fear there may be some amongst us that will be found haters of the Lord Jesus Christ If your hearts continue to rise against the way of Salvation by Christ you will be found haters of him If you love your sins and hold them fast and will not have Christ to reign over you then you will be found haters of Christ If you hate the Disciples of Christ because of his Image and Grace in them then you will be found haters of Christ But if you believe in him and your hearts cleave unto him and you are troubled that you love him no more that he is no more precious to you then go in peace Use 4. Seeing the Father loveth the Son in such a wonderful manner let this stir us up to love Jesus Christ Let us love him as God and love him him as God-man Mediator You see he is an object fit for the Love of God the Father and then he is an object worthy of our love And as God the Father loves him with a transcendent Love so let us do likewise Read what Christ saith Joh. 14.21 If any man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and I will love him and will manifest my self unto him And see verse 23. You will never loose any thing by loving Jesus Christ Ephes 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Amen It follows And hath put all things into his hand Before I come to raise the Doctrine from these words let me briefly shew you the meaning of this expression And hath put all things into his hand The meaning is that he hath put all Power and Authority into his hand he hath made him Supreme Head and Governour over all things the Father hath made him Ruler and Disposer of all the great King Lord and Potentate over all And further take notice that this is spoken of Jesus as God-man Mediator Christ is made the Lord of Heaven and Earth in our Nature As Christ is the Son of God so he is equal with the Father so it cannot be properly said that the Father hath given all things into his hand for he had all things originally in his hand as God but as God-man Mediator so the Father hath given all things into his hand that now in our nature in our flesh he is the great Potentate of the world and hath all things committed to him of the Father Doctrine That God the Father hath given unto Jesus Christ in our Nature full Power and Authority over all things both in Heaven and in Earth he hath put all things into his hand This is a Point of great Concernment and for the great comfort and establishing of Believers in evil times that all things are given into the hand of our great Mediator You see John Baptist here gives a full testimony to this truth will you hear what Christ saith in his own person All things are delivered unto me of my Father Mat. 11.27 And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All Power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Joh. 13.3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hand 1. To shew you how all things are put into the hand of Christ given into his hand 1. All men are given into Christ's hand But here we must distinguish There are some given to Christ in a special manner and for their eternal Salvation There are some given to Christ to that very end and purpose that he should give them Eternal Life Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him You see that some are so given into Christs hand that he by his Office of Mediator is engaged and hath undertaken to give them Eternal Life Other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice Joh. 10.16 Christ there calls them whom the Father hath given him in the Covenant of Redemption his sheep though they are not yet converted and saith he must bring them in and they shall hear his voice Joh. 17. I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them whom thou hast given me for they are thine and yet he prayed as Mediator not only for them that were then Believers and converted but for them that should afterwards believe unto everlasting Life Vers 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Vers 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory 2. The rest of men are put into Christs hand even those that perish so as that Christ hath full power to over-rule them and their actings so as that they shall not quite root out his Church so as that he shall have Glory in carrying on his work so far as he pleases against all their opposition punish them so far as he thinks fit in this Life and pass sentence of everlasting Damnation against them at the Last Day Thus we see all men are given into Christ's hand Elect and non-Elect the Elect to redeem and save and the rest to order them and dispose of them as he pleases in this World a d to judge them at the Last Day 2. All the Angels are given into Christs hands The Elect Angels are given into his hand to confirm them as some think and to make use of them in his Mediatory Kingdom as he pleases The fallen Angels are given into his hand so as that he hath Power to check them and restrain them and set bounds to them that they shall not Devour and Prevail against any of his redeemed People and likewise to sit in Judgment upon them and pass open Sentence of Condemnation upon them at the Last Day Ephes 1.21 22. 'T is said of Christ That he is far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be Head over all things to the Church Luk. 10.17 And the seventy returned with joy saying Lord even the Devils are subject to us through thy Name 3. All Creatures whether animate or inanimate are given into the hand of Christ as Mediator God-man 1. All animate Creatures all rational Creatures Phil. 2.9 10. Wherefore also God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name which is above every Name That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in Heaven and things on Earth 2. All inanimate all irrational Creatures Psal 8.5 6 7 8. For thou hast made him a little lower than the Angels viz. barely considered as man though far above all the Angels as God-man Mediator and hast crowned him with Glory and Honour Thou madest him to
