mighty ones that God gave Israel in the Wilderness it was alone the Gift of God verse 16. I will give them Waters yet they must dig for it as here and that according to Prescription as Moses gave them from the Lord This well was a Figure of Christ as the Hebrews themselves in their Midrash Koheleth do acknowledge as say they The first Redeemer caused a Well to spring up so the last Redeemer shall cause Waters to spring up as 't is said Joel 3. 18. A Fountain shall come forth from the House of the Lord and shall water the Valley of Shittim which signified the Graces of the Spirit that Well of Water springing up to Life eternal Joh. 4. 14. Sixthly Become Advocates for Christ on Earth confess his name Rom. 14. 11. chap. 15. 9. Phil. 2. 11. Plead his cause before men Hos 2. 2. Plead with your Mother This is spoken to the pious in Israel as Jonathas Caldaeus Jerom and others conceive who are the men and the whole House of Israel their Mother and their pious Children must plead that is expostulate reason and contend with her for God to bring her to the Sense of her Sin and Danger the Lord Jesus underwent all dangers in owning your Cause so should you in his he always intercedes for you so should you for him in Word and Deed your Lives and Lips should plead for him He pleads effectually for you so should you labour to be as successful as you may for him Joh. 3. 29. and in order to the Discharge of this important Duty consider That the suitable Qualifications of an Advocate must be acquired you must get Wisdom to know Christ and the things of his Will Kingdom and Glory you are not likely to do much Service to Christs Interest if you are ignorant and unacquainted with his Laws and Concernments Mic. 6. 8. Col. 1. 9 10. 2 Pet. 3. 18. Matth. 10. 16. Phil. 1. 9. Eph. 1. 17. You must be active and vigorous for God Rom. 12. 11. Slothful Spirits are not like to be much serviceable Prov. 27. 15. Eccles 10. 18. chap. 9. 10. Heb. 6. 11 12. You must be faithful and have Truth in the inner parts Rev. 2. 10. 1 Cor. 4. 2. Luke 12. 42. You must labour after Potency and Mightiness through Christ that you may prevail for him Phil. 4. 13. 1 Chro. 22. 13. 1 Cor. 16. 13. Now the way to get this Strength for Christ is by Faith to live on him Eph. 6. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 1. You must make a thorough and open Profession of him and of all his Truth 1 Tim. 6. 12 13 14. Heb. 4. 14. 2 Cor. 9. 13. profess him at all times Matth. 10. 32. profess him openly plainly sincerely and boldly so did the Apostles You must patiently persevere under all Sufferings for him Acts 21. 13. 2 Tim. 2. 10. Heb. 10. 32. You must speak well for Christ at all times Mat. 11. 19. Cant. 5. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 9. You must live out his Glory Math. 5. 16. Phil. 2. 15. 2 Cor. 9. 13. Thus have we done with the Applicatory part of this Point and dispatch'd the wonderful Riches of Christ as to his personal Union CHAP. IX Opening somewhat of the sweet Dispositions of Christ viz. His Goodness Love and the Riches thereof as to the kind Fruits and Effects of it I Am now come to the third particular wherein we shall make a Discovery of the Riches of Christ as they consist in his excellent and sweet Dispositions as Mediator with those
pleasant Habitations after all your Wilderness Journeyings There 's a large dwelling-place here you are thrust into corners and may be have little conveniencies in your Houses Here you dwell in Strangers and perhaps Enemies Houses but there your dwelling shall be in your Father's House 'T is really so I do not flatter you with vain hopes or feed you with false reports if it were not so I would have told you Some might object here That there may be Houses in Heaven and yet they in Hell No says Christ I go to prepare a place for you when I come to Heaven I will bespeak a House for you it shall be your own your own proper Right every one of you and of all my People shall have a House of their own and it shall be Fee simple theirs to all Eternity But some may say How shall we be sure of this that when we dye we shall have a place in Glory Why saith Christ As sure as I go to Heaven shall you have a Mansion there for 't is one end of my going thither 't is part of my business there I go to prepare a place for you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word saith Grotius notes a Divine Appointment a place that God allots and appoints for you that you might not think it is procured by your own Merit and labours As if he should say you may be sure my People you shall not miss of a place in my Father's House because he hath given you a house in Heaven and I go to possess it for you and to make it sure My Father hath given it and I have purchased it and now I go to take it into my own hand for you yea to fit and sute your Lot in Heaven as may be most meet for you and as may bear a full proportion to all your Labours and Sufferings for me And thus the word likewise imports saith Dr. Preston to fit and fashion one as a Vessel is fashion'd and shap'd to its proper Use But Believers may urge Lord how shall we get thither the Journey is far the Way we know not many Dangers lye betwixt this and Heaven the Prince of the Air and all the Devils of Hell lye betwixt this and Glory and how shall we get safely through all these Dangers Why saith Christ I will come again and receive you when I have done your Work in Heaven when I have difpatched my gathering and compleating work on Earth when all my Saints are called and perfected then will I come again and receive you to my self I will come and unite your Souls and Bodies together and then will shew you the way to Heaven and lead you into your own habitations there and as surely put you into possession of Glory as I am going to possess it for my self and in the mean time I will take care of you in the way and send my Spirit to guide you and bear you thorow it and my Angels when you are at your Journeys end shall receive your Souls and bring them unto me that where I am you may be also Joh. 17. 24. Joh. 12. 26. What greater Love can there be than the Engagements of Christ's Heart to get all his Children brought home to Heaven that they may be ever with him and partake of his Glory 1 Cor. 15. 22 23. CHAP. X. Several Deductions drawn from the Love of Christ IF the Lord Jesus be so full of Love and tender Affection then First What reason have Sinners never to be quiet till the Lord Jesus become their Friend till they have an Interest in his special Love Alas poor Souls the common Love of Christ though now you fare the better for it will shortly be at an end His Philanthropy though procious yet is but like a Box of Ointment which may be wasted and consum'd Mark 14. 4. But his special Love is like the two Olive Trees Zach. 4. 12. always emptying out it self through the golden Pipes of his Ordinandes to his People Christ's common Love to Sinners is like a Land-flood that will be drained But his special Love is compar'd to a Fountain a Wood of Water that springeth up to Life Eternal O then labour after an Interest in this Love of Christ that brings Salvation Put away the Evil of thy doings hearken to Christ's counsel receive him into thy Heart by Faith obey his Voice take him to be thy Lord and God and thou shalt possess his love too Psal 45. 10. Secondly Then what an abominable thing is it to hate Christ how unexcusable will Sinners Enmity against him be when he comes to Judgment Jer. 2. 5. Prov. 8. 36. All they that hate me love Death Psal 21. 8 9. Psal 132. 18. Nah. 1. 2. 3dly Then why should Believers take up such hard thoughts of Christ Isa 40. 27. Why sayest thou O Jacob my way is hid from the Lord and my Judgment is passed over from my God that is my Condition my trouble my Soul is out of God's thoughts He takes no notice of nor cares what becomes of me And my Judgment that is God's judging my Cause his righting and helping my oppressed Soul is gone from me or he hath laid it aside he will not help me in my Affliction This was Sion's complaint and hard thoughts of God and this displeased him Why sayest thou O Jacob c As if he should say what cause hast thou O Israel my People to entertain such harsh conceptions of my Love what Iniquity hast thou found in me what wrong have I done thee Have I not born thee from the Womb and carried thee all the dayes of old Look back to the Red Sea and to the Wilderness who cared for thee there Call to mind the Manna and the Rock the Bread and Water on the Way I suffered none to do thee harm I delivered thee out of the hands of all thy Enemies and plagued them that injured thee Thus have I been thy help from thy Youth up and why sayest thou then my way is hid from the Lord O Jacob thou dost ill to censure me so severely Is this the requital of all my love and kindness to thee hitherto Repent of these injurious apprehensions and put more favourable constructions on my wayes Gracious Souls have no reason to prejudge the Heart of Christ and censure him of unkindness and negligence for 't is impossible he should forget his People Isa 49. 15. He hath paid too dear for them to do so They have cost his Blood Eternal Counsels many Troubles many Wonders and will he reject them after all O no. He hath engraven them on the Palms of his hands where he cannot but see and must secure their names Isa 49. 16. I cannot look upon my hands but I must remember thee I should forget my self should I forget thee thou art set as a Seal upon my Heart and thy Walls are continually before me that is though thy Protection be gone for a time and I
they cannot sleep through trouble he will sit up with them when they are solitary and dejected he will come and see them Fifthly His comforting them in their Troubles He is the Father of Mercies and God of all Comfort who comforteth us in all our Tribulations Consolating is an act of pity to those that are in trouble 1 Thes 3. 2. So Job's Friends when they had heard of all the Evil that was come upon him they came every one from his place to mourn with him and to comfort him Herein lies much of Christ's pity to his People he would not have them swallowed up of overmuch grief 2 Cor. 2. 7. When they are cast down he charges his Messengers to speak comfortably to them Isa 40. 2. When he brings his People into the Wilderness he will speak comfortably to them Hos 2. 14. Isa 66. 13. chap. 57. 18. This is part of Christ's Intercession in Heaven that the Father would send the Comforter to them Joh. 14. 16. And part of his last counsel that he left with them was That they would be of good cheer Joh. 16. 33. Joh. 14. 1. He began his Sermon with a Use of Comfort Let not your hearts be troubled c. and here he closeth the same with a word of Comfort And indeed the whole of Christ's Fare-wel Sermon was Consolation to his People He would not have them be in Heaviness longer than need did require 1 Pet. 1. 6. but commands them to rejoyce evermore 1 Thes 5. 16. Sixthly His counselling them in all cases wherein they stand in need of his Advice Hence they have Line upon line and Precept upon Precept that they might be wise to Salvation and therefore he is called the wonderful Counsellor Isa 9. 6. Psal 16. 7. I bless the Lord who hath given me counsel Counsel saith Ainsworth about my Sufferings and the Glory that shall follow Job 36. 8 9 10. Adversity sometimes is God's University and Schola Crucis saith Luther is Schola Lucis Mysterious Truths many times spring out of Affliction-depths Seventhly His giving to them and forgiving of them Pity hath open hands and stretcht out arms Christ hath left a large witness of his liberality 1 Tim. 6. 17. Who giveth richly all things to enjoy Men give sparingly but Christ bountifully they with straitned hearts but he with open bowels they sometimes in Reversion but he in possession And he doth not only give but forgive Mic. 7. 18. Who is a God like unto thee that pardons iniquities c Exod. 34. 6. Psal 86. 5. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive Numb 14. 20. 1 Joh. 2. 1. They run into debt and he dischargeth them They do as it were write down their Iniquities and he blots them out Now Are not these admirable demonstrations of his Pity and affectionate compassions of his tender Bowels towards his People Secondly He hath infinite Pity for his Enemies Mercy and good will for Sinners Luke 6. 35. This appears First In his bearing with them and forbearing of them Rom. 9. 22. Endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction How doth the Lord suffer the vilest of men to live and that very long Lo I have come these three years looking for fruit Luke 13. 17. These forty years have I been grieved with this People Psal 95. 10. An hundred and twenty years did he bear with that high and uncurable wickedness of the first World and that after it was come to the full Gen. 6. 3. Four hundred years did God bear with the sins of the Amorites even after he had given Abraham their Land Gen. 15. 13 16. How long did the Lord bear with the Ten Tribes after their Apostasie from his pure Service even the space of two hundred and fifty years in which time there were Nineteen Kings and all wicked men walking in the steps of Jeroboam O! the slowness of God to Anger even against his Enemies that dare him to his very Face yea that trample his Glory under foot and that every day yea hour and yet God spares them to old Age many times Alas how soon are we angry at our Enemies and if but slighted a little ready with the Disciples to call for Fire from Heaven to consume those that receive us not Luke 9. 54. But the Lord Jesus is not so he waiteth that he may be gracious and his long-suffering leadeth to Salvation Secondly His maintaining of them and that sometimes at the highest rate giving them Honour and Riches Prosperity and Favour Pharoah must have a Kingdom and yet an Enemy to his People Nebuchadnezzar an Empire Ahasuerus an hundred twenty and seven Provinces Croesus vast riches and Sardanapalus delicate Pleasures All the Creatures are pressed at their Service the Air Earth and Sea are ransack't to satiate their Lusts Hos 11. 2 3 4. He feeds and cloaths helps and prospers his greatest Enemies and all to heap up Coals of Fire upon their heads Thirdly His affectionate seeking their Salvation This was his Errand into the World he came to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. Lost Sinners Matth. 18. 11. Bloody Sinners Ezek. 16. 6. Blind Idolaters Acts 17. 23. Cruel Persecutors Acts 9. 4. Wicked Sorcerers Acts 8. 9. These the Lord Jesus seeks to save he sends his Gospel to invite them to come unto him Matth. 11. 28. Yea beseeches them 2 Cor. 5. 20. Makes large promises to them if they will return Isa 55. 7. Act. 3. 19. Yea how doth the Spirit strive with Sinners that they may be saved Reasons with them Why will you dye Come let us reason together Isa 1. 18. Why wilt thou not suffer me to save thy Soul and to make thee happy to all Eternity Poor Sinner I have a real mind to do thee good an affectionate kindness for thee I came from Heaven to save such as thee Behold my hands and my feet see how my heart bleeds for thee Behold how ready my purchase is yonder is thy fair Estate if thou wilt be mine Lift up thine eyes to those Mansions Crowns and Thrones all these shall then be thine See those beautiful Garments consent to me and thou shalt wear thy filthy Rags or lye in those pinching straits no longer thou shalt lodge no more in those stinking Kennels of thy Lusts O poor Sinner why wilt thou stand in thy own light and slight this offer which thou mayest never have made thee more Lo how my Bowels move towards thee see how my Arms are open'd to thee Be mine and I will be thine My Kingdom shall be thine my Friends will be thine my Servants shall be thine My Angels shall protect thee yea attend thee my Creatures shall maintain thee my Wisdom shall guide thee my Faithfulness shall keep thee my Power shall be laid out for thee my Love shall delight thee my Honour shall adorn thee and my Treasure shall enrich thee I will be a loving Husband to thee I will provide all good things for
that you know not of Vse 3. Of Exhortation First to perishing Sinners make use of the Mercy of Christ whilst you have it now is the acceptable time the day of Grace the Season of Visitation now the Sun shines not only in Sion but on Sodom nay it hath stood still on your Gibeon for a Season Josh 10. 12. 13. O let not Mercy go and leave you in your blood and let you lye in your Graves let not the Sun of the Gospel set on you and leave you in inner Darkness lest outer Darkness shortly seize upon you believe it Mercy seems to be near a Departure it looks as it were about to change Houses to go from Gentiles to Jews from West to East it seems near setting in England in these Western parts of the World Who knows how soon it may arise in the East O Sinners don't you lye a bed in your Security and let Mercy give you the slip O then you that are yet in your blood under Wrath in Danger of Judgment be advised to strike in with Mercy while 't is to be had Isa 55. 6. while divine Bowels yearn towards you weep over you and wait for you O turn in and close with Mercy whiles it's face is unveil'd to you it's Arms open'd to you and before it hath breath'd it's last Breath to you believe the Warnings and Treatnings of Mercy bow and stoop to the Convictions of Mercy receive the Tenders thereof obey it's Counsel and persevere it it's way be perswaded Sinners this day it may be the last time I may beseech you for Mercies sake to turn and live and Oh! how doleful will it be to out-live the day of Mercy and possibility of obtaining Salvation when the Angel of the Lord shall proclaim Time shall be no more Time was but now is past Secondly to all Souls both changed and unchanged if the Lord Jesus be so pityful to you O then be not cruel to your own Souls do not rob cheat and cozen your own Souls deprive them not of your own Mercies Jonah 2. 8. Don't consent to those ways that will rob you of all the Possibilities and Hopes of Salvation O! the sweet Comforts and Pleasures that now you loose for a few dirty Delights Prov. 3. 17. Think on the Substance the tryed Gold the rich Attire that you deprive your Souls of by refusing to hearken to the Counsel of Christ Rev. 3. 18. Don't starve your Souls by feeding on Husks while the bread of Life lies before you this is Cruelty to them indeed Luke 15. 16. 17. Do not wound rend and tare your Souls by cruel Lusts he that sins hateth his own Soul Prov. 15. 32. chap. 29. 24. Math. 16. 26. O the sad Bruises that Sin gives and the desperate Gashes it makes in the Sinners own Soul Isa 1. 6. Prov. 8. 36. Every Sin of thine O carnal wretch is a deadly blow on thy own Soul all thy carnal Pleasures thy merry jesting Words thy Swearing Lying Cheating Oppressing and Covetousness gives new Stabs to thy Heart it would be a barbarous sight to behold one unmercifully wounding another much more to see a person torturing his own Soul do not sell thy immortal Soul for a Lie for that which is not which will not profit in the day of Wrath Rom. 6. 21. Jer. 16. 19. Thus Elijah told Ahab 1 Kings 21. 20. That he sold himself to work Wickedness that is he gave himself wholly to the Service of Sin as a Servant that binds himself over to anothers Business Rom. 6. 16. Thirdly To the Children of Mercy whom the Lord Jesus hath loved and washed in his own Blood you that are chosen called justified sanctified and adopted unto Glory be exhorted First be not hard-hearted to Christ requite not his Pity with Cruelty grieve not his Spirit sadden not his Heart with your sinful and unsutable Walkings before him no Sins make greater Wounds on the Heart of Christ than the Sins of his own Children Eph. 4. 30. O be not cruel to him who is so tender of you do not feed him with Wormwood and Gall who hath feasted you with Joy and Gladness yea with his own Heart blood Secondly Put on Bowels of Pity towards others Col. 3. 12. They that are cruel to others shall find God cruel to them Jam. 2. 13. Thirdly Adventure for God in the way of Duty Psal 5. 7. Psal 23. 6. Psal 25. 10. Fourthly Then let the Consideration of Christ's Mercy comfort you under the World's Cruelty and your greatest Sufferings for Christ Psal 57. 3. Psal 32. 7. 10. Psal 59. 17. CHAP. XIII Wherein is opened the transcendent Humility of Christ ANother part of this total Sum of Christ's personal Treasure consisting in the Sweetness of his Disposition is Fourthly His Humility and Lowliness of mind This is an excellent Vertue and that which the very Heathens have esteemed at a high Rate 't is a rare thing saith Aretius and rare things are excellent Chrysostom calls it the chiefest Vertue the Salt that seasons all other Excellencies and the Beginning of all Good If any saith Austin should ask me what is the chiefest Vertue I should say Humility what is the next Humility what is the next Humility The humble Soul saith Manton is God's second Heaven Isa 57. 15 Of so great a worth is all true Humility in any especially in Persons of Height and Grandure for these to come down and humble themselves is exceeding high and noble O then what is Humility in the high and lofty one in the Lord of Glory and King of Kings and Lord of Lords yet this is part of Christ's Treasure Mat. 11. 29. Learn of me for I am meak and lowly He who best knew himself who is Truth it self and cannot lye hath declared that he is lowly and that not in Carriage and external Shew only but in Heart also O what stupendious wonder is this that so glorious a person as the only begotten Son of God should be lowly in Heart I speak not here of his divine Nature as God though in that respect he is lowly too Isa 57. 15. Though he inhabiteth the highest Heaven yet he dwelleth also in the lowest Heart yea 't is wonderful Condescension in God to behold the things that are in Heaven and Earth Psal 113. 5 6. But I treat here of Christ as Mediator God-man and so he is humble and lowly in Heart which will appear if we consider these particulars First His Humility whilst he was on Earth Secondly His Humility now he is in Heaven His Humility on Earth consists first in his Willingness being God over all and Maker of all to become man his Creature this is strange that the Son of God should be willing to be accounted yea to become the Son of man Heb. 2. 16. He did not take the Nature of Angels upon him but he took on him the Seed of Abraham so vers 14. Forasmuch then as the Children were Partakers of Flesh and
Blood he likewise also himself took part of the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He did freely receive their Communion-nature or did freely communicate with them in the same Nature He took on him the Seed of Abraham 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he consented to take their Nature and therein to be their Avenger and Redeemer as the word imports O Humility That this glorious Jehovah should condescend to so near a Union with man a Creature so low and of so small Account Isa 2. 22. Psal 8. 4. A Creature so poor destitute of all Good and deprived of its Beauty Strength Riches and Glory Psal 140. 12. Rev. 3. 17. A Creature so filthy and vile that it drinketh up Iniquity as water Job 15. 16. And a Creature so guilty before God of Rebellion and high Treason one that hath forfeited all his Mercies and stands bound over to the just Sentence of Death and Condemnation Secondly in his Birth He was born of mean and obscure Parents Joseph his Father was a Carpenter he descended not from persons of the highest Dignity but of low Estate as Mary her self acknowledgeth Luke 1. 48. He was born in a Stable and laid in a Manger Luke 2. 7. A contemptible place where bruit Beasts use to lodge and feed he was worshipped by the wise men of the East acknowledged to be King of the Jews and proclaimed to be Saviour of the World by an Herauldry of Angels and yet hath no bâ—tter Cradle than a Manger O unparellel'd Condescension Thirdly In his voluntary making himself of no Reputation and taking on him the Form of a Servant Phil. 2. 7. He did as it were evacuate himself and spoil himself of all his Glory as the word signifies not that he ceased to be God or to be equal with the Father but he concealed all this Glory and as it were depriv'd himself of all the Manifestations of it by uniting to himself the form of a Servant that is the humane nature in a servile State he took upon him the Form of a Servant Non dimittendo quod erat sed assumendo quod non erat says Zanchy As God he was omnipotent but this Omnipotency was hid under the weakness of his humane Nature his Omniscience veiled under a limitted Knowledge his Glory clouded under Shame his Riches concealed under Poverty his Majesty obscured under Contempt and his Immortality cloathed with Mortality Quest What Servant did Christ take on him the Form of Ans Why 1. Of the Servant of God Isa 42. 1. Behold my Servant whom I uphold Some take it passively on whom I will lean and in whom I will trust and commit my whole Work unto others actively whom I will raise up and strengthen and carry through my Work Again 2. He became the Servant of man also Matth. 20. 28. The Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister Fourthly In his being made under the Law Gal. 4. 4. When the Fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made under the Law and therefore 't is said he was a Minister of the Circumcision O! What Humility was this That the Son of God should stoop to the Paedagoge of the Law and enter on this low and legal Obedience Fifthly In his Obedience to his Parents and Submission to their low and mean Condition both for Food and Apparel Luke 2. 51. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them Sixthly In his Employment and Calling he was pleased to use till he entred upon his Ministry He continued with his Father and as one of the Fathers hath it wrought at his Father's Trade and therefore was called the Carpenter Mark 6. 3. Joseph says Mr. Lightfoot taught Christ his own Trade And Justin Martyr an ancient Writer sayes That Jesus Christ before he entred upon his Ministry made Plows and Yokes Seventhly In his Company He did not chuse the Society of Great and Noble but of mean and obscure Persons He set apart Fishermen and Publicans to be his Disciples and accompanied Publicans and Sinners which caused the Senate of Rome to vote him down from being a God because all his Disciples and followers were inconsiderable and beggarly Joh. 7. 48. Eightly In his contentment with mean things He had not a house where to lay his head Matth. 8. 20. And 't is said he was willing to be poor For being rich he made himself poor that we through his poverty might become rich 2 Cor. 8 9. He was content with any fare Barly Bread and Fishes a broyled Fish and an honey-comb Luke 24. 42. He was not as proud Persons are nice and choice of his Dâ—et but was pleased with any food Joh. 21. 5. Children have you any meat Ninthly In his submissive carriages towards God and men when the Lord bruis'd him and made his Soul an Offering for Sin we find not one hasty or undue Expression But 't is said He was led as a Sheep dumb before her Shearer Isa 53. 4 6 7. All that he said was this humble complaint O God my God why hast thou forsaken me He was rejected and despised of men and yet maintain'd an humble deportment ver 3. He was lowly to all Persons not only to the high and noble but to the poor and despicable not only to Friends but to Enemies not only abroad but at home not only among the meek and humble but among the proud and peevish not when it was admired but when despised Tenthly In his doing the meanest Services He condescended to the lowest and most contemptible actions if he might administer good Matth. 20. 28. He girded himself with a Towel as a Servant and washed his Disciples feet Joh. 13. 4 5. Lastly In his patient bearing others Sins and Sufferings Proud men cannot endure to bear another's Fault but Christ was willing to be numbred amongst Transgressors to be reckoned an Offender and to bear the Sins of many even of all that come unto him 1 Pet. 2. 24. He humbled himself to the Death Phil. 2. 8. To a shameful Death the Death of the greatest Malefactors and to the cursed Death of the Cross Secondly The Lord Jesus was not only humble whilst on Earth when he pass'd through his state of Humiliation but even now when he is in Heaven and hath entred into his Glory he detains this lowliness of heart This will be perspicuous if you consider First His Condescention to behold the things on Earth Psal 113. 5 6. One would have thought it beneath the Dignity of Christ now advanc'd above all Glory to take any notice of Sublunar Affairs but if he delighted in the habital Parts of the Earth before he came down to redeem them then much more now he hath the possession of the fruit of his Blood among them Secondly His Converses with the meanest and most despicable Persons on Earth by his Spirit Isa 57. 17. Joh. 14. 19. 21 23. Be they never so low and poor yet if
not deliver thee out of thy present Evils if he thereby preserves thee from a greater Evil As Paul had a thorn in the Flesh the Messenger of Satan to buffet him lest through the abundance of Revelations he should be puffed up and his Soul in danger of Ruine Lastly Christ doth fulfill his Promise if he doth it in his own time though he doth it not in our time So in Abraham God promised him a Son he expected it many years sooner but God kept it till the most convenient season Every thing is beautiful in its season Eccles 3. 11. 1 Pet. 5. 6. Mercies are Afflictions when out of due time Now 't is he that gives the Mercy can best tell when to give it Jer. 49. 19. Who will appoint me the time Lev. 26. 4. The Faithfulness of Christ is firm and unalterable whatever Objections Unbelief makes against it He will perform all his Promises Gen. 28. 15. And behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest and will bring thee again into this Land for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of O what a blessed word is this 'T is a promise made to Jacob when he was to undertake a difficult Journey and what things are written are written for our Instruction Promises made to particular Saints are applicable to all the Saints in the same condition as we find that of Joshua 1. 5. I will not leave thee nor forsake thee The Apostle makes Use of it Heb. 13. 5. Now I shall give a few Reasons to prove that Christ cannot fail of fulfilling his Promise For First He is Truth it self and cannot lye Rev. 3. 14. He is called The Amen the faithful and true Witness The Holy one of Israel who cannot lye For God is not as man that he should lye or as the Son of man that he should repent hath he said and shall he not do it hath be spoken and shall he not make it good Numb 23. 19. Secondly He came to fulfill all Righteousness Matth. 3. 15. It becometh us to fulfil all Righteousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It behoveth us I ought to do it by the Appointment and Will of my Father as Chemnitius renders it Christ came into the World to fulfill all Righteousness Now to perform and make good the Promises of God is part of this Righteousness 't is a debt God is engag'd in and Christ came not only to pay Sinners debts to the Father but to make good the Father's Engagements unto them Thirdly Did not Christ fulfill all the Promises of God to Believers then the New Covenant would be an imperfect and faulty Covenant were the Promises of the new Covenant unfulfilled then it would be a Covenant of Works and so imperfect But the New Covenant is establisht on better Promises Heh 8. 6 7 c. Now new Covenant-promises are better than the old not only as to the Matter of them but as to the certainty of their performance The first Covenant-promises were liable to be broken Jer. 31. 31 32. But these New Covenant-promises are sure to all the Seed This was the principal thing undertaken in the New Covenant for Believers that the Promises should be certainly fulfilled and therefore 't is called a better Covenant than the Old Fourthly Christ must needs fulfill the Promises or he would die in vain and shed his Blood to no purpose for the Blood of Christ is the Blood of the Covenant Matth. 26. 28. and it was shed on purpose to confirm the truth of the Promise to all that believe Heb. 9. 15. For this end he came into the World and became a Mediator Rom. 15. 8 9. Fifthly That he might finish the Work the Father gave him to do and so give up his Account with joy This is the Work God sent Christ into the World for that he might be the Mediator of the New Covenant and make good the Will of God to all the Federates thereof Joh. 6. 38. to 41. and this Christ cannot fail to perform Joh. 17. 4. His Spirit shall not fail till he hath set Judgment on the Earth Isa 42. 4. Sixthly That he may stop the mouth of Devils and prove Satan a Lyar. The great work of Satan is to belye God and represent him to Sinners Unfaithful and untrue Now Christ is to fight against the Devil and destroy his Works 1 Joh. 3. 8. and prove the Truth of God against all opposers Rom. 3. 4. Seventhly He is fully able to do it He hath all Power in his hand both in Heaven and in Earth Matth. 28. 18. He is a merciful God and so nothing is too hard for him He will work and none shall let it besides he hath all that Grace and Goodness that poor Souls need in his own hand He hath received the Spirit without measure Joh. 3. 34. All Fulness dwells in him Name any thing which thou standest in need of which is not in Christ to give thee Dost thou want Pardon Peace of Conscience Grace Holiness Power over thy Corruptions Victory over thy Temptations Comfort under thy Troubles satisfaction of thy Doubts quieting of thy Fears and remove of thy Burdens Dost thou want quicknings softnings for the hardness of thy Heart strengthnings under thy weakness fitness for thy Mercies and Duties Patience under thy Sufferings and Humility under thy Priviledges Dost thou want thankfulness for thy Mercies clearing up of thy Evidences Tasts of God's Love and readiness for Death Judgment and Eternity Why all this Christ hath in his own hand already He is not to seek for these things when thou criest after them Again As he hath Power to help thee and fulfill all the Promises of God to thee so he hath Right and Authority too He is the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. He is sent deputed and sealed of God to this very Work Joh. 6. 27. All the Promises upon that Redemption-agreement betwixt the Father and the Son are made over to him and put into his hand 2 Cor. 1. 30. Now all that Christ can do for the making good of his Father's Word and benefitting his People he will certainly perform for he ever liveth to make Intercession Heb. 7. 25. and is entred into Heaven to appear as their Advocate and Agent Heb. 9. 24. Lastly Christ must needs fulfill his Promises or else he would weaken the Encouragement of Souls to believe in him and so overthrow all his own Design in and by the Gospel which is to bring Souls to believe in him Joh. 20. 31. These are written that you may believe Joh 17. 21. That the World may believe that thou hast sent me Joh. 10. 38. Now if Christ fails of his Promise how would this discourage Souls from believing in him who would trust Christ should he not be faithful and the Devil would be sure to make the most of this Advantage to prevent believing Christ will make good his