have dominion over the works of thy hand thou hast put all things under his feet all sheep and oxen yea and the beasts of the field the fowl of the air and the fish of the Sea 4. All things that do concern the ordering of the Churches here in this world are given and committed to Christ as Mediator What Officers shall be in his Churches what Discipline Government Censures Ordinances and Worship these things are not left to mens Inventions but all must be ordered as Christ hath appointed in the Word Mat. 28.18 19 20. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All Power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded The very Apostles were limited that they should teach nothing to be observed in Spiritual matters but what Christ commanded and then much more all Church-Guides in these days for the Father hath given the Power of making Laws and Orders for his Church into Christs hand only No Power on Earth can add or take away from the Sacraments Censures Officers and Ordinances that Christ hath appointed for the Father hath given all things into his hand 5. All Providential Dispensations in this world are given into the hand of Christ all publick and private concernments Thou hast given him Power over all flesh Joh. 17.2 For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgment unto the Son Joh. 5.22 We must not understand these things as if God the Father had so put things into the hand of Christ as if he had not Power and Authority still over all but the meaning is that he hath given the management of all into Christ's hand as Mediator by way of Honour and Trust to order all for the Glory of God and for the Eternal Salvation of those whom he hath given him to be his Mystical Body And so I come to the Second thing to shew you Why or to what end the Father hath given all things into Christ's hands as Mediator 1. The Father hath done this for his own Glory Phil. 2.11 12. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name That every tongue should confess that Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father 'T is for the Glory of God the Father that he hath laid help upon such a mighty One and set such a King upon his holy Hill of Sion 2. The Father hath done this for the Glory of Christ too That all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5.32 Wherefore when he brings in the first begotten into the world he saith Let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1.6 3. The Father hath done it for the Churches sake too for the Elects sake he hath given him to be the head over all things to the Church Ephes 1.22 to order all things for the accomplishing and perfecting their Salvation and to that end he hath the heart of man amongst other things given into his hand that Christ hath power as Mediator to make his people willing to close with him Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me Joh. 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me Application Use 1. Seeing the Father hath given all things into Christ's hand then let us all come to Christ receive him believe in him And this is the very Use that Christ himself makes of this point Mat. 11.27 28. All things are delivered unto me of my Father And no man knoweth the Son but the Father Neither knoweth any man the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever he will reveal him Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Seeing the Father hath given all into Christ's hand come unto him for whatsoever you want come to him for Pardon for Righteousness for peace of Conscience for Knowledg for Sanctification for all Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the meat that perishes but for that meat which endureth to everlasting Life which the Son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed He hath Authority and Commission from the Father all things are given into his hand Him hath God the Father sealed therefore come unto him that you may have the meat that endureth to everlasting Life He hath the keys of Hell and of Death He is able to save to the uttermost He is able to rescue you from the very jaws of Hell therefore I say venture your Souls upon him The Father hath appointed him to be Prophet Priest and King come therefore unto him for all that you stand in need of Use 2. Seeing the Father hath given all into Christs hand let all submit to Jesus Christ Psal 2.12 Kiss the Son lest he be Angry and ye perish from the way We are all to do Homage to Christ to be subject to Christ and this is called a Kissing of the Son You read of those that did not bow the knee to Baal nor kissed him It is spoken of the People of God that would not owne Baal and the Idolaters that worshiped the Sun and the Moon because they could not reach them to kiss them therefore they kissed their hand in token of Homage and Subjection to them as is implyed in Job's words Chap. 31.26 27. So that this is one thing that is intended by this Phrase of Kissing the Son that we should do Homage unto him and be Subject unto him Therefore seeing all is given into Christs hand and he shall Judge the Quick and the Dead at his appearing and his Kingdom give dilligence that you may be found of him in Peace that you may be accepted in him as a Saviour and accepted of him as a Judge for we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ But may some say When we consider what a great Lord Jesus Christ is and that the Father hath made him the Judge of all and that he shall come in all the Glory of the Father with all his holy Angels and all must appear before his Judgment-Seat to give an account the thoughts of Christ begin to be terrible to us sinful guilty creatures we begin to say in our hearts How shall we be able to stand before this great Lord and Judge Answer Christ is a Priest as well as a King a Saviour as well as a Judge So that if you put your trust in him as a Mediator and be found in his Righteousness then you may be able to stand before him else not Therefore labour to know Christ in his Priestly Office and believe in him that you may be washed and made white in his Blood and that he may be the Lord your Righteousness then
There is an Emphasis in the words The Father loveth the Son that is He loves him most eminently transcendently And hath given all things into his hand He hath made him the great Commander and Governour of the World By the Son here we are not to understand Christ as God as the Second Person in the Trinity but as God-man Mediator Indeed the Father loved the Son as he was God equal with him of the same Substance and Eternity But when it is said that the Father hath given all things into his hand we must understand it of Christ as God-man Mediator For consider Christ as God he had all things in his hand as the Father had but it is as he is God-man Mediator that the Father hath put all things into his hand Doct. 1. That Jesus Christ is beloved of the Father above all Creatures above Men or Angels It may be some may think there is no great matter in this point but truly it is of great concernment to us that we may more confidently look to Christ for our acceptance with God through him Mat. 3.17 This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Paul speaking of him Ephes 1.6 saith that God hath made us accepted in the Beloved Others are beloved but Christ is the Beloved And again Colos 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the Power of Darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Christ himself often makes mention of the Fathers love to him Joh. 10.17 Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life Joh. 15.9 As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world 'T is said indeed vers 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one that the world may know that thou hast sent me and that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me It is true the Father loves the Elect people as really and truely as he loveth Christ but he doth not love them so abundantly not in the same degree neither can they be loved with that kind of Love every way that the Father loveth the Son as will appear in the opening of the Point First Let us enquire wherein the Love of the Father towards Christ doth transcend and exceed his Love to all other Creatures Men or Angels 1. The Father loveth Christ as he is the only begotten Son of the same Divine Essence with himself Believers are the Sons of God by Adoption but Christ is the Son of God by an Eternal and Unutterable Generation Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son Therefore must the Father needs love Christ above Men or Angels because he is the only begotten Son and though they be two distinct Persons and so they are spoken of in the Text the Father and the Son yet they are one Essence And though the Son hath now taken upon him our Nature yet he is God still and so continues for ever and is an adequate and every way fit object of the Fathers Love in the highest degree to Eternity 2. The Father loveth Christ above all other creatures Men or Angels upon the account of his being the Redeemer and Saviour of the Elect people whom he hath given him to bring to Glory The glory of God's Grace Wisdom and Justice is made known in such a wonderful manner by the Lord Jesus as Mediator that the Father loves him upon that account Joh. 10.17 Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my Life Vers 18. This Commandment have I received of my Father That the Son consented to be Mediator and to take upon him the Nature of man and to dye and suffer to satisfie Justice for Sin this is highly pleasing to the Father Heb. 10.5 6 7. Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and Offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me in Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices for Sin thou hast had no pleasure Then said Lo I come in the Volume of thy Book it is written of me to do thy Will O God The Father loveth Christ not only as his Eternal Son but as he condescended to be Mediator for his People Phil. 2.6 7 8 9. Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross Wherefore God hath also highly exalted him The Father delights in Christ not only as he is the Eternal Son but as he is his Elected one Elected to be the Head and Saviour of his Body the Church Isai 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles That the Son took upon him the form of a Servant that the Glory of God might be made manifest in him and that he should bring back and lead the Elect people to God makes the Father to love him and delight in him as Mediator He freely undertook the work and has faithfully discharged it Joh. 17.4 5. I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do And now Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the world was Secondly Let us enquire wherein the Father hath shewn and expressed such a great and transcendent Love to Jesus Christ 1. The Father had an unspeakable complacency and delight in Christ from Eternity and that not only as his Eternal Son and God equal with him but as he had consented agreed to be Mediator for them whom he had appointed to be Heirs of Salvation Prov. 8.23 24 25 26 28 29. I was set up from everlasting from the beginning before ever the Earth was Then was I by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing always before him 2. There is the most intimate Fellowship and Communion between the Father and him in all that the Father doth As to the works of Creation All things were created by him and for him Col. 1.16 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Joh. 1.3 And as to the work of Redemption he was the great Instrument of the Father t is said God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself 2 Cor. 5.19 That in the dipensation of the fulness of times he might gather together all things in Christ both which are in Heaven and which are on Earth even in him Ephes