Word in his own time way and measure Matth. 5. 18. Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or tittle of the Law till all be fulfilled All shall be fulfilled for Believers and in them and if Christ cannot permit one Jot of the Law to fall to the ground surely he will not suffer so choice a part of the Gospel as the Promises are to be unaccomplished Again as Christ will perform all the Promises so especially those great ones that concern the Grace and Glory of all that believe Psal 84. 11. He will give gracâ— and glory c. If the Lord Jesus upbraided the Pharisees for tything Mint and Cummin and omitting thâ— weightier matters of the Law surely he cannot neglect the greatest of his Gospel promises to his people Thirdly the Lord Jesus is faithful to the Trust committed to him thus was Moses He was faithful in all God's House Numb 12. 7. that is as a Steward he was just and honest in the discharge of that Trust committed to him concerning the Work and Interest of God so 't is taken Math. 25. 21. Well done thou good and faithful Servant Thou hast been faithful in thy Stewardship in the use of those things committed to thee in this Sense is Christ faithful also in a perfect Discharge of that Trust reposed in him and that both with respect to God his Father and with respect to his People First In respect of that Trust committed to him by the Father God the Father hath entrusted him with the great Concerns of Redemption Grace and Glory with that glorious Contrivance of saving fallen man and bringing about the Recovery of lost Sinners and therefore he calls him his Servant Isa 49. 5. And now saith the Lord that formed me from the Womb to be his Servant to bring Jacob again to him It sets forth Christ's Designation by the Father to his mediatorly Office wherein God the Father calls him to great work commits vast Concerns to him about the gathering in of lost Souls and undertaking their Attonement Sanctification and Salvation for the accomplishment of which the Father commits all to the Fidelity of Christ both as to Suffering and interceding work and in all this the Lord Jesus is faithful so the Spirit of God calls him a faithful High-priest in things pertaining unto God in making Reconciliation for the Sins of the People This the Lord Jesus undertook to the Father that he would satisfie his Wrath and remove his Displeasure from his People by bearing their Sins for and from them that God might again take them into his Favour as if they had never sinned and in this he was and is faithful nay in all things that God hath charged him with about the saving of Souls Heb. 3. 2. Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house So that whatever the Father laid on Christ in the behalf of his people to make Reconciliation for them and present them spotless in his Presence this he hath fully and faithfully discharged as I have already shewn on this Subject Secondly The Lord Jesus hath a Trust committed to him from his People They commit the keeping of their Souls to him as to a faithful Redeemer 1 Pet. 4. 19. Every believing Soul when he comes over to Christ first doth depute accept of chuse and entrust the Lord Jesus to be his Redeemer and he undertakes the preserving of him unto Glory he that comes to Christ aright takes him for his Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. For so is Christ given and tendred by the Father and so do Believers receive him and entrust him with their Souls that they may be made righteous before God have their Sins remov'd and be presented before the Father without Spot or Wrinkle Eph. 5. 25 26. They trust Christ for Sanctification to be made truly and in his time perfectly holy as holy as God is holy and as holy as God requires They trust Christ for Wisdom to be made Partakers of divine Light to be made wise unto Salvation to know all that God would have them and that their Natures are capable to understand and to have the Image of God perfected in them which consists in Knowledge as well as Righteousness They commit themselves to Christ to be redeemed from every Evil Sin or Danger or whatever hinders their compleat Salvation thus do Believers take Christ and surrender themselves up to him on these great and glorious ends and thus did he undertake when he gave himself by his Spirit to them and therefore is called the Surety of the Covenant as hath been already shewn Heb. 7. 22. therefore 't is said Eph. 5. 25. to 28. That Christ gave himself for the Church that he might wash it and cleanse it sanctifie it and present it to the Father without Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing This he undertook when he became a Mediator between God and them 1 Tim. 2. 5. Now he is faithful in this also to all his Seed Heb. 10. 23. He is faithful who hath promised 1 Joh. 1. 9. He is faithful and just to forgive them 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know whom I have believed and that he is able to keep that good thing I have committed to him against that day 1 Thes 5. 24. 1 Cor. 10. 13. O Souls you that have committed your selves to Christ in Truth know that he is faithful and will not fail you but will certainly accomplish and make good all your regular Hopes and Expectations he can loose nothing of all that the Father hath given him Joh. 17. 12. Be sure what Bargain soever he hath made with you what Mercies soever he hath promised you he will assuredly fulfil and keep touch to a tittle he is the faithful Steward and Advocate for his People Fourthly The Lord Jesus is faithful to all the Relations he stands in to his people Herein Fidelity appears in holding forth and living up to those Duties of Relation in which a person stands to others so Sylvanus is called a faithful Brother 1 Pet. 5. 12. and Tychicus a faithful Minister Eph. 6. 21. In this that they were true and just in holding forth all the Duties of their Relation Defectiveness in which discovers Falseness and Treachery but the Lord Jesus is faithful in all Relations to Believers he fills them up and answers the end of them now the Scripture sets forth the Union of Christ to Believers by several Relations First He is their Friend Isa 41. 8. The seed of Abraham my Friend Joh. 15. 14. 15. Ye are my Friends I have called you Friends Joh. 11. 11. Our Friend Lazarus sleepeth Now Christ is a faithful Friend to his people in holding forth all the Offices of true Friendship to them As First Love Prov. 17. 17. A friend loveth at all times such a Friend is Christ to all his many Waters cannot quench it he loves his People when he hides
merit he bore temporal Troubles Wants Weariness Pains Shame Death it self with whatever the damned in Hell bear to all Eternity that did he endure to get a Spouse among the condemned Sons and Daughters of men Fourthly His amorous Treatments of them and endearing Converses with them see the Exuberancy of his Affection breathing out at his Lips to them Cant. 4. 1. to vers 6. Behold thou art fair my Love behold thou art fair thou hast Doves Eyes c. ver 7. Thou art all fair my Love there is no spot in thee Cant. 2. 10. Rise up my Love my fair one and come away chap. 4. 8. Come with me from Lebanon My Spouse from Lebanon vers 10. How fair is thy Love my Sister my Spouse how much better is thy love than Wine chap. 6. 4. 5. Thou art beautiful my Love as Tirzah turn away tâ—ine Eyes from me for they have overcome me Fifthly His large Gifts and dowry to them he gives himself his Spirit his Purchase his Laws his Promises his Love Life Light and his Kingdom as I have already shewed and this doth discover his large Affection to them Sixthly His impatient longing after them shews the Greatness of his conjugal love to them Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the Clifts of the Rock in secret places of the Stairs let me see thy Countenance and hear thy Voice Jer. 3. 14 Turn O back-sliding Children for I am marryed to you He stands at the door knocking with the dew of the night on his locks saying Open to me my Sister my Spouse my Love my Dove my Vndefiled Cant. 5. 2. He is troubled when he cannot see them and they will not come unto him that he might give them life Seventhly His wonderful Complacency in and rejoycing over them he is well pleased with he rests in his love over them Zeph. 3. 17. He takes them for his only Portion Seed and Travel of his Soul wherein he is satisfied And as a Bridegroom rejoyceth over his Bride so shall thy God rejoyce over thee Isa 62. 5. For the Lord delighteth in thee and thy Land shall be marryed ver 4. Lastly His utter Inability to part with them proves his great love to them Hos 11. 8. How shall I give thâ—e up O Ephraim Isa 49. 16. Behold I have graven thee upon the Palms of my hands and vers 15. A Woman may forget her sucking Child but I cannot forget thee Nay he sets them as a Seal upon his Heart Cant. 8. 6. You must pluck out his Heart before you can make him consent to let his Spouse go Joh. 10. 28. None shall pluck them out of my Hands That 's the first Testimony of his conjugal Faithfulness his Love to all his people 't is a constant Love Joh. 13. 1. Having loved his own that were in the World he loved them to the end Secondly His Cohabitation with them this is another part of the Husbands duty to his Spouse 1 Pet. 3. 7. Ye Husbands dwell with them according to Knowledge such is the Fidelity of Christ to his that he takes up his abode with them Joh. 14. 23. and walks with and dwells among them 2 Cor 6. 16. He doth not give them a transient Visit and look upon them now and then however he may sometimes appear a stranger and draw a Curtain over the light of his Countenance yet he doth not change his Habitation but takes up his rest in Sion and dwells there Psal 132. 13 14. Heb. 13. 5. He will never leave them nor forsake them Thirdly his affectionate and intimate Converses with them proves his conjugal Fidelity he keeps up Intercourse with them Christ in Heaven maintains correspondence with his people on Earth Exod. 25. 22. Theâ—e will I meet with thee and commune with thee above the Mercy Seat that is In my Ordinances and Appointments I will open my heart to thee tell thee my Love and impart to thee my Secrets 1 Joh. 1. 3. Our Fellowship is with the Father and his Son Christ Jesus and this Communion is maintained by the Spirit Joh. 16. 13. 14. When the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth c. For he will receive of mine and shew it unto you 'T is a notable Scripture and as much as if Christ had said I go to Heaven my personal Presence shall be in Mansions of Glory but I will send my Spirit and he shall reveal the deep things of God coâ—municate my mind unto you and concerning you Fourthly His tender Sympathy with them In all their Afflictions he is afflicted Isaiah 63. 9. He soon feels their Troubles he that toucheth them toucheth the Apple of his â—ye Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. and therefore the Sufferings of the Saints are called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the after Sufferings of Christ Col. 1. 24. What is done to them he reckons as done to himself And he doth not only feel their Afflictions but bear their Burdens for them Psal 55. 22. Cast thy burden on the Lord he will sustain thee yea he helps and relieves them under all their Afflictions Psal 50. 15. Fifthly His patience towards them shews his Fidelity as a husband 't is riches of patience and long-suffering that the Lord doth exercise towards his every day Rom. 2. 4. Sixthly His gracious Indulgence towards them covering their Imperfections and pardoning their Offences is another thing his conjugal Relation to his People obliges him to and this he is faithful in he puts Honour upon the uncomely parts and carriages of his People by cloathing them with the covering of his Righteousness Rev. 3. 18. He calls upon his people to put on their white Rayment that the shame of their Nakedness do not appear He puts up many a wrong for them and passeth by many a weakness in them concealing their Imperfections from the view of others and all because he loves them and they are his Hephzibah's Seaventhly His Care of them demonstrates his conjugal Fidelity to them 1 Pet. 5. 7. His Eyes are always upon them from one end of the year to the other Deut. 11. 12. Commit thy way to the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass Psal 37. 5. Upon him is the care of all the Churches and of every Saint yea of all their Concerns even their very hairs He cares for their Bodies their Souls their Families their names their Comfort and their Profit he will not leave them comfortless nor suffer them to be tempted above what they are able he will provide all things they stand in need of Isa 46. 3. 4. Psal 65. 9. and if he withholds these lower things from them here he prepares some better thing for them both here and hereafter Eighthly Protection of them from their Evils and Dangers this is a Husbands duty to be a covering for his Spouse and a Screen to her from Injury Gen. 20. 16. So Christ he carries his as
are Sanctifyed are all of one Heb. 2. 11. Thirdly For this end he was actually designed of God and made over to his People in the Everlasting Covenant decrees purposes and determinations of God 1. Cor. 1. 30. He is made of God unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption He is made of God Non in creatione sed in ordinatione saith Paraeus Not created so according to his Divine Essence as some Hereticks assert but ordained and given of God to this end to be Sanctification that is the Author of Sanctification and therefore he is said to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. which can never be accomplish'd without Holinesse For without holinesse no man can see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Fourthly For this work was the Lord Jesus promised by the Father to come unto Sion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Rom. 11. 26. This Scripture is quoted out of Isa 50. 10. from which the Apostle varies following the Septuagint Translation then in great use rather than the Hebr. seeing it retaines tâ—e sense though different in words In Isa 't is The Redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from Transgression The Apostle saies He shall come out of Sion and turn away ungodlinesse from Jacob To reconcile which Peter Martyr thinks the Septuagint might mistake Lashub To turn for Leshabe To them that turn But this is not likely that those Learned Doctors could be so mistaken in the Original and therefore 't is a far better answer that Beza and Grynaeus do give That the Prophet speaketh of the Effect of Christs coming which is a turning away from Sin And that the Apostle speaks of the Cause of their turning from Sin which is Christs taking away of Sin for none can turn from sin till Christ do remove Sin And this is the end of his coming into the World To this end he is promised Mal. 3. 2 3. He shall sit as refiners fire and purify the Sons of Levi. The Sons of Levi are Firstly meant of the Apostles Secondly I suppose of all the Saints But so much is clear that the Lord Jesus is promised to be a refiner to his People in Gospel times and to purge away their filth and dross and to make them Holy Fifthly For this end it was the Lord Jesus Christ gave himself up to Redemption-work Eph. 5. 25 26 27. As Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might Sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the word Here we have 1. One great end of Christs Obedience and Suffering 't is to make his People Holy 2. Here 's the efficient Cause of this Holinesse that is By the Spirit of Christ The blood of Christ purges away the guilt of sin Meritoriously and the Spirit of Christ purifies the filth of sin Efficiently signifyed by Water as 't is often us'd in Scripture Joh. 4. 10. 14. Chap. 7. 38 39. 3. Here 's the instrumental cause of this Holinesse the means by which it is wrought and carryed on and that is by the word the immortal seed of the Soul This he undertook and was intended to do in the Covenant of Redemption betwixt the Father and him Isa 42. 1 2 3 4. He shall not fail till he hath set Judgment in the Earth that is Holiness for so 't is taken Joh. 16. 8. And this work is the Lord Jesus here engag'd to do Some take the word Ethmoch I uphold passively for the Fathers dependence and Christs Faithfulnesse He leans or stays upon his undertaking this work and trusts to his performance of what he undertook to do Others take it actively for the Fathers upholding and carrying Christ through this great work of Redemption and Sanctification In both senses 't is true The Lord Jesus stands engaged to carry on Redemption-work and is throughly furnished with grace to accomplish it Heb. 10. 7. Christ readily consents to the fulfilling of the Fathers will and what that was you have Isa 42. 7. To open the blind eyes and to bring out the Prisoners out of the Prison which is meant of the work of Redemption and Regeneration and it was the will of God the Father that Christ should do this 1. Thes 4. 3. This is the will of God even your Sanctification And this he stood bound to do to promote and perfect the power of Holinesse in all his Children Now what Christ did undertake he finished Meritoriously whiles on Earth Joh. 17. 4. I have finished the work thou hast given me to do And for the application of it he is in Heaven to see it perform'd and this is the work of his Intercession Joh. 17. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth This Christ Intercedes for in Heaven and therefore 't is the fruit of his Purchase for he Intercedes for no more in Heaven than what he dyed for on Earth Sixthly His Authoritative sending the Spirit of Holinesse to his people shews his right to it by his Purchase Joh. 16. 7. I will send him to you That is after the finishing of his work and re-instalment in Glory Joh. 7. 39. For the Holy Ghost was not yet given because Christ was not yet glorifyed Lastly Were not holinesse purchased for saved Souls Christs Redemption-work would be imperfect neither could Souls ever answer the ends for which he dyed Without Holinesse were procured and compleated by Christ there could be no Salvation For First Man cannot Sanctify himself We are all as an unclean thing and our Righteousnesse as filthy rags Isa 64. 6. And who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean no not one Job 14. 4. Indeed the Scripture sometimes speaks after this manner Make you a clean heart Ezek. 18. 31. Make you a new heart So Isa 1. 16. Wash ye make ye celan But there is Mans Duty not his power It shews the subject not the Author or this holinesse and where you find such Exhortations they are to lead men to Christ for the getting of this Holiness wrought in them as 1 Pet. 2. 4. To whom come as as to a living stone c. Secondly Without this holiness be wrought in Believers they can never be capable of answering the ends of Redemption which are First To enjoy Union and Fellowship with God Joh. 11. 52. 1 Joh. 1. 3. Heb. 8. 10. Now without Holiness no Fellowship with God 2 Cor. 6. 14 15. 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. For his Person is Holy and his offerings and services are Holy Secondly To reconcile together in one all things in Heaven and Earth Col. 1. 20. But no Fellowship with Angels or Saints in Heaven without holiness for they are holy Creatures Thirdly To be brought into the nearest Union and Conformity to himself Rom. 6. 4 5. But without Holiness this cannot be Fourthly To be a Name and a praise unto God Eph. 1. 12. But without Holiness no glorifying of God Fifthly To bring Souls to the possession of the purchased
they are given usually but to a few So is Holiness the priviledge of the fewest and least number of men few there be that find it Mat. 7. 13. Riches can procure the greatest things procurable as one saith Money answereth all things that is all things that are saleable among men so Holiness though it cannot purchase Mercy yet it fits persons for the greatest Mercies and highest Services None more advanced than holy Souls they dwell in the presence of God Psal 140. 13. They are through Christ very potent with God they are fit for the highest work When Persons come to dye they see the excellency of holiness and would purchase it with a world This proves that Sanctification is a rare Treasure Again The purchas'd Holiness of Christ hath not only excellent worth but large quantity he hath purchas'd fullness of Grace Grace for Grace O Believer though thy heart be empty of grace yet Christ's Treasure is full he hath as much as ever thou canst need or crave to make thee as Holy as thou wouldest be and that to all Eternity VSE If Holiness be the Purchase of Christ then 't is not the Creatures procurement or by any ways or means obtained short of the merit of Christ what the Apostle says of Righteousness is true of Sanctification Gal. 2. 21. If Righteousness come by the Law then Christ is dead in vain So if holiness be the Fruit of Mens Purposes Labours and Duties then Christ died in vain 'T is too common an errour in many to charge Christ with too much in some things and too little in other things In justification some lay too much on Christ I mean by charging their sins on him for pardon which they were never throughly convinc'd or repented of and in sanctification charge him with too little expecting their holiness and meetness from their purposes duties and improvements As if holiness were to grow out of the Sepulchres of their Services and not out of the grave of Christ 'T is true indeed the Lord Jesus hath appointed means for the promoting of Holiness and given promises and Ordinances for the conveying and perfecting of it but the vertue of all depends upon his blessing 1 Cor. 3. 6 7. Rom. 9. 16. Secondly Then how unexcusable are perishing Sinners under the Gospel that will not come to Christ to be made holy You that lye in your blood and from the Crown of your head to the sole of your feet are full of filthy Ulcers and putrifying sores whose Consciences cannot but condemn you sometimes for uncleannesse and never being cleansed by the blood of Christ how will you appear before the Holy God a Consuming fire in your unpurged sins How unjustifiable is your filthynesse who might have been cleansed but would not What will you answer in the day of Indignation when all this tender'd but refused Grace shall come against you when you would willingly part with the whole World if you had it to get a clean heart and a purged Conscience How dreadful will that word be in the day of Inquisition Ezek. 22. 24. Thou art a Land Thou art a Soul that art not cleansed How cutting will the memory be of rejected Grace when God shall say I would have healed you but you are not healed Jer. 51. 9. You might have had your natures changed your Consciences cleansed and your hearts sanctified but you would not Now away thou prophane hard-hearted wretch Be gone thou secret Drunkard Swearer Thief Lyer take him Devil go and be filthy still wallow in thy blood there lye cursing in torment to all Eternity as long as I am God thy blood shall lye upon thee Thirdly Then the Holinesse of Believers is and shall be sure being grounded on the Purchase of Christ 'T is bought and paid for O Believer for thee purchas'd Sanctification is assuredly thine as thou art not thine own The truth continuance growth and perfection of Grace is procured for thee by a price A price agreed on betwixt the Father and the Son First God will not deny it Justice it self cannot with-hold thy purchas'd due As sure as Christ with-holds not one drop of his blood or penny of the price so sure will not God with-hold any part of this Purchase Rom. 3. 26. That he may be just and the justifier of them that believe in Jesus And if the justifier then sure the sanctifier Poor doubting Believer when thou seest nothing but unworthiness in thy self of the least Grace and peace from God then think 't was Christ not I that made this purchase he who did not can not make a forfeit of his right and whose blood must perish whose Honour and Interest must suffer if one of those for whom Christ dyed should dye and perish for want of Holinesse O no! this cannot be The Judge of all the Earth must do right Gen. 18. 23. Secondly Jesus Christ the believers Advocate cannot suffer to see his poor and needy deprived of their right He is the Mediatour betwixt God and his people The days-Man and Umpire to see truth Established in the Earth and every one to receive his due He will give wicked Men their due much more his Children And all Power in Heaven and Earth are in his hands Math. 28. 20. He is the Faithful Witnesse Holy and Just one and therefore will cause that believers shall have the distributions of the due Measures of his Purchas'd Grace Thirdly there is nothing in thee or without thee that can hinder the accomplishment of it Isa 43. 13. I will work and who shall let Let Earth and Hell Sin and self combine together they shall not keep back the Communications of grace one day beyond God's time Math. 12. 20. 'T is not the strength of thy lusts can prevail against the arm of God and forces of his eternal Spirit who is commissioned to bring down all thy Enemies and set thee free indeed Christ will Reign till he brings down all his Enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. The greatest part of which is the Corruptions of his people CHAP. XIX Adoption-Grace prov'd to be the Fruit of Christ's Purchase The excellency of this state opened in several particulars I Come now to a fifth Fruit of Christs Purchase and discovery of that glorious Redemption-Treasure procur'd by his death that is a state of Adoption those whom he sanctifies he adopts and brings into a new Relation to himself to God the Father Son and Spirit The work of Sanctification doth change their Nature Adoption changeth their state they are really alter'd by Sanctifying Grace and relatively by Adoption-love God now becomes their Father and they are his Sons and Daughters 2 Cor. 6. 17 18. Come out from amongst them and touch not the unclean thing Here 's a change in their Nature and Life And I will be your God and you shall be my Sons and Daughters there 's a change in their state Adoption is the taking of persons that are strangers and
right to the promises for all the promises are in him Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. The promises of this Life and of that which is to come all are theirs 1 Tim. 4. 8. Fourthly They have Right to Communion with and to the blessing of the whole Family of Christ Being entred into Gods Family they have a Right to fellowship with all his people 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit are we baptised into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit The great design of the Apostle in this chap. is to shew that all Believers are brought into nearest Union with Christ and each other even into one body this he proves in this ver by the end of the Ordinances of Baptism and the Supper both which do signifie and seal up Believers into the nearest Union and Communion by reason of which they have equal right to one another and the whole body they have right to Communion with Angels and Saints All the Sons and Daughters of God have right to his House to his Church and all the priviledges of it Isa 56. 5. Ordinances and Ministers are theirs 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Yea they have right to the blessings of God on all Psalm 3. 8. Thy blessing is upon thy People Eph. 1. 3. Fifthly They have a right to all the good things of this Life Rev. 21. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things Even the good things of this Life Ps 37. 9. They that wait on the Lord shall inherit the Earth They are Heirs with Christ who is Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. They have through Christ a Right to all the good things of this world so far as God sees it best for them they have their right in the Second Adam who is Lord of all this is a New-Covenant-Right not over other mens rights to invade or break the civil properties of any but to those Creatures God gives them and to the good of all things even wants and enjoyments and have a sanctified use of them which none but the Children of God have Tit. 1. 15. Sixthly They have Right to the inheritance of Glory Tit. 3. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Heaven is the Country Home and Inheritance of all Saints Their Title is founded on the Purchase of Christ and Adoption of Grace not upon their Merit or Holiness and therefore 't is called on the account of Christ the purchased possession Eph. 1. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased Possession That is until we are actually redeemed from Corruption and put into the possession of purchased Glory yea their Reversion in Heaven is so freely procured for them without any of their money or price duties or obedience further than 't is the way to walk in to Glory that Eternal Life is said to be the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. Death comes by Man's merit but not Life and Salvation and is not this a glorious state and blessed condition to be made Heirs and Coheirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. And if Children then heirs and Joynt-heirs with Christ partakers of the same Rights with him Heirs of the Righteousness of Faith Heb. 11. 7. So was Abraham and so are are all Believers they have a right to Justification by believing and a right to the Kingdom of Glory Jam. 2. 5. Heirs of the Kingdom They have as good a Title to this by Grace and through the purchase of Christ as any man to an Inheritance here on Earth yea and far more sure of it for men may be turn'd out of their Rights and Properties here but Believers cannot be deprived of their Title and Inheritance through Christ Seventhly They have an interest in Gods love they are upon his Heart at all times Joh. 16. 27. For the Father himself loveth you He loves with an infinite Love a Love passing knowledge and transcending the love of all Creatures Isa 49. 15. A Mother may forget her Child but God cannot forget his He loves at all times Eternally and unchangeably He loves his Children ardently when they have but little love to him He loves them notwithstanding their unkindnesses and provocations Psal 89. 31 32 33. He loves them when he seems to be angry with them and is forced to correct them Heb. 12. 6. He always thinketh on them for good Jer. 29. 11. I know the thoughts I think towards you saith the Lord thoughts of Peace and not of Evil. He is very tender of them and hath the bowels of a Compassionate Father towards them Psal 103. 8 13. Mal. 3. 17. And I will spare them as a man spareth his Son that servâ—th him Eighthly They have a right to the Spirit of Grace the Spirit is put into their Hearts Gal. 4. 6. Not the spirit of Bondage but of Adoption Rom. 8. 15 16. They have union with the Spirit never to be seperated more v. 11. they have the Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zach. 12. 10. To quicken teach influence assist in Duty and make intercession for them Rom. 8. 26. O what a blessed priviledge is this to have the Spirit of the Son whereby they can go to God as a Father and to have the Spirit working in them the disposition and working for them the actions of Sons Thirdly They have holy and reverential boldness to come into the presence of God through his Son Ps 26. 6. I will wash my haâ—ds in innocency and so will I compass thine Alter Eph. 2. 18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father They can come to God at all times and behold his Face in Righteousness unless their sins do cause him to hide himself for a time Eph. 3. 12. And plead their cause through Christ with boldness Heb 10. 19 20. And they are not only free to come but sure to speed Joh. 16. 23 24. 1 Joh. 5. 14 15. Fourthly Instruction is another Priviledge of Sons They shall be taught of God Isa 54. 1â— He will teach instruct and shew them things they know not He will lead thâ—m into all truth Joh. 16. 16. The Spirit searcheth the deep things of God and revealeth them to the Saints 1 Cor. 2. 20. He wll teach them all things which they are able to bear They shall have the openings of Christs mind to steer their course whiles in this Wilderness of the World and shall receive the revelation of all truths necessary to Salvation Fifthly They have choice and delicate provisions and rich maintenance this is the duty of Parents to provide for their Obedient and indigent Children 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any man provide not for his own House he hath denyed the Faith He cares for his Children Mat. 6. 31 32. 1 Pet. 5. 7. He that gives his Son how can he but with him freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. Phil. 4. 19. My God shall supply all your wants
we do to obtain this Adoption-grace Answ This is an act of Sovereign pleasure and Free-grace Rom. 9. 15 16 18. It cannot be purchased by any thing in or done by the Creature You cannot with Simon Magus buy this Relation Act. 8. 18 19. yet there are some ways in which Adoption grace may be obtained as First Get your Souls separated from sin 2 Cor. 6. 17. Secondly Get justifying Faith Eph. 2. 13 19. Thirdly Beg the Spirit of Adoption Gal. 4. 6. Lastly Open the door of thy heart to the Spirit Psa 24. 7. Rev 3. 20. CHAP. XX. The Confirmation of the new Covenant is the Fruit of Christ's purchase prov'd by several Arguments ANother glorious Fruit of Christs blood and purchased Treasure for saved Souls is the establishment of the new Covenant to Believers and Believers in the Covenant This is the certain effect of Christ's death the making sure the Covenant to all his seed That there is no more possibility of making it void to the Heirs of promise This is the great thing undertaken in the new Covenant that it shall be sure to all the seed Rom. 4. 16. There are Eight things which secure this to Believers First This new Covenant must needs be firm and unalterable because the reason why God â—â—und fault with the old Covenant was because it was weak and could not secure those that were within it Heb. 8. 8 9. Which Covenant they brake though I was an Husband to them saith the Lord Jer. 31. 32. Now if this were the reason why God did alter the first Covenant then the new Covenant he makes in the room of it must nâ—eds be free from this Imperfection and mutability or else it would abundantly reflect on the infinite wisdom of God to make a new Covenant guilty of the same errour Secondly This was Gods design in making a new Covenant that it might be ordered in all things and sure 2 Sam. 23. 5. That it might be firm and established upon better promises Heb. 8. 6. Why are they called better promises Are there better promises than the promises of Heaven and Glory They are called better because more pure and absolute promises and because it was Gods design to make them sure Rom. 4. 16. Thirdly It is confirmed by the blood of Christ and therefore the blood of Christ is called the blood of the Covenant Mat. 26. 28. This is my blood of the new Testament 'T is the blood of the new Testament in that it seals to the fulfilling of this Covenant The death of the Testatour makes the Testament to be in full force Heb. 9. 17. That now all the Promises and Legacies are certain and cannot be disappointed to the Legatees and Heirs of Salvation Again this blood of Christ is the blood of the Covenant and confirms it in that it makes good all the conditions of it that whatever is required to make this Covenant good is undertaken by Christ in the behalf of all his feed and therefore he is called the surety of the new Covenant Heb. 7. 22. By death he hath fulfill'd the Condition of the first and undertaken for the fulfilling of this new Covenant in and by Believers Yea his obedience is for them to present them compleat to the Father notwithstanding all their failings Fourthly This new Covenant is sure to Believers because the Administation of it is in the hands of Christ Heb. 8. 6. But now he hath obtain'd a more excellent Ministery by how much he is the Mediatour of a better Covenant The whole trust about the Administration of new-Covenant-blessings is devolved on Jesus Christ and therefore he is called the Mediator and Minister of the Covenant So that the Covenant must needs be sure seeing the dispose thereof is by compact betwixt the Father and Christ deliver'd into his hand upon the account of his death Now he that is the Believers Friend Head and Husband hath all power in Heaven and Earth to make good the Covanent to them Mat. 28. 18. So that the promises of the Covenant cannot be forfeited by Believers being made over to Christ as to a Trustee for them and their Covenant state also being so surely confirm'd that they cannot fall from it Fifthly Christ's sufficiency to see new-Covenant-promises made good and new-Covenantends accomplished to them is security enough for their safety He is an alsufficient Saviour able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. He is able to see Gods part fulfilled having all the promises in his hand and all the things promised at his dispose and he is able to see the Believers part fulfilled also for he hath all that in him which is needful for the making of the Condition good on their part For First He hath all Wisdom in him to make them wise to Salvation Col. 2. 3. He is made of God to his people Wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. Appointed of God to receive Wisdom for them whatever they need to guide them in the way and fit them for Salvation Knowledge is necessary to Eternal Life Joh. 17. 3. The Image of God consists partly in it Col. 3. 11. Without it the heart is not good Prov. 19. 2. No Faith without Knowledge 2 Cor. 4. 4. No Obedience without Knowledge Psa 18. 44. This is needful to discern the wiles of Satan 2 Cor. 2. 11. The sinfulness of sin Rom. 7. 13. The preciousness of Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. The beauty of holiness Ps 110. 3. The love of Christ that passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19. The hope of your calling and the things freely given of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. And for this end all Wisdom is laid up in Christ to be given out to his people by his Spirit through his word hence 't is said that Believers have an Unction from the holy one to teach them all things 1 Joh. 2. 20 27. And the promise of the Spirit is made to them to lead them into all truth Joh. 16. 13. So that whatever is needful for Saints to fit them for Covenant-Duties and Mercies all this is in Christ for them and so he is able to make the Covenant good to them Secondly He hath all Grace in him that tends to the fulfilling of this Covenant in Believers and for them He hath received the Spirit without measure Joh. 3. 34. And why is this But that from his fullness Believers may receive Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. He is the fullness that filleth all in all Eph. 1. 23. And therefore hath promised Grace sufficient to his people in all their temptations 2 Cor. 12. 9. 1 Cor. 10. 13. under all their burdens Psa 55. 22. For all duties and undertakings Phil. 2. 12 13. Chap. 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Thirdly He hath all power in Heaven and Earth put into his hand Math. 28. 18. Power to bruise Satan under his peoples feet Rom. 16. 20. To subdue Corruptions in them Mic. 7. 19. To