We should be sure of this that whatsoever we do pray for be according to the Will of God be sure of that be perswaded of that you must not doubt nor question that for if you do you cannot pray in Faith And tho' the thing you pray for be according to the Will of God yet if you do not know and be perswaded that it is according to the Will of God you cannot pray in Faith therefore we must be sure of that that the thing we pray for be according to the Will of God as the Apostle saith concerning eating in Rom. 14. v. last He that doubteth is damned if he eateth That is he committeth a damnable sin because he believeth not for whatsoever is not of Faith is sin So he that prays doubtingly whether the thing he prays for be according to the Will of God or no he sins in prayer whatever he pray for if it be not in Faith with a perswasion that what he prays for is according to the Will of God this man cannot pray in Faith Suppose now a man or woman pray for this or that that he cannot certainly conclude is according to the Will of God as now for example suppose a man have an earnest desire to encrease his estate in the World that he may live bravely at his ease and pleasure and to that end he desires to be diligent in his business and to that end also he begs of the Lord in prayer that the Lord would bless his labours and endeavours that he might gain a great estate in the world and do what he list and live at his ease and pleasure now this man cannot pray with a certain assurance and perswasio◠that this thing is according to the Will of 〈◊〉 Ye ask and have not says the Apostle James because ye ask amiss to spend upon your lusts James 4.3 It is not according to the Will of God and therefore you cannot pray in Faith Or suppose now that a man or woman intend to take a Journey upon pleasure to have a Ramble abroad he would be glad to be preserved and possibly he prays that the Lord would keep him in his way now if a person in this case do question whether his Journey be according to the Will of God he cannot pray in Faith and so his prayer is not pleasing to the Lord Or suppose a man be gaming for money and he would be glad to win possibly he prays that the Lord would bless him in his undertaking that he might win he cannot be perswaded this is according to the Will of God and if so he cannot pray in Faith and so his prayer is not pleasing unto God So that I say this is the particular direction in this case That whatsoever we pray for we must be sure of that that it is according to the Will of God and this is a good help to pray in Faith says the Apostle John in 1 John 5.14 This is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us You must be sure of that that it is according to the Will of God and then we may believe that he will hear us Now I pray consider this a thing may be agreeable to the revealed Will of God and yet not according to his secret Will and Purpose and though the purpose of God be against what we pray for yet if it be according to the revealed Will of God we may lawfully pray in Faith for it As now suppose a man or woman pray for the life of such a Relation a Husband or a Wife or a Child or a Friend he prays earnestly for their life well God in his secret purpose hath determined otherwise the secret Will of God is contrary yet this being lawful according to the revealed Will of God to pray for the wellfare of the sick he may pray in Faith though it be contrary to the secret Purpose and Counsel of God You know this was David's case he prayed earnestly for his sick Child the Lord had a secret purpose that the Child should dye yet he prayed earnestly for the life of the Child and he did not sin in praying because it was according to the revealed Will of God and though it was contrary to the secret Will of God yet notwithstanding he might pray in Faith for the life of the Child though God had intended otherwise You know it was the case of Christ himself he prayed that the Cup might pass from him it was the determinate Purpose and Counsel of God that the Cup should not pass from him but he should drink it Now did Christ sin in praying for that which was contrary to the secret Will and Purpose of God No. Because now this is certain that it is a thing that is lawful and according to the Will of God for a Man or Woman to pray against that which is dangerous and hurtful to his nature he may pray lawfully to be delivered from evil Now Christ prayed to be delivered from evil from drinking the Cup of Gods Wrath though it was the secret Counsel of God he should drink it yet notwithstanding he did not sin because he prayed for that which he knew was according to the revealed Will of God Well this is the first Direction and I pray mind it That if you would pray in Faith for any mercy let us be sure of that that what we pray for be according to the Will of God Secondly The second Direction To pray in Faith so as that we may please God is to pray in obedience to the Will of God do it in obedience to the Will and Command of God as our Duty Brethren it is the Will and Command of God and our Duty that we should pray always in Psalm 105.4 Seek the Lord and his strength seek his face evermore So you know in Luke 18.1 he propounded a Parable to his Disciples to the end that Men should always pray and not faint It is the Will of God that we should pray always now to help us to pray in Faith it is good to be Eying our Duty and the Lords Command it is the Lords Command that we should pray notwithstanding we may meet with discouragements objections and temptations from the Flesh and from Satan to take us off from the Duty as now the Flesh and Satan will be ready to suggest and discourage thus why What benefit have you by all the Prayers that ever you have made What have you found in a way of answer to your Prayer and again do you not see that others that do not pray at all fare even as well as you for all your praying and again can we change the Mind and Will of God by all our Prayers It is said in Job that God is of one mind and who can turn him Can all the prayers of all the Saints and Angels in Heaven and Earth change the Mind and Will of God