them good men cannot regard wicked men let them be never so high and honourable Though they give every man his due yet they cannot weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary as any thing They had rather converse with a poor Saint than with the greatest persons in the world if wicked 2. Kings 3. 14. And Elisha said As the Lord of hosts liveth before whom I stand Surely were it not that I regarded the presence of Jehoshaphat King of Judah I would not look toward thee nor see thee So lightly esteemed are wicked men in the Eyes of God Saints and Angels Lastly A poor man is liable to dangers and sufferings he hath no might against the mighty but lies open to the injuries and oppressions of those that are above him Amos 4. 1. Hear ye this word ye kine of Bashan which oppress the poor which crush the needy Poor men lye under the feet of the potent and are subject to their Tiranny On the oppressors side is power and on the oppresseds side are tears Eccl. 4. 1. So Christless Souls are under the ruling power of Satan and taken Captive by him at his will 2 Tim. 2. 26. They have no defence against the stroaks of Judgment 't is easie with God to crush them every moment they no have power to secure themselves from ruining vengeance wicked men are no more match for God than Bryars and Thorns Isa 27 4. Yea they can no more resist him than the stubble can the fire Mal. 4. 1. O sinner thou art a miserable Caitiff indeed O see thy poverty let this stain thy glory O sinner look about thee whiles thou hast a little time Art thou willing to die so poor O 't is not Houses nor Lands nor Money nor Friends can minister comfort to thee then O how wilt thou do to live for ever if thou hast none of Christs tryed Gold So much of the Third Inference CHAP. XXV Wherein Christ is set forth to sinners as a Match wortby of their choice in regard of the excellency of his Estate The amiableness of his Person His lovely Dispositions and other Considerations to win the hearts of sinners to be looking after this lovely Jesus IF there are such vast treasures in the Lord Jesus Christ then this will follow hence That the Lord Jesus Christ is worth the looking after by perishing sinners O what a match is Jesus Christ for undone sinners could â—hey but obtain him how happy would they be for ever this is a principal thing in a woers eye to get a rich match O Souls you cannot get a better match than Jesus Christ there 's none like him First In point of Riches O let me commend the Lord Jesus Christ to you upon the account of his wealth Sinners if you would have a rich Husband there 's none so rich as Christ He is wonderfully rich if you but consider the Nature and number of his riches If you observe the verity and variety of his treasures If you weigh the kind or degree of his substance you will say he is exceeding rich Take him positively or comparatively he is vastly rich he is really so and superlatively so The worlds treasures are but shadows But he hath substance true solid subsisting treasures Pro. 8. 21. That I may cause them that love me to inherit substance and I will fill their treasures Christ's Gold is tryed Gold that which can bear the hardest touch and abide the fire And he is superlatively rich none like him Job was a rich man but his riches were limitted within the Confines of a Countrey He was the richest not in all the world but of all the men of the East Job 1. 3. But Christ is richest of all All the Men and Angels in Heaven and Earth put together cannot vye treasures with Christ What was said of the vertuous woman is true of Christ he excels them all Pro. 31. 29. O sinners would you have a rich match cast your eyes on Jesus Christ He hath a very taking Estate that will be wonderful attractive upon your hearts if rightly set I shall shew in a few particulars what an Estate Christ hath First It is a fair Estate exceeding large and full 't is incomprehensible and past finding out both as to his personal and purchased Treasure It is in heighth depth length breadth passing knowledge as hath been shewn at large Eph. 3. 18 19. Christs Estate is as large as himself is and he is past finding out Who can search out the Almighty to perfection Job 11. 7. All mens Estates lie here in the lower world within the measure of a spot of ground But Christ's treasure fills Heaven and Earth The Heavens yea the Heaven of Heavens are his Neh. 9. 6. The Lord Jesus Christ is rich every way considered He is rich in inheritance Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. He is rich in Jewels he hath abundance of choice Jewels he hath a day on purpose to make up his Jewels Mal. 3. 17. He is rich in mansions too Joh. 14. 2. In my Fathers House are many mansions A mansion for every Heir of Glorie O how many Houses hath this Heir of all things How many dwelling places in Glory He is rich in Crowns and Thrones We account that man rich that hath two or three Kingdoms But Jesus Christ hath a multitude of Crowns A Crown for every Subject Mat. 9. 28. Every saved Soul is a Crowned King or shall be so to all Eternitie Rev. 1. 6. Every overcoming Soul shall sit on Thrones and every one wearing a Crown of Glorie 1 Pet. 5. 4. O what a vast Potentate is Jesus Christ All the Angels in Heaven cannot draw an inventory of Christs Estate so numberless are his Treasures He that hath so many millions of Saints and can give every one of them a Kingdom O how rich must this Lord be O sinners think what a rich Jointure Christ can make you he can settle an Estate upon you indeed O will you Espouse Christ he hath a fair Estate indeed Secondly Christ hath a free Estate Some men may have large Estates but many Mortgages and debts upon them but Christ's Estate is all free no debts lies on Christ to lessen his Estate whatever he gives to the whole Creation doth no way lessen his Riches like the Sun whatever light it imparts to the World or Inferiour Luminaries doth not exhaust or diminish it's Original splendour all that the Rivers emptie from the Sea do not lessen it but repay its bounty by a retribution of all those receptions so whatever contributions come from Christ to men it doth not lessen his ability to give to his people The more Abraham gave to his Sons by Keturah the less he had for Isaac But Christ's liberality and Obligations do not diminish his treasure Christ's whole Estate comes to every Believer every saved Soul hath a whole Christ full of Grace and Glory Thirdly Christ hath a sure Estate exceeding safe there 's
no defrauding of his Spouse no pre-mortgage to take it away If Christ's Life could not be taken from him without his consent when he was Mediatour Joh. 10. 18. Then all the Estate he hath purchased with his blood is unremoveable the Father hath given it who is greater than all and in whose hands Believers are put and their Estates secured for them All new-Covenant promises are sure as you have heard part of which is the inheritance of the Saints This Estate is sure both by donation and purchase The Father hath given Christ and all that is his to Believers Isa 55. 4. I have given him to be a witness to the people a leader and commander to the people This shews the certainty and truth of this Covenant which is confirmed in Christ whom the Father hath given and made over to Believers to be the confirmation of his promises 'T is confirm'd by purchase he hath bought and paid for 't he went and sold all to get this pearl he parted with his Life Blood Glory his All to get this Estate for Believers The Father hath received every Farthing of the money and gives him an acquittance under his hand declares before men and Angels that Christ ows him nothing for all the whole Estate he hath purchas'd for Believers Mat 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased O 't is a sure Estate A conveyance is made of it to Christ in the behalf of Believers Isa 49. 8. Math. 28. 18. All power is put into the hands of Christ The Deeds are drawn and interchangeably sealed between the Father and the Son that the Estate is firm and sure to all Believers Nay the seisure and delivery is given and Christ hath taken possession of it and he is entered into the Heavens in the behalf of Believers and all to make this sure O sinners will you espouse Hell and let go Jesus Christ who is Heir of Life and Glory that hath such a sure Estate for you Fourthly He hath a sutable Estate Let a man have a fair free and sure Estate yet if it be not sutable to his quality necessities and desires 't is unsatisfying But Christ's Estate is every way sutable both to himself and to his Bride He hath a large inheritance sutable for his dignity and to his Spouses quality Christ having finished his work on Earth being about to drink the last draught of the Cup he comes and treats with the Father about his receiving and 't is Glory sutable to his quality O Father glorifie thou me with thy self with the glory which I had with thee before the World was Joh. 17. 1. to ver 5. O unreasonable Souls that despise Christ O sinners had you ever such a Lover stood at your doors No nor never will have the like if you refuse this Jesus Yea 't is a sutable Estate to his Spouse too 'T is a fit joynture for the Kings Daughter sufficient to maintain her Immortality and Glory Luk. 22. 29. I appoint unto you a Kingdom Now a Kingdom is a sutable state to a Kings Daughter O Souls will you fall in Love with Christ he hath Crowns Thrones a Kingdom of Glory for you Then 't is an Estate sutable to your necessities too There 's enough in Christ to spend upon and maintain you bravely richly here and for ever O sinners will you match with Christ whatever you need is in him My God shall supply all you wants Phil. 4. 19. If a Kingdom will do it you shall not want it If a Crown of Glory will make you happy and blessed you shall not want it his Estate is fullness that filleth all in all Eph. 1. 23. O Believer it may be thou wantest Bread Cloaths Money and thou goest up and down dejected sad full of fears But hast thou espoused Christ O consider thou hast a fullness O what a vast Estate hath Jesus Christ for thee Sinners your wants are many more then you know God only knows your wants Sinners yet there 's enough in Christ's Estate and Patrimony to supply them all Then 't is sutable also to their desires Sinners desires are large O what wandring things are the desires persons may desire things to the utmost ends of the Earth which they cannot get But all that the Believer rationally desires Christ's Estate can satisfie He will fulfill the desires of them that fear him Psa 145. 19. Yea 't is above their desires Desire as much as thou canst Christ's Estate is above thy desires Pro. 3. 15. O what a treasure then is Christ it fills every chink of the Believers desires with an overplus 'T is more than can be desired Fifthly 'T is a pleasant Estate Psa 16. 6. The lines are fallen to me in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly herritage The Chaldee renders it in sweetness others delightful place A great Estate if it be not well scituated and lye not in a pleasant place is not half so contentful but Christs Estate is well scituated it hath all considerations and circumstances that may make it desirable Canaan that was a type of it is call'd the pleasant Land Jer. 3. 19. 'T is in the Original the land of desires So the Believers portion that is prepared for him by Christ 't is a Land of desires an Inheritance of beauty and Glory Christs Riches are very precious and pleasant Riches Pro. 24. 4. And by knowledge shall the Chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant Riches Rare as the word imports delighting Riches The whole possessions of Christ are pleasant the way to it is pleasant Pro. 3. 17. The borders of Christs interest are made with pleasant stones Isa 54. 12. And all thy borders of pleasant stones The first fruits of Christ's harvest is all pleasure and delight much more the lump the maintenance he allows his Children here in the way is delighting much more the Estate reserved at the Journeys end The Fruits that fall from this Tree of Life is sweet to those that sit under its shaddow Cant. 2. 3. how much more to them that climb and crop the pleasant fruits thereof Their drink is pleasant Psal 36. 8. Thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy pleasures And at last he brings them to his Right Hand where are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. Sixthly It is a peaceful state not liable to contests and controversies as mens Estates oft-times are here A man may have a great Estate but it may be a litigious Estate It may occasion many Law Suits about it But it is not so in Christ's Estate 'T is a peaceful Estate no wars grow out of this Estate Christs Countrey is called Salem The Land of peace Psa 76. 2. And he is The King of Salem The King of peace Heb. 7. 1. His Kingdom is Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. He is their peace Eph. 2. 14. In him they shall have peace Joh. 16. 33. His
very Doctrine are words of peace Eph. 2. 17. He came to guide our feet into the way of peace Luke 1. 79. He came and Preached Peace O what a blessed Estate hath Christ what a lovely Lord is Christ He bequeaths peace to his people Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you Joh. 14. 27. They have peace with God who Espouse this Christ Rom. 5. 1. Peace with Saints and Angels Col. 1. 20. Peace with Conscience too Phil. 4. 7. Heb. 10. 22 The Fruits of the Spirit is Peace Gal. 5. 22. His Riches have no sorrow annexed with them 7thly It is a perpetual Estate An inheritance that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven 1 Pet. 1. 4. Christs Riches are durable Riches aged Riches strong solid Riches Opes densae that is â—ultae firmae says Mercer they are great stable Riches Pro. 8. 18. Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness His Gold is not liable to rust 'T is said of the Cedar worms will not breed in it sure there 's no worm in Christ's Treasure O Souls 't is a lasting Estate That neither time nor changes can wast nor weaken All the Saints spending upon it to all Eternity never detracts from it Christs Treasures are like the deep waters or like the bottomless Ocean that cannot be exhausted his treasure will last as long as God the Soul and Eternity lasts which is for ever for ever for ever Some men have out-liv'd their Leases and their Estates and have seen an end of their Houses and Riches but the Spouse of Christ can never out-live her jointure it lasts to all Eternity Lastly 'T is a possest estate Some may have great estates but it is in reversion they may look long for it as some Heirs do all their days But Christs Estate is all in his own hand 't is actually made over to him by the Father and possession given him when he sate down at the Right hand of God Heb. 1 3. He hath actually obtained this Inheritance with the Fruits of it Heb. 1. 4. And is actually invested with this glory Heb. 2. 7. This sinners is the Estate of that Beloved that is tendered to you in the Gospel for your choice he is very wealthy he hath a fair free sure sutable pleasant peaceful perpetual possession an Estate you cannot spend or comprehend an Inheritance you cannot lose or out-â—ive riches that will not cloy nor clog yâ—u a portion that cannot be out-vy'd or match'd Come view the Rentals of his Lands the Inventory of his Goods and see what a rich match Christ is there 's none like him where can you mend your penny-worths all the world no nor the Heaven of Heavens can yield you such another bargain Job 28. ver 13. c. Man knoweth not the price thereof the gold and the Chrystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shall not be for Jewels of fine gold c. Then Jesus Christ is worth a looking after if he be so rich as the Scripture reports him to be and I presume you question not the truth of this testimony O slight not this bargain which will make you happy to all Eternity if wealth will please you here 's enough what say you Have you any objection against his estate If not what stick you at Secondly Dost thou dislike his person Then it argues thou knowest him not for he is altogether Lovely the chiefest of ten thousands The fairest of the Children of Men O come behold the Lamb of God Look upon this glorious Jehovah Christ O see his Personal Excellency and it will allure you and invite you to come to him he is the brightness of his Fathers Glory and the express image of his Fathers Person Heb. 1. 3. Sinners look well upon him view him from top to toe there is no blemish in him O he is the most exquisite one his perfections are enough to please you his beauty sufficient to allure you See his excellent lineaments the sweet proportion of every part O how lovely is Christ to the believing eye in regard of his Person Consider his Natures God Man sweetly concentring in an intimate and Eternal Union perfect God perfect Man in one person O where can you espy such an object sure he is a Non-such none like him in Heaven none like him on Earth in regard of his Personal Glory as Mediatour God Man look over his Characters that his friends have given him See in that Book of Cant. Chap. 5. How the Spouse displays him and you will find him a beautiful Person ver 11. to the end His head is as the most fine gold His Wisdom and Government is most pure solid and excellent His locks are bushy and black as a Raven Which notes not only his love liness but his strength and vigour he hath his radical moysture his vital heat He is strong his vigour abides with him he hath strength sufficient for all his undertakings and he is able to go through what he sets his hand unto he is strong vigorous and spritely His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the Rivers of Waters washed with Milk and fitly set His sight is quick and perfect his understanding is infinite His Counsels are holy and consistent all well set his decrees his purposes all methodically ordered and fixed His looks are gracious his aspects lovely enamouring the eyes of them that behold him O such a lovely Christ is tendred to Sinners O I know not how to set him forth to your capacities he is a most taking object indeed His face is white and ruddy Emblems of Rich Beauty captivating the eyes and ravishing the hearts of beholders The purity of the divine nature with the passions of the humane and procurements of his Redemption sets him forth as infinitely amiable in the eyes of Believers His cheeks are as a bed of spices as sweet flowers His graces and choice discoveries of his Excellencies doth wonderfully feed and delight the Souls of those that have acquaintance and fellowship with him his sweet and lovely perfections discover'd to Believers are like a rich feast that stay with them His lips like Lillies dropping sweet smelling Myrrhe The impartings of his wisdom the droppings of his Doctrine his gracious words his Holy Communications are savoury and sound pure and incorruptible they strengthen the heart and heal the Soul of those that imbrace him His Doctrine carries wonderful strength to those that are in weakness how do the words of grace revive the fainting hearts of Believers his wayes are strength to the upright like Myrrhe they make the heart sound His hands are as gold rings set with the Beryl His works and administrations in the World are full of order beauty and excellency All that he doth in Sion and out of Sion is all holy every providence that seems to us sometimes to be unseasonable is in infinte wisdom display'd by Jesus Christ for the good of his people