his Prayer and so prevails So I might instance in others sometimes God casts in a promise gives some secret hint of a promise in Prayer As Paul he had that promise when he was afflicted with the Thorn in the Flesh and a Messenger of Satan to buffet him God told him that his Grace should be sufficient for him 2 Cor. 12.9 And he makes use of that and gathers strength from it But Suppose now a man or woman have no particular promise to strengthen his Faith in Prayer then let him eye some general promise or other and this will be a mighty encouragement and strengthning and help to Faith in prayer to encline the Heart to be perswaded that God is willing because of such general promises Or suppose that any Man or Woman have no promise to lay hold upon or to act Faith in Prayer upon then Fourthly In the Fourth place take a fourth direction and that is to eye the Name of God the Attributes of God they are called the Name of God thereby God doth discover himself and his nature to us and plead by vertue of some attribute of God the Name of God for sometimes a Believer may be in the dark and may not have the light of so much as any one promise to make use of Now you know what the Holy-Ghost saith in Isaiah 5.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servant that walketh in Darkness and sees no light not the light of any Promise let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon hâ—s God let him make use of the Name of God to strengthen his Faith The Saints and People of God have been wont to plead for the Name of God and the Glory of Gods Name that you find frequently in the Scripture in Jeremiah 14.7 O Lord though our iniquities testify against us do thou it for thy Names-sake So in the Psalms frequently in Psalm 25.11 For thy Name-sake Oh Lord Pardon my iniquity for it is great But more particularly eye some Attribute of God some particular Name of God as I may so call it for God is made known and discovered to us by his attributes and the properties of his Name now let us eye some Attribute of God that may be helpful to us in Prayer as now the Power of God it is very useful to eye the Power of God in Prayer and so you will find the Saints have made use of the power of God that was put forth in the Creation of the World I remember Jeremiah Chapter 32. when the Children of Israel were to go into Captivity for seventy years the Lord bad Jeremiah to buy the Field of his Uncle for an evidence that God would bring his people back again Jeremiah when he had done he would fall to Prayer and he makes use of the power of God at the 17th verse Ah Lord God behold thou hast made the Heavens and Earth by thy great Power and stretched out Arm and there is nothing too hard for thee It is a hard thing for Flesh and Blood to believe that I and my posterity shall have this Land again but there is nothing too hard for thee God can easily bring them back again from their long Captivity so you may see how Moses did eye the Power of God in Numbers 14.17 18. And now I beseech thee let the Power of my Lord be great according as thou hast spoken c. He urges the greatness of Gods Power and so Jehoshaphat in that Prayer of his 2 Chron. 20.6 Oh Lord saies he art not thou God in Heaven and rulest not thou over all the Kingdoms of the Heathen and in thine Hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand thee And so Asa when he also was in the like distress when his Land was invaded 2 Chron. 14.11 he cried to the Lord and mark how he eyed the Power of God And he said Lord it is nothing with thee to help whether with a many or with them that have no power help us O Lord our God for we rest on thee and in thy Name we go against this Multitude And so if you observe when Christ gives us directions to pray in that which is called the Lords Prayer still in our prayer we are to eye the Power of God For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory Still eye the Glory of Gods Power and this is more helpful to Faith than we are aware of you know when many came to Christ in their distresses when he was here upon Earth for help the poor Leper when he came to Christ he came with this Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean Mat. 8.2 And saies Christ to the Father of the Child that was possest when he came to him to cast out the Devil Canst thou believe saies Christ that I am able to do this because he questioned the Power of Christ Mark 9.22 Lord if thou canst do any thing have compassion on us and help us saies Christ if thou canst believe all things are possible to him that believeth Verse 23. He would have him to eye his Power and the eying of the Power of God doth wonderfully strengthen Faith and enable us to pray in Faith And so again eye the mercy and goodness and kindness and grace and compassion of God in Prayer and that will help us in our prayers strengthen Faith in the Mercy of God You read of it frequently in the Psalms how David made use of that in his Prayer For thy mercy sake deliver me and have mercy upon me according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies Psal 51.1 So Moses in Numb 14.17 18. He argues the Cause with God in his Prayer upon the account of his Mercy Let the Power of my Lord be great according as thou hast spoken saying the Lord is long suffering and of great Mercy forgiving iniquity c. Verse 19. Pardon I beseech thee the iniquity of this People according to the greatness of thy Mercy This is now the fourth direction to help us to pray in Faith namely to eye the Name of God the Glory of his Name some of his Glorious Attributes and plead the vertue of them To name but one more Fifthly To pray in Faith is to pray with a hope and expectation of an audience of our prayers there is much lies in this many pray and pray and never look after their Prayers they pray without any hope or expectation of Gods hearing and answering their Prayers Now I say we should pray with hope and expectation waiting for an answer of our Prayers from the Lord one way or other in the Lords own way for sometimes the Lord may answer us in a way that we could not expect not in that particular thing that we pray for As David saies in Psal 35.13 But as for me when they were sick my cloathing was Sackcloth I humbled my Soul with fasting and