looking up to Jesus and lifted up to him Sinners may be too rich for Christ in their own opinion but never too poor hence the Lord Jesus Christ tells us he came not to call the Righteous but sinners to Repentance Math. 9. 13. Not them that Judge themselves Righteous but them that feel themselves sinners The Rich he sends empty away those that are Rich in their own thoughts when the poor and hungry are fill'd with good things Men chuse empty vessels to put their liquors in and low rooms to cellar their wines so doth Jesus Christ chuse empty Souls for his good things He chooseth the Low plains for his walks when the high towring Mountains are rejected The high and lofty One comes to dwell in the low and contrite Spirit Isa 57. 15. Sinner thou must strip thy self of thy own Ornaments if thou intend to put on Jesus Christ Thou must throw down thy Crown at his feet if thou thinkest to wear his Crown on thy head O Soul thou must come as a poor wretch to Christ with thy empty sack as Jacobs Sons did to Egypt to buy corn and then thou shalt have Treasure too Thou must see thy self an undone sinner thou must come with Lazarus and throw thy self down at this Rich Kings Door if ever thou wilt be fed with his Crumbs nay rather feasted with his Dainties Secondly Thou must come to Christ as to a full and sufficient treasure able to save and satisfie thee to pay off thy debts and enrich thy Soul for ever Heb. 7. 25. Able to supply all thy wants and fill all thy emptiness Phil. 4. 19. We have shewn already that his treasures are bottomless boundless unfathomable unexhaustible never to be wasted or spent O Soul come to Christ as such a one Measure not Christ's gold by thy bushel nor his plenty by thy poverty think not thy debts too great for Christ to pay because thou knowest not where to get mony of thy own Think not thy straits too many for him to relieve He hath enough for thy Soul to live upon both here and to all Eternity O Sinner believe this and come to him as such a one suppose not the Fountain is empty because thy Cisterns are dry His Righteousness is like the great Mountains Psa 36. 6. It is in the Hebrew The Mountains of God And his grace is without measure Joh. 3. 34. Therefore thou must look to him as having a sufficient fulness for thy Soul Thirdly Thou must look to Christ with expectation as the poor Cripple did to Peter and John Acts. 3. 5. Now shall a poor Creature expect to receive some needful sutable good from a fellow Creature and will not thou expect some mercy from the Lord Jesus Christ thy Creator and Redeemer O sinner come with expectations to Christ believe that he is as willing as able to enrich all that come to him He hath past his word for it He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. He that believeth on him shall not perish Joh. 3. 16. The weary Soul that comes yea creeps to him shall have rest Math. 11. 28. The thirsty Soul shall be satisfied Joh. 7. 37. He goes up and down in the Ministery of the Gospel seeking to save that which is lost Luke 19. 10. And he is angry with them that will not come to him Joh. 5. 40. O sinner do not take up hard thoughts of Christ Such suspitious thoughts of Christ is some of the Devils seed that he doth sow in broken ground When Christ comes to break sinners hearts and make them sensible of their undoneness then the Devil casts in these tares and raises up ill thoughts of Christ It was this did so enervate the diligence of the unprofitable Servant some undue thoughts he took up of his Lords bounty I knew saies he thou wert an hard and austere Man Hence he puts up his Talent in a Napkin and his hand in his bosom Math. 25. 24 25. Jealousies of Christs good-will to sinners are very destructive to Salvation-work The Devil hath hindred many a Soul from coming to Christ by casting this block in his way O then come with expectations at least come to Christ with as great hopes as the Lepers came to the Tents of the Assyrians who were Enemies come to Christ the friend of Sinners 2 Kings 7. 4. They adventured with some hopes we may live and we can but dye they may kill us and they may save us alive But thy case is not so if thou come and adventure on Christ thou mayest be sure he will not kill thee O look to Jesus then with some hopes say who can tell but my Soul may live Fourthly Close first with Jesus Christ himself and afterwards with his Treasure I confess usually something from Christ draws the Sinner's first respects to him The savor of his oyntments some love-tokens kindnesses apprehension of necessity sense of undoneness may conduce to get the first glances of Sinners towards Christ But though these allure to Christ yet the first thing the Espoused Soul must eye in his Match with Christ is Christ himself though these things draw the Soul yet they do not center the Affections Christ's kindnesses are design'd as motives to beget an esteem of himself in sinners hearts The knowledge of what Jesus Christ hath for sinners an intimation of pardon peace and Salvation for all that come to him may be the Prodromus or fore-runner of Christs Person to sinners view but when they come to see him they must first pitch upon himself and till they come to this they cannot have a due and orderly close with Christ In all right and regular Matches the Person must be first regarded then the Portion A Soul is not fit to match with Christ till he comes to see infinitely more worth in him then in all his gifts and favours It was the excellency of Christ himself that drew Pauls highest regards to him with respect to relation Phil. 3. 8. The excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord Paul sets that fore-most And then to be made conformable to his Death and Resurrection The Spouse was more taken with Christ's Person then with his Gifts Cant. 1. 2 3. First himself was lovely then his fruits Cant. 2. 3. David counts nothing in Heaven or Earth like to God in Christ Psa 73. 25. 'T is sordid love and too unworthy of a conjugal State that values the Portion more then the Person that Soul is too unworthy of Christ who values any thing more then him Math. 10. 37 It must be Christ himself must sit in the upermost seat in thy Soul 'T is a saying of Calvin T is an unworthy thing not to perfer one Christ above all Those Matches never prove comfortable where the Estate is eyed more then the Person hence conjugal love is broken when the estate is gone but where true conjugal love is it is setled upon the Person Love
he feeds when he dreams but when he awakes he is emptie Riches feed nothing but the Eye hence Covetousness is call'd the lusts of the Eye 1 Joh. 2. 16. O'tis a vanity indeed to look after that which you can put in to your Eye it will not feed your affections it will not satiate the Soul it will not quiet the Conscienc O that men should adventure their all for that which will not satisfie Thirdly They are fading things in their Nature not only uncertain and liable to remove in the event but they are dying in their Nature Corruptible riches Your Houses Lands whatever your greedy Eye covets are but rotten things Your Garments are liable to the Moth and your Gold and Silver Subject to Rust J am 5. 2 3. Ah poor treasure indeed Which rust and Moth consume rest that strengthens other Creatures eats out these Houses Lands Gold and Jewels are subject to wearing away Tempus teret omnia Time will wear them out Hence Christ advises his Disciples to provide bags which wax not old a treasure in Heaven which faileth not Luk 12. 33. Implying that all the treasures of this world are not so If men lay them up in bags the bags will wax old and time will rot them Thieves can approach to these treasures and Moth and Rust can eat them out 'T is a pretty simile one hath of it who compares the Riches of the world to hailstones that when they fall upon a tyl'd House make a ratling noise for the present but by and by slâ—de down and melt away to nothing Fourthly The treasures of this world are ensiaving treasures they bring their owners into bondage as one says Ducendo vincimur vincendo ducimur By their cunning allurements they overcome us and overcoming us they lead us Captive They first allure the heart and then enthrall the heart They bring men into the worst bondage of any for they bring them into a willing bondage Earthly men are not only led Captive by the world at Satans will but are enslaved by their own will they consent to be bound Earthly men do with Esau swap a bargain for the things of the world they consent to let go their birth right for a mess of pottage they give up their birth right to their Inferiours and consent to become a slave to their own Servants That word of the Wiseman is never more true Eccl. 10. 7. then when men are led Captive by the love of this world I have seen Servants upon Horses and Princes walking as Servants upon the Earth Never did Israel do greater drudgery in Egypt then Carnal Earthly men do to the world It makes them rise early sit up late and eat the bread of sorrows and all for a few shaddows Ps 127. 2. Earthly men says one are like Beasts that are set to draw in the Devils Teams who draw sin with Cart-ropes and Iniquity with Cords of Vanity Isa 5. 1. Peccata facile veniunt sed fortiter ligant Fifthly The riches of this world are ensnaring too 1 Tâ—m 6. 9. They that will be rich fall into Temptations and Snares The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies such snares as persons use to take Birds and Beasts with and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fasten down to the ground as nets are that take beasts So Earthlyminded men the Devil stakes them down to the ground They are held fast in the cords of their own iniquity Pro. 5. 22. What a snare was Balack's Gold to Balaam's Covetous heart to draw him against his light convictions and a Divine charge The Bag prov'd a fatal charm to covetous Judas it lead him to the Halter The things of the world prov'd a sad snare to Demas and led him off from all his profession Earthly things are like twigs that are in Bird-lime that hold fast those silly Souls that come at them that they have no mind nor power â—o leave them O they are sad snares indeed Sixthly Earthly riches are defiling too The Apostle calls riches filthy lucre 1 Pet. 5. 2. Not for filthy lucre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Obscure gain as the word implies filthy unbecoming undecent O 't is dishonest gain indeed which ends in the loss of the Soul Such men are the greatest Couzeners in the world that cheat themselves and loose their Souls for sublunary treasures The Riches of this world defile the Consciences of those that love them the Apostle calls them the pollutions of the world 2 Pet. 2. 20. 'T is considerable that the Psalmist doth use the word Psa 52. 7. to fignifie both riches and unrighteousness Lo this is the man that made not God his strength but trusted in the abundance of his Riches and strengthened himself in his wickedness noting that riches prove occasions of much evil hurt and filthiness to them that have them Seventhly They are accountable Riches Talents that must be reckoned for Math. 25. 19. After a long time the Lord of that Servant cometh and reckoneth with him All Earthly interests are trusts committed to the fidelity of those that have them and they must give an account for them Luke 16. 2. Give an account of thy Stewardship for tbou must be no longer Steward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All thy undue pursuits of the World thy inordinate love to it thy unjust ingrossings of it to thy self thy penurious witholding it from those distributions God hath required must shortly be reckoned for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those things which Families use Eighthly They are afflicting riches They carry more trouble then comfort with them 1 Tim. 6. 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil which while Some coveted after pierce themselves through with many sorrows They run themselves through So Beza They stab themselves all over from Head to Foot with darts So the word imports O how great are those anxieties and troubles the riches of this world breed for those that have them they be troublesome things They cause a great deal of pains to get them a great deal of care to keep them a great deal of fear to loose them And a great deal of trouble when they are gone Christ compares the love of the world to Thorns Mat. 13. 7. Compar'd with ver 22. Because they prick and scratch the Consciences as well as choak the word O the many wounds they will see in them one day that love the world inordinately Whence Gregory hath this upon it Let rich men take heed how they handle Throns least they prick them Nintâ—ly They are damnifying riches and bring a great deal of loss with them A man can hardly come by much of the world without a sensible detriment They occasion the loss of a great deal of time that should be used about their precious Souls The loss of precious peace O what trouble what carking fretting rending cares have men about these Riches They loose
the excellencies of her Husband and glory in them as her own Such pleasure doth the Spouse take in the beauty of Christ Cant. 5. 10. And reckons them as her comliness though she was black Cant. 1. 5. I am black but comely What consolation is this to a child of God to be intitled to such a glorious Jesus Though thou art poor yet thy beloved is rich Though thou art unlovely he is fair though thou art obscure and vile yet he is honourable and his riches beauty and honour are thine and thy reputation with God Saints and Angels shall be in him and as he is Cant. 6. 10. Who is she that looketh forth as the morning fair as the Moon clear as the Sun The Lord Jesus hath a high account of the Spouses beauty she is bright fair clear but it is as the Morning or Moon who borrow their beauty from the Sun Comfort thy Heart O drooping Believer though thou canst see no worth in thy self yet thou hast enough in Christ for thee Again what wonderful Comfort may a Child of God gather from a seen Title to all the purchase of Christ his Righteousness Graces Priviledges sure Covenant and Salvation when he can upon warrantable grounds lay claim to all this but so the Believer may 1 Cor. 1. 30. Secondly The time is drawing near when they shall have a full possession of all those treasures of Christ Rev. 21. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things All those great and glorious things promised shall be his possession God shall be all in all to him 1 Cor. 15. 28. Every tittle of his word shall be fulfilled though Heaven and Earth pass away Math. 5. 18. Here Believers are rich Heirs under age which differ nothing from a Servant Gal. 4. 1. but the day hastens when their great Estate will fall into their hands and they shall live upon it to all Eternity the expectation of which is cause of comfort when veils shall be taken away and thy soul ever with the Lord when thy filthy Garments shall be taken off and thy beautiful rayment for ever worn when thou shalt live no more at small allowances of Grace but receive it without measure thy Table spread thy Cup overflow thy feeding shall be no more on sent portions from thy Fathers Table but shalt sit down in his presence and feast upon his fulness to all Eternity Then shall all promises be turned into performances all hopes shall end in fruition and all desires center in delights then shall parts be turned into perfections darkness into delight changes into immutabilities fears into joyes wants into fulness absence into presence O blessed Eternity When the Lord shall bring forth all his Treasures open his Ward-robe and and pay off every saved Soul with an infinite fulness as much as he can receive or desire to have treasures of love in God the Father Son and Spirit rivers of joy in the presence of God and fulness of grace in conformity to God Things which eye cannot see nor ear hear nor the heart of man conceiue 1 Cor. 2. 9. And is not a cerainty of these future treasures ground enough for present comfort Thirdly from an interest in this rich Jesus here 's comfort to Saints under all their present wants whether outward or inward In that First There 's enough in Christ to supply them In him dwells the fulness of the God-head Col. 2. 9. Thy wants Believer are but finite be they never so great but Christs fulness is infinite Thy necessities are the needs of a Creature his abilitie is the power of a Creator The Lord Jesus Christ can more easily supply thy need then a whole Ocean can fill one pitcher for betwixt the Creatures there is some proportion but betwixt God and the Creature none at all Secondly As there is enough in Christ to fill all thy wants so all the fulness that is in Christ is thy own Believer laid up in Christ for thee made over to thee 1 Cor. 1. 30. Deus mens omnia mea And therefore mayest boldly expect supplies according to the measure of Christ 1 Cor. 12. 11. Dividing to every man severally as he will Thou mayest as boldly go to the treasury of Christ as a man doth to his Purse for money or to his Cupboard for Bread and as a Child doth to his Father for necessary supplies Math. 6. 32. Lastly The Lord Jesus Christ stands engaged to see the wants of his people supplied Ps 34. 20. They that fear the Lord shall want no good thing Phil. 4. 19. So that thou mayst boldly say the Lord is my helper Heb. 13. 6. Dost thou want Food Rayment Health c. for thy Body or dost thou want Grace Wisdom Faith Love Humility Patience Courage Self-denial Power over Corruptions Succour under thy temptations victory over thy lust thou mayst go to Christ with expectations of all that God sees best for thee seeing there are such treasures of all Grace plac'd and entrusted in Christ for thee Fourthly Comfort under all your losses for Christ surely if Christ be yours and such vast treasures are in him he will not see you losers for his sake he can and will save you harmless nay requite your expensive love for him all that strength of affection liberty time talents Christians you lay out for him shall be given in again Jesus Christ is that good Samaritane who hath past his word to repay again whatever is laid out for him or upon his at his bidding Luke 10. 35. If a tender hearted Paul would take the offences of an Onesimus on his account Philemon ver 18. Much more will Christ take the expences for him on his account and repay it a hundred fold in this life with Glory in that which is to come Math. 19. 29. Lastly Comfort under all your reproaches for Christ 'T is the lot of gracious Souls many times to be accounted vile and the off-scouring of all things by the men of this world 1 Cor. 4. 13. so ver 10. We are Fools for Christs sake and despised 'T is part of the Cross of Christ to be reproach'd for his sake 1 Pet. 4. 14. But here 's Comfort in such a case in the consideration of those treasures of Christ Christians your relation to such a Jesus who is the Heir of glory will wipe off all your disgrace Think on that account you have with God and the glory you shall shortly have in your own Countrey and that will ballance all troubles on the account of disgrace for Christ CHAP. XXIX Containing an use of Examination Characters of such as have an interest in Christ and in all those glorious treasures CHristians you that have hopes of an Interest in these treasures of Christ clear up your title Be sure your claim be good Rest not till you can have your evidences of Christ past dispute to make the matter plain and certain to you that you are Christs and Christ is yours Adventure
with Laodicea Rev. 3. 17. And with those Jews Acts 2. 23 36. Opens to them their cursed damning Sin and wretched state by reason of sin that their hearts might be pricked and wounded So the Jaylour was this way prepared for Christ Acts 16. 30. He was made to see his doleful state Thus the Law is School-Master to bring to Christ Gal 3. 24. To beat and wound the sinner that he may see his need of a healing Jesus Thus the Spirit is promised to convince the World of sin Righteousness and Judgment Joh. 16. 8. And so did God deal with the unconverted under the Gospel 1 Cor. 14. 25. Secondly Another requisit to the Souls getting this title to Christ is this that there be a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ his sutableness and sufficiency to save his grace and real willingness to heal and cure all that come to him Heb. 11. 6. hence Eternal Life is said to lie in the knowledge of Christ Joh. 17. 3. that is in the knowledge of his sufficiencie and willingness to save therefore when Paul came to obtain Christ in order to it says he It pleased God to reveal his Son in me Gal. 1. 15 16. True faith carries knowledge with it Faith is not hoodwinkt and blind but hath his discerning By faith we come to understand hence the Gospel is to be preached to every Creature what is the Gospel but the opening of Jesus Christ his sufficiencie and willingness to save sinners while persons lie in a state of ignorance they cannot come to have a true title to Jesus Christ Thirdly 'T is necessary that the Soul see the worth and excellency of Christ to satisfie That were there no Heaven at the end yet Christ himself were Heaven enough So Paul saw an excellencie in Christ Phil. 3. 8. And the Apostles also Joh. 1. 14. The Soul that comes to Christ must see him to be the chiefest of ten thousand the onely desirable one none in Heaven but Christ and none in Earth in comparison of him Psa 73. 25 He that only eyes Salvation in comming to Christ takes him upon necessity not upon choice Fourthly Another requisite to this comming to Christ is that the Soul be brought to a real and actual willigness to part with all for him yea to a throwing all over board to take him in Phil. 3. 8. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them dung to win Chrisi It was no small sum these Converts parted with before they could close with Christ Acts. 19. 19. They brought their Books and burned them and counted the price and found it fifty thousand pieces of Silver which amounts in our money to one thousand five hundred sixty and two pounds and ten shillings hence 't is said That he that will be saved must pluck out his right Eye and cut off his right Hand Math. 5. 29 30. And the want of which made the Young man go away from Christ sorrowful Fifthly In order to a closing with Christ 't is necessary that the Soul see an utter poverty and inability in himself ever to come to Christ without Christ Draw me and we will run after thee Cant. 1. 4. No man cometh to me says Christ except the Father which sent me draw him Joh. 6. 44. They must see themselves poor that come for satisfaction in Christ Isa 41. 17. Thou must deny thy own Abilities and Rigteousness and see thy self utterly unable so much as to look to Christ till he give an Eye Math. 11. 5. Lastly The Soul must be brought to close with all the terms of the Gospel propos'd to him and made heartily willing to take Christ on his own conditions Math. 16. 14. A person is never fit for Christ till he can give him a blank and bid him write his own terms unfeignedly saying Lord command me any thing I stick at no proposals so I may be thine he that would fain beat down the bargain shall never have Christ Isa 44. 5. now to such a reception of Christ 't is needful that things be plainly opened and all the demands of Christ be known and considered Luk. 14. 28. So that there may be a known and hearty consent to Christ and a full compliance with all his conditions 4. What are the certain fruits and effects of the Souls obtaining Christ Ans First That Soul that hath an interest in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are past away all things are become new As the Lord Christ when he was crucifi'd was laid in a new Tomb so when he is received he must be lodged in a new heart In redemption work all things are new there 's a new Covenant Heb. 8. 8. A new Mediatour the first Covenant had none Heb. 9. 15. Souls are now brought into a new state of new and glorious Priviledges They were dead but now are made alive Eph. 2. 1. There 's a new Law also the Law of the Gospel called the Law of the Spirit of life Rom. 8. 2. Therefore 't is necessarie that the Soul be renewed also this is promis'd under the Gospel Isa 65. 17. Behold I create new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness so 2 Pet. 3. 13. there will be a wonderful change wrought in that Person above what flesh and blood can do an inward change a new heart and a new Spirit Ezek. 36. 26. new desires Ps 63. 1. Before the Soul did long after the world pleasures vanities but now My Soul breaks for the longing it hath to thy Judgments at all times Ps 119. 20. Ps 42. 1 2. New affections to God Ps 116. 1. new love to Christ 1 Cor. 16. 22. new love to the Law of God Ps 119. 97 127. new love to the people of God 1 Joh. 3. 14. new love to the name and glory of God Ps 26. 12. Psa 145. 15. new affections for the Cross of Christ and reproach for his name Gal. 2. 14. Heb. 11. 26. a new will to loath sin and cleave to God and Holiness Rom. 7. 19 Act. 11. 23. a new Conscience Heb. 10. 27. 2 Tim. 1. 3. and they have a new Convesation Rom 6. 4. Eph. 2. 10. Phil. 1. 27. They will walk in newness of the Spirit Rom. 6. 4. They are created to good works to walk in them Eph. 2. 10. At least they design it though they fall short of it Thus a Soul that is come to Christ is a new Creature That Soul that hath no renewings in him that hath the same Spirit desires affections will conscience that ever he had cannot prove his interest in Christ Secondly Thaâ— Soul that hath received Christ hath received the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his 1 Cor. 12. 13. for by one Spirit we are all baptiz'd into one Body None can receive the Son but he must have
Regards for these and no more for this Grace of God O wonder more at this Love Fourthly Consider how this is the great Design of God in this grace that you should be to his praise Eph. 1. 12. That is the end which God aimed at in Predistinating you to Glory that you might be to the Praise of his grace that his Grace might procure the Manifestation of his Praise 't is not for an Enlargement of his Revenue or Advancement of his Profit for man cannot be profitable to God Job 22. 22. or for any addition to his Honour being above all Praise but that he might receive the Tribute of his own Glory and the returns of his outgoing Goodness Now if this be the very end why God sets his love upon you Christians then you have reason to glorifie his Grace lest you endeavour to overturn the whole Projâ—cts of Salvation-kindness Fifthly Think how delightful Praise is to God Psal 69. 31. This also shall please the Lord better than an Oxe or a Bullock that hath Horns and Hoofs That is an Adult and full grown Beast which is more fit for Sacrifice as Rabbi D. Kimohy notes a Beast was not fit for Sacrifice under two years old so that Praise is preferred here above all Sacrifice as that which God takes most delight in of any thing because this doth most honour him to acknowledge him the Author of all Mercy and God of all Grace Psal 50. 23. Whoso offereth Praise glorifieth me That is He doth in a singular manner shew forth mine Honour and this is pleasing to him Sixthly This brings Profit to your own Souls Psal 50. 23. For 't is the means and way to obtain the Salvation of God Ponit viam aut praeparat viam saith one it opens the way for Salvation to go out to that Soul this duty of Praise will bring you Gain because it engageth God to give out more Mercy and it leaves Influences of spiritual Good on your own Souls it puts the heart into a good Frame to love God and delight in him and leaves more obligedness on the Soul to fear and serve God so David after that Psalm of Praise to God 2 Sam. 7. was wonderfully influenced to duty to God as you may see chap. 8. 11. and had his Spirit abundantly sweetned to men chap. 9. 1. Lastly Consider also how pleasant this duty of Praise is to the Soul it self it is wonderfully delightful and abundantly affects and ravishes the Heart to have the sense of divine Mercy in it Psal 147. 1. Praise ye the Lord for it is pleasam and Praise is comely O Believers let me effectually perswade you then to the highest Acknowledgments of Redemption-grace and to the utmost Praises for this rich Jesus who hath blessed you with all spiritual Blessings Eph. 1. 3. 2 Duty Secondly You that have an Interest in this glorious Redeemer labour to keep up a high valuation of him in your Hearts if he be so rich as the Gospel reports of him O then prize him acoording to his excellent worth Great men are highly esteemed the Cap the Knee the best Room the chiefest Seat are theirs Jam. 3. 3. And how much more worthy is Christ of your account 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifies an high Estimation of anothers Worth and Excellency ready to be attested by all possible and due Demonstrations four things should oblige Believers to a high Esteem of Christ First His own transcendent Excellency which singularly resides in him and eminently shines out from him ten thousand times brighter than the Beams of the Sun which in their own nature challenge the highest Adoration of men and Angels especially of saved Souls to whom he is most endeared and most nearly related As the Apple-tree excells the meanest and most useless Shrub infinitely more doth the Lord Jesus over top all the Glory of the world as Mediator Cant. 2. 3. He is the chiefest of ten thousands Cant. 5. 10. He is before all things Col. 1. 17. Both in dignity and time he precedes all Creatures he is the Fountain of all Excellencies his divine and personal Perfections make him the glory of Heaven the adoration of Angels the admiration of Saints and the object of all Observance and holy Wonder 2 Thes 1. 10. Secondly The high honour the Father puts upon him He is his Well-beloved Matth. 3. 17. The object of his Delight the Exaltation of his right-hand who hath put all things under his Feet Heb. 2. 8. Set over the works of his hands crowned with Glory and Honour vers 7. Worshipped by all the Angels by the Fathers Appointment and set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1. 3. 6. entrusted with all the Concerns and Interests of God in the World made his pleni-potentiary to compose all Differences betwixt himself and fall'n man now hath the Father such a high Valuation of Christ then surely 't is an unworthy thing in you to detract from his Honour 3dly The Lord Jesus Christ deserves your high Estimation because he is the Fountain of all those Streams that do make glad your Souls the Sun of all those Beams that warm your Hearts the Author of all those Mercies that do supply and delight you all your Excellencies and the things you mostly value are Derivations from his glory things are ratable as they come from Christ he turns your Water into Wine sweetens your bitter Cups and makes them to overflow all your graces come from his Fullness he is your Friend your best Friend your old Friend your none-such in Heaven and Earth Psal 73. 25. The Procurer of all your Mercies the sweetness of all your Comforts the crown of all your Glory and doth he not deserve your Estimation If he hide his Face all Light goes with him if he suspends the Communications of his Favour nothing is comfortable to you if he lock up his Treasures nothing bâ—t Poverty and wasting covers your Souls every thing without him is nothing and with him any little thing is enough Bread and Water is rich cheer with Christ Disgrace and Reproach is Honour with Christ Poverty is Riches with Christ O prize Christ then for he puts a worth upon all things that you can enjoy Fourthly Consider the wonderful value the Lord Jesus Christ puts upon you and let this perswade you to a due valuation of him Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me and gave himself for me Joh. 15. 16. O amazing wonderful sovereign Grace That the Son of God should set his highest Regards upon loathsome Dung swept out of door by divine Justice cast out into the open Field pityful loathsome undone Creatures that he should account you Believers as the Apple of his Eye who have been as Thorns in his side that he should account you as a Seal on his Heart who have been spears to pierce through his Bowels that he should value you as the travel
of his Soul the Jewels of his Crown the Inhabitants of his glorious Presence to all Eternity that he should account such spotty Worms as you worthy of his Love his Blood and his Mediation deserving his Bosom his Kingdom and his Throne O what strange astonishing Grace is this and will you prefer Creatures and place Relations in your Bosom and let Christ lye out of door O unworthy act indeed Surely he deserves your highest Estimation O prize Christ prize Christ value him First Above all things in Heaven and Earth count nothing like him much less above him set him in the uppermost Seat enthrone him in your Heart Let him ride in that Chariot of yours that is pav'd with Love Esteem his Person above all Persons his Purchase above all Purchase his Love above all Affections his help above all Assistance Value him above Father Mother Husband Wife Friends Pleasures Credit Riches or whatever is dearest to you Say as Moses did Who is like to thee Exod. 15. 11. Thy Name alone is excellent thy Glory above the Heavens Esteem his Precepts above all the Commands of men His Promises his Priviledges his Comforts his Ordinances his People above all Christ in conjunction with other things accounts himself slighted He must be Aut Caesar aut nullus Secondly Prize Christ in all in all Persons and things make him the Standard to measure the worth of all created Beings by Reckon things as they carry Christ in them when Satan or Corruption tempt you to a high esteem of any Ask them as Christ did whose Superscription and Image they bear Matth. 22. 20. As the Talent of the Temple was of greatest value so let thy Account be of those things that have the Temple stamp upon them in a Sacred Reflection of Jesus Christ Reckon not much of any thing that hath not Aliquid Christi something of Christ in it Thirdly Prize Christ at all times not only by fits and starts not when he brings thee Loaves and loads thee with his Favours onely but also when he hides his Face and holds his Hand when he seems to take no notice of thee Let Christ be thy Sun in the Day-time let him be thy Diamond in the Night when all other Lights are gone and shadows of Darkness are over thee let him be alwayes uppermost in thy Account Think meanly of him at no time let him lye between thy Breasts to satiate thee at all times Cant. 1. 13. 3. Duty Thirdly Believers Have all your expectations from Christ Psal 62. 5. My Soul waiteth only upon God for my expectation is from him If the Lord Jesus be so rich then he is able to maintain you and supply all your wants There 's Bread enough in his house to feed you Light enough in him to guide you Comfort enough to cheer you Blood enough to pardon you Righteousness enough to justifie you Grace enough to sanctifie you Strength enough to bear and support you Treasures enough to satisfie and requite you Hence 't is he calls his People to look to him and be saved Isa 45. 22. And on this Belief the Saints resolved to wait and look for him Isa 8. 17. O Christians expect all you need from Christ His sufficiency to help you and his willingness to supply you are Arguments enough for your Expectation why should you look to Creatures more than to the Creator to the Clay more than to the Potter to broken Pits more than to the Fountain to the Physician more than unto God Is there not a God in Israel why then are your eyes Christians after empty Cisterns and things that cannot profit you Have you chosen Christ to be your Rock your Fountain Life Sufficiency and Fulness to fill all in all and yet run to other things for your Relief as if he were not able to supply you O Souls fasten your eyes on Christ expect all you want from him as the impotent man did on John and Peter Acts 3. 5. Look not so much on Creatures and Relations Friends Riches and Wisdom c. lest you be ashamed but wait for the Vision for it will speak Hab. 2. 3. Expect all you need from Christ for the expectation of the poor shall not perish 4. Duty Fourthly Be contented with Christ alone whatever is wanting and truly 't is strange indeed that an infinite Portion cannot satisfie a finite Being and a whole Ocean fill a little Vessel Believer Thou hast the person of Christ who is the wonder of Angels the Satisfaction and the Heaven of glorified Saints the desire of all Nations the longed-for Joy of all that truly know and tast him and will not this content you Paul could leave all the World to go after Christ and art not thou satisfyed with Christ without the World This saith Agnes the Roman Martyr Even this is he I now confess that I do love I will make haste to meet him The naked presence of Christ hath been a Heaven to suffering Saints under the want of all things I have found a nest of Honey saith Algerius in the Entrals of a Lyon in a deep dark Dungeon I have found a paradise of Pleasure c. And if some glimpses of the presence some Illapses of the love of Christ were enough to these Sufferers in the want of all things O unreasonable Soul that thou shouldest complain and be dissatisfyed who hast an Interest in Christ and so much of other things too O Christian If Christ be thine let it content thee for all is thine his Heart is upon thee and will not that content thee He loves thee more than all the World he will not leave thee and will not this please thee Heb. 13. 5. He will care for thee 1 Pet. 5. 7. Thou shalt want no good thing he will make up the want of creatures with himself he will sweeten bitter cups 't is but a little while and he will take thee to himself where Wants Sufferings Shame Reproaches Griefs and Sin shall trouble thee no more O then be satisfyed with a single Christ in Heaven he must be thy alone Happiness there 's no House Land Husband Wife Parent Children to make up thy Fullness and Blessedness there God will be all in all and is not this God in Christ enough now 5 Duty Fifthly Take up your Delights in this rich and glorious Christ he is the Treasure and his should be the heart also Math. 6. 21. There is all that in Christ which thy Heart can desire stretch thy Longings to the utmost and he is infinitely beyond them and if he deserves to be the object of thy Desires then of thy Delight for what is Delight but Desire in Fruition He is the only adequate object of Delight other things are unsutable to a spiritual Heart and cannot please empty and cannot satisfie fading and cannot last cloying and soon become burdensome but God in Christ is an eternal Excellency those things that seem most delectable in Creatures are but
Derivations from his Excellency Drops of his Fullness Sips of his Sweetness the impress of his Fingers The precious Ordinances of Christ are but the Galleries in which he walks the Chariot in which he rides the Cabinet wherein his Jewels lye the Cisterns through which Waters of Life pass to saved ones and if these be so pleasant O what then is himself and should not Believers then delight themselves in him Quest But how shall I do to get my Heart to this delight in Christ I find my Affections cold and my Spirits dead that I cannot taste that Sweetness in Christ nor take that Pleasure in the Almighty as I would Answ First withdraw your Hearts from all other Delights this course doth the Lord set Israel to get up to a delight in himself Isa 58. 13 14. There is no greater Enemy to true delight in God than a persons own carnal Pleasure and delight in things below God Whoredom and new Wine take away the Heart Hos 4. 11. 'T is impossible a Soul can take pleasure in Christ and Sin together Mat. 6. 24. For carnal Pleasures withdraw the Affections from God Job 21. ver 12. to 15. 1 Joh. 2. 15. Secondly Rest not till you have cleared up your Interest in Christ and can upon good grounds apprehend him as your peculiar and chief Treasure better than all the World besides and appropiate it to your own Souls Cant. 2. 3. 5. This drew the Spouses Heart to so much longing after and solace in the Lord Jesus even the sight of his transcendent Worth beyond all others and her title to all those Excellencies 't is seen Interest in Christ that draws out the Heart after him Cant. 7. 10. Doubts of Relation to Christ and Fears of laying a claim to these precious Treasures damps the Soul pleasure in Christ Thirdly Be satisfy'd about Christ's special love to you and delight in you 1 Joh. 4. 19. Jealousies about an Interest in this love of God did so cool the Jews Hearts towards him Isa 49. 14. But Zion saith the Lord hath forsaken me and my God hath forgotten me From hence they began to slack their pace after God and cryed out behold what a weariness is it and snuffed at it Mal. 1. 13. chap. 3. 14. Suspition of Christs Heart towards you will straiten yours towards him think well of Christ's Heart to you cherish daily a good Opinion of his Nature Affection and Faithfulness Fourthly Beg hard for heart-affecting fights of Christ This so enamoured the Spouses Heart she saw the beauties of her beloved Cant. 2. 1. She beheld him to be the rose of Sharon and Lilly of the Vallies the powrings out of his Name drew her affections to him Cant. 1. 3. The Eye affects the Heart Lam. 3. 51. As with Sorrow so with Joy 'T was David's Sight of God in the outgoings of his Love and Glory that made his Soul thirst after him Psal 63. 1. 2. Fifthly Be much in the consideration of what Christ hath done for you and bestowed upon you this so engaged Hezekiah's Heart to God Isa 38. 17. and filled David's heart wiih such an Extasy of Joy in God 2 Sam. 7. 19 20. Psal 8. Sixthly Get a nature and Spirit sutable to Christ Similo Simili gaudet Psal 17. 15. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness This made the Image of Christ glorious in the Souls eye also when once it becomes changed into it's Likeness 2 Cor. 3. 18. Therefore did Paul delight in the Law of God after the inner man Rom. 7. 22. Because he had his inner parts changed into the Image of it what pleasure will wicked men take in a wicked Cause from the similitude it hath to their own Nature So will the Soul in Christ when once brought into a sutableness to him Lastly Be much in Communion with Christ and this will beget wonderful Joy in him Psal 119. 167. David's being much conversant in God's Laws begat and strengthen'd his delight in it So vers 14. 'T is Intimacy breeds Delight whereas Strangeness lessens all that Familiarity and Pleasure we else might take in Persons Psal 14. 10. A Stranger intermeddles not with his Joy Be not contented to keep to duty but press after Communion with Christ therein 6 Duty Sixthly Be not troubled at your Wants Losses and Sufferings you undergoe in this World Consider these four things First You can want no good thing the God of Glory stands bound for your Supplies Psal 34. 10. They that seek the Lord shall want no good thing Psal 23. 1. The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want It cannot be that those who are so much interested in the Heart Care Person and Treasure of the Lord Christ can be destitute what can you want who are entitled to all good things 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Who are Heirs of the Promises Promises that concern the Life that now is and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. You have a surer Title to your Supplies than they that have most of the World in their hands for God hath laid up in the hands of Jesus Christ a full Allowance for you how short soever he may seem to keep you for a while the Earth is your Lords and the Fullness thereof and the Cattel on a thousand Hills Psal 50. 10. 12. Psal 24. 1. Heaven and Earth and all things therein are made over in the everlasting Covenant for your use Secondly You shall want or suffer no more than infinite Wisdom and fatherly Love sees best for you 't is impossible that divine Purposes should be frustrated towards you he that will work will work and nothing shall let 't is not Men nor Devils nor the greatest injury of time can deprive you of your Fathers Allowance and that is upon infinite Wisdom and good Pleasure The Wings and Wheels of Gods Providence over his people and for them are full of Eyes within and without to shew the wise Care and Providence of God over his in the worst of times and hardest condition and these Wheels are moving for your Good Christians and God sees in the darkest Providence what is best for you all his Dealings with his people are the Fruits of everlasting Love Jer. 31. 3. God doth in infinite Wisdom manage all your Concerns 't is not by Chance or through any inadvertency any Crosses or Losses befall you but all is done in wise Counsel 3dly The less you have of Creatures the more will God give you of himself if you be looking to him and by Faith live upon him God will admit of no Vacuums towards his people they can want no good thing therefore if creature-supplies be remov'd Grace comes in the room as they say Water will ascend to prevent a Vacuum and Grace will descend to prevent Emptiness in Believers God comes in the room of creature-comforts when Job was stript of all he had more of the visions of God Job 42. 5. John had never more
your fellows He will make you Kings and Priests to God he will set you in Heavenly places he will seal your title to a Rich Joynture he will make sure your interest to all the Treasures of Heaven He will possesse you with grace and assure you of glory O sinners is not this argument enough to win your Souls and make you willing to accept of such a Majesty as Jesus Christ Eighthly Sinners think upon the greatness of that love tâ—e Lord Jesus Christ bears you He hath good-will towards Men towards sinners as sinners whiles in their blood he hath a love of pity for you 'T is true till you close with Christ he can have no love of acquiescense in you but he hath a love of good-will to your Souls he hath so much love for you as hath made him willing to shed his blood for you his love brought him down from the Fathers Glory made him willing to drink the dregs of a cup of wrath for you the love of Christ to Sinners hath set up a standing Ministery in the World sent forth multitudes to publish glad tidings O Sinners did you but believe this how attractive would it be upon your hearts to draw you to Christ But if none of these arguments will prevail let me adde one consideration more Lastly The effects of your refusing Jesus Christ will be dreadful if you will not accept of this proposal O think what a terrible answer Christ will send you Such shall not taste of his Supper Luke 14. 24. Not a crumb that fall from this Rich Table of Salvation-chear shall fall to the share of that wretched sinner If you will not have his Person you shall not have his purchase He hath sworn in his wrath these shall never enter into his Rest Heb. 3. 11. O sinner were there no other Hell but the loss of Heaven it were enough to break thy heart in pieces O think upon the sad Issue of thy final unbelief When thy sins get over thy head and thy guilt follows thee at thy heels When Death and Hell shall be at thy back and then to call and cry and knock at the door of mercy and not be heard O what a doleful thing will this be When armies of devils are round about thee ready to snatch thy Soul into everlasting burnings and none to relieve thee O fearful will the case of thy Soul be When thou shalt cry O for mercles sake Help Lord I am going to Hell for mercies sake help and then for the Ear of God to be deaf and thou not have one good word and the door be shut against thee O what a dolefull case will this be for tender mercy to cease is miserable But for mercy to become cruel to you O fearful case indeed when tender Bowels shall become Brass and Iron and there shall be no sounding at all in it towards thy Soul O sinner if thou wilt not accept of this Christ he will laugh at thy Calamity and mock when thy Fear cometh Pro. 1. 26. That 's terrible when God shall not only cease to pity but deride thy misery Be assur'd Soul as quiet as now thou art a day of Calamity will come there will come a time of Fears for thy poor Soul and then will mercy it self be turn'd into wrath and laugh at thy Calamity yet further sinner if thou wilt not accept of Christ then will incensed fury send forth its army of destroyers and ruine and cut off thy Soul for ever Mat. 22. 7. Then shalt thou be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and from the glory of his Power 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Then shall vengeance glut it self upon thy Soul and seize upon thee in flaming Fire O 't is a dreadful thing to lye at the mercy of vengeance O what will not enraged fury do to its adversaries when it hath them at its power But what will divine vengeance do O sinner when God shall arraign thee at the Bar of Judgment for kicking at the Bowels of mercy for Crowning the head of Christ with thorns and trampling his blood under feet what wilt thou do then O canst thou read this and not shake when thou shalt see Devils round about thee and flaming vengeance take hold of thee But thus it will be Then they that would not let Christ reign over them shall feel Devils rending of them Then they that fled from the Arms of mercy shall fall into the Jaws of fury Then they that shut their ears against the fervent wooings of Christ shall open their hearts to the fiery wrath of Christ Then they that would not get into the bosom of Christ shall lodge in the burnings of Hell Then the Furnace of Hell shall be heated seven times hotter for those whose hearts freezed under the warm beams of Christ's Love Oh dreadful will thy state be Sinner if thou refuse Christ Well sinner take the Counsel given thee kiss the Son Iest he be angry turn in turn in hither reach out thy arms come away to Christ say Lord Jesus I am willingly thine Sinners are you perswaded what answer shall we return to this Lord of Glory Will you be his Will you accept of this grace tendered to you before it breathe its last to you CHAP. XXVI Objections answered Counsels how to come to Christ I shall now endeavour to answer those Objections which are made by doubting Souls against their coming to Christ 1. Objection Says a Soul But will this blessed Potentate this glorious King of Kings stoop so low as to look upon such an obscure Creature such a worthless worm as I am Alas I am too mean to unloose the latchet of his shooes I am too unworthy to be the meanest Servant in his House To be a dog to his Flock And will he cast his skirt over me O do not flatter me into such vain hopes and fond dreams that such a King of Glory will look upon me I am too low for one aspect of his Eye Answ Abundant Testimony hath this Lord given of his condescending heart to sinners Dost thou think thou art too low for such a Majesty When he left his Fathers Kingdom and came down from his Eternal Glory with the Father he gave abundant proof of the humility of his heart when he did espouse thy nature sinner to himself and took upon him the form of a Servant he shewed his humble heart that he was far from contemning sinners He was the true Jacob who served a far harder bondage for thy Soul than ever Jacob did for his Rachâ—l this shews his humility His choosing such mean persons such notorious sinners for his companions in nearest Union and Communiwith himself Matthew the Publican Paul the Blasphemer Poor Fishermen of no regard upon Earth These did Christ personally chuse for his nearest Converses this shews his condescension And 't is not thy low state sinner can discourage Christ if thy heart be really willing His
preaching the Gospel to the poor and calling the base things of this world and things that are not shews his lowly mind And his humility hath been abundantly prov'd already He will dwell with the Lowly Isa 57. 15. 2. Object But I have no portion for Christ I am exceeding poor and beggarly I have no Righteousness no Grace no good things dwell in me I can bring nothing to glorifie him I have no ability at all to serve him I cannot pray or do any thing that is good and will Christ accept of me Ans Christs design in these Gospel tenders of himself to sinners is not to get but to give Riches He wants no treasures for himself but he rather wants objects to give them to He wants no goods but like the Rich man in the Gospel he wants room to bestow his goods He is willing to impart his treasure to sinners 2 Cor. 8. 9. Of all persons in the world he is sure to hear the desires of the poor The rich shall be sent empty away but the poor that waiâ— on him shall be heard Psa 69. 33. Art â—â—ou a poor Soul in thy own eyes The Lord hatâ— special regard for such These are the persons he invites to him that have no money no price Isa 55. 1. The poor have the Gospel preached â—o them Math. 11. 5. Therefore sinners 't is â—ot thy poverty can break the match nor hinder â—y reception of Jesus Christ if thy heart be wâ—â—ling 3. Object But I am a deformed loveless Creature I have no beauty at all in me I am black with sin full of all uncleanness and abominations polluted in my blood wallowing in my Mire and Vomit scarce such a nauseous Object as I in all the world O what a filthy heart O what an unclean Soul O what vile affections bave I and will this holy one cast a glance of Love on such a Creature as I I dare not think he will endure the sight of me therefore I am afraid to look to him Answ Believing sinners though black in their own eye yet are comely in Christ's Eye Cant. 1. 5. Faith puts an amiableness on the believing sinner in Christs account This is one of those eyes that ravishes his heart Cant. 4. 9. He looks upon them as lovely that come to him though unlovely in themselves Affections spie no deformity in the beloved object Christs love is so great to fallen man as that nothing appears unlovely in him but an unwillingness to be hiâ— He sees no iniquity in Jacob though therâ—â—e a great deal The halt blind lame impâ—â—â—nt are no amorous Objects yet these Christ invites to his feast Luk. 14. 21. Others are not worthy says Christ but bring these they aâ—e companie for me if they will but come â— Let not thy deformity and the sense of thy uâ—worthiness keep thee from Christ because hâ— hath beauty enough for himself and thee He hath comeliness enough to cover thy nakedness 't is but for some of his beams to reflect on thy Soul and thou wilt be altogether glorious thy perfection lies in his and not thy own comeliness Christ can soon fill thee with amiableness see in Ezek. 16. what a change Grace makes upon deformed sinners The beautie of sinners is Christs beautie put upon them and Christs Holiness imparted to them and there 's enough of it for thee 3. Know that Christs blood is cleansing blood it doth not only cover spots and deformities but it takes away filthiness if thou come to him the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. 4. Object But I am a great sinner none like me therefore I cannot think the Lord Jesus will pass them by or have thoughts of favour for me Ans So was Davids and yet found pardon Psa 25. 11. for thy name sake O Lord pardon mine iniquities for they are great Manassch's sins were notorious and yet upon hiâ— Repentance found favour with God 2 Chro. 33. 3 4 5 6. He reared up Altars for Baalim worshipped all the host of Heaven and served them he built Altars in the House of the Lord and caused his Children to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom He also observed times and used Iâ—chantments and Witchcrafts and dealt with familiar Spirits and with â—izards and when God spake to him he would not hearken ver 10. O abominable sins One would think here was a man ripe for Hell yet upon his supplication when he was in affliction God heard him and pardon'd him ver 12 13. Paul was a flagitious sinner in his own eyes the greatest that ever was 1 Tim. 1. 15. A Blasphemer a persecutor injurious but obtained mercy ver 13. Therefore 't is not the greatness of thy sin can stand in the way of thy mercy if thou come over to Christ with all thy heart 5. Object But I have been an old sinner I have been rooted in sin and liv'd in sin all my days I have been a continual provocation to the Lord for many years through my whole Life sin hath touch'd sin and I cannot think Christ hath thoughts of Love for me Answ So did the Thief upon the Cross he sinn'd to the last hour of his Life and yet obtained mercy Luke 23. 40 41 42 43. So did some of those that were called in at the Eleventh hour yet embracing the call obtained mercy Math. 20. 9 12. it was not the length of their sinning time excluded the Efficacie of Salvation-mercy when they did come in at the call of it I mention not this for a Pillow to secure sinners but for a Cordial for desponding Souls Now the Gospel calls thee nner if thou come in this hour and embrace the calls of mercy 't is not the length of thy sinning time will make void the Grace of God 6. Object But saies the Soul I have sleighted many calls already I have quenched many motions of the Spirit I have despised the first call and may I have hopes to go to Christ Will he receive me Answ So did Manasseh he did reject many calls God did speak to him but he would not hearken and after his rejection of the first call yet mercie found him The Jews in the wilderness rejected many calls of God yet the Lord said while 't is called to day harden not your hearts Hâ—b 3. 7 8. Though thou hast been guiltie of despising many calls this is matter for thy humbling but not for thy despair 7. Object But I am never the better for all the means and mercy I have enjoyed though I had despised the first calls of mercy yet if I had been the better for after tenders of grace there were some hope But I am still the same notwithstanding all the Sermons I hear and precious overtures of Salvation my heart is hard and dead under all Answ So it was with the Impotent man a great while he was diseased thirty and eight years Joh. 5. 5. He lay at